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ISEPIC

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Utility cartridge for Commodore 64
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The ISEPIC ("Ice-pick") from Starpoint Software in USA is an extension cartridge introduced in June 1985 for the Commodore 64. It offers the capability to memory dump software regardless of the implementation scheme or storage medium. The resulting snapshot can be tested before saving.

Snapshots require ISEPIC to run, but can be modified to create standalone versions that do not need the cartridge. A major factor is the 2 KB RAM that can be reprogrammed, and thus allows the user to change its functionality. The 2 KB RAM is memory banked into a 256-byte page at 0xDF00 – 0xDFFF.

Reception

ISEPIC creator Chip Gracey said that he sold 20,000 cartridges within one year, mostly through computer clubs and magazines.

Ahoy! in October 1985 stated that "the ramifications of are startling, to say the least". While warning readers against violating copyright, the magazine discussed the cartridge's ability to both produce snapshots that require the cartridge to boot, and help users modify snapshots to produce standalone versions of programs ("In the tradition of the true hacker, these routines also display the Isepic logo while booting the program"). In a review of two other memory dumpers ("Clonebuster" and "Capture") in March 1986, the magazine stated that they were superior: "While ISEPIC did not do bad as a forerunner, it does not measure up to the products reviewed here" which, among other improvements, produce standalone snapshots.

See also

References

  1. ^ Kevelson, Morton (October 1985). "Isepic". Ahoy!. pp. 71–73. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  2. How the ISEPIC cartridge works on YouTube
  3. "Our Story". Parallax. 2020-09-08. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
  4. Kevelson, Morton (March 1986). "Memory Dumpers for the C-64". Ahoy!. pp. 60–66. Retrieved 23 July 2015.

External links

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