The Commodore 64 GS, also known as the Commodore 64 Game System, was released in Europe back in 1990 and was Commodore's attempt at entering the still lucrative 8-bit console market. It was essentially a consolized Commodore 64 computer in a new ugly box that lacked a keyboard and could only play cartridge games. Obviously it flopped and is now considered quite a collectible.
You can bid on a fully working C64GS via this Commodore 64 GS eBay auction. It comes complete with three joysticks, the pack-in cartridge sporting four games (Fiendish Freddy's Big Top O'Fun, International Soccer, Flimbo's Quest and Klax) and a boxed copy of Jupiter Lander. Seller ships worldwide.
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This is the wet dream of many commodore collectors. And, despite being launched at the wrong time, a console with a stunning library itself. Grab it if you can. Oh, I also noticed it has the same power supply of Commodore 64C, and the same cartridge included in some later model.
ReplyDeleteThe only problem is that due to the lack of keyboard most C64 cartridge games cannot be played. Other than thet, yes, you are indeed right dear Mik; it is a collector's dream.
ReplyDeleteThat`s not right anymore. What a luck :) Most RGCD games releases on cartridge do work. Giving the GS a new life :)
DeleteAlthough I had an Amiga when the C64GS came out, it still seemed like a massively retrograde step then. Especially when you compared the graphics of most C64 titles against say, the Sega Master System.
ReplyDeleteBut back in those days, CBM were making crazy decisions left right and centre - like canning the A500+ in favour of the A600 (although I do have a soft spot for the A600 - it's so cute!), marketing the CDTV as an entirely separate entity, etc, etc.
They might have had the best home computers around, but Commodore sure as hell didn't know what they were doing most of the time. I think it was often a case of better luck than judgement.
Your thoughts, dear Gnome?
I unfortunately agree dear Bob. Commodore seemed almost suicidal and when they finally made sense with the A1200 and the CD32, it was apparently far too late. A shame really, for they had a truly creative team.
ReplyDeleteThe A600 especially was monumentally silly. It was too overpriced, too vague and too conservative that I can't really see what the point was. Same thing with the C64GS. Hopeless.
Not that the mere ROM upgrade on the A500+ was enough. The only move I can understand was the CDTV. It should have made sense on paper.
Really wish the spirit of the Amiga were alive. Innovative powerful open hardware with a decent price tag. Oh well... Things always change mind.
Steve Benway from Retro Gaming Collector has just posted a fun review of the GS on YouTube in which he makes an excellent point - not only was the C64GS competing against superior Japanese machines, it was also competing directly against the C64 itself.
ReplyDeleteWhich would you choose? The limited cart only, games only GS? Or a proper computer? One you could use for word processing, programming, making music and that you could tons of dirt cheap games for on tape or floppy? That you could copy off your mates? And given that most of the games for the C64 (even the cart-based ones) made use of the keyboard, anybody thinking they could enjoy the C64's cartridge library on the GS was in for something of a disappointment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpx2PwBqyFc&feature=feedu
Excellent video as always. Still would like to have one, mind.
ReplyDeleteHow so , when a lot of the c64 cartridges needed a keyboard not just a joystick. Eg terminator game is completely joystick except at the start you need to press a key on a keyboard, so it didn't work on the c64gs.
ReplyDeleteI was replying to Roger.
ReplyDeleteI've got a working one for sale if anyone is interested?
ReplyDeleteDid you sell it?
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