Commodore 64 Games Machine

The Commodore 64 Games System (often abbreviated C64GS) was released in 1990 in Europe as a cartridge-based game console version of the popular Commodore 64 home computer. However, the system was plagued with problems from the outset and became a commercial failure.

Based on the 8-bit Commodore 64 home computer first released in 1982, the C64GS entered the market 8 years later, competing against newer 16-bit consoles such as the Super Nintendo and the Sega Mega Drive. Despite the hundreds of software titles available on cartridge for C64, the lack of keyboard meant that most could not be used with the C64GS. There was little enthusiasm from software companies to produce games for the console, and as a result, only 28 games were produced during its shelf life. These included the four games that came bundled with system: International Soccer, Fiendish Freddy's Big Top O'Fun, Klax and Flimbo's Quest. Only 9 of the 28 games were unique to the system; the remaining titles were simply ports of older cassette-based games.

Specifications

Processor

• MOS Technology 8500
• Clock speed: 0.985 MHz (PAL)

RAM

• 64 KB (65,535 bytes).
• 0.5 KB Colour RAM (1K nybbles)

ROM

• 20 KB (7 KB KERNAL, 4 KB character generator providing two 2 KB character sets)

Video

• MOS Technology VIC-II MOS 8569 (PAL)
  • 16 colours
  • Text mode: 40x25; user-defined characters; smooth scrolling
  • Bitmap modes: 320x200, 160x200 (multicolour)
  • 8 hardware sprites, 24x21 pixels

Sound

• MOS Technology 8580 'SID'
  • 3 voices, ADSR programmable
  • 4 Waveforms: Triangle, Sawtooth, Variable Pulse, Noise
  • Oscillator Synchronization, Ring modulation
  • Programmable Filter: High Pass, Low Pass, Band Pass, Notch Filter

I/O

• Composite video (one-signal video output to monitor included in afore mentioned 8-pin DIN plug, and separate integrated RF modulator antenna output, which also carries sound, to TV on an RCA socket)
• High-quality Y/C (S-Video) (8-pin DIN plug) with chroma/luma out and sound in + out, used with some Commodore video monitors (DIN-to-phono plug converter delivered with monitor)
• 2 x screwless DE9M game controller ports (Atari 2600 de facto standard, supporting one digital joystick each
• Cartridge slot (slot for edge connector with 6510 CPU address/data bus lines and control signals, as well as GND and voltage pins; used for program modules)
• Power supply: 5V DC and 9V AC from external 'monolithic power brick', attached to computer's 7-pin female DIN-connector