Commodore 64

- Manufacturer: Commodore International
- Designers: Bob Russell, Bob Yannes and David A. Ziembicki
- Generation: Second
- Bits: 8-bit
- Year Released: 1982
- Units sold: 17 million

The Commodore 64 was the single best selling personal computer of all time. It was primarily bought because of its gaming capabilities, but it also had business software applications. The C64 saw the rise of the demoscene and chiptunes.

History

The Commodore 64 began its formation with MOS Technology decided to make sound and video chips for the next big gaming console. These ended up being the VIC II and SID chips. While this was happening, Robert Russel and Robert Yannes, being unhappy with Commodore's current product lineup, proposed an idea for a low-cost sequel to Commodore's popular VIC-20 to Commodore's CEO, Jack Tramiel. He liked the idea, and decided that the computer should have 64 kB of RAM.

The computer had a very successful debut in 1982 at the Consumer Electronics Show. Atari employees were amazed, and they wondered how Commodore was able to make the computer for $595. Commodore's secret was vertical integration with MOS Technology, and the computer only had a $135 production cost in reality.

The Commodore 64 quickly sold very well due to its low price, impressive graphics, and impressive sound. In the quest for market domination, Commodore offered a $100 rebate to anyone who returned their current computer when purchasing a C64. Television commercials featuring William Shatner were also used in winning the market war.

The system finally died out in the early 90s, during the rise of 16 bit machines such as the Amiga series. However, the system remains the best selling personal computer model of all time, totaling 17 million sales.

Hardware

CPU

- 64 kilobytes of RAM
- 38 kilobytes of RAM available for Commodore BASIC 2.0
- 20 kilobytes of ROM
- 8-bit MOS Technology 6510 Microprocessor
  - 8-bit general purpose I/O port
  - Modified version of the very successful 6502
  - 16-bit address bus
  - 40-pin DIP

Graphics

- MOS Technology VIC II (Video Interface Chip II)
  - 16 kilobytes address space for screen, character, and sprite memory
  - 320 x 200 resolution
  - 40 x 25 characters text resolution
  - Three character display modes
  - Two bitmap modes
  - 16 colors
  - Handles up to 8 sprites simultaneously
  - Raster interrupt enables more control
  - Bus mastering
  - Smooth scrolling
  - 40-pin DIP

Sound

- MOS Technology SID (Sound Interface Device)
  - Three separately programmable oscillators with an 8-octave range
  - Four waveforms per oscillator (saw, triangle, pulse, noise)
  - Multi mode filter with low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass outputs
  - Three ASDR volume controls, one for each oscillator
  - Oscillator sync
  - Three ring modulators
  - Two 8-bit analog to digital converters
  - External audio input
  - Random number generator
  - 28-pin DIP

I/O Ports

- Cartridge expansion slot
- RF modulator antenna output
- 8-pin DIN connector for video output
- Serial bus for printers and disk drives
- Commodore Datassette 300 baud tape interface
- User port
- 2 screwless DE9M game controller ports, each supporting five digital inputs and two analog inputs

External Hardware

(Numbers in parentheses are official model numbers)

- Tape Drive (1530)
- Floppy Disk Drives (1541, 1551, 1570, 1571, 1581)
- Hard Drives
- Modem
- RAM Expansion Units (1700, 1750, 1764)
- Joystick
- Paddles
- Mice (1350, 1351)
- Light Pen
- Touchpad
- Monitors (1701, 1702)
- Freeze, Reset, and Utility cartridges
- Printers (1526)
- MIDI hardware
- External keyboards

Notable Qualities

Due to the relative simplicity involved with illegally copying software on the C64, piracy became very common for the system. Even with copy protection, "cracking crews" formed in an attempt to bypass the protection. These groups would often have their group signature appear when software cracked by them was loaded on a computer. As these crack intros became increasingly more complex and technically impressive, they eventually formed the start of the demoscene subculture.

The Commodore 64 also popularized the chiptune scene, and had artists such as Rob Hubbard, Martin Galway, and David Whittaker.

Notable Titles

Games

- Delta - high quality music by Rob Hubbard
- Elite - displayed 3D wireframe graphics
- International Karate
- Impossible Mission
- Defender of the Crown
- Skate or Die!
- Ghosts n' Goblins
- The Hobbit
- Pitstop 2
- Maniac Miner
- Head Over Heels - isometric perspective
- The Great Giana Sisters - blatant Mario clone
- Maniac Mansion
- Attack of the Mutant Camels
- Zaxxon
- Mayhem in Monsterland - pushed the graphics chip very far while maintaining a fast speed