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!