New ITX project – Commodore C64 PC

Along with the Commodore Amiga, the Commodore C64  is by far my favorite computer of all time. I’ve been using one since the mid eighties and have spent many happy hours with this multi-talented beige bread bin.

Over the years I’ve owned quite a few of the original design, the C64c and the failed (but much loved) Commodore 64GS console.

My very 1st Commodore C64, which around 1988 I added an after market case to match the modern new style C64c….ugly isn’t it!

A few month back I read an interesting article about the current owners of Commodore releasing a new PC which takes inspiration from the original C64 design…..and it got me thinking!

Being a fan of ITX based PC’s and the weird and wacky world of making every day objects in to PC’s/servers (see blog post https://stiggyblog.wordpress.com/2009/09/26/commodore-1541-disk-drive-pc-mod-part-1/ ),  I thought it’d be a fun little project to use the casing from an old C64 and turn it into a PC. It’s been done many times before so I’m not doing anything new here but still, it should be a blast to make one.

The more I thought about this project, so formed a mental short list of the things I wanted achieve with this build.  Firstly and most importantly was that I want to keep the illusion of using a real C64 as much as possible. Having a C64 with a modern PC keyboard connected simply wouldn’t do, I want to use the original C64 keyboard.

After researching into this a little further, I came across a few sites where talented folk had managed to scratch build an encoder unit to get the original C64 keyboard working as a PC keyboard. It looks like a difficult process but I was all up for having a go until one of the RCM members pointed me in the direction of Amikit.com and the Keyrah device they have for sale.

With the Keyrah board, it’s possible to connect the interface from the original C64 keyboard and use it as a standard PC keyboard.  Perfect!

Another priority on my list was that I wanted the ability to connect an  original 9 pin joystick much the same as I use with my C64 and other 8-bit computers. I was thinking along the lines of a Cheetah or Quikshot II here. Originally I was going to use the internals from a PC joystick and retro fit it into a 9-pin joystick case, or alternatively use the reissued USB Comp Pro Joystick purchased last month.

Vintage Cheetah Annihilator, one of the many joysticks I picked up last week.

However, as the Keyrah also support 9-pin joysticks and can map directional controls to keyboard input (thinking joystick controls within the C64 emulator here) that’s that box ticked – Although, I’d still like to retro fit a classic joystick with a USB connection one day!

For the C64 emulation (and possible Vic-20, Plus 4) I will be using my favorite emulator – Vice64 (http://www.viceteam.org/.

Depending on which frontend I decide to use, mouse input for Windows is inevitable. I though about retro fitting an original 1351 mouse or Amiga ‘Tank’ mouse to USB but without a scroll wheel I’m not 100% sure I like that.

One fun idea I’ve been toying with is to buy one of those ultra flat usb mice, the one’s that that are only a centimeter tall and fit it inside a C64 rom cartridge. I have a non working ‘Simon’s Basic’ cart I could use for this but fabricating the mouse buttons might prove to be too difficult. At the moment it’s only idea so we’ll have to see.

New C64 mouse?

PC component wise, I have one or two ITX motherboards to choose from. I’ve tested the lower spec model which runs Vice64 very well but the deciding factor will be which one will actually fits comfortably considering that the CPU heatsink are usually quite large. PSU will be in the form of a ITX PSU board fitted inside the C64 case and external laptop ‘brick’ style main adapter.

Harddisk will be a standard SATA 2.5″ or possibly Solid State drive. I don’t plan to install a CD/DVD drive as it would be rarely used and I want to limit the number of holes that I need to drill out of the C64 case for fear and ruining the overall look.

PC power will be wired to the C64 power LED. HDD Activity HDD…hmm, will have to think about that one. Originally i was thinking about attaching an original C64 Action Replay cartridge and wire the LED to the power LED on the cart. Again, another idea I’m not too sure about yet.

If I can get everything ready in time, I’ll be demoing my C64 PC at the next RCM event in October. It should be a laugh to boot it with a ZX Spectrum emulator 🙂

I’ll post build pictures and words as I progress but until that time, if you have any comments,  or suggestions, please feel free post them.

*extra note – Amikit also supply a Keyrah device to suit an Amiga…I’m already thinking about building a Nano ITX or laptop motherboard based Amiga PC 🙂

Fun afternoon.

Prior to this Octobers Retro Computer Museum event, I said i’d pop down to the RCM storage unit to lend a hand sorting out various computers, bits and bobs and to test some of the TV, monitors and the odd suspect computer.

I’d set off early this morning but unfort, there’d been some sort of incident on the motorway which resulting in closing two full sections for well over 2 hours. With no hope of escaping I sat, with engine off wishing I’d set off even earlier 😦 Thankfully, I had a SD card full of SID tunes, various podcast and my laptop to keep myself busy until things got moving again.

By the time I’d got there, the chaps were already getting stuck in and had shifted half of the TV’s out into the hallway. Using various computers and consoles we set about testing each one and marking which inputs were working i.e RF, Composite, Scart.

Making a pile of systems to check. Quite nice to see that the Mattel Aquarius we picked up a few weeks back is in working order.

Taking a break, I was keen to take a closer look at one of Andy’s newest acquisitions, the Commodore SX64. I’ve wanted one myself for many years now and it was so nice to get up close to one and have a really good look.

Commodore SX64 (Commodore Amiga 1500 base unit below)

The SX64 was Commodore’s attempt to create the first full colour portable computer. Housed in briefcase type casing, it’s based on the popular Commodore C64 complete with integrated 5″ colour CRT display, floppy disk drive and detachable keyboard. Designed for the ‘executive on the move’ it didn’t sell very well but is very collectible today.

One day, if i can find one for sale that won’t break the bank, I’d love to own one myself.

Another test we wanted to try was to  see if we could set up a Sega Saturn to run with ten control pads connected (via two multitap units) so that RCM could host an epic  ten player  Super Bomberman tournament in October. After locating enough control pads, we tested Saturn after Saturn.

Not all of the units would work together but with lots of prodding, tinkering and swearing we managed to get two Saturn units working perfectly with all ten pads connected. Bomberman, here we come!

Messy but fun!

I didn’t come home empty handed too, and have a lovely bit of retro tech for a little project I’ll be starting soon. More on this to follow.

Retro Gaming: Commodore Amiga CD32

When the Commodore Amiga CD32 was released in 1993, I only gave it a brief glance and what I saw at the time didn’t  really impressive me. It seemed too little to late for Commodore, considering that the next batch of next gen consoles was just around the corner. In addition, the CD32 software library just wasn’t that inspiring too. Most were almost straight ports of existing Amiga 1200 games transferred to to CD or shovelware ports containing the odd FMV intro sequence.  It’s also around this time that early PC hits such as Doom and X-Wing were turning heads and luring gamers into the world of IBM clones.

The CD32 console is based around the Amiga 1200 Advanced Graphic Architecture (AGA) chipset & Motorolla 68EC020 CPU offering similar specifications to the A1200 home computer albeit new console casing and a CD-Rom drive instead of floppy disk drive.  Further expansion modules, like the expensive SX-1, could be used transform the console into a fully functional Amiga computer including inputs for a keyboard, floppy disk and hard disk drives. These modules are highly sought after now and can often fetch a premium on eBay.

CD32 boot screen.

The CD32 controller isn’t the best I’ve used either, it’s clunky and angular and not the most comfortable to hold for long periods. Games such as Cannon Fodder or Lemmings, original mouse based, are quite difficult to use with this controller (or is it just me 🙂 ) but thankfully the CD32 input ports  support standard Amiga mice.

It wasn’t until a few years ago, I found one virtually being given away at a boot sale with a stack of  games. Sadly, it’s been boxed and gathering dust ever since, but after picking up a few more titles on Friday, I thought I’d take a look at it again.

Armed with a handful of CD’s and a tube of toothpaste (great for cleaning old CD game titles) I spent the afternoon with the CD32 and one thing became clear…it’s actually rather good! Forgetting for an instance that at the time of it’s release the CD32 offered nothing new, a large proportion of the games are some of the finest Amiga ports ever released and those that had been enhanced to take advantage of the CD medium and AGA palette could be considered as the ultimate Amiga edition?

I’ll be posting more about some of these cracking titles over the next week or so. Until then, Rise of the Robots anyone…no?

Hello!

Another crazy week so again, no regular posts I’m afraid. Still recovering from last weekend’s Eurocon and getting stuck into some decorating back home. For now, the decorating is complete so we decided to give the whole house a good spring (Autumn clean). Cleaning ovens is not the best job in the world but needs must! Just a shame the cleaning product takes your breath away!

It’s taken us both practically all day, but after having things stacked in one room whilst I decorate the other, it’s so nice to have the house back to normal again.

It’s all go though as there’s work to be done outside in the garden especially as dry days and long sunny evenings are few and far between.

Lastly, thanks to the magic of twitter, I was able to pick up a boot full of retro gaming goodies yesterday evening which was being offered for free not far from where we live.

I haven’t had chance to go through everything yet, but there’s a Commodore 64c, x2 boxed Datasettes, about 100 game tapes, an Atari ST 520, lots of big boxed Atari games, a bag full of 9-pin joysticks, a few Commodore game cartridges, stacks of Amiga disks and a few Amiga CD32 games. Quite a few other bits n bobs so maybe tomorrow I’ll have chance to dig a bit deeper.

Eurocon Weekend – Sunday

In contrast to Saturday manic day at Eurocon, Sunday was much a more relaxed affair, chatting with friends and getting down to business on a range of consoles and computers.

But first, relaxed after a good nights sleep and twitchy after sinking the tallest Starbuck’s,  I had a score to settle with Sophie as I attempted to beat her record score. Karl had swapped out the Oric 1 for an Oric Atom and the regular style keys were taking some getting used too rather than the sensitive keys of the Oric -1.

My practise score wasn’t very impressive, but taking one final glug of strong coffee, off i went.

Things started well and i was soon racking up the score and plenty of lives and shields too. However, at the half way point things really ramp up and things get really tough. I was still some way off her score and had lost a whopping 4 lives within the space of about 3 minutes but with just one left I hung on as wrists began to scream. It’s weird really because the next half an hour was a blur and fingers dancing over the keys by themselves without any real thought..Oh yeah, I was in the groove 🙂

The final score to beat was Sophie’s 177,000 and my here’s mine 😛

Both the Oric – 1 and Atmos are highly sought after computers and can command quite a high price. I’m hoping to get myself one day but for now, I’m on the hunt for emulation!

By mid morning, the Lass was filling up again as folk had there daily dose of retro gaming goodness.

…and nice to see Richard enjoying a game or two, instead of fixing something that’s broken!

Andy begins coding a demo on the ZX Spectrum. Certainly is a talented coder.

The Sega bench

Eurocon was hosting quite a few gaming competitions. The Atari 2600 comp drew quite a few entries as gamers battled it out on ‘Combat’

By mid afternoon, things were quietening down somewhat so we decided to start packing away some of the RCM machines. It didn’t take that long really and i was soon outside waving my friends off and thanking them for a wonderful weekend. I still had a few hours to kill before my own train left so i heading back indoors to chat with the others and to say my goodbyes to some of the folk from the continent that had fights to catch.

Before leaving, i was sat at one of the cocktail cabs and thought i’d have a go at beating the days score on Galaga. It’s been awhile since I’ve last played it and got thoroughly hooked again.  Ever keeping an eye on the time i managed to get to the top which Duncan managed to capture the moment for me 🙂

With backpack even heavier than before thanks to a few items I’d picked up, including a Nintendo Gamecube I’d managed to score, I said my own goodbyes to the last remaining folk who I’d not see again until RCM’s October retro event, headed back to the train stations and a few hour later arrived home.

Eurocon has been such a great event and has been a pleasure to attend the whole weekend. Thanks must go out to Jon Legg who has put on one hellava show and a to Thomas Grauel from Germany, a very special thanks go out to you.

I’ll be uploading all my photos to my Flickr account soon for anyone wishing to take a look.