Multiface

<h2 id="operation">Operation</h2>
<p>Pressing the red button on the Multiface raised the <a href="/facts/Non-maskable_interrupt/f7CWJU1B">non-maskable interrupt</a> line on the computer's processor, effectively taking control of the computer. The Multiface would then <a href="/facts/Paging/KR889x5k">page in</a> its own ROM, temporarily replacing the computer's operating system with that within the Multiface.
</p>
<h2 id="additional-features">Additional features</h2>
<ul><li>All Multifaces had the ability to view and edit the contents of memory. This made cheating in games especially easy: magazines used to print codes every month, known as '<a href="/facts/PEEK_and_POKE/FbehgI9c">pokes</a>'. By changing the memory, various aspects of the game could be altered, such as the number of lives one had before the game was over.</li>
<li>Some models of Multiface allowed the user to save a <a href="/facts/Screenshot/efJKoKp5">screenshot</a>, and this is how Your Sinclair and likely other magazines produced screenshots of games.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a></li>
<li>Multifaces contained an extra 8 <a href="/facts/Kilobyte/jIe6t4yv">kilobytes</a> of <a href="/facts/Random-access_memory/DuD4bxh6">RAM</a> that could be used by specially written software. Examples of such software included Genie,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> a <a href="/facts/Machine_code/bgdQ1Fxf">machine code</a> <a href="/facts/Disassembler/4PR39BbK">disassembler</a>, and Lifeguard,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> a program for analysing the memory of a game during play in order to identify which memory locations should be changed to aid cheating. These programs could be loaded into the Multiface RAM and activated by pressing the red button.</li>
<li>Some later Multifaces had a 'thru-port', an additional interface on the back of the unit which allowed other peripherals to be plugged into the back.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> This solved the problem of the Multiface using up the computer's only expansion port.</li></ul>
<h2 id="models-of-multiface">Models of Multiface</h2>
<p>Multifaces were released for 8-bit and 16-bit microcomputers, such as the <a href="/facts/ZX_Spectrum/JVbaDHrU">ZX Spectrum</a>, <a href="/facts/Amstrad_CPC/U2F6jDXY">Amstrad CPC</a> & <a href="/facts/Atari_ST/9GsYSlaM">Atari ST</a>. Different models had slightly different features.
</p>
<h3>Multiface One</h3>

<p>The Multiface One was released in 1986<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> for the <a href="/facts/ZX_Spectrum/JVbaDHrU">ZX Spectrum</a> 48K. It initially cost £39.95<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> (equivalent to £148 in 2023) and had the capability of saving data to <a href="/facts/Cassette_tape/w8I5uyfs">cassette tape</a>, <a href="/facts/ZX_Microdrive/a3bGGsAQ">ZX Microdrive</a>, Opus Discovery (an external 3.5 inch <a href="/facts/Disk_drive/hnsXRb5X">disk drive</a>) or Technology Research <a href="/facts/Beta_Disk_Interface/qsvNchUN">Beta</a> (an interface that allowed 5.25 inch and 3.5 inch drives to be connected). The device worked on 128K Spectrums, but only if they were put in 48K mode.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> It featured a <a href="/facts/Kempston_joystick/mDqg2Ic8">Kempston joystick</a> port, and later revisions contained a switch that effectively 'hid' the device from software. Early versions had a <a href="/facts/Composite_video/FIsE6mBz">composite video</a> out port<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> but this feature was later removed.
</p>
<h3>Multiface Two</h3>

<p>The Multiface Two was released for the <a href="/facts/Amstrad_CPC/U2F6jDXY">Amstrad CPC</a> range of computers and had similar features to the Multiface One, but added a button to reset the computer. Control of the visibility of the device was at a software level rather than the hardware switch found on the Multiface One.
</p>
<h3>Multiface 128</h3>

<p>The Multiface 128 was released in April 1987<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> for the 128K version of the Spectrum, including the original +2 model. It worked in 128K or 48K mode and it existed in two versions; initially without a 'thru-port' and later, with one, both of which originally cost the same £44.95,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> (equivalent to £160 in 2023) but were later reduced to the same price as the Multiface One.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> The 128 introduced the ability to save to the <a href="/facts/%2BD/fIeza0u3">+D</a> and <a href="/facts/DISCiPLE/Up94HA9g">DISCiPLE</a> disk systems, but lost its joystick port (the Spectrum +2 already had built-in joystick ports). The device was not compatible with the later Spectrum +2A or the Spectrum +3.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a>
</p>
<h3>Multiface 3</h3>

<p>The Multiface 3, released in November 1987,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> was designed for the later <a href="/facts/Amstrad/rXhrLd2U">Amstrad</a>-made models of Spectrum that the 128 did not support. It existed in two versions; one with a 'thru-port', for £49.95 (equivalent to £177 in 2023), and one without, which cost £44.95<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> (equivalent to £152 in 2023). Both were later reduced to £29.95<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> (equivalent to £78 in 2023). The main feature of the Multiface 3 was its ability to save to +3 disk, a useful feature for +3 owners who wanted to avoid the long loading times of tapes.
</p>
<h3>Multiface ST</h3>

<p>The Multiface ST and Multiface ST II were released for Atari's ST computers. They connected to the cartridge port with a wired connector attaching to the monitor port (to generate the interrupt signal when the button was pressed). Far less effective than the earlier Spectrum models and the same as the CPC model, they required the cartridge to be present in order to load saved games. Red, green and blue cartridges have been noted.
</p>
<h2 id="anti-multiface">Anti-Multiface</h2>
<p><i>Anti-Multiface</i> was a <a href="/facts/Public_domain/YWKMDKw4">public domain</a> program for the Amstrad CPC which allowed the restoring of saved memory dumps without the need for a Multiface to be present. It was limited to 128K machines and would not work on dumps bigger than 64K. The program was developed by Serge Querne but credited to "Merlin J. Bond of Magic Software".
</p>
<h2 id="similar-products">Similar products</h2>
<p>Competing devices included the Mirage Imager, Disk Wizard, and <a href="/facts/Action_Replay/F2xWThL6">Action Replay</a>. At the time, none of these could save as many games, or offered the opportunities for cheating that Multiface did. Action Replays for cheating have since been released on newer systems. Other competing systems were a wide array of software-based transfer programs.
</p><p>For game consoles of the 1990s there was the <a href="/facts/Game_Genie/yXyoGPFt">Game Genie</a>, which served a similar purpose in allowing memory values to be edited in order to cheat at games.
</p>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.worldofspectrum.org/hardware/feat25.html">Info from Spectrum Hardware Page</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/hardware-info/Multiface1_Manual.pdf">Multiface 1 Manual at worldofspectrum.org</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180828125945/http://www.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/hardware-info/Multiface1_Manual.pdf">Archived</a> 2018-08-28 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/hardware-info/Multiface3_Manual.txt">Multiface 3 Manual at worldofspectrum.org</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180828125956/http://www.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/hardware-info/Multiface3_Manual.txt">Archived</a> 2018-08-28 at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a></li></ul>
<h2 id="notes">Notes</h2>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Advertisement, "Sinclair User", Issue 134, page 16, April 1993 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-134/SinclairUser_134_Apr_1993#page/n16/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-134/SinclairUser_134_Apr_1993#page/n16/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Multiface One Manual (PDF). Romantic Robot UK Ltd. 1985. <a href="https://k1.spdns.de/Vintage/Sinclair/82/Peripherals/Multiface%20I%2C%20128%2C%20and%20%2B3%20(Romantic%20Robot)/MF1/Manual.pdf" target="_blank">https://k1.spdns.de/Vintage/Sinclair/82/Peripherals/Multiface%20I%2C%20128%2C%20and%20%2B3%20(Romantic%20Robot)/MF1/Manual.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"RELOADING PROGRAMS (3.1)". Multiface 3 Manual (PDF). p. 5. <a href="https://speccy4ever.speccy.org/doc/Manuale%20Multiface%203.pdf" target="_blank">https://speccy4ever.speccy.org/doc/Manuale%20Multiface%203.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Advertisement, "Sinclair User", Issue 134, page 16, April 1993 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-134/SinclairUser_134_Apr_1993#page/n16/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-134/SinclairUser_134_Apr_1993#page/n16/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Pillar, John (July 1992). "Wired - Multiface 1, 128, +3" (PDF). Your Sinclair. No. 79. p. 41. <a href="https://ia903206.us.archive.org/29/items/Your_Sinclair_079/Your_Sinclair_079.pdf" target="_blank">https://ia903206.us.archive.org/29/items/Your_Sinclair_079/Your_Sinclair_079.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>Advertisement, "Your Sinclair", Issue 70, page 40, October 1991 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>Advertisement, "Your Sinclair", Issue 70, page 40, October 1991 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>Advertisement, "Your Sinclair", Issue 70, page 40, October 1991 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:9"><p>Lambert, John: "Back Up Your Troubles", Sinclair User, Issue 47, February 1986 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-047/SinclairUser_047_Feb_1986#page/n104/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-047/SinclairUser_047_Feb_1986#page/n104/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:10"><p>Advertisement, "Your Sinclair", Issue 70, page 40, October 1991 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:11"><p>Advertisement, "Your Sinclair", Issue 70, page 40, October 1991 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:12"><p>Lambert, John: "Back Up Your Troubles", Sinclair User, Issue 47, February 1986 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-047/SinclairUser_047_Feb_1986#page/n104/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-047/SinclairUser_047_Feb_1986#page/n104/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:13"><p>Frey, Franco (March 1986). "Multifacetted Device". Crash (26). Newsfield Publications: 86. Retrieved 22 February 2018. <a href="https://archive.org/details/Crash_No._26_1986-03_Newsfield_GB" target="_blank">https://archive.org/details/Crash_No._26_1986-03_Newsfield_GB</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:14"><p>Advertisement, "Your Sinclair", Issue 16, page 45, April 1997 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-16/YourSinclair_16_Apr_1987#page/n45/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-16/YourSinclair_16_Apr_1987#page/n45/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:15"><p>Advertisement, "Your Sinclair", Issue 70, page 40, October 1991 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:16"><p>Advertisement, "Your Sinclair", Issue 79, page 43, July 1992 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-79/YourSinclair_79_Jul_1992#page/n43/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-79/YourSinclair_79_Jul_1992#page/n43/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:17"><p>Advertisement, "Your Sinclair", Issue 70, page 40, October 1991 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-70/YourSinclair_70_Oct_1991#page/n40/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:18"><p>Advertisement, "Your Sinclair", issue 23, page 23, November 1987 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-23/YourSinclair_23_Nov_1987#page/n23/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-23/YourSinclair_23_Nov_1987#page/n23/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:19"><p>2-page advertisement, "Your Sinclair", Issue 30, pages 55-56, June 1988 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-30/YourSinclair_30_Jun_1988#page/n55/mode/2up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-30/YourSinclair_30_Jun_1988#page/n55/mode/2up</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:20"><p>Advertisement, "Your Sinclair", Issue 79, page 43, July 1992 <a href="https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-79/YourSinclair_79_Jul_1992#page/n43/mode/1up" target="_blank">https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-79/YourSinclair_79_Jul_1992#page/n43/mode/1up</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Multiface open-in-new

Multiface