ZX Nostalgia: Another iPhone Game Emulator

By  |  Monday, June 28, 2010 at 7:01 pm

The iPhone has given life to another set of old games. This time it’s ZX Nostalgia, an emulator of Sinclair’s ZX Spectrum personal computer.

ZX Nostalgia costs $1 and includes 14 games, including Manic Miner, Fantastic Voyage and a shameless Star Wars clone called Starstrike 3D. All the games were released between 1982 and 1984.

I gave the app a whirl, and although I don’t regret spending the buck, there are a few things that need improvement. The interface is not nearly as slick as Manomio’s Commodore 64 emulator, and it lacks extra features such as high scores or online achievements. ZX Nostalgia could also use some more detailed instructions for each game — some games are just impossible to figure out — and more customization in its controls.

But overall, I’m pleased that there’s another bundle of emulated classic video games in the App Store, and it makes me wonder what we’ll see next. I still think a Nintendo emulator is out of the question, because the company is now competing with Apple in the handheld gaming market, even though an official emulator app would be awesome and a huge money maker for both parties.

In January, Gizmodo reported that a “Sega Genesis Ultimate Collection” app would arrive the following month, but it never did. Perhaps Sega found more success selling standalone classics like Sonic the Hedgehog and Golden Axe. Also, Manomio has put together Atari 2600 and Amiga emulators as tech demos, but an app would require rights to the games, or permission from rights holders, and I’m guessing that hasn’t happened.

There’s still room for other consoles, such as Intellivision (Update: Intellivision is available, and it’s free), Sega Master System or Turbo Grafx 16, but I don’t know what has to happen to make them a reality on the iPhone. I just know I’m enough of a sucker for retro video games on new devices that I’d pay for all of them.

 
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4 Comments For This Post

  1. Rob G. Says:

    They've already got an Intellivision app. The iPhone version comes with Astrosmash and is 99 cents, the iPad version includes 6 games and is $2.99.

  2. JaredNewman Says:

    You're right, except that it's a free app (woohoo!), story updated accordingly. So can we get ColecoVision, then?

  3. Chris Says:

    I'm still waiting for one of my favorite Pocket PC games to come to iOS, which was based on a bar video game…Hot Hoops by Midway Games, which is currently in Chapter 11. Basically, there were five shooters in the foreground who shoot baskets towards a basket as it slides back and forth on the screen. As you touch one of the five players, they shoot a basketball at the moving basket. As you make baskets, bonuses are given for consecutive shots, etc. Each game is timed (30 seconds, I believe).

    A simple game, but one that kept me busy on the Pocket PC when I had down time. Sometimes the simplest games can be the most fun to play.

  4. free iphone games Says:

    Well i think ipad version is quite affordable for me. I should try to get it. Thanks for the info dude.

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