Developer wavemotion-dave has updated SpeccySE (formerly SpeccyDS ), the emulator of the legendary 8-bit ZX Spectrum computer for the Nintendo DS and DSi consoles.

This new version introduces a double video buffering system specific to the DSi, XL and LL consoles , a change designed to visibly reduce tearing during emulation, making the visual experience more stable and fluid.

Another interesting change concerns the joystick management: the mode previously called “Chuckie Egg-Style” has been renamed to “Slide-n-Glide” , a more evocative name that better reflects the fluid and responsive nature of the control.

Finally, some small code cleanup efforts have been made , improving the overall maintainability of the project and preparing it for future updates.

Although minor, these tweaks demonstrate the developer’s constant attention to perfecting every aspect of the emulator.

ZX Spectrum BIOS ROM

The emulator does not include any proprietary BIOS ROMs, but they are essential to boot anything. You will need two ZX Spectrum ROMs , which must be named exactly like this and placed in the same folder as the emulator or in /ROMS/BIOS:

48.ROMwith CRC32:ddee531f
128.ROMwith CRC32:2cbe8995

Using other non-standard ZX Spectrum ROMs can easily lead to problems and malfunctions.

ZX Keyboard

The emulator includes a virtual on-screen keyboard that works quite well, but keep in mind that the console’s touch screen is not multitouch (like a smartphone). This means that you can only press one key at a time.

For the SYMBOL and SHIFT keys to work properly , when you press one of them, a small white or yellow indicator will appear at the top of the screen.

This indicates that the SHIFT or SYMBOL button has been activated and the system is waiting for the next key to be combined. For example, to type the character "(quote mark), you would first press and release SYMBOL , and then press the letter P .

Usage

The emulator interface is quite simple. From the main menu you can choose the game to launch (in .TAP, .TZXor .Z80).

Once selected, the game title will appear at the bottom along with the size and CRC (not essential, but useful for those who like details).

You can start playing right away or change the game-specific settings, such as key definitions or other options. Each game can have its own saved configuration, so everyone can keep their own custom keys and settings.

During the game, there are two buttons to access additional menus. The cassette icon opens the tape player options.

Usually, the tape starts and stops automatically, but sometimes you need to intervene manually. From here you can also change the side of the tape or insert a second tape (Side B or Tape 2).

The other menu is the “Mini Menu”, which allows you to exit the current game, save or load a game state, and record high scores.

Key Assignment

Each game can have a custom button configuration assigned to the 12 buttons on the DS/DSi console (including START , SELECT , and the L/R buttons ). By default, the DPad and A button are mapped to the Kempston standard.

Joystick Support

The emulator supports the Kempston and Sinclair (67890) joysticks , but in reality any key on the keyboard can be assigned to one of the 12 Nintendo DS buttons , thus offering a great deal of freedom in configuring the controls.

Through the “REDEFINE KEYS” menu, the user can press the console key to cycle through several preset configurations commonly used in ZX Spectrum games , such as QAOP or ZXM.

By default, the system is configured to use the Kempston joystick .

The emulator also includes a specific setting for the D-PAD called CHUCKIE , designed to improve accuracy in games where using the joystick is ineffective.

In titles like Chuckie Egg , which are known for requiring extremely precise movements, switching from a horizontal to a vertical direction (e.g. to climb a ladder) can be frustrating with a traditional joystick.

CHUCKIE mode kicks in by holding the previous direction active for a fraction of a second during the transition, making movements smoother and more natural.

While primarily intended for Chuckie Egg , this mode can also be useful in other games with similar controls.

Cassette Holder

The emulator supports snapshot files .Z80, but much more useful is the support for tape .TAPand .TZX. The format .TAPis fully compatible, while .TZXit is supported satisfactorily, with the exception of some complex blocks (which are rarely used in most common software anyway).

As is common with software distributed on tape, some files in the formats .TAPor .TZXmay become corrupted or non-functional.

In these cases, it is advisable to look for an alternative version of the same game or program, which will most likely load and run correctly on the emulator.

As for loading, the developer has chosen not to remove the classic loading screens, preferring instead to significantly speed up the speed.

Most games now load 10 to 15 times faster than they originally did: a 48K title starts in less than 15 seconds, while a full 128K game takes about half an hour to load.

The loading screens, an integral part of the ZX Spectrum ‘s charm , are thus still present and enjoyable in a more streamlined form.

User can press the cassette icon to change tape or manually set the track position.

Typically, the game automatically detects the necessary information, and the automatic tape playback and stop systems work quite effectively. However, you can intervene manually when required.

ROM Support

The emulator allows you to load files .ROMdirectly into the same memory area as the BIOS (from +0000 to +4000), up to a maximum of 16K. This feature is primarily intended for loading diagnostic programs such as the amazing RETROLEUM DIAGROM .

ZX81 support

The program supports Paul Farrow ‘s ZX81 emulator designed for the ZX Spectrum 128k machines .

http://www.fruitcake.plus.com/Sinclair/Interface2/Cartridges/Interface2_RC_New_ZX81.htm

To get this working, you need to download the Interface 2 16K ROM for the emulator, choosing between Edition 2 or Edition 3 (do not use Edition 1 or the bugfix version). Take this ROM and concatenate it with a .pZX81 game file you intend to play.

For example, if you want to play Mazogs for ZX81, get the ZX81 emulator file mazogs.pand ROM listed above, then do the following:

On Linux :cat S128_ZX81_ED2_ROM.bin mazogs.p > mazogs.z81
On Windows :copy /b S128_ZX81_ED2_ROM.bin + mazogs.p mazogs.z81

The result will be a file .z81of about 25 KB containing both the emulator and the game. This file can be loaded directly into SpeccySE , which will automatically insert the key sequences needed to start the emulator.

The loading process takes about 10 seconds and, during this phase, it is not recommended to interact with the virtual keys until the game has completely started.

POK Support

The emulator supports files .pokto insert cheats or modifications into memory. The file .pokmust have the same base name as the game and must be placed in a subfolder called pokinside the games directory.

For example, if you have a folder roms, create a folder inside it pokand upload the file there .pok. If it is named correctly, a list of available cheats will appear in the “POKE MEMORY” menu.

Memory changes remain active until you restart or reload the game. There is no way to undo a change other than reloading.

If you are using a ribbon ( .TAPor .TZX), it is best to wait until the game is loaded before applying the poke. Use at your own risk (it can’t harm anything, but you may get weird results if applied at the wrong time).