| Mined-Out | |
|---|---|
 ZX Spectrum version cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Ian Andrew |
| Publisher(s) | Quicksilva |
| Programmer(s) | Ian Andrew[a] Chris Andrew[b] Ian Rowlings[c] |
| Platform(s) | ZX Spectrum, Dragon 32, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, Oric, Camputers Lynx |
| Release | 1983 |
| Genre(s) | Maze |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Mined-Out is a maze video game created by Ian Andrew originally for the ZX Spectrum home computer in 1983. The objective is to carefully navigate a series of grid-shaped minefields by moving from the bottom to the top of the screen. The number of invisible mines in spaces adjacent to the player's current position is shown but not their precise location, requiring deduction to advance past them and avoid getting blown up. Additional challenges are introduced in later stages.
Andrew was an early adopter of the Sinclair ZX81 and Spectrum. He learned to program in BASIC in his spare time and used the Spectrum's colour limitations in designing Mined-Out as his first commercial product. He sent a copy to Quicksilva after the company advertised a request for new titles to publish. The game was promptly ported to other computers including the Dragon 32, Camputers Lynx, Oric, BBC Micro and Acorn Electron.
Mined-Out was a financial success, allowing Andrew to establish his own development studio, Incentive Software. The game was also critically well-received by British computer publications. The simple yet novel use of logic in its gameplay was generally praised while opinions on its presentation varied slightly between versions. Although Mined-Out was not the first Minesweeper-style game, it preceded the popular Microsoft Minesweeper by several years and likely influenced it.
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