Commodore 16 and Games Review

I take a look at the ill-fated Commodore 16. Released in 1984, it was considered one of Commodore's biggest flops, but is it actually any good?
Commodore Plus/4 Video: • Commodore Plus/4 With ...
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[@46danz]

The c16 was a brilliant and very cheap pc for the working mans family.I got the c16 starter pack for xmas when i was 10 and played with it endlessly.My first programming was also done on this machine as computers from this era came with massive manuals and programs you could experiment with.

[@pauluswoodgnome]

The Commodore 16 was my first home computer. I remember shopping for games and always being a little envious of the selection of C64 games available compared with C16. But watching you play Mr Puniverse reminded me just how great some of the games were. I'd definitely watch a two hour video of you working your way through your entire collection just for the trip down memory lane :-)

[@fabian999ification]

That C16 looks beautiful, probably my favourite looking one next to the C64-C.

[@bierundkippen720]

I also prefer the C model over anything else.

[@IronSmithReviews]

Thank you so much for doing this episode Dan. The 16 was my first computer and I have very fond memories of the 2 years I had it, before upgrading to the 64. Keep up the good work. Really enjoying the podcast too. Cheers

[@scouse1967]

Great to see you reviewing this legend of a retro computer.I had one many years ago (which i bought brand new at the time) from Tandy Electronics,only because i couldn't afford the C64 at the time but i'm glad i did get a C16,as i loved it and spent many happy hours in my bedroom,playing Rockman,Booty and Blagger.I then managed to get a C64 and i went and sold my C16 (which was stupid of me,i know) but now,after all these years,i bagged a great deal with a guy over on F/B marketplace for a C16 he had up for sale (which included the power supply,Datasette,3x joysticks and a couple of games).It's had a couple of repairs done by myself,which included replacing the p/supplies socket/plug,replaced the main boards 1.5 amp fuse,making my very own "RF Cable" to connect to my flat screen tv and adding heat sinks ontop of the "PLA,CPU and TED chips on the main board.Next is to upgrade it to 64k RAM but this C16 is staying in my collection and will never part with it,ever :)

[@WilbertLensen]

That was my very first Commodore. My first console was a Philips Videopac G7000 and after that I jumped on the Commodore wagon :) Green Beret, Pengo and Tomb Of Tarrabash I had a lot of fun with back then. Great memories on my old commodore machines. Great work Dan thanks

[@daviniarobbins9298]

The C16 was my first proper home computer. The starter pack only cost £49.99. It was my Xmas box for 1985. My parents were poor. Lasted four year before it gave up the ghost. Sent it away for repair but we never paid for the repair or collected the machine in 1989. I remember selling all the games, cassette drive and cables, bits and pieces at the flea market for a few quid.

[@LoveDoctorNL]

I loved the Basic 3.5 on the C16, this and Its built-in machine language monitor forever spawned my interest in programming.

[@bierundkippen720]

Missing on the C64 unfortunately.

[@Letstalkretro]

Hi Dan, great video, thanks for the memories as the C16 was my first ever computer. I remember playing all those games. Great times. Also congratulations on The Retro Hour podcast I've really been enjoying those. Keep up the good work. From Colin at Let's Talk Retro.

[@battmann1065]

Great to see an in depth video of the vastly underrated C16, a real niche underdog system if ever there was one! I have one and absolutely love it. It has some great pick up and play games and is a nice system to collect for.

[@fearthebeard722]

Great vid, the commodore 16 bread bin was my first computer way back when I was 8 years old! Feeling very nostalgic right now!

[@worldpeace9395]

Luv your vids Dan - shame we have to wait so long for them:)

[@danwood_uk]

+WORLD PEACE Thanks, I've had a pretty good run recently, had one per week-ish so far this year, that's the aim for 2016 :)

[@lactobacillusprime]

Actually yellowing does occur on the c16, it turns the case a little green. A bit like the greenish tint to the original Xbox. It's not as bad as a yellowing c64,Vic 20 or Amiga though.

[@mikester1290]

Excellently produced video, funny how they said they needed the smaller ports to fit them little din style connectors in but when you open the case it looks like they could have actually have used UK mains connectors to hook up joystick ports there's that much room left over. PS, I don't know if you ever had a Dragon 32, but I'd love to see a proper review of one by someone who is as good at this as yourself, I used to love mine, especially playing the flight sim with the 2 analogue controllers that came with that package, that would be some nostalgic goodness. Thanks for the vid!

[@RoyBatty16]

Great video Dan, brought back some fantastic memories of my introduction into gaming. I sadly had to sell my C16 (which at that point had quite a large collection of games) to fund my purchase of a C64. From the get go, the C16 seem to be treated like the ugly step-child of the commodore computer family. From non-standard ports and poor support to being incompatible with any commodore computer. Yet I loved it. Any chance of another video showing off more of the games?

[@Gundamuk]

Smashing video, thank you for being a great source of nostalgic goodness :)

[@BeyondTheScanlines]

Great vid. I've only been a recent adoptee of the TED/264 line of machines, and whilst I dig the more compact nature of it's bigger brother (because who in their right mind would prefer the chicklet keyboard of the 116), it can't be denied there's something special about the C16's case. Certainly been finding a lot of surprises in its library as I've been messing about with 'em (and trying to cover 'em on my channel). Also handy on the tech tips with the heat-sinking. Really have to get on with that at some stage :)

[@danwood_uk]

+hellfire64 Great, just subbed. Nice channel!

[@AdiSneakerFreak]

Really interesting video Dan, thanks for showing mate.

[@LemonTubeAmiga]

I recently saw Prince of Persia running on a C16 on the Lukozer channel. I bet it used all 12k of the C16's memory capacity. It is mind blowing to think one pixel today would probably take up more than 16k on its own. Yes it was a staggering acheivement, and put it against the Atari VCS 2600 no problem, but with the C Plus/4 and the VIC 20 already on the market, this felt very much like the A600 of its era. Superb work as always Dan.

[@thepeller210]

Great vid as usual! Keep up the good work!

[@LoveDoctorNL]

Basic 3.5 and the built-in machine language monitor built in made it the machine which got me started in programming.

[@ArcadeDude44]

I am extremely nostalgic for the arcade Phoenix, as I played it often as a child. I was very happy to find a really nice cab years ago, for only $125!:). It is one of my favorites in my collection.

[@abwleague]

So many memories! The C16 was my first computer for Xmas in 1984 before the inevitable upgrade to the C64 a couple of years later. I particularly remember Xzap, which came with the machine and the Berks Trilogy of games.

[@CaptainNow2]

I recently got mine back from my parents, absolutely incredibly mint condition, in the polys and everything. Just bought some games so I could enjoy them once again. I loved this old machine :) Great video :)

[@paulnegri8214]

Dan I love you man the C16 was my first computer. keep up the good work.

[@chrismaddy7316]

This was my first computer/games machine. I remember games like X-zap and Punchy as favourites. Great video!

[@fandenivoldsk]

Over the years I have found that the C16 had a lot of cool games.

[@theretrogamesnews]

Great review of the C16. Some of those games look pretty damn good. Also, the plus 4 is one of the coolest looking 8 bit machines. Almost makes me wish they went with that design for the c64 or 128. Thanks for another great video mate.

[@bierundkippen720]

I find it pretty ugly.

[@leesawford]

I had one of these- I brought it with my pocket money and money from my bank account savings. I remember it was about two hundred pounds, A LOT of money at that time. - it really was primitive. As powerful as a calculator.The keys actually ‘clunked’ when you pressed them and it took forever to download a simple game. This was done via a very basic separate little tape player. I remember it was sold as a more basic version of the 64. I only ever used it for games ! It took forever to load ( about half an hour a game) and nearly always ended up have a ‘syntax error’ !I literally never used ANY of the ‘interfaces’ or ports! That said -I dropped it,my brother kicked it ! I dropped coke on it, food on it and It still worked though! I thought I was some sort of ‘hacker’ -10 print ‘Elijah’ -20 Goto 10 And it’d print ur name over and over. And My Puniverse was one of MY favourites too. Maybe because there were only about ten games. All platform style with very basic graphics. You’d have to learn the timing of things to win...for basically all of them. I remember being frustrated as none of the popular joy sticks of the time would fit my C16 !

[@xxTeamFearLessxx1]

The Commodore 16 is the real 8 bit king.

[@keiranbowes1979]

great video.Always entertaining and thorough.

[@AlphaIndigo]

I have one of these, picked it up with box of bits from a car boot sale for £3. After getting it home I was amazed it still works. It came with the cassette drive a load of games and a broken joystick and the famous power brick. It was targeted as a business machine back in the day, and sold well here in the UK although unpopular everywhere else it seems.

[@kieronsavage7656]

My God the nostalgia, this brings back memories... C16 my 1st computer. Happy memories.

[@goingfinn]

Great vid. I did not know much about the 16 so interesting to watch. "Speed King" brings back some memories. Loved that game (on the plus 4) along with "Reach for the Sky"

[@skyplonk]

awesome Dan. keep up the great videos

[@andymarc8632]

My parents were quite poor back in the 80s and the c16 was my first computer. Loved Tutti Frutti and deathrace. Came with a booklet on creating images with basic.

[@edtheluck]

Spikey Harold very reminiscent of the original 'Dizzy' on the CPC there. Nice little showcase this, cheers Dan.

[@Blummineck]

I'd completely forgotten about Pheenix, I'm going through nostalgia overload now.

[@SledgeFox]

Thank you very much for your most entertaining and interesting videos. Thank you for your time and work!

[@CragyOrgUk]

Hi Dan, I still have my C16 though the board revision is different to yours where as mine has an unused edge connector on board that allows connection of the C64 datasette though no hole in the case . I've had mine out of the case and plugged a C64 tapedeck in and it actually works..

[@MrFaceHead]

I just subbed to Retro Hour podcast on the recommendation of Retro Asylum, and I recognised your voice. It's you! That Amiga video bloke.

[@aphexteknol]

Forgot to add, Marvin is a stellar guy, he's found me some excellent machines as well that I probably never would have found otherwise. Thanks for the cool video Dan!

[@Ling2Long]

Ahh, great video :) The Plus/4 was my first "decent" computer after the Dick Smith VZ200. Did the C16 have the built in Machine Code Monitor/Memory Editor like the Plus/4? Also I had these great games... Kikstart (Also by Shaun Southern) I used to make my own levels by editing the memory in the built in memory editor. Jetbrix Rescue from Zylon Sword of Destiny Terra Cognita Wizard of Wor Dork's Dilemma

[@neoinfinity]

I had one of these back in the day, sadly I no longer have the machine but I still have a bag full of games (on cassette) in the loft including Tutti Frutti amongst others.

[@stevejennings3960]

Ahhhhh… My first computer… bloody love the c16, xzap, punchy, tutti frutti, Terra cognita, kiKstart and POD and ace on c16 absolutely rocked!!!

[@JafarCalley]

I got excited when I saw the 16 and Plus4, until I saw the specs. I was hoping for a more powerful version of the C64. I had to wait for the Amiga. I got an A500, A600, A1200 and probably would have continued had the unfortunate demise of Commodore happened.

[@TheRetroShed]

I've always liked the C16 and Plus 4, even though they were both underdogs and nowhere near as good as the C64 with regards to games. I was very nearly bought one Christmas 1984, but ended up with an MSX instead. Something I have never regretted! I have a Plus 4 now in our collection, but disappointed in its games to be honest. Still have a fondness for the machines though!

[@fsddevelopment4513]

Development for this machine is still going on. See GridIron and Atic Atac for the Commodore 16.

[@gan9e]

Thank you, very informative & enjoyable.

[@KuleRucket]

My first computer was a Plus 4. Big Mac and Mr Puniverse were always my favourites. It took so long to get everything just roght and get through all of the levels. I also remember that speed skating one. You had to start slow and speed up gradually.

[@zerotonic2659]

""Winter Events"! By far the best C16 game back then. I also loved "Bandits At Zero", a "Defender"-clone.

[@andrewlittleboy8532]

Just came back to this video as I’ve just now bought a NOS Plus 4!

[@aphexteknol]

I might have to fire up my C16 now as well...

[@pferreira1983]

Interesting video Dan. Thanks!

[@monolalia]

My first non-console computer. ;) I wanted a C64 like everyone else, but... money. Had fun with Basic 3.5, though. Only way into the Internet age did I find out there were (unofficial?) ports of "luxury" games like Elite, Head over Heels and Gnome Ranger... and a SID cart -- for the plus/4, anyway.

[@lbanting]

Got a +4 a couple years ago, even have a Logo cartridge for it too!

[@repetto74]

Hi, Nice review of this machine ! I have also picked up recently a C16. All is working good except that any device connected to the serial DIN port will give a Device Not Present error message. Is this a damaged TED chip?

[@RonHelton]

Thanks for the nostalgic journey!

[@cheeeeeeeef]

My word - Tutti Frutti. Genuine 80s flashback. Great video dude, thanks.

[@paulnegri8214]

Hi Dan did you know if you hold down the reset button on the C16 and Plus 4 for 10 seconds. It has a machine code monitor built in so you can program your computer in machine code.

[@JimmiG84]

Cool video! I for one have never seen a Commodore 16 or Plus/4. The Commodore 64 was my first ever computer. I actually got a C64 and a VIC20 from an uncle in the early 90's, but obviously the C64 was by far more interesting since it came with a bunch of games. Speedking was available on the C64 too but it looked quite different.

[@Vigulfr]

Spiky Harold looks like a cool dude

[@shahid1296ify]

My first ever video games machine in 1987 was the commodore plus 4!

[@weepingscorpion8739]

Defoes thinking about getting a C16 now. With the 1551, too.

[@thetaleteller4692]

One important hint to keep these machines alive: Replace the existing 7805 voltage regulator (the three pin chip screwed on the aluminium plate) with a modern step down regulator (there are pin compatible ones)and remove the resistor R10 (that big ceramic block). This will reduce power consumption, reduces heat as well and protects your cpu/ted from power spikes.

[@danwood_uk]

+TheTaleteller Great tip, thanks

[@ryansmith3833]

I got the Commodore 16 for Xmas 1983 but when I Google the release date it says 1984?! It was definitely December 1983 when I got it from my dad for Xmas. I had the punch and Judy games pack edition. A very memorable xmas!

[@melvinmorales1452]

I used to have one of those. I loved it.

[@galvatron3214]

From my vague memories of it (yes i owned one), from what i remember, the Commodore 16 was just not marketed very well, like with Sega's Dreamcast, which is why it didnt last well. It wasnt long before they stopped making games for the Commodore 16, and i ended up having to go for another computer instead, the Spectrum 48k. But the Commodore 16 had better graphics than the spectrum 48k. Spectrum 48k graphics were monochromed and you got colour clashing, it was terrible. At least the commodore 16 was coloured. I think in the end Commodore just put all their eggs in the one basket in the end and just soley concentrated on the C64. The Amiga was great though, just as good as any 8 bit console and sometimes even as good as a 16 bit console.

[@immrchris]

i had the +4 as my parents couldn't afford a C64 i loved it!

[@CaptainCarling]

Just dug the old spectrum 48k out of the loft to replace the caps etc, then I'm gonna get the 16 down too and get that up and running

[@rick601a]

I used a commodore 16 in school. They had 1 commodore and 5 Texas insturments ti-99/4a computers where I spent most of my time on the TI but I really liked the 16. They had some vic20 machines that they sent around to different schools for a few weeks. I wanted to get my hands on the vic20 back then but they would only let the advanced math kids on those at the time.. I did finally find a vic20 on eBay after all those years I get to play on a Vic now.

[@danwood_uk]

+rick601a that's interesting, as the C 16 was more advanced in pretty much every way than the Vic.

[@googleboughtmee]

Man I need to get a Plus/4, that was my first computer too. I wonder what happened to it.

[@mikespikeey4625]

that was the 1st computer i had i loved to play tom thumb and that was the 1st game i finished but the last level a hole was blocked so u could not go on as i remember but i loved that game

[@scottharrison6061]

1551, wow, super rare. Awesome

[@georgekaplan4696]

My first comp. Loved it. Winter games was boss

[@JustJoMix]

My first computer loved it came with Punchy and Chess and cost £140, got it Christmas 1984.

[@captaincorleone7088]

Commodore itself was ill-fated and with products like this, it's hardly a surprise. Why didn't they release the parallel FDD with the cartridge device for the C64/128? Insane!

[@shahid1296ify]

Mate ! Tutti fruitti i had that on the plus 4, i was addicted !

[@pinkeye00]

Hey, another good idea with a metal screw driver is to run it along stuff .. it makes the white smoke come out and fixes it.

[@mikespikeey4625]

A COMMODORE C65CC TURNED UP IT WAS FOR THE CLASS ROOM IN A A600 STYLE CASE WITH NO FLOPPY

[@SmoothEmJay]

Would actually quite like a C16, had one briefly back in 1988. :)

[@kelliemariemarshall]

The first computer that I can remember playing and am a 40 year old scouser!

[@paulspopculture5592]

Uft just found this it was my first computer it came with punchy and space sweep the memories

[@alsatusmd1A13]

The TED could actually drive a 320x200 121-color display (black plus 8 grays and 8 shades of 14 colors) without resorting to raster interrupts, unlike the Atari TIA/MARIA series, which could display shades of gray between black and the darkest white but allowed no more than 32 colors on screen at once barring raster interrupts.

[@oldbrownholden]

winter games by the great udo gerz!!!! my favorite c16 game!!!! how he fitted this into 16k RAM with a pretty above average soundtrack and anthems too, beats me!!!! data compression technology lol??

[@Jaya365]

I had a commodore 16 but I always thought it was inferior to the 64, because the numbers were lower.

[@Rusakko82]

So much memory of this.

[@leonciohernandez]

I remember this was my second computer because the sinclair 1000 was a complete failure and then i have the commodore 16 i remember when it was selling the commodore 16 it was also selling the commodore 64 c and i have a datacasstete device too .

[@TheVoiTube]

Nice, speed king crash effect took me back in time.

[@philsbbs]

I started computers on a commodore 16, was luckly had one joystick and the mps-801 printer and the 1551 disk drive. Was also luckly players software was local to me too. My best game was spectiede. I remember getting the game "tom cat" and found a bug in the coding and the programmer Darran Broad come to my house to resolve it. Was shocked when I got the plus 4 and Ace2 had voice in it.

[@damianwezzterman9218]

My very first computer was a Vic 20. The first game I have memory of was GORF and probably my favorite game on the system. We had the cassette drive for it with a plethora of games on cassette, but GORF will always hold a special place in my gaming life and childhood.

[@TheDJs3000]

Thenks

[@PikaStu666]

Great video as always Dan 👍 Do you know anyone with an Atari Falcon?! Would love to see a decent review of one but I know they're rare. KZbin doesn't have much in the way of quality content on the machine. Maybe you could beg / borrow / steal?!

[@danwood_uk]

+Stooo Marshall (StoooTube) Thanks Stooo! Afraid not sadly, I have played with a Falcon at shows before, but they're very pricey so never had a chance to own one.

[@SeYeUK]

First machine I owned

[@elohim77]

1984 memories playing with my c 16

[@Cp-71]

Spiky Harold actually originates from ZX Spectrum, this is a port of it :)

[@NemanjaVuj]

Great video, Dan. I have an outrageous suggestion: why don't you do a review of Commodore 64 or Amiga 500? :) I know there a lot of these on KZbin but none in your particular style. And they were the most successful and the most popular Commodore machines ever. So far you did reviews for Commodore +4 and 16, Amiga 600, 1200, CD32 and 4000, so why not these two as well? ;)

[@danwood_uk]

+NemanjaVuj Funny you should say that, was just planning an A500 vid, since I did the ST recently. :)

[@paulgates6829]

+Dan Wood - kookytech.net look forward to seeing that Dan

[@raze238]

The history of commando brought me here...just now learning there was a commodore 16......Wait what? A commodore plus 4!?! WHAT???

[@michailokeefeMooMoo]

Brilliant game machine wish someone would gift one to me used play into small hours of the morning

[@stevej7634]

I love the C16 computer.... My first computer :)

[@NemedPhoenixMagic]

Well, i was uninformed here. the c16 was my first computer, got the c64 years later, always assumed that the 16 was made first and the 64 was a newer thing. I still remember the very first time i ever used a computer, with the c16 setup on the "big telly" in the front room, playing a Punch & Judy platformer. the c16 came in the same colour as the c64 as well didn't it? i dont remember it being black.