The younger brothers of the grand old Commodore 64, we look back and salute you!
Posted by Commodore16.com on May 4, 2010 23:14 (May 4, 2010 23:14)
In 1984 Commodore were ruling the 8-bit computer market with the Commodore 64 and it was at this time that their CEO Jack Trammel decided to replace the commercially ageing Vic 20 with the 264 series that included the Commodore 16, 116 and the Plus 4.
The Commodore 16 has 16k of RAM, the same case design as the C64 breadbin and is a stylish charcoal grey colour. The Plus 4 on the other hand has 64k of RAM, built in office software and a user port. The 116 is a rubber keyed version of the Commodore 16 system incorporating the miniature Plus 4 case and 16k of memory.
All three computers use a MOS 7501 Central Processing Unit running at 1.76 MHz and an all-in-one video, sound, and I/O chip affectionately called TED (the MOS 7360 chip to the techies). The TED chip was revolutionary in its time offering a 128-colour mode for the system, running at a resolution of 320x200, a video mode that was relatively unheard of in 1984. The systems are compatible with most Commodore hardware including printers, disk drives and modems.
The 264 series was bundled with Basic V3.5, an improved and enhanced version of the language that appeared on the Commodore 64. Due to the lack of hardware sprites and the SID music chip, the 264 series suffered incompatibility with the huge range of popular C64 software that was available – a huge oversight on the part of Commodore.
Within the UK the system was adopted as a cheaper alternative to the C64 and Sinclair Spectrum, and was seen at the time as more of an educational system than a games machine. Both the C16 and the Plus 4 were sold bundled with a range of games educational titles and a cassette player. The software included with the Plus 4 was though far superior to that of the C16 package due to the extra memory that the system enjoyed.
To many the 264 series of Commodore computers was perceived a failure. This is in fact far from the truth; worldwide sales of the 264 series were in excess of one million units, helped along by a buoyant Eastern European market where the Plus 4 was the computer of choice for many schools.
The incompatibility between the Commodore range of computers caused huge confusion for consumers, and publishing houses inadvertently placed the 264 series in direct competition with the C64 system through mismanagement of marketing.
Production of the 264 series of Commodore computers stopped in 1988, four years after their initial launch.
I have a certain soft spot for C16/+4. Whilst it was a technically inferior machine a number of programmers managed to get some very good games out of it. Some even made it to the C64.
Subzero - the game could have been 'Punchy' although 'Robin to the Rescue' is similar in style.
I remember having a commodore 16, only game i ever played on it was ... damn cant remember the name of the game but you played a guy who ran along a wall jumping things and ringing bells?
Feb 15, 2011 10:58:01 (
Feb 15, 2011 10:57
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And even if a long time has passed, I guess the game subzero liked was "Hunchback", or some clone of it! 
