A Rorschach Test on Fire. Dan’s MEGA65 Digest for March 2023.

This month, we have featured files, featured features, new hardware, and a classic programming exercise to play with. Let’s get started!

Featured Files

Get this month’s Featured Files from Filehost and keep them on your SD card for showing off to your friends!

LUMA by Shallan50k. Shift the components around on a playfield to fire lasers at targets. Use a joystick in port 2: select a piece, hold the button, then push it in a direction. Try to solve each puzzle in as few moves as possible.

Wave Hero by GeirS. A watersports-themed one-button runner with smooth gameplay, a gorgeous color palette, and authentic SID sounds. Use just the button of a joystick in port 2. This adaptation of a C64 game includes source code written in Millfork.

Mandelbrot Explorer 65 by lydon, with assembly source. The fractal so famous there’s a song about it. See also Mega-Mandelbrot by Liquidream, in BASIC.

An external floppy disk drive for the MEGA65

In addition to the 3-1/2" floppy disk drive built into the MEGA65, the computer supports connecting a vintage Commodore 1581 external floppy drive to the IEC port. These drives are difficult to obtain, with working units listing for upwards of $400 USD on eBay. If you want a second drive for your MEGA65, there’s a new option!

Foenix Retro Systems is taking pre-orders for a new Commodore-compatible 3-1/2" floppy drive, the FNX1591. Like the 1581, it supports double-density (DD) disks, for 720KB of storage per disk. The FNX’s firmware can be updated over USB, and it can store multiple firmware options that can be selected by a switch. Another switch can set the IEC unit number. The drive uses a modern power supply and power switch, and sports two IEC connectors for daisy-chaining devices.

The FNX1591 is intended to be compatible with all computers that work with the 1581, including the MEGA65. You can preorder one today for $275 USD + $45 USD flat rate shipping. Delivery is estimated for April 2023.

The drive’s resin-printed case is designed to match the Foenix F256K, an all-new 65C02-based wedge-style computer. The F256K is not currently open for orders, but the F256 Jr, a low-cost bare-board version, is for sale for only $199 USD. If your MEGA65 needs a friend, you can’t go wrong with an F256 Jr.

An embroidered dust cover for the MEGA65

Sew Ready, a maker of boutique dust covers for vintage Commodore equipment out of Norfolk, United Kingdom, now offers an embroidered dust cover for the MEGA65! Grey with stylish red piping and a rainbow “65” logo, this cover protects your MEGA65 (or your Commodore 65, if you have one) while leaving the ports exposed, so you can k