Vintage Artificial Intelligence: Before It Got Awkward

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The Internet Archive has launched the Vintage Artificial Intelligence collection, showcasing software from the 1970s to 1990s that explore early computer portrayals of thinking machines and synthetic life. Featuring classics like ELIZA, Racter, and games such as Alter Ego and Little Computer People, the collection highlights how these programs created illusions of intelligence and autonomy on home computers and consoles. This curated archive offers historical insight into AI’s cultural presence and experimentation before modern generative AI technologies emerged.

https://blog.archive.org/2026/08/16/vintage-artificial-intelligence-before-it-got-awkward/?ref=thebrowser.com

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Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum Return as $130 Handhelds [2026]

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Blaze Entertainment and Retro Games Ltd are launching official handheld versions of the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum on October 15, 2026, priced at $130 USD each. The clamshell devices feature 4.3-inch IPS screens, 25 licensed built-in games, microSD support for additional legally sourced titles, and aim to offer a curated, authentic retro experience distinct from budget emulation handhelds. Collector’s editions with limited runs and extras are also available, while Canadian buyers should expect import pricing and fees due to the lack of local retail presence.

https://tech-insider.org/ca/commodore-64-zx-spectrum-handheld-2026/

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Democracy v the Machine: The Birth of the Digital Age and the Warnings That Were Ignored

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From the 1950s onward, pioneers in computing foresaw both the potential for technology to enable democratic participation and the risk of it creating an “automated state” driven by machines that could replace human judgment in governance. Early political data simulations, like those by Simulmatics Corporation, hinted at how computers might influence elections and public opinion, raising ethical concerns that largely went unheeded. As computing power grew and networks like the internet emerged, warnings about data-driven manipulation, loss of shared cultural frameworks, and the rise of hyper-personalized information predicted challenges to liberal democracy that continue to unfold today.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/aug/18/the-long-read-democracy-v-the-machine-digital-age-warnings-computer-history-technology

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The Amiga Is Back, Too!

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The newly reformed Amiga Corporation has resolved long-standing legal disputes and secured licensing agreements with key stakeholders, including a collaboration agreement with the revived Commodore brand. Amiga Corp. is now developing future AmigaOS updates for classic 68K-era machines and plans to ship a new Amiga 1200 computer by the end of 2026, featuring AmigaOS 3.1 and updated hardware capabilities. These moves mark a significant revival of the Amiga platform, with further partner agreements and new product developments anticipated.

https://www.thurrott.com/classic-technology/340528/the-amiga-is-back-too

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Sierra’s Classic Adventures Are Finally Coming to the Commodore 64

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AGI-64 is a new interpreter enabling Sierra’s classic 1980s adventure games, like Space Quest 1, to run natively on original Commodore 64 hardware for the first time. The project converts existing AGI game files into EasyFlash-compatible images playable on a stock 1 MHz C64, preserving original game logic and artwork with custom preprocessing to suit the C64’s graphics. While still in development, AGI-64 aims to support most Sierra AGI titles and will be released as a free download.

https://www.hackster.io/news/sierra-s-classic-adventures-are-finally-coming-to-the-commodore-64-0ceff800c054

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Japan Tried to Build an Operating System for the Entire World, Then the US Government Intervened

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In 1984, the University of Tokyo launched the ambitious TRON project to create a vertically integrated, open operating system family for everything from embedded devices to desktop PCs, with the desktop variant BTRON featuring an advanced hypermedia document model and extensive multi-language character support. Despite government backing and industry adoption plans, the U.S. government cited TRON in a 1989 trade barrier report, which contributed to reputational damage and withdrawal of Japanese manufacturers from BTRON’s development, effectively ending its mainstream adoption; meanwhile, TRON’s embedded variant, ITRON, quietly became a dominant OS in billions of devices worldwide. Controversially, SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is alleged to have lobbied against BTRON’s adoption, leveraging the U.S. report to hinder the project, though the embedded TRON systems continue to form critical infrastructure in modern electronics.

https://www.xda-developers.com/japan-tried-build-operating-system-entire-world-us-government-intervened/

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DONKEY.BAS — IBM PC (1981)

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DONKEY.BAS is a browser-based port of the classic 1981 IBM PC game originally developed by Bill Gates and Neil Konzen as a demo for early IBM PC DOS showcasing color graphics and sound in BASICA. The simple lane-switching game challenges players to avoid hitting a donkey, preserving the original CGA gameplay with some modern adaptations in JavaScript. This web version serves educational and preservation purposes, making the early computing experience accessible today.

https://donkeybas.com/

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Mean Hamster Software

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Mean Hamster Software has developed AGI-64, an interpreter bringing Sierra’s AGI adventure games to the Commodore 64, with Space Quest 1 already about 75% playable. The free tool compiles original game files into EasyFlash-compatible CRT images for use on real C64 hardware, supporting saves on 1541-compatible drives and optimized to run smoothly on the system’s 1 MHz processor.

https://meanhamster.com/news/agi-64-brings-sierra-adventures-to-the-commodore-64

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Commodore Is Bringing Back a Legendary ’80s Joystick, and I’m Hyped to See the Microcomputer Maker Delve Into Retro Controllers

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Commodore is reissuing the classic Suncom TAC-2 joystick, a popular 1980s peripheral, in five new colorways that complement its C64 Ultimate and C64C models, including a limited gold edition. The redesigned TAC-2 features a more durable steel shaft replacing the original tire valve and brass ball mechanism while preserving the precise, quiet operation gamers remember. This revival reflects Commodore’s ongoing push into retro gaming hardware, appealing to enthusiasts seeking authentic and enhanced vintage controllers.

https://www.gamesradar.com/hardware/retro/commodore-is-bringing-back-a-legendary-80s-joystick-and-im-hyped-to-see-the-microcomputer-maker-delve-into-retro-controllers/

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I Played These Special Edition C64 and ZX Spectrum Remakes to Settle the 8-Bit Feud Once and for All

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The reviewer compares special edition remakes of the Commodore 64 (TheC64 Mini Black) and ZX Spectrum (The Spectrum White Edition), noting improvements like a better joystick and a modern game selection on TheC64 Mini, while The Spectrum stays more authentic with a classic keyboard and nostalgic extras. Despite prior preference for The Spectrum due to its authenticity and fun, the updated games lineup and improved controls give TheC64 Mini Black the edge this time, making it the better buy for fans seeking 8-bit nostalgia.

https://www.stuff.tv/features/i-played-these-special-edition-c64-and-zx-spectrum-remakes-to-settle-the-8-bit-feud-once-and-for-all/

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