Manic Miner

BUG-BYTE / SOFTWARE PROJECTS / AMSOFT

August 83 - September 85

cover cover cover
left to right: Bug-Byte, Software Projects and Amsoft

ALL	M/F	ZX	C64	BBC	B/E	DR	CPC
1	1	3	1	2	3	1	1
Jan 84	Sep 83	Feb 84	Mar 84	Nov 84	Dec 84	Nov 84	Nov 84

Sources

(click here for more information on the data shown below)

All Formats (Gallup)


4	WEEK to 84-11-05	( CSR )
6	WEEK to 84-11-12	CSR
6	WEEK to 84-11-23	( CSR )
7	WEEK to 84-11-28	( HCW #93 p8 84-12-18 )
7	WEEK to 84-11-30	CSR
5	WEEK to 84-12-05	CSR
5	WEEK to 84-12-05	HCW #93 p8 84-12-18
6	WEEK to 84-12-12	HCW #94 p42 85-01-08
8	WEEK to 84-12-31	HCW #95 p43 85-01-15
7	WEEK to 85-01-08	HCW #96 p8 85-01-22
6	WEEK to 85-01-15	HCW #97 p45 85-01-29
7	WEEK to 85-01-23	HCW #98 p4 85-02-05
4	WEEK to 85-01-30	HCW #99 p4 85-02-12
7	WEEK to 85-02-05	HCW #100 p4 85-02-19
8	WEEK to 85-02-12	CGam #01 p13 Apr 85 85-03-22
		HCW #101 p8 85-02-26
20	WEEK to 85-02-19	HCW #102 p51 85-03-05
9	WEEK to 85-02-26	HCW #103 p43 85-03-12
15	WEEK to 85-03-05	HCW #104 p42 85-03-19
12	WEEK to 85-03-05	CU #19 p47 Apr 85
16	WEEK to c.85-03-12	CGam #02 p41 May 85 85-04-26
14	WEEK to 85-03-12	HCW #105 p8 85-03-26
32	WEEK to c.85-04-16	CGam #03 p9 Jun 85 85-05-24
23	MONTH to c.85-04-25	( CVG #45 p25 Jul 85 85-06-16 )
41	MONTH to c.85-05-23	CVG #45 p25 Jul 85 85-06-16
25	WEEK to c.85-05-28	CGam #04 p9 Jul 85 85-06-28
17	2 WEEKS to 85-06-11	HCW #118 p41 85-06-23
19	WEEK to c.85-06-21	CGam #05 p9 Aug 85 85-07-26
18	2 WEEKS to 85-06-25	HCW #120 p41 85-07-09

All Formats (MRIB)


10	4 WEEKS to c.83-10-13	PeCG #2 p11 Dec 83 83-10-28
21	2 WEEKS to 83-12-20	PeCN p9 84-01-07
11	2 WEEKS to 84-01-14	PeCN p7 84-01-21
		BigK #1 p15 Apr 84 84-03-15
1	2 WEEKS to c.84-03-10	( BigK #3 p15 Jun 84 84-05-17 )
2	2 WEEKS to c.84-03-24	BigK #3 p15 Jun 84 84-05-17
4	2 WEEKS to c.84-04-21	BigK #4 p15 Jul 84 84-06-20
16	2 WEEKS to c.84-05-26	BigK #5 p48 Aug 84 84-07-20
14	2 WEEKS to c.84-06-16	( BigK #7 p95 Oct 84 84-09-20 )
29	2 WEEKS to c.84-07-21	BigK #7 p95 Oct 84 84-09-20

All Formats (RAM/C)


6	MONTH to c.83-12-08	PeCG #3 p5 Feb 84 84-01-12
2	MONTH to c.84-01-05	PeCG #4 p25 Mar 84 84-02-09
1	2 WEEKS to 84-01-31	PeCN p10 84-02-11
2	2 WEEKS to 84-02-09	PeCN p11 84-02-18
2	4 WEEKS to 84-02-09	PeCG #5 p25 Apr 84 84-03-08
1	2 WEEKS to 84-02-23	PeCN p9 84-03-03
2	2 WEEKS to 84-03-08	PeCN p7 84-03-17
2	MONTH to 84-03-08	PeCG #6 p22 May 84 84-04-12
3	2 WEEKS to 84-03-22	PeCN p9 84-03-31
4	2 WEEKS to 84-04-05	PeCN p9 84-04-14
4	MONTH to 84-04-05	PeCG #7 p15 Jun 84 84-05-10
4	2 WEEKS to 84-04-19	PeCN p7 84-04-28
5	2 WEEKS to 84-05-03	PeCN p9 84-05-19
9	MONTH to c.84-05-10	PeCG #8 p20 Jul 84 84-06-14
10	2 WEEKS to 84-05-25	PeCN p7 84-06-02
28	2 WEEKS to 84-06-07	PeCN p11 84-06-16
25	MONTH to c.84-06-14	PeCG #9 p11 Aug 84 84-07-12
22	2 WEEKS to 84-06-21	PeCN p11 84-06-30
27	WEEK to 84-06-28	PeCN p7 84-07-07
25	MONTH to c.84-07-12	PeCG #10 p19 Sep 84 84-08-09
35	MONTH to c.84-08-16	PeCG #11 p17 Oct 84 84-09-13
48	MONTH to c.84-09-13	PeCG #12 p19 Nov 84 84-10-11
41	2 WEEKS to 84-09-23	( Mic )
37	2 WEEKS to 84-09-30	Mic
18	WEEK to 84-11-28	PeCN p5 84-12-08
18	WEEK to 84-12-12	PeCN p5 84-12-22
25	MONTH to c.84-12-20	PeCG #15 p12 Feb 85 85-01-17

Multi-Format (MRIB)


4 ZX	2 WEEKS to 83-08-18	PeCN p11 83-08-25
1 ZX	2 WEEKS to 83-09-01	PeCN p11 83-09-08
3 ZX	2 WEEKS to 83-09-15	PeCN p11 83-09-22
7 ZX	2 WEEKS to 83-09-29	PeCN p11 83-10-06
6 ZX	2 WEEKS to 83-10-13	PeCN p11 83-10-20
2 ZX	2 WEEKS to 83-10-27	PeCN p11 83-11-03
2 ZX	2 WEEKS to 83-11-10	PeCN p11 83-11-17
7 ZX	2 WEEKS to 83-11-26	PeCN p9 83-12-01
13 ZX	2 WEEKS to 83-12-09	PeCN p9 83-12-15

Multi-Format (Microdealer)


3 ZX	WEEK to c.84-02-01	PeCW p326 Mar 84 84-02-15
16 ZX	WEEK to c.84-04-04	PeCW p340 May 84 84-04-18
46 BBC	WEEK to c.84-12-01	PeCW p302 Jan 85 84-12-14
41 CPC	WEEK to c.84-12-01	PeCW p302 Jan 85 84-12-14

Multi-Format (NOP)


6 C64	2 WEEKS to 84-03-27	( CVG #31 p10 May 84 84-04-16 )
1 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-03-27	( CVG #31 p10 May 84 84-04-16 )
10 C64	2 WEEKS to 84-04-10	CVG #31 p10 May 84 84-04-16
2 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-04-10	CVG #31 p10 May 84 84-04-16
5 C64	2 WEEKS to 84-04-24	( CVG #32 p17 Jun 84 84-05-16 )
4 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-04-24	( CVG #32 p17 Jun 84 84-05-16 )
7 C64	2 WEEKS to 84-05-08	CVG #32 p17 Jun 84 84-05-16
3 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-05-08	CVG #32 p17 Jun 84 84-05-16
8 C64	2 WEEKS to 84-05-22	( CVG #33 p23 Jul 84 84-06-16 )
4 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-05-22	( CVG #33 p22 Jul 84 84-06-16 )
13 C64	2 WEEKS to 84-06-05	CVG #33 p23 Jul 84 84-06-16
4 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-06-05	CVG #33 p22 Jul 84 84-06-16
4 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-06-19	( CVG #34 p15 Aug 84 84-07-16 )
16 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-07-03	CVG #34 p15 Aug 84 84-07-16
27 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-07-17	( CVG #35 p19 Sep 84 84-08-16 )
13 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-07-31	CVG #35 p19 Sep 84 84-08-16
16 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-08-14	( CVG #36 p19 Oct 84 84-09-16 )
28 C64	2 WEEKS to 84-08-28	CVG #36 p19 Oct 84 84-09-16
17 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-08-28	CVG #36 p19 Oct 84 84-09-16
30 ZX	2 WEEKS to 84-11-20	SU #34 p55 Jan 85

Amstrad (Boots)


1	WEEK to c.84-11-29	PoCW p97 84-12-06
1	WEEK to c.84-12-06	PoCW p65 84-12-13

Amstrad (Gallup)


11	4 WEEKS to 85-04-16	AmCU #07 p54 Jun 85 85-05-11
20	4 WEEKS to 85-05-14	AmCU #08 p88 Jul 85 85-06-14
16	4 WEEKS to 85-06-13	AmCU #09 p25 Aug 85
18	4 WEEKS to 85-07-09	AmCU #10 p32 Sep 85 85-08-08

Amstrad (Websters)


2	WEEK to c.85-02-16	YComp p23 Apr 85

BBC (Boots)


2	WEEK to c.84-11-29	PoCW p97 84-12-06
2	WEEK to c.84-12-06	PoCW p65 84-12-13
4	WEEK to c.84-12-20	PoCW p45 85-01-03

BBC (Gallup)


3	WEEK to 84-11-12	CSR
4	WEEK to 84-12-05	HCW #93 p8 84-12-18
3	WEEK to 84-12-12	HCW #94 p42 85-01-08
5	WEEK to 84-12-31	HCW #95 p43 85-01-15
3	MONTH to 85-01-08	A&B p74 Apr 85 85-03-01
3	WEEK to 85-01-08	HCW #96 p8 85-01-22
3	WEEK to 85-01-15	HCW #97 p45 85-01-29
5	WEEK to 85-01-23	HCW #98 p4 85-02-05
3	WEEK to 85-01-30	HCW #99 p4 85-02-12
2	WEEK to 85-02-05	HCW #100 p4 85-02-19
10	WEEK to 85-02-12	HCW #101 p8 85-02-26
4	WEEK to 85-02-26	HCW #103 p43 85-03-12
5	WEEK to 85-03-05	HCW #104 p42 85-03-19
10	WEEK to 85-03-12	HCW #105 p8 85-03-26
5	2 WEEKS to 85-03-19	HCW #106 p8 85-04-02
7	2 WEEKS to 85-04-16	HCW #110 p43 85-04-30
7	2 WEEKS to 85-04-30	HCW #112 p41 85-05-14
9	2 WEEKS to 85-06-11	HCW #118 p41 85-06-23
9	2 WEEKS to 85-06-25	HCW #120 p41 85-07-09

BBC/Electron (RAM/C)


16	4 WEEKS to c.84-10-16	AcU #30 p170 Jan 85
5	4 WEEKS to c.84-11-13	AcU #31 p165 Feb 85
3	4 WEEKS to c.84-12-11	AcU #32 p155 Mar 85
10	4 WEEKS to c.85-01-15	AcU #33 p157 Apr 85
9	4 WEEKS to c.85-02-12	AcU #34 p163 May 85
13	4 WEEKS to c.85-07-16	AcU #39 p159 Oct 85
19	4 WEEKS to c.85-08-13	AcU #40 p161 Nov 85

Commodore 64 (Boots)


4	WEEK to c.84-02-16	PoCW p58 84-02-23
2	WEEK to c.84-02-23	PoCW p62 84-03-01
2	WEEK to c.84-03-01	PoCW p54 84-03-08
1	WEEK to c.84-03-08	PoCW p58 84-03-15
1	WEEK to c.84-03-15	PoCW p62 84-03-22
1	WEEK to c.84-03-22	PoCW p62 84-03-29
2	WEEK to c.84-03-29	PoCW p62 84-04-05
5	WEEK to c.84-04-05	PoCW p70 84-04-12
5	WEEK to c.84-04-12	PoCW p58 84-04-19
1	WEEK to c.84-04-19	PoCW p54 84-04-26
3	WEEK to c.84-04-26	PoCW p58 84-05-03
1	WEEK to c.84-05-10	PoCW p58 84-05-17
1	WEEK to c.84-05-17	PoCW p54 84-05-24
3	WEEK to c.84-05-31	PoCW p58 84-06-07
1	WEEK to c.84-06-07	PoCW p58 84-06-14
3	WEEK to c.84-06-14	PoCW p57 84-06-21
1	WEEK to c.84-07-12	PoCW p49 84-07-19
5	WEEK to c.84-07-19	PoCW p49 84-07-26
10	WEEK to c.84-08-09	PoCW p49 84-08-16
6	WEEK to c.84-08-16	PoCW p49 84-08-23
4	WEEK to c.84-08-23	PoCW p53 84-08-30
7	WEEK to c.84-08-30	PoCW p53 84-09-06
6	WEEK to c.84-09-13	PoCW p58 84-09-20
7	WEEK to c.84-10-04	PoCW p58 84-10-11
10	WEEK to c.84-10-11	PoCW p66 84-10-18

Commodore 64 (MRIB)


8	2 WEEKS to c.84-11-03	( BigK #11 p80 Feb 85 85-01-20 )
12	2 WEEKS to c.84-11-17	BigK #11 p80 Feb 85 85-01-20

Dragon (Boots)


1	WEEK to c.84-11-29	PoCW p97 84-12-06
1	WEEK to c.84-12-06	PoCW p65 84-12-13
5	WEEK to c.84-12-13	PoCW p73 84-12-20
		Dragon User #22 p5 Feb 85
3	WEEK to c.84-12-20	PoCW p45 85-01-03
1	WEEK to c.85-01-17	Dragon User #23 p5 Mar 85
1	WEEK to c.85-03-14	Dragon User #25 p4 May 85

Dragon (Websters)


2	WEEK to c.85-03-16	YComp p25 May 85

Spectrum (Gallup)


26	MONTH to 85-06-21	SU #41 p9 Aug 85 85-07-18

Spectrum (WHSmith)


7	WEEK to c.83-08-11	PoCW p47 83-08-25
		( SU #20 p19 Nov 83 )
6	WEEK to c.83-08-18	PoCW p47 83-09-01
		SU #20 p19 Nov 83
10	WEEK to c.83-11-10	PoCW p78 83-11-24
9	WEEK to c.83-11-17	PoCW p70 83-12-01
5	WEEK to c.83-11-24	PoCW p70 83-12-08
7	WEEK to c.83-12-01	PoCW p82 83-12-15
5	WEEK to c.83-12-08	PoCW p66 83-12-22
4	WEEK to c.83-12-29	PoCW p62 84-01-05
9	WEEK to c.84-01-05	PoCW p58 84-01-12
		SU #23 p19 Feb 84
5	WEEK to c.84-01-26	PoCW p58 84-02-02
3	WEEK to c.84-02-02	PoCW p58 84-02-09
4	WEEK to c.84-02-09	PoCW p54 84-02-16
		SU #25 p47 Apr 84
3	WEEK to c.84-02-16	PoCW p58 84-02-23

The second Manic Miner cover from Bug-Byte shown here replaced the original cover by Bug-Byte's in-house artist Les Harvey. While the artwork is the most obvious change, it's the change in the colour of the title on the spine that makes this release notable, establishing yellow as the colour of Spectrum titles.

Bug-Byte's entire range was revamped in Autumn 1983 to add a colour title to the spine - Spectrum titles were yellow, BBC red and Vic 20 releases used cyan, and this system of colours featured in their 1984 catalogue. This was the first time a consistent system of colours for multiple platforms was used by a software house. Mastertronic, often incorrectly credited with pioneering the concept, used exactly the same three colours for their three platforms (Spectrum, C64 and Vic-20) when they launched in April 1984, sensibly adding the colour to the front cover as well.