This computer system was more known to be a game system than a computer system. People who were more serious had IBM PCs in the USA. Even though alternative clone systems sometimes come out, like The C64 Mini, most people play Commodore 64 on emulator on the computer. The problem with playing Commodore 64 games is that real hardware is all second-hand or put together by enthusiasts. The 64 Mini is actually an emulator. There are alternatives with FPGA, for example, but you really have to know what you’re doing or where to find someone for help.
Since it’s extremely difficult to get hardware or games, original software maybe even deteriorated if you do buy it or people like GOG not yet selling copies that pay the copyright holders, it’s mostly considered a system that has been forgotten by commercial interests. Only a few people like Sara Jane Avory are making new games.
The best emulator to use is VICE. It has a great Smart Attach with autostart button for easy playing. It also works well on multiple systems, since it’s open source. The best source for Commodore 64 history is ZZap! 64 magazine on Internet Archive
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