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64 EMULATORS
EMULATOR RATINGS:

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CCS 64

The CCS 64 Emulator is the best emulator for the 64 on the PC, infact for any computer. The quality of emulation is of such a high standard that you soon forget that you're actually using an emulator, in many ways its better than the real thing! One of the only drawbacks with CCS 64 was that it had no built in facility to fastload games, thankfully the new version 2.0 beta, includes such a facility and some games will load in extremely quickly. The VIC chip and SID chip of the 64 is emulated too perfection and even the most demanding demos and games, like Mayhem In Monsterland or the Creatures series will run without problems. The sound emulation is excellent and all the Hubbard/Galway classics play without a hitch. CCS 64 2.0 includes support for 64 cartridges (e.g. Action Replay) and system roms (e.g. Speed Dos). If you use CCS 64 on a regular basis then please register it, to ensure continued development of this superb emulator.

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Sound: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
Interface: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
1541: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
Compatibility: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)

Please read the Commodore Zone FAQ Page for the CCS 64 emulator for help in using it and to solve any problems.

Download:
CCS 64 V1.09 (DOS - shareware), CCS 64 V.2.0 (DOS - shareware), CCS 64 V.2.0 (WIN - shareware)
Web Page: The CCS 64 Emulator Home Page and The Computerbrains Headquarters!
Other: The CCS 64 Cartridge and System Roms Page!

C64s

One of the oldest 64 emulators and one of the best, its emulation is excellent, graphically its very good, except it does have problems with a few titles such as Mayhem in Monsterland where the screen corrupts. The sound emulation is superb and is on a par with CCS. It will load most games but it does have a few drawbacks, a few titles will not run through the emulator and a few titles, like Little Computer People or Borrowed Time require the full emulation mode on which really slows down the loading process considerably. The interface is very good and is easy to use. This emulator competes very favourably with CCS but its not as good and considering the price tag to purchase the full commercial version it is highly overpriced.

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Sound: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
Interface: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
1541: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
Compatibility: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)

Download: C64s 2.52 (shareware)
Web Page: PHS - The C64S Emulator


VICE


Vice is a good emulator, but although it emulates the graphics and sound well, its the 1541 emulation where it excells, it will load some games like Nine Princes in Amber which simply will not load on any other emulator. However, its more difficult to use due to an over complicated dos interface. Still, this is a recommended emulator and one that you should have installed on your system. It also emulates the Commodore 128, PET and Vic 20, so you can load and run software for these systems as well.

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Sound: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
Interface: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
1541: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
Compatibility: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)

Download: Vice 1.1 (dos) or WinVice 1.1 (windows)
Web Page: The VICE - C64, C128, Vic 20 and PET Emulator Home Page


FRODO

Frodo is possibly the best 64 emulator for Windows, as it uses DirectX to full effect, the quality of emulation is very high. Its user interface is a bit weak and not as easy to use as it should be, but it does have most of the options you will require. Running the 64 in a small window on your Windows 95 desktop is possible and with a fast pentium the results are impressive. If you want an emulator compatible with Windows 95 then this is the best. Other machines are also catered for, versions for Amiga and Macintosh and other computer platforms are available.

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Sound: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
Interface: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
1541: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
Compatibility: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)

Download: Frodo (public domain)
Web Page: The Official FRODO 64 (PC) Emulator Home Page and for other platforms: Christian Bauer's Home Page


PC 64


Although some users rate PC64 as one of the best 64 emulators. I think it is one of the worst - this is due to its clumsy dos interface and it has a habbit of making the most simple tasks more complicated then they should be. The sound emulation is the worst of any 64 emulator. The graphics are reasonably handled but some games have problems, e.g. Masquerade. One advantage this emulator does have over every other 64 emulator is that it does run the Spinnaker titles superbly - Perry Mason will work with this emulator, but it will not run on any other. So if you're a fan of Spinnaker titles then this is the only emulator worth using.

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Sound: anistar.gif (627 bytes)
Interface: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
1541: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
Compatibility: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)

Download: PC64 V1.22 (dos) and PC64 V.2.14 (windows)
Web Page: Personal C64 Emulator Download Page

MagiC64

This is the best Commodore 64 Emulator available for the Amiga computer. The graphics are well implemented and the SID chip sound is handled through PlaySID or the 6581sid.library. It will load most games, although the 1541 emulation is not as good as it should be, and certainly poor compared to the CCS 64 Emulator for the PC. The emulator runs through the Amiga's superb Workbench operating system, so the interface is fully mouse driven and easy to use. This emulator will also multitask. The Amiga is about the only computer that can multitask properly, so its nice to see this feature included in the emulator.

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Sound: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
Interface: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
1541: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)
Compatibility: anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)anistar.gif (627 bytes)

Download: MagiC64 V.1.81
Web Page: MagiC64 Emulator Page

COME BACK 64

This is a Commodore 64 Emulator for the PC that is in an early stage of development. We will review a future version.

Download: Come Back 64 V.0.99
Web Page: Come Back 64 Emulator Page


WIN 64

This is a Commodore 64 Emulator for the PC that is in an early stage of development. We will review a future version.

Download: Win 64 V.0.40
Web Page: Win 64 Emulator Page

64 UTILITIES
The Star Commander Home Page
Target D64 - The ultimate 64 archive converter tool
The X1541 Shop
The Minstrel's 64 Page - Tap to 64 utility
ConGo - 64 graphic converter
Tomaz Kac's Voc2Tap utility
Andreas Matthies Wav2Tap utility
Wireless - Copy 64 disks to 64 datasette and transfer to PC via Sound Sampler to D64 disk format!!
Turbo Tape Loader - Load 64 programs stored in Turbo Tape format in 64 Emulators!
AMIGA EMULATORS
Brian King's WinUAE Home Page - Excellent!
The FELLOW Amiga Emulator
UAE - The Ubiquitous Amiga Emulator!
The Amiga Emulator Page!
The AMINET Amiga Archives - Huge!
OTHER EMULATOR SITES
Paul Mcgunnigle's Emulator Page - brilliant!
Squeeze's Emulators Page
Emu Xpress - loads of emulators!
The EMULATOR Page - updated rarely - but huge amount of emulators!
Rodimus's Emulation Page - A well designed site!
WaveRider's Emulation Site - Amiga, 64 and other emulators!
Emulators Online
The Digital Press - Reviews, FAQs, Emulators, Sound Bites, Collectors Unite!
64 CD-ROMS - check out High Voltage and Epic Marketing