London - They were once at the cutting edge of home computing – a must-have for every budding Bill Gates.
But in the age of smartphones, tablet computers and internet gaming, only the biggest fans of the 30-year-old ZX Spectrum could have hoped for its return.
However, creator Sir Clive Sinclair is backing a £100 (about R1 800) version that will play on smartphones, tablet computers or television.
The Spectrum Vega mimics the design of the original with its rainbow logo but is a handheld games controller.
It will feature 1 000 built-in games, including many of the original favourites such as Jet Set Willy, Chuckie Egg and Manic Miner.
Users can download other games that will be available for free, plus those who still have Spectrum games from the original series can load them on to the Vega using a memory card.
The first 1 000 Vegas costing £100 each will be available in April and a retail launch is expected before the end of 2015.
It is being made by Luton-based Retro Computers, where Sir Clive, 74, is shareholder. The firm said in a statement: “The Vega uses a low-cost micro-controller and a clever piece of software that combine to enable the Vega to run all of the games, 14 000 or more of them, which were developed during the years when some 5 million of the original Sinclair Spectrum were being sold.” - Daily Mail