Commodore 64 questions

[BoneSnapDeez]

Just got one on Monday and I was pondering a few things....

1. Where does one even get games? I use sites like estarland and JJgames for most everything game related, but neither site carries C64 shit. Any distros carry this stuff or am I restricted to Amazon marketplace, ebay, and hoping I get lucky at Goodwill, flea markets, and yard sales?
2. Most games are on floppy, right? Is the datasette worth getting? ...And this may sound stupid, but I'm unfamiliar with old computers... is anything ever installed onto the C64? How do you save in games like Ultima? Do they save right onto the disk itself?
3. I've heard it's unwise to use Genesis controllers with a C64, as it can damage it somehow. Am I safe using a 2600 joystick? Should I just seek out a regular first-party Commodore one?

Any help would be appreciated.

[AmishSamurai]

Seems like there's a huge C64 sweep going through the site.

[Hobie-wan]

Just got one on Monday and I was pondering a few things....

1. Where does one even get games? I use sites like estarland and JJgames for most everything game related, but neither site carries C64 shit. Any distros carry this stuff or am I restricted to Amazon marketplace, ebay, and hoping I get lucky at Goodwill, flea markets, and yard sales?
2. Most games are on floppy, right? Is the datasette worth getting? ...And this may sound stupid, but I'm unfamiliar with old computers... is anything ever installed onto the C64? How do you save in games like Ultima? Do they save right onto the disk itself?
3. I've heard it's unwise to use Genesis controllers with a C64, as it can damage it somehow. Am I safe using a 2600 joystick? Should I just seek out a regular first-party Commodore one?

Any help would be appreciated.

1. Think you're mostly related to the latter you listed.

2. European games were mostly on tape. The disk drive is slow compared to modern systems as it is. Tapes are positively glacial. Most disk RPG games would have you make a disk for saving. Nothing installs on a C64, once you turn it off, everything is gone from memory.

3. 2600 sticks and paddles are exactly the same standard as C 64 ones. Honestly the Commodore branded joysticks aren't any better to use than 2600 ones. You're better off searching for Wico or Suncom branded joysticks. There was a Konix stick with microswitches that was also sold under the Epyx 500XJ name which which is really comfortable to hold and is responsive, but the firebutton is very tiring. At least mine is. Maybe I'll crack it open and try to mod it.

[BurningDoom]

2. European games were mostly on tape. The disk drive is slow compared to modern systems as it is. Tapes are positively glacial. Most disk RPG games would have you make a disk for saving. Nothing installs on a C64, once you turn it off, everything is gone from memory.

Wow, the tapes actually take longer to load than the floppies?! That's freaking amazing. I have never, ever experienced load times as long as most C64 games. I'd sometimes go make a sandwich or something than come back and I'm still looking at the title/load screen.

[Hobie-wan]

All old machines with 5 1/4 drives were slow to load.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

2. European games were mostly on tape. The disk drive is slow compared to modern systems as it is. Tapes are positively glacial. Most disk RPG games would have you make a disk for saving. Nothing installs on a C64, once you turn it off, everything is gone from memory.

Wow, the tapes actually take longer to load than the floppies?! That's freaking amazing. I have never, ever experienced load times as long as most C64 games. I'd sometimes go make a sandwich or something than come back and I'm still looking at the title/load screen.

Tapes are an abomination. As my dad recalled, even in the 80s they were considered rubbish for data storage. Games can take upwards of 5 minutes to load, and in extreme cases up to 10 using them.

Anyways, I don't know about the Genesis pads hurting the C64 but if they do would somebody let me know. I was planning on using a Genesis pad as my primary controller but I may have to hunt down an Atari joystick.

[BoneSnapDeez]

2. European games were mostly on tape. The disk drive is slow compared to modern systems as it is. Tapes are positively glacial. Most disk RPG games would have you make a disk for saving. Nothing installs on a C64, once you turn it off, everything is gone from memory.

Wow, the tapes actually take longer to load than the floppies?! That's freaking amazing. I have never, ever experienced load times as long as most C64 games. I'd sometimes go make a sandwich or something than come back and I'm still looking at the title/load screen.

Tapes are an abomination. As my dad recalled, even in the 80s they were considered rubbish for data storage. Games can take upwards of 5 minutes to load, and in extreme cases up to 10 using them.

Anyways, I don't know about the Genesis pads hurting the C64 but if they do would somebody let me know. I was planning on using a Genesis pad as my primary controller but I may have to hunt down an Atari joystick.

I've heard about the Genesis controller thing from a couple of people, and found it mentioned on this blog:

http://metroidc64.blogspot.com/2007/10/ ... on-my.html

Maybe someone with more knowledge can shed some light here.

[Hobie-wan]

Anyways, I don't know about the Genesis pads hurting the C64 but if they do would somebody let me know. I was planning on using a Genesis pad as my primary controller but I may have to hunt down an Atari joystick.

I've heard about the Genesis controller thing from a couple of people, and found it mentioned on this blog:

http://metroidc64.blogspot.com/2007/10/ ... on-my.html

Maybe someone with more knowledge can shed some light here.

I never tried Gen pads myself, but some C64s have some delicate components connected to the joystick ports and it was a problem plugging and unplugging even correct joysticks while the machine was powered on for some systems. You'd end up toasting the ports and maybe something else in the system.

C64 and 2600 joyticks are very very simple. All you're doing when you press in a direction or fire is connecting 5 volts to another wire heading back to the system. The NES and later consoles had more buttons and directions than wires, so they send coded signals instead of simply on or off. I'd find a proper stick instead of risking it. It isn't like there's a lack of C64/2600 sticks out there since both systems sold for years and years.

[arion]

I've used a genesis pad since i got my c64 and i have yet to see any problems i've even used a master system pad.

As for the tapes for me they do hold a certain charm i kinda like rewinding the tape before playing and pressing play to load. But then that might just be because most of the good games i got are on tape

[BoneSnapDeez]

Thanks for the help guys. One more thing: what's the proper way to turn things on? Disk drive, then C64? Or the other way around? How about turning off the machine, and is there any way to "shut down" the C64 besides just flipping the switch to off? Thanks.