The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

BUMBLE BEE

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade Dogfight

Author             : R. Barnes

Standalone Release(s)   : 1983: BUMBLE BEE, Micro Power, £6.99

Compilation Release(s)   : 1986: MICRO POWER MAGIC 2, Micro Power, £7.95

                    1987: PRES GAMES DISC 1, PRES, 1987, £9.95

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron

Supplier            : MICRO POWER, 8/8A Regent Street, Chapel Allerton, LEEDS

                    LS7 4PE. Tel: 01532 683186.

Disc compatibility     : ADFS 1D00, CDFS 1D00, DFS 1D00

Instructions

Guide Bumble around the maze swinging the turnstiles and collecting the pollen, keeping clear of the toadstools and the fire barrels. Pursuing you around the maze is a bunch of scuttling spiders who can only be killed by luring them into the fire barrels - they are unaffected by the toadstools. The pollen flashes to let you know that a pider is about to emerge from the central lair.

When all the pollen has been collected, panels open in the box marked 'OUT'. Enter the box to progress to the next maze.

Scoring

Each Pollen Dot  .   .   .   .   .   .   .    5

Killing a Spider .   .   .   .   .   .   .  250

Peach    .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .  100

Strawberry   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .  200

Banana   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .  300

Grape    .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .  400

Raspberry    .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .  500

Carrot   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .  600

Clearing 1st Screen  .   .   .   .   .   .   50

Clearing 2nd Screen  .   .   .   .   .   .  100

Clearing 3rd Screen  .   .   .   .   .   .  150

An extra life is awarded at 4000 points.

Alternatively you may use joysticks via a switch-type joystick interface.

Game Controls

Z - Left,   X - Right,   : - Up,   / - Down

Instructions' Source   : BUMBLE BEE (Micro Power) Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User)

Micro Power have gained an enviable reputation for producing quality software for the Electron. BUMBLE BEE is yet another addition to the range. The game has its origins in Pac man and will appeal to arcadians who love being chased round a maze by assorted bugs and beasties. However it requires a lot more thought than the original when playing.

You are the bumble bee in the title, scurrying round a maze of swinging turnstiles collecting pollen grains. Spiders emerge and chase you making the task more difficult. When you have collected all the pollen you buzz over to the Out sign and move on to the next screen. At 4,000 points you gain an extra life to add to the three provided at the start.

The interesting part of the game is the turnstiles. You can swing them but the spiders can't. So you can block off the spiders in a different section, or swing a turnstile into their path if they are about to pounce on you.

Entering your name into the high score table is almost as hard as the game. The letters of the alphabet are printed in a grid and you have to fly over the correct letters to spell your name - and it's not easy as you buzz about the screen at top speed. After an hour the high score table was full of names like RLANDI, RON AND and ROFLANG!

The only grumblers are the length of the loader - 7k is just too long so I didn't bother with it and just *ran the main program. And if you want to use joysticks you need a switch type joystick interface - it ignores the Plus 1.

BUMBLE BEE is a well written addictive arcade game with colourful, smooth graphics and good sound. It's well worth buying, so start saving your pennies now.

Roland Waddilove, ELECTRON USER 2. 5