Preserving Cancelled & Unreleased Video Game History Since 1999
Starring Charlie Chaplin
1988 Canvas Software / U.S Gold
Platforms: Atari ST and Commodore 64
As part of the launch and release of The Games That Weren’t book, we are adding additional assets and content that didn’t make it to print as bonus content to share with you.
Within the book is a detailed 10 page full story about the unreleased Starring Charlie Chaplin for both the Atari ST and Commodore 64 platforms by U.S Gold. The book also includes a specially re-pixelled Atari ST screenshot from a grainy magazine scan.
A gameplay mockup screenshot from the Atari ST version.
Produced by Canvas Software in 1987, this was one of the hardest write ups to research, due to a number of key people no longer with us today. We however talk to as many people as we can to piece together what happened to both conversions – including Donald Campbell, Danielle Woodyatt, Dawn Hollywood (nee Drake), Jon Grimshaw, Paul Clansey, Richard Tidsall, Sean Townsend, Stephen Ward and Simon Butler. Giving as complete a picture of what happened exactly as we possibly can.
During our research over the years, we bought and obtained various magazines to produce hi-res scans of Atari ST screenshots shown in the press at the time, as well as adverts. Some additional scans have been contributed from Ross Sillifant as well. All of these can be found in our gallery below. In addition there are various other scans from our research, and the most exciting are the development notes and sketches provided by C64 developer Sean Townsend. In total there are 83 scans for you to check out, giving an insight into the work involved to produce the conversions. We hope you enjoy them!
As an additional extra, contributor Isaac Ji Kuo spotted that the game seems very similar to Movie Maker by IPS in 1984. Just take a look at the B/W segment! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VaUZdPhKhQ Was the game design inspired by it perhaps?
With thanks to Sean Townsend and Ross Sillifant for their contributions, help and scans.
Early Atari ST background art, before the characters were added.
Another magazine screenshot of the same scene.
A gameplay mockup screenshot from the Atari ST version.
Same screenshot, from an editing view.
ST User piece showing screenshot.
Games Machine magazine piece, showing ST mockup.
Reconstructed and tidied up photo of Canvas team. From left to right … Dawn Hollywood (nee Drake), Simon Butler, Karen Davies, Chris Pink, Graham (Kenny) Everrett, Roy Gibson, Julian Rignall (interviewer), Martin Calvert, Scott Johnston, Peter Graylish, Paul Houbart, Steve Cain and Steve Calvert.
Common magazine advert for the game, based on cover art.
An earlier advert, with a flip book to create.
Another smaller advert showing the ST version on sale.
Another ST specific advert, with Charlie Chaplin listed.
Yet another advert showing Charlie Chaplin.
ZX Spectrum release of Charlie Chaplin.
The instructions, which clearly depict Atari ST loading instructions. Nothing for the C64 though.
Magazine snippet on ST version.
Magazine snippet showing Richard Tidsell dressed as Charlie Chaplin, alongside Danielle Woodyatt
Review of Charlie Chaplin – C64 and ST listed as coming soon.
Another magazine snippet.
And a news item on the game.
Sprite sheet
Start of Sean Townsend’s development notes, here working out sprite movement.
Sprite sheet.
More sprite sheet work.
Sprite planning
Sprite sheet
Scene planning
Scene planning
Scene planning
Scene planning
Scene planning
Scene planning
Scene planning
Charset planning
Recording area planning
Music notes from Mark Cooksey.
Code for working out collision/actions.
Code
Faded code
Faded code + notes
Faded code + notes
Faded code.
Notes, when Sean was possibly looking for other employment.
Code + notes
Scene planning
Sprite planning..
Character notes
Various sprite flags
Various flags
Code
Code and notes
Flags for certain scenes.
Notes
More code notes
Code
Code workings
Movement table.
Interaction table for scene.
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Notes
Checklist of to-dos
Various notes
Various notes
Unknown
Movement planning
Frustration at lack of graphics – a diary of events.
DISCLAIMER: We are a non-profit digitisation project, aiming to digitally preserve software and history which would otherwise be lost for good. If for any reason there is anything that you do not wish to be on the website, please contact us for removal.
Games That Weren't® is the registered trademark of Frank Gasking.
