Resources

HVSC - High Voltage SID Collection

The definitive archive of C64 SID music, maintained since 1996. Contains SID files for all Firebird-published C64 titles, including Rob Hubbard's Warhawk, Thrust, and I,Ball; Martin Galway's Elite docking music; Ben Daglish and Fred Gray's Firebird catalogue work. HVSC Release 84 is the current version. Browse at /MUSICIANS/H/Hubbard_Rob/, etc.

JSIDPLAY2 / SID Online Player

Online SID playback via Java applet or web interface. Allows browsing and listening to HVSC files directly in the browser without installing a local SID player.

Lemon64

The premier C64 game database. All Firebird C64 titles are catalogued with screenshots, downloads, SID music, and historical review scores. Composer credits for Rob Hubbard, Ben Daglish, and Fred Gray's Firebird work are comprehensively documented.

Hall of Light - Amiga Database

The definitive Amiga game database. All Rainbird Amiga titles (Carrier Command, Starglider, Starglider 2, Virus, The Pawn, etc.) are documented with cover scans, screenshots, and credits. Manual downloads available per ToS.

World of Spectrum

Comprehensive ZX Spectrum archive including all Firebird and Rainbird Spectrum titles. Distinguishes Firebird Gold, Firebird Silver, and Silverbird re-release editions. Download and in-browser play available for public domain titles.

MobyGames - Firebird & Rainbird

Publisher pages for Firebird Software Ltd. and Rainbird Software Ltd., with full title lists, platform data, credit information, and cover art. The most comprehensive cross-platform publisher database available.

IFWiki - Magnetic Scrolls

IFWiki's Magnetic Scrolls section covers all Rainbird-published interactive fiction in depth: The Pawn, The Guild of Thieves, Jinxter, Corruption, Fish! Each title has full credits, platform data, and preservation notes.

C64 Wiki - Firebird

C64-focused wiki entry on Firebird as a publisher, with label history, Gold/Silver tier documentation, and links to all Firebird C64 game entries.

Internet Archive - Magazine Scans

Archive.org hosts scanned issues of Zzap!64, CRASH, The Games Machine, and ACE - the primary contemporary sources for Firebird and Rainbird review coverage, including Carrier Command's 98% and Starglider's GOTY award.

Stardot - BBC Micro Forum

The active BBC Micro community forum, home to extensive discussion of Elite's original BBC Micro development, source code analysis, and contemporary BBC Micro homebrew. Invaluable for Acornsoft/ Firebird Elite history.

English Amiga Board (EAB)

The largest Amiga forum, covering all Rainbird Amiga titles in depth. WHDLoad patches for Carrier Command, Starglider, Virus, and other titles are maintained by the community here.

Magnetic Scrolls Memorial

Dedicated preservation and history site for Magnetic Scrolls. Covers the company's full catalogue, staff memories, and provides online play access to all titles.

Digital Antiquarian (Jimmy Maher)

Jimmy Maher's long-form history of digital games covers Telecomsoft, Elite, Magnetic Scrolls, and interactive fiction in extraordinary depth. Maher's "Fire and Rain" series on Telecomsoft is essential reading alongside the Kim Justice documentary.

Ian Bell's Elite Homepage

Ian Bell's own site, maintained as a historical resource for Elite. Contains the original source code, historical documentation, and Bell's personal account of the game's creation with David Braben.