HACKER Q&A
📣 amichail

Would the c64 have sold more with BASIC commands for graphics and sound?


It is strange that the built-in BASIC did not have any such commands.


  👤 stevenalowe Accepted Answer ✓
It's not strange, it's history. What is the point of all of these what-if questions about obsolete hardware?

👤 IcePic
I think it might have gotten them a few more sales initially, then more people would figure C64-with-gfx-and-sound sufficed and not moved on to learning ASM on it, and in turn not produce the awesome music, graphics effects and games that in turn helped sales later on. I think it would end up equal or even worse.

👤 mattl
How much more do you think it would sell? It sold a lot.

The C64 didn’t have a native 80 column mode and perhaps could have sold more if it was more usable as a terminal as well? Some Z80 machines had 80 column and could run CP/M but didn’t sell anywhere near as many units as the C64.


👤 melling
Would the best selling desktop computer of all time sold more if…

Probably not

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/72695-mos....