I am getting a zx spectrum for christmas

abyss · Post by **abyss** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:43 pm

I can't wait til i get a zx spectrum for christmas. Yes i already know some of the presents i will get. I can't wait. What are some good games for the zx spectrum. How good are zx spectrums. Where do i get games for the zx spectrum.

Post by **emmzee** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:56 pm

That's cool

Ah usually Wikipedia is a good place to start ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum

Especially the links at the bottom to other ZX Spectrum sites.

Post by **Larry Laffer** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:04 pm

Nice... I had once a ZXSpectrum clone... but it only ran with Nintendo cartridges...
But anyhow this caught my eye:

Released April 1982
Discontinued December 1990

Howcome's still being sold?

abyss · Post by **abyss** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:11 pm

It is an early zx spectrum. I need to know if i can get free legal games for it.

Post by **emmzee** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:00 pm

Well, from reading the Wikipedia entry, the problem with the Spectrum is that it used cassette tapes as its main program delivery mechanism, not diskettes. So it's not as simple as downloading a ROM and putting it on a diskette, unless your particular model has a built-in disk drive, and that drive supports regular 3.5" floppies (unlikely). Besides that, downloading ROMs would not be legal anyways. I was able to find some old tapes for sale here:
http://www.markhyde.plus.com/scg.html

Note that prices are in British pounds; since the Spectrum was mainly a UK system it will be more difficult to find games etc here in North America. If you want real Spectrum cassette tapes, your best bet is probably eBay:
http://search.ebay.ca/zx-spectrum
As you can see, almost everything for sale on eBay (that's available to Canada anyways) is coming from the UK.

Edit: Here's another page to check for places to buy online:
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/activehouses.html

abyss · Post by **abyss** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:44 pm

What can i do with a zx spectrum. Does zx hae a paint program or something like a word file or anything like that. As i cannot order games as i am not allowed to. My parents are completely against ordering things.

Post by **emmzee** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:59 pm

From what I could get from the Wikipedia entry, it comes with a version of BASIC installed, similar to a Commodore64.

Without ordering off the net, I suppose your best bet is to ask around to see if people you know have cassettes laying around that they'll give you, of course that's not too likely unless you live in the UK or know people who live there.

Unknown_K · Post by **Unknown_K** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:03 am

If you can find the game files on the net (should be able to easy enough) there are programs that convert the digital file to a WAV file (link posted below). Once you get the WAV file you can burn multiple games to a CD as audio tracks, then get cd player to pump the audio out to your spectrum tape input port and you can then load and run the games (no tapes needed).

http://www.worldofspectrum.org/utilities.html

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:35 am

I also don't think is necessary to struggle with the tapes anymore. The are dozens of sites with abandonware spectrum games, and also some good emulators.
There are no performance issues, like with dos emulators under windows, i.e.
And I really don't understand how the "legal" aspect for these ancient games can still be raised. On moral issues, perhaps