Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Check out sponsor 1inch Wallet for a safe and easy way to store your assets: jn3rg.app.link/Nostalgia_Nerd_1inch ~ In 1984 there existed a company called Imagine Software. They went under the label of Imagine The Name of the Game, and they developed lots of games for machines like the Commodore VIC-20, Sinclair ZX81 and ZX Spectrum. But their best known title is one which never actually got published. It's a game that has become legendary for it's hype and promised offerings. That game was called Bandersnatch, and just like it's Netflix spinoff, the story of it is a whole world of adventure. So settle in and let's get ready to enter the Bandersnatch (whilst not forgetting Psyclapse), and see how it broke the dreams of an entire gaming generation.
Bandersnatch, Bandersnatch, *Bandersnatch* (hoping it's like candyman)
Thanks to Elliot Coll of @TheRetroFuture for lending his beautiful voice.
⌚Timings⌚
0:00-01:03 Introduction
01:03-07:13 Imagine's Early Years
07:13-10:50 Imagine's Problems
10:50-14:08 The MEGAGAMES
14:08-19:04 Bandersnatch
19:04-21:56 Psyclapse
21:56-28:11 Imagine's Demise
28:11-33:33 Prototypes
33:33-35:22 Fate of the MEGAGAMES
35:22-37:04 1Inch
37:04-39:00 This isn't the end
39:00-40:14 Credits
🔗Video Links🔗
Retro Hour Interview with John Gibson: youtube.com/watch?v=71BkmPZrsxY
Retro Hour Interview with
Games That Weren't: gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/psyclapse
ZX Golden Years with Bruce Everiss: zxgoldenyears.org/bruce-everiss
John Gibson Forum Interview: oceanexp.proboards.com/thread/162/john-gibson-interview
Imagine Software BBC News Segment: youtube.com/watch?v=kcfzvG3cWEI
Bandersnatch resources: spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/9525/ZX-Spectrum/Bandersnatch
Mark Jones on Twitter: twitter.com/markrjones1970/status/1189146112671846401
PCW 86 Show: crashonline.org.uk/46/pcw.htm
West 57th: youtube.com/watch?v=dWBptsqpSy0
Commercial Breaks: youtube.com/watch?v=ChmQBK_EaUQ
QL Forum: qlforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2033
Tired Old Hack: tiredoldhack.com/2019/01/02/bandersnatch-the-game-that-killed-a-company-and-inspired-a-black-mirror-episode
Newspaper Research: newspapers.com
Gift from the Gods: youtube.com/watch?v=4sRZxYHwO_0
Brataccas: youtube.com/watch?v=QPzlR0bnruY
Wacky Waiters: youtube.com/watch?v=HlT4Pv0BZZ0
Ah Diddums: youtube.com/watch?v=6QluTU1Honc
Zzoom: youtube.com/watch?v=ogbZ6k9yzl8
Alchemist: youtube.com/watch?v=LayjsENoWOs
Zip-Zap: youtube.com/watch?v=F0QcNjN4Djk
C64 Ad: youtube.com/watch?v=HdMaBtPfY_Q
VIC-20 Ad: youtube.com/watch?v=UK9VU1aJvTI
BBC Micro Ad: youtube.com/watch?v=Gtgd22mtlt8
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📜 Resources 📜
In video links and references are provided where possible. If you believe I have forgotten to attribute anything, please let me know (drop me an email via. the about page on Youtube or send me a tweet), so I can add it here. Apologies if I have missed anything out, it takes time to make these videos and therefore it can be easy to forget things or make a mistake.
Errors and omissions excepted.
Some material in this video may be used under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. Where under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 (UK: Sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988), allowance is made for purposes including parody, quotation, criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, education and research. Fair Dealing / Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Check out sponsor 1inch Wallet for a safe and easy way to store your assets: jn3rg.app.link/Nostalgia_Nerd_1inch ~ In 1984 there existed a company called Imagine Software. They went under the label of Imagine The Name of the Game, and they developed lots of games for machines like the Commodore VIC-20, Sinclair ZX81 and ZX Spectrum. But their best known title is one which never actually got published. It's a game that has become legendary for it's hype and promised offerings. That game was called Bandersnatch, and just like it's Netflix spinoff, the story of it is a whole world of adventure. So settle in and let's get ready to enter the Bandersnatch (whilst not forgetting Psyclapse), and see how it broke the dreams of an entire gaming generation.
Bandersnatch, Bandersnatch, *Bandersnatch* (hoping it's like candyman)
Thanks to Elliot Coll of @TheRetroFuture for lending his beautiful voice.
⌚Timings⌚
0:00-01:03 Introduction
01:03-07:13 Imagine's Early Years
07:13-10:50 Imagine's Problems
10:50-14:08 The MEGAGAMES
14:08-19:04 Bandersnatch
19:04-21:56 Psyclapse
21:56-28:11 Imagine's Demise
28:11-33:33 Prototypes
33:33-35:22 Fate of the MEGAGAMES
35:22-37:04 1Inch
37:04-39:00 This isn't the end
39:00-40:14 Credits
🔗Video Links🔗
Retro Hour Interview with John Gibson: youtube.com/watch?v=71BkmPZrsxY
Retro Hour Interview with
Games That Weren't: gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/psyclapse
ZX Golden Years with Bruce Everiss: zxgoldenyears.org/bruce-everiss
John Gibson Forum Interview: oceanexp.proboards.com/thread/162/john-gibson-interview
Imagine Software BBC News Segment: youtube.com/watch?v=kcfzvG3cWEI
Bandersnatch resources: spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/9525/ZX-Spectrum/Bandersnatch
Mark Jones on Twitter: twitter.com/markrjones1970/status/1189146112671846401
PCW 86 Show: crashonline.org.uk/46/pcw.htm
West 57th: youtube.com/watch?v=dWBptsqpSy0
Commercial Breaks: youtube.com/watch?v=ChmQBK_EaUQ
QL Forum: qlforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2033
Tired Old Hack: tiredoldhack.com/2019/01/02/bandersnatch-the-game-that-killed-a-company-and-inspired-a-black-mirror-episode
Newspaper Research: newspapers.com
Gift from the Gods: youtube.com/watch?v=4sRZxYHwO_0
Brataccas: youtube.com/watch?v=QPzlR0bnruY
Wacky Waiters: youtube.com/watch?v=HlT4Pv0BZZ0
Ah Diddums: youtube.com/watch?v=6QluTU1Honc
Zzoom: youtube.com/watch?v=ogbZ6k9yzl8
Alchemist: youtube.com/watch?v=LayjsENoWOs
Zip-Zap: youtube.com/watch?v=F0QcNjN4Djk
C64 Ad: youtube.com/watch?v=HdMaBtPfY_Q
VIC-20 Ad: youtube.com/watch?v=UK9VU1aJvTI
BBC Micro Ad: youtube.com/watch?v=Gtgd22mtlt8
🏆 Support 🏆
Support my channel, get exclusive videos & perks, as well as an ad and sponsor free experience at patreon.com/nostalgianerd from just $1
🏪 NN Shop & Affiliate Links! 🏪
My eBay Shop: nnerd.es/NerdShop (Now Re-open!)
My Retro Tech book: nnerd.me/HVFtSB (2nd edition is out!)
Desk Shelves for Retro Computers: nnerd.me/RetroShelves (Because you're worth it)
🍻 Share/Like 🍻
If you wish to share this video in forums, social media, on your website, or ANYWHERE else, please do so! It helps tremendously with the channel! Also, giving a thumb up or down also helps with visibility on Youtube. Many thanks!
📟 Subcribe 📟
Click to Subscribe: nnerd.es/2K4TYvX
📱 Join me on Social Media 📱
🐥 twitter.com/nostalnerd
🎮 twitch.tv/nostalgianerd
👱🏼📘 facebook.com/nostalnerd
📸 instagram.com/nostalgianerd
🌍 nostalgianerd.com
🎥 Equipment 🎥
Panasonic Lumix G5
Rode NT-1 Mic
Corel Video Studio Ultimate 2020
Corel Paint Shop Pro 2020
📜 Resources 📜
In video links and references are provided where possible. If you believe I have forgotten to attribute anything, please let me know (drop me an email via. the about page on Youtube or send me a tweet), so I can add it here. Apologies if I have missed anything out, it takes time to make these videos and therefore it can be easy to forget things or make a mistake.
Errors and omissions excepted.
Some material in this video may be used under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. Where under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 (UK: Sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988), allowance is made for purposes including parody, quotation, criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, education and research. Fair Dealing / Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
