Nice read, Pete. Thanks for sharing!PeteProdge wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2019 1:17 pmYeah, from doing research for this, I've learnt that Bug-Byte (and its future labelmate Quicksilva) had games ready for the Spectrum pretty much off the bat. QuickSilva especially so, according to this story from an employee.Juan F. Ramirez wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2019 11:34 pm Spectral Invaders has the charm of being considered one of the first Spectrum games, published in 1982.
The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
Cavern Fighter wasn't bad, even enjoyed Kung Fu now and then, slow as it was. Styx also a good one, but Manic Miner stands tall. When i think about Manic Miner though, i would always think "Software Projects" rather than BugByte, maybe thats the version i had. Interestingly, what were the differences in the 2 releases?
I don't have anything cool to put here, so i'll just be off now to see a priest with yeast stuck between his teeth and his friend called Keith who's a hairpiece thief...
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
According to Wikipedia...
- In Processing Plant, the enemy at the end of the conveyor belt is a bush in the original, whereas the Software Projects one resembles a PacMan ghost.
- In Amoebatrons' Revenge, the original Bug-Byte amoebatrons look like alien octopuses with tentacles hanging down, whereas the Software Projects amoebatrons resemble the Bug-Byte logo - smiling beetles, with little legs up their sides.
- In The Warehouse, the original game has threshers travelling up and down the vertical slots, rotating about the screen's X-axis. The Software Projects version has 'impossible triangle' sprites (i.e. the Software Projects logo) instead, which rotate about the screen's Z-axis.
- The Bug-Byte cheat code was the numerical sequence "6031769" - based on Matthew Smith's driving licence. In the Software Projects version this changed to "typewriter".
- Internal code changes meant that a new POKE was required for infinite lives.
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
Maybe I'm using rose-tainted glasses, but I've always been fond of The Birds and The Bees. I discovered the game even before I learned about the birds and the bees.
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
I'm pretty sure I read somewhere at the time that Spectral Invaders was written for the Spectrum before Bug Byte received their first Spectrum, using the manual to understand the screen layout. May have just been marketing fluff but I was seriously impressed. But I never thought Space Invaders was interesting to play.
A friend of mine wrote to Bug Byte to ask what Styz was like and they sent him the game free !
Strangely enough I spent more time playing Bug Byte Pool than any other title over the years, it was soothing and quietly addictive. Though of course Manic Miner was a revelation and an addiction when it appeared, but like others here I thought it was Software Projects. We can't let it win best game for two software houses can we ?
A friend of mine wrote to Bug Byte to ask what Styz was like and they sent him the game free !
Strangely enough I spent more time playing Bug Byte Pool than any other title over the years, it was soothing and quietly addictive. Though of course Manic Miner was a revelation and an addiction when it appeared, but like others here I thought it was Software Projects. We can't let it win best game for two software houses can we ?
Definition of loop : see loop
Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
Hours of fun playing that game. Only played real pool years later, when I went to high school.
Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
I'll refrain from voting MM as well. There are quite a few games I need to remind myself of, and some I've never heard of.
I had a blast on Roboto (aka Myla D'Kaitch before it took LSD). It's not bad. Definitely one to file under 'charmingly quirky'.
I had a blast on Roboto (aka Myla D'Kaitch before it took LSD). It's not bad. Definitely one to file under 'charmingly quirky'.
Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
Disregarding MM my vote would go to Turmoil. A great platform game BITD and I love the way the oil has dual uses. It was really fun setting traps for the Arab enemies.
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
There was an interview with Sandy White a few years ago in one of the Edge Retro magazines where he and his girlfriend (Angela Sutherford?) were helping out at a PCW show on the Quicksilva stand. It was closing time and it became apparent that SW/AS literally had nowhere to go. So the Quicksilva boss opened the cash till, took out all of the notes they'd made at the show, and placed the lot in SW's hands. Pretty cool.PeteProdge wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2019 1:17 pmYeah, from doing research for this, I've learnt that Bug-Byte (and its future labelmate Quicksilva) had games ready for the Spectrum pretty much off the bat. QuickSilva especially so, according to this story from an employee.Juan F. Ramirez wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2019 11:34 pm Spectral Invaders has the charm of being considered one of the first Spectrum games, published in 1982.
ZX Spectrum Reviews REST API: http://zxspectrumreviews.co.uk/
Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
What impressed me with Turmoil was how the oil drops were moved by the conveyer belts - an actual physics engine at work!
And how the enemies followed the same movement rules as the player, instead of just floating along fixed paths. Quite advanced features for the time.
But even so, Manic Miner is still a long way in front of anything else on that list for playability.
And how the enemies followed the same movement rules as the player, instead of just floating along fixed paths. Quite advanced features for the time.
But even so, Manic Miner is still a long way in front of anything else on that list for playability.
Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
I have fond memories of a few of these early games.. Styx, Cavern Fighter, The Birds and the Bees and Aquarius were all playable and enjoyable.
Will probably still end up voting for 'you-know-what' (as long as it's not going to appear under Software Projects.. We all remember 'Deathchasegate'). I think it's stood the test of time the best.
Will probably still end up voting for 'you-know-what' (as long as it's not going to appear under Software Projects.. We all remember 'Deathchasegate'). I think it's stood the test of time the best.
My Speccy site: thirdharmoniser.com
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
It won't. Someone else in this thread wisely pointed out that the Software Projects issue is in effect, a re-release, and I won't count re-releases in these polls, they'll always be attributed to the software house that first published the game.
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
Antics is the second best.
Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
I think Turmoil is excellent fun, and well worth returning to for a play now. I wrote a review of it a few years ago, and I submit it here now, as evidence as to why Turmoil is the best one on this list. (Okay, okay, ... everyone knows that Willy wins, but still...)
Years before Grand Theft Auto corrupted our youth, there was David Turner’s arcade-platformer teaching us to steal cars. As scouser Mic Mechanic your aim is to rob Sheikh Abdul Al Kohol of his prized vehicles – by navigating through 26 increasingly difficult single screen levels containing trampolines, conveyer belts, swinging ropes and moving platforms. You’ll need to collect an oil jug, fill it with stolen oil from the leaky tank, and then drop it into the (increasingly expensive looking) cars, which will then drive away to the next stage. This would be easy if it weren’t for a couple of angry Arabs patrolling the play field. These could well be the most unintentionally hilarious characters of the era - they frantically wield sticks and rush around menacingly – but at each junction they change direction randomly. This causes them to behave very erratically, and they could often appear to spend more time playing on the ropes and trampolines then dealing with you. When cornered, Mic was not completely helpless if he’d previously filled his jug. He could drop a little oil for the Arabs to fatally slip on, although Mic himself was similarly vulnerable, so care needed to be taken.
Graphics were very nicely drawn and animated and although colour clash and flicker were present it was never enough to spoil the fun – and the lenient collision detection allowed for nicely fluid fast-paced play. Throughout the action a musical accompaniment of ‘March Of The Toreadors’ played – but as it is only 24 bars long you’d soon be pressing ‘enter’ and replacing it with sound effects or silence (and speeding up the action slightly by doing so).
Helpfully a ‘training mode’ was offered which enabled starting the game at level 9 (‘I’) or 19 (‘S’) but played without keeping score. This was great way to see some of the later stages, which would otherwise have been a gargantuan task.
We now live in politically sensitive times where this kind of game and inlay blurb would never be created for fear of offending someone. That’s a great shame as this game is immensely good fun with inventive level design and excellent gameplay. It has consequently aged far better than many of its more famous contemporaries.
David Turner was just 18 when he wrote this, and I take my oil-stained hat off to him.
Last edited by uglifruit on Wed May 15, 2019 3:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
Ahhh, Turmoil! My very second Spectrum game! Except it stopped working after a few days and I had to return it. Unfortunately they had no other copies so I made do with Pitfall II instead.
Rapscallion is a real forgotten gem. Written by Albert Ball of Jumping Jack fame, it feels like a more arcade version of Adventure for the Atari 2600. My friend had it when I was young and I remember being amazed by the graphics at the time!
Rapscallion is a real forgotten gem. Written by Albert Ball of Jumping Jack fame, it feels like a more arcade version of Adventure for the Atari 2600. My friend had it when I was young and I remember being amazed by the graphics at the time!
Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
I hate Turmoil
Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
JSW will inevitably win the Software Projects one anyway.PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2019 1:42 pmIt won't. Someone else in this thread wisely pointed out that the Software Projects issue is in effect, a re-release, and I won't count re-releases in these polls, they'll always be attributed to the software house that first published the game.
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
Gah, I hate that the first two polls I've planned for software houses, are pretty much forgone conclusions! As I say though, we can all turn our eyes to who comes second...AndyC wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2019 6:40 pmJSW will inevitably win the Software Projects one anyway.PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2019 1:42 pm It won't. Someone else in this thread wisely pointed out that the Software Projects issue is in effect, a re-release, and I won't count re-releases in these polls, they'll always be attributed to the software house that first published the game.
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
Well, I'd decided not to go for the obvious MM, but for what likely will come second - Turmoil. My earlier pun aside, I always thought it was one of the most slick/professional titles Bug Byte put out.PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2019 1:42 pm
Gah, I hate that the first two polls I've planned for software houses, are pretty much forgone conclusions! As I say though, we can all turn our eyes to who comes second...
Though granted, it's no Zythum (by Mirrorsoft).
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
I'll have to stress that I don't want people voting for any plucky underdogs for the sake of it. If you think Manic Miner is the best of Bug-Byte's arsenal (and why not? It very probably is!), vote for it. I know I am.DouglasReynholm wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2019 9:39 pmWell, I'd decided not to go for the obvious MM, but for what likely will come second - Turmoil. My earlier pun aside, I always thought it was one of the most slick/professional titles Bug Byte put out.PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2019 1:42 pm Gah, I hate that the first two polls I've planned for software houses, are pretty much forgone conclusions! As I say though, we can all turn our eyes to who comes second...
In an ideal world, we'd have 2nd and 3rd voting preferences here.
Ah, Zythum could well top the Mirrorsoft poll. Well, if Tetris didn't exist...
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
A couple of really odd ways to spell 'Dynamite Dan' there!PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed May 15, 2019 9:46 pm Ah, Zythum could well top the Mirrorsoft poll. Well, if Tetris didn't exist...
Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
There's a nice article about Turmoil in Sinclair Programs:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/mag.php ... 12&page=34
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/mag.php ... 12&page=34
Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
I've got the say Spectral Invaders. Not particularly for the gameplay but for the fact it was the first smooth (non character based) Spectrum game I ever saw and it was a game changer for me!
I distinctly remember seeing it demo'd on a table at an early ZX Microfair. It must've been on the Bug Byte stand and I remember it being at the far side of the hall. My friend and I bought a copy!
The "white-noise" explosion sound in Spectral Invaders was also a first. Up until then I'd only heard Spectrums emit musical beeps so this also opened up a world of sound effect opportunities that inspired me.
I think Spectres was also released around that time and it too featured hi-res movement that was so captivating in a Spectrum universe that had up until now only utilised character-based movement.
I distinctly remember seeing it demo'd on a table at an early ZX Microfair. It must've been on the Bug Byte stand and I remember it being at the far side of the hall. My friend and I bought a copy!
The "white-noise" explosion sound in Spectral Invaders was also a first. Up until then I'd only heard Spectrums emit musical beeps so this also opened up a world of sound effect opportunities that inspired me.
I think Spectres was also released around that time and it too featured hi-res movement that was so captivating in a Spectrum universe that had up until now only utilised character-based movement.
Cosmium
https://cosmium.itch.io/
https://cosmium.itch.io/
Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
My Top 3 would look like this:
1. Turmoil
2. Aquarius
3. Antics
1. Turmoil
2. Aquarius
3. Antics
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Re: The best Speccy game by Bug-Byte: discussion
One of their weirdest games is Dogsbody. Weird plot and weird artwork: