The station wagon is packed.  The hotels are booked.  The room is ready for even more rare Commodore and Amiga equipment on set-up day this Friday.  The PaCommEx website has been updated again on the Exhibits page and the Guests and Presentations page.  Come join us at the show next Saturday and Sunday!  We will be at

The Old Rainier Brewery Intraspace
3100 Airport Way S.
Seattle, Washington 98134

http://www.portcommodore.com/pacommex

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
organizer - Pacific Commodore Expo NW

Despite the permanent closing of the Living Computers: Museum + Labs last year, there is another Seattle area museum to take its place – the Interim Computer Museum. A non-profit charity in partnership with the membership organization SDF Public Access UNIX System, Inc., the ICM counts on museum members/donors/sponsors in order to stay funded. The ICM boasts a collection of computers ranging from tube-type, analog computers used in corporations and universities to personal computers of the 1990's.


The museum is open by appointment on Sunday and Monday. Members get extra privileges at the museum, such as access to special members-only functions. For more information on the Interim Computer Museum, go to

https://icm.museum

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group – http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network – http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
June 21-22 Pacific Commodore Expo NW 2025 – http://www.portcommodore.com/pacommex


P.S. Of course my main interest at the ICM would be the Commodore 8-bit and Amiga computers!

The website of the Pacific Commodore Expo NW is getting updates as we near the show date of June 21-22.  More exhibits and more presentations!  Join us at the Old Rainier Brewery Intraspace at 3100 Airport Way S. in Seattle, Washington.

http://www.portcommodore.com/pacommex

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Commodore 128 and Amiga,
Robert Bernardo
organizer - Pacific Commodore Expo NW

Good news!  Ray Carlsen has unretired and is back to doing Commodore 8-bit repairs (except PETs).  This includes not only keyboards but also disk drives and CRT monitors.  rcarlsen(at)tds.net

Also check out his power supplies, power savers, and cables before any tariffs kick in.  https://portcommodore.com/rcarlsen

Welcome back, Ray!
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
June 21-22 Pacific Commodore Expo NW 2025 - http://www.portcommodore.com/pacommex

The first photos and videos have been posted from the Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025. See

http://blog.retro-link.com/2025/04/friday-before-commodore-los-angeles.html

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
organizer - Commodore Los Angeles Super Show

Check out our 2025 commercial for the April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show!  See

https://youtu.be/ElhM3M4-lqk

Two weeks until CLASS,
Robert Bernardo
organizer - Commodore Los Angeles Super Show

From the File Conductor website, "The File Conductor is a file manager for Commodore 128 computers. It can run as a loadable program, an internal function ROM or external function ROM. It is capable of copying, moving, deleting, renaming and making directories."  For more information and to download, go to

https://kollektivet.nu/fileconductor/

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

The Retro Programmer has released the C128 CP/M text adventure, Planet of Demise.  It also comes in versions for the Mattel Aquarius, as CP/M .com file and for the Amstrad PCW, and for  Amstrad CPC CP/M.  You can read more about it and find the download links at

https://theretroprogrammer.itch.io/planet-of-demise

Writing from Lake Tahoe, California,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

Another one from Pro Pen, who has released the C128 80-column text adventure, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. You can find the download link at

https://csdb.dk/release/?id=239683

Writing from Lake Tahoe, California,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

Earlier this year, Pro Pen released the C128 80-column text adventure,  The War of the Worlds.  You can find the download link at

https://csdb.dk/release/?id=239560

Writing from Lake Tahoe, California,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

Earlier versions of VDC Mode Mania demo were released in 2017.  Now VDC Mode Mania is up to V1.2. Get it at

https://csdb.dk/release/?id=234174

Writing from Lake Tahoe, California
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025 - www.portcommodore.com/class

A few years ago the C128 game, Akalabeth: World of Doom was released at

https://github.com/FoxCunning/akalabeth128

On March 8, 2025, Akalabeth C128 was released at

https://csdb.dk/release/?id=250815

This newer version seems to have different programmer(s).

Are the games the same?
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

VDC Screen Editor 2 was released last year and is up to version v20-20240611-1354. Go to

https://github.com/xahmol/VDCScreenEditor2

Writing from Lake Tahoe, California,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

A few years ago RetroLoader and Start Apps, two items for the C128, were developed.  Work has continued in improving them.  RetroLoader is now at v0.6.11, and Start Apps is at v0.7.

RetroLoader is a "a browser for the Commodore 128 [that is also] capable of loading and running Commodore 64 programs directly from 128 mode."  Start Apps is "a 32K cartridge for Commodore 128 that can contain a set of programs for C64 and C128 modes."

https://www.pastbytes.com/retroloader/

https://github.com/retrocomputacion/startapps

Writing from Lake Tahoe, California,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

COREi64 of Canada has a licensed reproduction of the SuperMMU board for the Creative Micro Designs SuperCPU 128.  See

https://corei64.com/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=103_110

Writing from Lake Tahoe, California,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

Check out the Commodore computers at the March 22-23 Interim Computer Festival at the Old Rainier Brewery Intraspace, 3100 S. Airport Way, Seattle, Washington, USA!  Not only will Commodores be there but there will also be other various platforms.  For more information, see

https://sdf.org/icf/

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

TeensyROM is a ROM Emulator, Fast Loader, MIDI and Internet cartridge for Commodore64/128, and now it has been updated to version 0.6.6. Demonstrated at last year's Pacific Commodore Expo NW, TeensyROM runs .CRT, .PRG, .D64 and other file formats stored in its flash memory or from a USB stick and/or microSD card.

For more information on TeensyROM, go to

https://github.com/SensoriumEmbedded/TeensyROM

Another TeensyROM presentation at CLASS 2025,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

Try out this fast Mandelbrot generator for the C128 in VIC-IIe and VDC modes and for other platforms, too.  Go to

https://github.com/0x444454/mandelbr8

80x50 text mode being experimental,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

    Version 1.07 of C64OS has been released!  This version has a new network stack, new Help Utility, and an improved PRG runner, among many other improvements and bugfixes.  Go to

https://c64os.com/c64os/softwareupdates/#v1_07

To purchase C64OS, go to

https://c64os.com/c64os/#order

          Truly,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group – http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
          Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network – http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
          April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

Just released... a new C128 text game in 80-columns!  It's Iowa Jack and the Crystals of Chaos --

https://rickyderocher.itch.io/iowa-jack-and-the-crystals-of-chaos-commodore-128

Shades of Indiana Jones!
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
April 26-27 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2025 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

On Tue, April 30, 2024 4:33 pm, I wrote on various forums:

> The CLASS of 2025 is set for the weekend after Easter, 2025!  First
> payment sent to our venue -- the Burbank VFW hall at 1006 W. Magnolia
> Blvd, Burbank, California.  Friday set-up, April 25.

      Everything is on track for our April show!  We are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Commodore 128 and the Amiga.

Our website is at

http://www.portcommodore.com/class

Today the Guests & Presentations page of the site got updated.  See

https://www.portcommodore.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=class:presentations_guests

And the Prizes and Items For Sale page was updated, too.  See

https://www.portcommodore.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=class:door_prizes

          Truly,
          Robert Bernardo
          organizer - Commodore Los Angeles Super Show

Happy New Year, everybody!
    There will be Commodore and Amiga computers at the April 12 Los Angeles Maker Faire 2025!  Check the listing of our exhibit, Classic Los Angeles Computers! (CLAC!), at

https://losangeles.makerfaire.com/makers-exhibits/

        Happy New Year!
        Robert Bernardo
        Fresno Commodore User Group
        http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
        Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
        http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

    The websites of the Commodore Los Angeles Super Show and the Pacific Commodore Expo NW have been updated!  Check out CLASS 2025, set for April 26-27, at

http://www.portcommodore.com/class

    Check out PaCommEx 2025, set for June 21-22, at

http://www.portcommodore.com/pacommex

    Both sites will continue to be updated, especially the news, presentations, exhibits, and prizes pages.

          Merry Christmas!
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group –
          http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
          Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network –
          http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

    Ray Carlsen still has many of his Commodore and Amiga power supplies for sale!  These heavier-duty items are just the thing you need to keep your Commodore or Amiga working reliably for years.

    As of early November, he had parts to build 30-50 of his "barebones" power supplies and parts to build 20-40 of each of the following power supplies --

plastic version
mini metal-cased version
deluxe metal-cased version

To see all the different power supplies, go to

https://portcommodore.com/rcarlsen/customPS.html

He can put different output connectors onto the power supplies, whether you need the round C64/VIC-20 coaxial, the squarish Plus/4 connector, the squarish C128 connector, the squarish Amiga connector, and more.  He can customize the power supply to fit your needs!  (He loves to work on custom projects.)

    Not only does he do power supplies but he also makes Commodore 8-bit computer video cables, like the composite-audio RCA plug output cable, the separated chroma/luma audio RCA plug cable, the composite-svideo audio female 1/8" output cable (for modern, external, powered speakers), and more.  Just tell him what kind of cable you need.

          Merry Christmas!
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group -
          http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
          Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network -
          http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

A few months ago Nybbles and Bytes released a new C128 game which uses 40-column and 80-column modes, Nybbles: Legend of the Drunken Snake. This is a description of it at the Patreon site --

------------

June's first ever video game, made especially for the Commodore 128 series of computers!

How fast are you with the joystick? Nybbles: Legend of the Drunken Snake will certainly challenge your reflexes! Take turns with a friend to become the longest running snake player ever, dodging booze and eating apples, but be careful! Not everything is without consequences!

This is the digital download version of the game, which includes:

A PNG of the disk label

A PDF of the game manual

A D64 disk image of the game

A PRG program file of the game

-----------
Basically, it is a tricky Snake game in 40-columns followed by a Tetris game in 80-columns. A video of the game play can be found at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqXvZHCi4iI

Specifically, in the video game play starts in at :34 secs to 5:04 and then resumes from 11:49 to 15:44.

If you have an early VDC in your C128, you will have to replace it with a later version in order to correctly see the 80-column screen.

To read how the physical version of the game was produced, read the blog at

https://nybblesandbytes.net/blog/vcfmw19.html

To purchase a digital download of the game, go to

https://www.patreon.com/c/nybblesandbytes/shop

Merry Christmas!
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

The Other Group of Amigoids (TOGA) is no longer at togausergroup.org .  You can find their new site at

https://www.meetup.com/toga-the-other-group-of-amigoids/

TOGA concentrates on the Amiga, Commodore 8-bit, and other classic computers.

Merry Christmas!
Robert Bernardo

On this page, there is a method to hack a faster Z80 in order to run CP/M faster.  See

https://github.com/ytmytm/c128-z80-8mhz

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

Check out the Commodore, Amiga, and other computers at the Bay Area Maker Faire 2024.  Go to

Commodore, Amiga et al at Bay Area Maker Faire 2024
http://blog.retro-link.com/2024/11/commodore-amiga-et-al-at-bay-area-maker.html

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

The C64 game, Orbix, has been released.  Read more about it at

https://fleischgemuese.itch.io/orbix

As it says on the website, speed is doubled when used on a C128, resulting in smoother gameplay, and there is better deletion handling.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

Today was the first day of the Amiwest Show 2024 in Sacramento, California.  Morning and early afternoon had seminars, and the late afternoon had a swap meet.  Go to

http://blog.retro-link.com/2024/10/first-day-at-amiwest-show-2024.html

YouTube videos of the seminars later,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

P.S. There was a C128DCR, a C64, a 1541, and a 1701/2 monitor at the swap meet!

(the first half of this article was originally posted in August when this board was not yet functioning)

    We've been accepted for an exhibit at the October 18-20 Bay Area Maker Faire 2024! Come and see the Commodore 8-bits, Amigas, and other computers at our booth named, "Vintage Computer Festivalers."

https://makerfaire.com/bay-area/

    Admittance to the Bay Area Maker Faire starts at $40 per day and on up.  Located at Historic Mare Island, 560 Nimitz Ave., Mare Island, California, USA,  the Bay Area Maker Faire runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  Mare Island is located across the bridge from Vallejo, California, which is off of Interstate 80 in the North Bay.
    As soon as more information comes in, I'll let you know the exact building and exact location within that building as to where our exhibit will be.

    Multiple buildings and hundreds of exhibitors at the faire,
    Robert Bernardo
    Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
    Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network – http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

(today's update)

    Tomorrow is set-up day for the Bay Area Maker Faire!  We'll have our tables in the vast Coal Shed 3.  With more table space compared to the Rocklin Maker Faire, we have more flexibility to set up the hands-on exhibits.  From my collection comes

Amiga 1200 '040 with OS 3.9
Ultimate 64
AmigaOne A1222+
A600GS
Tandy 102 with Tandy disk drive
Atari 520ST with SFS-354 disk drive and Gotek

From Jerold K.
Commodore 64 with Incredible Musical Keyboard

From Duncan M.
various Japanese-only computers (X68000?)

From Christopher S.
Acorn computer

        The computer list may change,
        Robert Bernardo
        Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
        Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

Hi, everybody,
    Photos and a short video of the Commodores and Amigas at the October 12 Rocklin Maker Faire are posted.  Go to

http://blog.retro-link.com/2024/10/classic-computers-at-rocklin-maker.html

          Truly,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group -
          http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
          Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network -
          http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

(This was announced back in mid-July, but this board wasn't back up at that time.)

Hey, we've been accepted for an exhibit at the October 12 Maker Faire Rocklin 2024! Come and see the Commodore 8-bits, Amigas, and other computers at our booth named, "Classic Sacramento Area Computers – CSAC!"

Here is a description from the Maker Faire Rocklin home page, "From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these 'makers' to show hobbies, experiments, projects."

https://rocklin.makerfaire.com/

The Maker Faire Rocklin is a free event located at Sierra Community College, 5100 Sierra College Blvd., Rocklin, California, USA. The Maker Faire runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Rocklin is located on Interstate 80, 22 miles northeast of Sacramento.

To see information on our exhibit, go to

https://rocklin.makerfaire.com/meet-the-makers/

(And now for the current announcement...)

Just a couple of days to the Maker Faire Rocklin! Packing starts tonight for set-up tomorrow afternoon. On the 2 tables, this is what is to be exhibited at the Classic Sacramento Area Computers - CSAC! --

Amiga 1200 '40 with OS 3.9
Ultimate 64
AmigaOne A1222+ (hey, that's new!)
Atari 520ST with SF354 external disk drive and Gotek
Tandy 102 with Tandy Portable Disk Drive

Back-up computers (just in case of the above failing)
Amiga 600 with OS 3.2
brown Commodore 64 with TeensyROM
Atari 800XL with external disk drive

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group – http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network – http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

Happy National Bunny Day, C= and Ami aficionados!
    The Fresno Commodore User Group has its traditional "picnic" lunch from 11 a.m. to 1+ p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6, at

Andiamo Ristorante Italiano
1275 Shaw Ave., #120 (across from the Sierra Vista Mall)
Clovis, CA 93612
(559) 298-3196

    Secretary/Treasurer Dick E. recommends the calzone – a meal in itself! 
    All members of FCUG and their families are invited, and the club will pay for the lunch.
    We won't necessarily be talking about Commodore and Amiga computers, but I will bring the latest FCUG Interface newsletter to distribute.

        See you at the lunch!
        Robert Bernardo
        Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Greetings, C= and Ami aficionados!
     The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 1+ p.m., Sunday, March 20, at our usual location --

          The Pizza Pit Restaurant
          2705 N. Blackstone Ave. (corner of Blackstone and Princeton)
          Fresno, California

     On the agenda is programming with a look at DotBASIC Plus on disk (courtesy of Alan Reed) and Comal 2.0 on cartridge.  Then we'll peek into 2 gigs of Commodore .D64 goodness on a SD card (courtesy of Charles Gutman).  Bring a 2+ gig SD card if you want a copy of that.
     We'll also see some raw video from the March 5 SC3 Arcade Party (including concert footage of 8-Bit Weapon and ComputeHer) which was held in Alhambra, California.  See you at the meeting!

          Truly,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug

------------------Original message--------------------
From: Alan Reed
Date: Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:47 pm


I'm happy to announce that DotBASIC Plus is being re-released as a free download.  [Formerly, DotBASIC Plus was an item sold by Dave Moorman of
Loadstar.]

If you enjoy programming in BASIC, but would like to put a little more "oomph" into your projects, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Get it at http://8bitcentral.com

Depending on the interest shown, I'll be posting more tutorials, etc. on my blog in the future.

Enjoy!
_________________

Alan

My Commodore Blog
http://8bitcentral.com

---------------- Original Message -------------------
Subject: COMMODORE FREE
From:    nigel parker
Date:    Tue, March 8, 2011 5:15 am
-----------------------------------------------------

Everyone knows that

"All the Best things come in 3`s"

So that's why I have released the
next 1 issue of Commodore Free!

Hm-mm sounded funnier in my head
than on an email.

Text and articles for the next issue
are most welcome; please contact me
for information; details are available
at www.commodorefree.com

COMMODORE FREE
Goes and hides under a rock for some
considerable time before emerging to
eat some lettuce.

Makes a mental note on the lines.
Jokes need to be funny.

And sulks off into his hole.

*************************************
       Commodore Free Magazine
    http://www.commodorefree.com/
*************************************

       Issue 48, February 2011

      Free to download magazine
  dedicated to Commodore computers
  Available as PDF, HTML, TXT, SEQ,
      D64 disk image and now as
        ePUB and MOBI e-book

*************************************
              CONTENTS
*************************************

* Editorial
* Readers Comments
* NEWS
  - PET+C64 in 25 Most Important PCs
  - Amiga Programmer for PageStream 5
  - Sideways SEUCK Compo 2011
  - Commodore Server Update
  - Fantasia's Return BBS Test Run.
  - Plus/4 / C16 Technical Documents
  - Arcade Retro Gaming Newsletter
  - Tiger-Disk #171 available
  - PixelJam Demoparty at Notacon 8
  - Aros Broadway 0.0.2R11
  - HVMEC 1.0 Released
  - The C64 - Archiv Updated
  - AmigaOS 4.1 Classic Promo Video
  - Contiki 2.5rc1 Released
* Interview With MIRKOSOFT
* Where Are They Now
* Multimedia With The CDTV
* C16 Programming
* Back to the Past: Issue 9, Jun 2007

=====================================

Nigel Parker

--------------------------------
Commodore Free Magazine
www.commodorefree.com
--------------------------------
Commodore Computer club U.k.
www.commodorecomputerclub.co.uk

     Photos of the February 19 Netherlands Commodore Show are now on-line.  Go to the series of pics, starting at

          http://commodore-gg.hobby.nl/feb2011col1.htm

               FCUG celebrating 30 years,
               Robert Bernardo
               Fresno Commodore User Group
               http://videocam.net.au/fcug
               The Other Group of Amigoids
               http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
               Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
               http://www.sccaners.org

     A long time in the making but now available for your viewing pleasure - photos from the Oct. 22-24 AmiWest Show 2010 held in Sacramento, California.  To see the 25th anniversary Amiga celebration, go to

          http://www.dickestel.com/amiwest10.htm

               FCUG celebrating 30 years,
               Robert Bernardo
               Fresno Commodore User Group
               http://videocam.net.au/fcug

     It's been awhile, but the SC3 Arcade Party is back with a vengeance!  The Southern California Classic Collectors have their party in a new location, Saturday, noon to midnight, March 5 at the Nucleus Art Gallery, 210 E. Main St., Alhambra (Pasadena area), California.  Enjoy the dozens and dozens of classic arcade machines set on free play, the many classic gaming consoles and computers (like Commodore 64 and Amiga), and the classic, live chiptune music from various artists, including Mr. Spastic, Wizwars, and most notably, 8-Bit Weapon, the C64/128 musicians who have released several music CDs.  Don't forget that there will be a trading area to buy and trade your classic goods.  For more information, go to

          http://www.sc3videogames.com/

     For SC3 Arcade Party discussion, go to

          http://digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149324

     Pre-registration is $10 until March 1; registration at the door is $15.  To register, go to

          http://www.gallerynucleus.com/event/287

          Let's party!
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug
          The Other Group of Amigoids
          http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
          Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
          http://www.sccaners.org

Happy Valentines Day, C= and Ami aficionados!
     The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 1+ p.m., Sunday, February 20, at

          Panera Bread Restaurant
          1260 Shaw Avenue
          Clovis, CA 93612
          (559) 325-0290

Note the new meeting place for this month; our usual meeting place at the Pizza Pit will be filled with Daytona 500 fans!    Because this is a Panera Bread, there is free Wi-Fi.
     Last month we looked through various Commodore forums on the Net; this month we'll go over some Amiga forums.  Also delayed from last month, we'll go through some of disks from the disk library of the Fort Ord Commodore UserS (FOCUS) of Seaside, California.  New on agenda will be Payton Byrd's video demonstrating CBM-Command v2.0 and the humorously wild Commodore Italy commercial.  Further discussion topics will cover the March 5 SC3 Arcade Party in Alhambra, California, and the April 15-17 Notacon 8/PixelJam Demoparty in Cleveland, Ohio.
     See you at the meeting!

          Truly,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug

     A few days ago, Facebook friend, Tomas M., told me about this video.  I viewed it and was amazed.  I showed it at last Sunday's SCCAN meeting, and everyone agreed that it was weird! ("strano" in Italian)  Click below to enjoy this Commodore Italy commercial --

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqrlXUHfUuY

               FCUG celebrating 30 years,
               Robert Bernardo
               Fresno Commodore User Group
               http://videocam.net.au/fcug

     MaximumPC has listed their choices for the "25 Most Important PCs in History".  The Commodore PET is at #10, and the Commodore 64 is at #19.  To see the gallery of the 25 computers, go to

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/25_most_important_pcs_history#slide-0-field_gallery_images-17104

          FCUG celebrating 30 years,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug
          The Other Group of Amigoids
          http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
          Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
          http://www.sccaners.org

Hello, everybody, and especially GEOS gurus!
     I just received an inquiry from CBM engineer, Bil Herd.  He wants to know "how well [you] think the GEOS code would work at 12mhz...".  That is, if there is  "access to local static ram @ 12Mhz (gets written to C64 dram by caching mechanism)" and "access to I/O â€" 1 Mhz".
     If you have an answer, please post it here, and then I will forward the message to Bil or direct Bil to this thread.

          Thanks,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug

     Though more details are to come, a rare C128 paint program will be distributed at the July 23-24 CommVEx v7 in Las Vegas.  You can see the original notice of this at

          http://www.commodore.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1950

               FCUG celebrating 30 years,
               Robert Bernardo
               Fresno Commodore User Group
               http://videocam.net.au/fcug
               The Other Group of Amigoids
               http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
               Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
               http://www.sccaners.org

------------------ Original Message ------------------
From:    "PDXCUG Admin" <pdxcug@pdxcug.org>
Date:    Mon, February 7, 2011 3:20 pm
------------------------------------------------------

Hello, PDXCUG Fans!

If you are unable to attend our meeting, we'll be chatting LIVE on CommodoreServer via Group Zork's chat interface. Please feel free to join us in the C64 room - you can use the Group Zork program to chat - here's how to get online with either a Comet64 or VICE: http://bit.ly/eKq5uP

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
  IMPORTANT: NEW LOCATION THIS TIME - PLEASE CHECK WEB SITE

We're meeting somewhere new because:
- The group is getting bigger
- We need more space
- We need it a bit quieter in order to work on our projects (see agenda below)

Will this become our permanent home? We'll see - depends on what members say about it.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Next PDXCUG.org Meeting:
---------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, February 10, 2011 @6:00 pm
More info & location: http://pdxcug.org/meetings.asp


Agenda:
---------------------------------------------------------
This month's meeting will be a little bit different.

No presentations.
No guest speakers.
Lots of tinkering.

Bring any Commodore-type project to tinker with:
- Soldering
- Hacking
- Coding
- Exploring new hardware
- Repair
- Cleaning of equipment

Whatever you feel like working on - this will give you a chance to break out those old projects or the ones you've been putting off.

Oh - we'll also have plenty of working computers to play around with and to play games on.

I am going to do the following for my tinker time:
- modify my Commodore MAX Machine so that I can hook it up to my 1701 monitor.
- read some EPROMs from a strange Commodore card with my Promenade
- clean my PET keyboard
- repair a Commodore keyboard

Do you have something similar to do?

What you can bring:
---------------------------------------------------------
- Equipment that you want to share, diagnose, fix, or just show off
- Cool Commodore gear or software to show off
- Your significant other - plenty for all to do and enjoy

Missed Last Month's Meeting? Here's our meeting highlights:
http://pdxcug.org/meetings/02-01/

See you there,
- Goog

________________________________________________________
PDXCUG is Portland's Official Commodore Users Group
Serving the greater metropolitan area - Portland, OR USA
Meetings every 2nd Thursday of the month
Twitter: @pdxcug
http://www.pdxcug.org

Happy Valentine's Day!
     We have another SCCAN meeting in the northern Los Angeles area on Sunday, February 13, from 2 p.m. to 4+ p.m. (well, the last meeting went 'til 9:30!).  If you wish to attend, send me an e-mail for the exact location.
     I'll bring my Amiga 3000 for examination and C= items I bought from Computer Station in Long Beach and the 4Jays in Antioch.  Don't forget to bring your Commodore and Amiga goodies to show off/demonstrate.  Also if the weather stays good, we'll have another barbecue.  See you at the meeting!

          Speaking for SCCAN,
          Robert Bernardo
          Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
          http://www.sccaners.org

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: CommodoreServer News
From:    "CommodoreServer.com Admin" <admin@commodoreserver.com>
Date:    Sat, February 5, 2011 2:13 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

We just wanted to let you know about some recent changes or additions that will enhance your experience with CommodoreServer and/or the Comet64 Internet Modem.

--------------------------------------------------------
Updated V-1541
--------------------------------------------------------
There is a new update to V-1541. You should stop using the old one and download the newest version. You can run the V-1541UPDATE program on your V-1541 disk to update the V-1541 program or download it from the following location:

https://www.commodoreserver.com/PublicDiskDetails.asp?DID=3FD61488783140DF847D1F5C2B6B1D59

There are a few enhancements as well as a minor bug fix. One of the best enhancements is the ability to login with a new symbol.  Just type the following to log in:

LOAD "@USERNAME, PIN",2

where USERNAME is either your email address or screen name, depending on how you have it configured in your account on CommodoreServer.com.  PIN is the numeric value you assigned in your account.


--------------------------------------------------------
Use WinVICE 2.2 with CommodoreServer
--------------------------------------------------------
VICE has really made good strides on getting their user port emulation working.  This is good news for users of CommodoreServer because it enables you to use VICE just like you were using a Comet64-enabled Commodore 64 with V-1541.  Other emulators in the series also works well, such as the Vic-20 and Commodore 128.  However, V-1541 is only compatible with the Commodore 64 at this time - new versions for other platforms will be released soon, so stay tuned.

Here's how to get VICE working as if it had a Comet64 attached to it:

https://www.commodoreserver.com/BlogEntryView.asp?BID=FFB55F09EA4348BE921BCC59BAA725C6&EID=5B9DFC4C28BA45A1B5BDF260D39FCB7B


--------------------------------------------------------
CommodoreServer's Gaming Service
--------------------------------------------------------
A new service is available on Commodore for both playing online games as well as developing new games with multi-player functionality. One game has already been released as a BETA to run it through its first paces (see next entry below). Here is a brief overview of CommodoreServer's Gaming Service:

https://www.commodoreserver.com/BlogEntryView.asp?BID=FFB55F09EA4348BE921BCC59BAA725C6&EID=B2390ADB558F4DBF9D949D0651AC0ED8

More information on the API will become available soon so you can start creating your own online, multi-player games.


--------------------------------------------------------
Play Group Zork
--------------------------------------------------------
This is the first game to take advantage of CommodoreServer's Gaming Service.  It was created by Agent Friday and it is written mostly in BASIC.  It just goes to show that even BASIC can perform well enough to play multi-player games over the Internet.

This game can be played in VICE or directly from your Comet64-enabled Commodore 64.  What's really fun about this game is that you can play a game and have other people in the room watch you.  They will be able to see the commands you type as well as the responses from Zork.  Grab some friends or play solo.  Or just load it up and see if anyone else is playing.

For more information, see:

https://www.commodoreserver.com/BlogEntryView.asp?BID=FFB55F09EA4348BE921BCC59BAA725C6&EID=CD9BE33CDBEE4DF3AD35E16311B2310F


--------------------------------------------------------
Coming Soon
--------------------------------------------------------
- From 2400 baud to 38.4K - is it possible to reach such speeds on a C64? Agent Friday thinks so and has a promising first attempt. He's been busy with Group Zork, but will soon be working on a solution for you to have blazingly fast speed with your Comet64.

- V-1541 for other platforms - we currently have a limited version in the works for the Vic-20 and will soon release it.  A version for the Commodore 128 is not far off, either.  V-1541 on RR-NET is possible and we have a beta version of that as well, but since RR-NET's TCP/IP stack resides in Commodore's memory, it takes up a lot of space and limits the use. Another good reason to have a Comet64!

- Information about CommodoreServer's API for the Gaming Service to be posted soon, so keep watching the CommodoreServer blog.

     The game, Star Wars, is compared across various platforms which includes the arcade version, the Atari 2600, the Atari 5200, the Commodore 64, the Colecovision, the ZX Spectrum, and the Sega 32x.  To see the 12-minute video, go to

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AluW4VImO0o&NR=1

               FCUG celebrating 30 years,
               Robert Bernardo
               Fresno Commodore User Group
               http://videocam.net.au/fcug
               The Other Group of Amigoids
               http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
               Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
               http://www.sccaners.org

----------------- Original Message ------------------
Subject: Commodore Free issue 47
From:    nigel parker
Date:    Thu, January 27, 2011 8:21 am
-----------------------------------------------------

Issue 47 also available as Ebook versions -
(EPUB) And (MOBI) formats

*************************************
       Commodore Free Magazine
    http://www.commodorefree.com/
*************************************

       Issue 47, January 2011

      Free to download magazine
  dedicated to Commodore computers
  Available as PDF, HTML, TXT, SEQ
         and D64 disk image

*************************************
              CONTENTS
*************************************

* Editorial
* NEWS
  - Games That Weren't Update
  - Commodore Keytar
  - ZoomFloppy ready for pre-order
  - SCACOM Aktuell #20/21 out
  - High Voltage SID Collection 54
  - Arcade Retro Gaming
  - 2011 C64-RetroInvaders calendar
  - Amiga Forever / C64 Forever 2011
  - Plus4: Club Info 120 Released
  - Attitude Disk Magazine
  - dtv2ser 0.5 Released
  - BOH update14 Released
  - 1541 Ultimate Firmware Version 2
  - More Commodore Videos
  - YC C16/Plus4 Special Edition
  - YC C16/Plus4 Programmers Edition
  - AresOne Update
  - CBM-Command Version 2.0 Beta 1
  - Nanako In Japanese Monster Castle
  - Plus 4: 256k Memory Expansion
  - The Rear Admiral
  - Eway10: 3 New C64 Adventure Games
  - ZTerm Terminal Client For C64
  - Theater Of War WW2 (VIC20)
  - Chameleon 64
  - DiscreetFX Platform Shift
  - On the Edge: the Spectacular Rise and Fall of Commodore
  - uIEC Change Device Program
  - sd2iec Firmware
* Interview With Alf Yngve
* Build Your Own RGBI>S-Video Adaptor
* Commodore 16 Programming
* 1000 Kung Fu Maniacs
* Back to the Past - Issue 7


Nigel Parker

--------------------------------
Commodore Free Magazine
http://www.commodorefree.com
--------------------------------
Commodore Computer club U.k.
http://www.commodorecomputerclub.co.uk