Show Notes
In this episode, John and Dave dig into the one John has been waiting for: Atari's full-size THE 800XL reissue from Retro Games. It has a mechanical keyboard, a working cartridge slot, Atari BASIC and M.U.L.E. built in, but no SIO port, no networking, and a white joystick John can't stand. He preordered it anyway. The guys compare it with the C64 Maxi and the upcoming A1200, debate the price, and wonder what that cartridge slot is really for. John also shows off AtariBoy, which runs Game Boy games on his 800XL from a $5 Pico cartridge, and the guys cover the wave of jailbreaks hitting the PS5, Xbox 360 and Switch 2, plus the rumoured $1,800 Xbox.
Then they take on AI and the retro scene: Wind Waker running on an iPhone, synth firmware rewritten in days, and why working with AI feels more like being the foreman than the laborer. Dave follows up on his long-running Commodore 64 recreation of the Mattel handheld football game. With help from Claude, Pro Football II is finally finished and released for the C64, with a VIC-20 version too. Plus Dave's Atari 2600 to C64 conversion of Mr. Run and Jump, a brand-new C64 version of Hatris with original SID music, and John's FPGA video synth with a Commodore 64 filter.
Topics discussed in this episode
- Atari THE 800XL, the full-size reissue from Retro Games, up for preorder https://link.amazon/B0gVPkWSB - Pro Football II, Dave's C64 remake of the Mattel handheld football game (free on itch.io) https://dzille.itch.io/pro-football-ii-c64 - AtariBoy, a Game Boy emulator for the Atari 8-bit that runs from the A8PicoCart https://github.com/nosty3/AtariBoy - XDA: Nintendo Switch 2 jailbroken for the first time, with help from AI https://www.xda-developers.com/nintendo-switch-2-jailbroken-for-first-time-with-help-from-ai/ - Xbox 360 PeerPressure, a software-only softmod https://github.com/grimdoomer/Xbox360PeerPressure/wiki/Installation - Destructoid: the next Xbox could cost up to $1,800 https://www.destructoid.com/next-xbox-console-reportedly-2028-could-cost/ - Wind Waker HD Recomp on GitHub https://github.com/ZeldaWWHDRecomp/ZeldaWWHDRecomp - Podcast + Discord + Contact https://the8bitfiles.com
More from The 8 Bit Files
In this episode, Dave leads off on the revived Commodore: the C64C Ultimate and the story of the original 1986 injection molds, and the brand-new "Made For U(ltimate)" software initiative. The block closes on the Callback flip phone, its wildly unstable pricing, and Dave's argument that nobody agrees on what a "dumb phone" actually means. John brings a MiSTer update — DreamSTer, running Dreamcast on a DE10-Nano by putting the PowerVR2 on the FPGA and everything else on the ARM cores, plus MiSTer Monitor, an ESP32 companion display for artwork and system stats. John also unpacks his recent travel experiences to Japan, including Nintendo, Super Potato and other fun places he visited. Dave signs off with the 486 he rescued from his parents' house, and a plea for a keyboard with a five-pin DIN connector. Topics discussed in this episode Commodore announces the C64C Ultimate using the rediscovered original 1986 injection moldshttps://commodore.net/c-you-soon-commodore-64-ultimate-line-up-expands-with-c64c-edition-later-this-year/ Time Extension: the revived Commodore's next FPGA recreation, complete with the original 1986 imperfectionshttps://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/04/the-revived-commodore-just-announced-its-next-fpga-recreation-complete-with-the-original-1986-imperfections Time Extension: Commodore celebrates its first birthday with the "Made For U(ltimate)" game initiativehttps://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/08/what-a-year-its-been-commodore-celebrates-its-birthday-with-a-new-game-initiative-for-the-c64-ultimate Commodore gets transparent on the Callback flip phone pricinghttps://commodore.net/commodore-gets-transparent-on-callback-flip-phone/ Tom's Hardware: Callback drops to $399 by defaulting to recycled memory chipshttps://www.tomshardware.com/phones/commodore-drops-callback-flip-ohine-to-399-by-defaulting-to-recycled-memory-chips Time Extension: the "impossible" Dreamcast core comes to MiSTer, but it's very early dayshttps://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/07/the-impossible-dreamcast-core-comes-to-mister-but-its-very-early-days DreamSTer on GitHub — skmp's Dreamcast project for the DE10-Nanohttps://github.com/skmp/DreamSTer MiSTer Monitor — ESP32 companion display for artwork, system stats and RetroAchievementshttps://github.com/chipster6502/MiSTer_monitor Super Potato, Akihabarahttps://www.superpotato.com/
In this episode, John and Dave cover a mix of retro gaming hardware, emulation history, and hands-on tinkering with old and new tech. They start by discussing Nintendo’s new Virtual Boy accessory for the Nintendo Switch, reflecting on the strange legacy of the original system and what it’s like to experience those games today. The conversation then dives into the fascinating story behind the Nintendo/Sega/Namco Triforce arcade platform and the effort to preserve and emulate these unique arcade systems. Dave also shares a retro-computing adventure recovering files from 1990-era floppy disks by rebuilding a DOS environment and reinstalling Microsoft Works on modern hardware. Finally, they wrap up with an update on Dave’s long-running Commodore 64 project recreating the classic Mattel handheld football game, and how modern AI coding tools are now helping move the project forward. Topics discussed in this episode Nintendo’s new Virtual Boy accessory for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 https://www.nintendo.com/en-ca/store/products/virtual-boy-for-nintendo-switch-2-120829/
In this episode, John and Dave talk about discovering ZimaOS and building an affordable home lab using repurposed hardware - and how that single setup quickly expands into media streaming, network-wide ad blocking, ROM organization, browser-based retro gaming, backups, and local services. Along the way, they also touch on the Commodore 64 Ultimate, a Sega Channel preservation project, a retro electronics repair simulator, and why digital preservation and self-hosting matter more than ever. Topics & sub-topics discussed: ZimaOS - app-based operating system that makes home labs approachable https://www.zimaspace.com/zimaos
In this episode, Dave dives into the newly announced Commodore 64 Ultimate - a modern, FPGA-powered revival of the classic C64 - and compares it to his previously acquired Ultimate 64 Elite II board. He breaks down the different editions, pricing tiers, and what makes this official reboot stand out in a crowded retro hardware scene. John talks about modding his original Atari 2600 with a composite video output and the guys also check out the impressive MovieCart, a full-motion video cartridge for the Atari 2600, revisit the just-announced THEC64 Mini Black Edition, and discuss the surprise return of Compute!’s Gazette. Plus: John explains why he returned his preorder for the My Arcade Atari Watch. 🔗 Links & Resources: Commodore 64 Ultimate: https://www.commodore.net Ultimate 64 Elite II: https://ultimate64.com/Ultimate64 THEC64 Mini Black Edition: https://retrogames.biz/products/thec64-mini-black MovieCart for Atari 2600: https://movieroms.com/moviecart/ Compute!’s Gazette Subscription: https://www.computesgazette.com Podcast + Discord + Contact: https://the8bitfiles.com
In this episode, Dave finally unboxes the long-awaited Ultimate 64 Elite II - an FPGA-based modern C64 replacement - and shares why it might be the last 64 he ever needs. John dives into his surprising change of heart on the Nintendo Switch 2, covering game upgrades, new features, and how it compares to the Steam Deck. Plus: a custom Synthcart controller project and a quick review of the wireless Atari CX-40 joystick. 🔗 Links & Resources: Ultimate 64 Elite MK2: https://ultimate64.com/Ultimate-64-Elite-MK2