MEGA65 User’s Guide Chapter 1

by Steven B. Combs, Ph.D.

Welcome to the first in a new series: The MEGA65 User’s Guide! I’m going to open up version 2 of the user’s guide, and together, we’re going to go through it chapter-by-chapter.

When the series is complete, you will have a compendium of all the information you need to begin using a MEGA65. Let’s get started with Chapter 1 – Introduction and if you want to see the entire series, use the link below:

MEGA≡65 User’s Guide Series Page

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Links
  • MEGA≡65 Accessories
  • MEGA≡65 Links:
• SUPPORT THE BLOG AND CHANNEL
• COMPANION YOUTUBE VIDEO
• VIDEO ERRATA
• ABOUT THE USER’S GUIDE
• WELCOME TO THE MEGA65
• JOIN THE COMMUNITY
• CONCLUSION

Links

MEGA≡65 Accessories

• 🕹️ Hyperkin Trooper Controller: US /

  UK

• 📺 Wimaxit 8” Monitor with ALL the connectors: US /

  UK

• 📺 Prison TVs on eBay: eBay

• 🛜️ Ethernet Network Cable: US /

  UK

• 🔈 Edifier Speakers (BIG Upgrade and I LOVE these things): US /

  UK

• 🔈 Budget Speakers in Video (But Still Sound Good): US /

  UK

• 🧠 microSD Cards: US /

  UK

• 🔊 3.5mm Shielded Cables: US /

  UK

• 🚠 HDMI Cables: US /

  UK

• 🐁 Tank Mouse: https://tank-mouse.com
• 🐁 mouSter: https://retrohax.net/shop/modulesandparts/mouster
• 🐁 The Mouse (USB Tank Mouse Clone): US UK

MEGA≡65 Links:

• @MEGA65retro
• My MEGA≡65 Page: https://retrocombs.com/mega65
• MEGA65 Intro Disk: https://files.mega65.org?id=all-intros
• An Introduction to the MEGA65: YouTube
• MEGA≡65 Page: https://mega65.org
• MEGA65 Discord: https://mega65.org/chat
• MEGA65 Forum: https://mega65.org/forum
• Lulu User’s Guide: https://www.lulu.com/shop/dan-sanderson-and-edilbert-kirk-and-paul-gardner-stephen/mega65-users-guide/paperback/product-dyrzzzy.html?page=1&pageSize=4
• MEGA65 User’s Guide: https://mega65.org/user-guide

SUPPORT THE BLOG AND CHANNEL

Check out the supporters page to learn about my amazing supporters and how you can join our community.

COMPANION YOUTUBE VIDEO

Title: MEGA65 Intro: Your Retro Journey Begins (User’s Guide Ch. 1)

VIDEO ERRATA

None as of 2024-03-12.

ABOUT THE USER’S GUIDE

The original manual was included with the first batch of MEGA65s delivered in 2022. Since then, the MEGA65 has continued to receive core and hardware updates. In 2024, in anticipation of the next MEGA65 batch release scheduled for the Summer, the MEGA65 team released version two of the guide, which I’ll be using for this video series. Even if you don’t own a MEGA65, there are three ways you can get your own guide:

1. Download the PDF version.
2. Visit Lulu and order a printed version.
3. Order a MEGA65, and you’ll find one in the box when it arrives.

The User’s Guide is one volume in an entire library of free MEGA65 PDF books available, including:

• The MEGA65 User’s Guide: https://mega65.org/user-guide - The volume I’ll cover in this video series.
• The MEGA65 Developer’s Guide: https://mega65.org/developer-guide - Information to help you write programs for the MEGA65.
• The MEGA65 BASIC 65 Reference: https://mega65.org/basic65-ref - BASIC 65 commands, functions, and operations documentation.
• The MEGA65 Chipset Reference: https://mega65.org/chipset-ref - Information about the MEGA65’s custom chips.
• The MEGA65 Complete Compendium: https://mega65.org/mega65-book - All volumes in a single PDF.

For more information, you can visit the MEGA65 Confluence Wiki. Once again, all the links you need are in the video description and on my own MEGA65 Resource.

Once you have your user’s guide in hand, you can also contribute using the MEGA65 User’s Guide issue tracker

WELCOME TO THE MEGA65

Congratulations on your purchase of the MEGA65! That seems like an appropriate welcome, right? And that’s how Chapter one of the user’s guide begins, but let’s dig a little deeper into the MEGA65’s history.

Remember the Commodore 64? That iconic 80s computer that launched countless gaming and coding adventures? Imagine if its planned successor, the 1990s Commodore 65, had actually been released. That project may have been shelved, but thanks to a dedicated team of retro enthusiasts, that dream is now a reality in a computer called the MEGA65! Together with the MEGA65 development team, I created an An Introduction to the MEGA65 video. Go watch that video now. Don’t worry, I’ll be right here when you come back.

Great video, right? Glad you liked it.

As you learned, the MEGA65 is a living, breathing project. It’s constantly evolving with community-driven updates that expand its capabilities. Whether you pine for a Commodore 64 or 128 successor, you missed the 8-bit era and want to see what the fuss is about, or you’re a tech enthusiast excited about what you can create with an FPGA, the MEGA65 is for you.

And because the MEGA65 is under active development with a thriving community, I have a feeling the newer chapters in the MEGA65 User’s Guide are yet to be written!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

To get the most out of the MEGA65, you really need to join the aforementioned community. I can tell you, first-hand, that the MEGA65 community is a fun, informative, and supportive group and you can find them in two primary locations:

1. The MEGA65 Discord: https://mega65.org/chat
2. The MEGA65 Forum: https://mega65.org/forum

Which ever way you choose to interact with the community, you’ll find the latest information, tips, tricks, and supportive community.

CONCLUSION

I hope this post and the companion video piques your interest in the MEGA65 and you’ll choose to follow me along this exciting journey through the MEGA65 User’s Guide. I’ll post the next chapter soon. In the meantime, hit like, subscribe, and alerts so you don’t miss the next chapter.

Want to ask questions, make suggestions, and get additional insights? Visit my Buy Me A Coffee page so you can learn how to join my Discord. I’ve created a separate channel for this series so the conversation can continue and the only way you can join this conversation, is to support the channel. Don’t worry though, you can get access to the Discord by joining at the Commodore VIC-20 level for only $2/month. Of course, I have other Commodore inspired levels with additional perks, so be sure to check those out too.

retroCombs, OUT!