Uridium

Name

Robert Orchard believed that there was an element called Uridium when he named the game - it is thought that he had heard a mispronounciation of the real element Iridum. The game's title was seemingly later referenced by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in which it is a volatile element used by the Cardassians in spaceship construction. 'Uridium' has also been incorrectly given as an answer on the British TV gameshow Pointless, in which obscure (but correct) answers are required, on rounds requiring the name of a chemical element that fits certain criteria (such as beginning with a vowel or ending 'ium')

Spectrum joystick issue

Initial copies of the Spectrum version only supported the Kempston joystick protocol, rather than the Sinclair system which was the only one available to users of the then-new +2 models. After complaint from several people who'd bought the game and only been able to play it using the keyboard, Hewson altered the code.

Awards

• Commodore Format

  • July 1991 (Issue 10) - listed in the A to Z of Classic Games article (Great)
  • January 1992 (Issue 16) - Cf's all time Top Ten Essential Mega Games
  • November 1994 (Issue 50) – #46 The All-Time Top 50 C64 Games

• Happy Computer

  • 1986 - Best Action Game of the Year
  • Issue 04/1987 - #4 Best Game in 1986 (Readers' Vote)