About The Oliver Twins
Two brothers. A shared imagination.
Philip and Andrew Oliver began making games while they were still at school in Trowbridge. Dizzy made their names familiar to a generation of players, but their work reaches beyond one character: home-computer games, console adventures, development studios and new ways to tell interactive stories.
The Twins with their Guinness World Records recognition.
Credit: Oliver Twins archive
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
Usage: Photographer and reuse terms are not specified in the source.
The first experiments
A family Pong machine and a friend’s Apple II sparked their interest in 1980. A ZX81 followed, then a Dragon 32 bought with money they saved together. They learned by experimenting, turning ideas into games on the family television.
In 1983, Road Runner appeared as a type-in listing in Computer & Video Games. That October they won a game-making competition on The Saturday Show.
Philip and Andrew in 1982, as identified in the official archive.
Credit: Oliver Twins archive
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
Usage: Photographer and reuse terms are not specified in the source.
The Saturday Show game-making competition, October 1983.
Credit: The Saturday Show / Oliver Twins archive
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
Usage: Photographer and reuse terms are not specified in the source.
Making games for Codemasters
After their A-levels in 1986, they tried full-time development. Meeting David and Richard Darling led to Super Robin Hood and a partnership with Codemasters. Ghost Hunters, Grand Prix Simulator and other games followed, made in a demanding bedroom schedule.
Philip and Andrew displaying early software and development tools.
Credit: Oliver Twins archive
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
Usage: Photographer and reuse terms are not specified in the source.
An egg with a world to explore
Dizzy combined a cartoon hero with exploration, objects and puzzles. The adventures grew into a series, accompanied by arcade spin-offs. The original games remain a meeting point between the Twins and the players who remember them.
Wonderful Dizzy brought a new adventure to the ZX Spectrum on 18 December 2020. Inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, it was designed by Philip and Andrew and brought to life by a collaborating team of programmers, artists and musicians.
Dizzy adventures and arcade spin-offs from the official historical collection.
Credit: Codemasters / Oliver Twins archive
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
Usage: Photographer and reuse terms are not specified in the source.
From two developers to studio teams
The shift towards consoles brought NES development and larger collaborations. Interactive Studios, founded in 1990, became Blitz Games Studios. Philip and Andrew led the company; the many later games were the work of studio teams, whose development credits belong alongside the titles.
They went on to co-found Radiant Worlds with Richard Smithies in 2013. The studio developed SkySaga: Infinite Isles and was acquired by Rebellion in 2018. These studio chapters form part of the wider Games catalogue, alongside the games the Twins personally programmed.
Philip Oliver on building Blitz, in Game Developer, January 2006 (page 37)
Camerica exhibition display, identified as 1991 in the official archive.
Credit: Camerica / Oliver Twins archive
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
Usage: Photographer and reuse terms are not specified in the source.
The Warwick Street office preserved in the Oliver Twins photograph collection; photograph date unconfirmed.
Credit: Oliver Twins archive
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
Usage: Photographer and reuse terms are not specified in the source.
Recognising the 8-bit years
In December 2017, Guinness World Records recognised Philip and Andrew as the most prolific 8-bit videogame developers. Its record distinguishes game designs, commercial releases and versions for different machines: these are different measures of the same busy period, rather than a single lifetime game count.
NOW — and the next idea
Their interest in interactive storytelling continues. At Panivox, RichCast applies interactive stories to digital and visitor experiences. Here, the current Worlds and Stories show what is being explored, while the Games catalogue and Archive preserve the earlier chapters.
1983
Road Runner appears in Computer & Video Games: the beginning of a published game-making story.
NOW
Explore the Worlds, News and interactive ideas taking shape today.
FUTURE
There is always another character, puzzle or adventure to imagine.
Along the way
technologyThe first inspiration
Pong and an Apple II introduce the brothers to the possibilities of making their own games.
technologyLearning on a ZX81
The family’s ZX81 gives Philip and Andrew a computer on which to try out their own BASIC programs.
gameRoad Runner is published
A Computer & Video Games type-in listing puts their first published game into readers’ hands.
Image credits and source
Gameplay screenshot
Credit: Computer and Video Games — artwork belongs to its respective rights holders
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
milestoneThe Saturday Show
The brothers win a national television game-making competition.
Image credits and source
The Saturday Show game-making competition, October 1983.
Credit: The Saturday Show / Oliver Twins archive
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
Usage: Photographer and reuse terms are not specified in the source.
gameSuper Robin Hood
Their first Codemasters collaboration begins a new chapter after leaving school.
Image credits and source
Original cover / promotional artwork
Credit: Codemasters — artwork belongs to its respective rights holders
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
gameDizzy begins
The Ultimate Cartoon Adventure introduces the hero at the centre of the Dizzy series.
Image credits and source
Original cover / promotional artwork
Credit: Codemasters — artwork belongs to its respective rights holders
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
gameGhostbusters II
The Twins develop Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum versions of the film tie-in.
Image credits and source
Original cover / promotional artwork
Credit: Activision — artwork belongs to its respective rights holders
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
companyThe studio grows
Founded in 1990, Interactive Studios becomes the foundation of the later Blitz Games studio chapter.
Image credits and source
Camerica exhibition display, identified as 1991 in the official archive.
Credit: Camerica / Oliver Twins archive
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
Usage: Photographer and reuse terms are not specified in the source.
gameFantastic Dizzy on NES
The NES adventure expands Dizzy’s world onto a cartridge console.
Image credits and source
Original cover / promotional artwork
Credit: Camerica (NES); Codemasters — artwork belongs to its respective rights holders
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
companyRadiant Worlds
Philip and Andrew co-found Radiant Worlds with Richard Smithies; its project is SkySaga: Infinite Isles.
milestoneGuinness World Records recognition
Guinness recognises the Twins as the most prolific 8-bit videogame developers.
Image credits and source
The Twins with their Guinness World Records recognition.
Credit: Oliver Twins archive
Source: The Oliver Twins archive
Usage: Photographer and reuse terms are not specified in the source.
companyA new home for Radiant Worlds
Rebellion acquires Radiant Worlds, which becomes Rebellion Warwick.
gameWonderful Dizzy
A new Oliver Twins-designed adventure arrives on the ZX Spectrum, with development by a collaborating team.
Image credits and source
Original cover / promotional artwork
Credit: Team Yolkfolk — artwork belongs to its respective rights holders
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