| Type: | Console / home computer |
| Discontinued: | 1982 |
| Memory: | 2 KB, 0.5 KB color RAM |
| Graphics: | VIC-II 6566 (320 x 200, 16 colors, sprites, raster interrupt) |
| Sound: | SID 6581 (3x Osc, 4x Wave, Filter, ADSR, Ring) |
| Os: | none - optional MAX BASIC (Cartridge) |
| Predecessor: | VIC-20 |
| Successor: | Commodore 64 |
| Aka: | Ultimax, VC-10 |
MAX Machine (or simply MAX), also known as Ultimax in the United States and Canada and VC-10 in Germany,[1] is a home computer designed and sold by Commodore International in Japan, beginning in November of 1982,[2] a cousin to the popular Commodore 64, also sharing a lot of components with the C64.[3] [4] The Commodore 64 manual mentions the machine by name, suggesting that Commodore intended to sell the machine internationally; however, it is unclear whether the machine was ever actually sold outside Japan. When it was officially presented, in Tokyo, for the first time, it was named Commodore VICKIE.[5]
The unit has a membrane keyboard and 2 KB of RAM internally and 0.5 KB of color RAM (1024 × 4 bits). It uses a television set for a display. It uses the same chipset and 6510 CPU as the Commodore 64, the same SID sound chip, and a MOS Technology 6566 graphics chip, a version of the VIC-II that powers the C64 graphics for the MAX' static RAM. A tape drive could be connected for storage, but each cartridge had to implement its own cassette driver and protocol routines, so the tape could only be used by 2 of 24 released programs. The MAX also lacks the serial and user ports necessary to connect a disk drive, printer, or modem. The lack of any built-in operating system, not even a simple bootstrap OS, combined with the fact that all the software released for the platform are video games (besides a scaled down cartridge-based BASIC with no disk, modem, or printer support) positions the Max as a video game console rather than a home computer, despite sharing much of the Commodore 64's chipset. The MAX's 2KB of RAM also indicates it was intended as a games machine and not a personal computer. Even the Commodore PET, released five years earlier in 1977, had a minimum of 4KB RAM, and rapidly 8KB became the minimum. Even the VIC-20, heavily criticized for its minimal RAM, shipped with 5KB of RAM.
Software is loaded from plug-in cartridges - turning on the MAX with no cartridge inserted yielded only a blank screen. Its ROM cartridge architecture was compatible with that of the C64, so that MAX cartridges will work in the C64.[6] The MAX compatibility mode in C64 was later frequently used for "freezer" cartridges (such as the Action Replay), as a convenient way to take control of the currently running program.[7] [8]
It was intended to sell for around US$200. Although the MAX had better graphics and sound capability, Commodore's own VIC-20, which sold for around the same amount, was much more expandable, had a much larger software library, and had a better keyboard—all of which made it more attractive to consumers. The MAX never sold well and was quickly discontinued.
MAX Machine software list was limited, with a few game ports of popular arcade games.[9] [10]
| Omega Race | 1982 | Commodore Japan | |
| Wizard of Wor | 1982 | Commodore Japan | |
| Kick Man | 1982 | Midway Games | |
| Avenger | 1983 | Commodore Japan | |
| Jupiter Lander | 1982 | HAL Laboratory | |
| Super Alien (Heiankyo Alien) | 1982 | Commodore Japan | |
| Radar Rat Race | 1982 | Commodore Japan | |
| Road Race (Night Driver) | 1982 | HAL Laboratory | |
| Mole Attack | 1982 | HAL Laboratory | |
| Clowns | 1982 | Commodore Japan | |
| Money Wars | 1982 | HAL Laboratory | |
| Poker | |||
| Gorf | 1983 | Commodore Japan | |
| Billiards | 1983 | HAL Laboratory | |
| Pinball Spectacular (Bomb Bee) | 1983 | HAL Laboratory | |
| Bowling (3511) | 1983 | HAL Laboratory | |
| Slalom (3512)[11] | 1983 | HAL Laboratory | |
| Le Mans | 1982 | HAL Laboratory | |
| Sea Wolf | 1982 | Commodore Japan | |
| Mini Basic I (limited instructions, no tape support) | |||
| Max Basic (compliant with CBM BASIC V2.0 and can use tapes) | |||
| Music Composer | 1982 | Andy Finkel | |
| Music Machine | 1982 | Commodore Japan | |
| Speed Math and Bingo Math | 1982 | ||
| Visible Solar System | 1982 | Commodore Japan |
