Tom D. Frost

Tom D. Frost was a Scottish text adventure author and owner of the ZX Spectrum software house Tartan Software.

Tom's first experiences with microcomputers were through his job as a quality control chemist in the early 1980s. His initial work was produced on the ZX81 before he upgraded to a ZX Spectrum. He also ported two of his games to the Amstrad CPC.

Unlike many of his contemporaries on the British text adventure scene, who were using tools such as the Quill and GAC, Tom coded his ZX Spectrum adventures using his own adventure system. His later games were known for their distinctive dual-viewpoint layout; often involving the guidance and interaction of multiple characters to solve complicated puzzles.

Tom self-published the majority of his games, but his work was widely known on the Spectrum scene as several of his adventures were included as type-ins and on the cover-tapes of the mainstream magazines such as Sinclair User and Your Sinclair. His Adventure Builder System also seems to have gained a following in Russia; being used for several games in the late 1990s.

In addition to the many accolades for his games, Tom Frost was also awarded the title Britain’s Best Adventurer by being the first person to complete Incentive's Ket Trilogy.

Author Credits

• Magic Treasure Adventure (1984; publisher: Tom Frost; ZX81, Spectrum).
• 1942 Mission (1984; publisher: CCS). A winning entry in the Cambridge Awards 1984
• The Spy Trilogy (1986; publisher: ANCO / Tartan Software; Spectrum).
• Crisis at Christmas (1986; publisher: Your Sinclair; Spectrum).
• Adventure Guide (1986; publisher: Tartan Software; Adventure Builder System; Spectrum).
• Escape (1986; publisher: Tartan Software; Adventure Builder System; Spectrum).
• Open Door (1986; publisher: Tartan Software; Adventure Builder System; Spectrum).
• Green Door (1986; publisher: Tartan Software; Adventure Builder System; Spectrum).
• Red Door (1986; publisher: Tartan Software; Adventure Builder System; Spectrum).
• Double Agent (1987; publisher: Tartan Software; Spectrum, later Amstrad CPC).
• The Gordello Incident (1989; publisher: Tartan Software; Spectrum).
• Gordello's Demise (1990; publisher: Tartan Software; Spectrum).
• The Lost Dragon (1991; publisher: Tartan Software; Spectrum, later Amstrad CPC).

Tech Credits

• Adventure Builder System (1986; publisher: Sinclair User, Alpha-Omega, Tartan Software; Spectrum).

Links

• Profile - Tom Frost and Tartan Software.
• Tom Frost's entry in ZXDB via Spectrum Computing.