FIREBIRD
Firebird was the main label of Telecomsoft, the software arm of UK phone company, British Telecom. Elite was their biggest hit although their versions of the Acornsoft original didn't start appearing until mid 1985. Elite was published under the "Gold Edition" branding, a premium product line which was soon superseded by Telecomsoft's other premium label, Rainbird.
Other Firebird sub-labels included "Hot" (full-price), "Super Silver" (mid-price), and the "Silver" budget range which started off at £2.50 but was soon rebranded to "Silver 199" to compete with the £1.99 price of other budget publishers like Mastertronic.
The budget range was relaunched as Silverbird in 1988, but lasted less than a year before being sold off by MicroProse when they bought Telecomsoft in early 1989. MicroProse continued to use the Firebird and Rainbird labels for several years.
The most notable hit from the MicroProse Firebird era was Rick Dangerous, developed by a group of former Gremlin employees called "Core Design" who would go on to create Tomb Raider.
Total Associated Releases: 77
| Months in Top 10 | Months at No 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | 2 | |
 Thrust FIREBIRD / SILVER 199 / SUPERIOR SOFTWARE April 1986 to June 1987 Months in Top 10: 10 Months at No 1: 4 |
10 | 4 |
 |
8 | 1 |
 |
7 | 0 |
| 7 | 1 | |
 The Happiest Days of Your Life FIREBIRD / SILVER 199 September to December 1986 Months in Top 10: 4 Months at No 1: 0 |
4 | 0 |
 Back to the Future FIREBIRD / SILVER 199 August 1987 to April 1988 Months in Top 10: 2 Months at No 1: 0 |
2 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 |
2 | 1 |
 |
0 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | |
 Arcade Classics FIREBIRD / SILVER 199 September 1987 to January 1988 Months in Top 10: 1 Months at No 1: 0 |
1 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 |
3 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 Starstrike II FIREBIRD / GOLD / REALTIME GAMES March to October 1986 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
4 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | |
 |
1 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | |
 Micro Rhythm Plus FIREBIRD / SILVER 199 September to November 1987 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Torpedo Alley FIREBIRD / SILVER 199 September 1986 to January 1987 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
