SpeccyDate vs Spectaculator
SpeccyDate
shadowbreakgames.itch.io
Spectaculator
spectaculator.comSide by side
| Figure | SpeccyDate | Spectaculator |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · ZX Spectrum Emulators | 8.0 (#7) | 7.8 (#10) |
| Purpose | SpeccyDate is a native ZX Spectrum emulator designed for Playdate; it lets users play their own legally obtained backups. | Spectaculator is a Sinclair ZX Spectrum emulator. |
| Support | The maker invites users to report problems and says they are available to help. | Users can contact support with questions, bug reports, or comments through the site’s contact form; Windows users can also access comprehensive help in the application. |
Plans
Spectaculator
- Spectaculator 8.0 for iPhone, iPod touch & iPad$2.99, paid once
- Spectaculator 2.5 for Android$3.99, paid once
- Spectaculator 9.1 for Windows$16.99, paid once
In their own words
SpeccyDate
SpeccyDate is a ZX Spectrum emulator designed for Playdate, letting users run their own legally obtained game backups in 48K or 128K mode. The listed file support includes 48K.sna,.z80,.tap, and.tzx files; TAP fast loading and common TZX tape formats are supported, with optional automatic turbo loading for longer waits. A built-in library selects games, and the B button rescans for new files. To add backups, connect the Playdate over USB and copy them into the SpeccyDate Games folder on its data disk. No games are included. During play, users can save or load states from the Playdate system menu, choose among control profiles, or map D-pad and A/B controls to keyboard keys and save mappings per game. A movable on-screen keyboard opens with one full crank turn, and three 1-bit display modes are available. The product is labeled in development and offered as a free, name-your-own-price download. Its maker warns updates can remove stored games and recommends keeping backups.
Spectaculator
Spectaculator is a Sinclair ZX Spectrum emulator for Windows, iOS, and Android. It supports TAP and TZX tape formats and SZX, SNA, and Z80 snapshot formats, with a built-in debugger and support for a range of peripherals, including joysticks, mice, Microdrives, printers, and Multiface models. The Windows debugger includes projects, complex breakpoints, watches, an inline assembler, memory inspector, call stack, screen inspector, and graphics inspector. Windows version 9.1 can save or copy screenshots at configurable sizes as PNG or BMP, and includes joystick and controller configuration enhancements. The iOS app accepts games in.tap,.tzx,.dsk,.szx, and.z80 formats, with customizable controls and artwork. On iOS 13.4 and later, an external keyboard can be used for games and BASIC programs; devices on iOS 12 and earlier are limited to text adventures. The Android 2.6 release requires Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later. Spectaculator is paid, with listed one-time plans from $2.99, paid once and a 30-day trial for the Windows plan.