Hi! This document is being circulated to all keen Spectrum and related magazines. You are welcome to publish it, and we hope to see you and some of your readers on the great day! Mel Croucher, Simon N Goodwin, Sean Sanderson, John Wase and Andy Wright, volunteer organisers of ZX 92. The Spectrum's TENTH Birthday Party Simon N Goodwin This Spring the ZX Spectrum will celebrate its tenth birthday at ZX 92, a party in Cambridge organised by Spectrum enthusiasts. ZX 92 will be a meeting place for the friends of the Spectrum - users, programmers, publishers, editors, writers and artists - and will also attract interest from local and international press, TV and Radio. ZX 92 is a positive event to promote an extraordinarily successful British invention. The name and themes have been chosen by an independent group of MORE >>>> enthusiasts who have been involved with the Spectrum since 1982. The Spectrum was known as the ZX 82 when developed from Sinclair's earlier ZX 80 and ZX 81 micros; thus the name ZX 92. Last summer FORMAT SHORT SPOT compiler John Wase mentioned the coming anniversary in a letter to Simon N Goodwin; since then they have teamed up with columnist Mel Croucher, programmer Andy Wright and Sean Sanderson of the Spectrum Music Group, to organise ZX 92, at 2pm on Saturday 2nd May 1992. This is a non-commercial event, independent of any manufacturer, publisher or magazine. It will bring together famous names from the 80s and the new generation of Spectrum enthusiasts, to share their experience and look forward to the future. Something like seven million Spectrums have been sold around the world. Sinclair production in the first four years alone reached 4 million, including some 'stock' left when Amstrad took over, and 'improved' the range with the +2, +3 and +2A. The purchase of Sinclair's computer brands earnt Amstrad `161,000,000 in 1987 alone. Many early Issue 1 Spectrums are still in use ten years MORE >>>> on, and will probably carry on into the next century, as long as vital spares like keyboard membranes remain available. Mass produced compatibles have appeared, including TS-2068, SAM, and Russia's Hobbit. The UK market is saturated, and sales are growing in Eastern Europe and the developing world. The Spectrum family has been manufactured in Scotland, Wales, England, Brazil, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Hong Kong, Taiwan and India (at least). Spectrum Emulators exist for Archimedes, Amiga, QL ST (via Qdos), Memotech and Einstein, as well as several for PC. The Spectrum has had a tremendous influence upon the lives of many people, providing a creative outlet as well as a hobby or job. Its success has brought us all a myriad of offshoots, add-ons and applications, and created a world-wide community of enthusiasts. ZX 92 will celebrate that success, bringing together lots of people who have shared in it in the past decade, plus the sounds and images we know and love. MORE >>>> ZX 92 events include a talk on the early days of the Spectrum development, a projected video display showing all types of Spectrum graphics, and an apt musical score, including Spectrum tunes, rhythms, speech, MIDI sequences and odd Automata B sides! Best of all ZX 92 will be a chance for people to meet and talk. Montages and pictorial displays will reflect the variety of applications for the Spectrum. We are encouraging eager users to bring custom systems, software and all sorts of Spectrum variants, by arrangement, to demonstrate and share in the fun. We will feature a wide range of Spectrum spin-offs and emulators not forgetting 16K, 48K, Spectrum +, Spectrum 128K, +2, +3, +2A, SAM, microdrives, the ZX printer, and disk systems, homebrew machines and specialised set-ups. We have some classic programs and peripherals and welcome ideas, more machines and monitors. Please let us know if you can arrive an hour early to set up and demonstrate an interesting machine, with a monitor and reliable software. MORE >>>> The venue is Cambridge University Centre, Mill Lane, from 3pm till 7pm. It is right in the centre of Cambridge, the Spectrum's birthplace, near the main Bus and Railway stations. People from throughout the Spectrum scene have been invited, including Uncle Sir Clive, former Sinclair staff, and fine programmers, artists, writers, designers and publishers. Even the Piman is hoping to return from tax exile to celebrate the great day. Refreshments will be served, and there will be a ticket draw with prizes of Spectrum goodies, among other diversions. A limited number of tickets is available, for true Spectrum enthusiasts. We want to encourage people who have made an unique contribution to the scene. The venue's capacity is only 200, so we must limit tickets to two per application, subject to availability. ZX 92 will be an exclusive event not to be missed. Tickets are available by post from: ZX 92, 24 Wyche Avenue, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 6LQ, MORE >>>> You MUST enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your payment (UK cheque, PO, Eurocheque or Sterling draft) payable to ZX 92, at pounds 7.50 per ticket. Please place your order as soon as possible, to avoid possible disappointment, and give some indication of your interests and involvement in the Spectrum scene since 1982. - 20th. February, 1992. *** --- ***