Retro Video Gamer

Retro Gaming => Commodore Chat => Topic started by: TrekMD on August 31, 2013, 21:49:52 PM

Title: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: TrekMD on August 31, 2013, 21:49:52 PM
OK Commodore fans, here is one more Commodore computer for you to salivate over. ;) This time the VIC-20!  Here's a good review of the machine to get things started.

https://youtu.be/ecxADZwybfE
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: Gorf on September 01, 2013, 19:29:14 PM
Quote from: "TrekMD"OK Commodore fans, here is one more Commodore computer for you to salivate over. ;)  This time the VIC-20!  Here's a good review of the machine to get things started.

[align=center:wkvt715i]LGR - Commodore VIC-20 Computer System Review (//http)[/align:wkvt715i]

Too bad space cadet...Gorf looked nothing like that on the VIC-20.
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: onthinice on September 02, 2013, 06:40:07 AM
My first computer :21: Simpler time :113:
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: Fin on September 06, 2013, 23:45:15 PM
I keep having mixed feelings about the Vic, i have never actually owned one, the C64 was my first machine.

Are there any really good classics on the Vic, am i missing something?

My criteria for getting a machine tends to be is there a game that makes me want to buy it - like Sonic CD for the MegaCD, or Tempest 2000 for the Jag.

Anyone?
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: TrekMD on September 07, 2013, 00:36:46 AM
To answer your question about the games on the VIC-20, here is a video looking at 20 games that defined the system...

https://youtu.be/QcQa54miYvY
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: onthinice on September 07, 2013, 13:53:09 PM
Great Video!!!! Thanks for sharing.

I just watched a video the other day about the Vic. It has the Star Trek captain doing a parody of Intellivision's greatness over Atari. Only the Vic-20 is the clear choice.

Fin to answer your question, I think it is a personal choice. The Vic-20 was my first computer and will always hold that title.
Being a big fan of SeaWolf and the Vic 20 had a version it was great computer to own. The C64 also has a version, yet I still prefer the Vic-20. 

Or to put it another way, for me, collecting different systems has led to playing the best version of a game. Take Q*Bert for example, it is found on multiple consoles and computers. I have the game for the 2600, 5200, Intellivision, Colecovision, C64 and Nintendo Entertainment System. My favorite is the Commodore 64 cart version.

The Vic-20 does have some really good text games and a great clone of Rally X, called Radar Rat Race. Then again the C64 has the Zork adventures and Radar Rat Race. So...

So if you have a Commodore 64, then you are probably not missing anything.
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: Fin on September 07, 2013, 15:52:30 PM
Cool video, thanks!

Quote from: "onthinice"So if you have a Commodore 64, then you are probably not missing anything.

I think your right, i will get one one day but as i grew up with the C64 it just feels meh. Although i know shatner appeared in the vic commercial (i think).

Just a shame there isn't a Go20 commands on the C64!
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: TrekMD on September 07, 2013, 16:29:25 PM
Quote from: "FinTheGeek"Although i know shatner appeared in the vic commercial (i think).

Yes he did.  They talk about it on the first video I posted.  :)
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: Vadergb on June 13, 2015, 00:53:38 AM
Wow little love for the Vic20.

It was the first computer my family got. The first one lasted less than 3 hours - I spent the Christmas morning asking it questions and it just stopped working. On the 27th December 1982 we got the replacement from Boots and it lasted a few years before I gave it to my niece never to be seen again.

The system had limited memory and no hardware sprites so games varied drastically in quality.

I've still got Defender from Atarisoft on cartridge and it was a fab conversion, Atarisoft released quite a few arcade versions on cart. Ms Pacman, Digdug, RallyX (Japan) and Donkey Kong.

Cosmic Cruncher was a Pacman clone and was one of my mums favourite games. Rockman from Mastertronic was a great game, a remake called hamster jam can be found on the Internet. Other noticeable games for me was Jetpac (ultimate), Gridrunner and Matrix (Jeff Minter), Hunchback (Ocean) and budget games from Mastertronic and Atlantis like Duck Shoot, Cops n Robbers, King Tut and RIP. Type in Basic games were also a hobby at the time and the Vic20 had plenty of books and magazines with listings.

I eventually went onto having a Spectrum and C64 but the Vic20 was my first true gaming love. Great to see the sd2iec works on the vic. I just need to source a 16kb ram pack for it.
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: zapiy on June 14, 2015, 09:56:46 AM
Nice to see someone who owned one and had fond memories of it.
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: Gorf on June 21, 2015, 02:10:27 AM
My First computer was a Trash-80 CoCo....I was rather disappointed in it. Went out and got a VIC-20...it was there I learned how to code in assembler language. I used that machine for years. Had a modem and downloaded everything that was not nailed down. Then I divorced it for an Atari 8 bit, and that, was my true love for about 8 years......but I do have fond memories of the old VIC-20. The I went on to an Atari ST, then the PC.
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: WiggyDiggyPoo on June 26, 2015, 21:09:18 PM
I'd like a Vic, but recent eBay ones have been a bit pricey.

The case - it was reused for the C64 wasn't it as they look very similar?

Sent from my XT1021 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: Gorf on June 28, 2015, 01:22:41 AM
Quote from: "WiggyDiggyPoo"I'd like a Vic, but recent eBay ones have been a bit pricey.

The case - it was reused for the C64 wasn't it as they look very similar?

Sent from my XT1021 using Tapatalk

It was definitely the same mold but the color was different.
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: zapiy on August 31, 2015, 16:47:40 PM
Seems to be getting some homebrew love of late as well.
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: TrekMD on June 17, 2020, 23:16:09 PM
I'ts been a while since the VIC-20 got some attention.  Here's a video posted today by John Hancock that looks at 10 games he recommends for this computer.

https://youtu.be/vaIOM3EuyWI
Title: Re: Commodore VIC-20 Thread
Post by: TrekMD on August 05, 2020, 23:23:39 PM
Don't want to ignore the VIC-20, so there is this video...

https://youtu.be/FXwPsWa_15s

Links to games:

After Party (http://after%20party)

Oregontrail (8k) (http://sleepingelephant.com/ipw-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=6674)

The Keep (http://sleepingelephant.com/ipw-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?t=5262)