LOADSTAR COMPLEAT

NOTE: While currently listed as for Windows, at the moment this package is just a collection of C64 and 128 disk images suitable for use in an emulator. As long as you have an emulator, you should be able to use them!

LOADSTAR was one of the first of the microcomputer disk magazines. In 1982 Jim Mangham got the idea for a monthly magazine on disk filled with programs, graphics and text that people would run on their computer. After releasing Softdisk for Apple II machines, in 1984 came the first issue of LOADSTAR, a magazine for the Commodore 64/128 computers. Over the next 24 years and 250 issues came an overbearing wealth of software, games, art and music.

In 1986, with Loadstar issue #42, managing editor Fender Tucker ("named for a guitar") came on board and would remain until issue #199. He was soon joined by associate editor Jeff Jones. The two would stamp the magazine with a distinctive voice for the next thirteen years, their run ending in 1999. For context: the Commodore 64 was launched in 1982, and left production in 1994, an eon in the era of microcomputers. The C64 got started in the golden age of arcades, and production ended shortly before the release of Windows 95. And Loadstar then continued for yet five years after that. In fact, it kept going for another 50 issues or so, under the helm of the worthy Rev. Dave Moorman!

Now, for $15, you can have it all legally: over 600 megabytes of Commodore software containing games, art, music, Fender's Tucker's wonderful writing style, and a whole lot more, and we bundle the open-source VICE emulator for ease of running it. (Although right now it's a very old version—you should get a current release of VICE!) We're also working on an issue explorer and list of highlights, to help you find interesting destinations amidst this island continent of content, but that's for later.

Of course, Loadstar is available in other places, should you seek them out (the Internet Archive is one place to check). We're working on a curated system for browsing through the issues, with lists of different types of software and highlights, but you don't need that to enjoy the thousands of items on these disks. Now, 17 years after the last issue went out, please enjoy Loadstar however you can, and spread the word.

AND, if you want to talk about Loadstar with other enthusiasts, please  visit us in the community at loadstarce.com!

If you want to let Fender known how much you appreciate his work, you can contact him at fender.tucker@gmail.com!

In this package are:

199 250 issues of Loadstar for the Commodore 64, containing a wealth of software, both of itself and from issues of Commodore Magazine! Disk images are provided in both 1541 (.D64) and 1581 (.D81) formats.

46 issues of Loadstar 128, for the Commodore 128!

76 issues of the Loadstar Letter newsletter in PDF!

Five Loadstar Extras!

72 covers for the newsstand version of Loadstar, along with 7 covers for Loadstar 128!

21 issues of UpTime, a separate magazine that Loadstar gained the rights to!

Plus: Brain Stuff, Compleat Bible, Compleat Programmer, Crosswords, Flags & Anthems, Knees' PUD, Loadstar Gourmet, Marquis on MIDI, Maurice Jones' card games, SID Music, ProseQuest, Roger Unwrapped, Serious Stuff, SongSmith and the art of Walt Harned!

NOTE 1: LOADSTAR COMPLEAT contains 680 megabytes of files! Please be prepared for this when you download!

NOTE 2: VICE, the Versatile Commodore Emulator, is a separate, open-source project, and available at https://vice-emu.sourceforge.io/. We do not wish to imply ownership of VICE, nor that we are selling it to you. We provide it in our package as a convenience, to save you the step of setting it up yourself. The version in this first upload is for a very old version of VICE, the same version that was on the old Loadstar Compleat CD version.

NOTE 3: While this package is tagged for Windows, it'll run on anything with a Commodore 64 emulator. We suggest that you bring your own and set it up how you like it. VICE probably works the best.

NOTE 4: There had been a problem with some of the disks being improperly copied, but that should be corrected now thanks to the efforts of gumpy and Dominic Pessagno!

and, NOTE 5: Of course, these files are available for free elsewhere, including the Internet Archive. If you really want to try Loadstar without paying, the means is out there. I am working on some ease-of-use features that'll be included in this version, but the reason to pay is that you want to support the project.