BBC Microcomputer

BBC Microlympics – Games Heptathlon: To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the BBC Micro this year we are taking a trip down memory lane

Let the Microlympics begin! Five-days of BBC Micro retro games play.

2021 is a milestone in one of history’s best-loved and iconic computers: the BBC Micro, which celebrates its 40th birthday.

Conceived to help increase computer literacy at schools, the BBC Micro also found fame among gamers and is remembered for its library of amazing titles including Elite, Chuckie Egg and Revs.

The National Museum of Computing is celebrating the BBC Micro’s 40th with a year of events. These will kick off during the February half-term holidays with Microlympics: a week-long, gaming competition played via an online emulator.

The online games Heptathlon will take place during February half term with 5 games over 5 days.

On each event day, you will be emailed a link at midnight to the game. You have until 11.59pm on the event day to tell us your highest score via a Google form as well as post a screen shot to confirm it on social media (with the hashtag: #microlympics) or email the screen shot to us.

You can play the games at any time and as often as you like but all scores must be submitted by 11:59 that day to count.

The Games

• Monday, 15th February 2021 - Chuckie Egg (highest score)

• Tuesday, 16th February 2021 - Revs (fastest over 10 standard laps)

• Wednesday, 17th February 2021 - Citadel (score)

• Thursday, 18th February 2021 - Repton (highest score)

• Friday, 19th February 2021 - Elite (credits collected)

Microlympics is open to all comers: veterans, fans of retro computing and first timers of all ages. There are 3 categories: under 12s, 12-17 and over 18s.

The score in each of the games will determine the winner. There will be a daily winner in each category, an event winner in each category (each days score added together) and an overall event winner with highest total combined score for each game.

Winners -each day winners each day will get some custom merchandise from our online museum shop. There will also be special prizes for the overall Heptathlon winners in each category and the overall winner of the event. Highest score winners will also receive a copy of the new Book - Acorn - A World in Pixels- www.idesine.com.

Winners will also receive the opportunity to enrol in either the Qufaro Headstart or Foundation course in cyber security -https://cyberepq.org.uk/

To take part please select one of the Free tickets representing your age group.

Good luck and happy 80s gaming!