Little Computer People was released on various formats with the best of the best on the Commodore 64 and the N.E.S. adaptation, Apple Town Story – Little Computer People was more of an updated version than a straight port, as it featured a lady to perv on, um, er, observe and offered mini-cut-scenes for those big events of the day, such as brushing her teeth. The Commodore 64 version, running from the disk drive had massive advantages over other ports as a constant stream of information could be retrieved, allowing for more random actions and short load times. When ported to the Spectrum 128 the game was received with critical acclaim, and prompted one YourSinclair reader to write the following letter, proving that you can give a lad a social experiment and within twenty minutes he will start asking little computer people to degrade themselves for a cheap thrill and a schoolboy smirk.

Essentially this game was a triumph as it created a world and a character that you wanted to watch, you cared if he wrote you a letter, and you enjoyed every moment of his anagram games, even if he did have some kind of preference for all things tumour related.

When Will Wright of Sim City and The Sims fame was asked by a CNN reader if he had ever played Little Computer People he gave a clear answer: -

“Yes, a long time ago. I’ve since gotten to know several people who were involved with that project, and many of them gave valuable feedback on The Sims.” And I think that it shows.”

Little Computer People was groundbreaking and yet disappeared into obscurity for one very obvious reason. It went no further, no expansions were released, despite plans to do so, and as such the voyeurs among us would soon tire of the same responses. With The Sims this was never an issue, with almost too many add-ons and expansions offering a wealth of excitement from holiday destinations to dogs that pee on your rug you can have it. Instead the title lost its sheen and now remains one of the rotting acorns in the retro forest hidden in the shadow of the dark, monolithic and slightly evil –looking Electronic Arts building, but for now consider it dug up and put on the Retro Fusion Online windowsill for all to see until some hungry starling swoops upon it.