The real successor to the Commodore 64 is under development - and is open-source too !
(Yes, i feel like I'm a 14 y.o. again) ;p

It is going to be vastly enhanced speed and graphics-wise while still being compatible with existing C64 software.

This may very well turn out to become the ultimate 8-bit microcomputer.

Official webpage
http://www.mega65.org/

Developer blog
http://c65gs.blogspot.dk/2015/04/introducing-mega65-retro-computer.html

I wouldn't mind a seriously more low-key computer for fun and do assembly hacking and stuff on...

Sounds cool, i hope it turns out okay :) Hobbyists and enthusiasts will love it, and possibly people wanting a retro computer to teach their kids what computers USED to be like so they appreciate what the current systems have... (assuming you don't include the list of pros including unfinished games on steam and consoles that need multiple patches before you can play them...)

This will be fun to have, ah how nice to see stuff like this come back again.

Indeed... I'd like to see if it could be compatible with running other 8-bit systems like Atari 400/800 and Apple 1/2 systems. Some hardware is bound to give issues unless there's a switch or something...

Makes me wonder if there's going to be a surge of new C64 games, it's not like graphics or cpu power is needed to make someone happy. Actually i probably wouldn't mind going back and playing a bunch of roms, including Fort Apocalypse.


edit: Actually i would love to see a system that's 32bit while 8bit programs, an 8bit instruction set, and a few memory operator instructions for 32bit access for large complex programs...

Is this just a machine with a built-in emulator like Retron 5?

CPU: 48MHz GS4510 single-core, in-order, no-branch-prediction, no-cache, single-scalar, no-fpu, no-smd, no-HCF, non-pipelined, enhanced 4502 8-bit processor, with 32-bit ZP indirect and 32-bit far-JSR/JMP/RTS operations, 28-bit address space, fast hypervisor traps, virtual memory, IO virtualisation (coming soon).

Based on speed of the CPU alone, and referencing 128k ram (although probably a lot more) i'm going to say no. It's 50x faster than the original C64, but emulation usually requires 200x or more...

I hope the hardware doesn't cost a arm and a leg like those C64 remakes did a few years back. :\
Then again I really just want to stick a regular computer into one of these and bypass that old CPU based hardware altogether.

I wouldn't expect it to. From a parts site you can probably get some of these more expensive parts for a few dollars at most. Also because they probably don't use a huge amount of electricity to boost performance like current chips, it won't require many extra things like heat sinks and fans, which makes it cheaper again. A lot of accessories just don't exist for the C64 (Ethernet port, Midi port, USB, earphone jack, etc) so plugs will also be at a minimum.

I'd enjoy seeing this done as a kit, the external+keyboard, and then all the internal parts and you can build it yourself. Or come as a complete package (especially if there's soldering).

Do they even make parts that primitive anymore, or are they refurbished/reused?

Sweet that means I can play my old copy of Ultima 5 with the damn music since if I recall it needed 128k to get the music which meant back then getting a Commodore 128 and booting it in C64 mode.

New replacement parts apart from eproms for old systems start to pop up thanks to die-hard fans and programmable chips. Even a brand new c64 motherboard is being made:
https://icomp.de/shop-icomp/files/icomp/News_binary/C64r_ZIF_sockets_PAL.JPG

Replacement c64 synthesizer unit:
https://www.c64-wiki.de/index.php/SwinSID

Replacement c64 PLA:
http://www.nightfallcrew.com/07/02/2009/fpga-c64-pla-replacementfpga-alternativa-per-il-pla-del-c64/

The heart of the mega65 is a fpga which can be programmed with a 'core' to act like a cycle-exact computer. This way you can add, change and test hardware combinations to your hearts content without having to spend millions to make actual silicon.

If the economy then allows it, the code can be transformed into actual chips at a company that offer the service.

And there might be a kickstarter for it when it's ready... probably to make the minimum number in bulk, and if it explodes then it would certainly show how much this older hardware is wanted.

Hmmm i can't say i expect it to explode... not like that. Then again the Raspberry Pi needed 100,000 to break even and pay for itself, and they've sold over 2 million units...

Soft-SIDs. *sigh*

I wish someone would actually produce some new SIDs.

(I'm not saying it's commercially justifiable or even feasible, I just have a thing for 'chiptune' hardware.)

You'd think someone would have already. It's actually still a quite popular sound chip for a lot of things.

I'm looking forward to seeing what comes of the MEGA65. I do hope they remove the floppy drive, or at least just move it, because the way it is placed in the images looks like it will be very annoying when using the keyboard. You didn't read the specs, did you?

Outputs: Joystick ports 1 and 2 (9-Pin Atari Standard), VGA, 10/100mbit Ethernet,Mono Audio (Stereo soon), USB, Micro USB. Planned: HDMI, analog video, extension port, maybe external floppy.

Inputs: USB (supports PC keyboards and KeyRah II), Micro USB, Ethernet, Micro SD slot, and coming soon: 3D accelerometer, on-board microphone and thermometer.

Why do they have to make it a full computer when it has specs comparable to a gameboy advance? I'm sure there's some technical limitation in the hardware and/or vendors but...native c64 games on the go :D