MAX Machine, also known as Ultimax in the United States and Canada and VC-10 in Germany, is a Video game console designed and sold by Commodore International in Japan, beginning in early 1982, a predecessor to the popular Commodore 64.[1] The Commodore 64 manual mentions the machine by name, suggesting that Commodore intended to sell the machine internationally; however, it is unclear whether the machine was ever actually sold outside Japan. When it was officially presented, in Tokyo, for the first time, it was named Commodore VICKEY.
The unit has a membrane keyboard and 2 KB of RAM internally and 0.5 KB of color RAM (1024 × 4 bits). It uses a television set for a display. It uses the same chipset and 6510 CPU as the Commodore 64, the same SID sound chip, and a MOS Technology 6566 graphics chip, a version of the VIC-II that powers the C-64 graphics for the MAX' static RAM. A tape drive could be connected for storage, but each cartridge had to implement its own cassette driver and protocol routines, so the tape could only be used by 2 of 24 released programs. The MAX also lacks the serial and user ports necessary to connect a disk drive, printer, or modem.[2] The lack of any built-in operating system, not even a simple bootstrap OS, combined with the fact that all the software released for the platform are video games (besides a scaled down cartridge-based BASIC with no support for disk, modem, or printer support) positions the Max as a video game console rather than a home computer, despite sharing much of the Commodore 64's chipset. The MAX's 2KB of RAM also indicates it was intended as a games machine and not a personal computer. Even the Commodore PET, released five years earlier in 1977, had a minimum of 4K RAM, and rapidly 8K became the minimum. Even the VIC-20, heavily criticized for its minimal RAM, shipped with 5K of RAM.
Software is loaded from plug-in cartridges - turning on the MAX with no cartridge inserted yielded only a blank screen. Its ROM cartridge architecture was compatible with that of the C-64, so that MAX cartridges will work in the C-64. The MAX compatibility mode in C-64 was later frequently used for "freezer" cartridges (such as the Action Replay), as a convenient way to take control of the currently running program.[3][2]
MAX Machine, accessories, and retail packaging
It was intended to sell for around US$200. Although the MAX had better graphics and sound capability, Commodore's own VIC-20, which sold for around the same amount, was much more expandable, had a much larger software library, and had a better keyboard—all of which made it more attractive to consumers. The MAX never sold well and was quickly discontinued.
machine, also, known, ultimax, united, states, canada, germany, video, game, console, designed, sold, commodore, international, japan, beginning, early, 1982, predecessor, popular, commodore, commodore, manual, mentions, machine, name, suggesting, that, commod. MAX Machine also known as Ultimax in the United States and Canada and VC 10 in Germany is a Video game console designed and sold by Commodore International in Japan beginning in early 1982 a predecessor to the popular Commodore 64 1 The Commodore 64 manual mentions the machine by name suggesting that Commodore intended to sell the machine internationally however it is unclear whether the machine was ever actually sold outside Japan When it was officially presented in Tokyo for the first time it was named Commodore VICKEY MAX MachineTypeConsole home computerRelease date1982 41 years ago 1982 Introductory priceUS 200 equivalent to 610 in 2022 Discontinued1982Operating systemnone optional MAX BASIC Cartridge CPU6510 1 02 MHzMemory2 KB 0 5 KB color RAMGraphicsVIC II 6566 320 x 200 16 colors sprites raster interrupt SoundSID 6581 3x Osc 4x Wave Filter ADSR Ring PredecessorVIC 20SuccessorCommodore 64The unit has a membrane keyboard and 2 KB of RAM internally and 0 5 KB of color RAM 1024 4 bits It uses a television set for a display It uses the same chipset and 6510 CPU as the Commodore 64 the same SID sound chip and a MOS Technology 6566 graphics chip a version of the VIC II that powers the C 64 graphics for the MAX static RAM A tape drive could be connected for storage but each cartridge had to implement its own cassette driver and protocol routines so the tape could only be used by 2 of 24 released programs The MAX also lacks the serial and user ports necessary to connect a disk drive printer or modem 2 The lack of any built in operating system not even a simple bootstrap OS combined with the fact that all the software released for the platform are video games besides a scaled down cartridge based BASIC with no support for disk modem or printer support positions the Max as a video game console rather than a home computer despite sharing much of the Commodore 64 s chipset The MAX s 2KB of RAM also indicates it was intended as a games machine and not a personal computer Even the Commodore PET released five years earlier in 1977 had a minimum of 4K RAM and rapidly 8K became the minimum Even the VIC 20 heavily criticized for its minimal RAM shipped with 5K of RAM Software is loaded from plug in cartridges turning on the MAX with no cartridge inserted yielded only a blank screen Its ROM cartridge architecture was compatible with that of the C 64 so that MAX cartridges will work in the C 64 The MAX compatibility mode in C 64 was later frequently used for freezer cartridges such as the Action Replay as a convenient way to take control of the currently running program 3 2 MAX Machine accessories and retail packagingIt was intended to sell for around US 200 Although the MAX had better graphics and sound capability Commodore s own VIC 20 which sold for around the same amount was much more expandable had a much larger software library and had a better keyboard all of which made it more attractive to consumers The MAX never sold well and was quickly discontinued See also EditCommodore 64 Games SystemReferences Edit OLD COMPUTERS COM The Museum www old computers com Archived from the original on 2021 08 19 Retrieved 2022 01 22 a b Commodore MAX Computer Computing History www computinghistory org uk Archived from the original on 2021 06 23 Retrieved 2022 01 22 The Ultimax Max Machine The 64GS The 64CGS The Secret Weapons of Commodore 2018 01 21 Retrieved 2019 01 12 External links EditCommodore MAX Machine Ultimax at the Wayback Machine archived 6 November 2014 The UltiMax machine a k a VIC 10 The MAX Machine the odd one out nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Commodore MAX Machine nbsp This microcomputer or microprocessor related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title MAX Machine amp oldid 1168893712, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
