112
RETRO
OCTOBER 2019|COMPUTERSHOPPER|ISSUE 380
I
fthere is one thing we have learned
about computing over the decades, it’s
the notion that popular machines don’t
die.Sure,individual devices mayrefuse to
power up,oryou mayhavetrouble loading
your collection of dusty discs or carelessly
stored cassettes, but as acollective they
tend to live on somewhere,someplace –
usually lighting up someone’s otherwise
dark back room.
The reason is simple enough: people
care about old computers, often with great
passion. When one reaches the end of its
commercial life, it can spring forth intoanew
heavenly era, in which hobbyists seize control
and keep the memories alive.Insome cases,
aretro machine can even be revived, which
brings us neatly to the Commodore 64.
Launched in January 1982, the C64, as it
is commonly known, was an astonishing
success, enthralling users with thousands of
games and sitting at the heart of many a
business. It died commercially in 1993, but it
was laid to rest as the best-selling computer
model of all time,with more than 17 million
sales, paving the wayfor aproud place in the
Guinness Book of World Records.
Such past prominence has given the
machine enough of alegacy to continue
making it aviable proposition today.
We’ve already seen the computer spring
back to lifeasaminiature version in early
2018 called THEC64 Mini –aconsole-like
device without aworking keyboard that
connected to aTVvia an HDMI port and
came with 64 built-in games.
Now,however,the company behind that
mini marvel –Retro Games Limited –isgoing
one better.Come December,itwill have anew,
cloned version of the Commodore 64 on shop
shelves, one that is identical in size to the
original. Crucially,itwill include afull working
keyboard, and there is every chance it could
attract awhole new set of fans.
“THEC64 Mini has clearly brought back
so many happychildhood memories forso
many people,” explains Paul Andrews,
Retro Games’ managing director.
“When people sayitlets them show
the computer to their kids just like their
parents did with them, it’s particularly
touching, but some people have held out
forthe full-sized version. It’s an honour to
be able to do it at last.”
PLAYITAGAIN,SID
Youdon’t have to look fartosee the C64’s
continued popularity.Ahealthy community
rallies around the machine making new
games, and many words are written in blogs,
on social media and within agood number of
print fanzines. Old titles are played in part or
in full, and many are recorded as walkthroughs
112
⬆The original Commodore 64 is getting a
full-size update
Willyoustillneedme?
AstheCommodore64getsreadytoberebornasanew plug-and-play device
withafully functionalkeyboard andbuilt-inBasic,DavidCrookeslooksatits
potentialimpactonthe computer’s already bustlingcommunity
Im
ag
e:
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