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VICE – Multiple Commodore System Emulator

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The VICE emulator emulates a range of classic Commodore computers. Primarily known for its accurate emulation of the Commodore 64, VICE also supports other systems such as the VIC-20, Commodore PET, and the Commodore 128. This multi-system emulator allows users to experience a variety of vintage computing environments on modern hardware.

VICE Download

Select which version you require below to be taken to either the official website or app store for your device where you can download:

Windows
apple [#173] Created with Sketch. macOS

VICE Setup Instructions

This basic setup guide will help you get up and running quickly.

Step 1: Download the VICE Emulator

  1. Visit the VICE emulator website via the links above.
  2. Choose the appropriate version for your operating system (e.g., Windows).
  3. This will redirect you to a SourceForge download page. Download the file and save it to a location of your choice, such as an “Emulation” folder.

Step 2: Extract the Downloaded File

  1. Once the download is complete, locate the downloaded 7zip file.
  2. If you don’t have 7zip installed, download and install it.
  3. Extract the contents of the 7zip file to your chosen directory.

Step 3: Locate the VICE Executable

  1. Navigate to the extracted folder. Inside, you will find a folder named “bin.”
  2. Open the “bin” folder to find several executable files.
  3. Identify the executable named x64sc.exe for the Commodore 64. This is the most accurate emulation of the Commodore 64.

Step 4: Download Commodore 64 Games

  1. Visit the website c64.com to find Commodore 64 games.
  2. Browse through the alphabetical list of games and choose a game to download, such as “Uridium.”
  3. Download the game, which will come as a zip file.

Step 5: Organize Your Games

  1. Create a folder named “Games” within your Commodore 64 directory.
  2. Inside the “Games” folder, create another folder named “Zips” to store your downloaded game files.
  3. Extract the contents of the downloaded zip file. Look for a disk image file with the extension .d64 or .g64.

Step 6: Load the Game in VICE

  1. Open the VICE emulator by running x64sc.exe.
  2. Go to the “File” menu and select “Smart attach disk image.”
  3. Navigate to the extracted game file and select it.
  4. Click on the “Auto start” button to load the game. The emulator will simulate the disk drive’s loading process.

Step 7: Configure Input Devices

  1. To play games, you need to configure the keyboard or a joystick.
  2. Go to the “Settings” menu and select “Settings.”
  3. Under “Input devices,” choose “Symbolic” for the keyboard layout.
  4. For joystick configuration, go to “Joystick settings” and select “Numpad” or configure a USB game controller.

Step 8: Map Keys for Joystick Control

  1. If using a keyboard, familiarize yourself with the key mappings:
    • Run/Stop key: Escape key
    • Commodore key: Left Control button
    • Restore key: Page Up button
    • Joystick directions: Numeric keypad (e.g., 2 for down, 5 for fire)
  2. If using a USB game controller, restart the VICE emulator after plugging in the controller.
  3. In “Joystick settings,” select your USB gamepad.

Step 9: Play the Game

  1. With the game loaded and controls configured, you can now play the game.
  2. Press the spacebar or the escape key (Run/Stop) to navigate through game menus and start the game.

Step 10: Full Screen Mode

  1. To enter full screen mode, press Alt + D.
  2. Press Alt + D again to exit full screen mode and return to windowed mode.