Sinclair Cancelled and Unreleased Video Games (All)

Browse unreleased and cancelled video games for Sinclair platforms such as Sinclair Quantum Leap (QL), ZX Spectrum and ZX81, including lost titles, prototypes and preserved development history from the Games That Weren't archive.

Total results: 58

Acolyte

Acolyte thumbnail
Posted: by Frank Gasking

Acolyte is a cancelled Clockwise title that was practically complete when it was cancelled, and a neat multi-screen arcade adventure which had versions created for ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC. It seems the game was originally being developed by Video Images, but then picked up by Clockwise to finish off and sell to someone like Alternative Software, but sadly it never happened.

Today we’re adding an early prototype version of the Amstrad CPC edition thanks to Dean Hickingbottom, which doesn’t have all the enemies, has slightly different titles and also may have differences in the map as well. Continue reading →

In: Amstrad CPC, Prototype, Reviews, ZX Spectrum | Tagged: | Leave a comment

Bombuzal

Bombuzal thumbnail
Posted: by Frank Gasking

A popular puzzle game on the Commodore 64, Bombuzal was also being arranged for conversion to the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC platforms, with work being arranged through Andromeda Software back in early 1988.

A contract was arranged with a developer called Matthew Kydd, who was friends with Nigel Critten – who is known today for creating some wonderful ZX Spectrum games such as BabyMan Vs Terminatots and many more. Nigel would help Matthew by doing all the graphics, and mentions that there was discussion of an Amstrad CPC edition as well. Continue reading →

In: Amstrad CPC, Reviews, ZX Spectrum | Tagged: , | Leave a comment

Bryan Robson’s Super League preserved

Bryan Robson’s Super League preserved thumbnail
Posted: by Frank Gasking

Way back in Commodore User issue 25 (October 1985) is how far we’re travelling for our latest preservation work – a board game tie-in that blurred the lines between digital and physical play: Bryan Robson’s Super League, published by Paul Lamond Games. And that is the key thing, at first on our C64 entry we wasn’t sure if it was published or not, but turns out it was. Continue reading →

In: Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 (C64), GTW64 news, News, Preservation, ZX Spectrum | Tagged: | Leave a comment

Duck Out Prototype (ZX Spectrum)

Duck Out Prototype (ZX Spectrum) thumbnail
Posted: by Frank Gasking

Next up in the Games That Weren’t archives is a special prototype/demo version of Dro Soft’s Duck Out for the ZX Spectrum, which was likely sent out to different publishers at the time in the hope that someone might pick the game up. The demo has been saved thanks to Dean Hickingbottom, who preserved it from a set of disks that were part of Clockwize’s archives. Dean suggests that Clockwize were likely sent a copy to see if they might be able to help market the game. Continue reading →

In: Prototype, Unused materials, ZX Spectrum | Tagged: | Leave a comment

Early and lost Jeff Minter ZX81 title ‘Fastlife’ recovered!

Early and lost Jeff Minter ZX81 title ‘Fastlife’ recovered! thumbnail
Posted: by Frank Gasking

Thanks to the brilliant preservation work of Steve Brown of the TZX Vault, we are proud to present for the very first time, an extremely early Jeff Minter title from 1981. This was for the ZX81 and has been missing for 44 years – yet to be preserved, until today! Here is a version of Conway’s Life simulator from Jeff called Fastlife and another piece of history saved. Continue reading →

In: Preservation, ZX81 | Tagged: | 14 Comments