Bug-Byte

Bug-Byte was founded by Tony Baden and Tony Milner, two Oxford chemistry graduates.{{cite magazine |title=Mersey Byte!|magazine=Big K|issue=4|publisher=IPC|date=July 1984|page=6|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1443&page=6|access-date=20 January 2023}} In 1981 they paid £75 for The Damsel and the Beast for the ZX81, the first game produced by Don Priestley, a former teacher who had learned programming from a night school course.{{cite magazine |title=King Berk|magazine=Your Sinclair|issue=19|publisher=Dennis Publishing|date=July 1987|page=41|author=Phil South|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=240&page=41|access-date=20 January 2023}}{{cite magazine |title=Terry, Arfur and 'Im Upstairs|magazine=Crash|issue=34|publisher=Newsfield|date=November 1986|page=108|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1001&page=107|access-date=20 January 2023}} Priestley produced two further games considered to be classic ZX81 titles, Dictator and Mazogs,{{cite magazine |title=Full Colour|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly|issue=35|publisher=Sunshine Publications|date=1 September 1983|page=46|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2770&page=46|access-date=20 January 2023}}[http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/ystop100.htm "The YS Official Top 100 Part 1"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060816053829/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/ystop100.htm |date=16 August 2006 }} at The Your Sinclair Rock 'n' Roll Years before becoming a director of rival publisher DK'Tronics.

In 1982, Bug-Byte published the first commercially produced games for the BBC Micro and ZX Spectrum, Spacewarp and Spectral Invaders,{{cite magazine |title=Software debut for the ZX82|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly|issue=|publisher=Sunshine Publications|date=1 July 1982|page=5|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2710&page=5|access-date=20 January 2023}}{{cite magazine |title=The New Heroes|magazine=Computer and Video Games Yearbook 1984|issue=|publisher=EMAP|date=October 1983|page=10|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1782&page=10|access-date=20 January 2023}} both developed by David Lawson. Lawson used the profits from his next game, Spectres, to set up Imagine Software with Mark Butler, another Bug-Byte employee. Spectral Invaders was the number one game for the ZX Spectrum in the first UK video game charts published by Popular Computing Weekly in December 1982.{{cite magazine |title=Special Feature: Happy Birthday! |magazine=Popular Computing Weekly |date=1 May 1987 |pages=14–18 (18) |url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1987-05-01/page/n14}}{{cite magazine |title=Top Sellers|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly|issue=33|publisher=Sunshine Publications|date=2 December 1982|page=31|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2732&page=31|access-date=20 January 2023}}

In 1983, Bug-Byte published Styx, the first game from a three-game contract with Matthew Smith. His second, Manic Miner, originated in a request from Bug-Byte's Despatch Manager Alan Maton for a Donkey Kong style-game.{{cite magazine |title=Matthew uncaged|magazine=Sinclair User|issue=33|publisher=EMAP|date=December 1984|pages=88–92|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=33&page=89|access-date=20 January 2023}} Manic Miner became the best selling video game in the country within weeks of its release,{{cite magazine |title=Manic Miner|magazine=Personal Computer Games|issue=|publisher=VNU|date=December 1983|page=97|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1618&page=97|access-date=20 January 2023}} but a dispute over royalties led to Smith creating his own publishing company Software Projects, and taking Manic Miner, and Maton, with him.

The company had several lesser hits over the next year including The Birds and the Bees (written by Matthew Smith's school friend Adrian Sherwin{{cite magazine |title=Bee line to success|magazine=Sinclair User|issue=24|publisher=ECC|date=March 1984|pages=62–63|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=24&page=62|access-date=20 January 2023}}), the sequel Antics and the text adventure Twin Kingdom Valley which reached number one in the BBC micro charts.{{cite magazine |title=Charts|magazine=Acorn User|issue=21|publisher=Redwood|date=April 1984|page=16}} In early 1985 it was being reported that the company was having cash flow problems{{cite magazine |title=Gossip|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=43|publisher=EMAP|date=May 1985|page=19|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1494&page=19|access-date=20 January 2023}} which soon led to liquidation.{{cite magazine |date=June 1985 |title=Births, marriages and deaths |url=https://worldofspectrum.org/archive/magazines/sinclair-user/39#4 |access-date=29 March 2025 |magazine=Sinclair User |publisher=EMAP |page=5 |issue=39}}

Later in 1985 the rights to their name and logo were purchased by Argus Press PLC for use as a budget software label.{{cite magazine |title=Old name – new homes|magazine=Home Computing Weekly|issue=|publisher=Argus Specialist Publications|date=10 September 1985|page=1|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2695&page=1|access-date=20 January 2023}} Along with original releases, they re-issued titles from the Argus Press Software back-catalogue and games previously published by Quicksilva and Starcade, which it had also recently acquired.{{cite magazine|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly|date=7 June 1984|title=Argus buys out Quicksilva|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2809&page=1|page=1|access-date=20 January 2023}}{{cite magazine|magazine=Home Computing Weekly|date=23 October 1984|title=News|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2651&page=6|page=6|access-date=20 January 2023}}

In 1986, Tennis topped the BBC charts{{cite magazine |title=Charts|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly|issue=26|publisher=Sunshine Publications|date=26 June 1986|page=46|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2914&page=46|access-date=20 January 2023}} and their re-releases of American Football and Alien both reached the all-formats top 10 budget chart.{{cite magazine |title=The Charts|magazine=Your Computer|issue=2|publisher=IPC|date=February 1987|page=16|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=207&page=16|access-date=20 January 2023}}

In 1987, Argus Press Software was purchased by its managing director, Stephen Hall, renamed Grandslam Entertainment{{cite magazine |title=Whodunwat|magazine=Sinclair User|issue=70|publisher=EMAP|date=16 December 1987|page=8|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=70&page=8|access-date=25 September 2022}} and the Bug-Byte range was given a rebranding.{{cite magazine |title=Nit Bytes|magazine=Crash|issue=56|publisher=Newsfield|date=September 1988|page=8|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1023&page=8|access-date=20 January 2023}} The rights to Domark's games were also obtained resulting in re-releases of games including A View to a Kill and Split Personalities. The final few games were published under the name "Bug-Byte Premier" at a slightly higher price.

{{Div col}}

• Backgammon (1981)
• Breakout (1981)
• Chess (1981)
• Invaders (1981){{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/6655/Invaders/|title = Invaders - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• The Damsel and the Beast (1981)
• Asteroids (1982){{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/12677/Asteroids/|title = Asteroids - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• Dictator (1982){{Cite web|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.php?cat=96&id=31591|title=Dictator at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware}}
• Dragon Quest (1982){{Cite web|url=http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=1623|title = Dragon Quest}}
• Mazogs (1982)
• Panic (1982)
• Space Pirates (1982){{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/17716/Space-Pirates/|title = Space Pirates - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• Spacewarp (1982){{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/20796/Spacewarp/|title = Spacewarp - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• Spectral Invaders (1982){{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/30184/Spectral-Invaders/|title=Spectral Invaders - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• Spectres (1982){{cite web |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/crash-9YY2/20210225/281543704027534 |title = }}
• Another Vic in the Wall (1983){{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/commodore-user-magazine-07/Commodore_User_Issue_07_1984_Apr#page/n19/mode/2up|title = Commodore User Magazine Issue 07|date = April 1984}}
• Aquarius (1983)
• Cavern Fighter (1983){{cite web|url=https://worldofspectrum.org//pub/sinclair/games-inlays/c/CavernFighter.jpg|title=Cavern Fighter|publisher=World of Spectrum}}
• City Defence (1983)
• Cosmiads (1983)
• Galaxy Wars (1983){{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/17715/Galaxy-Wars/|title=Galaxy Wars - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• Manic Miner (1983)
• Old Father Time{{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/17718/Old-Father-Time/|title = Old Father Time - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• Pool (1983)
• Scramble (1983)
• Sea Lord (1983){{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/4285/Sea-Lord/|title = Sea Lord - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• Space Invaders (1983)
• Styx (1983)
• The Birds and the Bees (1983)
• The Castle (1983){{cite web |url=https://worldofspectrum.org/archive/software/text-adventures/the-castle-bug-byte-software-ltd |title = The Castle}}
• Twin Kingdom Valley (1983)
• Up up and away (1983)
• Vic Men (1983)
• Vic Panic (1983){{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/52426/VIC%20Panic/|title=Vic Panic - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• Fridge Frenzy (1984)
• Kung-Fu (1984)
• Rapscallion (1984)
• Star Trader (1984)
• Turmoil (1984)
• Automan (1985)
• Stay Kool (1985)
• The Birds and the Bees II: Antics (1985)

{{Div col end}}

{{Div col}}

• Bomber Bob (1985)
• Cricket (1985)
• Diagon (1985)
• Ice Hockey (1985)
• Jack Attack (1985)
• Ludoids (1985)
• Savage Pond (1985)
• Star Force Seven (1985)
• Tennis (1985)
• Zoot (1985)
• Aardvark (1986)
• BOP! (1986)
• Flyer Fox (1986)
• Hoodoo Voodoo (1986)
• Hunkidory (1986){{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/17723/Hunkidory/|title = Hunkidory - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• Jeep Command (1986)
• Leaper (1986)
• Miami Dice (1986)
• Plan B (1986){{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/18720/Plan-B/|title = Plan B - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• Roboto (1986)
• Sky Hawk (1986)
• Time Trax (1986){{cite web |url=https://www.generation-msx.nl/software/bug-byte-software/time-trax/2871/ |title = Time Trax (1986, MSX, Bug-Byte Software) {{!}} Generation MSX}}
• Uranians (1986){{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/17714/Uranians/|title=Uranians - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• Dunjunz (1987)
• Head Start (1987)
• Megarok (1987){{Cite web|url=http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=840|title = Megarok}}
• Nick Faldo Plays The Open (1987)
• Rubicon (1987)
• Plan B2 (1987)
• Spellseeker (1987)
• Squeakaliser (1987)
• Star Soldier (1987)
• Strangeloop (1987){{cite web|url=https://worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/games-inlays/Rereleases/s/Strangeloop(Bug-ByteSoftwareLtd).jpg|publisher=Spectrum Computing|title=Strangeloop}}
• Templeton (1987){{cite web |url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/37058/Templeton/ |title = Templeton - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• The Pay-Off (1987)
• Piggy (1988)
• Droid Dreams (1988)
• STI (Search for Terrestrial Intelligence) (1988)
• Test Cricket (1988)

{{Div col end}}

{{Div col}}

• Elevator Action (1988)
• Galaga (1988)
• Gladiator (1988)
• Grange Hill (1988){{Cite web|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/zxdb/sinclair/entries/0002120/GrangeHill(Bug-ByteSoftware).jpg|title=Grange Hill|publisher=Spectrum Computing}}
• International Cricket (1988)
• Kat Trap (1988)
• Little Green Man (1988)
• Monkey Nuts (1988){{Cite web|url=http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=640|title = Monkey Nuts}}
• Orbix The Terrorball (1988){{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0003541|title = World of Spectrum - Orbix the Terrorball}}
• Pi-R Squared (1988)
• Split Personalities (1988)
• Yabba Dabba Doo! (1988)
• Codename Mat 2 (1989)

on the "Bug-Byte Premier" label:

• Terramex (1989){{cite web |url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/51224/Terramex/ |title = Terramex - Software - Game - Computing History}}
• Chubby Gristle (1989)
• Power Pyramids (1989)
• Peter Beardsley's International Football (1989)
• The Flintstones (1989)

{{Div col end}}

• [https://retromuseums.com/bug-byte-gallery/ Game Cover Gallery Bug-Byte]
• [https://retromuseums.com/bug-byte-softology/ Game Softology Bug-Byte]

Category:Video game development companies

Category:Video game publishers

Category:Video game companies established in 1980

Category:Video game companies disestablished in 1986

Category:Defunct video game companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Defunct companies based in Liverpool