Today, Suzanne Martin issued Eurogamer a statement by way of explanation for the delay:

While all this was going on, disgruntled backers demanded their money back as it looked more and more likely that the Vega+ would never materialise. In a note to Eurogamer sent in February 2017, the pair claimed they were forced out of the management of Retro 'by a campaign of hatred' by chairman David Levy and MD Suzanne Martin 'solely because we proposed that, in order to ensure that the project was successfully completed within available resources and until then, the directors cease to receive monthly consultancy fees, and Ms Martin's PR consultancy services be dispensed with'. Retro responded by taking Cornerstone to court.Īdded to the mix are a couple of former Retro directors called Chris Smith and Paul Andrews, who left the company last year but retain a 25 per cent shareholding each. Retro has for some time now been embroiled in legal action with a company called Cornerstone Media International Ltd and its owner, Nick Cooper.Ĭornerstone was signed on as the sales agent of the Spectrum ZX Vega+ in May 2015, but the agreement was terminated in May 2016 'for breaches of that agreement'.Ĭooper said Cornerstone became aware of 'issues and disputes' within Retro Computers, including a row over the ownership of the intellectual property on both the Vega and Vega Plus. Now, Retro has announced a delivery delay for the Vega+ and blamed others for holding up the process. The BBC said it delayed publication of this report to give Retro managing director Suzanne Martin time to provide evidence of the threats, but she did not do so. Retro Computers said reporting on the issue might put its team at risk due to 'a credible threat of violence' against Retro staff. The BBC said Retro Computers had asked the organisation not to reveal the development, and that Retro's lawyers had warned it against publishing a story. (An IndieGoGo representative confirmed the BBC story to Eurogamer.)

Yesterday, 9th March, the BBC reported that IndieGogo had stepped in to stop the Vega+, which is officially backed by Sir Clive Sinclair, from receiving more money because of the delivery delays and a lack of communication. This week has proven a dramatic one for Retro Computers Ltd.

Over half a year later, backers are now at the end of their tether, with many demanding refunds. In July 2016 I reported on how lawsuits and resignations were threatening the Vega+, which has raised over half a million pounds on IndieGoGo.

1983: January - Timex introduces the Timex/Sinclair 2000, which is their re-packaged Sinclair Spectrum for the North American market.The Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega Plus, one of the most controversial video game crowdfunding projects yet, has been delayed again - leaving angry backers seething.

1982: August - Sinclair Research reports that it has shipped 500,000 ZX81 personal computers in over 30 countries.

1982: July - Timex Computer begins selling the Timex Sinclair 1000 through over 1000 Timex retail outlets.

1982: April - Sinclair Research introduces the Sinclair ZX Spectrum in the UK.

1981: December - Sinclair Research reports that it has shipped 250,000 ZX81 personal computers.

1981: March - Sinclair unveils the ZX81 in the UK, based on the Z80A microprocessor.1980: February - Sinclair Research announces the ZX80 computer in the North American market.We do not yet posses an actual Sinclair ZX Spectrum to share with you, but our hopes are high that we will soon.The popular and loved 'Speccy' from Sinclair Research Ltd., was preceded by the SinclairĪs one of the first mainstream computers produced in the UK, the Spectrum was very simple,īut the jet-black color, multi-function rubber keys, and tiny size quickly gainedĪ huge following of millions of users, many of which still exist to this day.

Sinclair zx spectrum vegas