ZX Spectrum

The ZX Spectrum was one of the first large audience home computers in the U.K. and the ZX Spectrum led to the production of software and hardware for the machine. Huge numbers of ZX Spectrum were sold worldwide which made it the most successful British computer ever made.

Developed by Sinclair Research Ltd., in 1982, it was launched to show the machine’s colour display as compared to the Spectrum ZX81 which was black and white.

The ZX Spectrum has a dedicated fan base and for many kick started their careers as programmers. Game designers used their creativity to make games which even by today’s standards are creative and playable.

There were many hardware limitations, and yet the success as a game platform was achieved despite it’s primitive sound generation and lack of inbuilt joystick ports.

The ZX Spectrum was a small black computer with rubber keys and led to computer manufacture and software programming. For many people this was their first experience of using a computer and was one of the first affordable machines on the market.

Manic Miner became an addictive platform game for ZX Spectrum and was released in 1983. With features which included excellent playability and the first in-game music and sound effects, it was a great success and opened up the computer games industry.

Amstrad purchased the Spectrum range and Sinclair brand in 1986 and went on to produce ZX Spectrum +2 which featured a spring loaded keyboard and dual joystick ports. Over the years they produced ZX Spectrum +2A, ZX Spectrum +2B and ZX Spectrum +3, which was in production until 1990. In December 1990 the production of the model was finally ended.

The ZX Spectrum has become popular again due to the accessibility of the ZX Spectrum emulators which allow 1980’s video game enthusiasts to be able to see classic titles. The simple architecture of the ZX Spectrum means it’s easy to emulate on modern computers, which has led to thousands of games being converted to emulator formats.

The introduction of the ZX Spectrum opened up a whole new world for games enthusiasts across the globe, and led to the sophisticated games market available today.

Many believe that despite all the new technology the original games are still among some of the best ever produced. Manic Miner, which was developed and played on the first ZX Spectrum computer, is as popular today as it ever was and has an international fan base.