# Mike Singleton

> British video game designer (1951-2012)

**Wikidata**: [Q16019563](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16019563)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Singleton)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mike-singleton

## Summary
Mike Singleton was a British video game designer and programmer. He is best known for creating the influential 1984 strategy video game, *The Lords of Midnight*.

## Biography
- **Born:** 1951-02-21 in Ellesmere Port
- **Nationality:** United Kingdom
- **Education:** (Not provided in source material)
- **Known for:** Creating *The Lords of Midnight* (1984 video game)
- **Employer(s):** (Not provided in source material)
- **Field(s):** Game Designer, Programmer, Teacher (until 1980)

## Contributions
Mike Singleton's primary contribution is the video game *The Lords of Midnight*, released in 1984. This game is recognized for its innovative blend of strategy and adventure elements for the ZX Spectrum. It featured large-scale warfare, complex character interaction with AI-controlled lords, and a persistent world map that players could explore freely. Its ambitious scope for the era and its unique gameplay mechanics established Singleton as a significant figure in early British video game design. The game developed a cult following and is considered a landmark title in the history of British computer games.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Mike Singleton's most famous work?
A: Mike Singleton is most famous for creating the 1984 video game *The Lords of Midnight* for the ZX Spectrum.

### Q: What did Mike Singleton do before becoming a full-time game designer?
A: Before focusing on game design, Mike Singleton worked as a teacher until 1980.

### Q: How did Mike Singleton die?
A: Mike Singleton died of cancer on October 10, 2012, in Switzerland.

## Why They Matter
Mike Singleton matters as a pioneer of early British video game design, particularly known for his ambitious *The Lords of Midnight* (1984). This game pushed the boundaries of what was possible on 1980s microcomputers with its complex strategy elements and exploration. His work contributed significantly to the "golden age" of British gaming and influenced subsequent strategy and adventure games. Without Singleton, the landscape of early British computer games, particularly on the ZX Spectrum, would lack one of its most distinctive and ambitious titles.

## Notable For
- Being the creator of *The Lords of Midnight* (1984), a landmark British video game.
- Working as a teacher until 1980 before transitioning full-time to game development.
- Holding British nationality throughout his life and career.
- Dying in Switzerland in 2012.

## Body
### Personal Life
*   **Birth:** Mike Singleton was born on 21 February 1951 in Ellesmere Port.
*   **Death:** He died on 10 October 2012 in Switzerland.
*   **Cause of Death:** Cancer.
*   **Manner of Death:** Natural causes.
*   **Nationality:** United Kingdom.
*   **Gender:** Male.
*   **Languages Spoken:** English.

### Career
*   **Occupations:** Programmer, Game Designer, Teacher (until 1980).
*   **Key Creation:** Developed *The Lords of Midnight* in 1984.
*   **Teaching:** His teaching role ended in 1980.

### Legacy and Recognition
*   **Work:** *The Lords of Midnight* remains his most significant contribution.
*   **Identifier:** Included in NADD Wikidata project.
*   **Cultural Impact:** Recognized as a figure in British video game design history.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/10/16/farewell-to-british-gaming-design-legend-mike-singleton/)
2. [Crash](http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue41/Pages/Crash4100044.jpg)