What’s new
Release notes, announcements and the occasional trip down memory lane.
The next version of Spectaculator, version 4.1 (due soon), will include Spectrum +3 emulation. I’ve currently implemented read-only support for DSK and EDSK files. The FDC emulation is extremely accurate, loading all those difficult copy-protected disks. Spectaculator 4.1 in action: The initial +3 screen. Notice two drives are supported, A: and B: Afterburner Turbo Outrun CP/M Plus
What’s new in version 4.0 ZX Interface 1 emulation and up to eight Microdrives. Custom Interface 1 ROMs can be used, including Ian Collier’s 16KB version. Emulation of Spectrum +2A in addition to 16k/48k/128/+2 Spectrums. Recording and playback of action replay (RZX) files. Added many custom loading schemes to the flashloader. Load times of most programs are now reduced to almost zero. Supported loaders include Alkatraz, Bleepload, Hewson, Haxpoc-Lock, Mikrogen, Movieload, Powerload, Novaload, Paul Owens, Players, Richlock, Speedlock (versions 1 to 7), Uniload and most generic turbo loaders. Completely revised auto play / auto stop system for the cassette recorder. Should now never start or stop in error. If you do find a tape file where it does this, please e-mail it to me. Brand new memory contention system and cycle-accurate display renderer to run all those troublesome demos that previously only Realspec could run. This includes Hercules, Shock Megademo, MDA, Overscan, No More Intelligence 3, Echology, There and Digi Synth. Fast emulation mode - up to 20x normal speed. Useful for replaying action replay (RZX) files quickly. AMX and Kempston mouse emulation. Supports the new zx-state (.szx) snapshot format for true state saving, even down to which audio cassette file is in the cassette recorder. Added Multiface 3 support when emulating +2A/+3 Spectrums. The software lockout bit is now also emulated for the Multiface 128 and Multiface 3. ZX Printer emulation. Output can be saved to disk, copied to the clipboard or sent to a real printer. Play games released on Sinclair Interface II ROM cartridges. Load and save Spectrum screenshots (.scr) files. Choose Kempston, Cursor, Fuller, or Sinclair Interface II joysticks and use your PC game pads to play (up to two players simultaneously). Any supported joystick can be emulated through the PC keyboard’s arrow, tab or Right Alt keys. Assign the extra buttons on modern joysticks to key presses on the Spectrum keyboard (in previous versions, the button assignment was fixed). Switchable issue 2 / issue 3 keyboard emulation. Emulates the physical layout of the 48k keyboard on the PC keyboard to enable games like Jumping Jack to be played properly. The \ key on the UK keyboard also responds as CAPS SHIFT. Implemented the ability to use external ROM files. You can now use national language versions of the ROMs such as Spanish and French, or ROMs from projects such as SE Basic and the Spectrum +3e. Import raw Z80 machine code (produced via TASM’s -b option). Load programs and data from external audio sources such as Minidisc or a real cassette recorder. Changed the contended memory model for the 128k/+2 since 3.0 Beta 1. Pages 1,3,5,7 are now contended rather than 4,5,6,7 as previously stated in the CSS FAQ. This fixes (or rather breaks) the Losing Victoria demo so that it behaves just like on a real Spectrum. However, the speech on Treasure Island Dizzy now plays properly. Info via Woody from Steve Snake. Thanks :) Recognises XZX’s extensions to the Z80 snapshot format. Issue 2 keyboard and Kempston bits are now also read and written correctly. Black and white TV mode for all those who couldn’t afford a colour TV for their Spectrums. Option has been added to save Z80 snapshots uncompressed. Most of the warning message boxes now have a Show this next time checkbox for those people who don’t like being prompted all the time. Extensions to the z80 file format to support 16k/+2/+2A snapshots and Fuller Box emulation. Implemented alternative menu rendering under Windows XP which is more in line with Windows XP look and feel. Bug fixes
Due to personal reasons, it looks like I won’t have time to work on Spectaculator for a while. What I’d though I’d do is release the latest build of v3.0 as beta until I get time to finish it. It’s stable and complete-ish (apart from the online help) but doesn’t have all the features I originally wanted to include. Here’s quick summary of the changes: Emulation of 16k/128/+2 Spectrums in addition to 48k Cheetah SpecDrum emulation Currah µSpeech emulation Fuller Box emulation (Invasion of the Body Snatchas) The Spectrum 128’s AY sound chip is also available when emulating the 48k spectrum Customisable Z80 CPU speed from 3.5MHz to 100MHz Mono/Stereo ABC/Stereo ACB sound from the Fuller Box/Spectrum 128’s AY chip Multiface 128 in addition to Multiface 1 When autoload is enabled, if you hold down the control key when opening an audio cassette file, the Spectrum autoloads in usr0 mode - useful for some demos Any feedback or suggestions can be sent here.
Spectaculator 2.5 is now available to download. It boasts a number of improvements to the emulation as well as support for zip files and cheating at via pokes! User interface Starts in full screen mode if you were last in full screen mode. ‘View Cassette recorder’ and ‘Reset the Spectrum’ are available on the toolbar. Poke Memory option on Tools menu. Open files directly from zip archives (even zips in zips). Includes a zip browser to select a file from a multi-file archive. If the archive only contains one file Spectaculator recognises, it will open it automatically. Revised border options. The Border->None option has been changed to Border->Small. This border is just big enough for you to see it whilst keeping the speed up on slower computers. Cheat (.pok) files created by SGD. Some shortcut keys have changed - sorry. Online help revised and converted from WinHelp to HTML Help. Bugfix: Open and Save As dialogs are now always visible in full screen mode. Cassette recorder
Spectaculator 2.0 is now available to download. It boasts a number of improvements to the emulation as well as support for audio cassette files (TAP and TZX): Improved sound emulation Spectaculator has a completely new sound emulation driver that significantly improves the playback quality of multi-channel music in games such as Fairlight and Arkanoid: Fairlight Arkanoid Spectaculator 1.0 ▶ Play ▶ Play Spectaculator 2.0 ▶ Play ▶ Play Support for virtual audio cassettes (TAP and TZX files)
Highlights Play full screen complete with TV-style picture on your monitor User adjustable border sizes when playing in a window High fidelity 48K Spectrum sound Choose Kempston Joystick and use your PC game pad to play Cursor Joystick emulation in the form of the PC’s arrow keys + tab for fire Full online help system Intuitive user interface - designed for users of all abilities Uses the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Installer service for a robust, reliable installation Technical details