Commodore 64
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Commodore 64 |
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Manufacturer: Commodore |
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The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home microcomputer created by Commodore Business Machines in 1982. While not distinctly marketed as such, it is a successor to the VIC-20, and is named after the 64kB of RAM equipped on the system.
The C64 is one of the most popular computers of all time, seeing success across North America and Europe, as well as dozens of smaller markets, meaning for most of the 1980s it was the best selling microcomputer across the world. Much of its success is due to Commodore purchasing MOS Technology and producing as many components as possible in-house, sparking off a price war in the US and pushing many of its competitors out of the market. In Europe it became marketed as a low cost games machine, competing against machines such as ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC.
At least 12.5 million Commodore 64s are believed to have been sold worldwide, though the true number is not known. The system was officially discontinued in April 1994.
Contents
Development
A team led by Yash Terakura at Commodore Japan developed the Commodore MAX Machine, a video game console and computer hybrid, for the Japanese market.[1] It later becomes the basis for the Commodore 64 computer.
The Commodore 64, a computer based on Commodore Japan's MAX Machine console/computer hybrid, was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, in 1982. It was developed by a team that included Yash Terakura[2] and Shiraz Shivji.[3]
Sega support
Like all home computers prior the rise of IBM PC compatibles running Windows 95 (and excluding the Sega-designed SC-3000), Sega did not bring any of its games to the Commodore 64 directly, instead licensing out arcade properties to the likes of Activision (Mediagenic) and U.S. Gold, which would in turn sub-license development work to smaller studios. Healthy consumer bases on both sides of the Atlantic meant the system was supported by Sega releases between 1983 and 1992, though not all games were released in both regions.
While the graphics capabilities of the C64 were notable for its day, the system is primarily known for its custom sound chip - the SID (Sound Interface Device for audio). Compared to the 128k ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC (and the 16-bit Atari ST) which used the simpler AY-3-8910 chip by General Instrument, the SID was considered a more capable chip and helped further the reputation of Commodore's machine.
List of Sega games for the Commodore 64
- Action Fighter (1989)
- After Burner (1988)
- Alien Storm (1991)
- Alien Syndrome (1988)
- Altered Beast (1990)
- Arcade Smash Hits: Limited Collector's Edition (1990)
- Bonanza Bros. (1992)
- Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom (1983)
- Coin Op Hits (1989)
- Congo Bongo (1983)
- Crack Down (1990)
- Cyber Police ESWAT (1990)
- Desolator (1988)
- Dynamite Dux (1989)
- Enduro Racer (1987)
- Frogger (1983)
- Frogger II: Threeedeep! (1984)
- G-LOC (1992)
- G-LOC/OutRun Europa (?)
- Galaxy Force II ( ?)
- Golden Axe (1990)
- Hot-Rod (1990)
- Last Battle (1991)
- Line of Fire (1990)
- OutRun (1987)
- OutRun Europa (1991)
- Passing Shot (1989)
- Power Drift (1989)
- Quartet (1987)
- Scramble Spirits (1990)
- SDI: Strategic Defense Initiative (1988)
- Sega Master Mix (1990)
- Shadow Dancer (1991)
- Shinobi (1989)
- Sonic Boom (1990)
- Space Harrier (1986)
- Space Harrier II (1990)
- Spy Hunter (1984)
- Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator (1983)
- Super Hang-On (1987)
- Super Monaco GP (1991)
- Super Sega (1991)
- Super Zaxxon (1985)
- Tapper (1984)
- Thunder Blade (1988)
- Time Scanner (1989)
- Turbo OutRun (1989)
- Up'n Down (1984)
- Wheels of Fire (1990)
- Wonder Boy (1987)
- Wonder Boy in Monster Land (1989)
- World Cup Soccer (1990)
- Zaxxon (1984)
Other Commodore 64 games also released for Sega systems
- Ace of Aces
- Alien
- Alien 3
- Atomic Robo-Kid
- Back to the Future Part II
- Back to the Future Part III
- Blockout
- Bomb Jack
- Bubble Bobble
- Budokan: The Martial Spirit
- California Games
- Championship Lode Runner
- Chase H.Q.
- Choplifter
- Chuck Rock
- Circus Charlie
- Comic Bakery
- CyberBall
- Dark Castle
- Double Dragon
- Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone
- Double Dragon II: The Revenge
- Drol
- Dropzone
- Elevator Action
- F-15 Strike Eagle
- Final Fight CD
- Fire & Forget II
- Forgotten Worlds
- Forgotten Worlds
- Gauntlet
- Gear Works
- Ghostbusters
- Ghouls'n Ghosts
- Gunship
- H.E.R.O.
- Hard Drivin'
- HardBall!
- Heroes of the Lance
- Hyper Sports
- Impossible Mission
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
- James "Buster" Douglas Knockout Boxing
- James Pond II: Codename RoboCod
- Jordan vs Bird
- King's Bounty: The Conqueror's Quest
- Klax
- Lemmings
- Lode Runner
- Marble Madness
- Mercs
- Midnight Resistance
- Might and Magic: Gates to Another World
- Montezuma's Revenge
- Ms. Pac-Man
- Ninja
- Operation Wolf
- Pac-Man
- Pac-Mania
- Paperboy
- Ping-Pong
- Pit-Fighter
- Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns
- Politique Economique
- Pooyan
- Puznic
- Q*bert
- R-Type
- Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2
- Rampage
- Rampart
- Rastan
- Renegade
- RoadBlasters
- Rock n' Bolt
- Shadow of the Beast
- Shanghai
- Shinnyuu Shain Tooru-kun
- Skull Island
- Slaughter Sport
- Smash T.V.
- Solomon no Kagi: Oujo Rihita no Namida
- Space Gun
- Special Criminal Investigation
- Speedball
- Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe
- Spy vs Spy
- Star Control
- Starflight
- Stormlord
- Strider
- Strider II
- Summer Games
- Super Off Road
- Super Space Invaders
- Technocop
- The Case of the Mad Mummy
- The Duel: Test Drive II
- The Faery Tale Adventure
- The Flintstones
- The Legend of Kage
- The NewZealand Story
- The Ninja Warriors
- The Search for King Solomon's Mines
- The Secret of Bastow Manor
- The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants
- Thermo Nuclear War Games
- Time Soldiers
- Turrican
- Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
- Ultimate Qix
- Vigilante
- Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?
- World Class Leader Board
- World Games
- Yie Ar Kung-Fu
- Yie Ar Kung-Fu II
- Zoom!
References
- ↑ ["The Game Machines: The Ultimax/Max Machine, 64GS, 64CGS", Retrobits "The Game Machines: The Ultimax/Max Machine, 64GS, 64CGS", Retrobits]
- ↑ ["Video Interview with Yash Terakura", Scene World: The C64 NTSC/PAL Disk Magazine "Video Interview with Yash Terakura", Scene World: The C64 NTSC/PAL Disk Magazine]
- ↑ [Classic Videogame Hardware Genius Guide, page 230, Imagine Publishing Classic Videogame Hardware Genius Guide, page 230, Imagine Publishing]