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The Commodore 64 emulator application for iPhone was pulled from the App Store by Apple in September for leaving its BASIC interpreter intact and accessible via a backdoor hack. This week, the app has returned after some major rework by its creator, Manomio.
C64 no longer contains the BASIC interpreter and Commodore 64 ROM files, since Apple originally rejected the app for these reasons. As a result, the emulator no longer lets you run your own BASIC code inside the app. However, it will still run classic Commodore 64 games, and it now comes with a total of eight free games (with more to come later via in-app purchasing).
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It’s not yet clear why the C64 emulator has had to ditch the interpreter, since the App Store does offer some apps that allow users to run code they have written. A number of HP calculator emulators, for example, run programs written by users. C64, according to Manomio, was going to allow BASIC to run, but within a completely sand boxed environment. Neither the C64 or HP calculator apps are all that powerful and certainly neither could harm iPhone OS, but some HP calculator apps have extended functions that allow access to the Internet. Commodore BASIC is so old that it doesn’t even know how to handle the Internet and certainly cannot access it. Internet access would be a considerable risk versus running BASIC code in an isolated environment. So which app would be safer? C64 or an iPhone HP calculator? Clearly C64 wins hands down here.
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We tested the new release of C64, and confirmed that the app successfully emulates the venerable Commodore 64 sound and graphics. It includes some modern gaming features, too, such as auto-save and the option to play games full screen in portrait or landscape mode.
The C64 emulator includes a few free games: Dragons Den, Le Mans, International Basketball, International Soccer, International Tennis, Jupiter Lander, Arctic Shipwreck, and Jack Attack. Forthcoming applications and games include Bristles and Astro Chase, among others.
C64 (iTunes link) is currently for sale in the App Store for $4.99. You can read more about the app at c64iphone.com, browse new game releases at manomio.com, or watch the demo video below.
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While we puzzle over the loss of the BASIC interpreter, we plan on reliving the past by spending long hours playing some of our favorite retro games. What about you? Let us know in the comments.
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