What is VICE?
VICE is a program that runs on a Unix, MS-DOS, Win32, OS/2, BeOS, QNX 4.x, QNX 6.x, Amiga, Syllable or Mac OS X machine and executes programs intended for the old 8-bit computers. The current version emulates the C64, the C64DTV, the C128, the VIC20, practically all PET models, the PLUS4 and the CBM-II (aka C610/C510). An extra emulator is provided for C64 expanded with the CMD SuperCPU. However, in this howto we'll just focus on setting up VICE for Commodore 64 (C64).
Note: This howto will require installing some files from a third party repository.
Installation
Become root (or use sudo for all commands with #).
Install VICE
We'll need a few extra files. Enter the /usr/share/vice directory
Make a temporary directory for the files we are downloading
Enter the new directory you just made
Get the necessary files
Extract the tar.gz file
Enter the ROM directory
Copy the ROM
Enter the drives directory
Copy the the drives ROM
Enter the printer ROM directory
Copy the printer ROMs
Delete the temporary directory
Launch VICE
Open a terminal and type in the following
You should now be greeted by the familiar C64 screen
![Image]()
Configuring controls
Being on a PC, you may not have a joystick available. However, using the keyboard works fine.
In the lower part of the screen, you can see "Joysticks". Make sure that "Allow keyset joysticks" is checked, and then click "Configure joysticks".
![Image]()
Most games will use "Joystick #2" as default, so you can select "Keyset B" in the dropdown menu and then click the "Configure keyset B" button.
![Image]()
Click on each button and select keys on your keyboard for at least North (up), South (down), West (left) and East (right), and at least one fire button. Then click OK.
![Image]()
If the control doesn't work in a game, check the "Swap joysticks" button.
Using a joystick
Plug in a USB joystick before launching VICE, then configure it as joystick 2 in the joystick settings. It should be automatically detected. If it doesn't work, click the "Swap joysticks" button.
Launching a game
From the menu, click "File" -> "smart attach..."
Then choose any of your D64/T64/CRT/TAP/PRG files.
Select "Autostart"
This should auto load the game and run it.
![Image]()
One of my favorite games
![Image]()
Configuration
This page has a little quick and easy info on configurations:
https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/WinVICE
This manual is very comprehensive:
https://vice-emu.sourceforge.io/vice_toc.html
Finding games
There are tons of web pages offering downloads of abandonware C64 games, so take a pick.
VICE is a program that runs on a Unix, MS-DOS, Win32, OS/2, BeOS, QNX 4.x, QNX 6.x, Amiga, Syllable or Mac OS X machine and executes programs intended for the old 8-bit computers. The current version emulates the C64, the C64DTV, the C128, the VIC20, practically all PET models, the PLUS4 and the CBM-II (aka C610/C510). An extra emulator is provided for C64 expanded with the CMD SuperCPU. However, in this howto we'll just focus on setting up VICE for Commodore 64 (C64).
Note: This howto will require installing some files from a third party repository.
Installation
Become root (or use sudo for all commands with #).
Code:
$ su -Install VICE
Code:
# apt install viceWe'll need a few extra files. Enter the /usr/share/vice directory
Code:
# cd /usr/share/viceMake a temporary directory for the files we are downloading
Code:
# mkdir tempEnter the new directory you just made
Code:
# cd tempGet the necessary files
Code:
# wget http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/crossplatform/emulators/VICE/vice-3.8.tar.gzExtract the tar.gz file
Code:
# tar vzxf vice-3.8.tar.gzEnter the ROM directory
Code:
# cd /usr/share/vice/temp/vice-3.8/data/C64/Copy the ROM
Code:
# cp basic-901226-01.bin chargen-901225-01.bin kernal-901227-03.bin /usr/share/vice/C64/Enter the drives directory
Code:
# cd /usr/share/vice/temp/vice-3.8/data/DRIVES/Copy the the drives ROM
Code:
# cp d1541II d1571cr dos* /usr/share/vice/DRIVES/Enter the printer ROM directory
Code:
# cd /usr/share/vice/temp/vice-3.8/data/PRINTER/Copy the printer ROMs
Code:
# cp cbm1526-325341-08.bin mps801.bin mps803.vpl nl10* /usr/share/vice/PRINTER/Delete the temp directoryDelete the temporary directory
Code:
# rm -rf /usr/share/vice/tempLaunch VICE
Open a terminal and type in the following
Code:
$ x64You should now be greeted by the familiar C64 screen
Configuring controls
Being on a PC, you may not have a joystick available. However, using the keyboard works fine.
In the lower part of the screen, you can see "Joysticks". Make sure that "Allow keyset joysticks" is checked, and then click "Configure joysticks".
Most games will use "Joystick #2" as default, so you can select "Keyset B" in the dropdown menu and then click the "Configure keyset B" button.
Click on each button and select keys on your keyboard for at least North (up), South (down), West (left) and East (right), and at least one fire button. Then click OK.
If the control doesn't work in a game, check the "Swap joysticks" button.
Using a joystick
Plug in a USB joystick before launching VICE, then configure it as joystick 2 in the joystick settings. It should be automatically detected. If it doesn't work, click the "Swap joysticks" button.
Launching a game
From the menu, click "File" -> "smart attach..."
Then choose any of your D64/T64/CRT/TAP/PRG files.
Select "Autostart"
This should auto load the game and run it.
One of my favorite games
Configuration
This page has a little quick and easy info on configurations:
https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/WinVICE
This manual is very comprehensive:
https://vice-emu.sourceforge.io/vice_toc.html
Finding games
There are tons of web pages offering downloads of abandonware C64 games, so take a pick.
Statistics: Posted by Hallvor — 2024-02-01 18:10 — Replies 0 — Views 28