The Vega+ is based on his hugely successful Spectrum products of the early 1980s. The Vega+ is the only games console that exists with 1,000 licensed games already included and with an LCD for you to use on the go. This launch follows the huge public and media support of the initial Vega product last year, and is the next step in the evolution of the Vega.
The Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega+ to give it its full name takes advantage of major advances in technology to achieve big cost savings by replacing most of the electronics in Sir Clive’s earlier computer products. Instead the Vega+ uses a low cost micro-controller and some clever software to enable the Vega+ to run all of the games, 14,000 or more of them, developed during the years when some 5 million of the original Sinclair Spectrum were being sold.
The Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega+ is being marketed by Retro Computers Ltd, the Luton-based start-up in which Sir Clive’s company Sinclair Research Ltd is a shareholder. The development and marketing of the Vega+ is under licence from Sky In-Home Service Ltd, who inherited the intellectual property rights to the Spectrum computers from Amstrad. Development of the product is complete, and a fully-functioning prototype is ready to go into production.
Indiegogo: http://igg.me/at/vegaplus/x/9227470
The Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega+ is as simple to use as any of the popular games consoles, but far less expensive. It has a colour LCD so the user can play it anywhere. Additionally, it can be connected to a TV so the user does not need a computer monitor, and it comes complete with 1,000 licensed games built-in. The user will also be able to download additional games free of charge from the thousands that are available on the web, so there is no need for users to pay any more than the cost of the basic product, which will be in the region of £100 from the company’s web site and from various online retailers and High Street outlets.
Sir Clive Sinclair has smashed his previous Crowdfunding record of £155,677 in less than 3 days - having achieved his initial target of £100,000 within 48-hours, the campaign to produce a 2nd games console, called the Vega+ now exceeds the sum raised during the entire 2-month campaign last time round to fund the original Vega console. Contributors now have a further 38 days during the current Indiegogo campaign to pledge to secure a Classic Black Vega+ or a limited edition version - available in red, white or blue, of the new pocket size, fully mobile games console or a number of other perks from as low as £5.
The Vega+ has been developed by Chris Smith, who is the world's leading expert on Sinclair Spectrum technology and author of the definitive technical book "The ZX Spectrum ULA: How to design a microcomputer". The design concept of the Vega+ is by Rick Dickinson, who was responsible for the design of all of Sinclair’s ZX computers in the 1980s.
Paul Andrews, Managing Director of Retro Computers Ltd, is a lifelong fan of Sir Clive’s products, and has himself worked within the games and media publishing market for many years.
David Levy, the company’s Chairman, is President of the International Computer Games Association and has been responsible for the development of more than 100 consumer electronic products since the late 1970s.
Sir Clive Sinclair says that the success of the original Spectrum was due to the fact that: “it was adaptable, approachable, very easy to program, and simple to use”. Of the Vega+ Sir Clive says: “The present surge of interest in retro products inspired me to plan the Vega+ as a handy games console which can be played anywhere.”
Retro Computers Ltd has today launched its financing for their new product via the Indiegogo crowdfunding web site. The funding will be used for the UK manufacture of the first production run, which will be for sufficient numbers of the Vega+ consoles for all those supporters of the Indiegogo campaign who choose the Vega+ as a perk, and to prepare us for the second production run. A range of limited edition Vega+ consoles and other related exclusive items are being offered on the site, including some special edition Vega+ consoles with red, white and blue bases, which will only be available during the Indiegogo campaign.
