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Normal Sized Retro Commodore 64 In The Works
Last year a mini version of the Commodore 64 was announced and released. It holds 64 pre-installed Commodore 64 games at the cost of roughly 80 USD. The small size has a disadvantage, the keyboard needs to be external. That is going to be solved.
There are now plans from Retro Games to fab a "THEC64", a normal sized C64 replica with a working keyboard. The company posted a few teasers online, along by sharing info that the product should be available in 2019. The prototype does show some weird discoloration on the keycaps, not part if the original (which I still own my self btw). We think that's due to the prototype though.
rl66
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Posts: 2025
Joined: 2007-05-31
#5620992 Posted on: 12/26/2018 01:05 PM
No the classic look is the best one
there was keyb + mITX case C64 looking case years ago. it could be fun idea too.
No the classic look is the best one
there was keyb + mITX case C64 looking case years ago. it could be fun idea too.
Fox2232
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#5621007 Posted on: 12/26/2018 01:45 PM
No the classic look is the best one
there was keyb + mITX case C64 looking case years ago. it could be fun idea too.
Well, I used C16 too which had same keyboard as C64 shown here. (Just different layout of images on keys.)
C64c has different keyboard angle and height from desk. C16 and original C64 is for people who were using computer as typewriter.
C64c being much closer to desk (slimmer) and having nicer angle is much closer to design which won test of time (slim keyboards and hand rests).
People simply do not use keyboards as typewriters, they rest their hands on handrests or directly on desks.
No the classic look is the best one
there was keyb + mITX case C64 looking case years ago. it could be fun idea too.
Well, I used C16 too which had same keyboard as C64 shown here. (Just different layout of images on keys.)
C64c has different keyboard angle and height from desk. C16 and original C64 is for people who were using computer as typewriter.
C64c being much closer to desk (slimmer) and having nicer angle is much closer to design which won test of time (slim keyboards and hand rests).
People simply do not use keyboards as typewriters, they rest their hands on handrests or directly on desks.
Amigafan35
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Posts: 218
Joined: 2007-10-23
#5621035 Posted on: 12/26/2018 04:08 PM
I'm so gutted I was quick to sell my c64c, 1541 disk drive, action replay nk6 & everything else after upgrading to the amiga in the early 90s. Few years after I did buy another c64c, 1541 & even an ar mk6 cartridge again second hand, still got it along with boxes of floppy discs with games on,, doubt they'd be readable now though after all this time.
I'm so gutted I was quick to sell my c64c, 1541 disk drive, action replay nk6 & everything else after upgrading to the amiga in the early 90s. Few years after I did buy another c64c, 1541 & even an ar mk6 cartridge again second hand, still got it along with boxes of floppy discs with games on,, doubt they'd be readable now though after all this time.
Valken
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#5621041 Posted on: 12/26/2018 04:33 PM
I NEVER had a C64. I bought the Amiga when I made my own money part time working and I did emulate it on the Amiga. The breadbox C64 was awesome and would love to own a full size one with the 1541 floppy or two and the matching monitor. Too bad I am not made of money otherwise my dream man cave would be retro city.
Would love one next to a C128D, next to my old Amiga 1000, 3000 and maybe a 4000!
Good options to those who love old school computers and gaming!
I NEVER had a C64. I bought the Amiga when I made my own money part time working and I did emulate it on the Amiga. The breadbox C64 was awesome and would love to own a full size one with the 1541 floppy or two and the matching monitor. Too bad I am not made of money otherwise my dream man cave would be retro city.
Would love one next to a C128D, next to my old Amiga 1000, 3000 and maybe a 4000!
Good options to those who love old school computers and gaming!
WhiteLightning
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#5621042 Posted on: 12/26/2018 04:35 PM
power cartridge or final cartridge III not included
power cartridge or final cartridge III not included
Bullseye2267
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#5621079 Posted on: 12/26/2018 05:49 PM
Ah. Fond memories of late night sessions of entering code from magazines & then spending hours trying to find the typo errors. Freakin' commas vs periods. My mom & I would take turns reading & entering code. I too regret getting rid of my C64 back then. Battle Chess. Loved the opening music. It was also my first experience with "First Person Shooter" type gaming. Been hooked on computers since.
Ah. Fond memories of late night sessions of entering code from magazines & then spending hours trying to find the typo errors. Freakin' commas vs periods. My mom & I would take turns reading & entering code. I too regret getting rid of my C64 back then. Battle Chess. Loved the opening music. It was also my first experience with "First Person Shooter" type gaming. Been hooked on computers since.
BlackZero
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#5621084 Posted on: 12/26/2018 06:10 PM
Yeah, playing Ghostbusters on the 64 was amazing, in fact it was a bit like a very early version of the original GTA.
I still remember my Vic-20 too.
Yeah, playing Ghostbusters on the 64 was amazing, in fact it was a bit like a very early version of the original GTA.
I still remember my Vic-20 too.
RooiKreef
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Posts: 349
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#5621142 Posted on: 12/26/2018 08:44 PM
I actually like the fact that all these guys like Sony and Atari are in the works of releasing retro gaming hardware... What I don't like is when they do things like what Sony just did with a mere 20 games on their new PS 1 Classic. At least give the option to put it online so you can download all the old games, or make it compatible with the old CD's or cartridges.
I actually like the fact that all these guys like Sony and Atari are in the works of releasing retro gaming hardware... What I don't like is when they do things like what Sony just did with a mere 20 games on their new PS 1 Classic. At least give the option to put it online so you can download all the old games, or make it compatible with the old CD's or cartridges.
Size_Mick
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Posts: 299
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#5621245 Posted on: 12/27/2018 03:13 AM
I don't suppose the TRS-80 will be remade?
I don't suppose the TRS-80 will be remade?
f14dude
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#5621376 Posted on: 12/27/2018 06:48 PM
Too bad they choose to make the older C64 instead of the C64C which is what I got when I first got my '2nd' computer after the Vic-20 die. By the time I got it, they no longer have the old C64 in stock anymore and since the shape of the old C64 is almost identical to the Vic-20, I was actually glad I got the C64C which feels like a 'new' computer compared to the older style C64.
I too had sold my C64C back in the early 90s when I first learned about building a PC and end up building my first 386DX40 just so I can play Ultima VII. Ahh the good old days of gaming.
Recently I have rebuild my retro computer collection and now I have a Vic-20, C128 and an Amiga 500 along with other vintage machines but I'm still shopping for a C64C locally to add it back to my collection.
Too bad they choose to make the older C64 instead of the C64C which is what I got when I first got my '2nd' computer after the Vic-20 die. By the time I got it, they no longer have the old C64 in stock anymore and since the shape of the old C64 is almost identical to the Vic-20, I was actually glad I got the C64C which feels like a 'new' computer compared to the older style C64.
I too had sold my C64C back in the early 90s when I first learned about building a PC and end up building my first 386DX40 just so I can play Ultima VII. Ahh the good old days of gaming.
Recently I have rebuild my retro computer collection and now I have a Vic-20, C128 and an Amiga 500 along with other vintage machines but I'm still shopping for a C64C locally to add it back to my collection.
Size_Mick
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Posts: 299
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#5621644 Posted on: 12/28/2018 05:56 PM
I remember William Shatner hawking the Vic 20 on TV. Good times.
I remember William Shatner hawking the Vic 20 on TV. Good times.
TheDeeGee
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#5621759 Posted on: 12/29/2018 01:25 AM
RetroPie.
Cheaper, More Games and More Options.
RetroPie.
Cheaper, More Games and More Options.
adabiviak
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#5621810 Posted on: 12/29/2018 08:42 AM
I still have a Commodore 64 in the basement somewhere... there's an 80% chance I could get it fired up (have the RF adapter and a CRT that would accept that input, but the power supply will be the kicker here). The 1541 drive is gone (went out along with an Apple II that a bunch of mice shat in) though, and one thing I do remember is that if we wanted to play a game, you got what you typed in, and it only lasted as long as you left the device powered on (until we got that storage unit, RAM only).
When I feel nostalgic and want to play VIC-20 or C64 or whatever, the online emulators do the trick without the hardware hassle, but there is something to be said for that, eh, 'Spartan' programming interface where you're interacting directly with memory space and working with some basic syntax. My eight year old associate is taking a "programming" class, and dragging pictures onto other pictures to make things move and set up conditions just isn't the same.
I still have a Commodore 64 in the basement somewhere... there's an 80% chance I could get it fired up (have the RF adapter and a CRT that would accept that input, but the power supply will be the kicker here). The 1541 drive is gone (went out along with an Apple II that a bunch of mice shat in) though, and one thing I do remember is that if we wanted to play a game, you got what you typed in, and it only lasted as long as you left the device powered on (until we got that storage unit, RAM only).
When I feel nostalgic and want to play VIC-20 or C64 or whatever, the online emulators do the trick without the hardware hassle, but there is something to be said for that, eh, 'Spartan' programming interface where you're interacting directly with memory space and working with some basic syntax. My eight year old associate is taking a "programming" class, and dragging pictures onto other pictures to make things move and set up conditions just isn't the same.
Catcher40
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#5623976 Posted on: 01/06/2019 04:38 PM
Didn't the C64c have the inferior version of the sid chip in it?
Didn't the C64c have the inferior version of the sid chip in it?
Click here to post a comment for this news story on the message forum.
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They should have gone with C64c design. More pleasant to eye and comfortable to use. But in the end... what will make or break it is having emulation vs real deal chips.
Most of those who had C64 in any variant finished all awesome or interesting games (subjective) on real C64 or in emulator.
So, if they want to succeed, they'll need nostalgia effect. And that does not come from android phone being put inside keyboard.
I did love my C64c, 1541-II, Seikosha SP-180VC, Merkur ALFI Plotter, ... So many things one could do which were out of reach on PC platform for good decade after due to poor software support.
But it is almost 2019, and from productivity perspective C64 holds very weak cards against modern computers. If emulated, then it holds no cards at all.
Therefore perspective has to be "Fun, Nostalgia & Authenticity".
Because today, you can have quite good Cutting plotter for $300. Drawing plotters became practically obsolete with high quality printers. And their mechanical methods evolved into 3D printers. Today, new thing is $400 3D printer with head combining 4 different color compounds (CMYK).