Using a variety of (unverified) sources. CompilationZX looks at Ocean’s three They Sold a Million compilations (published under their The Hit Squad brand) to try and get to the bottom of the title. What did we think it meant, what did it actually mean and did any of the compilations reach the dizzy heights of the million seller?
They Sold a Million
- Publisher: The Hit Squad
- Release Year: 1985
- Price: £9.95
- Platforms: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC
- Estimated Compilation Sales:100,000–300,000 units (across all platforms)
- Widely distributed in UK retail, especially WHSmith and Boots.
- Contained 4 massive early hits for the Spectrum.
| Game | Publisher | Year | ZX Spectrum Sales | Total Sales (All Platforms) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jet Set Willy | Software Projects | 1984 | ~300,000–400,000 | ~1 million+ | Massive UK hit, iconic platformer |
| Sabre Wulf | Ultimate Play The Game | 1984 | ~250,000–350,000 | ~750,000–1 million | Strong Spectrum base, jungle maze classic |
| Beach Head | U.S. Gold | 1984 | ~150,000–250,000 | ~500,000+ | More popular on C64, still solid Spectrum sales |
| Daley Thompson’s Decathlon | Ocean Software | 1984 | ~300,000–400,000 | ~750,000–1 million | Joystick-breaking UK favourite |
| TOTAL | 1m-1.4m | 3m-3.5m+ |
Whether you were in the camp that thought each game sold a million on the Spectrum, or you thought the games combined across all platforms sold a million, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Estimated sales data suggests that whilst no spectrum game sold a million in its own right, the four games included in the Spectrum compilation did pass the threshold. So there is little doubt that for this incarnation at least, that the title is justified.
They Sold a Million II
- Publisher: The Hit Squad
- Release Year: 1986
- Price: £9.95
- Platforms: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC
- Estimated Compilation Sales:100,000–200,000 units (across all platforms)
- Strong critical acclaim, especially for Knight Lore.
- Heavy Ultimate branding gave it prestige.
| Game | Publisher | Year | ZX Spectrum Sales | Total Sales (All Platforms) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knight Lore | Ultimate Play The Game | 1984 | ~300,000–500,000 | ~500,000–750,000 | Genre-defining isometric classic |
| Match Day | Ocean Software | 1984 | ~250,000–400,000 | ~400,000–600,000 | Popular football sim, strong UK base |
| Underwurlde | Ultimate Play The Game | 1984 | ~200,000–350,000 | ~350,000–500,000 | Atmospheric platformer, part of Sabreman series |
| Alien 8 | Ultimate Play The Game | 1985 | ~150,000–300,000 | ~300,000–450,000 | Isometric sci-fi follow-up to Knight Lore |
| TOTAL | ~0.9m-1.5m | ~1.5m-2.3m |
Released a year later but still relying mainly on early games, he inclusion of Knight Lore will have no doubt helped They Sold a Million II (annoyingly using the numerals rather than the digits used on the other releases) reach impressive sales. Data suggests that is that once again likely this compilation managed the benchmark of 1m combined Spectrum game sales. Though all games originating and being held in highest esteem on the Spectrum, meant that te all formats sales are much lower than the more varied first release.
They Sold a Million 3
- Publisher: The Hit Squad
- Release Year: 1986
- Price: £9.95
- Platforms: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC
- Compilation Sales: ~50,000–150,000 units (across all platforms)
- Lower sales due to mixed critical reception
| Game | Publisher | Year | ZX Spectrum Sales | Total Sales (All Platforms) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rambo: First Blood Part II | Ocean Software | 1985 | ~200,000–300,000 | ~350,000–500,000 | Licenced action hit, strong marketing |
| Ghostbusters | Activision | 1984 | ~150,000–250,000 | ~300,000–500,000 | Popular across all platforms |
| Fighter Pilot | Digital Integration | 1984 | ~100,000–200,000 | ~200,000–300,000 | Niche flight sim, praised for realism |
| Kung-Fu Master | Activision | 1985 | ~150,000–250,000 | ~250,000–400,000 | Arcade-style action |
| TOTAL | ~0.6m-1m | ~1.1m-1.7m |
With a much less attractive line up of games, with half released back in 1984, They Sold a Million 3 is the first of the compilation trilogy to struggle to hit the single format target of 1m Spectrum sales. Multi-format, whilst probably a close run thing, can be given the benefit of the doubt meaning that the TSAM moniker is safe (with caveats) and we can all sleep easily.
They Sold a Million Combined Across All Formats is more accurate when looking at all three compilations, but is probably a hard sell from a marketing perspective. But fair play to the first two releases who could claim the loftier title of They Sold A Million on the Spectrum Between Them.
Comments
One response
[…] starting with They Sold A Million in 1985. You can read more about that bold claim in our article Did they really sell a million? Other highlights are The Magnificent Seven (which included mega hits like Head Over Heels, The […]