Rachel on vintage computers

Rachel has a VIC-20 release and a playable C64 development build, both with offline solo games. More vintage versions are in development. The shared network protocol is designed for multiplayer between different machines.

There is currently no public game server. Vintage online play needs a separately run compatible server. The VIC-20 v1.0.0 release is verified in PAL and NTSC emulation, with physical hardware testing still pending. Other ports have different levels of testing, shown below.

Software evidence and physical-network status for each vintage Rachel client
Machine	Networking	Evidence	Hardware	Links
ZX Spectrum	Next WiFi / Spectranet	Build + protocol	Real adapter path	source builds
Commodore 64	Offline solo / Ultimate / user-port modem	Solo + reconnect in emulation	Physical evidence pending	source builds
Commodore VIC-20	Offline solo / ESP-AT user-port modem	v1.0.0: solo + online in emulation	Physical testing pending	source builds
Commodore Amiga	Hayes serial modem	Build + protocol	Real adapter path	source builds
BBC Micro	User-port WiFi bridge	CI artifact	Real adapter path	source builds
Acorn Electron	WiFi expansion	CI artifact	Real adapter path	source builds
Atari 8-bit	FujiNet	CI artifact	Real adapter path	source builds
Atari 7800	Cartridge coprocessor	Build only	Design needed	source builds
Oric Atmos	$031C 6551 + Hayes modem	CI TAP + RUBP v1	Prototype needed	source builds
Dragon 32 / CoCo	Serial / DragonWiFi	Build + protocol	Model dependent	source builds
MSX	GR8NET TCP/IP UNAPI	Emulator protocol	Real adapter path	source builds
ColecoVision	$50–$52 expansion FIFO	Build only	Prototype needed	source builds
Sega Master System	Cartridge adapter	CI artifact	Prototype needed	source builds
Sega Game Gear	Cartridge adapter	CI artifact	Prototype needed	source builds
Nintendo NES	Controller-port bridge	Emulator protocol	Prototype needed	source builds
Nintendo Game Boy	Buffered link bridge	CI artifact	Prototype needed	source builds

A solo game on the VIC-20

Load Rachel with an 8KB memory expansion and choose Solo. Pick a table size from two to eight seats; computer opponents fill the other seats. The game runs locally, so solo play needs neither a modem nor a server.

Version 1.0.0 has completed solo and online games in emulation. It remains experimental on physical hardware until real-machine testing is complete. The release includes the program, controls and testing notes.

VIC-20 releases · Source and setup instructions

Playing over a network

In online mode, a server manages the cards and rules. Vintage clients show the table and send each player's moves using the shared protocol. The VIC-20's online mode has been tested against the Go server in emulation; its physical modem connection still needs testing.

There is no hosted vintage multiplayer service to join at present. The iOS app's offline solo and nearby multiplayer modes do not need one.

Pull up a chair at the C64

A blue screen, a handful of cards and up to seven computer opponents. The C64 development build plays a complete solo game on the machine itself. Choose Solo, pick a table size from two to eight seats, and try to leave someone else holding the cards. No modem or server needed.

Rachel running in C64 emulation: eight player counts above the discard pile, with the second card highlighted in the player's hand — Eight seats at the table. Captured from the production build in C64 emulation.

Get back to the same game

Online play connects through an Ultimate interface or a user-port WiFi modem. If the connection drops, Rachel tries to recover your seat and hand. After three unsuccessful attempts, press R to retry or Q to return to the menu.

The session is kept while the program stays loaded. Resetting the C64 starts fresh. Online play needs a separately run Rachel server; there is currently no public one to join.

The C64 game-over screen says YOU WENT OUT after a network game that recovered from two forced connection drops — Back at the table: this emulator game finished after two forced disconnects.

What has been tested

Sixteen automated solo games completed across all seven table sizes. Both emulated network transports recovered from two forced drops, restored the same seat and hand, and finished the game. Display and keyboard checks pass too.

This is a development build, verified in emulation. Physical C64, Ultimate and modem testing is still pending. The 2400-baud modem test uses 300 ms between server frames; the setup instructions explain that setting.

C64 source and build instructions · Development builds

What the labels mean

CI artifact means GitHub assembled a downloadable test image. Build + protocol adds fixture or harness checks. Emulator boot + protocol also proves the real artifact reaches and renders its client screen. Emulator protocol executes message checks in Emu198x. Hardware labels are separate on purpose: a green software build does not prove voltage levels, timing, cabling, modem firmware, controls, or a complete game on the original machine.

Own one of these machines or adapters? Run the five-minute smoke test and report it. The form asks for reproducible, privacy-safe evidence and credits the exact hardware, firmware, client, and server revisions.

Writing one yourself

The specification is published in full, in its own repository along with the shared conformance fixtures — the message vectors a client checks itself against, so a new port can prove itself against the format before it ever reaches a real game.

Build pages linked above contain the current test artifacts where a repository uploads them. They expire with GitHub's artifact retention window. For the VIC-20, use the release downloads linked above.

If a machine you love is missing, it is missing because nobody has started it.

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