Vic 20 Discussion

[badinsults]

How many of you had a Vic 20? I got one back in 1990 from my cousin who had better things. I remember the shoddy joysticks that I had, so it made half the games I had for it unplayable. Spiders of Mars was an excellent game, probably my favourite. Witch Way was another great game (basically a Donkey Kong clone). My cousin had made a cassette with tons of home brew games on it, many of which were really good. Anybody play Tank vs. UFO? I had all the BASIC programming books, but I never got too far besides some simple animations. I wish my mom hadn't given it away, but alas there was only so much space in the house.

[ManekiNeko]

Heck yeah, I had a VIC-20! That was my first home computer, given to me by my technologically adept uncle twenty years ago. I loved some of the games on that system and even managed to make some of my own... they ranged from simple Pac-Man clones to games that the VIC-20 had no business trying to run, like derivitives of R-Type and Super Mario Bros. I got a LOT of mileage out of that old system, believe you me.

Too bad there's not a quick and easy way to transfer the data from my old datasettes to my current computer. I'd love to play some of those old games with PC-VIC or another emulator.

JR

[Mayhem]

Brother's girlfriend discovered she still had hers in the loft about a year or two ago and decided to give it to me. How nice. And now I'm collecting carts for that machine too :roll: LOL

Someone at school in the first year (1985) had one, so I got to see it, even though by then I had my C64. Some nice games, especially the Ultimate and Llamasoft output.

[Daltone]

I found a Vic-20 in the loft a few years ago. Got it down, played about with it a bit making some dodgy programs..then gave up. It was all a bit complex for my tiny mind :) Still, did make a (sort of) cool game, the code for which I found in a 2000AD annual. I'll post it next time I have a look through them if anyone's interested.

[ozyr]

I had one for 3 moths way back when it came out. Loves some of the games on it (like Gridrunner), but that 22 character screen just drove me crazy! @_@

Sold it off an got an Apple II (and don't regret it - sorry in andvance to all those V20 fans out there - just not my cup of tea).

[Ze_ro]

Back when I was really young (6 perhaps?), my brother got a C-64, and I got his old VIC-20 as a hand-me-down. I got a LOT of use out of that computer. In particular, I used to really love this crummy little game called Tank vs. UFO. It didn't even use actual graphics, just text renditions of a tank and a UFO. The UFO flew left and right near the top of the screen and fired bullets down at you, while you moved a tank left and right near the bottom and fired up at it. Imagine Space Invaders with no bunkers and only one alien, and that was pretty much it. I used to play this for hours on end, and somehow, it never got old for me.

I had some cartridge games that I liked too, such as Gorf... but everything else was on tape.

Eventually, my brother got an Amiga, and I upgraded to a C-64. I think we sold the VIC-20 along with all the stuff we had for it (which was quite a lot actually... we even had this odd base-station thing that would give you multiple cartridge slots and a base for your monitor). I eventually bought my own VIC a few years back, but I'm not entirely sure if it works. I can't get a usable signal out of it (I can see the intro message, but the reception is terrible). Whether this is due to a busted VIC, or a dead RF modulator is unknown at the moment. Next time I find the RF unit, I guess I'll find out.

--Zero

[badinsults]

Don't diss Tank vs UFO. Fear the flames!

[TNTPLUST]

I picked on up on ebay 3 years ago. The first time I saw one though was after I bugged my father to buy the family a computer in 1979. So he packed up the family and drove down to the Computer Store. First the Salesman tried to sell us an Apple II but my father was not going for the $1000 dollar price tag. So he showed us the Vic-20...WITH color monitor! So I sat down and played Radar Rat Race. Anyway that was too expensive too...had to wait till Christmas when he purchased a Ti-994a.

[den68]

the Vic-20 was the first computer my family had. We never got any games or anything else for it All I ever used it for was to make title screens for stupid home videos my buddies and I used to make.

When I got back into game collecting I discovered it was still in my parents attic. Still in the box with all documentation and in immaculate shape. I've since picked up a couple more Vics a datasette and about 20 games.

I think Omega Race is the best of what I've got.