THE RZX ARCHIVE: SPECTRUM VIDEO WALKTHROUGHS
ZX Spectrum emulation started almost as soon as the last Amstrad-built models had left the shelves in 1993, and in the next decade or two, just about every aspect of the original machines has been emulated. There are tape images, disc images, microdrive images, Interface 2 ROMs, memory snapshots, poke files, all of which relate to the original machine and its various peripherals. But one very interesting addition was the RZX file format, which recreates a series of accurately-timed keystrokes to make an perfect action replay, usually of a game being played, provided the initial tape or disc file is available. This is a vastly more efficient method of recording action replays and playthroughs compared to video. The RZX of Jet Set Willy II, which takes 67 minutes to play back, is only 413 KB; the equivalent 480p video is 153 MB, and at 720p this expands further to 480 MB. Admittedly a video file can be rewound or spun forwards, but for the size of the files, RZX is unbeatable.
The RZX Archive was hosted by Daren Pearcy from 2002 to his sudden death in late 2021. Initially the sole repository of RZX files, after he died they were mirrored on Spectrum Computing, which has been remaking the videos of the entire archive - YouTube removed Daren's RZX Archive channel after it was (for obvious reasons) inactive for three years. The YouTube channel was never "complete", though; for some of the RZX files, Daren never made a high-resolution (720p or more) video, and some never had a video at all (obscure Czech text adventures, for instance). Spectrum Computing is now where RZXs from 2022 onwards are hosted, and every video on the new YouTube channel pays tribute to Daren and his efforts for 19 years.
Unsurprisingly, I sent a fair few submissions to Daren's original archive myself, between 2003 and 2020. This is my Ultimate Long List of RZX Archive contributions. The title links to the video on the Spectrum Computing channel, if there is one (and I am assuming there will be a complete set at some stage); I've retained the link to the RZX Archive for as long as it lasts, as well as the ZXDB information page hosted by Spectrum Computing. Also, all the screenshots from this page are from the RZX I submitted, they're not just random or pulled from Spectrum Computing or anywhere else.
Feast in nerd-Valhalla, Daren.
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