Commodore 64

Hello there RGUK fans, welcome to your coffee break, or tea break, or just a day at the computer reading retro, classic, nothing better than revisiting the past, and remember the joyful games, and in some cases the worst game played as well. We are now in 1982, big boom box tape players, bmx bikes? big warm headphones, bit of top music, bit of nibbles and classic films or maybe a night in with the wife? or maybe just maybe spend some time with the Commodore 64, on a summers night, ah yes, it is August 1982 the time Commodore 64 was released upon us, is this the year we never forget, is it still 1982? Yes it is! Come follow me through a classic journey, and lets remember the 1982 classic computer.

We are here today to enjoy the Commodore 64, good old tapes, big floppy add on, wow nice, oh lets not forget the colour (color) screen you can use with built in speakers really nice. I personally preferred the sound on the Commodore 64 because of the SID chip, made the times fly, remember the ocean loader link to youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkns_VIWGQA please not this is not my video, this for example, thank you “TheCommodore64Player” on youtube for uploading the video on youtube. This is a great ocean loader example.

The loading times was worth it for most of the games, listening to SID music whilst the game loads, you also have game tittle graphics to go along with the music whilst the picture loaded. When the CBM 64 came out out you could hook the computer to a television or to the monitor that you could buy separately. Of course the monitor was the better option, with a 3-pin connection, yellow, red and white cables (video, left and right signal outputs) the built in speakers on the Commodore monitor was also a great addition to the monitor, you could even control the volume on the monitor as well, now that was technology. The Commodore 64 is still out there with a new entry Commodore 64x, which you can find here at http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_C64.aspx or visit Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_64x  The Commodore 64x is a new way of computing with the similar type of keys spring release style, keeping the retro feel as it should be. However the barebones and the Commodore 64x is a more for the less on the budget type of wallet, unless Santa can provide you with a friendly surprise of the new Commodore 64x then I am out of luck as well. The Commodore 64x is the same shape, the power LED has been replaced with a Power Button, it has a built-in DVD Drive slim, Intel Atom CPU, most of the computer you can upgrade, it can even handle Windows 7, now all you need is a nice monitor, mouse and the operating system and away you go. Even if you do not feel you need Windows 7, there is a new alternative, can you guess I mentioned the date in an earlier post, 11/11/2011 Commodore OS Vision, oh my g, that is a nice bit of software, based on Linux, so no virus problems there, you can add applications to the os.

Enough drooling over the Commodore 64x now lets drool over the original CBM64 if you got a disk drive then why not have a fancy at Turbo Outrun, when the disk has loaded listen to the tittle music, it is lovely, infact record it and have a listen at a slightly higher volume, do not forget your next door fellow people with the volume, as it is a nice track, the game itself is nice to play. Tape I would recommend a true playable classic BMX Simulator the first 1 not the 2nd version, and also Paper Boy. Dizzy would not go a miss with the CBM64. When you turn on the CBM you notice the nice blue and light blue colours on the screen, also notice the nice friendly amount of memory as well, have a play with BASIC as well, you be surprised what you can do with Google, and a tape to record the program you created. The Computer is worth the fun. Pick up a piece of music software for the computer and create some nice music on there, it is worth the effort and listen to what you have done, you feel proud of the CBM64, no other computer at the time offered what Commodore 64 had, it was something special, infact I feel it still is. 64k memory and expansion available, nice. External PSU as well instead of built-in now that was a great ideal, thank you Commodore, the only problem getting a second hand CBM64 is that you see some have a slightly yellow coloured case due to the age of the console and condition the console was in, but still the hardware should the most important part, does the computer work as well should be at the top of the list, unless you are a big collector, then your best bet is to look for a nice hardly used CBM64 but still loved computer in original box and the manual, the manuals in most cases should be pretty much great condition, who read the manuals? good guess, I did not read the manuals, I always did the plug the computer in and play, and then find out later if something went wrong :)

Some facts:

During the CMB C64's lifetime, sales totalled between 12.5 - 17 million units popular I would say by those figures.

CBM C64 was the most sold model compared to the rest of the predator computers of Commodore.

Graphics: VIC II - 16 colours, resolution: 320x200.

Sound: SID 6581

Next model: Commodore 128 (Post coming soon)

Well I think that covers the basic of the system. More software and games will be covered, but first at Retro Gamez UK as it is a new-ish blog, we need to cover the hardware first then software and accessories, after, unless it is covered in the Magazine, sorry no spoilers until December, you should see the first few pages, then that will do for you until Christmas, it is a present from us to our readers. I will be celebrating the release of Retro Gamez UK Magazine and the blog over Christmas and New Year.

I will be seeing you at the next post, thank you for reading, as much as I enjoy typing this, it has been a nice journey back to 1982. Nice seeing you having a read. See you soon!

Take Care, best wishes.

RGUK