Why do so many people dismiss the ZX Spectrum?

[thx1138]

world of Spectrum www.worldofspectrum.org really is a good free online resource.

It has a massive archive of downloadable games to play on emulators, plus many other great resources and features.

I'm just curious, whenever I mention it on most USA based gaming boards, it's just dismissed out of hand, replies such as "meh" or luke warm responses at best.

I'm curious as to why, I know that the C64 which was the Spectrums main "rival" here in the U.K was much bigger in the USA, and few people used the Spectrum, but why should such a good site, and online resource recieve such an apathetic response would you think?

[Lord Nepenthean]

I suspect it's for reasons you mentioned in your post.  Almost nobody here ever had a Spectrum, whereas there was a C64 on at least every block in America.  It's not that worldofspectrum.org isn't a good resource - they're one of the best, for the content they're covering.  It's just that if people aren't interested in the content itself, they're not going to go, no matter how much of said content there is.

[Sureshot]

Yeah shame, there was nothing quite like the rubber keyed wonder  It spawned games such as Jet Set Willy, Skool Daze and Trashman for god's sake, how can you shun it!  Same with the BBC really, I doubt that many over the pond had them.

http://www.stairwaytohell.com will soon clue anyone in ^_^

[thx1138]

Yeah, I don't post on stairway to hell now, but I do give the URL to beeb fans.

I have an A5000 now though, and I notice it has a BBC emulator on it, I might pop back again soon.

[Arrrhalomynn]

I also think the lack of popularity back in the days is the cause for the lack of interest today. Retro gaming has a lot to do with nostalgia and it's very hard to get nostalgic over something you never knew 20 years back.

[Antimind]

For me part of it is all about what I missed and thats's definately one I missed...lol Eventually someday when I have the time to give it a whirl I fully intend on doing so

[Lord Nepenthean]

It's part of what I missed too, but I still go for the things that I missed back in the day but knew about back in the day and wanted but couldn't afford.  Stuff like 3DO falls into this category.

[thx1138]

me too, I only used a 3D0 for the first time in April, when I bought one.

[Tan]

Thought I'd drag this old topic out for some fresh air. Since the ZX Spectrum +3 is the featured hardware this week, maybe a few of our European members would like a go at a discussion about it.

One area in our database I'd like to see get some attention is the Spectrum. Didn't have any real impact over here so not a lot of us on this side of the pond are familiar with it. But I do know that by all rights it should have a mighty section here with a huge numbers of entries.

I do have a question as well, since Amstrad bought the Sinclair brand and Spectrum rights, should we rename that section to simply ZX Spectrum as opposed to Sinclair Spectrum?

[Izret101]

I know way back when i saw a ROM set of spectrum games that was over i think 10,000 titles....

How many were actual releases i have no clue.

[NESman93]

Not to sound incredibly stupid, but, what is a ZX Spectrum???

[Tan]

Not to sound incredibly stupid, but, what is a ZX Spectrum???

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

 

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

/dismiss

[NESman93]

Looks complicated