If you are a Spectrum Emulator enthusiast you would be wise to visit
The World of Spectrum website located at: http://www.void.jump.org.
The site has had rave reviews and is the number-one site on the
internet for Spectrum related memorabilia (included games for a
variety of different emulators, tape covers, emulators, tools and
reviews with Spectrum celebrities of the era). I hear you cry 'What's the point purchasing this CD' when I can
simply download all the games from 'The World of Spectrum Website?'. Well, the maintainers of 'World of Spectrum' do not allow users
accessing their FTP site for long periods of time, due to the fact
many people were doing far too many big downloads and killing
bandwidth. You are only allowed to download material for a limited
time period only. Frequent abuse of this, and you will be banned
from the site. By purchasing this double CD set, you'll help to
support Craig's continued efforts in compiling the CD (at £9 it's not
exactly expensive, and you'll save heaps on your telephone bill
downloading everything. For £9 Craig Rothwell has worked closely with the maintainers of the
site and including all the new material on a double-CD, containing
some 8,000 games (for you to play with Spectrum emulators for the
Amiga and PC). Disk 2 is filled with Spectrum music saved directly
to .mp3 format, clip-art, tape cover scans, and interviews. I purchased The 'Speccy '97' CD-ROM ages ago, but this is much better
value for money. The majority of games are saved in .TAP (tape)
files, and Z80 format, which can be loaded into Ian Greenway's ASP
Spectrum Emulator. TZX format emulator files are included, although
ASP does not support these as the moment, although X128 does. The contents of the two CD-ROM's are well laid out, and all Spectrum
Emulator files are sorted into appropriate directories, although
don't expect to be able to navigate around the CD easily: the CD was
created on a PC and hence you won't find any icons for drawer or
files, therefore a suitable directory manager such as Directory Opus
Magellan would be highly recommended. The double CD 'World of Spectrum' CD-ROM compilation comes on 2x
CDR's, in a jewel case and professionally printed cover and CD label.
I've looked at a lot of Spectrum Emulator CD's in the past, this has
to be the biggest and best: over 8,500 Spectrum games ready to run
straight from the CD. My only disappointment was since Craig only
catered for PC and other OS' but their are no Amiga-related Spectrum
Emulators / file manipulation tools on the CD. I've mentioned this,
and pointed him towards the Aminet server, so hopefully the next
update of 'The World of Spectrum CD' will included both emulators and
tools for Amiga users too. There isn't really much more to say
really... Presentation: £9 gets you 2x CD's filled with Speccy games, in a jewel case, cover,
and a professionally printed CD. Ease of Use: No Spectrum emulators are included on the World of Spectrum CD.
You'll need to download either ASP / Speccylator or ZXAM from Aminet
to play them. Both CD's have been compiled on a PC, so don't expect
to be able to easily navigate the CD - therefore a suitable file
manager is highly recommended. Value For Money: 2x CD's filled to the brim with over 8,500 games, .MP3, maps,
solutions, interview with Speccy programmers and tools for the
majority of different platform's and OS'. This is the biggest and
best compilation of ZX Spectrum material you are ever going to get
your hands on. If your a nostalgia fan, and want to relive those old
classic games, go buy your copy now!