Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised May 27, 2026

Software Projects

Software Projects was a computer game development company which was started by Manic Miner developer Matthew Smith, Alan Maton and Liverpool businessman Tommy Barton. After leaving Bug-Byte 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 hit game separately from Bug-Byte. Their logo was a Penrose triangle.

Last revised
May 27, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
395 w
Citations
24
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Software Projects
IndustryVideo games
Founded1983
FounderMatthew Smith, Alan Maton1
HeadquartersBear Brand Complex, Allerton Road, Woolton, Liverpool L25 7SF
Key people
Matthew Smith, Alan Maton, Tommy Barton,2 Colin Roach
ProductsComputer games

Software Projects was a computer game development company which was started by Manic Miner developer Matthew Smith, Alan Maton and Liverpool businessman Tommy Barton. After leaving Bug-Byte 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.1 Software Projects was then able to market and publish the ZX Spectrum hit game separately from Bug-Byte. Their logo was a Penrose triangle.

In 1987, Software Projects released Special FX Software's first title Hysteria.3

Released games

In 1984 and 1985 they released a number of budget titles at £2.99 on the Software Supersavers label.21

References

References

  1. Graham Taylor (April 1984). "And pigs will fly... Graham Taylor talks to Matthew Smith and Alan Maton of Software Projects". Popular Computing Weekly.
  2. "Bug-Byte loses claim to fame". Popular Computing Weekly. No. 49. Sunshine Publications. 8 December 1983. p. 5. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  3. "NEWS". Crash. Newsfield. March 1988. p. 8. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  4. "World of Spectrum - Astronut".
  5. "BC's Quest for Tires".
  6. "Amstrad Action-001-Binky-AMS.JPG".
  7. "Crazy Balloon (1983 Software Projects) [388]". 1983.
  8. "Crypt Capers - Software - Game - Computing History".
  9. "Dinky Doo - Software - Game - Computing History".
  10. "Dodo Lair - Software - Game - Computing History".
  11. "Commodore User Magazine Issue 41". February 1987.
  12. "Ewgeebez - Software - Game - Computing History".
  13. "Galactic Gardener - Software - Game - Computing History".
  14. "Harvey Smith Showjumper - Software - Computing History".
  15. "Karls Kavern - Software - Game - Computing History".
  16. "Lode runner". Archived from the original on 8 September 2015.
  17. "Nutcraka".
  18. "Ometron - Software - Game - Computing History".
  19. "Personal Computer Games Issue15".
  20. "Tribble Trubble | Retro Gamer". 23 December 2008.
  21. "More at less". ZX Computing. Argus Specialist Publications: 82. February–March 1985.