Speccy Port

A Speccy Port or Spectrum port is the name given to a game which has been converted directly from the Sinclair Spectrum with little or no changes to the Amstrad CPC. Often the Amstrad version ended up fairing worse than the original Spectrum version.

The ZX Spectrum shared the same CPU as the Amstrad and had a simple graphics display. The Spectrum was very popular with the Amstrad having much less market share.

To "gain" time and money, the Spectrum code was re-used.

The Amstrad screen was reduced in size to match the Spectrums and often most of the colour was removed. Most spectrum ports were done in Video Mode 1 (4 colour mode), because the resolution of this mode matched the resolution of the Spectrum, and this allowed the use of the same graphics.

Speccy port was also seen on the MSX and Enterprise.

Some games actually ended up pretty decent.

A typical Spectrum port to the Amstrad is said to have been done in 3 days.

It is not known if they lacked the knowledge or will to develop a better CPC version, or simply didn't have the tools to do so.

Often an Atari ST was used for Cross Development.