“Last year, Retro Games announced the C64 Mini, a small version of the classic Commodore 64 PC, that comes pre-installed with 64 games,” Rich Woods reports for Neowin. “The device launched in March, but the company announced today that the North American version will launch on October 9.”
“And along with the 64 classic games, the C64 Mini actually functions as a real PC, with a whopping 64KB (that’s kilobytes, with a ‘K’) RAM, and such advancements as color graphics,” Woods reports. “Yes, you can experience the Commodore 64 as it was meant to be, but with some modern improvements like USB ports and HDMI with 720p output.”
Woods reports, “Retro Games hasn’t confirmed a price, but it should be around $70.”
MacDailyNews Note: The keyboard keys are non-functional.
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: One word:
JUMPMAN!
SEE ALSO:
A history of the Amiga, part 10: The downfall of Commodore – January 22, 2017
Commodore founder Jack Tramiel dead at 83 – April 9, 2012
Apple pulls Commodore 64 emulator for iPhone from App Store – September 8, 2009
Apple co-founder Woz helps celebrate Commodore 64’s 25th anniversary – December 12, 2007
Everything old is new again…
No Loadrunner… Man, that’s a bummer
And no ‘LAST NINJA’. That was a classic!
It DOES have Impossible Mission, though. That’s where I lost most of my time.
Seems though the ‘keyboard’ on the device is only cosmetic you can plug any USB keyboard in and use it. 😀
Commodore 64 in 2018 and Senator Bernie Sanders in 2010!
There’s a rumor that if the mini unit sells well that a full size version with working keyboard is a possibility. 😀 Would love to have one of those!
People get them mostly for nostalgic reasons, right?
Yes, the hardcore fans are basically in for nostalgia. However, if a full size version that can be connected directly to any HD tv set comes to be, I would wager it would be a cheap and fun tool to introduce simple programming with very little extra setup and immediate ‘feedback’ on your code by simply executing it. Being a system extremely resistant to viruses would be a plus. 😀
I wonder how it would compare to Apple’s Swift Playground to learn programming.
2020 of course!
People are missing the point. The device is a fully functioning C64 computer. If the game you like isn’t on the unit then just down load it for free off the internet onto a USB thumb drive, plug it in and load the game in. Pretty much every C64 game ever made is available online. The HDMI port means you can plug it in to any modern TV. 64 basic kilobytes bytes free? It’s a good deal for any retro gamer. Now if only Apple would bring out a mini Apple ][c, ][gs or colour classic Mac in a similar manner then the retro market would look really interesting.
Exactly. I would enjoy acquiring similar Apple ][ series devices too. Gotta break out all my old Compute! magazines to type in the programs. 😀