After the first signs for the sale of the Commodore brand had arisen to a Youtuber that specialized in retro computing a few weeks ago, the deal now seems to actually take place. A new age should begin for the community.
Youtuber is now CEO from ‘Commodore’
As Christian ‘Peri Fractic’ Simpson announced in one of his latest videos, he is now “Acting CEO” of the Commodore Corporation. A purchase price in the low seven -digit range has been agreed with the previous owners of the legendary computer manufacturer. Simpson did not name an exact number. As a non-profit company, the new company behind the Commodore brand should ensure that retro computing is being promoted. The vision of the YouTuber and ultimately also entrepreneur is a company that is supposed to offer a number of products that build on the best times of the late 90s and early 2000s when computers and the Internet felt even better than in today’s AI and advertising flooded.
Commodore should stand for useful technology
One wants to combine “retro” and “futurism”, whereby technology is to be created that actually offers users advantages instead of only serving large corporations. As a supporter, Simpson claimed to take a number of former Commodore employees and other experienced veterans of the tech industry on board.
The new team behind the revived brand Commodore includes Bill Herd, who was responsible for devices such as the Commodore 128 from 1982 to 1986. Herd is now involved in the project as a technical consultant and shareholder. Even the “father of the C64” Albert Charpentier is now helping a new project, says Simpson.
First product comes in a few weeks
In addition, Simpson Michael Tomczyk from the former Vic 20 team from Commodore has won as a supporter who is also to help as a consultant. In addition, with James Harrison and David Pleasance, former leading heads of Commodores British branch are added. The Chinese manufacturer PCBway should also provide support in terms of manufacturing hardware and boards.
In addition to a number of other parties from the world of retro computing, Thomas Middleditch is also part of the project as an investor. The actor is known for his role in the US sitcom ‘Silicon Valley’ and is active on Twitch as a game streamer. For the time being, there are still a few hurdles to overcome for all the plans. Above all, the financing must also be clarified in order to protect the approximately 47 different brands around Commodore.
Simpson is currently looking for venture capital that are willing to make money available to the company as part of the usual legal regulations. In the medium term, various projects are intended to summarize under the brand, whereby Commodore wants to award licenses for the name.
The products marketed in this way should be of high quality under all circumstances, which is why an extensive test process is to be used. Among other things, there are also two new games in development, and you are looking for opportunities to licensing old titles and bringing them onto the market. In about two weeks, Simpson intends to present a first product on which Commodore games can be used in the future.
