THEC64 is back on Amazon UK

After the announcement of TheSpectrum by Retro Games Ltd (RGL) et al, Amazon UK has THEC64 Classic edition back in stock.

THEC64, an excellent recreation of the famous and well loved Commodore C64 home computer, is back on Amazon.co.uk again, proving my earlier conjecture as just that. What do I know anyway? It is currently retailing at £119.99p, and according to some reports on some social media sites, this can be shipped to North America, where there seems to be some interest in procuring these systems.

Whilst this recreation of the C64 has a slightly imperfect keyboard according to some purists, that is from a purely aesthetic point of view of course (it's actually pretty good to type on), it is packed with 64 pretty well recieved games (of course, those might not be your favourites). If you update to the latest firmware, you will get a more complete experience. The latest version of THEC64 [firmware] includes support for the powerful Commodore RAM Expansion Unit, can use any USB mouse as a 1351 mouse, and will support many Four Player adapted and modified games. One favourite of mine is IK+ Gold, which allows three humans to compete in this Karate chopping classic. IK+ was developed by the late, great Archer MacLean, who sadly passed on 17th December 2022 (RIP).

Initially, my conjecture was that RGL's THE400 Mini was competing in a similar consumer space to THEC64 as they are fairly similar machines from the same era or generation (roughly) of the home computing revolution.

THEC64, with it's working keyboard and 64 included games already has many of the best Atari XE/XL games available for it, and many more titles too. This made THEC64 look much better value than THE400 Mini, especially when you add in that THEC64 can also play nearly all (if not all) VIC-20 games as well. So, more games, emulating a comparable computer from the same era of home computing, and two systems in one for not much more money. Bargain! But it seemed like it was slowly being discontinued to make some space for THE400 Mini.

What I think has now got THEC64 back into production is the announcement and pre-orders for TheSpeccy. Although many may not know it in North America, the C64 and Sinclair ZX Spectrum platforms were [some may say] fierce competitors in the UK in the 1980s. Clearly, a lot of people have already added TheSpectrum to their Christmas lists for 2024, but this isn't a mini console with a cosmetic, non-working keyboard. It is complete with a fully working keyboard including the rather curious one touch BASIC keyword entry system. Seeing the orders stack up for one system from RGL has very likely reignited interest in the other. Of course, THEC64 Mini has always been available, as far as I can tell, but that doesn't have a working keyboard out of the box. All I want now is for a flamewar to start with endless arguments over which is better... THEC64 or TheSpectrum. Of course, we all know the answer to that one, don't we?

Retro Games Ltd next computer will be TheSpectrum, a recreation of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum 16k/48k models

42 years after the launch of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, news has leaked that Retro Games Ltd (RGL) will release TheSpectrum on 22nd November 2024, and will initially retail at under £90.

The Sinclair ZX Spectrum, colloquially and affectionately known as the "Speccy" or the "rubber-keyed wonder" to many, will live again thanks to RGL, building on a strong portfolio of machines from the British-based company.

Chris Smith is the main technical lead at RGL, and one of its directors, and is best known for his excellent book The ZX Spectrum ULA: How to Design a Microcomputer. Chris and his small team have undoubtedly put a lot of effort into this new machine, and it will very likely use Chris's own Speccy emulator at its core to play the 48 included games. It is also likely to have some shared architecture with the Sinclair branded ZX Spectrum Vega and the ill-fated Vega+.

The 48 properly licenced games that will be included on this machine are as follows:

1. Alien Girl (Skirmish Edition), published 2021.
2. Ant Attack, published 1983.
3. Army Moves, published 1987.
4. Auf Wiedersehen Monty, published 1987.
5. Avalon, published 1984.
6. Bobby Bearing, published 1986.
7. Cosmic Payback, published 2020.
8. Devwill Too ZX, published 2020.
9. Exolon, published 1987.
10. Fairlight, published 1985.
11. Firelord, published 1986.
12. Football Manager 2, published 1988.
13. Freddy Hardest, published 1987.
14. The Great Escape, published 1986.
15. Head Over Heels, published 1987.
16. Highway Encounter, published 1985.
17. The Hobbit, published 1982.
18. Horace Goes Skiing, published 1983.
19. Jack The Nipper, published 1986.
20. Knot in 3D, published 1983.
21. The Lords of Midnight, published 1984.
22. Manic Miner, published 1983.
23. Match Day II, published 1987.
24. Movie, published 1986.
25. Nodes of Yesod, published 1985.
26. Penetrator, published 1982.
27. Phantis, published 1987.
28. Pheenix, published 1983.
29. Pyracurse, published 1986.
30. Quazatron, published 1986.
31. Robin of the Wood, published 1985.
32. Saboteur! Remastered, published 1985, though unknown year for this remastered edition.
33. Shovel Adventure, published 2021.
34. Skool Daze, published 1984.
35. Snake Escape, published 2016.
36. Spellbound, which could be one of two games, either from 1984 or 1985; my guess is that it will be the latter.
37. Starquake, published 1985.
38. Starstrike II, published 1986.
39. El Stompo, published 2014.
40. Stonkers, published 1983.
41. Target Renegade, published 1988.
42. /\O[] (known as TCQ or Triangle, Circle, Square), published 2022.
43. Technician Ted: The Megamix, published 1986.
44. Tenebra, published 2022.
45. Trashman, published 1984.
46. The Way of the Exploding Fist, published 1985.
47. Wheelie, published 1983.
48. Where Time Stood Still, published 1988.

My initial thoughts about this is that "TheSpeccy" will be a good seller for RGL, at least in the UK and Ireland, and in some other parts of Europe. I'm not sure the Spectrum platform is as well loved in North America or in Australia, and is probably unheard of in much of the rest of the world. Although because of the sheer number of commercial games that were available for the ZX, there will certainly be interest outside of Europe for this not-mini but small form factor recreated 8-bit wonder machine.

With the release being November, this is ideally timed for the run up to Christmas 2024, with many of us who are at least as old as the Speccy itself putting it on their Chrimbo list for Santa Claus, hoping that we've been good enough to get one. It might be the first time in ages that some of us old guys are actually looking forward to Christmas like we used to in the 1980s.

Obviously, there will be some negative reactions to TheSpectrum; firstly because it's from RGL, and as I've said previously, it seems that it's the thing to hate on RGL, or one or more of its directors. Because: "reasons".

The second reason for some negativity towards it is because TheSpeccy is doing what the Sinclair ZX Spectrum Next could not do, in that it is going to be a commercial success that is bigger than the die-hard online Spectrum community. It's important to remember that you are only allowed to say nice things about the ZX Spectrum Next, but as I've pointed out above, it's cool to hate on RGL. Again, because... "reasons".

Now, if only we could have another batch of THEC64s produced (not the Mini editions, the Classic editions) for November 2024, that'd be a Christmas to remember. Not only would those people who missed THEC64 be able to ask Santa for one, they could also add TheSpeccy to their lists as well, and if they've been very good, get both.

As someone who has had something of a keen interest in 8-bit technologies for a long time (dating back to the 1990s), I'm delighted that an entry-level and consumer-friendly ZX Speccy machine, which works with "modern-days" television sets, is going to be available at a reasonable price. This is kind of what I dreamt of in 2002, when I first started writing my column for Micro Mart magazine, and shortly after became Retro Gamer's first in-house staff writer. One might say that I was ahead of the curve, as I knew that because machines like the Commodore C64 and ZX Spectrum were so life changing, they would be back in style again at some point. It's a shame though that it took so long. So let us enjoy it whilst it lasts.