Switching to Google+

In an effort to minimize duplicating entries and articles, I've started posting everything over on Google+. My public page is here:

https://plus.google.com/114361850887459453753

Better yet, put me in your circles and I will add you to my Commodore group.

Cheers!

Lode Runner on Xbox 360

Lode Runner has changed quite a bit over the years! Lode Runner is definitely in my top five favorites of all time for the Commodore 64. Somehow I missed it making the jump to XBox Live. I downloaded it today. It seems fun, but a lot different. The goal is the same but the graphics and physics are quite a bit different.

Wizard

Played some Wizard this morning on the Commodore 64. This was my first time ever. I don't recall playing this back in the day.

It's a lot like Jumpman, which I did play quite a bit. The twist is you have to grab the key and take it to the lock to progress to the next level. You'll find various treasures along the way and spells you can use. I was able to figure out some of the spells like Invisibility (spacebar), but others, like Teleport, didn't seem to work with the spacebar.

Fun game. I plan on trying to figure out more through the weekend.

Syndicate

Got Syndicate up and running on the Amiga. I should try and find some docs as the gameplay isn't clear. I used to play Syndicate Wars on the PC way back in the day and loved it.

#Amiga #Commodore Perfect General via ADF

Thanks to my Twitter and Google+ friend @pgovotsos for the VGA Adapter. It is a Vue Tech Sync Strainer and allows me to use my LCD flat panel is High Res Mode. Much better than the composite I was using before.

#Amiga #Commodore Vue Tech Sync Strainer

Thanks to my Twitter and Google+ friend @pgovotsos for the VGA Adapter. It is a Vue Tech Sync Strainer and allows me to use my LCD flat panel is High Res Mode. Much better than the composite I was using before.

#c64 Pool Of Radiance

Started playing Pool Of Radiance. This was an Advanced D&D game on the Commodore 64 from 1988. I decided to use VICE instead of the real 64 because it came on 8 floppies and the disk swapping would get a bit outrageous. One of the benefits of the VICE emulator is the "Snapshot" feature which allows you to save the present state without having to go through loading all the disks.

Pool Of Radiance features overhead combat while also using a small 3-D window to show your present view. Playing this game makes me want to revisit Wasteland and Autoduel again.

#Amiga #Commodore PCMCIA CF Card Transfer Kit

Spent time today working on getting my PCMCIA CF Transfer Kit working on the Amiga 1200. Last week I installed the software, formatted the CF card, plugged it in, and NOTHING. I beat my head against it all week and finally this weekend I determined the PCMCIA slot wasn't working at all. I took the Amiga apart and used a flashlight to look inside. Two of the pins were completely bent out of the way. Using a small screwdriver I was able to gently push them back into position. After that it recognized the card, but the formatting was wrong. I had to use a special partition manager to format it for FAT16. Finally, it works. It's been fun working on and learning the Amiga, but it does make me appreciate my Commodore 64 a bit more.

#Commodore #Amiga Accelerator and Floppy

I installed an accelerator in my Amiga 1200 today. It runs for about 30 seconds and then the system locks up or it reboots. I can make it crash by hitting the CF card with a data requests, so I'm pretty sure my PSU isn't supplying enough juice for the Amiga with an expansion card. I'm on the hunt for a stronger PSU.

Meanwhile, I tried using the floppy drive for the first time and it didn't work. After some basic troubleshooting, I found out the eject button is broken. If I manually pull it out when I insert a disk, it engages the floppy and it works like a charm. I will have to dissect the floppy drive when I have time and see if it's just a broken spring. You never know what you're going to run into working on 15+ year old computers!

Here's a pic of the accelerator card:

#Commodore #Amiga New 4gb CF Card

Installed a new 4gb CF card into the Amiga today. WHDLOAD was preinstalled and seemed to work well. Of course, most games won't run on an unexpanded 1200 so I will need to wait until I get an accelerator. I did successfully play Arkanoid and Marble Madness. The new CF card also fixed the issue with the hard drive light not working.

#c64 Denio's Flea Market - Commodore Memories

This past weekend I took my family to Denio's Farmer's Market and Auction. Truthfully, it's more like a large flea market with vendors set up in rows. I hadn't been there in probably 20+ years. My parents would take my family there maybe once or twice a month. We always looked forward to it. We would go fairly early in the morning and then grab lunch on the way back. At the flea market, I would take my allowance and hunt down Commodore 64 games. Several vendors would always have them stocked. Some original games and of course, some vendors would have copied or pirated games available. I remember getting a boxed and shrink wrapped B-1 Nuclear Bomber from Avalon Hill. I also recall getting the boxed version of Elite.

#c64 Downhill Racing on Skate Or Die

Played a bit of Skate Or Die on the Commodore 64 today. This game takes forever to load. I remember owning the original as a kid and walking away from the computer for awhile while it loaded. A lot of fun, though. Here I'm playing the downhill racing competition.

#c64 Spy Hunter

Here's a pic of my son playing Spy Hunter on the 64. I played this a lot as a kid.

#c64 New beta version of ChatteRRbox

Downloaded the latest beta version of ChatteRRbox for the 64 and it feels a lot more solid and stable than the previous version. Not a single crash in 40 minutes.

In case you haven't heard, this is a fun "chat room" application that utilizes the RR-NET network adapter to connect to the CommodoreServer.com chat rooms. A fun way to stay connected to Commodore friends.

#c64 Mr. Dig and Frantic Freddy

Found a little time at lunch today to play these two classic arcade style games. Mr. Dig seems to almost be a precursor to Dig Dug. Frantic Freddy is a typical multi level Donkey Kong type of game.

#c64 Wings Of Fury

Playing a classic this morning before work -- Wings Of Fury on the Commodore 64. Looks like a Zero is trying to bomb my Corsair.

#Commodore #Amiga Amiga To-Do List

Haven't had a ton of time to spend with my new Commodore family addition -- the Amiga 1200. I do have a plan of action to-do list.

1. Format the CF card and install Workbench. It works right now, but seems to be a mess.
2. Download and install WHDLOAD and register.
3. Install accelerator card.
4. Clean keys with Retr0bright.
5. Fix left Amiga key.
6. Acquire PCMCIA CF card reader to transfer files

Way down the road, I would like to get the Amiga on the Internet like I did with my 64.

#c64 Battletech

As a high-schooler, I used to play a tabletop board game called Battletech with friends. They made it into a Commodore 64 game which I had completely forgotten about until a conversation I had on Twitter sparked a memory. Today I tried loading it on my 64, but couldn't get the system to recognize the disk images. I was able to successfully get it running on the VICE emulator on my Mac at home. Here are some snapshots of me playing it, trying to figure my way around. 

#c64 ChatteRRbox

I am currently chatting real time with other users using my Commodore 64, rr-net network adapter, and the new ChatteRRbox program at CommodoreServer.com. I am now living in the future from the past!

#c64 A Commodore 64 Walkabout

I received my copy of A Commodore 64 Walkabout by Robinson Mason. I'm eager to begin reading it! Mr. Mason has been extremely helpful to me personally in tracking down games I vaguely recall playing but couldn't remember the title. A big thanks to him. You're an asset to the 64 community.