Mike Dailly has added four-player support to BomberNext, his Bomberman-style game for the ZX Spectrum Next. A homemade adapter connects a Sega multitap, letting four controllers join the action.
Mike co-created Lemmings at DMA Design and worked on the original Grand Theft Auto. His credits include the Atari ST framework and Amiga level and research work for Lemmings, plus GTA’s prototype engines and graphics technology.
BomberNext began as a test for automated control of CSpect, the Next emulator. Mike used Claude to help write the game in C, then directed changes to its presentation and controls.
Players have keyboard or joystick options, redefinable keys and computer opponents. Mike bought pixel art for the game, using raised walls with characters passing behind their tops.
The build also includes sound effects and an automatic demonstration loop, with three visual styles drawn from the asset pack.
Mike assembled a custom circuit board to connect an existing Sega multitap to the Next. He tested the adapter with four six-button controllers.
He plans to publish the board files through PCBWay’s community hub alongside code for other developers to use.
You can pick up BomberNext here.
