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The ZX Spectrum GOTY awards are organized every year by a team connected to the LOAD ZX Museum in Cantanhede and the Planeta Sinclair blog. They serve to highlight some of the best videogames released in the previous year for the ZX Spectrum home computer platform.

The awards ceremony will take place at the LOAD ZX Museum in Cantanhede on the 21st of February and will also be livestreamed on the museum's youtube channel.

Associação Inércia joined efforts this year to curate a special demoscene category in the awards ceremony, highlighting with a panel of dedicated ZX Spectrum jury members the best ZX Spectrum demoscene productions of 2025.

In alphabetical order the nominees for best ZX Spectrum demo of 2025 are:

- AddMortem by Arise + Joker

- Corvet by Stardust

- No Heart Beats Forever by UriS

- Pain Gain Again by Five Finger Punch

- Parallel Visions by Otomata Labs + Virtual Vision Group

[ Atariscne.org - News ] Buxton Bytes 2026 - Buxton Bytes Back

This year we are turning it up a notch with three categories to choose from.

All challenges are non competitive and purely for the fun of it, so do not be shy. All contributions are welcome at Buxton Bytes.

The gathering itself takes place from 8 - 11 May 2026. We will watch all entries together at the event, and everything will then be released afterwards via the usual channels.

Can we beat last year’s haul? Let’s find out.

 CHALLENGE 1 - SAMPLE DISKYou know the score. Make us a sample disk.

The only rule is that all data must fit on a single disk. Please prove this by submitting your entry as a .MSA or .ST file.

ST, STe, Falcon, TT and others are all welcome.Use 68k, STOS, GFA, Omicron or whatever you like. We really do not mind.

 CHALLENGE 2 - INTRO WITH RIPPED ASSETSSubmit an intro that uses ripped material.

Ripped code, graphics and or music are all encouraged. You can also include original code and assets if you want, or not at all. Reuse is art.

As above, use any language or DCK. It is all good.

 CHALLENGE 3 - “INTERESTING SCROLLTEXT”

Interpret this however you like.

No rules. All entries welcome.

 BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE...

For the first time ever, or maybe not, entries can be submitted to multiple challenges.

So why not make a sample disk with ripped assets and an interesting scrolltext, and take part in all three in one go??

 QUESTIONSEmail us at info@buxtonbytes.co.uk

Please send entries to entries@buxtonbytes.co.uk.

The deadline for all submissions is 5pm on Saturday 9 May 2026.

 CREDITS FOR THE INVITROSText: Tronic / EffectCode: Tommy Tommy TomtomsGfx: Some teenagers from the 80sZiks: Mad Max (probably)Thanks: Tat / Avena for Minymiser

Invitros Download

All invites are STe only. Sorry everyone else.

A new book project, Bootblock Rebels - The Hidden Stars of the Amiga Underground, has launched on Kickstarter.

The book documents the Commodore Amiga cracking scene from its early roots in 1985 through its peak years (1990-1993) and the decline of the active scene around 1996.

Based on interviews and archival research, the book aims to capture the real mechanics and culture of the scene: the race-to-release mentality, supplier networks, bulletin board distribution, group hierarchies, rivalries, cracktros, and the behind-the-scenes economy that powered it all.

Clik here to support the kickstarter

Campaign video

[ Atariscne.org - News ] The physical deep-art-ment

Some decades ago I decided to follow the white rabbit... down the rabbit hole. Once you start collecting you stumble over more and more "easter eggs". Hidden secrets that the majority of sceners are not aware of.

Follow me down into the deeper dungeons of scene collectables that you might have never heard of before.

Note: This is not about reviewing releases and it's not about imposing my opinion on you. I simply want to show you some gems that are out there.

Let's begin with the obvious...

Jochen Hippel  Give It A Try [Thalion  THCD 1]

https://www.discogs.com/de/release/1808727-Jochen-Hippel-Give-It-A-Try

Thalion as a record label? Yes indeed... even if there was only one release. I guess you already know Jochen Hippel's 'Give It A Try' album from 1990. This is a hard-to-get-item. Sold on Discogs for 10 to 25 Euros... but you have to find somebody who is selling this.

I managed to buy a copy back then through ASM's (Aktueller Software Markt) mail order catalogue, which was my favourite German game magazine back in the day. All MP3s are freely available on Demozoo but it will be much harder to obtain an original release of the CD in physical form. Self-made copies are floating around in the scene.

They came up as prizes in a competition years ago... Jochen even signed them. One of these copies is in my collection as well.

Let's take a closer look into the tracks:

Weekly news and latest releases from the active demoscene community. This week in particular we take a deeper look at the releases that came out of Fjälldata demoparty that took place in Sweden this past weekend.

Watch at youtube!