Spectrum emulator
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Spectrum emulators
If you were an owner of a Sinclair ZX Spectrum back in the 1980's you probably hark back to those halcyon days of gaming.
Loading your games in from cassette, the dreaded 'R Tape Loading Error', adjusting the volume on you tape deck, trying again...
The loading screen being drawn in line by line, the yellow and blue alternating screen border, the famous 'loading screech'. After an eon the game loads up - funky beeper music blasting from your rubber keyed machine.
Well these days emulation of classic systems is all the rage, and here we will show you which we think are the best Spectrum emulators for your PC, the features of each one, and how to use them.
Rediscover those classic games (who fancies another shot at Manic Miner?) and play them once again - without the lengthy loading times!
ZX Spectrum Emulator - Spectaculator
Spectaculator is one of the more well known ZX Spectrum emulators out there. There is a reason for that - it is absolutely excellent!
Spectaculator emulates each model of the ZX Spectrum including:
- Standard 16K / 48K ZX Spectrum
- ZX Spectrum 128
- ZX Spectrum +2
- ZX Spectrum +3
Spectaculator runs on the following operating systems:
- Windows 98,
- Windows ME
- Windows NT 4
- Windows 2000
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
It handles all of the Spectrum file formats such as TZX, TAP, and Z80.
Not only that Spectaculator also allows you to define keyboard settings and gives you an overlay of the original Spectrum keyboard. This is handy if you fancy typing in a bit of classic BASIC!
This emulator also gives you the option to grab screen dumps from any program you are running and even allows you to record video. This means you can record yourself playing any of your favourite games and then watch it back at leisure on your own PC. Marvellous!
Emulating a ZX Spectrum 48K
Emulating a ZX Spectrum 128
Spectaculator further information
Spectaculator has it's own home page at http://www.spectaculator.com/. Here you can find more detailled information about the product and some useful frequently asked questions.
Spectaculator is available for download from the site and is usually available for a free 30 day trial. Please go there and try it out.
ZX Spectrum emulator - Spin
Spin is another well known emulator of all things Spectrum - and it does the job superbly.
Just like Spectaculator it emulates the following versions of the ZX Spectrum:
- Standard 16K / 48K ZX Spectrum
- ZX Spectrum 128
- ZX Spectrum +2
- ZX Spectrum +3
Spin runs on the following operating systems:
- Windows 95
- WIndows 98
- Windows ME
- Windows 2000
- Windows XP
- Windows 2003
Spin handles all of the usual Spectrum file formats such as TZX, TAP, and Z80.
Spectaculator also gives you an overlay of the original Spectrum keyboard. This is handy if you fancy typing in a bit of Spectrum BASIC. It also has a command finder which tells you the shift and key combination for certain commands in 48K mode.
This emulator also gives you the option to grab screen dumps in bitmap format from any program you are running and even allows you to record video. This means you can record yourself playing any of your favourite games and then watch it back via a player that handles avi files.
It should be noted that making the avi's rip and run correctly may require a download of certain CODEC's. We have found this to be the case anyway.
Emulating a ZX Spectrum 48K
Emulating a ZX Spectrum 128
Spin further information
Further information on Spin can be found at http://www.zxspin.co.uk/
It is also available for download from this location. Enjoy!
Useful links
- Retro Computers
From the ZX Spectrum to the BBC micro to the Commodore Amiga - they are all in here. Take a lighthearted look at machines from the 70's and 80's. - Currah Microspeech
Anyone remember the classic speech unit for the ZX Spectrum? Find out all about it here! - ZX Spectrum Games
Lots of ZX Spectrum game reviews, images, videos and general reminiscing. This is one for you Spectrum fans.
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Comments
Hey SimeyC thanks for the comments! What kind of Spectrum do you have (is it a 48K model or one of the newer +2 or +3 models?). Anyway - keep hold of it whichever it is, it's a fine machine!
its the 128k model - even has the box entact too! Your hub made me dig it out - the thing still works - no games though - but wrote a wonderful little routing to display my name six million times LOL!
The 128 was best machine (the last true Sinclair model) we reckon. With it still having the box it'll be worth something already! For more info on ZX Spectrum games you should look at our blog site - we've covered quite a few in there. You never know we might have looked at one of your favourites.
Sounds like you had fun writing that FOR..NEXT loop too! LOL
SimeyC says:
2 months ago
I still have a Spectrum in working condition! Haven't used it for a long time - gonna sell it on eBay one day! Still not worth much yet! Some great old games on this thing!