REDO FROM START (CANADA & EUROPE)

1982–1985: How the COMMODORE 64 conquered the home computer industry

Numerous developers and publishers, marketers and software pioneers from the early 1980s talk about their beginnings in the gaming industry and answer detailed questions about their formative years with the C64. A total of 64 unpublished interviews are focusing on the USA and Japan (Volume 1) as well as Canada and Europe (Volume 2).

Shipping in September 2026

COLLECTIBLE EDITION
8-set of cards | 5-set of magnets

• Hardback Edition + PDF
• ~400 colour pages
• High-quality offset print
• 168 × 230 mm
  
• Pantone Metallics
• C64 colour guide
• 135 gr/m² Amber Graphic paper
• Finest print raster (120)
• Made in Germany

An oral history of the COMMODORE pioneers

VOLUME 2 is the complement to VOLUME 1 (USA & JAPAN) and draws on the memories of numerous system pioneers who share their experiences in the emerging gaming markets of CANADA & EUROPE. Another 32 influential figures from the early COMMODORE computing world – leading publishers, marketers, artists and developers – answer the profound questions posed by QUATTRO BIT mastermind Andrea Pachetti, completing the two-volume collection of C64 developer legends. 

Man and machines in the industry

With transitional insights from Jim Sachs and John O’Neill, as well as an introduction by Gordon Houghton, former editor at Zzap!64. 

REDO FROM START II takes us back to a time when every new computer game was still an adventure and “bare-metal programming” was becoming a trend. The book focuses on the emerging software markets in Canada and Europe, with a particular emphasis on the United Kingdom, where the Sinclair Spectrum and the Amstrad CPC posed the greatest competition to the COMMODORE 64, and where US ports propelled the domestic games market to a leading position in Europe.

Interviews and journalistic articles describe the highs and lows of the computer games industry from 1982 to 1985. Innovators and early adopters such as Jim Sachs (Saucer Attack!), Ken Grant (Slapshot, Battle Through Time), Andrew Braybrook (Paradroid, Uridium), Rod Cousens (Director, QUICKSILVA) or Jon Steele (Hunchback, OCEAN) talk about their specific efforts that paved the way for the COMMODORE 64 as a gaming machine and why this period was so spectacular for every single producer. 

Exclusive talks with the industry veterans 

Andrew Braybrook, Andy Hieke, Andy Trott, Andy Walker, Chris Murray, Damien Cavanagh, Darrell Etherington, Don Rigby, Gordon Houghton (Zzap!64), Henrik Holmstrom, Jason Benham, Jean-François de Wergifosse, Jeff Gamon, Jim Sachs, Joerg Dierks, John O’Neill, Jon Steele, Ken Grant, Kevin A. Moughtin, Kevin Pickell, Michel Koell, Paul McCherry, Paul Voysey, Randy Lyons, Renato Comini, Rick Madge, Rod Cousens, Stefan Posthuma, Steve Chapman, Steve Wilton, Terry Pratt, Viktor Toth. 

About IT engineers and game makers

We accompany entrepreneurs on their journey into an unformed publishing industry and watch spellbound as the first cassettes begin to hiss and floppy disks begin to rattle. While Commodore worked intensively on a designated software library and established a home computer edition from the arcade, countless entrepreneurs tried their luck for the first time on the fabulously engineered machines from Pennsylvania. Their iconic pixel worlds and ports have turned numerous computer games into today’s classics.

Early C64 games & educational software

Saucer Attack, Time Crystal, The Dolphin’s Rune, Garden Wars, Dungeons of Ba, Castle of Jasoom, Inner Space Plant Attack, Sonic Boom, Battle through Time, Slapshot, Exterminator, Cyclons, Zodiac, Kong, Astral Attack, Skramble, Cybotron, Cosmic Commando, Nexus, Psi-Warrior, Psytron, Tazz, Stellar Wars, Exodus, Thunderbirds, Henry’s House, Paradroid, Uridium, Alleycat, Jouste, Krazy Kar, Bigtop Barney, Guzzler, Roomlord, International Basketball, Hunchback, Armageddon, Builder Ben, Junkyard Jalopies, Quo Vadis, Revelation, Stix, Quinx, Xerons, Scuttle, Hades, Petch, Burnin’ Rubber, Artic Shipwreck, Quark IX, Ghosty, Worm, Qbonian, Q-Hop, Mystical Mission, X-Cange, Maniax, Infernal Runner, International Football and many more…

With Industry profiles and “More Bytes”

Which products were influential? What happened afterwards? How did the computer career progress? We have created a corresponding industry profile for each interview and summarised the most important works in tabular form. In addition, readers can use a navigation system within the book to jump to further information, which offers additional research and study opportunities through article links and reading tips.

Including a wealth of classic 8-bit publishers

Aackosoft, Admacadiam, Anirog, Beyond, Bubble Bus, Commodore (UK) Ltd., CSP Microgame, EMAP, English Software, Graftgold, Handic Software, IJK Software, Illusion, Interceptor, Kingsoft, Loriciels, NET Software, Newsfield Publications, Nüfekop, Artworx, Ocean, Quicksilva, Sachs Enterprises, Scorpio, Softek, Supersoft, Sydney Development, Syntax Software, Taskset, Terminal Software… and many more.

Back to the origins of the Commodore 64

REDO FROM START takes us back to the time when Commodore shook the foundations of the computer industry three times over with the PET 2001, the VIC-20, and the C64, reviving the optimism of the early 1980s in exciting eyewitness accounts and photo documentation. Packed with around 800 images, as well as numerous features, profiles and accompanying journalistic contents, this comprehensive and thoroughly researched work is equally interesting for beginners and experts in computer history.