====== FAQ ====== This is a community-based FAQ. Please also have a read of the [[https://retrogames.biz/support/faq|Official C64 Full-sized+Mini FAQ]] too. ===== Why doesn't my USB stick work? ===== Have a read of these two pages for some possible reasons: * [[correctly_formatting_your_usb_sticks|Correctly formatting your USB sticks]] * [[usb_memory_stick_problems|USB Memory Stick Problems]] ===== I downloaded a game and it doesn't run, help! ===== There could be multiple reasons for this, so I'll just jot down some possibilities for now: * Some games have cracker intros and cheat menus to navigate through. Usually cracker intros can be skipped by pressing the space-bar or run/stop (escape) key. Cheat/trainer menus are usually navigated through with the arrow-keys & enter (or via the joystick too sometimes). * Some games' intro screens require you to press specific key on the keyboard in order to start a game. For example: * Raid Over Moscow requires you to press '/' to start a game * Frogger requires you to press F1 to start a game * Some games require you to configure the default theC64 joystick to map to the original c64's joystick port1. By default, theC64's joystick maps to original c64's joyport2. To do so: * __Rename from__: mygame.d64 * __Rename to__: mygame_J1.d64 * Some games require the 'accurate-disk' setting to be used in order for them to work properly. This setting will slow down the disk-speed to the original (slow) c64 loading speeds though: * __Rename from__: mygame.d64 * __Rename to__: mygame_AD.d64 * There are some extremely stubborn games that still won't work if you simply use the '_AD' flag, but __in addition__, you also need to assure that you start them from the menu with the 'fasterloader' option turned off: * __Change from__: {{::fastloader_on.png?nolink|}} * __Change to__: {{::fastloader_off.png?nolink|}} * For example, I experienced this with the game Jim Slim. * More info on this topic in this fb-forum thread: * https://www.facebook.com/groups/209280506324242/permalink/356390704946554/ ===== Some games are not showing up on my USB stick? ===== There is currently a display limit of 256 items (files and/or folders) on USB memory sticks per folder, including the root.\\ Files take priority over folders, so if you go over that item limit, files are always displayed in preference to folders.\\ For solving this out, this utilities could be of a great help: * [[RomSort]] - a small utility to sort a directory of files into alphabetical sub-directories. It could intelligently combine the smaller sub-directories. * [[RomSort|Folder Axe]] - alternative utility for sorting bunch of files. Some advantages but also some flaws over RomSort. ===== What controllers/keyboards/hubs are compatible with the c64 mini? ===== Members of community have reported success with various devices, which have been compiled into lists on this page: * [[hardware_compatibility_lists|Compatible hardware]] ===== How do I play a game that spans multiple disks? ===== Read the page "[[playing_games_that_span_multiple_disks|Playing games that span multiple disks]]". ===== How do I make cjm file? What is it and do I need it? ===== * Read about it at official site, [[https://retrogames.biz/support/file-loader/|here]]\\ * A nice detailed blog post about it at [[http://gigabytes-tech.com/retro/c64-mini-cjm-files-reference/]] * Use * [[http://thec64community.online/post/1160/thread|CJM Configurator for Windows]] aka C64MiniLoaderCFG (Emanuele Bonin's windows app) ([[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1G58teTaXt-6WuYjYW-5qAm67sJEFxA-9|direct link]]) * [[https://www.thec64minizone.com/cjm-configuration-file-tool/|CJM Configuration File Tool]] online (Shane Monroe / Darkuni's web-based solution; [[http://monroeworld.net/thread/56/thec64mini-configuration-file-official-thread|official support]]) * [[logitech_wireless_gamepad_f710#comparison_between_f710_and_standard_joystick|Comparison between F710 and Standard Joystick]] (to help you decide how to configure the F710) * [[http://gurce.net/cjm/|Visual CJM Configurator]] - Described in [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/209280506324242/permalink/368499843735640/|this fb thread]] ==== How do I create a cjm file for many games at once? ==== Starting with firmware 1.2.0 and above, you can provide default settings for all files within a folder: * [[https://retrogames.biz/support/setting-a-default-configuration-for-multiple-programs/|Setting a Default Configuration for Multiple Programs]] You can use this very simple batch script. Explained here: * [[Multi-cjm batch script]] ==== When I plug HDMI of Mini to TV or HDMI-Switch, switch does not work anymore, until I unplug Mini? ==== It is related to HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) that is not implemented well at Mini. Short version is that Mini, even when it is turned off, "ocuppy" signal for itself. Quick solution is to connect adapter like this one, between Mini and TV / Switch: * [[LINDY HDMI CEC Less Adapter. Female to Male]] More about it at this thread at TheC64 Community forum: * http://thec64community.online/thread/275/hdmi-cec-blocked-thec64mini ===== Where to find game reviews? News? ===== There are more then 30000 titles and it is still growing. It is hard to cover it all. This selection guide could be helpful to start with: * Past magazines * [[https://archive.org/details/computermagazines|The Computer Magazine Archives]] at [[https://archive.org/about/|The Internet Archive]] * [[http://www.bombjack.org/commodore/magazines.htm|Commodore Magazines]] at [[http://www.bombjack.org/commodore/|DLH's Commodore Archive]] * [[http://www.cgwmuseum.org/|Computer Gaming World]] archive at [[http://www.cgwmuseum.org/|CGW Museum]] * [[https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Magazines|Magazines]] list at https://www.c64-wiki.com/ * Current magazines * [[https://freeze64.com/|Freeze64]] (early supporter of TheC64 Mini!) * [[https://www.return-magazin.de/|RETURN]] (German) * [[https://www.lemon64.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=62055&start=15|"List of all current magazines/fanzines"]] at [[https://www.lemon64.com/forum/index.php|Lemon forum]] * C64 News aggregators * [[https://www.richardlagendijk.nl/cnp/magazine/index/1/en|Magazine]] or [[https://www.richardlagendijk.nl/cnp/c64/index/1/en|C64]] news at [[https://www.richardlagendijk.nl/|Commodore News Page]] * [[http://www.nightfallcrew.com/category/today/news_rumors/c64_sx64_new_and_rumors/|C64/SX64 News and Rumors]] at [[http://www.nightfallcrew.com/|Nightfall]] * YouTube channels (plenty of), Facebook... Google is your friend. ===== Any books for C64 - Mini? ===== * [[hobbyists_guide|A Hobbyist's Guide to THEC64 Mini]] by Holger Weßling (English, German) * [[das_inoffizielle_handbuch|Das inoffizielle Handbuch zum "THE 64 MINI"]] by Andreas Zintzsch (German) * [[a-z_of_c64_games|The A-Z of Commodore 64 Games: Volume 1]] by Kieren Hawken * [[the_c64_book|The Commodore 64 Book]] by Imagine Publishing * [[c64_walkabout|A Commodore 64 Walkabout: V3]] by Robinson Mason * [[masters_of_pixel_art|The Masters of Pixel Art - Volume 2]] by Klas Benjaminsson * [[retro_game_dev|Retro Game Dev: C64 Edition]] by Derek Morris ===== Where to buy original new or classic games for C64 - Mini? ===== Multi-shop\\ * Cronosoft [[https://cronosoft.fwscart.com/]] * itch.io [[https://itch.io/games/tag-commodore-64]] * poly.play [[https://www.polyplay.xyz/]] * Pond Software Ltd. [[https://pondsoft.uk/]] * Protovision [[https://www.protovision.games/]] * Psytronik [[http://www.psytronik.net/newsite/]] or [[https://psytronik.itch.io/]] * RGCD (Retro Gamer CD) [[https://www.rgcd.co.uk/]] [[https://rgcddev.itch.io/]] [[https://rgcd.bigcartel.com/category/commodore-64|RGCD Publishing]] Other\\ * CollectorVision Games ("Sydney Hunter And The Sacred Tribe") [[https://collectorvision.com/product-category/commodore-64/]] * Covert BitOps ("Hessian", "MW" saga...) [[http://covertbitops.c64.org/]] or [[https://cadaver.github.io/]] * Double Sided Games ("L’Abbaye des morts") [[https://doublesidedgames.com/product-category/commodore/commodore-64/]] * Dr. Wuro Industries ("Shadow Switcher"...) [[http://www.drwuro.com/]] * Knights of Bytes ("Sam's Journey") [[https://www.knightsofbytes.games/]] * Out of Order Softworks (D42-Adventure System, "Leisure Suit Leo"...) [[http://www.out-of-order.info/]] * Retronics (collector's editions and reissues) [[http://retronics.eu/kolekcjonerska-edycja-gier/]] or [[https://www.facebook.com/retronics.eu/]] * Stirring Dragon Games ("Unknown Realm") [[http://www.stirringdragon.games/]] or [[http://unknownrealm64.com/]] * Thalamus Digital ("Hunter's Moon Remastered") [[http://www.thalamusdigital.co.uk/]] * The 8-Bit Guy ("Planet X2") [[http://www.the8bitguy.com/download-davids-software/]] * The Future Was 8Bit ("Rodman") [[https://www.thefuturewas8bit.com/shop/games.html]] * The New Dimension ("Vortex Crystals", many more) [[http://tnd64.unikat.sk/]]