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The 80s home computer is back. A full size, full featured re-release of the Commodore 64 is hitting retail this fall under the name C64.
Back in time
You might remember last fall, when a Commodore 64 retro console showed up in stores. That unit was small, like the current crop of ‘mini’ retro consoles, and didn’t pack in a keyboard. Yes, you could add one, but it didn’t ship that way. It also didn’t have a disc drive, and was mainly meant to just play the stock games that it included and that was it.
This, what we’re talking about today, is not that. The C64 is instead a fully functional Commodore 64 clone, and it’s landing in stores this Holiday.
The full sized THEC64 has a full working keyboard, comes with an updated micro switch classic joystick which plugs into one of the four USB ports, and connects to any modern TV via HDMI. It features three switchable modes – boot straight into original C64 BASIC, VIC20 BASIC or switch to the Games Carousel and play one of the 64 built in games in 50Hz or 60Hz, with optional CRT Filters/Screen modes.
Koch Media press release
Carousel? Yes, while this is a full size Commodore, there are some built in games for the C64. Quite a few actually, totaling up to 64 titles. Those include classics like “California Games, Paradroid and Boulder Dash; with new additions like Attack of the Mutant Camels, Hover Bovver, Iridis Alpha, and Gridrunner”. Even newer stuff (yes, there apparently is such a thing) like “shoot ‘em up Galencia and text adventure Planet of Death” are included. So you should have a nice spread of titles to play with.
If that’s not enough for you, Koch Media and Retro Games also say that you can add your own C64 and VIC20 games to the unit. That’s done via USB flash drive. There’s also mention of “multi disc titles” in the press release, though I have to admit I’m not sure what’s meant by that.
The C64 hits stores on December 5th, with more on the horizon. According to Retro Games’ Paul Andrews the C64 is “the second in a planned series of products on the way.”
