The Commodore VIC 20 computer was designed to be small, simple, and above all cheap home computer with a retail price of just under $200 dollars. Commodore was able to build a cheap machine that was still able to provide proper graphics and sound. As a result, the Commodore VIC20 was the first computer to sell more than a million units.
There is no denial that writing new homebrew games for the unexpanded Commodore VIC-20 can be a real challenge. With only 3.5kb available for running programs you need to create really small code, especially if you also want to make use of user-defined graphics and the soundchip. While there are a number of memory expansions available for the system, i still think the challenge of writing for the unexpanded Commodore VIC 20 computer is the most rewarding for me as a programmer.
Commodore VIC-20 games
Rush (2015)
The chase is on
A heist has gone wrong and now you are being chased!
Escape the police by running and jumping from rooftop
to rooftop, while grabbing leftover cash wherever you can
Now run!
How to play
Use joystick to navigate and fire to jump.
Game Features
- Available on Tape and as Digital Download
- Runs on an unexpanded Commodore VIC-20
- Combined Multicolored and Hires graphics
- Parallax scrolling
- Flickerfree gameplay
This time around he tried practising an elevation spell and as a result the elevators in his neighbourhood are out of control!
Help Wizzy reach the top of each building and undo the damage being caused by his spell!
How to play
Use joystick left/right to navigate. Reach the top floor of each level!
Game Features
- Available on Tape and as Digital Download
- Runs on an unexpanded Commodore VIC-20
- Multicolored graphics
- Flickerfree gameplay
Avalanche is a fun action game people can just pickup and play. The player has to shoot the various gems that are falling down from the top of the screen.
The gems are marked with symbols and the player has to match up the symbol of his ship with the symbol on the gems.
The speed of the game will automatically increase during gameplay. Shoot strategically and get combos of 4 similar gems in a row to decrease speed and gain extra points.
How to play
Use keyboard or joystick to control your ship. Left and right movement will move your ship through the different columns, while up and down will change the symbol on your ship. Press fire to shoot.
Game Features
- Available on Tape and as Digital Download
- Runs on the unexpanded Commodore VIC-20
- Easy to pickup and play type of game
- Multicolored Graphics
- Flickerfree gameplay
Reviews
Retrogamer magazine, issue 112 : "A no frills game we found difficult to put down" - 86% . Read review
RGCD: "A well-designed and fast-paced little game perfectly suited to the machine" - 4 out ot 5 joysticks.Read review
Commodore Free, issue 65: "Its this simplicity that leads to some tantalising game play" - 8 / 10
