The C64, returns.

Qube · January 13, 2020, 00:09:34

QuoteI've just received an email that my boxed version has been despatched. Old school big box goodness.

Them were the days... Ordering software and waiting for the postman to deliver it

Steve Elliott · January 13, 2020, 00:15:30

lol or walking into a store full of big, or extra big boxed software, containing all sorts of goodies!

Steve Elliott · January 22, 2020, 15:57:26

This arrived today.

The Homebrew C64 RTS Game from the 8-Bit Guy. Nostalgia overload and tactile enjoyment of oldschool media on tape and floppy disc, with a printed manual contained within a good old game box.

Qube · January 23, 2020, 05:20:17

Quote from: Steve Elliott on January 22, 2020, 15:57:26
This arrived today.

The Homebrew C64 RTS Game from the 8-Bit Guy. Nostalgia overload and tactile enjoyment of oldschool media on tape and floppy disc, with a printed manual contained within a good old game box.

Oo er! very nice indeed

- For nostalgia I'd love to have the original hardware and physically load the game. Probably drive me nuts that it takes more than a couple of seconds to load

Mind you, I think i'd still enjoy the Ocean loader screen and music

3DzForMe · January 23, 2020, 06:21:01

That is beautiful attention to detail, shweet!

Steve Elliott · January 23, 2020, 09:24:31

Quote
That is beautiful attention to detail, shweet!

Yep I love that kinda stuff too, completely replicating the look and feel of a quality computer game box. There's a 'Notes from the Author' section in the manual that describes the process of fitting a RTS Game into only 64K too, a nice touch. There are still people producing games for the C64 today as people can get complete and direct access to the hardware (unlike today) and enjoy the challenge of coding on such a restricted system.

As an example: https://www.knightsofbytes.games/samsjourney

Quote
Oo er! very nice indeed - For nostalgia I'd love to have the original hardware and physically load the game.

I might get a real C64 some day, but the extra's really do bump up the price (the disc drive is expensive for a start). Talking of nostalgia, it was quite strange handling a game cassette which I used for my Speccy back in the day (although in this case it's just full versions of the game soundtrack). A mate had a disc drive with his Atari 800, but I didn't get one until I got an Atari 130XE. Again you don't see these old 5 1/4 inch floppy discs any more, so a real blast from the past and a part of history.

Quote
Probably drive me nuts that it takes more than a couple of seconds to load

lol while the Speccy tape load was certainly not, the disc drive load would be quicker and quite relaxing to hear it whirring away in the background as you did something else on your main computer. Or you could use an emulator, VICE is very good indeed (I run it on my pi 3).

3DzForMe · January 25, 2020, 04:01:20

Quotelol while the Speccy tape load was certainly not, the disc drive load would be quicker and quite relaxing to hear it whirring away in the background as you did something else on your main computer.

Oh, the time you had to relax - attempt to load, a few mins later - FAIL, rewind the tape - tweak the volume - the exultation when/if it finally loaded.

Oh yes, those were the days.

Steve Elliott · January 25, 2020, 08:49:06

Haha, it was a skill in itself - to get the volume just right. And then putting a white line on the volume dial (with Tipp-ex) to remind you exactly where the optimal position was.

iWasAdam · January 25, 2020, 10:40:19

QuoteAgain you don't see these old 5 1/4 inch floppy discs any more, so a real blast from the past and a part of history.

Here's an interesting offshoot. both the 8" and 5 1/4" disks are very robust - usually data can still be saved and read from them after 40 years! The drives might not work, but the disks do

Steve Elliott · January 25, 2020, 13:48:59

Quote
both the 8" and 5 1/4" disks are very robust - usually data can still be saved and read from them after 40 years!

Oh good. I might actually have a real C64 by then.

3DzForMe · January 25, 2020, 18:00:02

QuoteHere's an interesting offshoot. both the 8" and 5 1/4" disks are very robust - usually data can still be saved and read from them after 40 years! The drives might not work, but the disks do

Yep, I've known them to be used as 'Frisbees' and still work

Steve Elliott · January 28, 2020, 19:28:31

I accidently bought a real C64 lol.

It's a C64c and looks in great condition for £79.99.

dawlane · January 28, 2020, 20:21:53

Quote from: Steve Elliott on January 28, 2020, 19:28:31
I accidently bought a real C64 lol.

It's a C64c and looks in great condition for £79.99.

Depends if the SID chip is still functional. Getting hold of a real SID and one that actually works can be a bit of a nightmare.

Steve Elliott · January 28, 2020, 20:31:09

The SID Chip is functional.

Xerra · January 28, 2020, 23:12:47

Quote from: Steve Elliott on January 28, 2020, 19:28:31
I accidently bought a real C64 lol.

Accidentally, eh? Heard that one before.

I'm thinking back to all those times I've been on Ebay while drunk and had packages arriving all week that I never remembered bidding on

I've got a broken Vic 20 in the loft room but not a real 64 yet. Just the C64 max at present but I do want a real one. Not a breadbin though, as i've always liked the look of the 64C later models and never had one.