The Satellite Game

(BSB didn't have a children's channel, did they?)
 
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[[File:The satellite game title.jpg|300px]]
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== Host ==
 
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[[David Learner]] as Larry the Robot
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== Hosts ==
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[[David Learner]] (as Lari the Droid)
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Freyja Westdal (as Coco the Computer)
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== Co-hosts ==
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Alice Arnold, Tom Coulthard, Colum Gallivan, Sonya Leite (as various alien characters)
== Broadcast ==
== Broadcast ==
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Broadsword for BSB (British Satellite Broadcasting), 5 May to 24 November or 1 December 1990 (38 episodes)
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Broadsword for Galaxy, 5 May to 24 November 1990 (38 episodes in 1 series)
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== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
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The Satellite Game has been described by creator Tim Child as "Not completely awful, but fairly dreadful!" The virtual reality used was in its infancy, which caused a 'reverse ferret' on introducing the technology into [[Knightmare]]. They used chromakey instead to much success.
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Three children land on the hostile Enigma satellite, hoping to penetrate to its core and stop an anti-matter bomb. The contestants remained on board their shuttle craft, and guided a Lightly Armed Robotic Investigator (LARI, voiced by ''Knightmare'' regular David Learner) around the craft. Further information was provided by the shuttle's Command Computer (Coco); this character filled a similar role to Treguard on ''Knightmare''.
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<div class=image>[[File:The satellite game team on couches.jpg|400px]]''Come on team, it's not good completing your quest by sleeping on the job.''</div>
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Much of the programme was taken up by detailed explanations of LARI's capabilities, and chatter between the robot and the computer. From time to time, the competitors were able to take control of LARI, steering it to avoid moving blocks, and firing its weapons to open doors.
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<div class=image>[[File:The satellite game lari corridor.jpg|400px]]''You wouldn't get graphics like this on the NES.''</div>
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Computer graphics were used to show LARI's progress through the ship; these were described by creator Tim Child as "Not completely awful, but fairly dreadful!" The virtual reality used was in its infancy, which caused a 'reverse ferret' on introducing the technology into [[Knightmare]]. They used chromakey instead to much success.
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<div class=image>[[File:The satellite game control view.jpg|400px]]''Not even Captain Kirk has a screen this big on his Enterprise.''</div>
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== Theme music ==
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Geoff Griffith and Dawn Leeder were credited for "Music and Effects".
== Trivia ==
== Trivia ==
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The graphics were based on drawings by David Rowe (another ''Knightmare'' regular), and animated by the Incentive company.
The game aired as a show-within-a-show portion of the Saturday afternoon magazine programme ''Cool Cube'' (produced by Granada, if you must know).
The game aired as a show-within-a-show portion of the Saturday afternoon magazine programme ''Cool Cube'' (produced by Granada, if you must know).
Broadsword later created the shows [[Cyberzone]] and [[Virtually Impossible]] which did use VR.
Broadsword later created the shows [[Cyberzone]] and [[Virtually Impossible]] which did use VR.
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It was broadcast on The Galaxy Channel, one of the channels operated by BSB (British Satellite Broadcasting). The show came off air immediately after BSB was "merged with" (effectively, bought out by) its rival Sky.
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== See also ==
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[[Weaver's Week 2014-02-02#The Satellite Game|Weaver's Week review]]
[[Category:Childrens|Satellite Game, The]]
[[Category:Childrens|Satellite Game, The]]
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[[Category:Fictional Characters|Satellite Game, The]]
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[[Category:BSB Galaxy Programmes|Satellite Game, The]]

Current revision as of 22:46, 28 September 2023

Contents

Hosts

David Learner (as Lari the Droid)

Freyja Westdal (as Coco the Computer)

Co-hosts

Alice Arnold, Tom Coulthard, Colum Gallivan, Sonya Leite (as various alien characters)

Broadcast

Broadsword for Galaxy, 5 May to 24 November 1990 (38 episodes in 1 series)

Synopsis

Three children land on the hostile Enigma satellite, hoping to penetrate to its core and stop an anti-matter bomb. The contestants remained on board their shuttle craft, and guided a Lightly Armed Robotic Investigator (LARI, voiced by Knightmare regular David Learner) around the craft. Further information was provided by the shuttle's Command Computer (Coco); this character filled a similar role to Treguard on Knightmare.

Come on team, it's not good completing your quest by sleeping on the job.

Much of the programme was taken up by detailed explanations of LARI's capabilities, and chatter between the robot and the computer. From time to time, the competitors were able to take control of LARI, steering it to avoid moving blocks, and firing its weapons to open doors.

You wouldn't get graphics like this on the NES.

Computer graphics were used to show LARI's progress through the ship; these were described by creator Tim Child as "Not completely awful, but fairly dreadful!" The virtual reality used was in its infancy, which caused a 'reverse ferret' on introducing the technology into Knightmare. They used chromakey instead to much success.

Not even Captain Kirk has a screen this big on his Enterprise.

Theme music

Geoff Griffith and Dawn Leeder were credited for "Music and Effects".

Trivia

The graphics were based on drawings by David Rowe (another Knightmare regular), and animated by the Incentive company.

The game aired as a show-within-a-show portion of the Saturday afternoon magazine programme Cool Cube (produced by Granada, if you must know).

Broadsword later created the shows Cyberzone and Virtually Impossible which did use VR.

It was broadcast on The Galaxy Channel, one of the channels operated by BSB (British Satellite Broadcasting). The show came off air immediately after BSB was "merged with" (effectively, bought out by) its rival Sky.

See also

Weaver's Week review

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