BEGINNERS GUIDE TO SINCLAIR

Sinclair ZX80 - First budget home computer, complete with 1k ram, and no sound or graphics.

Sinclair ZX81 - Sinclair’s first hit, the sub £70 machine broke the million, and still only had 1k of ram and no sound.

Sinclair ZX Spectrum & + The amazing ZX Spectrum came in 16 and 48k versions, and the later plus model replaced the rubber keys with hard ones. Sold over 5 million units in the UK alone.

Sinclair QL - The world’s first 16 bit home computer, released in 1984. Uses own standard Microdrives for storage, and was primarily aimed at business.

Sinclair 128 - In answer to Commodore’s 128k machine, the improved memory was also supplemented by improved three channel sound chip.

Sinclair +2/+3 - Following the Amstrad aquisition of Sinclair, these two models feature built in Cassette deck (+2) or 3” disk drive (+3)

Cambridge Z88 - Sinclair’s newly formed company released the rare Z88 to an unlistening business market.

Sinclair Super Rare - Sinclair C5 Electric Car - Sinclair Loki - Sinclair Digital Watch - Sinclair Pocket Gold

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO COMMODORE

Commodore Pet - Huge business orientated computer from the late 1970s, established the CBM marque.

Commodore Vic 20 - Underpowered rival to the Atari 400 found itself losing the UK sales battle against the Sinclair ZX81.

Commodore 64 - The machine to make Commodore a household name. Hi-res colour, and multi channel sound made this the Spectrum’s greatest rival, once Commodore had sorted the price out.

Commodore 16 - Cut down version of the Commodore 64, but with less memory, unable to use the vast C64 software base.

Commodore +4 - Commodore’s own rival to their C64, strangely completely incompatible while offering a similar specification. Doomed before it was even released.

Commodore Amiga - The computer which defined the 16-bit era, and made Commodore a market leader again. One of the greatest games computers ever created, though Commodore as ever intended it for serious applications.

Commodore CDTV - Interactive television never really made it, and this classy machine died in the water.

Commodore CD32 - Final stab at the games market, with original CD software heavily out numbered by Amiga rehashes, slowly died in the wake of Nintendo and Sega.

Commodore Super Rare - Commodore TV Game - Commodore Max - Commodore GS Console

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO ATARI

Atari Pong - Released in 1974 in the US, heralded the birth of TV games. There are many versions of Atari Pong, including four player versions.

Atari Pinball/Stunt Cycle/Breakout - Atari released several different single game consoles before releasing their first cartridge system.

Atari VCS/2600 - The 1977 wooden fonted VCS console was the first games machine to gain a mass market following. There are several versions, the original wood fronted six switch, wood fronted four switch, Black fronted Irish “Darth Vader” version, and the later and smaller black and silver Atari 2600.

Atari 5200/7800 - The 5200 is an expanded VCS with a higher specification, released in the US only. The Atari 7800 was released worldwide and includes hi-res colour and built in Asteroids. It is also compatible with all VCS/2600 games.

Atari 400/800/1200 - The Atari range of computers, feature hi-res colour, and three channel sound. They take cartridges, cassettes and disks. The 1200 was only released in the US, and benefits from additional memory. Generally, classic atari games are far better in their 400/800 versions than on the VCS.

Atari XL/XE - XL machines are re-modelled versions of the original Atari 800. XE machines come in the computer (65XE) and console varieties, and are also Atari 800 compatible.

Atari ST - 16 Bit computer, similar spec to Commodore Amiga, but with poor internal sound. Benefitted from Midi ports, which made it popular with musicians.

Atari Lynx/Jaguar - The Lynx was developed by the makers of the Amiga, and is a full colour LCD handheld. The Jaguar is supposedly a 64 bit (though truly just features 64bit memory mapping) console. While sales were poor, some classic games like Alien Vs Predator and Tempest 2000 helped it gain cult status.

Atari Super Rare - Atari Music - Atari Gamebrain - Atari 2800

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO SEGA

Sega Mastersystem - Big in the UK and the US, this was the first mainstream Sega console. Took on the NES for sales in Europe, but failed miserably in Japan.

Sega Megadrive - The 16bit console which saw Sega claim it’s position as leading videogame manufacturer. Huge in the UK and the US, again failed in Japan.

Mega CD & 32X - Strange peripherals intended to extend the life of the Megadrive. Mega CD added a CD Rom to the system, while the 32X improved the speed and added improved graphics. Both were relative flops.

Sega Game Gear - Rival to the Gameboy, but featuring full colour LCD screen. Never had a killer title to sell it to the mass market.

Sega Saturn - The 32 bit Sega which despite hundreds of excellent games, failed after the launch of the Playstation.

Sega Dreamcast - The 128 bit console which failed to secure Sega’s hardware future. Again, hundreds of brilliant games, and sure to become a major retro collectible format.

Sega Super Rare - Sega SG1000 - Sega Mark 3 - Sega SC3000 - Sega Neptune - Sega Megajet - Sega Diver DC - Sega Fish life

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO NINTENDO

Nintendo Famicom - The Family Computer, or Famicom, is the original 1984 cartridge based Nintendo machine. Exactly the same internally as the European/US NES system, but the cartridges are half the size.

Nintendo Entertainment System - Or NES for short, the 100 million selling console famous for delivering the first home Mario games

Nintendo Game & Watch - Pocket LCD games sold between 1980 and 1991. Include different styles like Double screen, Panorama color, and tabletop games.

Nintendo Gameboy - The black & white handheld which took the world by storm. Many versions exist, Gameboy Light with built in back-light, Gameboy Color with colour graphics, Gameboy Pocket - cut down version of the chunky original, Gameboy Advance, the latest and most powerful version.

Nintendo Super Famicom - Japanese version of the Super Nintendo. Classic 16-bit console, famous for 100s of classic games, like Pilot wings, Donkey Kong Country and Street Fighter.

Super Nintendo - Or Snes, the UK and US version of the Super Famicom. Note that all three machines are incompatible, you need to get an adaptor to play games from other territories.

Nintendo Virtual Boy - The first 3D only console, great fun, but a commercial flop.

Nintendo 64 & Gamecube - The two subsequent generations of Nintendo hardware.

Nintendo DS - Twin screen touch sensitive handheld machine, the current replacement for the Gameboy.

Nintendo Super Rare - Nintendo 15 - Nintendo 6 - Nintendo Block - Nintendo 112 Racing - Famicom Twin

Top Retro Machines of All Time

As voted for in the Summer 1998 Retrogames reader survey, this is the list of the top twenty five most collectible formats according to our readers:

1: Atari VCS - The biggest console of the seventies, and a huge favourite with collectors.

2: Commodore 64 - Huge in the UK, Germany and other parts of Europe as well as establishing a good foothold in the US.

3: Super Nintendo - The Snes, home to the best 2D arcade games, and some of Miyamoto’s finest work.

4: Sinclair Spectrum - Lacking in the hardware stakes, but with an estimated 15,000 software titles, has the most amazing variety of quality games.

5: Nintendo Gameboy - Still as popular today as it ever was, the biggest selling console of all time.

6: Nintendo Game & Watch - Gunpei Yokoi’s electronic gadgetry eventually spawned the Gameboy. He will never be forgotten.

7: Atari Lynx - From the creators of the Amiga comes the greatest of all colour handhelds (pre GBA of course!)

8: MB Vectrex - Using vector lines instead of sprites, the Vectrex still stands head and shoulders above others in the style and gameplay stakes.

9: Atari Computers - Quality software is easy to find on the Atari 800/XE, expensive when released but mana for collectors.

10: Sega Megadrive - The machine which finally put Sega into our homes, with classic arcade conversions, and plenty of original quality games.

11: PC Engine - NEC’s pocket size console surprised the world with super sharp graphics and some of the greatest shoot-em-ups ever devised.

12: Nintendo NES - The home to so many Nintendo classics, and with a library packed with several thousand titles to collect.

13: Atari ST - The first 16-bit computer to go mass market, and home to classics like Dungeon Master and Virus.

14: Sinclair ZX81 - The first mass market home computer in the UK, mainly because of it’s low price.

15: NEO GEO - SNK’s arcade machine in the home technology provided some of the biggest graphics in gaming, and some of the highest prices too.

16: Atari Jaguar - Atari’s failed venture into 64 bit technology relied on too few triple A titles.

17: Sega Mastersystem - The original home versions of Phantasy Star, and Wonderboy, plus tons of other great arcade conversions.

18: Colecovision - The arch rival to the Atari VCS offered hi-res colour and conversions from Nintendo and Sega. A pity it was all a bit too late.

19: 3DO - The 32 bit console made famous by Need for Speed and Warp’s D. Not as bad as some would make you believe.

20: BBC/ELECTRON - Crusty computers at the time, but the choice of hobbiests and electronics enthusiasts.

21: Commodore Amiga - The king of all 16-bit computers, with thousands of games to die for.

22: Intellivision - Another rival to the Atari VCS, but with some of the worse controllers in Retroland.

23: Commodore Vic 20 - Most noted for Commodore’s own cartridge software.

24: Pong/TV Games - Surely the ultimate machines for the retro purist.

25: PC - Well, the PC has been going for a while, and with the Mame and emulation scene, it’s no surprise.

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