“The 64” is an indiegogo campaign setup by Retro Games Ltd to launch a brand new system, in both portable and desktop form based around the Commodore 64. Aesthetically it has very similar styling, with a trimmed down case. The 64SX is much lighter than the Commdore 64SX original machine and compliments the desktop as a handheld variant. It’s claimed the systems will incorporate multiple SID chips and have cartridge functionality, as well as SD and USB connectivity for game images. Looks like it could be pretty interesting if it comes to fruition and doesn’t end up like the Coleco Chameleon!
Extract from video on The 64
“Here’s the Indie Go Go campaign video, and you may notice that there’s a degree of secrecy behind the backers of this campaign. Not entirely sure why that is.
The text blow is sourced from boingboing.net
The 64 is a crowdfunded rebuild of the classic Commodore 64, to ship with an as-yet-unannounced collection of games and software from the beloved gaming platform.
The UK-based team behind The 64 are promising to ship both a desktop version (in the original C64 form-factor, essentially a chunky keyboard with video-out ports) and handheld version (shaped like a Gameboy, more or less), at $150 and $170, respectively, with lots of fun perks in the mix.
The team has kept itself weirdly mysterious, for reasons that are hard to understand, as they seem fairly experienced in the field. As far as I could locate, they don’t divulge most of their identities, though a check on their corporate registry shows that their number includes a moderately successful gaming entrepreneur and a respected technical author, as wellDarren Melbourne, who is named in their promotions, as the guy who “conceptualized and bought to market the C64DTV console as well as dozens of other game related products during a video games career that has spanned over thirty years” — he certainly does a long and honorable history with the platform.
The prices are relatively low, so you won’t lose much if the team doesn’t perform. I’d feel better about putting my own money down if the team were more forthcoming about their specific manufacturing experience and how it applies to fulfilling orders. That said, it’s a really cool-looking product, and at that price, it may be worth the risk to you.
I’m pretty sure they won’t try to trick you into carving a full-sized replica C64 out of tropical hardwood, in any event.
We are exploring various manufacturing and distribution options to ensure global deliveries directly to backers. We have set the currency of this campaign in USA Dollars, but THE 64 ™ is truly a globally loved computer, and we are aiming to set up region specific delivery and distribution options for our backers. So for example if you live in the USA you’re THE 64 ™ will be delivered from the USA, directly to you.
Following our initial production run for those of you who choose one of the various THE 64 ™ console perks in this campaign, we hope to launch to retail after fulfilling backers THE 64 ™ consoles. Everyone who has pledged in this campaign will receive updates over the coming months, telling them about our progress through the various stages of design, and manufacture through to final delivery to you all. Your support and funding will help us to make the launch of THE 64 ™ range of consoles a reality. By backing this campaign you will become one of the first people in the world to own a THE 64 ™ Console!
Source: Crowdfunding new Commodore 64s, desktop and handheld / Boing Boing
Nostalgia Nerd is also known by the name Peter Leigh. They routinely make YouTube videos and then publish the scripts to those videos here. You can follow Nostalgia Nerd using the social links below.
