Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive
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Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive
Hi all
Has anyone seen one of these before? I happened across a microdrive cart of Sabre Wulf. I cannot find any information about it - the seller got it from a toy seller in Germany apprently.
I was wondering if it maybe was a demo / proof of concept / marketing item? I don’t have a microdrive so have not tested it.
The print quality is superb so if it is homebrew it is impressive.
Has anyone seen one of these before? I happened across a microdrive cart of Sabre Wulf. I cannot find any information about it - the seller got it from a toy seller in Germany apprently.
I was wondering if it maybe was a demo / proof of concept / marketing item? I don’t have a microdrive so have not tested it.
The print quality is superb so if it is homebrew it is impressive.
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive
I seem to recall that someone was making these (and other microdrive versions of Speccy games) and selling them on ebay some years ago.
Rich Mellor
RWAP Software
RWAP Adventures
SellMyRetro
Retro-Printer Module
Also Involved in:
Icephorm
RWAP Software
RWAP Adventures
SellMyRetro
Retro-Printer Module
Also Involved in:
Icephorm
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- Posts: 2173
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am
Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive
Thanks. They must have had access to a pretty good printer.
And a good solicitor! I’m pretty sure Rare still enforce their copyrights?
And a good solicitor! I’m pretty sure Rare still enforce their copyrights?
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
- 1024MAK
- Posts: 5118
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:56 am
- Location: Looking forward to summer in Somerset, UK...
Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive
Rare do still decline to allow ZX Spectrum titles to be distributed free of charge. So the only legal way to get hold of them is by buying (or being given) an original cassette tape or Interface 2 cartridge (not to be confused with a microdrive cartridge).
There is a whole thread about Ultimate games on microdrives somewhere within the World of Spectrum forums.
Personally, unless the game comes with receipt, the box and all the game documentation, I would be very suspicious, as I don't think any commercial game was released in the shops on a microdrive cartridge.
The other thing to note, is that with an interface 1 fitted to a ZX Spectrum, the extended system variables and microdrive work areas mean there is less memory available for programs. For the later Ultimate games, they often used nearly all the available RAM space and designed the games to load from tape (often using special loaders), so it's not necessarily easy to make a microdrive version without hacking the game code a fair bit.
Mark
There is a whole thread about Ultimate games on microdrives somewhere within the World of Spectrum forums.
Personally, unless the game comes with receipt, the box and all the game documentation, I would be very suspicious, as I don't think any commercial game was released in the shops on a microdrive cartridge.
The other thing to note, is that with an interface 1 fitted to a ZX Spectrum, the extended system variables and microdrive work areas mean there is less memory available for programs. For the later Ultimate games, they often used nearly all the available RAM space and designed the games to load from tape (often using special loaders), so it's not necessarily easy to make a microdrive version without hacking the game code a fair bit.
Mark
ZX81 Variations
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp
Standby alert
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp
Standby alert
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
- 1024MAK
- Posts: 5118
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:56 am
- Location: Looking forward to summer in Somerset, UK...
Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive
Here are some search results from WoSf:-
Microdrive games
Nightshade & Alien 8 on microdrive?
Ultimate microdrive cartridge games?
eBay: Sabre Wulf (Ultimate/Rare)
Sinclair Microdrive cartridge lunar jetman.
Mark
Microdrive games
Nightshade & Alien 8 on microdrive?
Ultimate microdrive cartridge games?
eBay: Sabre Wulf (Ultimate/Rare)
Sinclair Microdrive cartridge lunar jetman.
Mark
ZX81 Variations
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp
Standby alert
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp
Standby alert
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
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- Posts: 2173
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am
Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive
So, fake as Jordan’s t.... Unlike said lady and her dodgy cosmetic surgery it does look nice on my shelf (next to the big box version) and didn’t cost a lot.
Still a very impressive print job.
Still a very impressive print job.
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive
Not a big surprise to get awesome print results with all the current color laser printers. I use them all the time. But I am not referring to those cheapo ones anyone can buy for a couple hundred dollars to put aside the computer, instead I am talking about those several thousands of dollars huge and heavy professional machines that you will find only on print service shops. Of course even with the best printer in the world you won't get anything great with a poor art. I work with graphic design and use Photoshop and Corel Draw for decades. I can tell you that a good art is everything.
Nice fake you have there, by the way!
Nice fake you have there, by the way!
Living the dream...
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- Posts: 2173
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am
Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive
Thanks! It looks even better in the flesh. A very nice little curio.
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive
I love fakes (in the good sense). I have made my own TS-2068 fake a few months back (viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3397). If those microdrive cartridges were easy to remake (they have a weird and complicated shape) I would fake a lot of them myself to put on the shelf!Lardo Boffin wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2019 7:48 pmThanks! It looks even better in the flesh. A very nice little curio.
Question: the box is made out of cardboard?
Living the dream...
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- Posts: 2173
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am
Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive
The box is made of plastic.
I saw the 2068. Impressive stuff.
I saw the 2068. Impressive stuff.
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA