Spectrum Next

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Up the Junction
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Spectrum Next

Post by Up the Junction »

Image


A lovely little piece of kit being developed via this Kickstarter. I've pledged:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/18 ... f=kicktraq

Campaign ends Tuesday, so you'll have to be quick if you're interested!
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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by DasNutNock »

Nice idea and all, but ultimately, I don't see the point. Hardly like the Spectrum is hard to emulate, nor is support for hardware of all types. A fun nostalgia piece, I suppose, but whenever I revisit the games of my youth, I'm struck by just how f*cking hard they feel now, after 30 years of improved user interfaces.

Q,A,O,P,SPACE only gets you so far in life...
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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by Hammer1972 »

Not for me, but someone in here might fancy this...
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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by Up the Junction »

The Recreated is a pile of toss. A USB keyboard, basically, with no hardware on board - support for which will end soon.
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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by Up the Junction »

DasNutNock wrote:Hardly like the Spectrum is hard to emulate...
It's not emulating the Spectrum, it's enhancing it - hence the name.

1.5mb of RAM as opposed to 16/48/128k, different graphic modes, sprites, three sound chips (including two AY C64-esque chips), SD card for instant game loading and a new case (by the original designer, Rick Dickinson).

What's the point? You could ask that of most recreational pursuits!
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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by Hammer1972 »

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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by DasNutNock »

Up the Junction wrote:1.5mb of RAM as opposed to 16/48/128k, different graphic modes, sprites, three sound chips (including two AY C64-esque chips), SD card for instant game loading and a new case (by the original designer, Rick Dickinson).

What's the point? You could ask that of most recreational pursuits!
All fair points, but there's no getting away from the fact that you could do all that enhancement stuff with software. Still, I won't pretend I won't want a play on one when they're available.

Seriously, though, when did you last try playing a Spectrum game that wasn't Manic Miner? They are all impossible!
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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by Up the Junction »

Hammer1972 wrote:I do like the look of this!
Yes, it looks nice, but I'm reserving judgement until we know what's actually inside. Especially given 'Atari's' track record.
DasNutNock wrote:All fair points, but there's no getting away from the fact that you could do all that enhancement stuff with software. Still, I won't pretend I won't want a play on one when they're available.
The Next is a 1mb machine, with HDMI output etc, sprites etc - they're additional hardware features, you can't replicate those with software.
DasNutNock wrote:Seriously, though, when did you last try playing a Spectrum game that wasn't Manic Miner? They are all impossible!
I guess that depends what you're into! Some of the modern Spectrum software (yes, there's plenty still being made!) is quite different to your standard arcade/platform/shoot'em up title you'd have got back in 1983. For example, I've just bought this little JRPG, released in 2013 for the 128k:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T32e5KbUEfA
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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by PF. »

On retro, I just got this for my imac. http://www.8bitdo.com/nes30pro-fc30pro/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Looks awesome and plays like a dream.
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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by White Goodman »

DasNutNock wrote: Seriously, though, when did you last try playing a Spectrum game that wasn't Manic Miner? They are all impossible!
I still have no idea how to complete Jet Set Willy or have half a clue what it was supposed to be about.
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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by DasNutNock »

White Goodman wrote:I still have no idea how to complete Jet Set Willy or have half a clue what it was supposed to be about.
Closest I've got to that was watching the last couple minutes of a youtube of someone doing it. Apparently, it can be done in less than 20 minutes.

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Spectrum Next

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White Goodman wrote:I still have no idea how to complete Jet Set Willy...
It can't actually be completed on the release version as there's a bug (The Banyan Tree, IIRC) preventing you from doing so!
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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by White Goodman »

f*** whaaaat?!? How many hours did I spend.****ing around with that banyan tree!!!
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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by Up the Junction »

Scheduled for delivery last month, could now be delayed until the summer. Glad I picked up the board-only version before Christmas.
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Re: Spectrum Next

Post by DasNutNock »

so... what can you do with a spectrum with a half gig of memory?
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