Resource centre for ZX Spectrum games
using Manic Miner and Jet Set Willy game engines
VI. Other game engines
A. The original Manic Miner recreated/modified/extended using other game engines
4. Manic Miner Turbo
Author: Paradigm Shifter
Year: 2010
Language: English
Manic Miner Turbo is a version of MM with a rewritten game engine, featuring smoother and faster gameplay. It was created by Paradigm Shifter and posted to World of Spectrum in February 2010. An RZX recording of the game, submitted by Mark Woodmass (Woody), was published on the RZX Archive in March that year.
At the time, Paradigm Shifter did not consider the version he shared even a beta release, as key elements such as the boot sequence, title screen, scrolling message, scoring, and demo mode were still missing. He also planned to add at least 20 more levels.
In August 2023, after a long pause since March 2010, Paradigm Shifter reflected on the project, explaining that development halted after his PC's power supply caught fire. Manic Miner Turbo was his first attempt at Z80 assembly programming, and while it introduced several technical improvements, some design choices (such as the way graphics were stored) made later development more difficult. The game originally aimed for a full 50 FPS speed, but this proved unplayable, so it was capped at 25 FPS. However, some levels—such as those featuring Amoebatrons—suffered from slowdown to 17 FPS due to how graphics updates were handled.
One of the main optimizations in Manic Miner Turbo was limiting redraws to only those tiles that had changed, instead of redrawing the entire screen each frame like the original game. This reduced visible tearing but also made implementing certain effects, like the "Game Over" boot animation, more complex. The level compression method used allowed for the possibility of more than 40 additional levels.
According to Paradigm Shifter, modern MM engines now match or exceed the features of his version, and any major new iteration would need to introduce something significantly different—such as a true 50 FPS mode with refined animation to maintain playability. Although he hasn't resumed work on the game, Paradigm Shifter still has the source code and hasn't ruled out returning to the project in the future.
In August 2024, Paradigm Shifter became involved in a new project aimed at developing an enhanced MM game engine, alongside efforts to create a more modern Miner Willy sprite. This initiative, known as the Slick Willy engine, seeks to improve upon previous attempts by refining animations and optimizing performance while staying true to the original game's mechanics. Discussions within the community have explored the challenges of implementing a visually updated Willy within the constraints of the ZX Spectrum’s hardware, particularly concerning sprite dimensions, animation fluidity, and collision detection.
The Slick Willy engine was first publicly introduced in a thread on World of Spectrum, where Paradigm Shifter shared the source code and some progress versions, the last one of which was posted in August 2024. Meanwhile, a separate discussion on Spectrum Computing has seen active collaboration on sprite design, gameplay refinements, and technical improvements. Key advancements include a more efficient rendering system and considerations for achieving higher frame rates while maintaining playability. The modern Miner Willy sprite project continues to evolve through community contributions, with ongoing refinements to animation and movement, reflecting continued enthusiasm for pushing the boundaries of MM on the ZX Spectrum.
Number of rooms: 20
Highest documented score: N/A
(There is no scoring in the game.)
Download links
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Game file in SNA format |
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The game's page on Spectrum Computing |
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RZX walkthrough of the game |
Video
Screenshot gallery |
There is no 'Game Over' screen, since the player has infinite lives in this version.