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.

Really this device is an incredibly nice emulation device, and a lot of that is due to the excellent joystick. I prefer TheVIC20, since I have a full size keyboard on that one, but this is a nice portable alternative. The only issue is that I'm not an action joystick gamer, I prefer adventure, strategy type keyboard-heavy or hybrid keyboard titles.FLAG USE(!):The thing is, I've been using emulators for decades and I just assumed some multi-disk or other odd games wouldn't work with this device - old D64 titles that I tried and gave up on. Then I read the manual. While particularly important for the VIC20 due to memory options, you need to use flag codes on some C64 files too. It's an easy, one time process. Just rename some files with an underbar and the flags in any order at the end before .D64 or .TAP so they utilize the correct emulator settings. This was very helpful. And even just learning how to swap multi-disk files. The manual is easy to follow and key. I suggest printing out a few of the best bits.If you're like me you can't stand Summer Games - AKA the "joystick buster" and just want some time with Infocom's The Lurking Horror. Or some hybrid joystick action with Below the Root. Happy gaming!

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.