Review: The ZX Spectrum CD-ROM '97

Review: The ZX Spectrum CD-ROM '97

Back at the meeting near Cologne, I bought this CD-ROM from Thomas because I was curious to see what software was waiting for me. The cover mentioned something like 3,100 programs for our wonder machine and 1,300 for the breadbox (C64). I would have much preferred 4,300 Spectrum programs instead, but you can't have everything! In principle, I have nothing against the C64—I even have one lying around at home and can't find a buyer for it. A computer that wipes its BASIC program just by reading the disk directory is simply not for me.

Eagerly, I popped the CD into my PC and loaded the first programs.

The directory structure was fairly tidy; you had to dig through a few folders until reaching the destination—meaning not C64 games, but Spectrum (Games/Spectrum/...). The directories were arranged alphabetically, though that doesn't necessarily mean you can immediately find what you're looking for. Some snapshots had names that bore absolutely no relation to the game title. Did I just get the adventure game "Search for a Spectrum Game"?

The fact that some of the snapshots weren't games at all, but utility and demo programs that sometimes required special hardware like the Currah µSpeech, pointed to one thing: the people who compiled this CD had never seen a Spectrum up close. Some details even made me suspect they were also untidy and LAZY. It gave me the impression that a PC was scripted to tap every Spectrum-related server on the Internet and download all snapshots until the disc was halfway full. Then it automatically sorted these snapshots into all directories.

That is the only explanation for why some snapshots appear six, seven, or more times, showing not the slightest difference other than their filenames. That could have been avoided if someone from the company had actually sat in front of a computer and tested all the snapshots. Out of the 3,000+ items so boastfully advertised on the cover, barely 1,100 to 1,400 remain.

On the positive side, there are a few games among them whose existence I wasn't even aware of (Mission Elevator, Genghis Khan, etc.). Apparently, some companies uploaded their unsold Spectrum titles to the Internet. I am already working on converting some of these games and will soon present or distribute them here (meaning: integrate them into the Games section), since the cover claims all these titles are public domain.

Another plus is that the CD is packed with other software: the shareware version of G. Lunter's emulator, SlowDOS to throttle that emulator, a C64 emulator (though I don't know how to load programs from CD into it), many emulators for other computers (CPC, Atari, TRS-80, etc.), and various other interesting utilities, such as one that prints out a map of Lords of Midnight (according to the instructions, as I haven't found the actual program yet!). I also spotted emulators for Amiga, Atari, and Archimedes that emulate the Speccy, but lacking those machines I couldn't test them (I do have an Amiga 500 with 2.5 MB, but no CD-ROM drive).

Those, however, were the only highlights. Otherwise, at least on the Spectrum side, pure chaos reigns, and I certainly won't be buying the '98 edition. In the README file, the publisher covered themselves by stating they assume no liability whatsoever for whether games work, and that the customer must bear any recovery costs. Normally, a disclaimer like that belongs right on the cover!

Good grief, when I get worked up I can hardly think straight, but it truly infuriates me. There are even a few directories here that wouldn't open at all, at least under DOS, as well as corrupt snapshots that either crashed right after loading (even on a real Spectrum) or loaded with a pre-crashed screen full of scrambled attributes. Multiload levels are missing, or not all parts of a game are included. And it goes without saying that title screens are absent from most games.

If it weren't for the great, previously unknown games, I would have sent the CD straight back and demanded a refund. The manufacturer clearly doesn't take things very seriously; otherwise, the cover would state the true number of games: 3,000 minus duplicates, minus non-game software, minus defective or incomplete programs.

If a PC-only user got their hands on this CD, they would never want to look at a Spectrum again. Couldn't someone force the publisher to take their work a bit more seriously?

The fact that there are also several Dutch and Polish programs on the disc might please Dutch or Polish users, but everyone else will wonder how on earth these games are played, as I couldn't find a single one of the promised manuals. Fortunately, the language barrier isn't an issue for me, and I'm even thinking about translating one or two of them.

My tip to anyone who has free Internet access: try downloading the programs directly from the web. There are far more available there than on this CD, even if it takes some time. Personally, I'd rather wait until fiber optic cables are laid (late 1999) before getting an Internet connection; until then, this CD is an inexpensive alternative that you just have to put up with. If I didn't know how to restore snapshots, I wouldn't be able to recommend it at all. As mentioned, I'm currently busy converting them back using Uniloader and similar tools. I certainly won't be able to salvage everything, but most of it for sure.

Fortunately, there are many other CDs from reputable sources—from private individuals who actually know something about the Spectrum and offer their discs even cheaper. I've already got my eye on a CD that contains more software than any other!