Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive

Lardo Boffin
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Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive

Post by Lardo Boffin »

Hi all

Has anyone seen one of these before? I happened across a microdrive cart of Sabre Wulf. I cannot find any information about it - the seller got it from a toy seller in Germany apprently.

I was wondering if it maybe was a demo / proof of concept / marketing item? I don’t have a microdrive so have not tested it.

The print quality is superb so if it is homebrew it is impressive.
A2F5ED96-0D37-4828-8CBF-B0BF0A35FA28.jpeg
BB837AED-A70A-4B21-BF2D-476B8C2D4E66.jpeg
CA39B76A-4E2D-4DF4-B517-FA93AB130E1E.jpeg
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
RWAP
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Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive

Post by RWAP »

I seem to recall that someone was making these (and other microdrive versions of Speccy games) and selling them on ebay some years ago.
Lardo Boffin
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Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive

Post by Lardo Boffin »

Thanks. They must have had access to a pretty good printer.
And a good solicitor! I’m pretty sure Rare still enforce their copyrights?
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
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1024MAK
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Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive

Post by 1024MAK »

Rare do still decline to allow ZX Spectrum titles to be distributed free of charge. So the only legal way to get hold of them is by buying (or being given) an original cassette tape or Interface 2 cartridge (not to be confused with a microdrive cartridge).

There is a whole thread about Ultimate games on microdrives somewhere within the World of Spectrum forums.

Personally, unless the game comes with receipt, the box and all the game documentation, I would be very suspicious, as I don't think any commercial game was released in the shops on a microdrive cartridge.

The other thing to note, is that with an interface 1 fitted to a ZX Spectrum, the extended system variables and microdrive work areas mean there is less memory available for programs. For the later Ultimate games, they often used nearly all the available RAM space and designed the games to load from tape (often using special loaders), so it's not necessarily easy to make a microdrive version without hacking the game code a fair bit.

Mark
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1024MAK
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Location: Looking forward to summer in Somerset, UK...

Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive

Post by 1024MAK »

ZX81 Variations
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp

:!: Standby alert :!:
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb :!:
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2160
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive

Post by Lardo Boffin »

So, fake as Jordan’s t.... Unlike said lady and her dodgy cosmetic surgery it does look nice on my shelf (next to the big box version) and didn’t cost a lot.

Still a very impressive print job.
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
YanKleber
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2018 5:20 pm
Location: Brasil (Somewhere in the mountains)

Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive

Post by YanKleber »

Not a big surprise to get awesome print results with all the current color laser printers. I use them all the time. But I am not referring to those cheapo ones anyone can buy for a couple hundred dollars to put aside the computer, instead I am talking about those several thousands of dollars huge and heavy professional machines that you will find only on print service shops. Of course even with the best printer in the world you won't get anything great with a poor art. I work with graphic design and use Photoshop and Corel Draw for decades. I can tell you that a good art is everything.

Nice fake you have there, by the way! :)
Living the dream...
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2160
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive

Post by Lardo Boffin »

YanKleber wrote: Fri Oct 25, 2019 6:14 pm
Nice fake you have there, by the way! :)
Thanks! It looks even better in the flesh. A very nice little curio.
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
YanKleber
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2018 5:20 pm
Location: Brasil (Somewhere in the mountains)

Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive

Post by YanKleber »

Lardo Boffin wrote: Fri Oct 25, 2019 7:48 pm
YanKleber wrote: Fri Oct 25, 2019 6:14 pm
Nice fake you have there, by the way! :)
Thanks! It looks even better in the flesh. A very nice little curio.
I love fakes (in the good sense). I have made my own TS-2068 fake a few months back (viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3397). If those microdrive cartridges were easy to remake (they have a weird and complicated shape) I would fake a lot of them myself to put on the shelf! 8-)

Question: the box is made out of cardboard?
Living the dream...
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2160
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Spectrum Sabre Wulf microdrive

Post by Lardo Boffin »

The box is made of plastic.

I saw the 2068. Impressive stuff.
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
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