Commodore History Part 2 - The VIC 20
The 8-Bit Guy・2 minutes read
The Commodore VIC-20, released in 1980, was a versatile computer that excelled in gaming and computing, selling over a million units and showcasing advanced capabilities despite memory limitations. Notable figures like Elon Musk and Linus Torvalds began their tech journey with the VIC-20, contributing to its success and influence in shaping the future of computing.
Insights
- Jack Tramiel, Commodore's CEO, played a pivotal role in developing the VIC-20 as a cost-effective color computer, drawing inspiration from the MicroPet and leveraging existing technology like the VIC video chip.
- The VIC-20, despite its modest memory capacity and lack of traditional graphics modes, became a groundbreaking success, selling over a million units and appealing to a broad audience due to its affordability, real keyboard, and availability in regular department stores, ultimately laying the foundation for the iconic Commodore 64.
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Recent questions
What were the key features of the Commodore VIC-20?
The Commodore VIC-20, released in 1980, featured a 6502 processor, BASIC programming language, character set compatibility with the Commodore PET, and a cassette port. It had 3.5K free memory, a composite video output, and a sound generator producing square wave tones and white noise.
How did the VIC-20 differentiate from the Commodore PET?
The VIC-20 differed from the Commodore PET by featuring a serial DIN connector instead of an IEEE-488 port, a single joystick port compatible with Atari 2600 joysticks, function keys, and a Commodore Key for additional graphics characters. It also lacked traditional graphics modes but allowed users to redefine the character set for basic game creation.
What was the marketing strategy behind the Commodore VIC-20?
Commodore's marketing strategy for the VIC-20 involved hiring William Shatner as their spokesperson to effectively promote the computer. Priced at $299, it was positioned as a versatile computer ideal for gaming and family computing, sold in regular department stores alongside gaming consoles.
What were some popular games available for the VIC-20?
Popular games for the VIC-20 included Tower of Evil, Skyhawk, River Rescue, and Miner 2049er, among others. Modern games like Astronell and Pentagorat showcased the platform's capabilities, with Doom playable using a RAM expander due to memory limitations.
Who were notable figures associated with the Commodore VIC-20?
Notable figures like Elon Musk and Linus Torvalds started their tech journey with the VIC-20, contributing to its success and influence in shaping the future of computing. Despite its limited memory capacity, the VIC-20's impact was significant, selling nearly a million units in 1982 and setting the stage for the popular Commodore 64.
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