The VIC20 (Electronic Games)

The Commodore Vic 20 was the first computer I owned. It did me well for a number of years back in the 1980's. TheVic20 from Retro Games Ltd is a superb recreation. Build quility is spot on with a nicely working keyboard that feels similar to type on and a responsive micro-switched joystick that is a joy to play the games with.TheVic20 has is an emulation device and contains both a Commodore 64 and Vic 20 so you are getting two great 8-bit computers in one device. In addition, you get at least 64 games on the carousel and USB ports where you can plug in a memory stick filled with your own games to expand it. By default it starts at the carousel but it can be configured to boot up direcly into the Vic 20 or C64 BASIC for that immediate retro experience.Games in all modes are quite easy to load and get started with. Those that you add yourself may need a little preperation on the USB memory stick so TheVic20 knows what memory expansion to apply (for the Vic 20 mode) or which joystick port to use (for the C64 mode).What makes this that bit better than the real thing are:1. Modern device, connects easily to your TV.2. Has save/load states for each game.3. Can run as PAL or NTSC at either 50Hz or 60Hz.4. Less wires, no need for a separate Disk Drive, Datasette or SD/IEC reader.5. No worries about heat, energy usage or wear and tear you might have if using the original ~40 year old Vic 20.TheVic20 is a limited edition of TheC64 and might be difficult to get hold of now. However, I see TheC64 is still available on Amazon and that is a great alternative if you can't get this limited edition model.The limited edition is styled with the Vic 20 looks and colours. It has a sort-of PET style keyboard, although the shape is that of the later Vic 20's / C64's. The joystick has also been given a matching colour. Other than that, and a few of the games on the carousel, it is the same.Runs great on a modern TV, although be aware that if your TV has a Game mode or setting, or a primary HDMI socket for consoles etc, use that to avoid any minor lag in the display (this is a TV thing, not a TheVic20 thing).As mentioned, the build quality is great. The unit is much lighter, having minimal modern electronics inside, but the itegrity of the case is solid. They keyboard is satisfying to use and I do appreciate it taking up far less space being only the keyboard and joystick in front of the TV.TheC64 and TheC64 mini have been well supported by Retro Games Ltd, with their website pubilishing firmware updates and new games for free over the last year, so I expect we'll see the same for TheVic20 for quite some time to come. It has already had one firmware update.In summary, well worth the money if you enjoy these old 8-bit comptuers. No hassle, easy to get going with and not limited to the games it comes with (unlike other mini-recreations on the market). Whether you are an experienced retro hack with the original computers, or have not touched one in decades, TheVic20 (and TheC64) is a load of fun that will keep you entertained for ages.

Why does this product exist? You could just install an emulator for a Vic-20 or a C64 on your pc and have thousands of games in a folder. You could get a Raspberry Pi and do the same, placing it in a tiny case sitting under your T.V. As Alan Turing proposed, a computer is a universal machine so of course contemporary computers can run virtual re-creations of past systems. If you are technically inclined you may have already done that and found it somehow unfulfilling.Marcel Proust’s book “In search of lost time” a character eating a certain lemon cake dipped in tea triggers an involuntary memory of his mother reading to him as a child. The trigger was the physical sensation of taste. This cannot be simulated by a computer. What you need is something physical. Something tangible and tactical.Hence this computer. It’s a good quality reproduction of the famous “breadbox” Commodore case with the convenience of modern ports, hdmi, mini usb, and usb to bypass the hassle of looking for CRTs and suspect old power bricks that comes with using the original hardware. You can set it to boot up into a GUI mode or into basic which it does in a snap. The joystick is a seriously solid piece of kit, complete with clicky micro switches. Plug in a usb drive and you can save out and load whatever programs you want.On these cold winter nights of the frightening and often bewildering 21st Century I find myself typing away on the iconic commodore keyboard, writing programs in a long defunct language. I remember my Grandmother, now long gone, squinting at a big CRT T.V. as I show her how I can make things move about on screen and I feel safe and content in way that is hard to explain.

THEVIC20 is a beautiful recreation of the famous Commodore VIC-20, it runs PAL and NTSC region VIC-20 and Commodore C64 games, and the slate white housing is very aesthetically pleasing. The bundled joystick is very good to use too.

Fantastic item and great replica of the the Vic 20 with fully working keyboard.It can be used with both Vic 20 and C64 games and in basic mode in both formats.

Didn’t expect to see this back in stock but was pleasantly surprised.Arrived in perfect condition and it’s been a lot of fun to use.I waited for a long time to get this version instead of the standard C64 and I’m now glad I did.

It looks like a vic 20, comes in a well designed box and the keyboard is responsive. It is basically thec64 in a vic 20 case although it is nice to own one of these as well. The negatives are the joystick seems to stick going down on games that require a lot of movement, though this may have a knack to stop it doing this. The choice of vic 20 games is only 28, the rest of the 64 games are c64. Compare this to thec64 which has 62 c64 games and 2 vic 20 games. You can add more games via usb, but more should have been included on the carousel.

No problems with this machine and good to see it plays the c64 also.

Out of the box, the keyboard is not working.product is new, so not many information on the web to troubleshoot it.