Friday, December 2, 2011
Still Alive: ‘C64 for iPhone’ Gets iCade Support, iPad Coming
The big news in this latest version of C64 for iPhone, version 2.2, is the addition of support for the iCade and compatible devices (such as the iControlPad and Gametel controller we recently covered), which is huge news given the nature of the typical Commodore 64 game title. In this initial implementation, iCade support means joystick and fire button emulation — certain games with extended features, such as The Last Ninja, still require tapping the screen for key input and the like. This update also brings full support for iOS 5.
It’s worth pointing out that, presently, C64 is not a Universal application, and so using it on an iPad in the iCade means running the iPhone app at 2x video magnification. However, Stuart has big plans for the app and shared a short-list of what’s coming, down the road…
A new, Universal app!
This is a rewrite in order to add all the required features
PRO: By not replacing the iPhone version, we can keep existing users with old hardware on the current builds
PRO: For compatible games, we’ll continue to add them to C64 for iPhone
Activate your original C64 for iPhone purchases if you have it installed
Cycle-exact emulation — will require ARMv7 devices
Same OpenGL ES 2.0 retro visual effects currently in progress for iAmiga
iCADE / iControlPad / Gametel support
TV-out
Network play
More in-app purchases, including existing titles
A big pack of free games to get you started
Retina display support
BASIC mode, with 1541 “disk” save support