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### MMC64 [C64]

#### http://www.protovision-online.de/

#### Reviewed By J. Monkman

Emulation is probably one of the most popular recreation uses for modern day computers; I have yet to meet a gamer who doesn't at least have MAME installed on their grey desktop box. Practically every gaming device ever created can be emulated on a PC at least to some level, including even some current generation consoles. However - and regardless of how accurate an emulator is at simulating another machine - nothing beats the experience of using real hardware.

I've always been fascinated by the C64, my passion most-likely fuelled by the fact that I never owned one as a kid (my parents bought me the cheaper Sinclair Spectrum +2 instead, despite my requests for a Commodore). Other 8-Bit enthusiasts will argue relentlessly regarding whether or not it was the 'best' machine of its generation, but one thing is for certain - the C64 is the greatest-selling computer of all time (according to the entry in the Guinness Book Of Records). Despite the hardware being over 20 years old, working C64's are still cheap and readily available on eBay - and after an impulsive purchase two decades on from my childhood, I've finally become the proud owner of Commodore myself.

The modern C64 owner has a number of options available to them with regard to running software on their machine. The simple solution has always been to buy a Datasette or 1541 drive and buy original tapes and discs (which generally cost very little), as the alternative option of using a XE1541 transfer cable and 1541 disc drive requires additional hardware and is a bit daunting for C64 newbies. However, thanks to Oliver Achten there is now a far easier method of transferring programs to your C64; the MMC64 SanDisk cartridge.

With minimum fuss, the MMC64 does exactly what you'd expect. Download a selection of C64 software from the net, copy them to a SD card, pop it in your MMC64 and away you go - it really couldn't be simpler. The MMC64 even comes with it's own integrated file browser built into the cartridge's BIOS, so you can set up directory structures on the card and use it as a storage medium for your entire C64 software collection (in the same way that you'd organise data on the hard disc of a modern-day PC).

However, there are limitations - the cartridge does not support multi-file programs and therefore a lot of commercial games and scene demos will not work out of the box. But thanks to the ever-prolific C64 cracking scene and the awesome online CSDB resource site there is an answer to this problem - aside from multi-disc and multi-load titles, I've yet to come across a game for which I can't find a single-file crack, and as long as you have a 1541 disc drive those tricky multi-disc releases shouldn't cause much bother either; the MMC64 helpfully comes with built in software for writing D64 image files to real floppy discs.

The cartridge BIOS acts as an operating system for the device and therefore it should come as no surprise that there are a variety of additional software plug-ins for the MMC64; with these installed you can view text and image files, listen to SID music, use alternative file browsers (with mouse support), view and execute the contents of D64 and T64 archives and even play WAV's on your C64! In addition to this, many new demo's come with the MMC64 in mind and using Dreamload it's now possible to play some of those previously unsupported programs (although many DFI games require a Retro Replay to be used in conjunction with the cartridge). In short, I cannot recommend this device enough. With its support of up to 4GB SD cards you can finally discard those cluttered piles of awkward tapes and slow-loading discs. However, all this retro-gaming convenience comes at a price...

Buying an MMC64 (and an empty cartridge case) will set you back over 55 Euros - and that doesn't include the SD card. Also, it's worth noting that you'll still need a 1541 disc drive to retain 100% software compatibility. Not only that, but you'll need to be handy with a hacksaw and file - the MMC64 comes as a PCB board and it does not fit in a standard cartridge case without a bit of, well, I suppose 'alteration' is the word I'm looking for. If you are a bit crap with hand tools and are desperate to keep your PCB enclosed then I'd strongly recommend buying a spare case - cutting it to fit sounds easier than it actually is. As far as I'm concerned, this is the only shortcoming of the device - it would have been great if the cartridge came ready-made, even if it cost an additional 10 Euros, but unfortunately this is not an option the developer offers.

This oversight aside, the MMC64 gets my vote for best C64 hardware add-on of the decade - I can't see it ever leaving my expansion port. Oliver Achten's creation has breathed new life into my Commodore; it's easy to use, loads programs much faster than tape or disc, takes up less space and is genuinely fun to configure and play around with.