I had both, speccy first and then a C64 later

I used the C64 only for games, and the spectrum for my own programs and the odd top game

and yes I was on both sides in the playground,

but the C64 had something missing that the spectrum had, hard to put a finger on it, the spectrum did have inferior games (based on the specifications), but It was more accessable or hackable (in todays speak)

I'd say the spectrum kids was more into modding it, typing their own code from magazines and learning stuff, but the C64 kids used it more like console. and could not see the reason for having a spectrum (due to the inferior spec etc..)

I didn’t do any speccy hacking, but the C64 was IMO amazing in the regard. The way you could reprogram the VIC each horizontal line into different video modes, changing the screen width to make borders disappear, the way you could disable the kernal ROMs to expose more DRAM etc.

But all machines of that era were so low level with plenty of tricks to exploit.

yes the C64 had some very cool features, I tried to develop some basic games on it using sprites. but it felt like an uphill struggle. I remember making cool music was easy tho

maybe it was the school I went to and the information the collection of kids had

Ah yes, I'll be back to check on all the solid filled 3d games the C64 had.

The C64 was a great music-synth with the capability to do 1 certain type of game kside scrollers) in 16 shades of brown vut that was it.

The sheer endless variety of games the Speccy supported knocked the C64 into a cocked hat.

I don't know about number of games, but I owned a C64 and my friend a Speccy, and I liked C64 games way better. They simply looked and sounded better.

I do find the Speccy charming though!

Good to see that those misguided schoolyard buddies have survived to old age as well!

You talk about schoolyard arguments but you seem to be the only one here trying to start them.

The way you talk, I have the impression that you’re actually taking any of this serious?

Back then, C64 vs Spectrum discussions were like vi vs Emacs. Good old fashioned tribalism is a thing of all ages.