ZX Spectrum +3 as a separate console?

[Schlibby]

So I recently stumbled across a ZX spectrum cheap and so obviously picked it up. Turns out the model I picked up is the +3, the last model they brought out.

The +3 removed the cassette drive that all other models had and replaced it with a floppy drive. The discs for this were sold as "+3 discs" and are different to your standard Windows 3 1/2 inch floppies I'm sure we are all familiar with.

These +3 discs are currently under the general ZX Spectrum section of the site (not called +3 discs though). My question is, as the +3 model and discs are effectively a different format to the standard Spectrum stuff, should it not be listed as a seperate console of the database?

Also, if it was then listed as a seperate console, how easy would it be to migrate any +3 stuff in the database over to the new console?

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Console added with 3" Floppy Disk format.
In order to move these, you would need to create a new entry and we can merge the two. If there are images, we'll have to move those over as well.

[Schlibby]

Wow. That was quick. Thanks.

I can create the hardware entry easily enough. But do you have any way of finding what games have already been added to the database with those discs?

[Schlibby]

Hardware recreated under the new system type:

OLD ENTRY
http://www.rfgeneration.c...fo.php?ID=E-123-H-00010-A

NEW ENTRY
http://www.rfgeneration.c...fo.php?ID=E-226-H-00010-A

And a variation:
OLD ENTRY
http://www.rfgeneration.c...fo.php?ID=E-123-H-00010-B

NEW ENTRY
http://www.rfgeneration.c...fo.php?ID=E-226-H-00010-B

If the old and new entries could be merged now that would be great.

[Schlibby]

It needs a short name code assigned too (the code that appears on the front page against recently added games).

[Shadow Kisuragi]

It has one. It updates at a separate time in the database.
Yeah, I can find which ones have 3" Floppy Disks, but there are 178 entries in the database with that value that appear to be a mixture between Spectrum and APC Amstrad.

EDIT: For ZX Spectrum, there are 25:
40 Principales, Los  (Volumes 1-10)
4 Top Games
James Bond 007 in Live and Let Die: The Computer Game
19 Part 1: Boot Camp
4 Soccer Simulators
After Burner
Guerrilla War
By Fair Means... or Foul
6-Pak
Action Fighter
Adidas Championship Tie-Break
California Games
Vixen
Bestial Warrior

Hope that helps.

[Schlibby]

Yep. I'll have a look at some point and report back when I've created the alternative entries where needed :-)

[Schlibby]

40 Principales vol 1-10, 4 top games and james bond added as +3. Feel free to merge these new entries now if you want to break the work up. Or of course wait until ive done the rest too

EDIT - now done up to After Burner on your list. Will try and do the rest during this week in the evenings

[Schlibby]

All games now added as +3 software. If someone could do the honour of merging the old entries please

[Schlibby]

Looks like at least some of the games haven't been merged and deleted yet, leading to double entries for some games. Can anyone with the required access have a look please?

[ApolloBoy]

Really don't understand why this was made a separate console when the +3 uses the same hardware as the 128 and +2.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

The +3 did not match the timings of the 128 and +2, and there were a sizeable number of games that didn't work with the 128 due to that.
There were also plenty of games released specifically for the +3. As an example:

[img width=700 height=881]http://www.tomdalby.com/retro/images/5star3_disc.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=868]http://www.tomdalby.com/retro/images/badlands_disc.jpg[/img]

[ApolloBoy]

The Amiga 1200 and 4000 also had some compatibility issues and had games that only worked on those computers (specifically games that used the AGA chipset that those models had), should we consider those separate systems as well?

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Do the games only function on those systems, and were specifically printed for them? If so, yes.

[ApolloBoy]

Do the games only function on those systems, and were specifically printed for them? If so, yes.

Yes to those questions and I am not in favor of splitting those up either.