$wag

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Swag is a 1 or 2 player video game developed by Dave Herbert and published by Micro Power for the BBC Microcomputer in 1983. You are out to steal £250,000 in diamonds before your rival. You accomplish this by collecting the heaps of diamonds which appear on the screen, and taking them to the cache in your house. Unfortunately, the other robber is not your only problem. There are several killer droids, employed by one of the insurance companies, who try to apprehend bandits such as yourself and recover the swag. There are two types of the droids Henrys and Percys. One type will try to catch you; the other your opponent. You can "convert" one which is following you by shooting it. You can also shoot the other player's man, and if caught by a droid or shot you will drop your swag and be returned to your house. Naturally, you will soon use up all the ammunition in your gun, but you can get more by depositing gold in the bank. The other way to convert droids is to move onto a "DH", which changes all Henrys to Percys, and vice versa. Moving onto a Smiley has the effect of sending your opponent back to his house. If you shoot a police car, it will follow you around the screen, which gives points to the other player, though you can stop this by drinking a can of beer (the sort which refreshes the parts other beers can't) and shooting them again.

@-Man

BBC Microcomputer System - Homebrew - 2020

@-Man is a Pac-Man clone that uses symbols from the keyboard rather than actual graphics. It was developed by 0xC0DE and written in ten lines of BASIC for the 2020 BASIC 10 Liner Contest.

007: Licence to Kill

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1989

007: Licence to Kill is a 1989 video game based on the James Bond film of the same name, developed by Quixel and published by Domark in 1989. It was originally released for DOS and then ported to a number of home computers, including the BBC Microcomputer (ported by Consult Software). The BBC version was based largely on the graphics from the Spectrum version, but with a freshly written sprite engine, character 'AI', sound effects and status display. It featured a double buffer screen refresh mechanism to eliminate flicker, and was available in cassette tape and floppy disc versions.

10 Minute Game

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1987

10 Minute Game is a simple "avoid all obstacles" game for the BBC Micro. You are in a car going down the screen, and you must avoid all the rectangular shaped blocks for as long as you can. This game was developed by Huw Woolley and published in Micro User magazine, volume 5, issue 5, in July 1987.

180! Darts

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

A darts simulation in which you can play standard games such as 301, 501 and so on. You can also play Round the Clock, Shanghai, or Noughts and Crosses.

18th Hole

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

A simple golf game coded in BASIC for the BBC Micro. The game was written by Tim Rogers, and published as a type-in listing by Interface Publications in Rogers' book "36 Challenging Games For The BBC Micro" in 1983.

1984: A Game of Government Management

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

A Game of Government Management is a financial management game which gives you the chance to be the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the United Kingdom in the 1980's. Starting in 1984 with the real economy figures from 1982/83, you must try to survive in office for as long as possible trying to keep the books balanced and making more money for the country without upsetting too many people. Your first screen shows you the Government Balance Sheet with the figures balanced and over the next year you will attempt to keep it balanced. As you play over your first year you will be presented with various screens and these either show you the stats for various sectors or others will ask you various questions about adjusting figures like the Minimum Lending Rate or the percentage in wage increases for various sectors. Other sectors or departments you will have to juggle the figures for include investments, Industrial Levy, funding, foreign aid and Industrial Grants. You will also have a cabinet meeting that asks you a question on various incidents that are happening at the time. Once you have completed your first year, you will be shown various graphs and given a performance rating. Then it's on to 1985 and hopefully many years after that.

2002

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

2002 is a shuttle docking simulator. You have to control yaw, pitch, roll and forward engines to a high degree of accuracy in order to control the ship and dock with the space station.

2048

BBC Microcomputer System - Homebrew - 2014

2048 for the BBC Micro was developed by Eben Upton and published by the Raspberry Pi Foundation (yes, that Raspberry Pi Foundation) as a means to have a BBC Micro version of the popular number/mathematical base puzzle game for Retro Pie's BBC Micro Core. It was developed and released in 2014. Since the game is a BBC Micro game, you don't need an actual Raspberry Pi system to play the game, as it can be played on a BBC Micro or on any of the BBC Micro emulators. Game description: 2048 is a puzzle game. The game begins with two tiles each numbered "2" on the grid. The player can move the tiles around the grid, but with every move a new tile randomly appears. When two tiles with the same number touch, they merge into a new tile with the number multiplied by two. E.g. if two tiles with "4's" are merged they will form a single "8" tile. The game is based on an earlier puzzle 1024 and is a conceptual elaboration of Threes!.

3 Deep Space

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

To return back to Earth if your ship is beyond the Starfields of Orion there is an avenue of beacons placed by the Elders of Earth to guide ships towards and through a Stargate. Unfortunately, Earth's enemies, the Andromedan's have launched a huge Starfleet to enter the Stargate and invade Earth. You have been tasked to guard the entrance of the Stargate to destroy as many of the Starfleet as you can and above all, stop any Dragon Class Starcruisers containing their Battle Commanders from making it through. 3 Deep Space is a side view shooter with the whole game shown on the screen and you must blast as many ships as you can who move down the screen towards your craft at the bottom. If you touch any ships or allow a Dragon Class Starcruiser past yourself then it is game over. The main selling point of the game was that it was in 3D and used 3D glasses provided with the game. As well as moving left and right along the screen, you could actually move in and out of the screen as well. The enemy ships moved down the screen at different depths of the screen as well.

3-A-Line

BBC Microcomputer System - Homebrew - 1991

3-A-Line is a strategical puzzle game for the BBc Micro. It was developed by A. Sattar Shakoor and published by BBC PD and 8-Bit Software in 1991. 3-A-Line has no AI opponent. The game can be played with a minimum of two players, up to a maximum of four.

3D Asteroids

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1989

3D Asteroids is a 3D shoot 'em up game developed by Douglas Pirie and published in Micro User magazine, volume 7, issue 1, in March 1989. Game description: 3-D Asteroids is a first-person Asteroids game. Unlike in Asteroids you can't fly over the map as you are stationary and can only move from left to right. You also can't use a shield or teleport. If one asteroid hits you, the game is over, as you only have one life.

3D Bomb Alley

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

3D Bomb Alley is a video game created by Software Invasion for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron. The graphics work with 3D glasses creating the appearance of depth.

3D Convoy

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

You have to launch torpedoes at the ships in an enemy convoy. Carriers which carry a helicopter give the most points.

3D Dotty

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1987

3D Dotty is a video game published by Blue Ribbon for the Acorn Electron and BBC Micro home computers in 1987. The aim is to clear the dots on the three levels of each screen while avoiding the dreaded fungus. Any contact with the fungus will reduce energy, and a life is lost when the energy reaches zero. The fungus can be blocked, but only three blocks are permitted at any one time. On completing a screen a bonus is added to the score, proportional to the amount of energy remaining. There are eight different screens. After the eighth, the screens are repeated, but energy is reduced by two units upon contact with the fungus. Extra lives are awarded when the score reaches 5,000 and 10,000 points. There is a practice mode to allow the player to try any of the eight screens.

3D Grand Prix

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

3D Grand Prix is a video game published by Software Invasion in 1984 for the BBC Microcomputer.

3D Maze

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1993

3D Maze is your typical 3D maze escape game that was popular in the late 70s to early 1980s. This version was developed by David Johnston. It was given away as a freebie on the BBC subscribers’ disc in Acorn Computing (formerly The Micro User magazine), volume 11, issue 7, in September 1993.

3-D Maze

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

A simple maze game in which you have to find your way out of a 3D maze, having been told where the exit is and where you are. It's fairly impressive for the age of the game, but not quite as good as the 1984 game Maze by Acornsoft. A different and lesser known game, also titled 3D Maze, was released for the BBC Micro by Bevan Technology.

3D Munchy

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

3D Munchy is a PacMan style game using an isometric view. It was written by Mike Williams of MRM, and developed and published by MRM. It was released for the BBC Microcomputer in 1983. You have to eat all dots while avoiding enemies. The enemies will dig holes which you can however refill (although you have a limited amount of shovels). You can eat the enemies if you eat a red super pill. However, unlike Pac-Man this game has a very limited timer.

3D Pentominoes

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1988

3D Pentominoes (also known as Polyominoes) is a puzzle game developed by David Lawrence and Don Scales. It was published in the October 1988 issue of Acorn User.

3D Pool

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1989

3D Pool for the BBC Microcomputer was programmed by Nick Pelling (Orlando). It is known as 3D Pool on the box cover and as Maltese Joe Barbara's 3D Pool in the game's title screen. It is one of the earliest 3D cue-sports games, featuring a fully-rotating table and variable viewpoint allowing for much more realistic shot-playing than the traditional top-down game style (although the game can be played this way instead). The pace, spin and angle of each shot can be set up precisely before playing it. Both 8-ball (pot your seven colors plus the black to win) and 9-ball (pot the 9-ball with a shot that also hits the lowest remaining ball, whatever that may be) are included. There are seven skill levels to work through. A trick-shot mode is also included, with 20 pre-set shots. Prior to each match it is possible to bet on the outcome.

3-D Roller Ball

BBC Microcomputer System - Homebrew - 1994

3-D Roller Ball is a freeware/public domain maze game developed by David Johnston. It was published in 1994 by PD publisher 8-Bit Software. Roll your ball around the maze to escape.

3D Snooker

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1990

The game was designed as a snooker simulation with accurate modelling of the physics of snooker, there's a lengthy section within the game's help text describing how the game physics were done. The game is played with just three controls, which are entirely mouse operated. The strength of the shot is controlled by dragging the cue left to right along the bottom of the screen. The further to the right the cue tip is the softer the shot. In the lower right of the screen is a representation of the cue ball with a cross-hair mark on it. This is used to control the position in which the cue strikes the cue ball and thus controls 'side' and 'backspin'. The ball is aimed by positioning a cross-hair cursor in the desired direction and clicking the mouse button. The game has in-game help text that opens in a new window, sound effects, a boss key, and the computer opponent has three skill levels. It also has a function which allows the player to undo a shot and another whereby the player can position the balls to practice trick shots. There is no high score feature, no end of game statistics, and no player aids such as sighting lines.

3D Space Raiders

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

Written in 1983 by Alligata Software, 3D Space Raiders (aka Space Ace) is in some ways a precursor to the better-known Elite, though far simpler in graphics and gameplay. The game was never released as a standalone, only featuring as part of compilation tapes; its first outing was as part of 'Fistful of Fun' in 1984. Aliens have invaded the galaxy, and you have to navigate from sector to sector, tracking down the enemy ships with your 3-d scanner, while maintaining your fuel and energy for shields, and without running out of torpedoes. Direct hits can damage or destroy your ship, and you may have to hyperspace back to a Starbase for repairs if you take too many. Scoring is based on ships destroyed and time taken.

3D Space Ranger

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

3D Space Ranger is a video game published by Microbyte Software for the BBC Microcomputer in 1983. Bares some resemblance to Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom. This is a third-person space shooter in which you shoot alien spacecraft and fly through asteroid fields, avoiding contact with asteroids on the way. Eventually you will come to a trench where you have to follow the instructions on the upper left to build a weapon.

3-D Tank Zone

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

3-D Tank Zone (3-D Tankzone on the title screen) is a 3D first person tank game heavily influenced by Atari's BattleZone for the BBC Micro. It was developed by Peter Gillett and Martin Kelsey and published by Dynabyte in 1984. As weapon commander, you must, with the aid of radar, scan the terrain surrounding the city and missile silos for marauding enemy tanks then destroy them before they get you. Watch out too for incoming jets and helicopters on the horizon. To aid you in your task, you have at your disposal a direct fire anti-aircraft cannon and an anti-tank missile launcher. The game features excellent 3D wire graphic tanks and battleground displays with realistic missile in-flight action and detailed instrument console.

3D Tanx

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

3D Tanx is a simple shooting gallery game, released by DK'Tronics in 1982. You control a gun that moves along the bottom of the screen, firing shells at the tanks looping across a bridge at the top. The shells are relatively slow-moving so some aiming ahead is required. The tanks also return fire with similarly paced shots. Depending on where you hit the tanks, they may be destroyed or only damaged, and still able to return fire from a stationary position. Each wave has a set number of tanks to be blown up, with the number and speed increasing as the game progresses. You have 3 lives, and lose one when hit by an enemy shell or if you run out of ammo.

3D Wars

BBC Microcomputer System - Unreleased - 1984

This is a demo of a planned game called '3D Wars', written by Nick Pelling (aka Orlando) who produced some of the best games for the BBC Micro. This game was never released or finished, but the demo was given away on the cover tape for the December 1984 issue of 'Personal Computer Games' magazine. There is relatively little gameplay as such in the demo, as it appears collision detection hasn't been implemented.Your ship can move around the bottom portion of the screen, and fire at the oncoming alien ships as the 3D 'tunnel' zooms past you. However you don't appear to be able to destroy them, nor can they harm you when they get to your end of the tunnel. Also only some sprites have been finished, so others are just flickering black blocks. There's no score or instructions, or indeed very much point at all...

737 Flight Simulator

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - November 24, 1983

737 Flight Simulator allows the player to sit at the controls of a Boeing 737 twin-engine jet airliner. The upper part of the screen consists of a simple external view (horizon, runway), while the lower displays the instrument panel (airspeed indicator and Machmeter, vertical speed indicator, altimeter, artificial horizon, compass, radio beacon (VOR) indicators, Ground Proximity Warning System, ILS, flap, landing gear & engine power indicators, fuel gauge). The user may attempt take-off, navigation or landing approach – with custom runway layouts and weather conditions possible. The simulation features crosswinds and engine failures.

747

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

747 is a flight simulator developed and published by Doctor Soft. When the game starts you are flying towards the words DR SOFT. This allows you to get used to the steering and other controls. From this screen you can then select which airport and scenario you want to fly. Options include Taking-Off and Landing. Hoops may also be flown through while trying to land. The game is played with the screen split into two halves. The top half is your view from the front of the plane while the bottom half shows the instrument panel. Control is played via the Joystick and Keyboard.

747 Flight Simulator

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

747 Flight Simulator allows the player to sit at the controls of a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet airliner. The upper part of the screen consists of a simple external view (horizon, runway), while the lower displays the instrument panel (airspeed, vertical speed indicator, altimeter, artificial horizon, compass, turn and bank indicator, ILS, flaps & landing gear indicators, various dials for engines). After declaring the amount of fuel and the number of passengers, the player may attempt either a take-off, straight landing approach or random landing approach. The included map features Great Britain and contains 7 airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Prestwick).

9 Classic card & board games: No. 1

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1986

This is the first of two complations released by Acorn User (later Micro User) magazine in 1986. Many of the games had been previous released as 'type-in' programs contained in earlier issues of the magazine. The interfaces are generally clear if basic, and the AI for some games at least is reasonably competent (rather less so for others, as you might expect for 1986). The games are : 1. Draughts 2. Fives 3. Dominoes 4. Molecule 5. Reversi 6. Code Breaker 7. Patience 8. Pontoon 0. Pairs

9 Classic card & board games: No. 2

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1986

This is the second of two complations released by Acorn User (later Micro User) magazine in 1986. Many of the games had been previously released as 'type-in' programs contained in earlier issues of the magazine. The interfaces are generally clear if basic, and the AI for some games at least is reasonably competent (rather less so for others, as you might expect for 1986). The games are : 1. Backgammon 2. Crib 3. Squares 4. Solitaire 5. Tic Tac Toe 6. Sliding Blocks 7. Poker 8. Sevens 9. Higher and Lower

A Maze in Space

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

A Scramble type game. Your objective is to seek and destroy the alien command space station that lies hidden in a maze of tunnels beneath the surface of an unfriendly planet. Navigate past the many hazards of the planet, then enter the maze.

A Question of Sport

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1988

A Qusetion of Sport is a sports trivia game based on the long running BBC quiz show of the same name. It was developed by Elite Systems and published by Superior Software / Acornsoft. Two teams of three battle against each other by answering sports questions. 2 Points are awarded for answering your question correctly. If you answer incorrectly the opposing team get a chance to answer it but for only 1 point. There are 6 rounds including picture board, what happened next and a quickfire buzzers round. Contestants are displayed as digitized faces and each contestant specialises in a certain sport. Team captains get to choose which sport they wish to specialise in from a choice of ten. There are 5 question blocks so that if questions start to repeat you can load the next one to extend gameplay life. After the last round the scores are totted up and the winner is the team with the most points.

Aabatron

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

In the year 2001, Earth is controlled by a massive computer complex called the Aabatron. Unfortunately, it has been overrun by aliens and it is your job to clear the twenty rooms in your blaster buggy. Aabatron is a fast-action, shoot-'em-up game set in a number of enclosed areas which represent the rooms.

ABM

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

Defend your seven cities against attack from wave after wave of random nuclear missiles. To destroy a missile you must position yourself on a suicidal intercept path and then wait for it to come into your sights. The only chance left then is to press your fire button. The laser power, refreshed from your capital city, is the protection that will save your universe from certain destruction. The higher your level of skill, the more demanding your mission becomes. Missile numbers increase and then split into multi warheads until the inevitable happens and your capital city is destroyed by the final mushroom. Get straight back into your craft and see if you can hold out any longer in the next game.

Abyss

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

In this game you play the role of an adventurer who must make his way across the perilous abyss which many others before him have failed to do. The game starts with you seeing the network of bridges from a birds eye view and you have to decide which way to go as hanging around on the bridges for to long results in you falling into the abyss below. When you get off a bridge you are issued a challenge from the various monsters you encounter which ranges from mathematical questions to negotiating your way through various mazes. The goal of the game is to reach the end of the mountain of the golden lion which is represented by a flashing F.

Aces High

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

A card playing game featuring Blackjack, Pontoon, Draw Poker and Stud Poker.

Acheton

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

Acheton was written by Jon Thackray, David Seal and Jonathan Partington. The BBC Micro version was originally published by Acornsoft in 1984 and re-released in 1987 by Topologika. Acheton is a home computer conversion of the mainframe adventure of the same name. Similar to Zork (which was released on the VAX mainframe not long before Acheton's original appearance), it is a fantasy treasure hunt set in a claustrophobic dungeon. It boasts over 400 rooms and 200 objects, thereby making it much bigger than Zork. As with many games of this kind the most time is spent by exploring the environment and solving item-based puzzles. Everything is described solely with plain text and the player interacts with the game by typing in phrases which describe his desired action, e.g. "take bottle". It also features a help function with graded hints.

Acid Drops

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

Acid Drops was programmed by Mike Granby. Acid Drops is a fixed screen shoot 'em up where the player can move left and right along the bottom and shoot at the creatures that fly around the screen. The title's dripping acid comes from a large acid bath located in the centre of the screen and if the player is hit by a drop or the projectiles of the enemies a life will be lost. The player will also die if all acid drops out. There are three different enemies; moths, pods and spinners. Initially there are only moths but if they are hit by acid they will mutate into pods which in turn will become spinners when hit. Spinners require two hits to kill. The objective of a level is to escape through a gate that is located on the right side of the screen. The gate opens with time which will speed up when an enemy is hit. When the gate is fully opened the game moves on to a second stage where the player has to move through a side scrolling tunnel without crashing. If a crash occurs the player still moves on to the next level but without a point bonus. There are nine levels in total.

Acorn Adventure

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

A strange text based adventure where you have to steal hardware from the offices of Acorn Computers.

Acorn Welcome Disc

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1981

This was the piece of introductory software bundled with the BBC Microcomputer. There are various programs designed to demonstrate the power of the BBC, including a Biorythms program, a simple bat-n-ball game, a kingdom simulator and pattern generator.

Adventure

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

A text adventure by Micro Power, aka Program Power. The object of the game is to rescue the Princess from the Magic Caverns and to retrieve as much treasure as possible.

Adventure Quest

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

The sequel to Colossal Adventure is an interactive fiction game with a VERB NOUN interface. The fantasy setting takes a clear influence from Lord of the Rings. After centuries of harmony, Middle Earth has hit problems due to a cataclysmic sequence of events - a crop failure leading to animals turning violent, and then an attack from a mysterious enemy to the north. The evil Demon Lord Alagiarept is discovered to be responsible, and as such the Wizards are given a week to beat him, before Middle Earth must surrender. You play a rookie magician with Meditation, Mysticism and Moneymaking skills. While the main war goes on, you attempt a much bolder mission - locate the four Stones-of-the-Elements and the Medallion of Life to enter Alagiarept's Dark Tower and kill him. Your quest will take you through Beaches, Moors and Rocky Outcrops, as well as more specific locations such as the Pillar in the Desert, the Cave of the Sun-Dial and the Mills of God. Wolves, skeletal hands, sharks and octopuses must be dealt with.

Adventureland

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Adventureland is the first of Scott Adams' text adventures. Using simple two word commands you explore an enchanted world, solve puzzles and try to recover 13 lost treasures.

Air Strike!

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

A horizontally scrolling shooter game. Also published as part of the Micro User's Action Replay Vol. 3 compilation.

Air Traffic Control

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Air Traffic Control (aka Air Traffic Control Simulator) is a video game released by Microdeal; not to be confused with the 1984 game Heathrow Air Traffic Control by Hewson.

Airlift

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

In this game you control a helicopter, and have to rescue innocent civilians from a war zone, when their house is blown up by a tank, you must land and let the civilians board the chopper. Then you take off and land at the hospital.

Airline

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Airline is an economic strategy game, with the player taking the role of a Chairman for L-AIR, an air company whose business starts off with £3 million. He has 7 years to increase his net assets to £30 million. The player can charter, buy or sell aircraft, as well as managing staffing, maintenance and insurance. Situations in-game (like hijacks, air crashes and sabotage) and costs (of fuel and aircrafts, tax demands etc.) are realistic.The graphics are simplified, made up almost entirely of tables and texts.

Airwolf

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1985

Airwolf is a video game based on the TV series of the same name, it was released for a range of home computers including the BBC Microcomputer. As Stringfellow Hawke, a former Vietnam chopper pilot, and the only man in the free world trained to fly the billion-dollar helicopter AIRWOLF you have been assigned a dangerous rescue mission by the FIRM. Your task is to rescue 5 scientists from an underground lair by destroying its layer of protection and then getting to the core. Moving onto a screen at a time you must shoot out anything and everything in your path, including lots of regenerating static targets. Realistic gravity takes effect, so you can't simply hover in a set position. Elite Systems also re-released the game on their budget Encore label.

Alien 8

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1985

Alien 8 is an isometric action-adventure video game developed and published by Ultimate Play The Game. It was released for the ZX Spectrum, BBC Microcomputer, Amstrad CPC and MSX in 1985. The game was written by Chris Stamper and graphics were designed by Tim Stamper. The BBC Microcomputer version was converted from the Spectrum by Paul Proctor. The player takes control of a robot, Alien 8, whose job is to ensure that all of the cryogenically frozen passengers on board a starship remain viable during the ship's voyage.

Alien Break In

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

A shoot-em-up, with a touch of Space Invaders, a dab of Galaga and just a pinch of Galaxians. Shoot down the various aliens and dig holes to not to get attacked by certain aliens on the ground.

Alien Destroyer

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

A Space Invaders variant. Your laser base must destroy aliens dropping bombs as they advance down the screen from left to right. The laser can hide behind one of three shields, and a spaceship occasionally flies over, which scores 100 or 200 points. The game is over when the invaders land (i.e. reach the bottom of the screen) or when all of your three laser bases are blown up. A bonus base is awarded after the second wave of invaders has been eliminated.

Alien Destroyers

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

An early Basic version of Space Invaders by Micro Power (aka Program Power) and featuring diagonally-falling bullets.

Alien Dropout

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

Alien Dropout is a fixed screen shoot 'em up based on the arcade game Astro Invader. The objective of the game is to shoot the aliens out of their "boxes" before the "boxes" fill up. Once full, the aliens fly down relentlessly and explode as they hit the ground. The game features include six skill levels, rankings, hi-scores and increasing difficulty.

Alien Invasion

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

A Space Invaders style fixed-screen space shooter published in Micro User magazine vol.1 issue 12 in February 1984.

Alien Swirl

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Alien Swirl is a fixed screen shoot 'em up in the style of Moon Cresta and Phoenix. The object of the game is to shoot down the waves of alien fighter craft and then successfully refuel at the end of every fourth phase for an additional bonus. Extra points can be earned for shooting the mothership which randomly flies across the top of the screen.

Alphatron

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1986

Your mission is to protect the Trilithium Refineries on the planet Karthos. You pilot a Megan Class Scout Ship equipped with a Delta Laser. The enemy attacks grow more and more frequent as wave after wave of enemy missiles pass overhead. At all costs you must destroy the missiles before they reach the Refinery. Each missile will deplete the Refinery Shields until eventually they collapse. Your Scout Ship is fitted with landing, fuel and guidance computers. Your Control Panel also displays the status of the Refinery shield level. Your fuel is very limited and must be replenished frequently by landing on your base pad.

Anarchy Zone

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1988

Anarchy Zone was written by Rob Dulstone and released for the BBC Microcomputer by Atlantis Software. In Anarchy Zone, there are a variety of different alien spaceships all intent on destroying you. Some can be killed with one shot, some cannot. What makes Anarchy Zone interesting is the 360 degrees rotation that your ship can do around the entire screen. Wave upon wave of aliens descend from all corners, and you really have to keep moving around the screen in order to stay alive. Sound was good, with music and good effects. Anarchy Zone included such modern features as pass-codes for each level, so you could skip ones you had already completed.

Android Attack

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

The object of the game is to defend yourself from the attacking androids. You can move around the maze using the up, down, left and right controls and by firing at the androids. Different androids require a different number of hits. Your energy level is displayed on the bottom - the lower the level, the slower you move. You may drop landmines by pressing SHIFT. Pressing this again as an android passes over it will destroy it. This is only possible if your energy is above a certain level. The only way to increase your energy level is to eat the dots and the other objects that appear in the maze. Beware the "Smiley" master android - he can walk anywhere.

Antix

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Born a honey ant and brought up in an ant hill made of neapolitan ice cream your life is sweet, until one fatal day ravenous ant eaters with a voracious appetite for honey and ice cream invade your peaceful existence. After this you spend your life running from these green monsters. Ant eaters can go through ant nests, ants can't.

Apocalypse

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Apocalypse was produced under license from the Games Workshop. It was first published by Red Shift and re-released in 1987 by Command Software. It's a turn-based strategy game, based on the board game from Games Workshop. Players have several territories on a map and must conquer land. The game has several phases: in the deployment phase players may build army divisions, navy warships and long-rage nuclear missiles on locations that they already occupy. In the movement phase, players can manoeuvre forces and engage in conventional combat. The nuke phase is the only opportunity to launch nukes. The game doesn't have CPU opponents and is multiplayer only. Up to 4 players are supported.

Apple Pie

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

Apple Pie was developed by Tim Chown and published for the BBC Microcomputer by Visions in 1984. It is a single screen action game where the player controls a tank and has to kill invading aliens. The setting is an American village which is being attacked by waves of aliens who attempt to steal the stars of the national flag. The game is played in a grid-like maze which is viewed from a top down perspective.

April Showers

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1985

In April Showers you play as a cloud (with eyes) who has to help a flower to stay alive by keeping it watered. You have to be careful not to run out of water yourself. To gain water you have to collect raindrops from other clouds. There are also umbrellas, which you can hit for bonus points. However, hitting them will also drain your water. After all clouds and eventually umbrellas are gone you go to the next day (level).

Arcade Action

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

Arcade Action is a collection of four games. Space Invaders is a one or two player game and the other three are single player. Breakout: A musical version of an all-time favourite where you knock bricks out of a multi-coloured wall. There are seven variations on the standard game, including progressive walls and captive balls. Dodgems: Your racing car has to outwit the computerised car, which is programmed to crash into you. You have the advantage of acceleration, but must keep switching lanes to avoid a head-on collision. Snake: Guide the hungry snake towards its prey, and watch it grow as it consumes different kinds of food. The idea of the game is to score as many points as possible while preventing the snake from bumping into itself or the walls as it gets longer and longer. Space Invaders: Fight off the waves of advancing aliens while dodging behind four shelters to avoid being hit by their missiles. The closer they get, the faster they move, and the thicker the hail of missile fire. In full colour. complete with sound effects and hi-score.

Arcade Soccer

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1989

Arcade Soccer was programmed by Peter Gillett, with graphics by Martin Kelsey. An overhead football game in which you must power up/down the field, passing the ball and scoring goals. Arcade Soccer features Corners, sliding tackles, throw-ins, goal kicks, dribbling, shooting, passing and much more. Firstly you can play with either keyboard or joysticks, against the computer and/or with up to 23 friends. The options are almost limitless; you can choose the skill of the goalkeepers, the speed and length of the game, play 'friendlies' or tournaments and even enter the most coveted of championships - the World Cup.

Arcadians

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

If Acornsoft hadn't stretched the boundaries of IP infringement we would not have arcade perfect conversions such as Arcadians (a thinly veiled Namco arcade Galaxians clone). In addition to the perfectly replicated gameplay, it also features an arcade-style high score table and a novel attract mode screen with a demo of it being played, just like a real cabinet, making it feel really authentic. Arcadians was programmed by Nick Pelling aka Orlando.

Area Radar Controller

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

An air traffic control simulation game set in Heathrow where you control up to 100 aircraft movements.

Arena 3000

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

Arena 3000 is a top-down action shooter published by Microdeal in which you battle against waves of robots. You start with 3 lives and earn an extra one for every 20,000 points amassed. You can play in either single player or two player split-screen mode. Control is via the keyboard or dual joysticks.

Arkanoid

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1987

Arkanoid is an arcade game developed by Taito in 1986. It was ported to the BBC Microcomputer and released by Imagine in 1987. This game is derived from the older Breakout style of game in which a bat and ball was used to smash bricks in a wall. In Arkanoid the bat becomes a Vaus spaceship and the ball an energy bolt. Power-ups are caught by positioning the Vaus below them as they fall (meaning that you risk missing the ball if you go for them at the wrong time). The power-ups include lasers (which are mounted to each side of the ship and allow you to shoot out the blocks), a catching device (so as to be able to fire the ball off at a different angle every time you hit it) and one that slows the bolt down.

Around the World in 40 Screens

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1987

Around the World in 40 Screens is the first of three standalone expansion packs for Repton 3. As the title might indicate it includes 40 new levels made in the map editor that was included with the original game. The game features a world travelling theme and the levels are divided into five sets each representing a specific setting. America Arctic Orient Oceans Africa It was published by Superior Software for the BBC Microcomputer and Acorn Electron in 1987. It contains the Repton 3 main program, the Repton 3 map editor and the themed screen pack.

Arrow of Death: Part 1

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

Brian Howarth's second Mysterious Adventure follows on from your success in retrieving the Golden Baton. Peace was initially ensured, but the baton has subsequently become tarnished, and now radiates evil. Crop failures and illness are now rampant throughout the land. The only solution is to find the Arrow of Death (in this game) and assemble it. Armour, an orb and an eagle are among the helpful objects in completing your quest. The game is largely one of exploration and object manipulation, with little combat. These games used the Scott Adams adventure engine, and thus also have the same features - a basic 2-word parser, small vocabulary, and brief descriptions. They were similar to other adventures of the time.

Arrow of Death: Part 2

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

Arrow of Death Part II is the third game in the Mysterious Adventure series of illustrated text adventures by Brian Howarth. This is the continuation of the previous game, Arrow of Death. Following the events of that game, the player now has all of the pieces of the Arrow of Death, which can destroy his enemy. However, the Fletcher who knows how to assemble it correctly has been kidnapped by Xerdon. The player will have to travel through unfamiliar lands with exotic plant-life and many threatening creatures in order to rescue the Fletcher and safeguard your people. These games used the Scott Adams adventure engine, and thus also have the same features - a basic 2-word parser, small vocabulary, and brief descriptions. They were similar to other adventures of the time.

Asteroid Belt

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Asteroid Belt is a clone of Asteroids. Shoot the flying asteroids (that split and become smaller when shot) and the UFOs (which shoot around). You can use hyperspace to get out of hairy situations.

Asteroid Miner

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

A game where you must harvest precious metals from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, as well as fighting an enemy (a rival miner) who tries to stop you. In Asteroid Miner you have to collect the green asteroids, while avoiding the red ones, and bring them to your base. Programmed by Christopher Price.

Asteroid Storm

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

As Commander of the Astro-runner spacecraft, you must negotiate the asteroid storm by blasting and dodging the drifting rocks. Large asteroids, when hit split into two medium sized asteroids and these in turn will break into small asteroids when hit. The small asteroids will totally disintegrate when hit. Additional hazards are the alien spacecraft. These appear at random on the screen and will try to ram and shoot you. The little ones are deadly accurate.

Asteroids Deluxe

BBC Microcomputer System - Unreleased - 1984

Astro Blaster

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

Astro Blaster is an action game, developed and published by Hitech Games Plus, which was released for the BBC Microcomputer in 1984. A bit like Galaxians but the aliens come down and kidnap earth men as well, and you have to rescue them by shooting the ships with the people in them. Also borrows a bit from the arcade game King & Balloon.

Astro Navigator

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

A very early Micro Power game where you have to navigate through caves while dodging enemies in order to get to the other side of the screen. This game looks like it was initially designed for the BBC Model A.

Astro Plumber

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1985

You play the game as a repair man equipped with a jetpack and an upwards firing plasma laser. Your mission is to repair all the leaking air pipes which supply the Colony research station on the surface of the Moon. Sounds simple enough, but now the caverns are inhabited by a number of alien lifeforms which will kill you if they touch you. Finally you must keep an eye on your ever decreasing air supply. You can refill from one of the big air tanks on the surface but it means breaking off your repairs. Your space suit tank can only hold so much air. Overfilling is deadly!

AstroBlaster

BBC Microcomputer System - Homebrew - 2016

A fairly well-made clone of the 1981 Sega arcade game Astro Blaster. Developed by Richard "Tricky" Broadhurst and published as a free to download game by Retro Software in 2016. It even uses sampled speech from the actual arcade machine but only works if you have a sideways speech RAM expansion on your BBC Micro.

Atic Atac

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1985

As the game begins, the player character falls through a trapdoor and ends up inside an evil castle with only one way to get out of it - find all the pieces of the great ACG key that unlocks the main door. Atic Atac is an action game with adventure elements, mixing arcade gameplay with exploration of a large castle and light puzzle-solving. The player can choose to control either a Wizard, a Knight, or a Serf. Each character has access to a different secret passage, which means that the player will be navigating different rooms depending on the choice of character. Characters also possess unique skills: for example, the Serf can gain momentum when running, allowing him to traverse greater distances in less time. Enemies appear in each room and would randomly attack the protagonist. The player can choose to collide with them, which destroys the enemies but also drains health from the main character. Some enemies cannot be killed by conventional means and must be either avoided or dealt with by using special items. Poisonous mushrooms will also damage the hero, and bosses will drain his health as long as he maintains close contact. The player character's life meter gets gradually depleted. Health can be restored by consuming food scattered around the castle, but the countdown cannot be stopped. In addition, doors would sometimes close, trapping the hero in a room. Keys must be collected to open many of the castle's doors.

Atlantis

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

Atlantis is an underwater version of the arcade game Scramble in which you have to move past a right to left scrolling underwater landscape avoiding, shooting or bombing mines, obstacles and missiles.

Atom Smasher

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

The object of Atom Smasher is to stop the meltdown of a nuclear reactor. You control a laser, your job being to shoot a proton, thus cooling the reactor down. But there are problems in the shape of electrons that collide with you, depriving you of one of your three lives.

Atomic Protector

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Atomic Protector was programmed by Kevin Edwards and published by Optima Software for the BBC Microcomputer in September, 1983. It is a fast-paced arcade title, like Pac-Man but in reverse. The player has to protect already laid down dots on the map instead of picking them up. The enemies are of two kinds. One will run around the map, picking up all the dots. The other kind is radioactive, and it must be caught before it contaminates you.

Attack on Alpha Centauri

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Attack on Alpha Centauri is a fixed screen shoot 'em up similar to Galaxian. Alpha Centauri is being attacked by enormous wasps. They swarm over the planet while dropping devastating bombs onto it. The player has to try and kill as many as he can before his inevitable death. The game plays like other shoot em 'ups of the early eighties. The player moves his spacecraft left and right along the bottom of the screen while shooting at the rows of wasps above him. The wasps start in stationary positions at the top but as time goes they take turns and move down towards the player and drop bombs. When all the wasps has been killed off they are replaced with a new and harder wave and the game goes on until the player has lost all his three lives. Points are given for each killed enemy. Stationary enemies are worth ten points while the flying ones are worth a hundred.

Auf Wiedersehen Pet

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

Auf Wiedersehen Pet was a British TV series that portrayed the exploits of a group of English builders over various locations around the world. The game is based on the first series which was set in Düsseldorf. The Building Site: You have to build a wall. Scattered around the screen are Erics and these must be avoided as well as falling trowels. If you fall off the edge of the screen, touch an Eric or trowel, or lay a brick without one underneath then the game ends. The Bier Keller: Collect all the beer glasses on the screen. As you move around the screen, barmaids appear and you must avoid them, tables or the walls, or the game is ended. The Way Home: There are plenty of police cars in the area as well as security guards and these have to be avoided. After seeing your route home, there are more problems as most of the lamp posts have switched off leaving most of the walk home in complete darkness. You must memorise the route and move up the screen but if you touch an object then the game is ended.

Aviator

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Aviator was programmed by Geoff Crammond. Although it displayed in only black and white (a four colours version was also released) and had few of the features of modern simulators for more powerful computers, Aviator was of unparalleled quality at the time of its release, with a realistic flight model that included g-forces that could tear the wings off in a dive. The landscape was crudely rendered, and was basically a plane. Some scenic features were drawn as vector graphics, including low hills, fields, a lake, a suspension bridge over a river, and a small town which comprised a cluster of three buildings. Bonus points could be earned for flying under the bridge or along the main street of the town at a lower altitude than the buildings. Double points were earned for performing these stunts upside down. The game also had a shoot-'em-up mode in which alien vessels were seeded in the fields,feeding on the crops and growing until they could become airborne, at which point they headed for the town. The player could destroy the aliens on the ground as they fed, or (for reduced points) tackle them in the air (the aliens were agile but could not return fire). If an alien reached the town, the game was lost.

Avon

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1987

A double-pack of games originally written for the Phoenix IBM System/370 mainframe at Cambridge University, reworked for commercial release on home computers: Avon is a Shakespearean adventure which begins with a sight-seeing visit to the playwright's hometown. As the protagonist explores the streets and souvenir shops, certain people, animals and objects begin exhibiting strange behavior; finally, the surroundings become completely unfamiliar, and the inhabitants' English unusually rich and poetic. the stage is set for an exploration of this strange land, in an attempt to find a way out. The happenings take place over three different calendar dates; the game world is a blend of places and characters from Shakespeare's plays. Monsters of Murdac is billed as a bonus game, in which an expatriate known only as George takes a flight from England back to his native land of Murdac. Here he meets a mysterious old lady remembered from his childhood, rumored to be a witch. A stop at her strangely-furnished home proves fateful, as the hero finds himself sent on a quest deep into the foreboding forest of Murdac.

B.B.C. Golf

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1982

A very early (and somewhat unusual) golf game. While you have control of the choice of golf club and strength with which you'll hit the ball, you're not in control of the direction of where you want the ball to land.

B.C. Bill

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1984

B.C. Bill was developed by Creative Technology Group and released by Imagine for a range of home computers including the BBC Microcomputer. As the caveman Bill, you must compete with other contemporary species, such as the dinosaurs, to collect food. Whack the food with your club and drag the food back to your cave before a dinosaur eats it – or you. But food alone is not enough for survival, you must also hunt cave-wives to secure your offspring. The procedure is the same here: hit the women with your club before they're eaten by a dinosaur, and drag them by their hair back to the cave (remember this was 1984). Your score is calculated according to how many seasons you've survived, how many wives and how much offspring you have.

Bag Man

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1990

Published on the Fast Access disc, volume 2, issue 3, in 1990. You must get back all the money in the mine. It sounds easy, but you must also look out for the cops and there is a time limit. Good luck,

Ballistix

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1989

Ballistix was written by Peter Scott and published for the BBC Microcomputer by Superior Software in 1989. Ballistix is an arcade game in which you have to manipulate a ball in order to score a goal with your opponent. To do this, you will control an arrow that defines a direction, and pressing the fire key will launch a ball from this arrow in the direction the arrow points to; by launching balls at correct angles, you will manipulate the main ball and control the way it moves. Ballistix also keeps certain physics laws (namely gravity and friction), and will present you with varying obstacles in either one or two player mode.

Balloon Buster

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1989

Balloon Buster is a video game developed by Mike Williams and published for the BBC Microcomputer and Acorn Electron by Blue Ribbon. Buster the clown likes to laugh, and what really bursts him is bursting balloons. As he is a little color-blind, help him get a highscore!

Banana Man

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Bananaman is an action game that was developed and published by MRM Software for the BBC Microcomputer in 1983. The player controls the Bananaman character, whose objective is to eat 40 banana sandwiches in under a minute. Randomly generated amounts of bonus points are awarded for eating the peeled bananas and eliminating Ethel the Cat when she appears. However, if he stands on a spider, runs out of time or gets completely surrounded by blue blocks, Bananaman will lose a life and the amount of banana sandwiches eaten on the current level will be reset.

Bandit

BBC Microcomputer System - Unreleased - 1983

Bandit is an unreleased title from Acornsoft. It is a clone of the 1979 arcade game Cosmic Guerilla from Universal.

Bandits

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Bandits is a computer game for the BBC Micro platform, published by the slightly obscure Oak concern. It should not be confused with the very similarly named "Bandit" game put out by Acornsoft. It's a variation of Asteroids, where you control a ship which can be rotated, thrust forward or jumped in hyperpace.

Bandits at 3 O' Clock

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1983

Bandits At 3 O' Clock is a one or two player game for joysticks only. The one player game allows you to perfect your dogfighting technique by chasing and shooting the computer-controlled plane. The plane is controlled using the joystick. Pulling the joystick back (down) will make the plane climb; pushing forward (up) will make it dive and pushing the joystick to the side will make the plane increase speed. The option menu allows you to select 1 or 2 players, the background (day or night), clouds, flak and air-ships. A plane cannot be shot down when it is in the cloud but it can crash into the other plane. Either plane can be shot down by flak and if the player flies too close to the enemy airship it will be fired at. If the planes fly into the red at the top of the screen they will be prone to stall.

Banjax

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1985

Legend has it that any bear who is intelligent enough to reach the Inner Sanctum of the Golden Temple shall become Lord of the Lands of Mystery. Can you help Banjax become such a bear? You have to collect all treasures and avoid monsters to fullfil Banjax's destiny.