Because it is a computer? You can emulate a C64 on damn near anything these days, including a multitude of handheld units. Playing C64 games on the go is not a problem. What is not available these days is a replacement for the full-scale dedicated C64 hardware, so that's what they're making.

I'm pretty sure the C64 of old still doesn't have USB ports or VGA adapters or ear jacks or Ethernet port... I'm pretty sure, [tiny]although i could be wrong...[/tiny] <.< >.> <.< -.-

Following that reasoning, programming such interfaces using the original C64 limitations is pointless (Unless they are never intended to run on the original C64 hardware or current emulators)



That doesn't mean the new specs can't include what we use on a daily basis, i mean 28/32bit address space would alone add a whole lot of possibilities even for a 48Mhz CPU chip. But at the same time unless it's fast enough having extra features could be pointless. The USB could be 1.1 (and i highly doubt it could keep up with 2.0 or 3.0, even with DMA in place)

I think I may have misunderstood what you were trying to say then. You seemed to be addressing comradegarry's concerns that the new hardware might be expensive, by arguing that it wouldn't have modern ports, even though it is clearly stated that it will.

Arguably the most popular 'chiptune' style chip ever thanks to the C64 demoscene (and some awesome game music like Monty on the Run). Apparently though it would be really hard to reproduce nowadays because it used a silicon process that was really 'dirty' and hasn't been used in a long time (I believe it was outdated even at the time of the C64's introduction). If it was reproduced now using modern processes, the analogue parts of the circuit (the filters) would actually sound less like a SID than a software emulation does, which is why people mostly do software emulations when trying to clone a SID. Without actually using the shoddy and vastly out of date process (which no factories use now), it's basically impossible to do an actual clone.

Well until all specs and blueprints for what the new C64 is and how to build it and how it looks, you could in theory use different parts as long as it gives the same results. In that regard the new computer might be no bigger than a Raspberry Pi (and similar interface and ports) at least for a minimal model. But I'm not sure.

I tried to look up the CPU chip for prices, datasheets, specs, manuals, etc. Couldn't find it. Doesn't seem like a new chip (else it could be very expensive to design/produce), so I don't know.

Still I look forward to seeing this completed :)

This cpu is a 'softcore' used to program the fpga to behave like it actually is a physical processor. It is the same way manufacturers test out new designs before converting them to asics.

In the same way a new softcore based accelerator for 68k Amigas is now able to outperform even the fastest 68060 cpu:

https://amigafun.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/some-amiga-classic-news/

Benchmarks:
http://www.apollo-core.com/knowledge.php?b=2&amp;note=2916

http://www.apollo-core.com/knowledge.php?b=1&not;e=2679

Edit,
Added link to the Phoenix-2 68k core benchmark.

I don't know that it would be impossible, but the end product would certainly be of a significantly more uniform quality than the original SIDs, that is true. Not all SID chips sounded the same, due to the inaccuracy of the production process for the analogue filters (as you say). In fact I own this CD, which only exists at all for that very reason. Martin Galway, the composer of such renowned C64 music as Wizball, Arkanoid, Green Beret, Comic Bakery, Ocean Loader, etc., originally selected a specific SID chip from a wide array of them for his own machine, to use in making his music. The CD, Project Galway, is a selection of his tunes played on his original C128D, containing said SID chip.

Hmmm sounds fun.

I'm reminded a while back when I worked at a company before where during training (I think) some explanations of the oddities of software development was brought up. It went something like this: "Software development is the only place where a built and working product will be made daily and thrown away daily" (referring to the current build of the software) as there was no physical manufacturing, so it's the only place where you could do such a thing that is in any other industry totally ludicrous and inefficient.

Time to necro this (yeah i know, shame on me).

Work is still ongoing, and the devs are making good progress - The machine is now pretty much indistinguishable from the original c65 as seen in the latest news update in the link below. It seems like they have succeeded in making a proper injection molded case. There are also plans to make a proper motherboard for the system instead of utilizing a nexys development board, according to a blog discussion some time ago.

http://www.m-e-g-a.org/mega-65-second-prototype/
http://mega65.org/

Great progress is also made on the new Vampire 2 accelerator board for 68k amigas - which is faster than Any 68060 cpu in existence and some PowerPC cpu's too. The vampire also have a graphics chipset way more powerful than the Amiga AGA graphics chip.

http://www.apollo-core.com/knowledge.php?b=3&amp;note=117&amp;z=VSqzo0
http://www.apollo-core.com/knowledge.php?b=3&amp;note=73&amp;z=VSqzo0
http://www.majsta.com/modules.php?name=News&amp;file=categories&amp;op=newindex&amp;catid=1

deleted

own thread you can necro it if you want ;p

i will wait with getting excited till i can buy a finished product
but at least its not dead

From top of my head:
Armalyte on the c64 is awesome - Same title on Amiga is mediocre. (not counting the PC remake)
Same with Giana Sisters, Led Storm and Thunderblade. And lots of titles like Retrograde isn't even available on other systems than c64.
Katakis on C64 is one of the absolute best shooters while the same on Amiga sucks big time in comparison.

Every platform have strengths and weaknesses.

no no
the tiger.com and the r zone and the ljn video art only have weaknesses

Wizball!

Every version except the C64 version was awful. The C64 version (which was the original mind you, all the other versions were crappy ports) on the other hand is one of the greatest arcade style games ever made.