Description
The BackBit Pro Cartridge is a universal instant loading cartridge capable of interfacing with a multitude of vintage computers and game consoles via proprietary adapters, supporting:
- Acetronic MPU 1000/2000 and Radofin 1292/1392 Advanced Programmable Video System
- Amstrad CPC+ / GX4000 (w/ ACID bypass)
- Apple II+/IIe/IIgs Slot
- Atari 2600
- Atari 5200
- Atari 7800 (w/ POKEY emulation)
- Atari 400 / 800 / XL / XE / XEGS
- Bally Astrocade / Professional Arcade / Computer System / Home Library Computer
- ColecoVision/Adam
- Commodore 16 / +4
- Commodore 64 / 128 (incl. C64, C64C, SX64*, C64GS*, C128, C128D, PAL & NTSC variants) *requires straight adapter
- Commodore VIC 20 / VC20
- Emerson Arcadia 2001
- Epoch Super Cassette Vision
- Fairchild Channel F
- IBM PCjr
- Interton VC 4000 (Radofin APVS clone)
- Magnavox Odyssey² / Philips Videopac (w/ Voice emulation)
- Mattel Aquarius
- Mattel Intellivision
- Soundic MPT-03 (Arcadia clone)
- MSX 1 / 2 (w/ SCC emulation)
- RCA Studio II / III
- Sega Master System
- Sinclair ZX81 / Timex Sinclair 1000 / Timex Sinclair 1500
- Tandy Color Computer / 2 / 3
- Timex Sinclair 2068 (w/ Kempston support)
- TI-99/4A
- Vectrex (GCE / Milton Bradley)
- ZX Spectrum 48K / 128K / +2 (w/ Kempston support)
Compared to other cartridges which only support a single system, BackBit Pro offers way more value! Supports most, if not all, original cartridge-based titles for each machine, and additionally supports tape, disk, and RAM expansion for a limited number of systems. Capable of supporting most modern homebrews, so please inquire at the BackBit Forum if something you’re interested in is not supported yet. Bankswitching schemes up to 1MB in size can be implemented for nearly all platforms (if they aren’t already). Flash saving support can often be implemented. Special coprocessors can sometimes be implemented. Some adapters feature additional hardware for various things, such as audio emulation, copy protection bypass, joystick plugs, reset support, and more! I’m happy to answer any questions you may have by email or over at the BackBit Forum.
Features common to most/all systems:
- Just plug and play! All you have to do is insert the cartridge and adapter, and a MicroSD card full of programs (SD card not included, but inquire at BackBit Forum for content suggestion);
- Upgradeable via MicroSD card (not included). Just place the upgrade file on the card and updating is instant & secure;
- Easy to use menu system can be navigated via joystick or keyboard. Unified interface is common to all hardware;
- 3.5mm jack allows connecting a BackButton or GenAssister, allowing easy navigation back to menu interface (some systems, such as ColecoVision/Amstrad/Atari, require an included solderless jumper);
- Loading is always instant*. No need to take a coffee break while your program is loading (*exceptions are programs which introduce their own delays);
- Built-in versioning system preserves your original files (on systems/configurations that support saving);
- Supports cartridge images up to 1MB in size;
- Real-time-clock remembers date & time even after shutoff. Useful when creating new files or versions;
- One-button diagnostic mode helps you identify system faults (on most systems);
- Sturdy 3D printed ABS case (some adapters also have optional adapter cases).
See adapter page for more details about specific adapters.
Supported ROM and RAM Configurations (can be extended with firmware upgrades):
Note that this is not an exhaustive list. If there is anything you’d like supported that you don’t see here, feel free to inquire at the BackBit Forum!
- Acetronic MPU 1000/2000 / Radofin 1292/1392 APVS / Interton VC 4000
- BIN (up to 8KB)
- Amstrad CPC+ / GX4000
- BIN / CPR (up to 1MB)
- Apple II+/IIe/IIgs Slot
- DSK / DO / PO (140KB)
- Binary appended disks to facilitate disk swapping
- Atari 2600
- A26 / BIN (up to 1MB)
- Mappers supported: 3F, AR, CV, DPC, E0, E7, F0, F4, F4SC, F6, F6SC, F8, F8SC, FA, FC, FE, UA
- Atari 5200
- A52 / BIN (up to 512KB)
- Mappers supported: MegaCart (up to 512KB), BountyBob
- Atari 7800
- A78 (up to 1MB)
- Mappers supported: Absolute, Activision, MirrorRAM, SuperGame, SuperGame+RAM
- Atari 400 / 800 / XL / XE / XEGS
- CAR / ROM (up to 1MB)
- XEX
- Mappers supported: AtariMAX, AtariMega, BountyBob, Williams, XEGS
- Bally Astrocade / Professional Arcade / Computer System / Home Library Computer
- BIN (up to 8KB)
- WAV (for cassette-based programs)
- ColecoVision / Adam
- COL / ROM (up to 1MB)
- Commodore 16 / Plus 4
- BBT (BackBit multi-drive format)
- BIN (up to 32KB)
- D64, D71, D81, D8B
- P00, PRG, T64 (up to 62KB)
- Commodore 64 / 128
- BBT (BackBit multi-drive format)
- CRT (up to 1MB)
- D64, D71, D81, D8B (read & write support, PRG/SEQ/REL/USR files, built-in Burn & Rip feature)
- FRZ, VSF (snapshots)
- KOA, KLA (Koala multicolor viewer)
- P00, PRG, T64 (up to 62KB, w/ freezer support)
- SID (built-in music player)
- Mappers supported: C64GS, Comal 80, Dinamic, EasyFlash, Epyx Fastload, Final Cart 3, Funplay, Gmod 2, Mach 5, Magic Desk, Ocean, Prophet 64,
Simon’s BASIC, Super Games, Warp Speed, Zaxxon - CP/M diskettes supported
- KERNAL override (in conjunction with PLAster PLA replacement)
- Note: If you have a 326298 board (original rev C64 breadbin), it requires a reset fix.
- Commodore VIC 20 / VC20
- BBT (BackBit multi-drive format)
- 20, 40, 60, 70, A0, B0 (extension specifies first bank where cartridge loads to, binary append all banks sequentially)
- D64, D71, D81, D8B
- P00, PRG, T64 (up to 24KB)
- RAM expansion of 3K, 8K, 16K, 24K, 32K or 35K
- Emerson Arcadia 2001 / Soundic MPT-03
- BIN (up to 8KB)
- Epoch Super Cassette Vision
- BIN (up to 128KB)
- Mappers supported: BASIC, Pole Position 2, PC5/PC6
- Fairchild Channel F
- BIN (up to 62KB)
- IBM PCjr
- BIN (up to 128KB)
- COM (up to 64KB)
- IMG (160KB, 180KB, 320KB, 360KB, 720KB, 1.2MB, 1.44MB)
- Magnavox Odyssey² / Philips Videopac
- BIN (up to 8KB)
- Mattel Aquarius
- BIN (up to 16KB)
- PRG (up to 34KB)
- Built-in 32K RAM expansion
- Mattel Intellivision
- BIN / INT (up to 512KB)
- ECS (see here)
- ROM (incl. RAM support)
- MSX 1 / 2
- ROM (up to 1MB)
- Mappers supported: ASCII8, ASCII16, GameMaster, Generic8, Konami, KonamiSCC
- DSK (360KB, 720KB)
- RCA Studio II / III
- ST2 (up to 62KB)
- Sega Master System
- BIN/SG/SMS (up to 1MB)
- Sinclair ZX81 / Timex Sinclair 1000 / Timex Sinclair 1500
- P (up to 16KB)
- Built-in 16KB RAM expansion
- Tandy Color Computer / 2 / 3
- CAS
- CCC (up to 256KB)
- DSK (160KB, 180KB, 360KB, 720KB)
- Timex Sinclair 2068
- DCK (up to 64KB)
- TI-99/4A
- C / BIN (up to 1MB, BIN with optional GROM component, append C+D+G together to a single BIN file)
- G (GROM-only)
- Mappers supported: GROM, GROM+8K ROM, GROM+16K ROM, ROM
- Vectrex (GCE / Milton Bradley)
- BIN (up to 32KB)
- ZX Spectrum 48K / 128K / +2
- TAP (multi-load support)
- Z80
Ben S –
The BackBit Cartridge for the Commodore 64 is a must-have item for any Commodore enthusiast. The BackBit supports thousands of games and programs. They can be easily loaded from the BackBit’s built-in menu system and launched, with most games loading in mere seconds.
The BackBit also includes a reset button that can return the user to the menu system at any point, allowing you to resume where you left off.
The cartridge supports almost all major image types (D64, D81, CRT, P00, PRG, etc), including its own proprietary format (BBT). Recent firmware upgrades have paved the way toward supporting more multidisk games (several multidisk games are already in the BackBit Collection available on the BackBit forums).
You won’t find a better device for easily running software on the C64 using nothing more than a MicroSD card.
Jeremy –
Awesome cart that makes the C64 Fast and Fun to use, it’s easy to set up and has great support compared with other options.
Jari K –
Amazing device! Easy to use, superbly fast and reasonably compatible, and the constant firmware upgrades and support make BackBit an absolute joy and thrill to keep using. Also, with adapters around to make BackBit usable on increasingly varied machines, it’s an absolute must-have in any serious retrogamer’s collection of new gizmos. Sure, it doesn’t run cassette image files (TAP), but then that’s not the point of it. 😉
Calen Palazzolo (verified owner) –
The Backbit Cart is frickin AWESOME!! It loads instantaneously and has more than met my expectations! So much faster than the other device I have. I ordered it on Sunday and it came a day early which was a nice surprise. I remember playing the C64 as a child in elementary school and remember the awful load times. There is no such thing as load times when it comes to this wonderful device. I can’t wait to play these games with my kids. Thank you Evie for making such a wonderful product.
Darth Florus –
I’m a freaky of C128 and the Backbit have a excellent support of it. When a program don’t work forum support is awesome, in a days the program works on!. The “program api” is good enough to manage features of the backbit cartridge. The extended file can be used as a expanded memory or memory disk as you can program for use it. Is the first cartridge that allows me to use 4 CP/M disk images at once thanks of the custom BBT file format. With it, I use CP/M as never I used in all my live as C128 user. A must have cartridge for a C128 user!
gambler 172 (verified owner) –
The 7800 adapter works well…ok the newer babkswitchings are not supported, but for a quick play it is ok.Most of the original releases work.
BackBit –
Bankset not yet supported, but all other known bankings are.
Chad Doebelin (verified owner) –
Impressive kit! There are so many adapters out there, I originally got this just for the Mattel Intellivision.
It is my understanding that Evie is still making more adapters.
I was excited to see she might begin work on adapters for 16bit systems too!
Thank you for making this for the community.
It’s easily worth the money.
Michael Tarallo (verified owner) –
Amazing – works great with my INTV – thank you!
Jesse B (verified owner) –
Fantastic and flexible, also reliable for daily use over long periods of time as we’ve really put it through it’s paces at the museum. Thanks so much for the great tool!