Editing C64 Direct-to-TV

{{Short description|Games console}}
{{ref improve|date=May 2013}}
[[File:Commodore64 DTV mugshot-x600.jpg|thumb|The C64 Direct-to-TV computer-in-a-joystick unit.]]
[[File:C64 DTV.jpg|thumb|alt=A black-and-red joystick|C64 Direct-to-TV]]
The '''C64 Direct-to-TV''', called '''C64DTV''' for short, is a single-[[integrated circuit|chip]] implementation of the [[Commodore 64]] computer, contained in a [[joystick]] (modeled after the mid-1980s [[Kempston_Micro_Electronics#Competition_Pro|Competition Pro]] joystick), with 30 built-in [[video game|games]]. The design is similar to the [[Atari]] Classics 10-in-1 TV Game. The circuitry of the C64DTV was designed by [[Jeri Ellsworth]], a [[computer chip]] designer who had previously designed the [[C-One]].

[[Tulip Computers]] (which had acquired the Commodore brand name in 1997) licensed the rights to Ironstone Partners, which cooperated with DC Studios and Mammoth Toys in the development and marketing of the unit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7104|title=The Commodore 64 bounces back to life as a Direct-To-TV plug and play Joystick!|publisher=GamesIndustry.biz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818061809/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7104 |date=3 February 2005|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 August 2006 }}</ref> Released in late 2004, [[QVC]] purchased the entire first production run of 250,000 units and sold 70,000 of them on the first day that they were offered.

==Versions==
There exist multiple versions of the C64DTV. DTV1 ([[NTSC]] television type) comes with 2 [[megabyte|MB]] [[read-only memory|ROM]]. It first appeared in late 2004 for the American/Canadian market. DTV2 (called ''C64D2TV'' sometimes) is a revised version for the European and world markets ([[PAL]] television type) and appeared in late 2005. The ROM has been replaced by [[flash memory]] in these devices. However, the DTV2/PAL version suffers from a manufacturing fault, which results in poor colour rendering (the resistors in the [[R-2R ladder]] [[Digital-to-analog converter|DAC]]s for both the [[chrominance|chroma]] and the [[luma (video)|luma]] have been transposed). In the DTV3, a problem with the [[blitter]] was fixed.

==Hardware specifications==
[[File:Commodore-dtv-pcb.jpg|thumb|Commodore DTV PCB.]]
* Core circuitry
** [[Application-specific integrated circuit|ASIC]] running at 32&nbsp;MHz internally, implementing [[MOS Technology 6510|6510 CPU]], [[MOS Technology VIC-II|VIC-II]], [[MOS Technology 6581|SID]], [[MOS Technology CIA|CIA]], and PLA
* Casing/Connectors
** integrated in a [[joystick]] (as if connected to port 2 of a real C64)
** five additional buttons (acting like keys)
** running from batteries only (four [[AA battery|AA batteries]])
** [[Composite video]], [[monaural]] audio ([[RCA connector]]s)
** looks similar to a ''Competition Pro'' joystick
* Graphics
** [[NTSC]] (DTV2 and later: [[NTSC]]/[[PAL]] on chip, only [[PAL]] wired in end-market devices)
** reprogrammable palette with 4 [[bit]]s of luma and 4 [[bit]]s of chroma
** DTV2 and later: [[Packed pixel|"chunky"]] 256 color mode, additional [[blitter]] for fast image transformation
* Sound
** no support for [[MOS Technology 6581|SID]] [[Electronic filter|filters]]
** DTV2 and later: 8 bit digital sound, additional options for [[Synthesizer#ADSR_envelope|envelope]] generators
* Memory
** DTV1: 128 [[Kilobyte|KB]] [[random-access memory|RAM]], 2 [[Megabyte|MB]] [[read-only memory|ROM]]
** DTV2 and later: 2 [[Megabyte|MB]] [[random-access memory|RAM]], 2 [[Megabyte|MB]] [[flash memory]]
** [[Direct memory access|DMA]] engine for RAM/RAM and ROM/RAM transfers
** DTV2 and later: additional RAM access using bank switching and [[blitter]]
* CPU
** implementing a 6510 at 1&nbsp;MHz
** DTV2 and later: Enhanced CPU (fast/burst mode, additional registers and opcodes, support for illegal ops of the 6510)

==Built-in games==

The official games for the unit are mostly a mix of [[Epyx]] and [[Hewson Consultants|Hewson]] C64 games. Games unique to the NTSC or PAL versions are noted below.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title !! Developer !! Publisher !! NTSC !! PAL
|-
| ''[[Summer Games (video game)|Summer Games]]'' ||  || Epyx ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Winter Games]]'' ||  || Epyx ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Pitstop (video game)|Pitstop]]'' ||  || Epyx ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Pitstop II]]'' ||  || Epyx ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Super Cycle]]'' ||  || Epyx ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Jumpman Junior]]'' ||  || Epyx ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Impossible Mission]]'' ||  || Epyx ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Impossible Mission II]]'' ||  || Epyx ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Championship Wrestling (video game)|Championship Wrestling]]'' ||  || Epyx ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Gateway to Apshai]]'' ||  || Epyx ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Sword of Fargoal]]'' ||  || Epyx ||  ||
|-
| ''[[International Karate]]'' (''World Karate Champion'') ||  || Epyx || {{yes}} || {{no}}
|-
| ''[[California Games]]'' ||  || Epyx || {{no}} || {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Silicon Warrior]]'' ||  || Epyx || {{yes}} || {{no}}
|-
| ''[[Alleykat]]'' ||  || Hewson || {{no}} || {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Nebulus (video game)|Nebulus]]'' (''Tower Toppler'') ||  || Hewson ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Maze Mania]]'' ||  || Hewson || {{no}} || {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Paradroid]]'' ||  || Hewson ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Eliminator (1988 video game)|Eliminator]]'' ||  || Hewson ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Cyberdyne Warrior]]'' ||  || Hewson ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Cybernoid]]'' ||  || Hewson ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Cybernoid II: The Revenge]]'' ||  || Hewson ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Ranarama]]'' ||  || Hewson ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Marauder (video game)|Marauder]]'' ||  || Hewson || {{no}} || {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Head the Ball]]'' ||  || Hewson || {{no}} || {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Mission Impossibubble]]'' ||  || Hewson || {{no}} || {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Firelord (video game)|Firelord]]'' ||  || Hewson ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Exolon]]'' ||  || Hewson ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Netherworld (video game)|Netherworld]]'' ||  || Hewson || {{no}} || {{yes}}
|-
| ''[[Uridium]]'' ||  || Hewson ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Zynaps]]'' ||  || Hewson ||  ||
|-
| ''[[Speedball (video game)|Speedball]]'' ||  || Image Works ||  ||
|-
| ''Bull Riding'' (from ''World Games'') ||  || Epyx || {{yes}} || {{no}}
|-
| ''Sumo'' (from ''World Games'') ||  || Epyx || {{yes}} || {{no}}
|-
| ''Flying Disk'' (from ''California Games'') ||  || Epyx || {{yes}} || {{no}}
|-
| ''Surfing'' (from ''California Games'') ||  || Epyx || {{yes}} || {{no}}
|}

==Hardware-modding==
Since the internal [[Printed circuit board|circuit board]] has exposed [[solder]] points for floppy-drive and keyboard ports, hardware modifications of the C64DTV are relatively simple.

'''Known hardware mods'''
* Keyboard connector
* External joystick (Port 1 and 2)
* Floppy connector
* Power unit connector
* Fixing the palette problems of the PAL version (to some degree this is possible in software by adjusting palette entries)
* [[S-Video]] connector
* User port
* Original C64 casing and PS2 keyboard <ref>{{cite web |url=http://joco.homeserver.hu/mmc2iecKB/ |title=C64DTV in original C64 case |publisher=Joco.homeserver.hu |access-date=2011-07-19 |archive-date=2011-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721105225/http://joco.homeserver.hu/mmc2iecKB/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
'''Additional hardware'''
* Data transfer cable ([[Parallel port]] (or USB/serial port via DTV2ser) to Joystick or user port)
* [[SD card]] interface ''1541-III'' or ''MMC2IEC''

==Limitations==
The internal flash memory is accessible as device 1. However, software is not included to support write operations so high-score saving is not possible. Also, flash devices used in the DTV are specified for a very limited number of write accesses only.

When using the standard keyboard mod, the F7 key does not work. There is a workaround, the "Keyboard Twister."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://picobay.com/dtv_wiki/index.php?title=Keyboard_Twister |title=Keyboard Twister by Shadowolf |publisher=Picobay.com |date=2009-10-02 |access-date=2011-07-19 |archive-date=2011-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715083346/http://picobay.com/dtv_wiki/index.php?title=Keyboard_Twister |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Software-modding==
The DTV contains software-flashable memory. A number of tools have been released to compile programs into DTV-compatible flash images and load it onto the DTV. People made their own game compilations, adding popular (sometimes DTV-fixed) games that were not in the original DTV, added boot menus to make homebrew software development easier or enable new features, for example transfer programs like DTVtrans for transferring data from PC to DTV RAM and vice versa via the PC parallel port (or USB) and the DTV joystick port.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{citation |url=http://picobay.com/dtv_wiki/ |title=DTV Hacking Wiki |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414141033/http://picobay.com/dtv_wiki/index.php?title=C64_DTV_Hacking_Wiki |archive-date=2013-04-14 |access-date=2013-08-06 |url-status=dead }} - DTV versions overview, HOWTOs, DTV Programming guide
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080223143243/http://www.c64dtv.co.uk/ The Official C64 DTV site] - user manual plus some other information
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120707215642/http://galaxy22.dyndns.org/dtv/ David Murray's Commodore DTV Hacking]
* [http://www.kahlin.net/daniel/dtv/ C64DTV stuff by tlr] Flash Tool, ML-Monitor, PC<->DTV transfer system
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091026192137/http://geocities.com/dtvhacking/  Mr. Latch-up's C64 DTV & Hummer Advice Column]
* [http://www.richardlagendijk.nl/cip/article/item/c64dtv A page about the history of the device]
* [http://www.kahlin.net/daniel/dtv/colorfix.php Details on fixing colour problem on PAL DTVs] - Note that [[surface-mount]] [[soldering]] skills are required.
* [http://www.kahlin.net/daniel/dtv/cable.php DTVtrans, connecting a DTV to a PC via parallel port]
* [http://lallafa.de/blog/index.php/dtv2ser/ DTV2ser, connecting a DTV to a PC/Mac via USB or serial port]
* [http://www.richardlagendijk.nl/cip/article/index/hacking_the_dtv_1 Four ways to turn a C64 DTV into a C64 clone]
* [http://www.thegang.nu/dtv_main.php Grokk´s DTV Stuff] DTVBIOS and DTVBASIC - make your DTV code-ready.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130714115756/https://dtvhacking.retrosafe.com/ dtvhacking.retrosafe.com]
* http://dtvhacking.cbm8bit.com/v1/index.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925014813/http://dtvhacking.cbm8bit.com/v1/index.html |date=2021-09-25 }}
* https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-commodore-64-bounces-back-to-life-as-a-direct-to-tv-plug-and-play-joystick
* [https://www.commodore.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130 C64 DTV Games Joystick Specs and History]


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{{Dedicated consoles}}

[[Category:Dedicated consoles]]
[[Category:Home computer remakes]]
[[Category:Handheld TV games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64]]