Gaming Gear of Yesteryear: Commodore 64

Commodore 64

Year Released: 1982 

Manufacturer: Commodore




Did you know?

There are numerous underground sites dedicated to keeping the Commodore 64 alive and thriving. Check out and the more recent .



What is it?

In the 80s, you were either an Amstrad, Spectrum, or Commodore kid. The C64 boasted a whopping 64K of memory, incredible sound, 16 colours, and superb hi-res graphics (for its time). It was also many kids' first experience with an online network when Commodore released the Compunet Modem, allowing them to spend all night downloading demos and chatting with other like-minded gaming fans.


Why do I need it?

For a treasure trove of original games that are still worth playing today. Titles like The Eidolon, Creatures, Wizball, and Ballblazer are some of the best and earliest games from Lucasfilm. Their first release, Rescue On Fractalus, used a pioneering technique to generate a believable 3D landscape - finding a 'Jaggi' enemy hammering on your cockpit window is still chilling and believable enough to make you jump over three decades later!


Look out for?

The C64 Maxi - a full-sized Commodore 64 with a working keyboard. You can even add your own .D64 files. It connects to any modern TV via HDMI for crisp 720p HD visuals at 60 Hz or 50 Hz. There are over forty pre-installed games, including California Games and Cybernoid 2.

Where can I get one?

Just about anywhere. I picked one up for £49, but Amazon and Argos should have you covered. For more information, check out .

Alternatively

The internet is packed with resources to keep the C64 alive. will set you on the right path, along with for game-related downloads. Finally, offers access to thousands of reviews.


#c64 #commodore #commodore64 #retrogaming #nostalgia #videogames

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