Pioneering gaming twins launch free Easter trail

A pair of pioneering twins who revolutionised the gaming industry have launched a free interactive Easter trail in the Wiltshire town where they grew up.

Philip and Andrew Oliver, 58, began their career in 1982 on one of the world's first home computers - soon becoming one of the UK's leading video game producers.

Their new game 'Billy Bunny's Easter Egg Hunt' will take place later in Trowbridge, inviting families to track down lost eggs at nine locations across the town.

Trowbridge Chamber director Megan Witty said the partnered event was a "great way of demonstrating how technology can revitalise the town centre experience".

The Oliver twins have developed more than 50 games, with more than half becoming number one UK bestsellers.

The birth of their famous Dizzy series was pivotal in establishing their publisher, Codemasters, as a global software brand.

Their designs led to around five million sales, and at one point represented more than 15% of all game sales in the UK.

They also founded Blitz Games in 1990, which grew into one of Europe's most successful independent games developers.

Scanning the first QR code at the toy shop on Castle Street will activate an animation of Billy Bunny asking for help to find his stolen eggs.

At each stop, families solve a riddle to play the next instalment of the story, before hunting for the next clue by exploring more businesses in the town.

The event is taking place in partnership with Trowbridge Chamber, a charity which supports local businesses.

The chamber organises regular town centre trails throughout the year - including a nature art, snowman and pumpkin trail - but this is the first digital one.

"We are thrilled that Panivox has offered their new digital adventure to Trowbridge, which will be a great way of demonstrating how technology can revitalise the town centre experience," the chamber said.

The interactive trail celebrates the launch of the twins' latest company, Panivox.

"It's fantastic to bring one of our early new trials back to Trowbridge, where our story began," Philip said.

"We designed the Panivox platform, RichCast, to make creating engaging, interactive stories incredibly easy, and this Easter trail demonstrates that perfectly.

"We hope the community enjoys helping Billy Bunny."

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