C64 MINI Launches Early 2018

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 09/29/2017 04:51 PM | source: | 34 comment(s)

Alright let see who remembers this: "The Arcade" joystick with micro-dip switches!, if you recognize what I say, read on. A company called Retro Games Ltd will be launching the C64 Mini console based and styled after the Commodore 64.

For those that where born after the 90'ies, the Commodore 64 was THE personal computer back in the days, it surely was a life changer for yours truly. In early 2018 under the name "C64 Mini" the replica unit will be ready and released and it will hold 64 classic Commodore 64 games as well as the ability to program it in Basic. Basic was a programming language in the most simple form, I can still remember it like:

10 print "Guru3D"
20 goto 10

Which would loop the Guru3D on your screen.

It will be interesting to see what components will be used for the C64 Mini, likely something ARM based with a C64 emulator. You will be able to connect a USB keyboard to the device as well as there will be firmware updates through a USB stick. The console can be connected to a display using HDMI. The C64 mini console will get games like California Games, Chip's Challenge, Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe, Paradroid, Insects in Space, Monty on the Run and Impossible Mission. With the hundreds if not thousands of C64 games, I do have to see .. a lot of popular ones are missing from the list. Given it's name, it is obvous that the manufacturers did not get hold of the Commodore brand ergo it isn't used in it's name. It is expected the C64 Mini will be available for 80 bucks in early 2018, which bundles a joystick, USB cable and HDMI cable.

Man, I think I still have an actual original working unit somewhere tucked inside a box on the attic. BRB!

.... found it! :-)

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Kaarme
Senior Member

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Joined: 2013-03-10

#5476982 Posted on: 09/29/2017 05:03 PM

In the beginning there were lesser joysticks, then arrived TAC-2.

WhiteLightning
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Joined: 2007-09-19

#5477002 Posted on: 09/29/2017 05:45 PM

I'm highly disappointed on the games that come with the console. only a few are cool, most is just garbage and they should have added better titles. Especially for that price!

SL4T
Junior Member

Posts: 14
Joined: 2009-01-04

#5477010 Posted on: 09/29/2017 05:52 PM

WOW so many memories are coming back from the mid-80s.

I'll never forget all the long wars (and broken joysticks) I had with my friends playing Pitstop, IK+, Emlyn Hughes International Soccer or Ikira Warriors....etc.

I also remember Action Replay's Warp25 loader, which allowed games to boot in less than 10 seconds.

Good times

Now my kids think PS4 graphics are crap LOL

C-Power
Senior Member

Posts: 115
Joined: 2005-01-08

#5477028 Posted on: 09/29/2017 06:33 PM

I still have the original one sitting in a cupboard, including memory expansion card with "GUI" lol.

Checked if it was working about half a year ago, on my 50" TV, worked like a charm - played some winter Olympics, Boulderdash, it was awesome, good old memories and nostalgia

Not sure If i'd shell out for this "new" one tho... hmmm

Edit;
The only game i'd really play from this new one would be California Games, such an awesome title - spent hours on the game with the ball that you had to keep up high, making some 360 spins for points haha - forgot the name of it lol

CrazY_Milojko
Senior Member

Posts: 2557
Joined: 2013-02-26

#5477048 Posted on: 09/29/2017 07:34 PM

From the list of games coming with this remake I had loved Speedball 2 Brutal Deluxe (super-fun with my brother and friends) and Impossible Mission, others not that much.

But nothing can come close, not even near, the original. Still have them two in working condition + DataSette 1531 + Commodore 1541 5.25" FDD + Final Cartridge II + lots of tapes and 5.25" disks (but not sure all of them still work after all this time, especially tapes) + few QuickShot II joysticks, Kempston joystick, Star LC-10 printer... One C=64 is pesonally my own fat C=64 (older SID audio chip, but for my taste it has much better sound) and another one is newer version slim white (fugly if you ask me) that was rescued from the destructable hands of my wife's brother.

Sorry but not gonna buy this one, no way this replica can give me such pleasure and joy of playing old games that had made my childhood so f**ing great

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