Commodore / Amiga


The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International. It has been listed in the Guinness World Records as the highest-selling single computer model of all time, with independent estimates placing the number sold between 12.5 and 17 million units.

 

The C64 was powered by a MOS Technology 6510 microprocessor running at 1.023 MHz (NTSC) or 0.985 MHz (PAL). It had 64 kilobytes of RAM (hence the name), which was expandable to 256 KB. The C64 also had a VIC-II graphics chip that could display 320×200 pixels with 16 colors, and a SID sound chip that could produce three channels of sound.


The C64 was a huge success, and it quickly became the dominant home computer in the United States and Europe. It was popular with gamers, hobbyists, and programmers alike. The C64 had a large library of games, including classics such as "Commodore 64 BASIC", "Super Mario Bros.", and "The Legend of Zelda". It was also used to create many innovative programs, such as the first computer virus, the first graphical user interface, and the first digital synthesizer.


The C64 was discontinued in 1994, but it remains a popular platform for retro gaming and emulation. There are many active communities of C64 enthusiasts who continue to create new games and programs for the computer.


Here are some of the features of the Commodore 64:


  • 8-bit home computer
  • MOS Technology 6510 microprocessor
  • 64 KB RAM (expandable to 256 KB)
  • VIC-II graphics chip
  • SID sound chip
  • 320×200 pixels with 16 colors
  • Three channels of sound
  • Huge library of games and programs
  • Popular with gamers, hobbyists, and programmers
  • Discontinued in 1994
  • Still popular for retro gaming and emulation




 

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Commodore 128



Scott Zimmerman  sudz28@hotmail.com  6/9/2002 7:20 PM

The C64 was my first 'real' computer gaming rig - I had literally 100's of games for it and played many of them for months on end!  The first 3 Ultima games took up a lot of my time, as did Lode Runner, M.U.L.E., Archon, Colonial Conquest, and Elite.  Later I played a lot of Pirates! and Red Storm Rising.  It was a great system which, unfortunately, I ended up giving away (along with all the games) to my older brother when I moved to Germany (and he later gave to someone else, etc.)  Needless to say I later go bitten by the C64 bug again, and now have MANY C64 units, along with tape drives and disk drives, and alot of the old games I used to enjoy including some I never had before.  I actually want to get rid of most of the stuff, but I'm definately glad I ran into this 'mother load' when I did!

Kattywampus  nyan_nyan@hotmail.com  4/21/2003 10:11 AM

Hehe, I've got a working C64 and a TI 99/4A sitting behind me, right now.. 
But hey, the C64 is still a beautiful machine.  Awesome in its day.  Its 1541 5 1/2" floppy drive is about 6 times HEAVIER than the machine itself.  If you know how, you can still use the C64(but especially the AMIGA)as a useful tool for General MIDI.  And here's a useless trivia for ya:  Toward the end of C64's reign, a couple of programmers got the hell sued out of 'em for ripping Super Mario Bros. for the NES, and *barely* changing the graphics..(I think it had 'Sisters' in the title) And they sold that game...  Look for it.

Shawn  goshenboy@hotmail.com  on Thursday, May 3, 2001 at 22:08:14 
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I remember playing the Commodore 64 back in the day. I specifically remember 3 games I  used to play constantly. Madness and the Minotaur, which was a cassette game, Bedlam, a cassette game as well, and Dungeons of Daggorith, which was a cartridge. Does anyone have any info on where I can get these? email me at goshenboy@hotmail.com. 
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Tyson  mayorm19@aol.com  on Sunday, February 27, 2000 at 17:02:35 
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The first video games I ever played were on the C64, I can't even remember the names of most of them.  They had a lot of Atari games and such. (Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Pole Position, etc.)  I've still got it  
around here somewhere. 
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Jt august  starsabre@att.net  on Sunday, February 27, 2000 at 00:19:32 
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You have entries for the C=64 and Atari 800 (8-bit) series of computers, but you omit the TI-99/4 and 99/4a series, as well as the TRS-80 and TRS-80 Colour Computer (CoCo) series.  I feel that these two should be included. 
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