The 8 Bit Files

John Biehler and Dave Zille

If you love 8 bit computers, video games and their history, you'll love The 8 Bit Files, a podcast hosted by John and Dave, two retro computing enthusiasts who share their passion and knowledge with you every week. In each episode, they explore a different topic related to 8 bit computers, such as hardware, software, games, programming, culture, and more. Whether you're a veteran 8 bit enthusiast or a newcomer who wants to learn more about this fascinating era of computing, you'll find something to enjoy. Subscribe today and join John and Dave on their 8 bit adventures!

  1. 5 days ago

    037 - Commodore & MiSTer Updates, and John's Japan Experience

    In this episode, Dave leads off on the revived Commodore: the C64C Ultimate and the story of the original 1986 injection molds, and the brand-new "Made For U(ltimate)" software initiative. The block closes on the Callback flip phone, its wildly unstable pricing, and Dave's argument that nobody agrees on what a "dumb phone" actually means. John brings a MiSTer update — DreamSTer, running Dreamcast on a DE10-Nano by putting the PowerVR2 on the FPGA and everything else on the ARM cores, plus MiSTer Monitor, an ESP32 companion display for artwork and system stats. John also unpacks his recent travel experiences to Japan, including Nintendo, Super Potato and other fun places he visited. Dave signs off with the 486 he rescued from his parents' house, and a plea for a keyboard with a five-pin DIN connector. Topics discussed in this episode Commodore announces the C64C Ultimate using the rediscovered original 1986 injection moldshttps://commodore.net/c-you-soon-commodore-64-ultimate-line-up-expands-with-c64c-edition-later-this-year/Time Extension: the revived Commodore's next FPGA recreation, complete with the original 1986 imperfectionshttps://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/04/the-revived-commodore-just-announced-its-next-fpga-recreation-complete-with-the-original-1986-imperfectionsTime Extension: Commodore celebrates its first birthday with the "Made For U(ltimate)" game initiativehttps://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/08/what-a-year-its-been-commodore-celebrates-its-birthday-with-a-new-game-initiative-for-the-c64-ultimateCommodore gets transparent on the Callback flip phone pricinghttps://commodore.net/commodore-gets-transparent-on-callback-flip-phone/Tom's Hardware: Callback drops to $399 by defaulting to recycled memory chipshttps://www.tomshardware.com/phones/commodore-drops-callback-flip-ohine-to-399-by-defaulting-to-recycled-memory-chipsTime Extension: the "impossible" Dreamcast core comes to MiSTer, but it's very early dayshttps://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/07/the-impossible-dreamcast-core-comes-to-mister-but-its-very-early-daysDreamSTer on GitHub — skmp's Dreamcast project for the DE10-Nanohttps://github.com/skmp/DreamSTerMiSTer Monitor — ESP32 companion display for artwork, system stats and RetroAchievementshttps://github.com/chipster6502/MiSTer_monitorSuper Potato, Akihabarahttps://www.superpotato.com/

  2. 7 Mar

    036 - Triforce, Virtual Boy & AI Coding an 8-Bit Game

    In this episode, John and Dave cover a mix of retro gaming hardware, emulation history, and hands-on tinkering with old and new tech. They start by discussing Nintendo’s new Virtual Boy accessory for the Nintendo Switch, reflecting on the strange legacy of the original system and what it’s like to experience those games today. The conversation then dives into the fascinating story behind the Nintendo/Sega/Namco Triforce arcade platform and the effort to preserve and emulate these unique arcade systems. Dave also shares a retro-computing adventure recovering files from 1990-era floppy disks by rebuilding a DOS environment and reinstalling Microsoft Works on modern hardware. Finally, they wrap up with an update on Dave’s long-running Commodore 64 project recreating the classic Mattel handheld football game, and how modern AI coding tools are now helping move the project forward. Topics discussed in this episode Nintendo’s new Virtual Boy accessory for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2https://www.nintendo.com/en-ca/store/products/virtual-boy-for-nintendo-switch-2-120829/ Nintendo announcement and details about the Virtual Boy accessory rollouthttps://www.nintendo.com/en-ca/whatsnew/virtual-boy-accessories-for-nintendo-switch-2-and-nintendo-switch-now-available-for-pre-purchase/ Dolphin Emulator blog post: “Rise of the Triforce” — the history and emulation of Nintendo/Sega/Namco’s arcade platformhttps://dolphin-emu.org/blog/2026/02/16/rise-of-the-triforce/ Dolphin Emulator project websitehttps://dolphin-emu.org/ MiSTer FPGA project (used for recreating vintage computer environments)https://mister-devel.github.io/MkDocs_MiSTer/ MiSTer ao486 core for running DOS-era PCshttps://github.com/MiSTer-devel/ao486_MiSTer Microsoft Works archive and documentation (classic DOS productivity suite mentioned in the episode)https://archive.org/details/microsoft-works-1.0-1.05-1988-05-english-5.25-360-kb-packard-bell-oem AtariAge forums discussion of the classic Mattel handheld football gamehttps://forums.atariage.com/topic/90135-1970s-mattel-classic-football-led-handheld-game/

  3. 4 Jan

    035 - Retro-friendly homelabs with ZimaOS

    In this episode, John and Dave talk about discovering ZimaOS and building an affordable home lab using repurposed hardware - and how that single setup quickly expands into media streaming, network-wide ad blocking, ROM organization, browser-based retro gaming, backups, and local services. Along the way, they also touch on the Commodore 64 Ultimate, a Sega Channel preservation project, a retro electronics repair simulator, and why digital preservation and self-hosting matter more than ever. Topics & sub-topics discussed: ZimaOS - app-based operating system that makes home labs approachablehttps://www.zimaspace.com/zimaos Home lab fundamentals - NAS, backups, ad blocking, VMs, and always-on servers ROMM - organizing ROM libraries with metadata, artwork, and downloadshttps://github.com/rommapp/romm EmulatorJS - play retro games directly in your web browserhttps://emulatorjs.org Jellyfin - self-hosted media streaming without subscriptionshttps://jellyfin.org The 8-Bit Files Podcast & Discordhttps://the8bitfiles.com

  4. 14/08/2025

    034 - Commodore 64 Ultimate, C64 Mini Black edition & more

    In this episode, Dave dives into the newly announced Commodore 64 Ultimate - a modern, FPGA-powered revival of the classic C64 - and compares it to his previously acquired Ultimate 64 Elite II board. He breaks down the different editions, pricing tiers, and what makes this official reboot stand out in a crowded retro hardware scene. John talks about modding his original Atari 2600 with a composite video output and the guys also check out the impressive MovieCart, a full-motion video cartridge for the Atari 2600, revisit the just-announced THEC64 Mini Black Edition, and discuss the surprise return of Compute!’s Gazette. Plus: John explains why he returned his preorder for the My Arcade Atari Watch. 🔗 Links & Resources:Commodore 64 Ultimate: https://www.commodore.netUltimate 64 Elite II: https://ultimate64.com/Ultimate64THEC64 Mini Black Edition: https://retrogames.biz/products/thec64-mini-blackMovieCart for Atari 2600: https://movieroms.com/moviecart/Compute!’s Gazette Subscription: https://www.computesgazette.comPodcast + Discord + Contact: https://the8bitfiles.com

  5. 30/06/2025

    033 - Ultimate 64 Elite-II, Switch 2

    In this episode, Dave finally unboxes the long-awaited Ultimate 64 Elite II - an FPGA-based modern C64 replacement - and shares why it might be the last 64 he ever needs. John dives into his surprising change of heart on the Nintendo Switch 2, covering game upgrades, new features, and how it compares to the Steam Deck. Plus: a custom Synthcart controller project and a quick review of the wireless Atari CX-40 joystick. 🔗 Links & Resources: Ultimate 64 Elite MK2: https://ultimate64.com/Ultimate-64-Elite-MK2 Synthcart for Atari 2600: http://www.qotile.net/synth.html Mr. Pi Batch 4 Preorder: https://retroremake.co/products/misterpi-preorder Podcast + Discord + Contact: https://the8bitfiles.com

  6. 14/04/2025

    032 - Nintendo Wii

    In this episode, the guys talk about the Nintendo Wii, diving deep into what made it a game-changer for both hardcore and casual players. They also discuss the upcoming Switch 2, but it's more of a sidebar to their Wii nostalgia. John recalls lining up for the Wii on launch day and how hard it was to find in the wild They discuss how Wii Sports, especially bowling, became a cultural touchstone and brought families together Dave shares how even his mom got into gaming thanks to the Wii’s accessible motion controls They reminisce about quirky Wii accessories—from plastic steering wheels to crossbow shells—and how fun (and weird) they were John talks about soft-modding the Wii and loading it with emulators and classic games They mention the Wii’s forward-thinking features like Miis, the Virtual Console, and online updates They discuss the Switch 2 announcement, with John expressing skepticism over pricing, lack of killer titles, and backward compatibility quirks Referenced videos from the episode: Wii Bowling training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmN-woiXtqk Wii Shopping channel demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxAanYvdx28 Wii Mii channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6NAW72KzTQ

  7. 02/03/2025

    031 - Sega Dreamcast & more

    In this episode, John and Dave look back at the Sega Dreamcast, sharing memories of the console that was ahead of its time but gone too soon. The Dreamcast had zero copy protection - John and Dave traded burned game CDs "like baseball cards" Their gaming favorites included Crazy Taxi (with its Offspring soundtrack), Jet Grind Radio with its anime style, and Shenmue's groundbreaking open world John demonstrates his new "Singe" emulator that runs Laserdisc-style games and lets people create interactive adventures from movie clips They reminisce about playing games on massive CRT TVs that "weighed a billion pounds" John shares his Batocera emulation setup that includes arcade games and serves as a central ROM library They discuss how modern gaming is moving toward platform-agnostic services, similar to what Sega did after the Dreamcast

  8. 21/01/2025

    030 - Atari VCS hands on, 8BitDo GameCube Bluetooth Mod & more

    In this episode of 8-Bit Files, Dave and John dive deep into the Atari VCS, exploring this modern retro system after John snagged one during Black Friday sales. From its stock gaming experience to transforming it into a versatile mini PC with Windows 11, Ubuntu, and Batocera, they break down everything you need to know about this unique gaming system's capabilities, limitations, and surprising value proposition. The guys also talk about: My Arcade's exciting new Game Station product announcements from CES 2024 Dave's successful 8BitDo GameCube Controller Bluetooth mod project John's clever new gaming TV setup featuring multiple retro consoles Join the conversation at the8bitfiles@gmail.com and stay tuned for next episode's deep dive into the Dreamcast! 🎮

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About

If you love 8 bit computers, video games and their history, you'll love The 8 Bit Files, a podcast hosted by John and Dave, two retro computing enthusiasts who share their passion and knowledge with you every week. In each episode, they explore a different topic related to 8 bit computers, such as hardware, software, games, programming, culture, and more. Whether you're a veteran 8 bit enthusiast or a newcomer who wants to learn more about this fascinating era of computing, you'll find something to enjoy. Subscribe today and join John and Dave on their 8 bit adventures!

Information

  • Creator
    John Biehler and Dave Zille
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © John Biehler and Dave Zille
  • Show Website
    The 8 Bit Files

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