C64 Direct-to-TV facts for kids

The C64 Direct-to-TV, often called C64DTV, is a special computer built inside a joystick. It's like having a whole Commodore 64 computer on a single tiny chip! This cool device looks like the old Competition Pro joystick from the 1980s. It comes with 30 games already loaded, so you can just plug it into your TV and play.

The C64DTV was designed by Jeri Ellsworth, a clever computer chip designer. It's similar to other "TV games" that have many games built-in. The company Tulip Computers, which owned the Commodore brand, allowed other companies to develop and sell it. When it came out in late 2004, a shopping channel called QVC bought all 250,000 units made at first. They sold 70,000 of them on the very first day!

Different Versions of the C64DTV

There are a few different versions of the C64DTV. Each version brought some changes or fixes.

DTV1: The First Model

• The DTV1 was the first version.
• It used the NTSC video system, which is common in places like America and Canada.
• It had 2 MB of ROM, which is where the games and system software were stored.
• It first appeared in late 2004.

DTV2: For Europe and Beyond

• The DTV2, sometimes called C64D2TV, was made for Europe and other parts of the world.
• It used PAL video, which is different from NTSC.
• Instead of ROM, it used flash memory. This type of memory can be changed or updated.
• However, the DTV2 had a small problem: the colors on the screen didn't look quite right because of a manufacturing mistake.

DTV3: Fixing the Blitter

• The DTV3 version fixed a problem with something called the "blitter."
• A blitter helps move and change images on the screen very quickly.

How the C64DTV Works (Hardware)

This is what the circuit board inside the Commodore DTV looks like.

The C64DTV is packed with technology inside its joystick case. Here's a look at its main parts:

Core Circuitry: The Brain

• The main part is an ASIC chip.
• This chip runs at 32 MHz and acts like several parts of the original Commodore 64 computer, including:

* The 6510 CPU (the main processor). * The VIC-II (handles graphics). * The SID (handles sound). * The CIA (handles input/output). * The PLA (another important chip for the computer's logic).

Casing and Connections

• The entire computer is built into a joystick.
• It has five extra buttons that act like keyboard keys.
• It runs on four AA batteries.
• You connect it to your TV using Composite video and monaural audio cables.
• It looks a lot like the classic Competition Pro joystick.

Graphics and Sound

• The DTV1 used NTSC graphics. Later versions (DTV2 and up) could handle both NTSC and PAL.
• It has a special color palette that can be changed, offering many different colors.
• DTV2 and later versions also had a "chunky" 256-color mode and a blitter for faster image changes.
• For sound, it didn't fully support all the sound filters of the original SID chip.
• DTV2 and later added 8-bit digital sound and more options for sound effects.

Memory and CPU

• The DTV1 had 128 KB of RAM (for temporary data) and 2 MB of ROM (for built-in games).
• The DTV2 and later versions had more RAM (2 MB) and used 2 MB of flash memory instead of ROM.
• It also had a DMA engine, which helps move data around quickly.
• The CPU runs at 1 MHz, just like the original C64.
• DTV2 and later versions had an improved CPU with faster modes and extra features.

Built-in Games

The C64DTV comes with a great collection of games, mostly from companies like Epyx and Hewson. Some games are only on the NTSC version, and some are only on the PAL version.

Hardware Modding: Changing the C64DTV

Because the C64DTV's internal circuit board has easy-to-reach connection points, people found it quite simple to change or "mod" the hardware. This means adding new features or connecting other devices.

Popular Hardware Mods

• Adding a keyboard connector to use a full keyboard.
• Adding ports for external joysticks.
• Adding a floppy drive connector to load games from disks.
• Adding a power unit connector so it doesn't just run on batteries.
• Fixing the color problems in the PAL version.
• Adding an S-Video connector for better video quality.
• Adding a "user port" for other accessories.
• Putting the C64DTV's circuit board into an original C64 case and using a PS2 keyboard.

Extra Hardware You Can Add

• Data transfer cables: These let you move files between a PC and the C64DTV.
• SD card interfaces: Devices like the 1541-III or MMC2IEC let you use modern SD cards to store and load games, just like old floppy disks.

Limitations of the C64DTV

Even with all its cool features, the C64DTV had a few limitations:

• You couldn't save high scores directly to the built-in flash memory.
• The flash memory wasn't designed for many write operations, meaning you couldn't save new data to it too often.
• If you added a standard keyboard, the F7 key sometimes didn't work. There was a special fix called the "Keyboard Twister" for this.

Software Modding: Customizing Games and Programs

The C64DTV's memory could be updated with new software. This led to a lot of creativity from users:

• People created their own game collections, adding popular games that weren't originally included.
• They made "boot menus" to easily choose different programs or games.
• They developed tools to transfer data between a PC and the C64DTV, making it easier to add new content.

Images for kids

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  The C64 Direct-to-TV computer-in-a-joystick unit.

See also

In Spanish: C64 Direct-to-TV para niños