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Good morning and welcome back to the ValorosoIT channel. If you like retrocomputers and vintage electronics, you are in the right place and I invite you to subscribe to the channel and activate the notification bell.
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Today we are doing the unboxing and testing of what is in this package, which would then be 6 cartridges for the Commodore Vic20, which is here waiting. Every now and then we hear about scams: therefore, people who have paid for a computer, perhaps with a friend's PayPal or with a PostePay top-up, and the seller runs away. He doesn't give him the computer, he doesn't send any packages at all. And this is a bit sad but, in fact, unfortunately it happens. There are precautions that one can take, but it is not the topic of this video, perhaps we will make a video on the topic of scams, because it is really interesting, as a discussion, and could be useful to avoid scams.
In this case, what did I do to protect myself from scams? Well, first of all I didn't know the seller. The price was quite interesting, in fact, for this I thank the seller who gave me a truly excellent price! I paid for it with PayPal friends…
So, either there's a brick in here, but I'm ruling it out, because the package is too light, or there really are Commodore Vic-20 cartridges, or there's just packaging.
In reality, I didn't know the seller, but I got to know him by making phone calls, so I immediately had an impression of absolute trust with this person.
Furthermore, he is a truly kind person and, in fact, he gave me a favorable price. Now, I can give this advice to you too: to avoid scams, perhaps, try to contact the seller. Make a call, a video call. Try to understand if this person really has the goods he claims to have, or if he pretends to have them, and if he is a person worthy of your trust.
Good, come on. The first thing we do is unbox this package, then we try the cartridges, if they exist, with the Commodore Vic20.
The package appears to be packaged very well. It also arrived in good condition, so there are no obvious dents. I hope that the seller followed the instructions I gave him for packing the package: that is, to leave plenty of space between the cartridges and the edge of the box, so that, even if the box were to take a knock, this blow is not transferred to the plastic of the cartridges, ruining it.
Now we see it. So, the packaging is there, and… it's a joke! Let's do the scene again! Here they are: the first three cartridges are three games, which we will now take out. With scissors, perhaps, we can help ourselves remove the tape. We have more tape here. One, two and three. Then we also have to hope that they work.
So: I already had this game, Road Race VIC-1909, this would be a duplicate. These other two (Vic-1901 Avenger), however, are not, they are new, because I only have one cartridge for the Commodore Vic20 for the moment.
Now a little more... So, the package is packed well. I see that the cartridges are also stable in here, in their packaging.
Ok, these other three VIC-1916 Mission Impossible cartridges, a duplicate of the previous one, another game (Vic-1921 Super Smash) and a RAM expansion (Vic-1211A) for the Commodore Vic20 which, with another 3K of RAM, will become very powerful! Shall we try them?
The Commodore Vic-20 is already waiting for one of the six cartridges. I also mounted the joystick, in this case this red one, QuickJoy, this is also a good joystick, the one with the microswitches, like the other transparent one you saw in the previous videos. I used it a couple of times in the Advent reels, on the Amiga.
Obviously, to attach the cartridges, you must turn off the computer. In this case, the first cartridge I want to connect is the RAM expansion (Vic-1211A). At the moment, without cartridge you see 3583 free bytes. Let's see if, with the cartridge, they expand and therefore they should become a little more.
Cartridge inserted and we turn on the computer. And yes, that's now 6519 bytes of RAM, so we can say that memory expansion works well. Come on, the first cartridge is fine. Now let's insert another game, let's insert Road Race (Vic-1909). We already made a short video with Road Race. It's a toy with a toy car. Let's try. Ready?
Here it is! It has the same problem as the other one I have. Probably, it is either the Vic20 or the monitor which is not fully compatible, which cuts the game here on the left. Oh, right, this isn't played with the joystick. Let's restart so we can see the commands, I forgot them.
Then, ENTER to speed up. These are the gears (F1, F3, F5, F7), A and D for steering. Ok, it works anyway. The cartridge works. Let's try another cartridge: Mission Impossible (Vic-1916). Let's try. No! Let's see, maybe it's attached badly. Nothing, let's try to re-thread it. No, this doesn't seem to work. Let's try the other Mission Impossible, maybe there were two, precisely because one of the two didn't work.
Not even this! What strange stuff! Let's try Super Smash (Vic-1921). This always starts on the left, however, evidently as I was saying, the problem is with the computer, because it also does the same with the other game. Or the problem is with the monitor.
Ah, the paddle should be used here. 1 player. No, you should use the paddle, you can't use the joystick. Anyway, the game started. At this point, what did I put the joystick to do if I can't use it? Another game. So these go. Vic-1901 Avenger or Avengers, let's see if it works. Let's try to see if it works. Um… let's try again.
No, but it's already a good sign, there are probably just some slightly oxidized contacts. And, in fact, now he seems to have left. But how do you play? No, let's try again... maybe there are some oxidized contacts.
Let's give the contacts of this cartridge a good clean. I know, now a Pandora's box is opening, because many of you will probably say to me: 'ah, but you use a contact spray, what is it? The oil-based one? The dry-based one?' So, without wanting to start a controversy, I use the one which, once the deoxidation work is finished, leaves a protective film. Now, to avoid making a mess on the cartridge, I spray a little here on the rag. Because you see that, otherwise, we would have really dirtied the cartridge. In reality, contact spray... is actually used on contacts!
I don't use it to clean circuit boards, I don't use it to clean anything else. I only use it for contacts: switches, connectors, etc... A nice layer of oxide and dirt. Let's try the cartridge again. Ok, he's gone! It was an oxidation problem. Eh, but can I play with the joystick now? Oh, this game is a blast! This one, I'd probably play with it all day. And it can be used with a joystick!
And I lost! No, the only thing that bothers me, is right here where the monitor is cut off on the left. But, as I said, it's not the fault of these cartridges. There must be something either in the monitor or in the computer.
Because he also did it with mine (Road Race) and then, doing it with all of them, it is obviously a systematic problem. Ok, the game works.
So, all that remains is to try the two Mission Impossibles again, because it seems strange to me that they both give the same problem. Or, actually, they have to start in another way…
So, as I always tell you, on the ValorosoIT channel I learn things together with you! So, what did I do? I went online and saw how other people started Mission Impossible. And, indeed, it is impossible to start Mission Impossible. There is a specific command you need to type on the keyboard in order to launch it. So let's type it: SYS 32592. And off it went!
It's basically a text adventure, it seems. However, the important thing is that the game has started. The fact that it didn't start before was my fault, that I wasn't able to get it to start. An Impossible Mission is just starting the game! At this point, I would say try the other cartridge again too. Maybe that works too. We see.
Ready? Yep, this one started too! Well, come on, I'd say all the cartridges work fine! We tested both five games, two of which are the same, so two copies of Mission Impossible, and the 3 KB RAM expansion! Although the situation was quite simple, that is, starting some games on the Commodore Vic20, we actually found some difficulties!
The first was a cartridge that had slightly oxidized contacts. Second, we learned how to start Mission Impossible. So the Mission Impossible is to actually start the game! And it starts with the SYS 32592 command. Another thing we learned is that this joystick, in fact, will only be used for one game, while for the others you either used the keyboard or had to use the paddle. Instead, one thing that I didn't understand, and it could be a topic for further study, is why the Commodore Vic-20 looks good, with the start screen, with the Basic programs that I write. And, in fact, you have seen some videos I made, with Basic programs on the Commodore Vic20: it looked as good as it does now. Instead, with games, you see everything shifted to the left. At this point I have a doubt: maybe it could be some lead, something inside the computer that isn't working? If this has already happened to any of you and you have a quick solution to tell me, please tell me, I'm happy to put it into practice on my computer.
I renew my invitation to subscribe to the channel, activate the notification bell, like the video, write a comment on the video itself, if you liked it, and I'll see you next time! HI!