The Thompson Twins Adventure

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The Thompson Twins Adventure is a 1984 graphic adventure game that was shipped as a free promotional seven-inch flexi disc with Computer and Video Games magazine in October 1984. Based on the Thompson Twins’ single Doctor! Doctor!, the game puts the band’s three members—Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, and Joe Leeway—in the lead roles as they search for ingredients to make a potion for a doctor.

The release used an unusual grooved flexi disc format from Flexi Records. This experimental storage method didn’t catch on, but today the game is seen mainly as a nostalgic artifact rather than a strong game.

Plot and contest
In the game, the three band members travel from a beach to a forest and then to a cavern to gather ingredients for the doctor’s potion. Once all ingredients are found and the doctor creates the potion, the game ends. The identity of the potion was the secret prize in a CVG contest run with the release. The contest began with the October issue and ran for about a month, encouraging players to listen to parts of the Doctor! Doctor! single, hear a special introduction on the disc, and play the game to uncover clues. The grand prize was free concert tickets and backstage passes; ten runners-up also won prizes. Because of delays in making the Commodore 64 version, the deadline was extended for C64 players. Spectrum winner: Alison Wagstaf.

Playing the game
To play, you had to transfer the game data from the flexi disc to the computer (ZX Spectrum or Commodore 64). For Spectrum players, you could either transfer via an audio cassette or connect the record player’s output directly to the Spectrum’s ear port with a preamplifier. The Commodore 64 version required the cassette method. In both cases, you had to monitor the volume carefully to avoid data corruption from noise or scratches, and you might need to re-record the data at different levels to get it right.

Gameplay style
The game belongs to early graphical adventures. You see simple pictures with captions and items you can interact with, plus a text line to type commands in a VERB-NOUN format (for example, "take jar" or "read newspaper"). To move, you type directions like "North" or "Out." The on-screen art and directions aren’t always perfectly clear, so players often drew a map on paper.

Development and release
Computer and Video Games worked with Quicksilva on the project. They produced three early screens (beach, forest, cavern), which the Thompson Twins approved. The band recorded a short intro for the game, and parts of Doctor! Doctor! were used on the disc. The flexi discs were pressed and attached to the magazine to accompany the October 1984 issue, which helped justify a price increase from 85p to 95p. By late 1984, the Spectrum contest winners were announced; the Commodore 64 version faced delays, leading to a later prize draw for Commodore players.

Legacy
The Thompson Twins Adventure was re-released in 1995 on a compilation CD-ROM called Speccy Sensations. It didn’t attract much critical attention at release and has since drawn criticism for slow animation, weak plot, and clumsy speed. However, it remains a quirky collectible due to its rarity and unusual promotion. The accompanying contest was very popular with readers, generating hundreds of responses. Over the years, critics and fans have debated the game’s value, with many viewing it as a curious nostalgia piece more than a great game.