The ROM resident BASIC 3.5, however, was more powerful than the VIC-20's and C64's BASIC 2.0, in that it had commands for sound and bitmapped graphics (320×200 pixels), as well as simple program tracing/debugging.

However, use of the computers hi res graphics mode would reduce the memory further to just 4K, also the computer was completely incompatible with either the VIC-20 or C64, this incompatibility continued with the ports on the machine now using tiny Din sockets for the joysticks and cassette deck, this was due to the small size of the C116 not being able to have the standard Atari sockets.

Looking physically similar to the Vic 20 and Commodore 64, the tiny board of the C116 was expanded to fit the expansion slots in the case, There is a cart socket on the rear, though this is quite different to the other machines, and the cartridges were not compatible, it was also where RAM packs could be inserted to give the machine much needed extra memory, but perhaps the most use of the port was the C16/Plus4 exclusive 1551 Disk Drive, this had a parallel interface that was much faster than the standard serial Disk Drives such as the 1541 or 1570. The machine could also use these other drives through the serial port also on the back.

Next to the serial was the video out, and the RF out is also on the rear, also the cassette interface is on the back which used the machine's 1531 tape drive.

The right hand side of the machine has the two DIN joystick plugs, the 9V power socker and the on/off switch.

The processor was similar to the 6502 the Vic and C64 machines used, so converting software would be relatively easy, but few companies bothered, as the performance of the machines at retail, meant it was not economical.

With only 12k of available RAM for programs it must be said that a good deal of conversions from other systems fared very badly on the C16, games such as Ghosts 'n' Goblins, Beach Head and Green Beret were inferior in just about every way possible, some bordering on unplayable, at a time when the latest games required more memory, not less, the Ram in the C16 soon became its Achilles heel.

The C16 had a sister machine in the Commodore Plus 4, itself the victim of Commodores marketing team, who decided their 232 and 264 models should be scrapped, and some pointless out of date office suites added, morphing into the Plus 4, The major difference between the C16 and the Plus 4 was the latter having 64K of Ram, but because it sold in less numbers, the Plus 4 rarely got to use its expanded memory, so had to make do with the same games as the C16.

There were a few noticeable exceptions, Saboteur by Durell had a seriously dreadful C16 game on one side of the tape, and a much enhanced Plus 4 one on the other, that matched the Spectrum original, Ace from Cascade had a Plus 4 enhanced version as did its sequel.

 A few authors and companies did fly the flag for the machines, most notably Udo Gertz (Summer and Winter Games, Tom Thumb) and a particularly prolific C16 coder was Shaun Southern, (Pacmania, Arthur Noid, Trailblazer, Jet Brix, KickStart).

Mastertronic produced some 53 titles for the machine, many of which sold very well indeed, including Formula 1 Simulator, and Rockman, Gremlin Graphics made just over 30, including Monty On The Run, and its sequel.

There were games that appeared on the machine first , such as Trailblazer, and Tomb Thumb.

In America the machine was a complete flop, Commodore partnered with the company Sigma in Mexico to produce a machine there, but in Europe it did sell well. Almost all software was produced in Europe.

Manufacturer: Commodore
Date: June 1984

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH227. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.