Manic Miner
{{Short description|1983 video game}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Manic Miner
|image = Manic miner bugbyte.jpg
|caption = Cassette inlay
|developer =
|publisher = Bug-Byte (August 1983){{cite magazine |title=Matthew uncaged|magazine=Sinclair User|issue=33|publisher=EMAP|date=December 1984|page=88-92|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=33&page=89|access-date=17 February 2023}}
Software Projects (Nov 1983){{cite magazine |title=Bug-Byte loses claim to fame|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly|issue=49|publisher=Sunshine Publications|date=8 December 1983|page=5|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2784&page=5|access-date=28 January 2023}}
Amsoft (1985)
|designer = Matthew Smith
|programmer = Matthew Smith (Spectrum)
|engine =
|released = 1983
|genre = Platform
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = ZX Spectrum, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 16, Commodore 64, Dragon 32/64, MSX, Oric, SAM Coupé, Tatung Einstein, MTX, PMD 85, Game Boy Advance, Xbox 360, Mobile
}}
Manic Miner is a platform game written for the ZX Spectrum by Matthew Smith. It was published by Bug-Byte in 1983, then later the same year by Software Projects.{{cite magazine|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2800&page=12|volume=3|issue=14|page=12|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly|date=April 1984|author=Graham Taylor|access-date=17 February 2023|title=And pigs will fly... Graham Taylor talks to Matthew Smith and Alan Maton of Software Projects}} The first game in the Miner Willy series, the design was inspired by Miner 2049er (1982) for the Atari 8-bit computers.{{cite magazine |title=Software Superstars|magazine=Big K|issue=12|publisher=IPC|date=March 1985|page=34|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1448&page=34|access-date=29 January 2023}}{{cite journal |title=Hall of the Miner King |journal=Retro Gamer |author=Martyn Carroll|publisher=Live Publishing |page=26 |issue=1 |date=January 2004}} Retro Gamer called Manic Miner one of the most influential platform games of all time,{{cite magazine |title=Contents|magazine=Retro Gamer|issue=48 |publisher=Imagine Publishing |date=28 February 2008|page=4}} and it has been ported to numerous home computers, video game consoles, and mobile phones.
Gameplay
File:Manic Miner Screenshot.png
In each of the twenty caverns, each one screen in size, are several flashing objects, which the player must collect before Willy's oxygen supply runs out. Once the player has collected the objects in one cavern, they must then go to the now-flashing portal, which will take them to the next cavern. The player must avoid enemies, listed in the cassette inlay as "...Poisonous Pansies, Spiders, Slime, and worst of all, Manic Mining Robots..." which move along predefined paths at constant speeds. Willy can also be killed by falling too far, so players must time the precision of jumps and other movements to prevent such falls or collisions with the enemies.
Extra lives are gained every 10,000 points, and the game ends when the player has no lives left. Above the final portal is a garden. To the right is a house with a white picket fence and red car parked in front. To the left is a slope leading to backyard with a pond and tree; a white animal, resembling a cat or mouse, watches the sun set behind the pond. Upon gaining his freedom, the game restarts from the first level with no increase in difficulty.
The in-game music is In the Hall of the Mountain King{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/retro-gamer/20210121/281668257620123|title=|via=PressReader|accessdate=13 December 2023}} from Edvard Grieg's music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt. The music that plays during the title screen is an arrangement of The Blue Danube.
Development and release
Manic Miner was developed by Matthew Smith following a request for a Donkey Kong style arcade game from Alan Maton, Bug-Byte's despatch manager. It was Smith's second game for the publisher following Styx.{{cite magazine |last1=Drury |first1=Paul |title=The Making of Styx |work=Retro Gamer |issue=117 |publisher=Imagine Publishing |date=June 2013 |page=43}} Both games were among nine titles launched by Bug-Byte at The Computer Fair at Earls Court in June 1983.{{cite magazine |title=Advert: The Computer Fair: Earls Court 16th-19th June 1983|magazine=Your Computer|issue=8|publisher=IPC|date=June 1983|page=202|url=https://archive.org/details/your-computer-magazine-1983-06/page/n201/|access-date=28 January 2023}} Initially Manic Miner had sixteen screens{{cite magazine |title=Special Report: It's all new. What we found at the Computer Fair|magazine=Home Computing Weekly|issue=17|publisher=Argus Specialist Publications|date=28 June 1983|page=36|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2583&page=36|access-date=28 January 2023}}{{cite magazine |title=Sixteen Screens of Danger!|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=22|publisher=EMAP|date=16 July 1983|page=17|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1473&page=17|access-date=20 June 2025}}{{cite magazine |title=Bug Byte’s back|magazine=Personal Computer News|issue=18|publisher=VNU|date=7 July 1983|page=7|url=https://archive.org/details/Personal-Computer-News/PersonalComputerNews018-13Jul1983/page/n8/mode/1up?view=theater|access-date=20 June 2025}} until Smith found a way to add four more, finally finishing the game in August 1983.
While Styx had been sold outright to Bug-Byte for £3000, Manic Miner was published under licence and Smith was able to cancel the licence later that year. On 28th November, Software Projects - a company formed by Smith, Maton and Liverpool businessman Tommy Barton - released their own version of Manic Miner. Minor alterations were made to the graphics, changing some enemies from Bug-Byte logos and changing others to Penrose triangles (Software Projects' logo).{{cite magazine |last1=Drury |first1=Paul |title=The Making of Manic Miner |work=Retro Gamer |issue=48 |publisher=Imagine Publishing |date=28 February 2008 |pages=22-27}} Bug-Byte were able to continue selling their version of the game over the Christmas period with the Software Projects release not becoming the most circulated version until early 1984.
Ports
File:ManicMinerLoadingScreen.gif
The game was officially ported to the Amiga,{{Cite web|url=https://amigareviews.leveluphost.com/manicmin.htm#manicmineraf|title = Amiga Reviews: Manic Miner}} Amstrad CPC,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/|title=GamesRadar+|website=gamesradar}} BBC Micro,{{Cite web|url=http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=188|title = Manic Miner}} Commodore 16, Commodore 64,{{Cite web|url=https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/manic-miner/|title=Manic Miner | Retro Gamer|first1=© Future Publishing Limited Quay|last1=House|first2=The|last2=Ambury|first3=Bath BA1 1UA All rights reserved|last3=Engl|first4=Wales company registration|last4=number 2008885|website=www.retrogamer.net|date=16 September 2009}} Dragon 32/64, Game Boy Advance,{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1795707.stm|title=Updated Manic Miner to return|date=February 1, 2002|via=news.bbc.co.uk}} mobile phones.{{cite web|url=http://www.matica.com/mobile_Phone_Java_Game.php?gameID=4 |title=Mobile phone java game for download |publisher=Matica.com |date=2007-07-13 |access-date=2011-03-28}} MSX, Oric 1, and SAM Coupé,
=SAM Coupé=
File:SAM Coupé Manic Miner.png
The SAM Coupé version, programmed by Matthew Holt, like the ZX original requires pixel-perfect timing, and both graphics and audio, the latter by František Fuka, were greatly updated. In addition to the original twenty caverns, forty additional caverns were included in this release. Levels were designed by David Ledbury, and winners of a competition run by SAM Computers Ltd.{{cite web|url=https://www.worldofsam.org/products/manic-miner |title=Manic Miner|publisher = World of Sam |access-date=2025-06-10}}
=Dragon 32/64=
The Dragon 32 version, programmed by Roy Coates, has a cheat mode accessed by typing "P", "P", "ENGUIN".{{cite magazine |title=Manic-Miner cheats the official version|magazine=Dragon User|issue=27|publisher=Sunshine Publications|date=July 1985|page=23|url=https://archive.org/details/dragon-user-magazine-27/page/n21/mode/2up|access-date=10 June 2025}} To retain the resolution of the original, the Dragon version has black and white graphics.{{cite magazine |title=Dragonsoft – Rampage|magazine=Dragon User|issue=20|publisher=Sunshine Publications|date=December 1984|page=11|url=https://archive.org/details/dragon-user-magazine-20/page/n11/mode/2up|access-date=10 June 2025}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| award1Pub = Crash
| award1 = Crash SmashGame review, Crash magazine, Newsfield Publications, issue 64, May 1989
}}
In August 1983, sales of Bug-Byte's original ZX Spectrum release of Manic Miner took the game to the top of the UK video games charts replacing Jet Pac.{{cite magazine |title=MRIB Charts (two weeks to 1st Sept 83)|magazine=Personal Computer News|volume=1|issue=27|publisher=VNU|date=8 September 1983|page=10|url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews027-14Sep1983/page/n11/mode/2up|access-date=28 January 2023}} The Commodore 64 version, released by Software Projects, reached the number one position in early 1984.{{cite magazine |title=Top 30|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=30|publisher=EMAP|date=April 1984|page=99|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1481&page=99|access-date=28 January 2023}} It went on to become the best selling Commodore 64 game and third best selling ZX Spectrum game of 1984.{{cite magazine|title=The Year's Top 10 Games|magazine=Computer and Video Games 1985 Yearbook |publisher=EMAP|page=88 |url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1783&page=88}}
The SAM Coupé version scored 84% in Your Sinclair{{cite web |url=http://ysrnry.co.uk/articles/sammanicminer.htm |title=Manic Miner (SAM) |website=ysrnry.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000915124550/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/sammanicminer.htm |archive-date=2000-09-15}} and 88% in Crash.{{Cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/98/manicminer.htm|title = CRASH 98 - Manic Miner (SAM)}}
Manic Miner was the winner of "Best Arcade Style Game", and placed third in the "Game of the Year" category at the 1983 Golden Joystick Awards voted for by readers of Computer and Video Games magazine.{{cite journal |title=The Golden Joystick Awards |journal=Computer and Video Games |issue=29 |date=March 1984 |page=15|publisher=Future Publishing|url=https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_029_1984-03_EMAP_Publishing_GB/Computer__Video_Games_Issue_029_1984-03_EMAP_Publishing_GB#page/n14/mode/1up}} Manic Miner was placed at number 25 in the "Your Sinclair official top 100"{{cite journal|date=October 1991 |title=The YS Top 100 Speccy Games Of All Time (Ever!) |journal=Your Sinclair |issue=70 |pages=31 |url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/ystop100.htm |access-date=2006-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060816053829/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/ystop100.htm |archive-date=16 August 2006 |url-status=dead}} Spectrum games of all time, and was later voted number 6 in the Readers' Top 100 Games of All Time.{{cite journal|title=Readers' Top 100 Games of All Time|journal=Your Sinclair|date=September 1993}}
In 1991, ACE magazine listed Manic Miner and its sequel Jet Set Willy, along with Hunchback, Impossible Mission, and the Mario series, as the greatest platform games of all time, calling Manic Miner "the first great home computer platform game".{{cite magazine |title=The Greatest Games Of All Time Part One|magazine=ACE|issue=41 |publisher=Future Publishing |date=January 1991|page=63|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=1767&page=64|access-date=6 May 2021}}
The game was #97 on Polygon's 2017 retrospective list of the 500 best games of all time.{{Cite news|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/12/1/16707720/the-500-best-games-of-all-time-100-1|title=The 500 best games of all time: 100-1|work=Polygon|access-date=2018-09-02}}
Legacy
Unofficial ports exist for the Acorn Archimedes, Acorn Atom,{{cite web|url=https://github.com/oss003/Manic-Miner |title=An Acorn BBC conversion of Manic Miner for the Acorn Atom |work=oss003 |date=2017-02-12 |access-date=2017-06-19}} Acorn Electron, Atari ST, Cambridge Z88, Commodore 128,[http://polluks.freeshell.org/download/manic%20miner%20128 Manic Miner] freeshell.org HP48, Linux, Macintosh, Microsoft Windows, MS-DOS, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Nintendo 64, Orao, Playdate,{{Cite web|url=https://ramokromok.com/manic-miner-comes-to-playdate|title=Manic Miner Comes to Playdate|website=ramokromok.com|date=24 July 2023}} PlayStation, PMD 85, TRS-80 Color Computer, VIC-20,{{Cite web|url=http://www.sleepingelephant.com/ipw-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=8836|title=WIP: Manic Miner port - Denial|website=www.sleepingelephant.com}} Zune,{{cite web|url=http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/download-completed-games/34900-manic-miner-3-0-zune.html |title=Manic Miner for 3.0 Zune |publisher=ZuneBoards |date=2008-11-01 |access-date=2011-03-28}} and ZX81.
The sequel to Manic Miner is Jet Set Willy, and was followed by Jet Set Willy II. Software Projects also released a game in the style of Manic Miner for the VIC-20 called The Perils of Willy.http://www.uvlist.net/game-104601-The+Perils+of+Willy The Perils of Willy, Universal Videogame List
Manic Miner 360 was released for the Xbox 360 as an Xbox Live Indie Game in June 2012.{{cite web |url=http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/Product/Manic-Miner-360/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550b57 | title=Manic Miner 360 - Xbox.com | access-date=2012-08-21}}{{cite web | url = https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2012/06/21/manic-miner-lands-on-xbox-360/ | title = Manic Miner Lands On Xbox 360 {{!}} TheSixthAxis | date = 21 June 2012}}
A homage to the Manic Miner loading screen appears in one episode of the 2005 British sitcom Nathan Barley.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{WoS game|id=0003012}}
- [https://worldofspectrum.org/archive/software/games/manic-miner-bug-byte-software-ltd Manic Miner] at World Of Spectrum
- {{moby game|id=/manic-miner|name=Manic Miner}}
- [https://archive.org/details/C64Gamevideoarchive30-ManicMiner/ Complete video from the C64 Version] on archive.org
- [http://www.nowgamer.com/features/556/the-making-of-manic-miner Retro Gamer Magazine: The Making Of Manic Miner]
- [http://funhtml5games.com/?play=manicminer HTML5 version]
- [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nenad.OraoEmu Android Orao emulator containing Manic Miner]
Category:BBC Micro and Acorn Electron games
Category:Bug-Byte Software games
Category:Commodore 16 and Plus/4 games
Category:Game Boy Advance games
Category:Golden Joystick Award winners
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Software Projects games
Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom