The Vorpal save and load utilities are for placing user-created files and programs in a special fast-loading format.

Unlike the Fast Load Cartridge from Epyx, the Vorpal fast loading feature will not speed the loading of “off-the-shelf” programs and games purchased from software manufacturers.

Includes powerful utilities for Commodore 64/128.

• 1541 Head Alignment: Head Alignment Utility puts most 1541 disk drives back on track.
• File Recovery Utility: Finds and recovers files that were erased by mistake.
• Super-Fast Disk Format: Epyx’s own format utility formats disks in approximately 25 seconds. Normal formatting time is almost 2 minutes.
• Super-Fast File Backup: Fast file backup utility recognizes many different file formats including relative and Vorpal files.
• Super-Fast Disk Backups: High speed disk backup can duplicate a disk in a fraction of the time it normally takes.
• Disk Drive Speed Check: Diagnostic utility monitors the performance of Commodore 1541 and 1571 disk drives.
• Vorpal* Save/Load: Special Vorpal save and load utilities place user-created files and programs in Vorpal format. Files and programs load up to 25 times faster than normal.

Download: Vorpal Utility Kit (1329)

source: elisoftware.org noname.c64.org

This is a new graphics-mode for the Commodore 128 with 64KB VDC RAM.

There are two Video modes, one is called: VDC-IHFLI (640×480 pixels) and the other one is: VDC-FLI (480×252 pixels).

The archive contain the software (converter) for M$ Windows and some demos.

Download: VDC-IHFLI Converter & Demo (1002)

Download: VDC-FLI Converter & Demo (926)

source: noname.c64.org

Onslaught / Wrath Designs / Vandalism, bring to you the 56th issue of the Vandalism News.

Download: Vandalism News #56 (983)

source: noname.c64.org

Subchrist has updated his Sprite Editor for Commodore 64. Sprite Pad is a free cross-platform development tool for designing sprite images and animations.

Improvements and changes in this version:

• Added single file projects (spd format)
• Added VICE snapshot ripper.
• Expanded browser window from 6×6 (36) to 8×7 (56) sprites.
• Added quantity control.
• Removed horizontal scroll from the browser as it was fiddly to navigate.
• Set default palette order back to standard to improve colour identification.
• Added Import/Export options with support for SEUCK/PRG files.

General Program Features:

• Edit and animate multicolour and high-resolution sprite images.
• Rotations. A World first?, Free rotate with variable angle limiter, auto-generate rotation sequences in any mode with 1 degree accuracy.
• Overlays. Allows the designing of 2 sprites as one + animation and rotation support!.
• Multiple Palettes. User editable palette file supports up to 20 additional palettes. (Default palette is now technically accurate).

System Requirements:

• The program has been designed, programmed and tested on a 32-bit Windows XP (SP3) system.
• The development machine has an Athlon XP 2400+ (2Ghz) with 512MB of RAM and an old 64MB Nvidia Geforce4 MX GFX card.

Download: Sprite Pad v1.8 (986)

source: subchrist homepage

This is a compact, feature-filled dual-SID board, designed to provide a proper way to mount a second SID inside your C64 or C128 without resorting to the old piggyback hack.

Variations available to fit most C64 and C128 computers. Second SID can be placed at any 32-byte boundary from $DE00 to $DFE0, and it works in the $D420-$D4E0 range also. C128/C128-D users can also use $D700-$D7E0.

Easy no-solder installation – just move your computer’s SID chip onto the Stereo SID board, plug it into the motherboard SID socket, and connect a few micro-hook clips.

source: digitalaudioconcepts.com

petSD is the name of the new AVR-based hardware. It’s a modern mass storage solution for Commodore PET/CBM computers with IEEE 488 bus using SD cards as floppy or hard disc replacement.

If you know the SD2IEC or µIEC: the petSD is just the same but for the older parallel IEEE 488 bus instead of the newer serial IEC bus.

The petSD is still a work in progress and there still are some issues.

A petSD consists of at least:

• ATmega 1284P.
• Red and a green LED (may be combined in one).
• SD slot.
• IEEE 488 connector.

source: nils eilers homepage

Sheepoid the brillant game by Richard Bayliss (Psytronik) for Commodore 64 has been cracked and trained by Onslaught.

The game’s story goes as follows:

“A nightmare has just begun! The Neon Vortex is under attack from strange and bizarre psychedelic experiences from outer space! We have transported two micro sheep to fight against the Neon Vortex invaders.

Your sheep are also armed with a deadly SMART BOMB that will destroy everthing on the screen. Use these wisely as your sheep can only carry one smart bomb per level. ou must also rescue baby sheep trapped in the vortex, if you shoot them you will lose 1000 points from your score. Be careful when using the SMART BOMB as this will also destroy any baby sheep on the screen!”

Download: Sheepoid +4 Cracked/Trained by Onslaught (1370)

source: psytronik.net noname.c64.org pokefinder.org

This is one of my favorite games of the 80′s, thanks to Avatar for the crack/trainer.

Bounty Bob Strikes Back! is the sequel to Miner 2049er and was initially released in 1984 for the Atari 8-bit series of computers.

It was later ported to the Atari 5200, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum in 1985. Gameplay is similar to Miner 2049er in that the player must inspect every section of 25 mines while avoiding mutants within a set time.

One improvement to this sequel is after losing a life, sections on platforms remain covered and destroyed enemies do not reappear, thus making it easier to complete a level.

Download: Bounty Bob Strikes Back +7 by Avatar (1460)

source: noname.c64.org

Atari User magazine is aimed squarely at the Atari enthusiast and we cover all of the Atari consoles, and computers.

The magazine provides features on Atari history, classic Atari hardware, great software titles from the past and we take a look at computer and gaming industry as it was back in the eighties and nineties.

This issue includes:

• A review of the Atari 1200XL.
• S-Video for your Atari 8-bit.
• A look at the new and excellent IDE 2 Plus interface.
• Review of new Star Raiders for Atari.
• Atari ST coin-ops conversions.
• Unreleased gems for the Atari 2600, 5200 and 7800.
• The Atari Lynx goes head to head against the Sega Game Gear.

source: atariuser.com

This is a updated version of the JCH’s Music Editor by Dane of Booze Design.

Download: JCH 3.1+NP22-25 (899)

source: noname.c64.org

This is a GUI for programming Alien Flash cartridge via USB and for transferring D64 / PRG files.

Download (binary): Alien Flash cartridge GUI (948)

Download (sources): Alien Flash cartridge GUI (863)

source: noname.c64.org lemon64.org wiki

The support of the IEEE-488 protocol (thanks to Tommy Winkler) is officially part of OpenCBM distibution.

You can find newest source code for ZoomFloppy in the Opencbm GIT repository.

Software revision v0.6 for IEEE-488 support:

• Device detection for 3040, 4040, 8050, 8250, SFD-1001 (as 8250).
• CBMCTRL.
• CBMCOPY.
• D64COPY for 4040 (thanks to TNT) and 2031.
• D82COPY for 8050, 8250 and SFD-1001.

Firmware revision v0.07 for IEEE-488 support:

• 0.7 (2011/5/10) – Add IEEE-488 support (thanks to Tommy Winkler).

source: sourceforge.net tommy winkler homepage retro innovations

Another Tropyx production called Arpeggio is just a music collection of talented composer named Surgeon.

Download: Arpeggio music collection by Tropyx (941)

source: noname.c64.org

C64 Studio is a .NET based IDE written by Georg Rottensteiner.

This app supports project based C64 assembly. The internal assembler is using the ACME syntax.

In connection with Vice the IDE allows you to debug through your code and watch variables/memory locations, registers and memory.

Any other emulator can be set up as well if it’s startable via runtime arguments. C64 Studio allows you to compile to raw binary, .prg, .t64 or cartridge format (.bin and .crt for 8k and 16k).

Additionally to this C64 Studio comes with a charset and sprite editor.

Version history:

02.06.2011 – 1.2b:

• Fixed crash when pushing “Macros” without active document.
• Fixed copy/paste bug in charset editor.
• Added clipboard import for sprites.
• Cleared undo buffer on direct file load.
• Fixed parse bug which allowed LDA/STA (xxx),x
• Added copy/paste for sprites.

24.05.2011 – 1.2a:

• Fixed sprite editor import and export (horribly messed up)

Download: C64 Studio beta (960)

source: lemon64.com

The Hybrid SID is a portable SID Player with a OLED LCD and a USB connector.

The Hybrid SID plays the most common variety of chiptunes, music written for playback on a SID chip. Probably the biggest collection of SID music is the High Voltage SID Collection, which has 36,000 SID tunes, free to download.

This prototype use a real SID chip (6581/8580) for play music and a CUI32 PIC32MX Development Stick for the CPU (6510) Emulation.

A YouTube video is available here.

source: dangerousprototypes.com