Insanity #10 30 ноября 2001

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Spectrum Game room - Answers to questions: "What is the most popular hero?" What game was the first conversion on the Spectrum? "," What games were the first in its genre? "" What game is the first time was with the music? "," Kakaya game was first released for the Spectrum ZX? " etc.

                    ... Spectrum game store ...



  $% Stephen Smith

  $% Translation and processing Surv! V0r, 2001


                               ...


  Spectrum in Russia, and throughout the rest of the world 
slowly quenched. None of the boom, which was five or more years 
ago, and all that is done for him and for him the last time the 
entire stage to the air. Therefore, I would be very glad to 
hear that My work is not in vain, if you will gather here at 
least gram of unknown information, and will express their 
wishes as the authors of this book, and he elaborated

Russian version of this FAQ. Some questions in English version
because of trivial questions and answers were deleted.


                               ...


  We are grateful to all those who in any way involved in the
accumulation of this information. Special thanks to Sir Clive
Sinclair, for the invention of this wonderful machine as 
Spectrum. Names of people who contributed to the selection of 
information: 


  Barber, Robert Mellish, Russ Juckes, W. Nelson, Kevin Parker,
Robert Hazelby, Eric March, Chris Wild, Conor McCarthy and
George Hills. Fergus Paget, Firth, Damien Burke, Chris Own, Bill
Bennet, Steve Lake, Richard G. Hallas, Francheska Fuka,
Boudewijn Rempt, Matthew Pimm, W.J. Irwin, Gary Lancaster, Matt
Hynek Med, Steve Gillot, Paolo "Nusco" Perrotta, Conor Jim
Grimwood, Mark Jones, Martijn van der Heide, Masouras, Hobster,
Seamus Waldron, Ian Collier, Owen Massey, Pete Collier, Marc Mat
Simpson, McMenamin, Neil "Yo-yo" Pawson, Philip Kendall, Steven
Fairbarn, Fredrik Ekman, Kevin Reilly, Markos ...


  Changes ...


  If you poschitate that some answers to the
questions not correct, you can always write about
this author. Most of the questions and answers were taken from
comp.sys.sinclair, An opportunity, someone even know your 
question here or its response.



  In addition there is a ascii file ugublennaya version. Html
with lots of options and additions in many aspects
considered here. In case of detection of incorrect
reference, addition, please inform the compiler to
he corrected.


  ... How many game programs produced for the Spectrum?


  Nobody can exactly say - how many games
exists for the Spectrum ZX. For a variety of assessments, 
including calculations Sinclair Software Database, at the 
moment can be confidence to speak about approximately 12.000 
(only deals Games, which went under the brand names of Western 
companies) game programs.



  All the same, this is one of the assumptions. The difficulty 
lies in that there is a lot of game programs, which

almost nobody has heard of, few have seen, that they just do not
widely used, but were at one time
released, as is known exactly. Until now, separate groups
enthusiasts are trying to implement their plans to create 
games, so that the list is maintained and to this day.



  ... With uchstiem a character made the greatest kolichestevo

     Spectrum Games?


  Reply - Dizzy, about him fired 15 games company Codemasters.
Kromet these games, there are many remakes of these games and 
even new parts made in Russia:


 1. Dizzy
 2. Treasure Island Dizzy
 3. Fantasy World Dizzy
 4. MagicLand Dizzy
 5. SpellBound Dizzy

 6. Dizzy Prince Of The Yolk Folk
 7. Crystal Kingdom Dizzy
 8. Bubble Dizzy
 9. Dizzy Down The Rapids!
 10. Fast Food

 11. Kwik Snax
 12. Panic Dizzy
 13. Crash Special Edition of the original
 14. Crash Special Edition of Dizzy 2
 15. Dizzy 3.5 (Crash Xmas Special)


  At this point, it is not the limit. Everyone knows that in 
countries CIS and Baltic states with the character Codemasters, 
created more than one a dozen versions.



  ... What a collection of games for the Spectrum ZX is the 
largest 

     ever besides the already known Speccy Sensations?


  Game collection titled 'The Spectrum Games Compilation'
consisted of 90 games and was released in 1988, the union Argus
Press Software / Bug-Byte / Quicksilva. The collection includes
a variety of topics for the games during the existence of these 
firms from 1983 to 1987, certainly the most represented

masterpieces of Quciksilva. Jon Ritman recommends that all game
Xeno! Unfortunately, this collector's edition games almost
in the press did not get the reviews, although previously 
released by Argus Press in 1986, a collection of '30 Games', 
respectively, from 30 games was mentioned in the Your Sinclair. 
Price 'The Spectrum Games Collection 'was 39.35 pounds-sterling.



  Second largest number collected in her game is legendary
edition of the Cascade Cassette 50. It was one of the cassette, 
which was recorded 50 games on the technology sub-PD-quality.



  The third volume are the product Ultimate - The Collected
Works, comprehensive compilation of all the games of this 
famous firm with catalog, published with the assistance of the 
journal Crash; another project (Name unknown) was implemented 
in 1992. It was includes 30 games.



  ... What kind of magazines devoted to the Spectrum ZX

     produced so far


  Many of them. They are mostly non-profit. You can
try to contact the British magazine 'load "',
relatively new diskzine. Frequency of occurrence is
2 months. (Information not verified)

 * By Contacting the Ed by E-mail: joao.viegas @ tail.pt
 * By FidoNet NetMail: Joao Viegas @ 2:361 / 19
 * BBS: Ostias Bar BBS +351-39-431895 (00-08h LT)
 * J. Viegas, Terreiro da Fonte 1913, Eiras 3020 Coimbra, 
Portugal 


  As for Russian-speaking audience, then peridoichnyh journals
for the ZX is not published. Can try to contact the publisher
printed newspaper 'Passage' or connect with the editors 'Ldir'.
Electronic publications as a rule leave their position for
communication with the editors on the Internet.


  ... What Lenslock?


  Lenslock coined by Digital Integration. Represents
transparent platstinku. You should see the code that
can see only through this lens. Code is needed for
In order to run the game.


  Frankly, I'm still not clear why this was necessary
lenslock protection programs. There are better ways to combat 
piracy. 


  ... What game was the first conversion on the Spectrum?


  As far as the first licensed game has received
Hunchback (Ocean), although the issue remains controversial. 
But who knows Does anyone what the game was the first, before 
there were all these licenses? It's not even Spectral Invaders 
(Bug-Byte)! May be it be that the first was Thro 'the Wall? 
Completely, even You can say that this game was the first 
conversion after she appeared on the Horizons tape. Thro 'the 
Wall came before appeared Arkanoid.)




  ... What game were the first in its genre?

 * Flight sim - Flight Simulation (Psion).
 * Beat'em up - Kung Fu (Bug Byte)
 * Laser Squad type strategy game - Rebelstar Raiders (RedShift)
 * Dungeon Master - Dragonsbane (Quicksilva, 1983)
 * Breakout Clone - Thro 'the Wall (Psion)
 * Asteroids - Planetoids (Psion) / Meteor Storm (Quicksilva)?
 * Wargame - Panzer Attack (Lothlorien) / Johnny Reb 
(Lothlorien)?  * Space Invaders - Space Intruders (Quicksilva) 
/ Space Raiders?  * Platform Game - Manic Miner (Bug Byte)

 * Doom - 3D Monster Maze
 * Civilisation - Dark Empire


  ... What game was the first to use digital speech?

 * Voice Chess (Artic)
 * ETX (Abbex)
 * Meteor Storm (Quicksilva)
 * The Chess Player (Quicksilva)
 * Splat! (Incentive)


  ... What game is the first to use animation during boot?


  This Technician Ted (Hewson). During boot, the screen went
"Ted's". And the very first game program, which during the
its load allows you to play something like PAC-MAN, was
Joe Blade 2 (Players).


  ... What game was the first time with the music?


  Without a doubt, this is Manic Miner (Bug-Byte).


  ... What a game for the first time used a protection against 
pirates? 


  This time again, Digital Integration with the game Night 
Gunner, which sought to launch its digital code to start

work with it. Previously it was thought that the first game was 
Jet Set Willy. It turned out that it is not.



  ... What game was the first issued on CD?


  Company CodeMasters first published CD-collection of games.
Specifically for this event was invented a device for
game, which is inserted into the joystick port.


  ... Kakaya game was first released for the Spectrum ZX?


  Laurels first of all we have given the game Escape, created
by New Generation. About the last games, which were
released to say how it is not accepted, since even in the 
present while there are many people who have something to 
encode for themselves. Topics Still, the last game for the 
Spectrum ZX, released in Britain is a Dalek Attack. It was sold 
at a price 4.99 pounds Sterling per copy.



   ... What are the popular characters Spectrum games still 
exist? 


  Such a lot. Thus, in the arcade Killer Instinct (Rare) chief
hero is Baron Von Sabre Wulf. But in its popularity
He gives the hero Knightlore and several others, such as
Seymour, Wally, Manic Miner, Horace.


  ... Which of the Spectrum games were ported to other

     platform?


  These are the lucky Jetpac (Ultimate), rewritten
on the PC, ST. For example, the game Dizzy company CodeMasters
independently wrote under a variety of platforms.


  Both successful project Spectrum Jet Set Willy and Manic
Miner (Software Projects) have been successfully released on 
the Amiga, and on a RISC architecture Acorn. There is also a 
version for Unix-machine, its name JetSet.



  Another game, Chuckie egg (A'n'F Software), as was 
successfully transferred to the ST and Amiga.



  Suschestvyut versions of the game Lords Of Midnight and 
Doomdark's Revenge (Beyond), written by Chris Uaildom.



  Software Creations firm engaged by the fact that ported games
on different platforms - Spectrum, C64, Amiga, ST.


  An interesting variant of the game Lords of Midnight (Beyond) 
was released on the PC (Mike Singleton).



  Was virtually complete conversion of the famous Tir Na Nog
(Gargoyle) for the PC.


  Another blockbuster, Pssst!, Has been ported to Amiga, but
Experts note that the Spectrum version looks much
better, at least by the fact that it plays a tune.


  Game Chaos - Battle of the Wizards (Games Workshop) was
reworked and released under the name Morkin2, which appeared
on a PC with some minor modifications. Another game
called Morkin1 also appeared on the ST, where he later appears 
and Chaos ST. Now Chaos uses digital samples taken from the Red

Dwarf, Black Adder, Highlander, Monty Python. So, for example
when the magician dies, it sounds digitized from the Highlander 
of the Kurgan "There must be only one!" or, when a magician

takes the hit, then hear, "Well, I avenge you!"


  Game Wheelie (Microsphere) was rewritten to Amiga.


  Game Cannonball (Hudson Soft) is like playing Pang, but was
released material in 1983, eight years before Pang'a.


  The company also produced a version of the game Krisalis 
Sabre Wulf for the Amiga. Work has begun on porting Underwurlde.

Public in one of the Amiga magazines of the time were
demonstrated by screen shots of this project, but 
unfortunately, he has not been completed.



  ... Which of the games have not been released?


  On the game Mire Mare company Ultimate mentioned in the end
Knightlore, Pentagram and Underwurlde. Thus, the game 
Underwurlde There were three options to end the game. 
Accordingly, each variant demonstrated one or another picture. 
One of the the final images has announced Pentagram, another 
Mire Mare, third - Knightlore. Mire Mare apparently had

look like so many other things Ultimate.


  In June 1987 Sinclair User magazine reports that the project
Mire Mare is still in razrabitke and in the end, this
game will vypuschrna after Martianoids and Bubbler. Ultimate
and reported on an improved version of the game Jetpac. Perhaps 
this project was also delayed, as Mire Mare, or is likely

that it was completed and implemented on a platform of NES 
under the name The Jetman Game.



  In his time in the media company Durrell announced the 
release of the game Death Pit, showing the two-page text with 
screenshots. 


  Playing Starship mentioned in the August issue of Your 
Sinclair 1988 still remains a mystery. Its authors Jon Ritman 
and Bernie Drummon could produce nasotyaschy furore if the game

out. Even at the time of writing notes about this game at a time
was prepared by a working version, which allows to judge the new
achievements in the games in its class.


  Such things as Psyclapse Bandersnatch and never saw
light. The reason probably lies in the fact that for these games
develop appropriate iron.


  So Bandersnatch beforehand was prisvoet title "mega-game",
but he was far from being completed, when the company Imagine
ceased to exist. All rights to the project have been sold
Sinclair Research. Still managed to finish the project, but for 
the QL. Later, Dave Lawson and Ian Heatherington founded 
Psygnosis, and Denton Designs.



  The game takes place in intergalakticheskom nightclub
located on the asteroid, where all the buildings were made of 
glass tubes. In the story, the game was attended by many 
unusual characters, such as a fat grasshopper and a banana 
skin, which eats green worms (green worm taken from the game 
Nodes of Yesod), and communicates through the space bubbles. 


  By genre game is a mix of arcade and adventyury. About
exemplary programming techniques (large sprites
special effects) and the schedule that was used in the game can 
be found Denton Design of the game called "Gift Of The Gods",

published by Ocean. Psygnosis has done to Bandersnatch
the basis of their first release under the Amiga / ST games 
Brataccas. The game gives approximate idea of ​​the most 
Bandersnatch minus some heroes and innovations.



  Psyclapse game was supposed to be a mega-game for the C-64 
from the company Imagine, but unfortunately, it existed only on 
paper. Demo version, which came out in his time, was a kind of

Games like Tir Na Nog: detailed animated character
the main character, scrolled background. The game's plot was 
about villain who kidnaps her to his castle capable warriors. 
Problem player was to release all prisoners from the island.




  Another project Cyborg firm CRL was announced in a number of
journals in 1987, but the game never saw the light.


  Not out yet another mega-game. Its title: Attack Of The Mutant
Zombie Flesh Eating Chickens From Mars


  Rare today announced the company for Spectrum game Solar 
Jetman unfortunately came out just for the console NES (Dendy). 
Also, the game Flashpoint was already nearly completed 
Ocean'om, and even in Journals Sinclair User and Your Sinclair 
could see her poster, but in selling it and has not been 
forthcoming. Why is it so happen - we can only guess ...



  There is information that a new project by Michael Singleton 
The Eye of the Moon was supposed to be a sequel to Lords of 
Midnight, but new masterpiece, we have not waited. Same story

There was a new series of the game Scooby Doo. Company Elite,
which collaborated with IIRC in its creation had not been 
previously made aware that IIRC is not capable of objective

reasons to complete the job. The game itself was supposed to be 
like an interactive movie and on the preliminary review, which

published by the company, the manufacturer, it looked not so
and bad. However, the possibility is still there.


  Draft Streethawk company Ocean was what is called a thing in
themselves. The game was released, but in a rather smaller 
scale than it was conceived in the original.



  Another legend remains so forever. Trilogy 'The Siege
Planet Earth '(The Siege of Earth trilogy) anonsirovannaaya
by Gargoyle Games did not reach gamers.
The trilogy consisted of three separate games.


  Part 1: Marsport

  Part 2: Fornax

  Part 3: Gath


  It is sad, but the first part of which was our only
proof of the existence of great ideas. Two further
the game will likely not even been started.


  The plot was a game about the next picture:


                        ... Marsport ...


  Year 2494. On the planet Earth was attacked by insect race 
Sept. Protective force field of the Earth gradually became a 
fade. For restore its normal work is required to obtain

Original plans for facilities which are located in
Marsport enemy-occupied city. The captain of the John Marsh
Terranovskih liberation forces fighting against the evil Septa.
He has one last chance to enter your computer and Marsporta
draw plans.


                         ... Fornax ...


  The planet is inhabited by Fornax CEPT civilization that
has ancient knowledge of Star Lords, accumulated from
involving mutated earthlings. The task of Terran is
to solve the mystery of the Star Lords and find out the 
location of Imperial planet CEPT.



                          ... Gath ...


  Scenario games have not even been worked out. We only know 
that name of the planet Septim called Gat (Gath).



                              ...


   Incidentally, in the UK was published a special booklet on 
the whole has announced but not released programs, hardware 
devices and other loud statement. Among them, for example, 
there is mention of the game, Fornax, Gath, as well as special 
version of the game Dynamite Dan 2 for Spectrum ZX 128. It also 
commented on the new version of the acclaimed hit game Heavy of 
the Magik.



  To the category of drawings include the following. The Journal
Sinclair User was declared out game Beyond's Star Trek (The 
Other side of Star Trek) on the popular television series.

Published screenshots of the game, was advertising its merits, 
but they have not lived up to its materialization. Later

edited by journalists la admitted that it was a joke.


  It is known that Denton Design of the twentieth
the existence of the television series Star Trek has made a 
special conversion of a game based on TV film with ST / Amiga. 
Original 16-bit version was developed by ex-Dentronics. It was

stunning even by the standards of nyashnim Tonight-schedule, 
but to play It was not too convenient. Conversion to the 
Spectrum was however done not very well and there is nothing 
surprising in that the project never saw the light.



  Another game - The Tebbit was a comic mixture of
Engin The Hobbit and British policy. If you do not change
memory, then writing about it in May 1983 in the Journal of 
Personal Computer World. Later, there were reports that work on 
the game discontinued.



  The project company called Activision Atomic Robo-Kid to
leaving the firm with the market for computer games has been 
terminated. The other is not appeared blockbuster - Great Giana 
Sisters. Judging by betaversiyam the game would be a good 
future. 


  ... Working title


  List of names of games that have been modified by the authors 
after how to work on them has been completed and everything was 
ready for them publication.



  * Game Fantastic Voyage (Fantastic Voyage)
pervonachlno called Blood and Guts (Blood and entrails).
The name was changed when Quicksilva acquired the license to 
the game. 


  * Foot 'Mouth (Foot and Mouth) from Ocean was named Head
Over Heels (Vverhtarmashkami).


  * The Twister (Oliver Twist) got a new name
Twister, Mother of Charlotte (Oliver Twist and The Mother Ball 
Lott). 


  * Game Mr Weems and the Sex Vampires (Mr. Weems and
sexy you-feasts) changed only the word 'sex' on the floor
'She' bought-tion called 'Mr Weems and the She Vampires'.


  * The Adventures of Usaji Yojimbo (The Adventures of Yusayi 
Yodzhimbo) yastali known as imenenem Samurai Warrior.



  ... About hidden games


  Usually hidden in the game can be accessed by pressing the
keys, use deception mode. Such a kind of mini-games
radically different from the style and genre from the main game 
which We got into it.



  For example, game companies Booty Firebird contains
some semblance of a game Scuba Dive. This game is also hidden in
Starfarce, but as it hit the left-galnym way, is not known.
Information about the way of penetration in the hidden part was
published in one issue of the journal Sinclair User, search
now that is also difficult.


  Company Delta 4 in the game Boggit provided for the
get to the hidden part. To do this, the second part
the game simply type the phrase 'Delta 4'. But in order to play
the second part requires shipping the final of the first part 
of that exercise is problematic.



  Pro game ZUB 128 firms Mastertronic already been said quite a 
lot. Pause in the game gives you two options. First, by 
pressing 2, 4, 6, 8 will give you immortality. In the second 
case, pressing 1, 3, 5, 7, you find yourself in a hidden game 
called Light farce.



  In a game Everyone's a Wally Mikrogen firm has a hidden game
Asteroids. To activate, you have to go into the booth with the 
city phone. Quiet mode, the game is in Daley Thompson's

Decathlon, where the player competes in speed with the fish.


  In the game Short Circuit (Ocean) has a slot with
'Extraterrestrials'. To play it, you
must first find a 10-pence coin, play with it
a fruit machine, then won the game, get a coin
in denominations of one pound and is only then you can start
playing a slot machine Space Invaders.


  ... The list of game-series


  On the Spectrum ZX created enough games, the characters are
wander from one series to another. In the pveryh it says about 
the success of the Games, when the company is ready to release 
a continuation of the history of favorite characters. Secondly, 
it is a sign of success itself platform, because even with the 
disappearance of themselves official Publishers characters and 
games continue to enjoy their achievements popularity as a 
result there are more and more part of the already popular 
heroes of classic computer games. 


  ".. A series of games about Wally.


                     Automania, Everyone's a Wally, Three Weeks

                     in Paradise, Herberts Dummy Run,

                     Pyjamarama. They all went under the label

                     Mikrogen.


  ".. A series of games on the Magick Knight.


                     Kinders Keepers, Spellbound, Knight-Tyme

                     and Stormbringer. They all came under

                     label Mastertronic, and programmed by

                     David Jones.


  ! .. A series of games about Dizzy:


                     Them very much. More than a dozen. See 
above. 


  ! .. A series of games on the Monty Mole:


                     Monty Mole, Monty On The Run, Auf

                     Wiedersehen Monty, Monty is Innocent,

                     Impossamole, Crash: Moley Christmas. All

                     came under the label Gremlin Graphics.


  ! .. A series of games on Horace:


                     Hungry Horace, Horace Goes Ski-ing, and

                     Horace and the Spiders. Written by Psion 
and 

                     William Tang.



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