Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This video is a tribute to the build-up and launch release of the Commander X16, compiled from segments of 8BG's prior videos. It is the source video for the down-sampled version that was included on the original SD-card content, using a process developed by badmai from the X16 Forum so that it could be played using the VERA hardware. The SD-card actually uses a slightly shorter 5min version, so this is the "extended" edition.
Used with permission from Kevin and David. In addition to being a VERA-capability demonstration (in the on system VERA adaptation conversion), this is also a tribute to their efforts and many challenges on bringing the X16 into reality. Presented here is a sequence of main highlights over the years.
00:30 Kevin Williams introduces Gameduino (their first experiment, 2019)
01:00 Cloantro Commodore ROM/BASIC V2 licensing (this got resolved!)
01:15 Where the Commander X16 name came from (originally was 65816 based! see 05:02 )
01:40 Simplified back to a VIC-20 baseline (see the original video on why!)
02:02 Two video card submissions
02:27 First X16 board prototype with VERA
02:33 Michael Steil offers Kernal ROM help! (see also his VCF talks)
02:48 Perifractic helps on the logo! (also helped setup original X16 website)
03:34 Nobody *yet* has made a tracker! But then two people did :)
03:40 Sound chip issue (which eventually got resolved)
04:00 Nicco1690 adapted audio for Quarx port (and other audio samples for X16)
04:05 The GoFundMe was a success - provided up front funds to get materials (and tools) to make 100 initial boards!
04:40 Solder dipping station attempted, but Dev board too large (this may get used later for Gen2/3 smaller boards)
04:52 Brief look at the Lazer3D case!
05:02 Kevin mentioned they tried the 65C816 but just couldn't make it affordable (see original video for more in depth reasoning)
05:30 $50 system still the goal! Still "Assembled in USA" for now (Suntronics)
06:20 Board still needs "final assembly" and ROM loadout
This video is a tribute to the build-up and launch release of the Commander X16, compiled from segments of 8BG's prior videos. It is the source video for the down-sampled version that was included on the original SD-card content, using a process developed by badmai from the X16 Forum so that it could be played using the VERA hardware. The SD-card actually uses a slightly shorter 5min version, so this is the "extended" edition.
Used with permission from Kevin and David. In addition to being a VERA-capability demonstration (in the on system VERA adaptation conversion), this is also a tribute to their efforts and many challenges on bringing the X16 into reality. Presented here is a sequence of main highlights over the years.
00:30 Kevin Williams introduces Gameduino (their first experiment, 2019)
01:00 Cloantro Commodore ROM/BASIC V2 licensing (this got resolved!)
01:15 Where the Commander X16 name came from (originally was 65816 based! see 05:02 )
01:40 Simplified back to a VIC-20 baseline (see the original video on why!)
02:02 Two video card submissions
02:27 First X16 board prototype with VERA
02:33 Michael Steil offers Kernal ROM help! (see also his VCF talks)
02:48 Perifractic helps on the logo! (also helped setup original X16 website)
03:34 Nobody *yet* has made a tracker! But then two people did :)
03:40 Sound chip issue (which eventually got resolved)
04:00 Nicco1690 adapted audio for Quarx port (and other audio samples for X16)
04:05 The GoFundMe was a success - provided up front funds to get materials (and tools) to make 100 initial boards!
04:40 Solder dipping station attempted, but Dev board too large (this may get used later for Gen2/3 smaller boards)
04:52 Brief look at the Lazer3D case!
05:02 Kevin mentioned they tried the 65C816 but just couldn't make it affordable (see original video for more in depth reasoning)
05:30 $50 system still the goal! Still "Assembled in USA" for now (Suntronics)
06:20 Board still needs "final assembly" and ROM loadout
