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Commodore's flagship XX gaming rig gets reviewed
Those looking to relive a hint of their childhood in a big way need look no further than Commodore's high-end gaming PC lineup, as the vintage logo and unmistakable name will certainly be found on its newest rigs. 'Course, all this mushy razzmatazz doesn't mean much if it won't perform, and considering the £3,000 ($6,153) or so that the flagship XX will set you back, we're sure you'd like to know how this beast stacks up before you pull that trigger. TrustedReviews was able to get ahold of a finalized unit and put it through the standard 2D, 3D, and other speed-related paces, and while it wasn't up to the same level as an Alienware or Dell XPS in terms of noise, build quality, and case design, the actual performance seemed to be right on target. Overall, the XX was deemed a solid buy for those who didn't mind the far-out artwork and less-than-stellar construction, but since you'd be saving some £500 ($1,026) over a similar offering from Alienware, that sacrifice may be one worth making.[Thanks, Andy]
Commodore unveils lineup of US-bound gaming desktops
Unlike some companies we've seen, it appears that Commodore Gaming is actually keeping its word, as the company has just now released the final details on its lineup of flashy US-bound gaming rigs. The Cg, Cgs, Cgx, and Cxx machines progress gradually from least extreme to highly 1337, and all four can be customized to suit your every fantasy. To give you an idea of what's on tap (if you've got the coin), the Cxx packs a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 processor, twin 500GB 7,200RPM hard drives in a RAID 0 array, 2GB of Corsair RAM, DVD-RW optical drive, an 850-watt power supply, Creative's Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer sound card, Windows Vista, and dual 768MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra GPUs to boot. As far as pricing goes, word on the street is that the base system will start out around $1,700, but we'll know for sure when these come stateside in Q3.[Via CNET]
Rumor: Impossible Mission remake going to Wii Shop?
Oh, good, another one of those vague, confusing rumors we love so well! Infendo is reporting that the latest issue of Nintendo Power reveals a downloadable Wii Shop version of the Commodore 64 classic Impossible Mission. Infendo seemed to think that the Wii Shop version would be the same as the DS remake. However, the resulting NeoGAF thread made the situation seem a lot less clear.Apparently, publisher System 3 also plans to release a retail disc of Impossible Mission. It would be kind of weird to release the same game on disc and the Wii Shop, right? But it would also be weird to release the exact same game for Wii and DS. After all, the DS is not the PSP. So, with no real information to go on, let's do some speculatin'! Here are all the possibilities we can think of: The same game is coming out for both the Wii and DS. Unlikely. The DS game will be downloadable on the Wii, and will release concurrently with a separate Wii version. The DS and Wii remakes will be separate and accompanied by a Virtual Console release of the C64 original. This seems more plausible. LIES!
Commodore debuts horrendously overpriced XX and GX PCs
Those of you pining to blow $3500-$5800 or more on an semi-overspecced and definitely-overpriced PC need look no further: Commodore is offering its GX and XX gamer PCs online now. With quad-core Intel processors, GeForce 8800 GTX SLI graphics and those utterly frilly "C-kin" paint jobs, you can know your cash is going to sort-of good use. Or if those two pricetags are too steep, you can hold out for the GS and G models, which should be hitting retail right about now -- though we're guessing this whole shady operation is going to be UK only for the time being.[Via Joystiq]
Commodore Gaming releases high-end PCs
Commodore Gaming, a conglomerate formed when several Dutch upstarts joined forces in 2005 to buy the Commodore name (but not the technology or suicidal business sense), is finally ready for action. Today the company began selling two high-end Wintel boxes in the UK, Ireland, and online. Starting at £1759 (just over $3500 at the current exchange rate), these juggernauts are a pricey way to play all those PC games you've already been playing on a cheaper rig. But wait! For no additional charge, you can customize your Commodore with a fruity paint job of your choice called a "C-Kin." Are you slavering with excitement yet?
The Commodore ecosystem spreads to GPS and widescreen video
If you try, we mean really try, then you might recall the absurdly named Gravel in Pocket and Gravel in Home devices which connect to Commodore's PlaysForSure obstructed protected CommodoreWorld content delivery service. A trifecta of media access announced at IFA way, way back in August -- seven months and some half-dozen major trade shows gone by. Today, Commodore is rounding out their offerings by introducing the Gravel Personal C-PE-6000 series of 4-inch, QVGA movie and music players in addition to their 3.5-inch Gravel in Car C-IC-8000 series of personal entertainment and navigation systems. They didn't stop there, however, as they also brought a few mockups under glass of their upcoming "luxurious" (uh... yeah) series of In Pocket WiFi devices: the C-IP-300 flash audio and video player, the C-IP-1000 widescreen video-centric player, and the C-IP-3000 SiRF Star III GPS navigator. Call us unwashed, but that angular design metaphor just doesn't make us sprockets want to dance. All the media devices feature a 2GB max of on-board flash -- enough (we guess) considering the central role that streaming data (music, video, and "live TV") plays on these devices. They also feature an interesting rear-mounted joystick for navigation and a common user interface spread across all the players. The GPS products do away with the rear-mounted joystick but still connect to CommodoreWorld over WiFi. So yeah, they've developed an entire ecosystem of gear and services instead of just making a single hot device which would be so like, 90s dontchaknow.%Gallery-2140%
Hands-on with Commodore's gaming rigs
We had a chance to get hands-on with Commodor's new gaming rigs in their booth here at CeBIT. As you'd expect, they played the part with ease during the canned-and-cached demonstrations. But we'll have to wait for some hard working reviews before passing judgment on something so potentially life consuming as a gaming PC. Still, they had a flood of skinned rigs to ogle and even provided us with a peek at their new "C-kin" personalization (aka, painting) software. Check all the action in the gallery below including a freshly skinned laptop which, according to Commodore, is "a hint at things to come."%Gallery-2128%
Commodore unveils boutique gaming rigs at CeBIT
While it's certainly tempting to wax philosophically about how Commodore has finally made the transition from 64KB of memory to 64-bit operating systems, the truth is that the company which just announced a line of boutique gaming PC's at CeBIT is far removed from the one that ruled the 80's and enhanced our droll elementary school days with some therapeutic Rampage. Still, the four BTO gaming rigs unveiled by the latest iteration of Commodore -- the XX, GX, GS, and G -- seem to stand on their own as solid machines, offering anywhere from a 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo E6320 to a 2.66GHz QX6700 Core 2 Extreme CPU, a single NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS all they way up to dual 8800 GTX cards, between 2GB and 4GB of RAM, and hard drive capacities up to 750GB in an array of RAID configurations. Besides the top-of-the-line specs, these new workhorses give gamers the chance to personalize their paint jobs through a "revolutionary painting process" that may help you forget that your tower isn't shaped like the head of an alien. The revived company's online store will begin taking orders in April, and though pricing structures have yet to be revealed, expect to pay a significant premium for the privilege of bringing Commodore back into your home. [Photo courtesy of Pocket Lint]
Commodore upgrades brand to high-end gaming PCs [update 1]
After 25 years of being on the cutting edge, Commodore is finally looking to upgrade its latest iteration, the noble 64 Amiga, and add a few gigahertz to its processor. Even a mouse would be an improvement from the last model.Commodore will soon be branding high-end gaming PCs that will be first revealed at CeBIT show in Germany on March 15. We've never been too keen on computers purportedly designed for gamers, but we enjoy seeing the company throw its hat into the ring again.[Update 1: The Commodore army has risen and chanted in unison: "don't forget the Amigaaaa" and promptly sally forthed.]
Commodore set to introduce high-end gaming PCs
Commodore's big beige glory days may be long past, but the familiar name is still out there kicking (such as it is), lending its considerable cachet to an array of otherwise unremarkable devices. Now the company appears to have decided to bring things back a little closer to its roots, prepping a new line of Commodore-branded PCs aimed at gamers, pitting them against the well-established likes of Alienware and VoodooPC. Unfortunately, there's been no other details whatsoever announced, with Commodore Gaming CEO Bala Keilman only going so far as to say that the PCs will deliver "what gamers need and want." It looks like we won't have to wait too long for the complete rundown, however, with the company promising to reveal everything (including playable systems) at CeBIT on March 15th. [Via Slashdot]
Calling all C64 fans: Impossible Mission screens
Here's something we still don't believe we're seeing: a DS remake of the Commodore 64 hit Impossible Mission. And judging from the character art, it casts players in the role of Almost Keanu Reeves But Just Edited Enough That Hopefully Nobody Gets Sued. We love that guy! The game involves searching for password components in randomly-generated rooms, then using those passwords in control rooms, while avoiding enemies and manipulating platforms with computer terminals.This was supposed to release in January, and didn't, but at least it still appears to exist! We don't know if this will get released outside of Europe, since Commodore fandom is a mostly Euro phenomenon. European fanboys: how do you feel about C64 remakes on the DS? And how off the mark were we with our description of the game?We've included a few screens after the break.
Commodore's Gravel In Home and In Public MediaTower
Just in case one Commodore product wasn't enough, the company will announce two other new hardware products at IFA. As a sister item to the Gravel In Pocket, Commodore will also demo the Commodore In Home, and like the name says, it's for the casa. The Gravel In Home comes with an 80GB drive to give you access to video on demand, Replay TV and streaming music services. Like the Gravel In Pocket, it too will be available in a few months. The Los Angeles-based company also announced the Commodore In Public MediaTower, a kiosk to download music, ringtones, games and the like from "high traffic public areas" via USB, WAP or Bluetooth -- something we're surprised that Apple didn't come out with first. Then again, maybe Stevie J.'s already got one in the pipeline. [Warning: PDF link!]
Commodore announces Gravel In Pocket device
Tomorrow at IFA in Berlin, Commodore will show off its new personal media player, called the Gravel In Pocket (yeah, great name). The new personal media player sports a 2.8-inch screen, WiFi support, and plays DivX, Xvid, WMV, MP3, WAV files. It's got 1GB (or optionally 2GB) of internal flash storage, but also has an SD card slot. Commodore also announced its new site, CommodoreWorld, to provide content for the little Gravel, which will be available no later than November. We may have to erm, grovel, to get our hands on a Gravel sooner than that. [Warning: PDF link!]
Blast from the British gaming industry's past
Nothing beats a good dose of nostalgia, and this BBC 2 documentary from the mid-eighties is certainly a joy to behold twenty years on. It focuses on Imagine Software and Ocean Software and their struggles to create innovative titles on a platform which has been pushed to the limits, in a market flooded with hundreds of developers and beset by piracy.For those who watch this video and wish they were back in the heyday of the bedroom coder, we hear you; casual games seem to be the way forward for indie developers, until a working time machine hits the shelves.
