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Russian ZX Spectrums: Better than original?

Seb's Place

15,670 views

I've often wondered what it was like growing up where the home computers that I remember as a 80s child, were not actually sold. What did those kids play? What were there first gaming experiences all those years ago.

To help me, I reached out to one of my subscribers. A lovely Russian chap called Rustem. He took me on his journey through the troubling times of the Soviet Union, right through to the console boom of the 90's and all his most memorable gaming experiences in-between.

To find out more info about Rustem, please check out his Instagram:
Instagram: rustem_vne

Join this channel to get early access, end credits and coooool badges all for 99p:
@sebsplaceyt

Credits:
Special mentions to ‪@hotdogsoup-nl‬ for a fantastic video all about growing up with the ZX Spectrum in the Netherlands. Check that out here: ZX Spectrum: the story of its rise and dem...

‪@RussianVideoGameComrade‬ whose fantastic video about Soviet arcade games is a must watch. Arcade games from the Soviet Union

‪@TheRetroCollective‬ Did a fantastic video that featured The Byte home computer here and also some history behind it. Soviet Sinclairs & Eastern Bloc Micros – T...

Other Credits include:
‪@BitsofHst‬ Russian school footage
‪@urban_atlas‬ Murmansk Drone and Maps
‪@PolarTRECProgram‬ 24 Daylight shot
‪@Artem_Mukhametgaliev‬ Bashkotostan republic
‪@sincLAIR_Next‬ Vladimir Surdin story
‪@ComputerCaveman‬ Russian Pong
‪@Rubberrjcnz_Reloaded‬ Terminator Dubbed
‪@Knowledgia‬ Russia History Map
‪@RickSuddeth‬ Empty Russian Stores
‪@UshankaShow‬ Russian Sailors
‪@MTI.Aerials‬ Lviv Drone footage
‪@siesit‬ Baltic Spectrum footage
‪@DavideBarlotti‬ Dubna Spectrum footage
‪@RetroSunday‬ Micro Genius
‪@OlegKerman‬ Dendy Strip
‪@PrimakGame‬ TMNT3
https://vocal.media/geeks/video-salon...

Games featured:
River Raid
Exolon
Saboteur!
Batty
Stop The Express
Technician Ted
Star Heritage
Trap Door
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Thundercats
Double Dragon
Codename Mat
Somari
TMNT 3
Legend of Zelda 2
Mortal Kombat
Mighty Final Fight
Aliens: Neoplasma
Castlevania Spectral Interlude
Contra
Myth
Fantasy World Dizzy

00:00 Intro
01:46 Rustem
09:14 First Games
11:03 First Computer
22:34 Dendy!
27:59 Speccy Legacy
29:00 Rustem's Outro

20 Comments

@Rustem_A_ 1 year ago Pinned

Seb, thank you once again for the idea, for your patience and for all the time and efforts, required to create this video. This collaboration gave me so many positive emotions🎉. You did a great job in transmitting the nostalgic feelings that unite Speccy fans worldwide💫

And thanks everyone for your kind words. Hope the views counter will give a chance for Part 2 to happen😅

@MarcKloos 1 year ago

14:04 The Dubna-48 (Дчбна) was featured in name in the Bourne Identity movie!

@coppermutant 1 year ago

The impact of competition and capitalism in gaming / computing cannot be understated. I have seen several 80s computers / consoles from the Soviet era and I can only imagine where we would be today if the USSR was still around and in control of the progress of electronics for personal use.

@camdencobain 1 year ago

Your documentaries are quirky gems of retro gaming goodness, rich in detail and droll British humour yet suitably low-fi and unpretentious. The sort of thing that once upon a time might have brightened up the graveyard shift on C4. Nostalgia with brains.

@justifiedsuspicion675 1 year ago

Jet set willy, Manic miner, Brian Bloodaxe, Dynamite Dan, Knight Lore, Jet Pac... time well spent in my youth!

@StopFear 9 months ago

I remember the ZX spectrum clone made in Poland was the most popular one.

@WhatHoSnorkers 1 year ago

Fantastic look at a different part of the world! Lovely to hear from Rustem at the end too!

@TomiTapio 9 months ago

Cheers guys.

@craigwalker3194 1 year ago

Interesting insight into Russian gaming scene.

@stevezm100 1 year ago (edited)

I love speccy but damn still playing it into the mid 90s!

@cliffhulcoopofficial8075 9 months ago

I heard somewhere that in Russia in the past there were "build it yourself" ZX spectrum kits where people could buy the parts in a kit and then put it all together themselves (e.g. do their own soldering etc).

@PeranMe 1 year ago

Wow, this was a fantastic video! Thank you so much for all your hard work!

@mikeevers9079 11 months ago

After finishing uni in the early 90s, I went to the former Soviet republic of Moldova to work as an English teaching assistant. One day, in the capital Chisinau, I went to the old Soviet department store. I wasn't surprised - it was sparsely stocked and had whole departments with exactly the same product (e.g. shoes).

Anyway, I finally made my way up to the electricals and found a bunch of Spectrums and a sales bloke. Amused me to heck at the time. The city had very little else in terms of food or basics at the time. Crazy times

@celynjones4958 1 year ago

Great mini doc. Many thanks. Speecy is a great cultural export ❤

@heyhonpuds 1 year ago

Absolutely fascinating video. Exceedingly high quality content. I love your channel. Thank you.

@DetectiveAgent_DarkNut 2 months ago

What a vid! Ace once again Seb!

@johnknight9150 1 year ago

That bit about the scientist with the Speccy was really interesting (and depressingly unsurprising). Some of those newer Speccy clone games look amazing. Wouldn't mind a punt at the Aliens one.

@iarde3422 1 year ago

There were not 5 or 6 games on the cassette, but around 20 games on the cassette. About 10 on each side of the 60 minute cassette. About over 5 minutes per game.

@TheClassyZombie 1 year ago

This is so interesting!

@goport 1 year ago

I hope this gets the views it deserves. Presented really well and with respect to the subjet matter, its a truly enlightening look behind the Iron Curtain at the culture, games and clones of the 8 bit systems. Rustems Outro is the perfect end to the video.

no AI music though 😉