Commodore Joystick 1342 donated from a friend.

HermIRES it’s a cross-platform hires bitmap (Art Studio 1 format) editor for the Commodore 64.

The format has some restrictions, here are the rules:

• The maximal resolution of the picture is 320×200
• Only 16 fix C64 colours can be used (no gradient either)
• In a 8×8 pixel-block only 2 colours can used to be displayable by C64 (this is detected in HermIRES, but .hbm files can be saved with clashes too.)
• On a real C64 the PAL will blur the screen-content a bit, should check on CRT, or at least VICE emulator’s CRT simulation.

Changelog:

• Gave 45 pixel taskbar-height for GUI-size auto-detector (more tolerance)
• LoadVPL() is now before LoadFile() in ‘main’ (by commandline-argument or from config-setting) so opening .png/.bmp at startup is converted correctly with the latest palette.
• Caption name now doesn’t contain the extra letter at the end (string-delimiter 0 was put in wrong place by loop)

Download:

• HermIRES v1.28 (Windows/Linux) (1041)

source: hermit.netne.net

Some new games (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups: Alpha Flight, Alf Yngve, Antarctica, Onslaught, Nostalgia and Really Proud Lamers.

Download:

• Psycho Soldier +7DFIR 101% (1106)
• Labyrinth +2D (Shaun Southern) (1100)
• Spy Rider (1040)
• Inertiania +2D (1078)
• Bad Scrolling Game Preview +2H (1041)
• Berzerk Redux Special Edition +4DF 101% [pal/ntsc] (1036)
• All Games in One Archive (2585)

source: csdb.dk

Some new games (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups: Iceout, Norbert Kehrer, onebitman, Onslaught, Nostalgia, Martin Piper, RGCD and Genesis Project.

Download:

• Bad Scrolling Game Preview (1246)
• Asteroids Emulator (Build March 18, 2013) (1122)
• Invasor +2 100% (1075)
• Sheer Earth Attack +2D (1113)
• Finding Elvis (1065)
• Asteroids Emulator +6D 101% (1129)
• Black Hawk +9D (1156)
• Berzerk Redux Special Edition +4D 101% (1064)
• Berzerk Redux Final (crt) (1203)
• All Games in One Archive (2588)

source: csdb.dk

Autopsy:

12►

from Wikipedia:

The GX4000 was Amstrad’s short-lived attempt to enter the games console market. The console was released in Europe in 1990 and was an upgraded design based on the then still-popular CPC technology. The GX4000 shared hardware architecture with Amstrad’s CPC Plus computer line, which were released concurrently, this allowed the system to be compatible with the majority of CPC Plus software.

The GX4000 was both Amstrad’s first and only attempt at entering the console market. Although offering enhanced graphics capabilities, it failed to gain popularity in the market, and was quickly discontinued, selling 15,000 units in total.

James Harding of The Times said that the console was “promptly outgunned by the 16-bit Sega Mega Drive and Super Nintendo – it failed the cardinal test of entrepreneurship: stamina.”

After months of speculation, the GX4000 was officially announced along with the 464 plus, and 6128 plus computers at the CNIT Centre in Paris in August 1990. The system was launched a month later in four countries, Britain, France, Spain, and Italy, priced at £99.99 in Britain, and 990f in France, software was priced at £25 for most titles. The racing game Burnin’ Rubber, a power pack, and two controllers were bundled with the machine.

Initial reviews of the console were favourable, with CVG calling it a “neat looking and technically impressive console that has an awful lot of potential at the very low price of £99″, but while impressed by the graphical capabilities, they criticised the audio and controllers. ACE magazine came to a similar conclusion, stating that the system “puts the other 8-bit offerings to shame bar the PC-Engine”.

A marketing budget of £20 million was set aside for Europe, with the advertising focused on selling the GX4000 as a home alternative to playing arcade games, the tagline for the machine was “Bring the whole arcade into your home!”

source: wikipedia

I have repaired an motherboard of a Commodore CBM 4008 for a friend. The computer at the start-up shows only a black screen

The components that have been replaced are:

• 1 x Video Ram 2114
• 2 x SN74LS244
• 1 x 6520

The computer after the repair works perfectly. You can see from the Photo.

Autopsy:

123►

from Wikipedia:

The Sinclair ZX80 is a home computer brought to market in 1980 by Science of Cambridge Ltd. (later to be better known as Sinclair Research). It is notable for being the first computer (unless one counts the MK14) available in the United Kingdom for less than a hundred pounds (£99.95). It was available in kit form, where purchasers had to assemble and solder it together and as a ready-built version at a slightly higher cost. The ZX80 was very popular straight away, and for some time there was a waiting list of several months for either version of the machine.

Internally, the machine was designed by Jim Westwood around a Z80 central processing unit with a clock speed of 3.25 MHz, and was equipped with 1 kB of static RAM and 4 kB of read-only memory (ROM). The ZX80 was designed around readily available TTL chips; the only proprietary technology was the firmware. While the successor ZX81 used a semi-custom chip (a ULA or Uncommitted Logic Array), this merely combined the functions of the earlier hardware onto a single chip — the hardware and system programs (except the BASIC versions) were very similar, with the only significant difference being the NMI-generator necessary for slow mode in the ZX81. (See ZX81 for technical details.) Both computers can be made by hobbyists using commercially available discrete logic chips or FPGAs.

The ROM contained the Sinclair BASIC programming language, editor, and operating system. BASIC commands were not entered by typing them out but were instead selected somewhat similarly to a scientific calculator – each key had a few different functions selected by both context and modes as well as with the shift key.

The machine was mounted in a tiny white plastic case, with a one-piece blue membrane keyboard on the front; it owed its distinctive appearance to industrial designer Rick Dickinson. There were problems with durability, reliability and overheating (despite appearances, the black stripes visible on the top rear of the case are merely cosmetic, and are not ventilation slots).

source: wikipedia

Some new games (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups: INFERIOR Software International, Alakran, Laxity and Genesis Project.

Download:

• Asteroids Emulator (Build March 6, 2013) (1096)
• Gold Quest 5 - Demo (1020)
• Memotest [spanish] (1037)
• Invasor +2 (1021)
• Little Sara Sister Trilogy 101% [pal/ntsc] (1195)
• Little Sara Sister 2 (Sales Version) +8F [pal/ntsc] (964)
• All Games in One Archive (2645)

source: csdb.dk

Detailed photo:

I have used the CIF Power Clean and Sponge dishes, with the porous Bakelite (this keyboard) you can also use the rough side of the sponge without any problems. Don’t use the rough side with the plastic.

I have to thank Andrea for giving me this keyboard. The keyboard has replaced the wrong one of my 8296-D.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.

Autopsy:

12►

Super Riteman C+ is a Printer for Commodore 64/128 donated by Damiano Colombari (Manosoft). Thanks Damiano.

Some new games (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups: Avatar, Alpha Flight, Laxity, Bad Taste and Norbert Kehrer.

Download:

• The Fort +EHD [pal] (1061)
• Q-hop +4GD (1044)
• Chameleon +3 (1018)
• Nuclear Reaction 2100 (1085)
• Assembloids +2HD [pal/ntsc] (1081)
• Counting Parade +1D [ntsc/pal] (1061)
• Shaolin+ +2HD [pal/ntsc] (1026)
• Asteroids Emulator (Build March 2, 2013) (1031)
• Asteroids Emulator (2013-03-02) +1D [pal/ntsc] (1074)
• All Games in One Archive (2583)

source: csdb.dk

This program works as a program launcher for Commodore machines. Even if it was originally intended for a device with sd2iec firmware, it works also with any CBM drive (without sd2iec functions of course).

It is a multi-system version derived from the discontinued sd2brwse v.0.6 by Hannu Nuotio (fork() of sdbrowse v.0.7)

The Vic-20 Mega-Cart Installer is based on sys.asm sources of mega-tools by Daniel Kahlin, sort routine by Michael Kircher.

Current supported machines:

• C64.
• C64DTV.
• Vic-20 unexpanded.
• Vic-20 +3K RAM.
• Vic-20 +8K RAM or plus (for FE3 use this version)
• Vic-20 with Mega-Cart.
• C16 / C116 / Plus4.
• C128 in 64 mode.
• C128 80 Columns.

Changelog:

• v.0.1 – 01-Sep-2009 (Start of project, C64/C64DTV only)
• v.0.2 – 21-Oct-2009 (First working version for Vic-20 +8K RAM)
• v.0.3 – 06-Jan-2010 (Added memory config auto-detection for Vic-20 selected program)
• v.0.4 – 19-Jan-2010 (Added support for Vic-20 with Mega-Cart and manual start mode)
• v.0.5 – 10-Feb-2010 (Added support for Vic-20 unexpanded and Vic-20 +3K RAM)
• v.1.0 – 05-Mar-2010 (First public version, minor issues fixed, C64 and Vic-20 supported)
• v.1.1 – 22-Jun-2010 (Added support for D41 and DNP file images, sd2iec firmware v.0.9.0 or higher required)
• v.1.2 – 09-Oct-2010 (Added SJLOAD speed-up option to the manual mode of the Mega-cart version)
• v.1.3 – 31-May-2012 (Added support for C16/C116/Plus4, Sort directories, cosmetic changes)
• v.1.4 – 19-Jul-2012 (Added JIFFYDTV speed-up support for C64-DTV, Clear screen before RUN)
• v.1.5 – 03-Mar-2013 (Added support for C128, and uppercases disk images D64,D81,D71 etc.)

Download: CBM FileBrowser v1.5 (3996)

source: vic20.it/cbmfilebrowser

Commodore Free Magazine Issue #67

Free to download Commodore magazine dedicated to Commodore Computers.

Download:

• Commodore Free Magazine Issue #67 (D64) (1006)
• Commodore Free Magazine Issue #67 (PDF) (2063)
• Commodore Free Magazine Issue #67 (TXT) (1014)

source: commodorefree.com

Some new games (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups: Antarctica, Really Proud Lamers, Laxity, TRIAD, Norbert Kehrer and Mad Hacker’s Incorporated.

Download:

• Space-Devil +2ED (1072)
• Snake +2 (1089)
• S-Blox +D (1059)
• Asteroids Emulator +1D [pal/ntsc] (1023)
• Asteroids + (1047)
• Asteroids Emulator (1171)
• Mondo Wordo II +3D [ntsc/pal] (1107)
• History & Geography Grades 3 - 10 (1061)
• All Games in One Archive (2535)

source: csdb.dk