I love both of these computers, but do I need a handheld version? Hmmm, since when has that stopped me!?!

I feel attacked, where is the CPC 464 version. Joking aside, these actually look excellent, a bold leap forward for Hyper Mega Tech. I was half expecting them to run on evercade carts.

That's pretty cool. If I hadn't already caved and bought the full size 'The Spectrum', I'd be all over it.

These are actually pretty cool yesterday when I read the teaser I wasn’t sure but seeing them I’ve changed my mind but I must resist having ordered the anniversary Neo Geo gonna make me skint 😂

if only they would make a Atari 800xl version I would be entering my debit card as we speak!!

What a load of pointless old shi… Oops I’ve accidentally preordered the Collectors Edition Spectrum.

I guess I’m in the minority based on comments above, but who are these aimed at?

The full sized recreation of the Spectrum is a thing of beauty, the Neo Geo + with its nostalgia kick for all of us who couldn’t afford one back in the day, I get it, but a random ‘branded’ handheld - surely just get an Android device and stick RetroArch on it?!

I quite like the C64 one and adding games is good.

These look quite dinky and all, but is a near 16:9 screen aspect ratio not an odd choice?

I don't need another handheld. Give us more Evercade carts with 8-bit goodness instead

Load * . * ,8,1 - or at least it was something like that.

But sadly these games are not the ones I would be looking to revisit. Great to see some c64 love though.

Saboteur, Kung Fu, Last Ninja, Potty Pigeon, Monty Mole, Lode Runner, Contra, Impossible Mission, Spy Hunter… this is what I want, but I can’t remember what else 8 year old me used to play

They're nice, but my spending money this year is going to the AES+ and A1200.

Damn my wallet is crying 😢 definitely want the C64 one. But the AES+ is my priority:)

Yesterday I said that I hoped it was a couple of carts instead of a new console...

Today I'm just about to pre order the Spectrum handheld.

Such is the life of a collector.

I am a new fan to the Commadore 64/C64 family. I started dabbling with the mini systems in the last few years. And I am a sucker for dedicated portable systems.

Is this handheld necessary in light of the many options being offered for the C64 platform? Nope. Will I try to get A C64 model? Yeap! Is it available on Funstock USA yet? NOPE!

Supplemental: Funstock USA listings went up around 9 AM EST. YEAP! HEHEHE!

@YANDMAN I need some kind of Amstrad with 3D stunt rider. I never see that game talked about, maybe it's just me that like's it.

I hate it and I absolutely hate this company with every atom of my body.

-€149,99 EUR THEC64 Handheld Collector's Edition pre-ordered.

I shall definitely be getting both of these and selling my C64 Maxi.

@JohnnyMind what do you mean by hybrid? May just be drawing a blank right now but don’t think I’ve heard that term before. Well in terms of handhelds that is.

@BionicDodo I came to say the same thing it seems pointless on this to have a 16:9 screen when all the games are 4:3. If it was a multi system emulator and supported widescreen systems it would make some sense but since it doesn't the extra screen real estate is essentially just for the menus.

Retro Games Ltd..... Didn't that company go stealing cash from the ZX Vega before reorganization....

I actually don't see the point of this.

I admit, I've never really played games on either of these computers. But I don't really understand how this feature is supposed to have been implemented:
simplified controls to compensate for the lack of a keyboard
So... How does this work then? Have they hacked the games themselves to control differently? Are they using hotkeys to switch the function of the face buttons between different sets of keyboard keys? This is the part which I was the most intrigued by.

@JohnnyMind well now I know that not sleeping a wink last night has affected my mind! Might be the best brain slip I’ve had in a while. I think I’m going to just go straight to bed after typing this…

As an owner of a Switch 2 and a Steam Deck I would highly recommend getting a deck. Based on stuff Valve have said it’s still a few years away and I don’t imagine the current RAM situation will decrease that. There’s a lot of indie stuff that never makes it to switch (or does so years later) that’s worth giving a go.

My biggest issue with it is the Deck/dock (and the official one at that) combo is not as seamless asa Switch. Could just be my particular monitor but it can take a fair bit of time to get the deck outputting to my monitor and I occasionally have to do a few unplug cycles to get it to work. If you are just using it handheld (which is 98% of my use) it’s brilliant though.

Been getting a bit less playtime recently as I just got a Retroid Pocked 6 running Android and PC game emulation (well live translating) is now good enough to play lower end stuff without issue and playing things like Phoenix Wright is a bit less unwieldy on a device the size of a Switch lite and definitely doesn’t need the extra grunt or screen size of the Deck.

Now if you’ll excuse me my bed is calling my name.

so want the c64 one c/w ZZAp magazine

I backed THEC64 for the handheld version on Indiegogo back in the day. Only made 2/3 of its target, but they went ahead anyway.

Only thing is, they shelved the handheld for the mini & Maxi versions.

Which they sent me instead, along with some other merch and a promise of a meaty discount when the handheld does finally materialise.

Wonder if that's still good.

@janineking Search for ZZAP!64 Micro Action on Patreon. Your s**t will flip. Might not be the legendary JazGazzaGaz team of the golden era, but Robin Hogg is still there.

Being a handheld enthusiast and collector of portable gaming devices, these would make an AWESOME addition to my collection! And the ability to add games through a microSD card would help them pair nicely with my AtGames Sega Genesis and Atari Flashback portable handhelds!

Though I do have to wonder if the controls can be custom-mapped to the keyboard controls to better accommodate microSD-added games...?

Considering the GameStation Go plays ZX Spectrum games and is much bigger and the Super Pocket, also from Blaze plays ZX Spectrum games but only costs £50

@KamokaziUK No, that was Retro Computers Ltd. The ZX Vega actually happened - it was the ZX Vega + that was scammy AF.

"Doctor" David Neil Laurence Levy - the Love & Sex With Robots guy (and damn, do I ever wish I was kidding) - to all intents and purposes kicked these guys, Paul Andrews & Chris Smith, out of RCL in a coup ten years ago, installed his own lackeys (Suzanne Martin & Janko Mrsic-Flogel), and basically defrauded the entire group of backers after a series of unfulfilled promises and funds drying up. They went under in 2019 with barely any ZX Vega + units being made, never mind arriving. If you have a good root through The Register you'll trip over some of the drama eventually.

Meantime, Andrews & Smith went on to form RGL and ran the THEC64 campaign on Indiegogo - fell way short by around a third of their target, but went ahead with it anyway. THEC64 Mini went out to backers, made it into shop shelves, and they went on to do THEC64 MAXI, along with remakes of the Amiga 500, VIC-20, Atari 400, ZX Spectrum, and they've got the Amiga 1200 coming too.

I've got a damn sight more time for RGL than I ever will for RCL. If only more crowdfunders had the same kind of integrity.

I like the look of the designs, but the idea of playing games from these computers on a handheld device is just... weird to me.

Does anyone know if the C64 one will play Commodore Plus/4 games too? Thank you!

The d-pads are different. I wonder which will be better?

If it was the Atari Jaguar or PC Engine, I'd be inclined, but these are a bit too old school for me.

I’m intrigued by the C64 one, as I had one growing up so would love an easy way to play many of the games again. I tried emulation on my laptop but it was too fiddly and I never game on laptops.

However, I don’t recognise any of those games, so I’d have to rely on loading my own ones via SD card. But will that be easy and seamless, or will it be fiddly with glitches and issues? I’d need to understand that a lot more before spending money on this.

@Suketoudara No, just the C64 variants by the look of it. Just the original, C64C, C64SX , C64GS (I mean why) and PET64. Not even the VIC-20 or C128s. Way more flexibility listed on the Spectrum one, oddly.

Might be worth going for a Miyoo or Retroid if you're wanting that kind of option. I've got C64 & Amiga working on my RetFlip 2, and the options are there in OnionOS to do the same on my Miyoo Mini.

The Miyoo Flip I'm not so sure - the stock OS is quite janky on mine, lots of Chinese, and as such I haven't had the inclination to futz with it yet. If OnionOS works on the Flip though, sure, have at it.

Have C64 collections in my ever growing Evercade library, so there is really no sense for me to get this at all, apart from another nostalgic trip down memory lane…
Aaaaand preordered. It is a temptation hard to resist..

Also the true enthusiast probably wants a ***** joystick with 1 button. I remember breaking a joystick and ramming a chopstick in the broken port to macgyver a semi working joystick to get by for a week or two

The ability to add your own roms sounds enticing, but when your cracked game asks if you want unlimited lives, you better hope those buttons can be remapped. Imagine playing Elite without a kayboard. A 3DS running Vice with a virtual keyboard on the bottom screen sounds more appealing

Oh wow!, I hoped for any way to play games from those old computers, specially the Amiga, and well, if will there be handhelds of C64 and Spectrum, someday Amiga the next.

I ordered the 64 one when it was announced. These delays are very disappointing. For Blaze to have met the Oct shipping, the units would have been manufactured at least 3 months ago. And only now they've spotted issues with the build quality?! I'm calling BS. Both units were always intended to be released in 2027.

I was concerned that this, my 2 Nexus consoles, a wireless controller and various carts were all going to land on my doorstep in the next few weeks.

At least with this delay, it gives me a bit of breathing space to make room for it all.