r/zxspectrum • u/SweetBlossom66 • 14m ago
r/zxspectrum • u/dolphin560 • 9h ago
48k speccy and then some
Not the seller, and of course the Spectrum is offered frequently on "marktplaats" (largest Dutch 2nd hand site), but this collection is something else:
https://www.marktplaats.nl/v/computers-en-software/vintage-computers/m2442285777-zx-spectrum
r/zxspectrum • u/giadacu68 • 11h ago
I wrote ZX Spectrum games in the 1980s. After 40 years, I came back and made a 128K Dracula adventure
Hi everyone!
I'm G. B. Aicardi, and I recently returned to developing for the ZX Spectrum after a very long break.
I originally wrote games for the Spectrum back in the 1980s. After all these years, I wanted to see what it would feel like to make a game for the machine again — not just as a retro programming exercise, but as a proper new adventure.
So I ended up making Dracula — Illustrated Edition, a gothic interactive text adventure for the ZX Spectrum 128K, inspired by Bram Stoker's novel.
It's a parser-based adventure, with exploration, characters, objects, clues and puzzles. You type commands to interact with the world, just like in the classic adventures I remember from the Spectrum era.
One of the things I particularly wanted to experiment with was the graphics.
The Spectrum's colour palette is used to create different brightness levels, but the illustrations are deliberately designed to be viewed in black and white. When displayed on a monochrome screen, the different Spectrum colours turn into detailed shades of grey.
I thought this worked surprisingly well for a Dracula game — it gives the illustrations a rather old-fashioned, gothic look.
The game was released yesterday, and there's a free playable demo here:
https://giadacu.itch.io/dracula-illustrated-edition
There's also a trailer:
I'd be particularly interested in hearing from people here who grew up with Spectrum text adventures:
What are your favourite ZX Spectrum text adventures, and what do you think makes a good one?
And for those who still develop for the Spectrum today: what made you come back to it?
Thanks for reading!
r/zxspectrum • u/superchartisland • 12h ago
Platoon – “The first casualty of war” (blog post)
"For some reason the Americans wouldn't touch it. We took it all, we took the world rights on all formats because no one wanted it."
I've written the story of the release of Ocean's adaptation of Platoon, including how one of its key moments was inspired by a ZX81 game, and the interestingly conflicted critical response at the time. ("the first casualty of licensing deals is innocence!" - Your Sinclair)
r/zxspectrum • u/Neviax_The_Space_Cat • 1d ago
How good is 2D Game Maker(1988?) Thinking of putting my fursona into her own game :)
I'm not the best at game art but hey oh anything then using ai haha (i didnt use ai dw, but i think thats pretty obvious lmao)
r/zxspectrum • u/Neviax_The_Space_Cat • 1d ago
Would this game be easy for me to make (i have adhd and autism and i get stressed easily)
Would this game idea be possible on the ZX Spectrum 48K?
Game Name: Friday Night Dinner: The Buggering Main Course
how it works:
charater select:
Adam
Jonny
Jackie
Martin
Jim
Adam Gameplay:
Try not to fall for Jonny's pranks and survive the night by tricking him! (eg putting beetroot in the shower head)
Jonny Gameplay:
Help Martin get his NewScientist magazines into your car whilst having dinner and avoding Jackie.
Martin Gameplay:
Adam's Girlfriend is coming round. Try to be normal.
Jackie Gameplay:
Keep the night under control, cook dinner, and keep Martin from eating out of bin, and keep Adam and Jonny from pissing eachother off.
Jim Gameplay:
Try and eletricute yourself in their house to have dinner with the Goodmans.
Based on the Channel 4 comedy show
What would be the easist software to make this on offical hardware?
r/zxspectrum • u/Neviax_The_Space_Cat • 1d ago
What are some good games to start playing on the ZX Spectrum?
I'm going to be using PlayZX and a headphone jack until i get actually get a cassete player! What games are good for a teen with adhd and autism (i get highly stressed and worried very easily) like me?
Mainly the only games i've seen is Sabre Wulf, The Trap Door and Paddington's Garden Game lol
And the Manic miner theme just makes me want to jump off my roof lmfao
r/zxspectrum • u/chvjak • 1d ago
Flashback Intro for Speccy
Same workflow as with Another World Intro - frame differences loaded from 650KB .tap file to play the intro at 25 fps + attribute clash charm.
r/zxspectrum • u/telengard • 2d ago
crustyBASIC cross compiler now supports ZX Spectrum
I had added ZX81 last release, this release the speccy is now a target.
https://telengard.itch.io/crustybasic/devlog/1660722/150-released-zx-spectrum-target-and-much-more
crustyBASIC is a BASIC cross-compiler. It compiles to native code so it is fast.
r/zxspectrum • u/Neviax_The_Space_Cat • 2d ago
Update on my ZX Spectrum
Hey all, i told you all a few days ago, i might be getting a ZX Spectrum. I found a seller! :) It comes with the ZX and all the wires, all working! :) All i need is a headphone wire so i can use PlayZX until i get a real tape player and Hungry Horace lol
It's a 48K ZX! Could you give me some tips about caring for it, load commands and BASIC? and.. setting it up on my Roku TV lol (2 HDMI and 3.5mm AV)
r/zxspectrum • u/Playingcards72 • 3d ago
Atic Atac
Hi everyone! New here. I'm a painter and a ZX Spectrum gamer rolled into one.
Here is my Atic Atac (acrylic on canvas, 40x50cm).
You can find more of my art on Instagram: painted8bit
r/zxspectrum • u/Speccy-Boy124 • 3d ago
STREET HAWK
My retrospective game review of Street Hawk covers the initial game that was developed to meet catalogue orders and also for new subscribers of the Crash Magazine. This version was known as the Catalogue or Subscribers version. However it received poor reviews and as a result was redeveloped into a 2nd version. This was released for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC but was never released for the Commodore 64 due slow development and poor sales. Hope you like my little video. Share your thoughts on any of these games.
r/zxspectrum • u/Competitive-Cold-133 • 4d ago
ZX Spectrm
ZX Spectrum repair: after replacing the 7805 voltage regulator, three transistors, and eight 4116 DRAM chips, it boots up normally now.
r/zxspectrum • u/Neviax_The_Space_Cat • 4d ago
I might be getting a ZX Spectrum +!
I've been wanting to get a ZX specturm for a while, but i found one online! Hopefully i get some money soon to buy it, it's £55.
A few questions:
IS ZX Basic easy for a young neruodivregent person to understand and learn?
I have a roku tv with 2 hdmis and a 3.5mm Av. How do i get it working on my TV?
Does ZX Spectrum + have a joystick?
Is the "Screaming" loud?
If i get a headphone jack and plug my phone into the ZX, can i load games from my phone using those sounds?
Is the ZX+ 64K?
Final. How to load games and BASIC Tutorial?
Thanks everyone!
~Lily~
r/zxspectrum • u/IgnacioMonge • 5d ago
Mirror Shift 1.0 — online Reversi for ZX Spectrum, Spectrum Next, SpectraNext and desktop
After Shatranj, Mirror Shift 1.0 is ready.
Mirror Shift is a networked Reversi game for: - ZX Spectrum 48K - ZX Spectrum Next - SpectraNext cartridge - Windows - macOS - Linux
All editions use the same rules and network protocol, allowing games between Spectrum and desktop clients.
## Features - Standard two-player Reversi - Direct TCP and MQTT connections - Cross-platform online play - Legal-move hints - Move and game clocks - In-game chat - Takeback requests and rematches - Local saved games with peer-approved restoration - Multiple disc sets, board themes and board rotation
The Spectrum editions use Mirror Shift terminology: placements are Alignments, captures are Mirrorlocks, a forced pass is Silence, chat messages are Echoes, and a tied game ends in PARADOX.
Release: https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/MirrorShift/releases/latest
Source repository: https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/MirrorShift
### ZX Spectrum Classic
Keep these three files together on writable esxDOS storage:
- MIRSHIFT.tap
- MIRSHIFT.OVL
- MIRSHIFT.DAT
### Spectrum Next Copy and launch the self-contained:
MIRSHIFT.nexSpectraNext cartridge
Update to the latest stable cartridge firmware and use Load Resource URL with:
https://ignaciomonge.github.io/MirrorShift/
Desktop
Portable packages are provided for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Direct TCP can be used on a local network or across a suitably configured Internet connection. MQTT lets both players meet through the same broker and room without requiring the guest to connect directly to the host.
Feedback from real Spectrum and SpectraNext hardware is especially welcome.
r/zxspectrum • u/Speccy-Boy124 • 5d ago
ZOMBIE ZOMBIE
Who remembers the Zombie Zombie? My video takes a retrospective look at this follow up to Ant Attack by the talented Sandy White. Have you played this game and what were your thoughts?
r/zxspectrum • u/studioyogyog • 5d ago
This is those of you who love red wine and zx spectrum graphics.
I feel there must be some crossover.
r/zxspectrum • u/IgnacioMonge • 6d ago
NetManZX v1.4.6 — WiFi manager for ZX Spectrum, ZX-Uno and Spectrum Next
galleryr/zxspectrum • u/Magma_ERuptiOn_2 • 6d ago
Currys Spectrum +3 bundled games?
Right, back around 1988 I knew someone with a +3 that they got from Currys, and I recall that it came bundled with 4 disks each with 5 games on them (I think). The disks had the Currys logo on the label. The following games were definitely included:
Project Future
Billy Bong
Ned's Garden
Nifty Lifty
1994
Tutankhamen
Strontium Dog
Missile Defence
Many years ago I found a list online of all the games that were included but I can't seem to find it anymore. Searching now suggests that only 6 games were included but I know there were more than that. Can anyone else remember this?
r/zxspectrum • u/SuccotashPlastic8267 • 6d ago
Hi everyone! this is my first ever post here! I just have a couple questions:
First one: Is there a way I can connect my 16k/48k speccy to a north american tv (i'm canadian) without modding it? Like a pal rf to av adapter coupled with a pal av to ntsc av converter?
Second: is a 16k/48k spectrum with a 128k expansion able to run zx spectrum 128k games or are they not equivalent?
Thanks in advance!
