It isn’t often I hear of a new zine that I think will resonate, but BreakSpace certainly fits the bill. This new ZX Spectrum mag features a ridiculous 34 reviews in its first issue, but the thing I really like is how old-school it is.
Well, that and the fact that it concerns a computer I had some connection with. Many of the current crop of retro zines tend to focus on console systems, none of which were hugely popular in the UK until the 1990s. As someone who teased ZX Spectrum owners throughout the late 1980s for their rubber keys and noisy loading, I feel wholly qualified to check this magazine out.
After all, it was a pretty decent computer, and kickstarted a British computing legacy that we still see today in the Raspberry Pi, not to mention Arm and RISC-V. Those systems were all developed by people who spent time on Sir Clive Sinclair’s rubber keyed wonder.
What’s in BreakSpace 1?
As mentioned, this new ZX Spectrum zine features 34 reviews. The most significant thing about this is that they are all new games. The introduction to the magazine states:
In 2024 , there were about 160 games released for the ZX Spectrum. This is a bizarrely high number for a platform that stopped being relevant to the world at large about 35 years ago, when it was supplanted by themselves-archaic 16-bit systems.
I can’t think of any better way to celebrate the ongoing releases for such a classic system that with a fanzine like this. And if that wasn’t reason enough, it’s a fun read, which I recommend you check out.
You can grab BreakSpace issue 1 from Itch.io completely free.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
Thanks for the mention, Christian. It’s much appreciated.
Issue 1 has been very warmly received and the team are hard at work on issue 2.
Mpk
Excellent to learn; let me know when it’s out!
You did ask, so : Issue 2 is out now, with a whopping 38 reviews, plus interviews and even 2 BASIC games to type in on your Spectrum.