ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

The Speccy's spritely young offspring. Discuss everything from FPGA to ZX
ZxSpence
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by ZxSpence »

And yet the fur still flies if a backer asks a pointed question on the Facebook group. Not as hostile as before after someone tore a strip off one of the worse protagonists.
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DouglasReynholm
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by DouglasReynholm »

Must admit I'm also disappointed, especially after my most recent cheerleading message on this exact thread. I still think it will come eventually, but I should certainly add myself to the ranks of the more sceptical now.
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beanz
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by beanz »

I can understand the delays and though it's been an annoyingly long time I'm still ok with the wait. However the lack of communication is very unprofessional and the fanbois attacking anyone who asks should imo be banned from the facebook group...if they ban detractors they should ban the toxic ones too.

It's more than reasonable for someone to ask about an update when the team has said they would give bi weekly updates and the updates would come faster now...it's been what..5 or 6 weeks since the last one? That's ridiculous, it takes 5 mins to type

"sorry guys no news yet, still waiting on xxxx, more to follow as soon as we have something"

Rather than complete silence.

Whenever anyone seems to mention that on the facebook group the fanbois start the "it'll be ready when it's done" or "I'm perfectly fine with waiting I want it done right"...which has absolutely nothing to do with the complaint about lack of updates, comprehension boys...
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DouglasReynholm
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by DouglasReynholm »

beanz wrote: Wed Aug 28, 2019 5:54 pm Whenever anyone seems to mention that on the facebook group the fanbois start the "it'll be ready when it's done" or "I'm perfectly fine with waiting I want it done right"...which has absolutely nothing to do with the complaint about lack of updates, comprehension boys...
Well, I'm in agreement with both those quotes/ideals, but I don't think I've ever said that out loud, people's fears are valid and as such the lack of communication is bad. Henrique shouldn't have made a rod for his own back by announcing bi-weekly updates. Trouble is, now the well is poisoned and they are reluctant to say anything as the feedback gets more negative. My personal feeling is that they had the best intentions and found out about manufacturing the hard way, but we will get HW. One day.
ZxSpence
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by ZxSpence »

I don't agree with either quote as being a valid response to a question. Had they been more transparent in the manner Beanz suggested and not fanned the vitriolic responses to us asking for updates by liking so many of the more hostile ones I would have been inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.

It's the arrogance of the outriders, the contempt of some of the core team and the absolutely toxic way they've handled the growing irritation that leads me to suspect things are more problematic than they ever let on. Silence is bad news as far as what I can see.

There are exceptions, Jim flips between being helpful and liking those attacking anyone who asks a hard question. Mike has done his best but his enthusiasm has waned.

When things go wrong and the sun king who cannot be criticised goes quiet, it does not bode well. They are the only ones who can turn this around with a mea culpa and better PR strategy that involves being frank.
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1024MAK
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by 1024MAK »

Ah, we appear to have stumbled on a type of politics...

With people telling other people what they think they want to hear, and then when reality / events does not match what they said, going into silent mode...

It would have been so much simpler if only the facts had been announced. And if predictions were given, then they should have been clearly laid out as just that, predictions.

Mark
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beanz
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by beanz »

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stupidget
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by stupidget »

Wow, that’s a pretty big update. You can’t deny that these guys are perfectionists. Plus the final machine is undeniably a thing of beauty.
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Spud
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by Spud »

God, I wish I'd backed this thing :(
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beanz
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by beanz »

Don't worry they'll be a 2nd run and that wont be half as long a wait as all the work will be done, I might get myself another on the 2nd run too.
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DouglasReynholm
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by DouglasReynholm »

Update #51 this morning was quite encouraging, any thoughts?

Does anyone think we will see delivery this side of Xmas (I personally hope so)?
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beanz
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by beanz »

Yes very encouraging.

I doubt we'll see it before Xmas though, Boat is going to take about 6 weeks from loading to delivery (based on how long it takes the stuff I get for our company from Taiwan). They of course have to make them before they ship them too and that's probably another 4-6 weeks I'm guessing. Then assembly...and shipping..puts it at about the end of Jan in my estimation.
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uglifruit
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by uglifruit »

It did seem encouraging. I wish I understood the firmware 1.1 update information (linked from the email) - I've not really been following that side at all, I've just been keeping up with the saga of the keyboard problems.
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ZxSpence
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by ZxSpence »

End of Jan sounds right, but it's hard not to lose all interest in it so when it arrives it may just end up in the loft or on eBay.
toot_toot
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by toot_toot »

The last update was definitely encouraging, but yes I have to admit that a lot of my enthusiasm for the Next seems to have gone, but maybe that will change when it arrives.

I think part of it is that the delays have naturally caused a bit of enthusiasm to go, but there’s been almost no updates on the Next games that were promised as part of the Stretch goals- Arc of Yesod, Rex, Dizzy. I don’t know if they’re even still being worked on!

Hopefully when the Next gets in the hands of the backers there will be more of a developer scene, meaning we get some new games for it, because otherwise there’s very little games that take advantage of the Next’s features.
Ralf
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by Ralf »

there’s been almost no updates on the Next games that were promised as part of the Stretch goals- Arc of Yesod, Rex, Dizzy. I don’t know if they’re even still being worked on!
As for the new Dizzy I have some news. It''s in progress, being made at the same time both for Next and classic Spectrum. Oliver Twins made the story and map design and now the actual coding in made by a Russian team. They could be faster but they are advancing.

Some screens for the classic Spectrum:
Image
Image
ZxSpence
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by ZxSpence »

I'm more interested in developing than playing but my early dev (emulation) enthusiasm waned with all the w*nkery on the forums from the hangers on and I now just continue when I have a spare moment on the Speccy, Sam and QL versions although I admit the QL version is furthest ahead due to that's what's on my hobby desk as I like it the most at the moment.

I wouldn't say the spectrum next community is as toxic as the Morphos and Amigaos community drama queens, but it's come close and it rips a lot of the fun out of it all.

Perhaps it will settle down. Whilst communications have been sh*t you can't fault the hard work and the beauty of it.
Hernan
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by Hernan »

I'm a Next backer (board only, received it more than a year ago) and was a bit critical of some decisions, but the latest updates changed drastically my opinion. The latest core and firmware are great, they even added ULAplus (though it's not explicitly advertised as that) and some other great things like CP/M and useful features for the Pi addon board (previously it was only an additional video output).

The full Next backers will receive a great system, without a doubt. Keyboard looks simply amazing.
toot_toot
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by toot_toot »

Great to see the progress on Dizzy and about the ULAPlus feature, hopefully it can be expanded further once there are more Nexts in the backers hands.
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moroz1999
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by moroz1999 »

toot_toot wrote: Sat Oct 05, 2019 7:51 amI think part of it is that the delays have naturally caused a bit of enthusiasm to go, but there’s been almost no updates on the Next games that were promised as part of the Stretch goals- Arc of Yesod, Rex, Dizzy. I don’t know if they’re even still being worked on!
Small update on Dizzy.

Game plot was done first by Andrew and Philip Oliver, this was 100% complete a long time ago.

We have completed 99.9% of graphics (some small patches could be required here and there, but 100% of game plot graphics is covered). We have a loading screen and all plot intro slides thanks to MAC (Marco Antonio del Campo). Some locations had been done by Jarrod Bentley, some by me, some by Pheel (Alexander Filyanov) and some locations and items had been done by Oleg Origin (still nobody knows who he/she/they really is/are).
What's missing yet is a main menu graphics, but this is a lower priority task, I'll do it closer to project completion.

We also have about 50% of music, thanks to MMCM (Sergey Kosov). Main game theme is ready, some secondary tunes are in progress (menu, final cut and so on).

The engine is ready from the CKD Remake, so this huge part is already done, working and stable.
95% of game rooms map is assembled by dr.bars (Evgeniy Barskiy), so only a pair of rooms are drawn but not yet assembled via game sprites.
About 75-80% of terrain physics is set up. This means that about 80% of game map can be travelled on foot already and some rooms are still only accessible in debug-fly-mode.
Currently Evgeniy is a bit busy with some real life tasks (moving to a new place, a lot of work), so the coding/assembling work progresses slowly.
We also have difficulties with squeezing all texts into the game, the amount of work done on plot by Andrew and Philip is fascinating, and we wouldn't like to cut anything. Almost no game logic has been programmed this far. It's hard to give any estimates for a game completion, it's mostly up to Evgeniy now, and he is currently struggling to find more spare time for the project, so it would progress quicker.
Ralf
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by Ralf »

Thanks Moroz for the info update on the Dizzy from the first hand!
I only know what I read on zx.pk.ru.
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moroz1999
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by moroz1999 »

Thanks! I'm not really participating in zx-pk.ru for various reasons, similar to a lot of active folks on Russian scene. So if you want to ask anything about new Dizzy - I'll be glad to answer :)
dfzx
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by dfzx »

No discussion here on update 56 from a couple of days ago? It's about to ship..
Derek Fountain, author of the ZX Spectrum C Programmer's Getting Started Guide and various open source games, hardware and other projects, including an IF1 and ZX Microdrive emulator.
Daren
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by Daren »

Nevermind
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1024MAK
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Re: ZX Spectrum Next Discussion

Post by 1024MAK »

Backer Addresses - IMPORTANT!

tl;dr: Go to Kickstarter, click on the Next campaign, Pledge and Survey. That's where you edit your address. Arnie says 'Do it now!'

It's now or never: the Next is (at last!) about to ship, thus it is important that you check your address details on Kickstarter to ensure that they are up to date. We will lock the ability to edit the address shortly, and after we do this no more changes can be made. You have one week from today to update your address!

Head on over to Kickstarter and sign into your account. Find the Spectrum Next in your list of backed projects and view your pledge. This option may not appear on mobile devices so use your favourite desktop or laptop.

In there you'll find the survey option where you can edit your address.

*If you live in Brazil: Remember to add your CPF to the address. This is important and a customs requirement for the country.


Assembly and Testing - NEXTEST

After SMS had built the first 500 units, Kev Brady travelled to SMS in order to bring their engineers up to speed with his new NEXTEST application, and to supervise the initial testing in order to ensure that each Next performs to its specification and that the application itself was consistent.

NEXTEST is a mouse-driven application to test the ZX Spectrum Next. It stress tests the hardware by running several tasks in parallel to check RAM and DMA. CRC verified audio data is continually streamed to the DAC via the 'copper' co-processor to test the SD card. All test results, including the input status from the keyboard, joysticks, mouse, and case buttons are presented on one single 640x256 screen. NEXTEST can be configured on the fly to change the CPU turbo speed, refresh rate and machine timing between 48K/128K/Pentagon.

It goes above and beyond manual testing and also streamlines the process, making it quicker and more efficient. Huge thanks to Kev for dedicating his time creating this software, for taking time out to visit SMS to bring them up to speed, and to guide the creation of their new testing documentation.

https://youtu.be/EJNCoCoV-Ew

Next Central! The assembly area
The boards are brought to life with a quick flash to burn the firmware in
This is where board and case meet for the first time
A box of cases. Symmetrical keyboard stacking. You're right. No human being would stack keyboards like this.
Testing in progress! Both VGA and HDMI outputs here.
Hundreds of Next's, all snug and getting ready for their travels!
In addition to the base tests above, Wifi is tested with an adapted version of the WIFI.BAS program which launches straight into Access Point detection and allows an operator to validate the ESP module in a few seconds.

https://youtu.be/ezyyJGK3un4
With these tests in place, SMS is able to make sure the Next is being packed fully functioning, hopefully arriving in the same state to every single backer.

Next Steps

The last batch of cases is on its way to SMS as you read this, meaning we're now full steam ahead on assembly and preparation for shipping.

We now have over 500 Next's built and waiting to be boxed at SMS with another 300+ still to go through the assembly process in order to fulfil the first tier (base models). We intend to start shipping out towards the end of this month, so it's time to start thinking about where to put your Next in your home.

Once we've shipped the Nexts, we'll head to Kickstarter 2 for those who didn't manage to join the original campaign. Let's grow the ZX Spectrum Next community, keep on making great things with the Next and having a ton of fun!

The next Update will be entited... 'It's shipping!' ;)
For the bits that I couldn’t be bothered to copy/paste and the photos, go here

Meanwhile, back to watching paint dry :mrgreen:

Mark
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“There are four lights!”
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb :dance
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
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