retrogames The C64 Mini USA Version - Not Machine Specific

Really cool little gadget. It comes with some pretty cool games. But it also supports loading .tap (tape) .d64/d81 (disk images) and .crt (cartridge images) for thousands of games you can find online. Though for some games you will need to read the manual on how to create .cjm files which lets you customize the emulation to make the games work (though most games don't require this). By the way, the manual is excellent. Let me just get one of the bad things out of the way. The joystick as other reviews have said is as cheap as it gets. Really not conducive to accurate control but it's enough to scratch the itch and experience the c64 at least. So to really effectively use this device I would recommend upgrading the joystick right away. If you're not sure, this is my setup that I'm pretty happy with: - A mini USB hub. (2 ports provided are not enough) So a hub with 4 ports should work. - Logitech G F710 Wireless Gamepad, this controller is wireless and its supported by the C64-mini. It's a quality controller which also works with the PC. So it's versatile. - a USB thumb drive. An inexpensive USB thumb-drive should work so that you can transfer the games you download with your computer to the C64-mini. - and a regular USB keyboard. Even though a virtual keyboard is provided, and accessible through the Start button on your controller/joystick. Having an actual physical keyboard is a notable quality of life improvement. One thing I did not realize before getting the C64-Mini is how vibrant the C64 community is. There are new games being released all the time and there is a huge community of C64 enthusiasts. This little machine has sent me back to my childhood and let me relive some of the coolest gaming moments of my youth. Furthermore it has intrigued my 10 year old nephew, who I didn't expect would love these 8-bit games as much as he does. I highly recommend this to anyone either looking to experience the early days of home computer entertainment, or those looking for a retro gaming experience that won't break the bank. If retro games are your thing, C64 has thousands of games.

Supper fun and well made

The C-64 mini is a great value at under $40 US. I like the interface and the music it plays. It reminds me a bit of the NES classic. The included joystick is the weak point of this system. It's nice that you can also use it with other emulators, such as RetroPie on the Raspberry Pi 4, but it feels quite stiff compared to old-school joysticks. The most serious problem though, is lack of durability from its design. Mine literally snapped after two months of moderate use. I was able to super-glue it back together, however, and it still works but seems more fragile. Fortunately, some other USB controllers will work on the system, but it is hit and miss. I was also able to update the firmware on the mini. It was pretty straightforward and added some extra games to it. The initial collection of 64 or so games is decent. Collectors from the US will recognize a lot of the Epyx titles. Quite a few other games come from across the pond, but the quality is really good, and the music is emulated quite well. You get a good mix of action, adventure, platformers, shmups, puzzles, etc. I recommend updating the firmware for a few extra gems. However....MANY outstanding classic titles are missing. There are no games here from EA, Accolade, Atari soft, Infocom, Psygnosis, Sierra, Scott Adams, etc. Fortunately, you can add more games with a flash drive. The biggest drawback to the mini is that it only has 2 USB ports. If it had 3, it would be near perfect. Here's why: You will need one port for the controller (obviously), and you'll need one port for a keyboard. Even my wireless keyboard works, which is sweet! You could use the on-screen virtual keyboard, but it's just tedious. Now, if you try to add more games (.d64 or .t64 files) with a flash drive, you would still need another USB port. So, I end up having to swap devices a lot and occasionally use the virtual keyboard. (Note - I have since fixed this problem by adding a $20 powered USB hub.) One other issue, is not with the mini itself, but with the original Commodore 64 design... After about 9 years of games, why couldn't all those software houses come to an agreement as to which port the joystick should plug into???!!! If you add games via flash, you will encounter this problem. Adding _J1 after the filename and before the .suffix will fix it most of the time. (Note - there is also a hotfix that will switch ports in-game using a 2 or 3 button combo on the controller. Make sure you upgrade the firmware first though!) Overall, it's still fun AND worth the price. If you're willing to splurge though, go for the c-64 max version.

Works great. I get to play all the games I played when I was a kid

The emulator is great, yet the achilles heel of this setup is the joystick that comes in the box. While it may look almost like the old Competition Pro high quality joystick from sold in the 80's that was almost indestructible (thanks to a metal rod within the plastic stick, and microswitches), the one in the box uses standard switches on the board, and no metal rod inside the stick. So needless to say... mine lasted about 10-20 hours of playing (normal activity and pressure, with games such as Boulder Dash), before the plastic stick decided to break on its weakest spot (you can probably guess where). Now I have to replace the whole purchase. So be prepared to get yourself a better joystick soon, though which one to pick that has the 4 useful extra buttons on the back ? The C64 Maxi ($400) includes a better joystick variant (inside its black stick is a metal rod which won't break easily). Yet I have not seen that joystick for sale separately, at least not recently. I don't want to buy a spare C64 mini joystick for $30 as a backup, as I expect it to break sooner or later. The alternative Koch model seems not to be available any more, either. So I guess I hope that my replacement won't break until some better joystick that I can buy becomes available..

Tip #1: Make sure you update your Firmware to the newest version it is easy, the instruction on the website, just use a USB drive and throw the file onto it and update in the Tip #2: Don't compare this to modern systems it won't hold up but just have fun remembering simple times Tip #3: The keyboard is not a working keyboard but looks like a real one, but they do have a virtual or you can just plug in regular old USB keyboard with no problem, it is still super cool! --------------- If you are on the fence about buying this product, I would say just go for it! You will love it! Those of us who grew up playing on Apple IIe computers, NES, and C64, we all remember the floppy disk and fumbling with cassette tapes and other media to get things to work. I am not a Millennial nor am I Gen X I am proudly a Xennial, I had an Analog childhood but had a digital adulthood when everything changed, even though I was introduced to computers at a very young age, but was told by "teachers" to focus on doing things the old way, unless you were Mr. Wizard, who actually showed kids that computers were cool back then. These types of systems are perfect for people like me who want to have a modern nostalgic experience. Obviously the games don't compare to those of the modern world but they hold there value as remembrances. Some of the games I had played. Some were new to me. Not a complaint but a note is that the computer has no working keyboard, but that is okay because you can just plug one into the computer and the system has virtual keyboard built in. Remember to update the firmware it is on the C64 website. They have some extra games and some extra features, just use your USB flash drive.

The games run perfectly! Far better than they did on my original c64 :)

The C64 mini brings back wonderful childhood memories. The C64 mini comes with 64 games which are nicely accessed through the menu. But I find it a little difficult to find games to add to it. I had some favorites growing up that aren't included in the c64 mini such as Dark Legions and Archon. The other issue is now that I'm older and the technology has gotten so crazy good with laptops, tablets, and phones the graphics on this wear out quick. It still brings back nostalgia and good times from the past. And if you loved the Commodore 64 then this will satisfy a quick and easy revisit to your past!