Zx Spectrum Games Review Books

[psj3809]

About 6 months ago me and a friend started work on a Spectrum Review book, its a 6 part series and so far we've done the first two books...

1982-1984

http://www.lulu.com/content/2637626

270 pages, 200+ reviews, black and white with colour covers

1985-1986

http://www.lulu.com/content/2930319

370 pages, 300+ reviews, a pound more but a bigger book

Its featured in the news pages of Retro Gamer this month. The reviews are written by the fans (Andrew Rollings has also given us his reviews from his sold out Spectrum book) and are a great mix of style.

We actually pay people for their reviews (50p per review), write 10 reviews and get a fiver paypalled to you.

If you look on the website http://www.spectrumgamesbible.co.uk/ - Most of the reviews are taken for Book 3 (1987-1988) but still many remaining for some of the other books.

Once all the books are out there should be about 1200 reviews of Spectrum games !

Each review has a screenshot or two and a story about the game, some people write what it was like back in the day or if its stood the test of time. We've sold a fair few on lulu, we dont make much each book (As its print on demand lulu take much of the cost) but then again we dont have to pay 1500 quid up front for the books to be printed.

If you want to contribute please let me know - paul@spectrumgamesbible.co.uk or i hope some of you like the look of the book and buy it. Some great early games in book 1, a lot more famous games in book 2 but either way they should bring a lot of memories back to you if you were a fan of the Spectrum back in the 80's

Cheers

 

[InsertFaveGameNameHere]

Cool! I'll check it out, been getting back into me 8-bit gaming in the past two weeks. I tend to go through 'era' phases...

 

[psj3809]

Thanks fella, hope a few people buy it or want to contribute. Believe me we're not looking to make a huge profit (Probably be in the red for a fair while) but really enjoying putting these together and collating reviews from people. Sometimes a screenshot will make me think 'i have to try this game' or reading someones review of a game i havent played before and it makes me want to have a look at it.

Book 2 is much more my sort of era but theres a lot of good early games in Book 1. Currently working on book 3 (1987-1988) which has many great games in it, brings back a ton of memories !

 

[iprice]

Just purchased the second book, despite being a CPC owner during that period.

 

[psj3809]

Cheers fella. Yeah you'll recognise many of the games !

http://www.spectrumgamesbible.co.uk/book2.htm

Got more added actually which werent on this page. 1987-1988 i'm looking forward to doing, two great years, from 89 onwards it was getting a bit sad as i could tell the 8 bits were dying a death slowly but still some very good games in those years

 

[psj3809]

We finished Book 3 a fair few weeks ago, Book 3 (1987-1988) is the biggest book yet, 370+ pages, over 300 reviews.

http://www.spectrumgamesbible.co.uk/

Book 4 (1989-1990) will be out early December, then its Book 5 (1991-1993) and finally Book 6 (1994-200x) which will feature all the homebrew games etc.

Tons of great games in Book 3 (87-88), been fun doing the books so far, people have made a good bit of money writing reviews, also raised some money for charity and at the moment with the 3 books we have over 700 reviews and 1000 pages !

 

[lubidog]

OMG I didn't even know there was a book two! I loved the first one! Thanks for the heads up, this is going on the Christmas list!!!!

 

[psj3809]

Yep its a series of 6 books.

Book 2 is 370 pages (100 more than book 1) and features a ton of great games from 1985-1986.

Book 3 came out 2 months ago , 470 pages (higher price but a TON of reviews) and features games from 87-88.

Book 4 is nearly finished, still working on it, 1989-1990. Its interesting as it has a lot of games i havent tried before, after reading the reviews theres a fair few i want to try.

Also get book 3 as its a whopper Best book yet as theres tons in it

Glad you like it, always good to hear positive comments ! We hardly make anything on it due to paying for reviews (just want to break even) as we're doing them for the love of it, i just love reading about old 8 bit games !

 

[lubidog]

Yep its a series of 6 books.

Book 2 is 370 pages (100 more than book 1) and features a ton of great games from 1985-1986.

Book 3 came out 2 months ago , 470 pages (higher price but a TON of reviews) and features games from 87-88.

Book 4 is nearly finished, still working on it, 1989-1990. Its interesting as it has a lot of games i havent tried before, after reading the reviews theres a fair few i want to try.

Also get book 3 as its a whopper Best book yet as theres tons in it

Glad you like it, always good to hear positive comments ! We hardly make anything on it due to paying for reviews (just want to break even) as we're doing them for the love of it, i just love reading about old 8 bit games !

I more than loved it! I loved it!!!

I should have more often on the retro gamer forums, cos I am falling behind. But I will def be ordering the other books, plus more for presents! Anyone who had a spectrum will love these books!

 

[Tag5]

I recently dug up the ZX Spectrum from my attic and I'm surprised that it still worked. OK, I did look after it well but I thought that it would have degraded atleast. No such luck thank goodness.

 

[psj3809]

The Speccy really did bring back huge memories of my childhood, so yeah part of the reason of playing old games is that memory but also the games are so playable. The Speccy versionf of Commando and Bomb Jack for example are superb.

Can totally recommend the Crash dvd...

http://www.zzap64.co.uk/zzuperstore.html

Someone (Mort) has scanned every page and issue and put them onto a dvd, theyre fascinating to look at and read, superb. Brings back tons of memories.

Then dont forget http://www.myspeccy.com/ , create a free account and play Speccy games online, it saves the score so theres a leaderboard for lots of games, very addictive !

But you think back to Xmas's in the late 80's, the huge Xmas edition of Crash coming out, tons of games at Xmas, going round to your mates house on the 27th Dec to tape all his games he got for Xmas etc, happy times !