yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
b274874139
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
145 lines
6.9 KiB
Markdown
145 lines
6.9 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Commodore C64 GS (Games System)
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categories:
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- Consoles
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origins:
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- U.S.A.
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years:
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- '1990'
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cpus:
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- '6510'
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params:
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name: C64 GS (Games System)
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image: /media/museum/photos/commodore_gs64_1.jpg
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company: /companies/commodore
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company_name: Commodore
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: C64 GS (Games System)
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Commodore
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: U.S.A.
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- label: YEAR
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value: Christmas 1990
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: None
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: Atari compatible controllers
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- label: CPU
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value: '6510'
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- label: SPEED
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value: 0.985 MHz (PAL) / 1.023 MHz (NTSC)
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- label: CO-PROCESSOR
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value: VIC II (Video), SID (Sound)
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- label: RAM
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value: 64 KB
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- label: ROM
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value: 20 KB
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 'several, most used : 320 x 200'
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- label: COLORS
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value: '16'
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- label: SOUND
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value: 3 voices / 6 octaves (sound output through TV)
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: RGB (composite, chroma/luma and sound in/out), 2 x Joystick plugs, Cardridge slot, Power supply, RF TV output
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: Cartridges
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: External PSU
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- label: PRICE
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value: £99.99 (UK, 1990)
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tabs:
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- photos
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- software
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- emulators
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- links
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forum_thread: 749
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photos:
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- title: C64GS
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subtitle: ''
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text: '[Thomas Conté](http://www.pas.net)'
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image: /media/museum/photos/c64gs.jpg
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screenshots:
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- title: GYRUSS
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c64gs_gyruss_ss.png
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- title: LAST NINJA REMIX
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subtitle: Title screen 1
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c64gs_lastninjaremix_ss_1.png
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- title: LAST NINJA REMIX
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subtitle: Title screen 2
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c64gs_lastninjaremix_ss_2.png
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- title: LAST NINJA REMIX
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c64gs_lastninjaremix_ss_3.png
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- title: MOONPATROL
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c64gs_moonpatrol_ss_1.png
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- title: RICK DANGEROUS
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c64gs_rickdangerous_ss_1.png
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- title: STUNTCAR RACER
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c64gs_stuntcarracer_ss_1.png
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- title: INTERNATIONAL SOCCER
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c64gs_international-soccer_1.jpg
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- title: SCREENSHOT 1
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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When there is no cartridge inserted into the system, a small amiga-esque animation is diplayed, explaining how to insert a cartridge.
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The first image tells you that the system is powered but there is no cartridge inserted (thanks!).
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image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c64gs_boot_ss_1.png
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- title: SCREENSHOT 2
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subtitle: ''
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text: This image tells you to switch off the system and to insert a cartridge.
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image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c64gs_boot_ss_2.png
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- title: SCREENSHOT 3
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subtitle: ''
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text: The last image of the animation tells you to now switch on the system.
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image: /media/museum/software/commodore_c64gs_boot_ss_3.png
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emulators:
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- title: MESS emulator
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url: http://www.mess.org
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platform: Other platform
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text: This well known multiplatform emulator emulates the C64 GS as well
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links:
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- title: Def guide to ZZAP64!
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url: http://www.zzap64.co.uk/zzap66/thec64gs.html
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text: An article from ZZAP64, dated from 1987, describing the brand new C64 GS system
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- title: The Secret Weapons of Commodore
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url: http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/ultimax.html
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text: This excellent site as a very nice page about the C64 GS
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oc_id: 768
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230604170655/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=768
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date: '2023-06-04'
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---
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The C64 GS (Games System) is basically a C64 motherboard in a simple beige plastic case without a keyboad, serial port and tape interface. Apart from some minor ROM changes the circuitboard inside is exactly a C64. Thus it can play all the C64 cartridges that don't require interaction with the keyboard. Some cartridges were specificaly produced for the C64 GS, but there are a few... These cartridges could also be used with the original C64 or C128 both being equiped with the same cartridge slot.
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Priced at £99.99 in UK (Christmas 1990), the console was packaged with a joystick and a cartridge containing International Soccer, Klax, Flimbo's Quest and Fiendish Freddy's Big Top O'Fun. But as history told us, putting aging computer technology into a gaming system, never made it a winner... The Amstrad GX-4000 (using CPC hardware), the Amiga CD-32 (using Amiga hardware), the Atari XEGS (using XE xomputers hardware) or the C64 GS never became top selling systems. The companies usually tried this strategy to desperatly compete with new waves of systems. For the C64 GS that was Nintendo NES and Sega Master System. The Megadrive was even released a few months later as well as the Nintendo Superfamicom (at least in Japan). Given this information, it's clear that the C64 GS, or the Amstrad GX-4000 released at the same time and same price, could not compete...
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Moreover, for a few bucks more you could buy a real C64 computer! The C64 Games System was only sold in UK in 1990, and Denmark in 1991...It was a massive flop. 80,000 units were produced; less than 25% of them eventually sold. Most of the remaining units were taken back and dissassembled for parts for the 64G.
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---
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**Taneli Lukka** from Finland reports:
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The machine actually has a cassette connector and user port on the motherboard, but there are no holes for them in the case, it seems that either the machine was originally supposed to have the ability to play tape games too (would seem quite likely, you really only need one or two buttons to load a game from tape) or then it was cheaper to manufacture the motherboard with fewer changes compared to the C=64 computer. There might have also been some peripherals planned for the user port, but both the cassette compatibility and the user port thing must have been scrapped well before release because there are no holes for them in the case. These ports did enable Commodore to use the unsold machines as parts for C=64 computers when the console bombed.
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The machine came packaged with a Cheetah Annihilator joystick, which is probably one of the worst joysticks of all time. It's a real wonder why Commodore didn't use one of their own sticks (which are all manufactured by other companies, they just have C= stickers on them) which are not very good either, but atleast you can play with them. The reason might be that The Annihilator just matched the colour of the machine.
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<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>
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