Sensible Software

Sensible Software was an European software house active in the '80s and the '90s.

The start

Jon Hare and Chris Yates (the two founders) after a short and unfortunate career in music¹ found employment with LT Software, another game development company, by creating two of the most impressive ZX Spectrum games Twister and Sordov the sorcerer. After nine months the pair separated from the company to found their own, Sensible Software.²

The success

Using the skills acquired in the time at LT Software, the couple started to develop Parallax for the Commodore 64, wich won them a deal with Ocean Publishing becoming Sensible's first success.³

Right after Parallax, the company started to develop another game, Wizball wich became their first critically acclaimed success, indeed it was proclaimed "Game of the decade" by the computer gaming magazine Zzap!64.

Following the success of Wizball, Sensible Software released the Shoot-Em Up Construction Kit (S.E.U.C.K.) wich allowed users with no knowledge of game creation to create their own game.

In 1988 Martin Galway, well known game music composer, joined the company and, in the summer, they released Microprose Soccer, wich would be considered the finest sport’s simulation to date. In that year Sensible also released International 3D Tennis, wich became one of their last Commodore 64 games.

The peak

In 1990, Galway left the company but this didn't stop Sensible from moving to the 16 bit consoles releasing Mega Lo Mania, Sensible Soccer and Cannon Fodder wich became classics of that era. With the rise of the 16 bit home console market Sensible released seven number one hit games, winning numerous industry awards in the process. Sensible's games were ported to a wide range of platforms including MS-DOS, the Mega Drive and Super Nintendo.

The decline

After this time, thought, Sensible never managed to live up to their past games. Controversial thematics and the rise of 3D graphics made them lost contracts and their inability to move to the new dimension spelled their end.