Retro Games THEC64, User Manual

Page: 44 / 114

OVERVIEW
In Classic mode, THEC64 boots into the current computer model (a C64 by default)
and puts you into BASIC, just like the original computer.
Please note that the 60 Hz Video output mode sets the default computer model to
NTSC. If you are able to choose 50 Hz, then the default computer model is set to PAL.
You can easily change the computer model via the Device settings option in THEC64
menus. See
CHAPTER 7 for further details on all of the options and settings.
BASIC
BASIC
(
B
eginners
A
ll-purpose
S
ymbolic
I
nstruction
C
ode) was created in the early
1960s, and different versions were developed for a variety of computers over the next
few decades.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was important that all computer owners
learned how to write computer programs. As a result, almost all computers booted
directly into a programming language (typically a version of BASIC) when switched
on. Booting to Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) like the original Macintosh OS and
Microsoft Windows came later.
VIRTUAL BLANK DISKS
When you launch BASIC, THEC64 automatically looks for a connected USB stick. If it
finds one, then it looks to see if a compatible virtual disk file named
THEC64-drive8.d64
is present in the root of the stick. If the file is absent, then
THEC64 creates one for you and inserts it the next time BASIC launches, ready for
saving and loading programs.
See
CHAPTER 8
for further details on using virtual disks and the various other types
of file compatible with THEC64. Also, see
APPENDIX B
for further details about
preparing a USB stick for use on THEC64.
34