Commodore 64 App

[Chris]

As you know, this great app was pulled a few months back. It's almost back! Here's an update!

http://toucharcade.com/2009/11/05/c6...s-almost-back/

[Chris]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand it's baaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!! With 3 new (albeit sorta boring) games!

[miner2049er]

Any access to basic this time?

[andyuk]

The problem holding me back as yet, is this quote from toucharcade:

"Some games seen in our demo video, such as Bruce Lee and International Karate, were provided simply as a demonstration of the emulator and have not yet been licensed, but the developer hopes to secure them, as well as many other 8-bit classics, for use with the emulator"

Hopes?? Hmm I'm waiting for a full list of scured games before parting with my cash. Worries me that even though Apple told this guy what he could include in the prog he still tried to pull a fast one and just 'disable' the parts specified to get the app out. Create the hype, grab the cash, and hey, who cares if there's no games?

Just don't trust him enough..

[GameGavel]

Any access to basic this time?

I will have to check and report back. I know the new version probably doesn't have it, but now that I upgraded, I bet I can't access it anymore either.

[BydoEmpire73]

Glad to see it back up, but I'm still waiting for some better games.

[GameGavel]

Bruce Lee is now out as part of a recent free upgrade. Also they are now selling a slew of C64 games for $.99 I think. Nothing good yet, at least for me (except the free Bruce Lee, finally :) Still, I am anxious to see what other games they introduce. It would be great to see some of the old EA/Ozark games.

[Dhalamar]

For some reason I always seem to have issues playing Bruce Lee on that damn touch screen. :\ Bruce always ends up jumping or ducking or something when I don't want him to. But then again I'm not worth a damn with multi-directional virtual dpads and joysticks anyway on the iTouch.

And if anyone sees this who is curious about it, here are a couple of great Windows remakes that may sway you into buying the app if you don't already have it, because there's some decent stuff with that app :

Ultimate Bruce Lee (http://wastedseconds.com/?p=1734) - It's a slightly more modernized remake (16 bit style graphics and whatnot) but it's got a ton of extra graphics modes and whatnot and is worth checking out if you like the game and wanna see it in a little bit of a different way.

Bruce Lee (http://wastedseconds.com/?p=1718) - Near as I can understand it it's pretty much a pixel for pixel remake of the original Commodore 64 game. I think UKMike mentioned this one in his review of the game.

Yeah, I'm pointing you to my site here. But hey, I like this stuff. :)

[bill_loguidice]

I was happy to see when Bruce Lee was released for free too, though I struggle mightily with the controls. It's a great package, except for the controls. They really need more non-action games in there to maximize the platform.

[GameGavel]

I was happy to see when Bruce Lee was released for free too, though I struggle mightily with the controls. It's a great package, except for the controls. They really need more non-action games in there to maximize the platform.

Agreed. The controls are very "challenging" so far on all their games.

[Dhalamar]

Agreed. The controls are very "challenging" so far on all their games.

Well, when you've got a game like Lemans or Samurai Warrior where you just basically have left and right it's a lot easier.

Yeah, I know you can go all over the place in Lemans, but those two are by far the easiest to play on it. I don't know much about the sports games because, honestly, those old sports games weren't that great in my opinion. *EDIT* Typing that reminded me that I like Lemans and before someone corrects me, yes, I was wrong about being able to move all over the place. hehe

Lemans is cool to kill a few minutes with though. And the sheer weirdness of seeing a bipedal samurai bunny rabbit is worth it. :P

I'd KABOOM!KABOOM!KABOOM!KABOOM!ing love to see Gridrunner on there though. Even though I know it'd be damn near unplayable with the current control setup, but still. :)

What of the paid games are worth getting though?

[andyuk]

Don't know if anyone has noticed, but the Commodore64 app is free for today only. Just grabbed it.. Sweet!

[GameGavel]

Also some new free games added to the list including Mancopter, O'Rileys Mine and more. Space Taxi is also available to purchase in their paid games store. I am tempted to get that one. I also noticed that Galaga Remix, Dig Dug Remix, Burgertime Deluxe and Ghosts and Goblins are all now $.99. I think I may pick them all up too.

[BydoEmpire73]

Are the Namco remixes any good? Hard to go wrong for a buck, I suppose...

[Chris]

Man....I wish Jumpman would get released on the C64 app....I've waited for what seems like forever.

[GameGavel]

Are the Namco remixes any good? Hard to go wrong for a buck, I suppose...

Control issues as you would expect. But I think Galaga looks pretty good. I haven't pulled the trigger yet, though.

[BydoEmpire73]

Dig Dug was tricky to control, but not totally unplayable. For a buck, I'm willing to give it a little more time to see if I can get used to it. It definitely isn't as tight as I had hoped. Looks nice, controls poorly.

Ghosts & Goblins doesn't run on my iPod Touch. After the loading screen I get dumped back to the system menu. :'(

[Chris]

Well, here it is folks, the C64 App is now FREE FOREVER. Go get it.

[Dhalamar]

Well, here it is folks, the C64 App is now FREE FOREVER. Go get it.

Now all they have to do is work on the controls so Bruce Lee is actually playable. :)

[BydoEmpire73]

Picked it up since it's free. Only tried a couple of the games, and although I'm not terribly fond of what's included by default, I didn't think the controls were *that* bad. Here's hoping for better games soon. I think it was a smart move, though. Give away the platform, then sell individual games for a buck or something.

[Dhalamar]

Picked it up since it's free. Only tried a couple of the games, and although I'm not terribly fond of what's included by default, I didn't think the controls were *that* bad. Here's hoping for better games soon. I think it was a smart move, though. Give away the platform, then sell individual games for a buck or something.

Yeah ... the controls in that thing are utter crap. heh

But yeah, that literally is what they're doing. Of all the paid game, the only one that costs more than 99 cents is Space Taxi ... it's $1.99 for some reason. And there are quite a few free ones too. Bruce Lee and Attack of the Mutant Camels are the highlights there. Just made damn near unplayable by those touch screen controls.

Although I am interested in trying out Kickstart 1 and 2. :)

[miner2049er]

Although I am interested in trying out Kickstart 1 and 2. :)

Both excellent games on original hardware.

[Dhalamar]

Both excellent games on original hardware.

Yeah, I remember you talking about them on RGRoundup, and that recommendation is the ONLY reason they're even on my radar because I'd never heard of them before then. And I absolutely LOVE Excitebike (with my annoyance with the way Nintendo handles WiiWare, that's the ONE WiiWare game I own : Excitebike : World Rally) and any game that plays like that receives a one up in my book.

Wish I could find an idiots package for C64 emulation. I've never even TOUCHED C64 unfortunately ... back in the early 80's we were unfortunately an IBM PC household. I used to have a Vic 20 ... but literally all I had was the unit itself. No disk drives, no games, no nothin'. I keep hearing about all these archaic weird commands to start the games, and while it doesn't scare me off by any means, I just wish I could find an emulation package that says "Do this to run them and have fun." heh

Just wish I could find a C64 emulation package that does kind of what the D-Fend Reloaded DOSBox shell does. You download the frontend, and they have game packs you can install that have shareware and freeware games with them, and they automatically set themselves up in the front end ready to be run. I have a feeling it wouldn't be that easy with a C64 emulator, but all I want is something that is pretty idiot friendly for someone who's never even seen one in person.

[miner2049er]

WinVice is pretty idiot proof and emulates everything from the PET range to the C128. Very easy to use and very accurate.

[Dhalamar]

WinVice is pretty idiot proof and emulates everything from the PET range to the C128. Very easy to use and very accurate.

I've heard of that over the years ... hell ... I may have done a post on either Retrogames or Zophar's Domain back in the day regarding them for all I know. May have to start tinkering with it. :P

[BydoEmpire73]

Played Dragon's Den for a bit this morning, it's not too bad.

[Chris]

http://www.manomio.com/index.php/blog/The_wait_is_over_C64_1.7_is_coming

Check it out, here is the list of updates coming in the newest C64 version, including new games to be added. I'm starting to wonder if they'll ever break out some of the heavy hitters from EPYX. I don't know a single one of those games being released.

[bill_loguidice]

It's actually a very strong selection. Frankly, though, I'd love to see some CRPGs released and maybe a classic board style game or two, as that would make best use of the control setup.

[Chris]

Yeah, my C64 experience is fairly narrow I guess. I mainly played Blue Max, Jumpman, Impossible Mission, Beachhead 1 and 2, Ghostbusters, Microprose Wrestling, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Family Feud, Summer and Winter Games, Forbidden Forrest and a handful of others. I have given the games on the C64 app a chance though and I've been fairly disappointed outside of Jupiter Lander (which I play often).