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Header text
Established 1997
Like its second-cousin, the Amstrad 6128,
the Spectrum +3 used CF2 3” Floppy Disks.
While from a purely nostalgic point of view,
loading software from them gives quite
a buzz, the reality can be pretty painful.
Firstly, they’re rare and therefore costly, and
secondly transferring disk images onto them
comes with challenges.
The easiest way we found was to source
an external 3” floppy drive like the Amstrad
FD-1, and then match it up with a GreaseWeazel
v4 USB flux reader/writer.
…and the best of British luck to you.
System: Spectrum +3
Manufacturer: Sinclair /
Amstrad
Launch Date: 1987
CPU: Z80A @ 3.5 MHz
Original RRP: £249
Rarity: Low
Data
Opinion
Shunned by some, since it’s not a thoroughbred
Spectrum, due to the Amstrad influence, the
Spectrum +3 in our opinion, is the most complete
Spectrum. With an integrated Floppy Drive,
support for tape loading and compatibility with
the 48K Spectrum.
The Amstrad FD-1 next to a boxed GreaseWeazel
A Multiface 3 (clone) allowed you to ‘snapshot’ running
games to FDD
CF2 Floppy Disks. Rare, Expensive and something of a pain.
In 1987 a home computer in the UK with a FDD was quite exotic.
Anyone wondering why Floppy Disks were so desirable back in the day, should watch the above
video. The choice most of us had, was stick with Tape Cassette or sell a family member and get a
Floppy Disk Drive.
Thanks
Granddad
In the 1980s, my grandfather, a stalwart coal
miner of 40 years and a WWII Paratrooper,
spent his days in the modest comfort of a pre-
fabricated house nestled in a small village in
the Midlands. His life's journey concluded just
one week into his hard-earned retirement.
When he passed away in 1982, he left me a
legacy of £137.00—a sum that might seem
modest, but it was princely to me. With it, I
purchased my very first computer, a second-
hand Sinclair Spectrum +2, in 1987.
The Spectrum +2, along with its successor the
+3, holds a cherished spot in my heart. It
wasn't just any computer; it was my gateway
into the digital world, setting me on a
trajectory toward a successful career in IT. This
meaningful purchase came from a friend who
was moving on to the newer Atari STFM, and it
included a treasure trove of games. Each time I
powered up that Spectrum, I felt a connection
not just to the technology of the time, but to
the grandfather whose generosity had opened
up a universe of possibilities. Cheers to you,
Granddad, for the gift that changed my life.
Not generally considered the best version of
Hard Drivin’, I did love the Speccy version.
This was a favourite, For some reason I really
liked the graphics, too.
This was a favourite, For some reason I really
liked the graphics, too.
Myth - History in the Making, was probably
the last game I purchased for the Speccy.
I finished it too, the Amiga version was
somewhat of let down and I felt the spectrum
version was much better.
Handbrake turns, shooting guns, dodging traffic?
Grand Theft Auto? Nope Lotus Turbo Esprit on
the Speccy. Hell of game this…
Want to connect your Spectrum to a HDMI TV?
ByteDelight has a Speccy expansion port solution
for that…
Want to connect your Spectrum to a the
Internet? ByteDelight has a Speccy expansion
port solution for that…
An extraordinarily good version of Chase HQ
was available for Speccy.
Bloodwych for the Speccy was an excellent
dungeon crawler.
This, I believe, is a 128K Spectrum exclusive.
The (largely) black and white graphics are
particularly beautiful
Another not-for-48K speccy game: Robocop II,
and it’s not a scratch on the original Robocop
on the Spectrum.
These games aren’t necessarily the best games for the system and aren’t even 128K
only, but they are the games I most fondly remember from back when I owned a
Spectrum +2.
Interesting Games
The good ol’ 128k Speccy still gets what
can only be described, as AAA games
released to this very day.
BORSCH by Dragons’ Lord. If you
think this looks like a Doom style
game on the Speccy, you would be
right, that’s what it is…
DRIFT by Zosya is a Drift
Racing Simulation. You can
download it for free, or order
a boxed edition.
https://www.zosya.net/product/drift/
Travel Through Time Volume
1: Northern Lights is an
astonishing looking racing
game, that starts based in the
‘50s and moves through to the
‘80s. It has cut scenes, a story
and plays exceptionally well.
Again, free to download or get
a boxed copy.
https://www.zosya.net/product/travel-
through-time-volume-1-northern-lights/
Chase HQ
Bloodwych
The Land that Time Forgot
Robocop II