Do you remember the ZX Spectrum, that personal computer that was released over three decades ago in 1982? I certainly don’t. It came out before my time, which is why everybody other than myself and Sandy (who has just started walking now. Aw bless!) recognises it. Do you yearn for those good old days when gaming was made up of literally 8 colours? You’re in luck, your childhood memories are well within reach!
Over on Indiegogo, the old school device is getting a makeover. It’s coming back looking sleeker and sexier, and as a plug-and-play console (via Joystiq).
The Sinclair Spectrum Vega is a new games computer based on Sir Clive’s hugely successful Spectrum.
The above means nothing to me, but I have a feeling some of you are either drooling or wiping away tears brought on by nostalgia. I actually like the look of the controller to be honest.
At time of writing, the device is on £78,475 of its proposed £100,000 goal. With 59 days to go, I’m confident it will reach target. Want to get involved? Here are the various tiers…
£5: If you would just like to help us out, in creating a new UK computer product which is designed in the UK and made in the UK, then thank you for your help!
£20: Have your name immortalised. Your name will be added to the ‘Roll of Honour’ which will be displayed on our web site (unless you prefer to be anonymous). PLUS you will receive a eBook version of the book ‘Creating the Sinclair ZX Vega’.
£50: Have your name immortalised forever on the first 1,000 Vegas. You will be added to the ‘Roll of Honour’ which will be displayed on the Vega’s screen and on our web site. PLUS you will receive a eBook version of the book ‘Creating the Sinclair ZX Vega’.
£50: Get yourself a paperback version of the ‘Creating the Sinclair ZX Vega’ book. It will be signed by at least TWO members of the team.
£75: Come to the launch party which will be held in London, meet the team, and be one of the first people to see the Vega in the flesh!
£100: Get yourself a paperback version of the ‘Creating the Sinclair ZX Vega’. Book. It will be signed by Sir Clive Sinclair
£100: Become the proud owner of one of the first 1,000 limited edition Vegas, delivered within the UK. (Outside of the UK please add an extra £20 postage.)
£250: A piece of concept art signed by Sir Clive Sinclair featuring some trial Sinclair research logos (approx. 60cm x 40cm). SOLD OUT.
£350: A piece of concept art signed by Sir Clive Sinclair featuring the design for a possible joystick and pad version of the Vega (approx. 60cm x 40cm). SOLD OUT.
£500: Come and spend time with the Vega team in London, have lunch with them, and ask them anything you want to about the Vega, the games industry, and anything else you can think of. The price includes your meal and wine but excludes travel.
£1000: The original one and only 3D model of the Vega – Own the only one in the world – our very first 3D model of the original Vega concept used in the promotion videos. SOLD OUT.
Wow, for only £500, I can have lunch with the team and ask them anything about gaming. I’m gonna slap together some funds and find out when Half-Life 3 is coming! While I’m doing that, you can spend £100 on a limited edition Vegas. That’s very pricey, but extremely affordable when compared to this Game Boy Classic console. It’ll come with around 1000 games built in. There is a SD card slot too, which will allow you to download even more titles, 14 000 or so in total!
If this trend continues, I reckon we will see many other consoles of yesteryear available in some modern form. Personally, I would go ape for a modern SNES. What about you? Is this just some silly hipster trend, or are you keen to ditch emulators and purchase a device capable of playing your childhood joys?
Last Updated: December 3, 2014
Brady miaau
December 3, 2014 at 11:40
Programmed a bit of basic on my brothers ZX Spectrum. Wow.
Hammersteyn
December 3, 2014 at 11:44
I had a Commadore 64 😀
Brady miaau
December 3, 2014 at 11:48
my friends had one,, but they only gamed on it. Never saw any of the other functions.
did you code on it?
I did waaaaaay more coding on my 286 when I got it, though. Pascal and Basic. Nerdy kid, heh.
Hammersteyn
December 3, 2014 at 11:51
You could code a bit on it. Record the code on tape, see it not working and restarting the whole process
Spathi
December 3, 2014 at 11:43
I still have a ZX Spectrum at home! The games load on a tape. Was the weirdest thing. You place a “game”, or “mix tape” into a cassette player, do some shit on the ZX Spectrum, press play on the cassette player and wait for the game to load.
Actually had “The Hobbit” on it, as well as a game called “Jet Pack” which only loaded once in every 10 times. My favourite was a game called “Hungry Horace”, which was, if I recall correctly, like Pacman.
Anyway, enough with the stories – NOW GET OF MY LAWN!!
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
December 3, 2014 at 11:44
Much of my childhood was spent loading ZX speccy games from tapes, and watching these lines move.
http://www.robeesworld.com/images/general/jetpac_loadingscreen_1.jpg
RinceThis
December 3, 2014 at 12:19
Yeah, I remember this, people like OvG don’t seem to comparing our current ‘limited’ generation with blocks that made up characters…
Matthew Holliday
December 3, 2014 at 12:47
i dont remember this, my gaming experience does extend past analog sticks on ps1, but not really that much past it.
like, tekken 3 on the playstation brick without analog sticks as far back as i go.
or warcraft 2 on pc.
Titanium Hyena
December 3, 2014 at 12:51
Manic Miner, Trans Am, Horace goes Skiing, JetPac, Asteroids, Frog. Trying to remember more from when I was a kid.
Pieter Kruger
December 3, 2014 at 13:43
Commodore what what?? ZX Spectrum all the way! ????
cookiemonster
December 3, 2014 at 15:10
I remember that one ,only got to handle it in ’85 though. We all experimented in basic when at school. A real blast from the past.
cookiemonster
December 3, 2014 at 15:12
Then got my dad to shell out for a commodore 64…….aaaaahhhhh