Software Projects was a computer game development company which was started by ''

Manic Miner ''Manic Miner'' is a platform game written for the ZX Spectrum by Matthew Smith (games programmer), Matthew Smith. It was published by Bug-Byte in 1983, then later the same year by Software Projects. The first game in the ''Miner Willy'' series ...

'' developer Matthew Smith, Alan Maton and Colin Roach. After leaving

Bug-Byte Bug-Byte Software Ltd. was a video game company founded in 1980 in Liverpool, initially producing software for the Acorn Atom and ZX80. Bug-Byte's first hit was Don Priestley, Don Priestley's ''Mazogs'' which was one of the most successful title ...

as a freelance developer, Smith was able to take the rights to his recently developed ''Manic Miner'' game with him, due to an oversight in his freelance contract. Software Projects was then able to market and publish the

ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer developed and marketed by Sinclair Research. One of the most influential computers ever made and one of the all-time bestselling British computers, over five million units were sold. ...

hit game separately from

. Their logo was a

Penrose triangle The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, the impossible tribar, or the impossible triangle, is a triangular impossible object, an optical illusion consisting of an object which can be depicted in a perspective drawing. It cannot e ...

. In 1987, Software Projects released Special FX Software's first title ''Hysteria''.

Released games

* ''Anaconda'' * ''Astronut'' * ''

BC's Quest for Tires ''B.C.'s Quest for Tires'' is a horizontally scrolling video game designed by Rick Banks and Michael Bate and published by Sierra On-Line in 1983. Versions were released for the Commodore 64, IBM PC, Atari 8-bit computers, ColecoVision, ZX Spec ...

'' * ''Binky'' * '' Crazy Balloon'' * ''Crypt Capers'' * ''Dinky Doo'' * ''Dodo Lair'' * ''

Dragon's Lair ''Dragon's Lair'' is a video game franchise created by Rick Dyer. The series is notable for its film-quality animation by ex-Disney animator Don Bluth, and complex decades-long history of being ported to many platforms. It has also been adapte ...

'' * '' Dragon's Lair Part II - Escape from Singe's Castle'' * ''Ewgeebez'' * ''Fatty Henry'' * ''Galactic Gardener'' * ''Harvey Smith Showjumper'' * ''Hunchback at the Olympics'' * ''Hysteria'' * ''

Jet Set Willy ''Jet Set Willy'' is a platform video game written by Matthew Smith for the ZX Spectrum home computer. It was published in 1984 by Software Projects and ported to most home computers of the time. The game is a sequel to '' Manic Miner'' pub ...

'' * ''

Jet Set Willy II ''Jet Set Willy II: The Final Frontier'' is a platform game released 1985 by Software Projects as the Amstrad CPC port of ''Jet Set Willy''. It was then rebranded as the sequel and ported to other home computers. ''Jet Set Willy II'' was develo ...

'' * ''Karls Kavern'' * ''Learning with Leeper'' * ''Ledgeman'' * ''Legion'' * ''

Loderunner ''Lode Runner'' is a 2D computer graphics, 2D puzzle-platform game, developed by Douglas E. Smith, Doug Smith and published by Broderbund in 1983. Its gameplay mechanics are similar to ''Space Panic'' from 1980. The player controls a character wh ...

'' * ''McKensie'' * ''

'' * ''Nutcraka'' * ''Ometron'' * ''Orion'' * ''Project Graphics Language'' * ''Push Off'' * ''Run and Plunder'' * ''Space Swarm'' * ''Space Joust'' * ''

Star Paws ''Star Paws'' is an action video game released by Software Projects for the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum in 1987. Gameplay The game's plot involved captain Rover Pawstrong (a dog in a space suit) in his adventures on a planet, att ...

'' * ''

The Perils of Willy Miner Willy is the protagonist in a series of platform games for the ZX Spectrum, MSX, Amstrad CPC and the Commodore 64 home computers. The first two games - ''Manic Miner'' and ''Jet Set Willy'' were written by Matthew Smith during the early 1980s ...

'' * ''Thrusta'' * ''Tribble Trubble'' In 1984 and 1985 they released a number of budget titles at £2.99 on the ''Software Supersavers'' label.

References

Defunct video game companies of the United Kingdom Video game companies established in 1983 {{UK-videogame-company-stub