8-Bit To 16-Bit

Martin has been a software developer for many years. This is mixed with a passion for retro machines and game,

The transition from 8-bit to 16-bit

8-bit to 16-bit

The transition to 16-Bit technology.

For home computer users the late 1980's was an exciting, yet almost sad time.

For anyone who had gotten into the use of a home computer through the likes of a ZX80, ZX81, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Oric1, Oric Atmos, BBC Micro, Vic 20, Amstrad CPC 464 or Acorn Electron, the mid to late 1980's represented the next step in home micro technology.

The 16-bit machines had arrived, and it was only a matter of time before they became the dominant computing force in the home market.

So let us take a look at how the power of 16-bit technology slowly pushed the popular 8-bit machines into the background as the 1980's gave way to the 1990's...

8-Bits of raw power

So, perhaps you were lucky enough to own an 8-bit machine.

With the likes of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 landing around 1982, these machines really allowed home computing to really take off.

Other machines such as Acorn's BBC Model B and the Amstrad CPC464 added further variety to the 8-bit market.

The 8-bit market really gave rise to the 'bedroom programmer' as well as introducing computer gaming to the masses in a way that consoles and desktop games (such as Astro Wars, Tomy Sky Attack and Astro Blaster) never could.

As the years rolled by programmers really pushed the hardware of these 8-bit machines which resulted in some fine Spectrum music and awesome graphics.

The ZX Spectrum was pushed particularly hard by talented Spectrum programmers who managed to squeeze more and more out of the machine.

In fact, by 1987 the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC range were still going strong (with the likes of machines such as the Oric 1, Oric Atmos and Dragon 64 having fallen by the wayside) along with associated publications such as Crash magazine and ZZAP 64.

As the 8-bit market rolled along, the new and powerful 16-bit machines were on the rise. Slowly, surely, they drew their plans against the ageing 8-bit models....

The Amstrad CPC Range Were Great 8-Bit Machines

The Atari ST Represented A Leap Forward

An Amiga 1200 from Commodore

16 Bits of turbo power

The premier 16-bit machines for home use were the Atari ST and the Commodore Amiga.

Both machines were released around 1985, but did not really become affordable to the masses until around 1987/1988.

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It was around 1988 that these machines really began to take hold.

The graphics and in-game music and sound that was now available really did blow away anything the 8-bit market could offer.

Despite new versions of old machines (such as the Spectrum 128 which was now capable of AY Music and boasted a whopping 128K of RAM) the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga (with it's growing library of Amiga Games) really were streets ahead of their ancestors.

Even though many software houses still catered for the 8-bit market (look at Realtime Software's version of Carrier Command crammed into the humble Speccy!) 16-bit really was where it was going to be at both for the serious user and the home gamer.

Carrier Command On The Commodore Amiga

Carrier Command On The ZX Spectrum

Cannon Fodder Amiga

Time To Move On From 8-Bits

So with reluctance you traded in your old machine or sold it second hand; no doubt with it a vast collection of games that you had built up over the years.

Although you were pleased with your new 16-bit behemoth that you had saved up for over the course of a year, there was no doubt a tinge of sadeness as your 8-bit buddy vanished forever...

Games such as Speedball II, Alien Breed, Cannon Fodder, Turrican II and F-29 retaliator really did make forgetting your old machine a little easier - many of us look back in fondness at great games such as these.

I myself moved from ZX Spectrum Games to Amiga Games in 1991 and now I get the best of both worlds via emulation.

The Amiga was such as leap forward in terms of capability when compared to the humble Speccy and the overall polish that could be applied to well programmed titles was truly jaw-dropping.

The Amiga treated you to the likes of Turrican 2...

Batman proves the ZX Spectrum is no joker...

Exploding Fist On The ZX Spectrum

Time to rediscover just what 8-bits could do

My favourite retro computers are the ZX Spectrum and the Commodore Amiga.

I also have soft spots for the Amstrad CPC464 and BBC Micro - many an hour was whittled away playing games on both of these machines (Cheers to Richard and Lez!).

But now, with emulation on the rise, grab yourself a Spectrum Emulator and indulge in a little Download Spectrum to grab the best on offer for the 8-bit rubber keyed monolith.

Many of these games are timeless with the likes of Exploding Fist, Commando, Bruce Lee, Raid Over Moscow, Ping Pong, Cobra, Green Beret, Firefly, Batman, Thanatos and Saboteur all well worth your playing time.

You'll be surprised just how good those games were considering the limitations of the hardware.

There is simulated two-channel music, superb scrolling effects, playability in spades and lots of innovation.

It's also possible to play many of these classic games online if you don't fancy going to the trouble of downloading an emulator.

What Do You Mostly Play These Days?

Retro Computing and Gaming Links

• Scramble games
  Scramble must be one of the most famous arcade shoot em ups ever
• Missile Command Games
  Missile Command (along with Space Invaders, Pac Man, and Asteroids) must be one of the most well know arcade games of all time
• ZX Spectrum Games
  Classic speccy games, videos, a quiz and even interviews with Speccy programming legends!
• Vectrex
  The Vectrex, a classic arcade console...
• Sinclair Interface 2
  A fine add-on
• Asteroids
  Asteroids (along with the seminal Space Invaders) must be one of the most famous arcade games of all time
• Space Invaders
  Space Invaders, an all time classic
• Best PC Games
  Best in PC Gaming
• Pacman Game
  Have a shot on Pacman
• BBC Micro
  The BBC, known as the BBC micro
• Astro Blaster
  A table-top scramble clone from Hales
• Astro Wars
  A legendary table top arcade game...
• Games Online
  Want to play some classic games online?
• Commodore Amiga
  More Amiga goodliness
• Ocean Software
  Ocean Software was one of the biggest developers of arcade games within Europe during the 1980's and 1990's
• Astro Wars
  A legendary table top arcade game...
• TV Theme Tunes
  Welcome
• Interface 2
  ROM carts, two player joysticks and instantaneous loading times
• AY Music
  Some cracking tunes were developed on the trusty AY
• ZZap 64
  ZZap 64 magazine was one of the most popular monthly magazines available covering Commodore games
• Crash Magazine
  Crash magazine was one of the most popular monthly magazines available covering the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and it's games
• Star Wars Computer Games
  Some were pure Han Solo - but others were a load of Jar Jar. Follow gold leader and come on in
• Spectrum Programmers
  There were many fine developers who worked on the Sinclair ZX Spectrum (and other retro computers) during the 1980's and into the early 1990's
• Spectrum Budget Games
  Finding the wheat within the chaff
• Dark Star Cheat Codes
  Funny stuff from Design Design.
• Oric Atmos
  The Oric Atmos was a British computer
• Oric 1
  Another fine 8-bit machine

Programming Links

• VB Box
  A nice example to get you started
• Text Box Input
  A nice example for the novice programmer

Who else made the transition?

Martin Allan (author) from Sunny Scotland on March 13, 2010:

Cheers Phil,

The jump from 8-bit to 16-bit really was something back then!

uridium5 on March 12, 2010:

Wicked Article guys, thanks as ever!!! I'd fogotten how good that Batman game was! Wow, what a jump it was for me when I went from the 64 to the Amiga, it was like another world!!!

Cheers,

Phil