8-bit to 16-bit

For home computer users the late 1980's was an exciting yet almost sad time.

For anyone who had gotten into the use of a home computer through the likes of a ZX80, ZX81, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Oric1, Oric Atmos, BBC Micro, Vic 20, Amstrad CPC 464 or Acorn Electron the late 1980's represented the next step in home micro technology.

The 16-bit machines had arrived, and it was only a matter of time before they became the dominant force in the home market...

So - you were lucky enough to own an 8-bit machine.

With the likes of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 landing around 1982 - home computing really took off.

Other machines such as Acorn's BBC Model B and the Amstrad CPC464 added further variety to the 8-bit market.

The 8-bit market really gave rise to the 'bedroom programmer' as well as introducing computer gaming to the masses in a way that consoles and desktop games (such as Astro Wars, Tomy Sky Attack and Astro Blaster) never could.

As the years rolled by programmers really pushed the hardware of these 8-bit machines which resulted in some fine Spectrum music and awesome graphics. The ZX Spectrum was pushed particularly hard by talented Spectrum programmers who managed to squeeze more and more out of the machine.

In fact, by 1987 the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC range were still going strong (with the likes of machines such as the Oric 1, Oric Atmos and Dragon 64 having fallen by the wayside) along with associated publications such as Crash magazine and ZZAP 64.

As the 8-bit market rolled along, the new and powerful 16-bit machines were on the rise - and slowly, surely, they drew their plans against the ageing 8-bit models....

The premier 16-bit machines for home use were the Atari ST and the Commodore Amiga.

Both machines were released around 1985, but did not really become affordable to the masses until 1987/88.

It was around 1988 that they really began to take hold. The graphics and in-game music and sound that was now available really did blow away anything the 8-bit market could offer.

Despite new versions of old machines (such as the Spectrum 128 which was now capable of AY Music and boasted a whopping 128K of RAM) the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga (with it's growing library of Amiga Games) really were streets ahead of their ancestors.

Even though many software houses still catered for the 8-bit market (look at Realtime Software's version of Carrier Command crammed into the humble Speccy!) 16-bit really was where it was going to be at...

So with reluctance you traded in your old machine or sold it second hand - no doubt with it a vast collection of games that you had built up over the years.

Although you were pleased with your new 16-bit behemoth that you had saved up for over the course of a year, there was no doubt a tinge of sadeness as your 8-bit buddy vanished forever...

Games such as Speedball II, Alien Breed, Cannon Fodder, Turrican II and F-29 retaliator really did make forgetting your old machine a little easier - many of us look back in fondness at great games such as these.

Amiga Games can help to re-new you with plenty of Amiga classics...

My favourite retro computers are the ZX Spectrum and the Commodore Amiga.

I also have soft spots for the Amstrad CPC464 and BBC Micro - many an hour was whittled away playing games on both of these machines.

But now, with emulation on the rise, grab yourself a Spectrum Emulator and indulge in a little Download Spectrum. You'll be surprised just how good those games could be.

It's also possible to play many of these classic games online if you don't fancy going to the trouble of downloading an emulator.