The C64 Direct-to-TV, called C64DTV for short, is a single-chip implementation of the Commodore 64 computer, contained in a joystick (modeled after the mid-1980s Competition Pro joystick), with 30 built-in games. The design is similar to the Atari Classics 10-in-1 TV Game. The circuitry of the C64DTV was designed by Jeri Ellsworth, a computer chip designer who had previously designed the C-One.
The C64 Direct-to-TV computer-in-a-joystick unit.C64 Direct-to-TV
Tulip Computers (which had acquired the Commodore brand name in 1997) licensed the rights to Ironstone Partners, which cooperated with DC Studios and Mammoth Toys in the development and marketing of the unit.[1] Released in late 2004, QVC purchased the entire first production run of 250,000 units and sold 70,000 of them on the first day that they were offered.
There exist multiple versions of the C64DTV. DTV1 (NTSC television type) comes with 2 MBROM. It first appeared in late 2004 for the American/Canadian market. DTV2 (called C64D2TV sometimes) is a revised version for the European and world markets (PAL television type) and appeared in late 2005. The ROM has been replaced by flash memory in these devices. However, the DTV2/PAL version suffers from a manufacturing fault, which results in poor colour rendering (the resistors in the R-2R ladderDACs for both the chroma and the luma have been transposed). In the DTV3, a problem with the blitter was fixed.
Since the internal circuit board has exposed solder points for floppy-drive and keyboard ports, hardware modifications of the C64DTV are relatively simple.
Known hardware mods
Keyboard connector
External joystick (Port 1 and 2)
Floppy connector
Power unit connector
Fixing the palette problems of the PAL version (to some degree this is possible in software by adjusting palette entries)
The internal flash memory is accessible as device 1. However, software is not included to support write operations so high-score saving is not possible. Also, flash devices used in the DTV are specified for a very limited number of write accesses only.
When using the standard keyboard mod, the F7 key does not work. There is a workaround, the "Keyboard Twister."[3]
Software-moddingedit
The DTV contains software-flashable memory. A number of tools have been released to compile programs into DTV-compatible flash images and load it onto the DTV. People made their own game compilations, adding popular (sometimes DTV-fixed) games that were not in the original DTV, added boot menus to make homebrew software development easier or enable new features, for example transfer programs like DTVtrans for transferring data from PC to DTV RAM and vice versa via the PC parallel port (or USB) and the DTV joystick port.
Referencesedit
^. GamesIndustry.biz. 3 February 2005. Archived from the original on 18 August 2006.
^"C64DTV in original C64 case". Joco.homeserver.hu. from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
^. Picobay.com. 2009-10-02. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
External linksedit
, archived from the original on 2013-04-14, retrieved 2013-08-06 - DTV versions overview, HOWTOs, DTV Programming guide
- user manual plus some other information
C64DTV stuff by tlr Flash Tool, ML-Monitor, PC<->DTV transfer system
A page about the history of the device
Details on fixing colour problem on PAL DTVs - Note that surface-mountsoldering skills are required.
DTVtrans, connecting a DTV to a PC via parallel port
DTV2ser, connecting a DTV to a PC/Mac via USB or serial port
Four ways to turn a C64 DTV into a C64 clone
Grokk´s DTV Stuff DTVBIOS and DTVBASIC - make your DTV code-ready.
direct, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2013, learn, when, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources C64 Direct to TV news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message The C64 Direct to TV called C64DTV for short is a single chip implementation of the Commodore 64 computer contained in a joystick modeled after the mid 1980s Competition Pro joystick with 30 built in games The design is similar to the Atari Classics 10 in 1 TV Game The circuitry of the C64DTV was designed by Jeri Ellsworth a computer chip designer who had previously designed the C One The C64 Direct to TV computer in a joystick unit C64 Direct to TV Tulip Computers which had acquired the Commodore brand name in 1997 licensed the rights to Ironstone Partners which cooperated with DC Studios and Mammoth Toys in the development and marketing of the unit 1 Released in late 2004 QVC purchased the entire first production run of 250 000 units and sold 70 000 of them on the first day that they were offered Contents 1 Versions 2 Hardware specifications 3 Built in games 4 Hardware modding 5 Limitations 6 Software modding 7 References 8 External linksVersions editThere exist multiple versions of the C64DTV DTV1 NTSC television type comes with 2 MB ROM It first appeared in late 2004 for the American Canadian market DTV2 called C64D2TV sometimes is a revised version for the European and world markets PAL television type and appeared in late 2005 The ROM has been replaced by flash memory in these devices However the DTV2 PAL version suffers from a manufacturing fault which results in poor colour rendering the resistors in the R 2R ladder DACs for both the chroma and the luma have been transposed In the DTV3 a problem with the blitter was fixed Hardware specifications edit nbsp Commodore DTV PCB Core circuitry ASIC running at 32 MHz internally implementing 6510 CPU VIC II SID CIA and PLA Casing Connectors integrated in a joystick as if connected to port 2 of a real C64 five additional buttons acting like keys running from batteries only four AA batteries Composite video monaural audio RCA connectors looks similar to a Competition Pro joystick Graphics NTSC DTV2 and later NTSC PAL on chip only PAL wired in end market devices reprogrammable palette with 4 bits of luma and 4 bits of chroma DTV2 and later chunky 256 color mode additional blitter for fast image transformation Sound no support for SID filters DTV2 and later 8 bit digital sound additional options for envelope generators Memory DTV1 128 KB RAM 2 MB ROM DTV2 and later 2 MB RAM 2 MB flash memory DMA engine for RAM RAM and ROM RAM transfers DTV2 and later additional RAM access using bank switching and blitter CPU implementing a 6510 at 1 MHz DTV2 and later Enhanced CPU fast burst mode additional registers and opcodes support for illegal ops of the 6510 Built in games editThe official games for the unit are mostly a mix of Epyx and Hewson C64 games Games unique to the NTSC or PAL versions are noted below Title Developer Publisher NTSC PAL Summer Games Epyx Winter Games Epyx Pitstop Epyx Pitstop II Epyx Super Cycle Epyx Jumpman Junior Epyx Impossible Mission Epyx Impossible Mission II Epyx Championship Wrestling Epyx Gateway to Apshai Epyx Sword of Fargoal Epyx International Karate World Karate Champion Epyx Yes No California Games Epyx No Yes Silicon Warrior Epyx Yes No Alleykat Hewson No Yes Nebulus Tower Toppler Hewson Maze Mania Hewson No Yes Paradroid Hewson Eliminator Hewson Cyberdyne Warrior Hewson Cybernoid Hewson Cybernoid II The Revenge Hewson Ranarama Hewson Marauder Hewson No Yes Head the Ball Hewson No Yes Mission Impossibubble Hewson No Yes Firelord Hewson Exolon Hewson Netherworld Hewson No Yes Uridium Hewson Zynaps Hewson Speedball Image Works Bull Riding from World Games Epyx Yes No Sumo from World Games Epyx Yes No Flying Disk from California Games Epyx Yes No Surfing from California Games Epyx Yes NoHardware modding editSince the internal circuit board has exposed solder points for floppy drive and keyboard ports hardware modifications of the C64DTV are relatively simple Known hardware mods Keyboard connector External joystick Port 1 and 2 Floppy connector Power unit connector Fixing the palette problems of the PAL version to some degree this is possible in software by adjusting palette entries S Video connector User port Original C64 casing and PS2 keyboard 2 Additional hardware Data transfer cable Parallel port or USB serial port via DTV2ser to Joystick or user port SD card interface 1541 III or MMC2IECLimitations editThe internal flash memory is accessible as device 1 However software is not included to support write operations so high score saving is not possible Also flash devices used in the DTV are specified for a very limited number of write accesses only When using the standard keyboard mod the F7 key does not work There is a workaround the Keyboard Twister 3 Software modding editThe DTV contains software flashable memory A number of tools have been released to compile programs into DTV compatible flash images and load it onto the DTV People made their own game compilations adding popular sometimes DTV fixed games that were not in the original DTV added boot menus to make homebrew software development easier or enable new features for example transfer programs like DTVtrans for transferring data from PC to DTV RAM and vice versa via the PC parallel port or USB and the DTV joystick port References edit The Commodore 64 bounces back to life as a Direct To TV plug and play Joystick GamesIndustry biz 3 February 2005 Archived from the original on 18 August 2006 C64DTV in original C64 case Joco homeserver hu Archived from the original on 2011 07 21 Retrieved 2011 07 19 Keyboard Twister by Shadowolf Picobay com 2009 10 02 Archived from the original on 2011 07 15 Retrieved 2011 07 19 External links editDTV Hacking Wiki archived from the original on 2013 04 14 retrieved 2013 08 06 DTV versions overview HOWTOs DTV Programming guide The Official C64 DTV site user manual plus some other information David Murray s Commodore DTV Hacking C64DTV stuff by tlr Flash Tool ML Monitor PC lt gt DTV transfer system Mr Latch up s C64 DTV amp Hummer Advice Column A page about the history of the device Details on fixing colour problem on PAL DTVs Note that surface mount soldering skills are required DTVtrans connecting a DTV to a PC via parallel port DTV2ser connecting a DTV to a PC Mac via USB or serial port Four ways to turn a C64 DTV into a C64 clone Grokk s DTV Stuff DTVBIOS and DTVBASIC make your DTV code ready dtvhacking retrosafe com http dtvhacking cbm8bit com v1 index html Archived 2021 09 25 at the Wayback Machine https www gamesindustry biz articles the commodore 64 bounces back to life as a direct to tv plug and play joystick C64 DTV Games Joystick Specs and History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title C64 Direct to TV amp oldid 1220850623, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
