Spectaculator 9+
ZX Spectrum Emulator
Jonathan Needle
Designed for iPad
-
- £2.99
- Offers In-App Purchases
Screenshots
Description
Now over 150 licensed ZX Spectrum games available!
In April 1982, Sir Clive Sinclair launched what was to become one of the most popular home computers ever made - the Sinclair ZX Spectrum.
Spectaculator takes you back to the 1980s - to the golden era of 8-bit gaming!
Play the following 22 officially licensed classic ZX Spectrum games:
- 3D Starstrike by Realtime Games Software
- Auf Wiedersehen Monty by Gremlin Graphics
- Avenger by Gremlin Graphics
- Bounder by Gremlin Graphics
- Cyclone by Vortex Software
- Dark Star by Design Design
- Dynamite Dan by Rod Bowkett/Mirrorsoft
- Forbidden Planet by Design Design
- Halls of the Things by Design Design
- Highway Encounter by Vortex Software
- Jack The Nipper by Gremlin Graphics
- Krackout by Gremlin Graphics
- Jekyll & Hyde by Zenobi Software
- Metabolis by Gremlin Graphics
- Monty On The Run by Gremlin Graphics
- On The Run by Design Design
- Revolution by Vortex Software
- Tau Ceti by Pete Cooke/CRL
- The Way Of The Tiger by Gremlin Graphics
- Albatrossity by Jonathan Cauldwell
- Battery's Not Precluded by Jonathan Cauldwell
- The Fantastic Mister Fruity by Jonathan Cauldwell
... with more available from the in-app shop.
Spectaculator gives you the most authentic ZX Spectrum experience available on your iPhone, iPod and iPad, and comes with lots of additional features:
• Universal App - runs on iPhone, iPod and iPad.
• Supports iPhone 5 and iPod touch 5th generation screen.
• Play in portrait or landscape orientations
• Save your game progress (four saved game slots + one iCloud saved game slot per game).
• Save your progress to iCloud from one device (e.g. iPod) and load to continue playing on another (e.g. iPad).
• Enter pokes (cheats) for infinite lives, shields etc.
• Lookup game hints, tips and maps
• Play in black and white with TV screen simulation for the ultimate 1980s experience!
• Battle to the top of the (Game Center) leaderboards!
• Type on a virtual ZX Spectrum keyboard
• Use an external Bluetooth keyboard for playing adventure games
• Choose authentic cassette loading or fast play
• Program in Sinclair BASIC
• Enjoy high resolution graphics on Retina screens
• Play using an external arcade controller (iCade or iControlPad)
Additional Game Packs
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The following games packs are available from the in-app shop:
Design Design Games Pack
- 5 Games. Includes Halls of the Things, Dark Star, Forbidden Planet
Gremlin Graphics Vol. 1
- 6 games. Includes Wanted! Monty Mole, Skate Crazy, Thing Bounces Back
Gremlin Graphics Vol. 2
- 6 games. Includes Jack The Nipper II: In Coconut Capers, North Star, Grumpy Gumphrey, Supersleuth
Gremlin Graphics Vol. 3
- 6 games. Includes Switchblade, Trailblazer, Super Scramble Simulator, Percy The Potty Pigeon
Odin Computer Graphics Anthology
- 9 games. Includes Nodes Of Yesod, Robin Of The Wood, Heartland
Realtime Games Pack
- Starstrike II
- 3D Tank Duel
Stephen Crow Anthology (Free!)
©1983-2013 Stephen Crow. All rights reserved.
- 5 games. Includes Firelord, Starquake, Wizard's Lair
Vortex Anthology
- 6 games. Includes Alien Highway, Deflektor, T.L.L. (Tornado Low Level)
Zenobi Adventure Pack Vol. 1
- 6 games. Includes Aura-Scope, The Gods of War, Leopold The Minstrel
Zenobi Adventure Pack Vol. 2
- 6 games. Includes The Khangrin Plans, The Krazy Kartoonist Kaper, A Murder Mystery Weekend
Zenobi Adventures Vol. 3
- 5 games. Includes The Apprentice, The Bardic Rite, Jester Quest, Knight Life, Mutiny!
The following single games are available from the in-app shop:
- Carrier Command
- Dynamite Dan II
- Frank N. Stein
- Laser Squad
- Lords Of Chaos
- The Lords Of Midnight
- Doomdark's Revenge
- Everyone's a Wally
- KWAH!
- Redhawk
- Skool Daze
What’s New
Version 8.0
- Add your own games (.tap/.tzx/.z80/.szx/.dsk)
- Physical keyboard support (iOS 13.4+ only)
- Various bug fixes
Ratings and Reviews
Great emulator - facility to load original tape games
I’ve been using speculator for quite a few years now on an off and I think it is possibly the very best spectrum emulator available, being an 80s teenager it’s a been a dream come true, with first the windows versions and now iPad &iphone. Great all around.
But one thing I miss on the iPad version is being able to load original tape versions of games. Especially ones that aren’t available to download such as Knightlore and other “ultimate play the game” games. And I’ve noticed lately that this facility doesn’t work so well on the pc versions of speculator ether, which is a bit disappointing as it definitely used to. But otherwise fantastic stuff.
Really like some of the newer games being created. Cool.
Lack of space for BASIC programs.
The main failing of this app. for me, is the lack of storage space for programs one might type in. Ok I know it’s really for playing Spectrum games but from an educational POV it would have been nice to be able to type in old BASIC programs, many of which are still available and still do a good job of introducing the novice to programming concepts, despite being a very out of date language. Life is not all about playing games but I guess they were thinking of the commercial side when designing this app. They knew many people would be more interested in playing games than programming. It’s a pity because it would have kept Spectrum BASIC alive and shown there is more to life than playing games.
The late I was waiting for
Way back when Spectaculator first hit the store, I spend so long adding my own hands. Fully custom to fit in with the games I could get within the app. I loved it. Then the App Store got sick, and that ability died.
Thank you Jonathan for bringing it back again now the App Store is (a little) better again.
Not actually worked out exactly how to add my own games yet, though I am lying in bed. If it’s the same way as before, I’ll have some work to do this weekend.
App Privacy
The developer, Jonathan Needle, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary based on, for example, the features you use or your age. Learn More
Information
- Provider
- Jonathan Needle
- Size
- 32.3 MB
- Category
- Games
- Compatibility
-
- iPhone
- Requires iOS 11.0 or later.
- iPad
- Requires iPadOS 11.0 or later.
- iPod touch
- Requires iOS 11.0 or later.
- Mac
- Requires macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
- Apple Vision
- Requires visionOS 1.0 or later.
- Game Controller
- Recommended The developer, Jonathan Needle, designed this game to be played with a controller for the best experience.
- Languages
-
English
- Age Rating
- 9+ Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence Infrequent/Mild Horror/Fear Themes
- Copyright
- © 2001, 2024 Jonathan Needle
- Price
- £2.99
- In-App Purchases
-
- Skool Daze £0.99
- Magic Knight Anthology £1.99
- Odin Anthology £1.99
- Wheelie £0.99
- The Lords Of Midnight £0.99
- Realtime Games Pack £0.99
- Alternative Software Pack 1 £1.99
- Alternative Software Pack 2 £1.99
- Everyone's a Wally £0.99
- Carrier Command £0.99
Supports
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Game Controllers
Play this game with your favourite compatible controller.
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Game Center
Challenge friends and check leaderboards and achievements.