Elite Recreates the ZX Spectrum for a Nice Game of Nostalgia


ZxSpectrumKeyboard031715-1A new version, a recreation if you will, of the famous Sinclair ZX Spectrum is in order. If you aren't aware, the ZX Spectrum is a British computer from the 1980's that helped jump start the video game industry in the country (The Verge) . The 8-bit, personal home computer, which sold over 5 million units across Europe, was known to be pretty wonky. It worked via tape deck, and sometimes it took games up to ten minutes to load. Nonetheless, it was very famous for its own reasons. It even earned its creator, Sir Clive Sinclair, a knighthood. But the revamp isn't exactly a computer. It's a Bluetooth keyboard made by Elite games that lets you recreate your ZX Spectrum experience on a smartphone or tablet.

ZxSpectrumKeyboard031715Rebuilding this device means the ability to play the old games they way they were meant to be played. ZX Spectrum games just don't work the way they should on modern emulators. Of the similarities, Elite's “Recreated ZX Spectrum”, as it calls it, sports the same trademark rubber keys, that, according to Daily Mail, feel like a dead man's fingers (?). That sounds unfortunate. But really, when side by side, the old and the new look nearly identical. On a good note, the keyboard will work on virtually any platform. You could play games on an iPad, or take advantage of mirroring on the big screen by using Apple TV (or Android and Windows devices). Just know that there aren't any embedded games in the ZX Spectrum, it simply works as a keyboard/controller for whatever apps and games you already own.

ZxSpectrumKeyboard031715-2Thanks to Elite, however, the keyboard comes with an app bundle that has a number of free games, including Chuckie Egg and Sinclair BASIC. Elite even opened its platform to developers, so that folks with apps have the option of including support for the keyboard. The ZX Spectrum is not meant to be a game changing game controller. It's simply meant to give you a dose of nostalgia (if you're in your 30's), as it is a “culmination of 20 years of experience in the game industry”, says Elite. The ZX Spectrum is available via Elite's website, and is priced around $150.

Topics: Technology News Apple Gadgets & Peripherals Microsoft Smartphones & Mobile Devices Tablets

Join the conversation!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.