The Force Awakens: LOAD "ORIGIN",8,1: The Commodore 64

By Mark Dorsi

When my parents brought home a Commodore 64, I didn't just get a computer. I got a portal to another galaxy. Sitting cross-legged in front of that beige keyboard, the cathode-ray glow filling the room, I felt like Luke Skywalker staring at twin suns,on the edge of something bigger than myself.

It was more than games and BASIC programs. Somewhere in those early experiments, I started wondering: what if I could make something only I could see? What if I could hide my words, my thoughts, in plain sight,encrypted like a Jedi holocron? I had no idea at the time that those playful questions about secrecy would become the foundation of a career in security and encryption.

And yet, for all that seriousness, there was joy too. The purr of the C2N Datasette or the whir of a 1541 disk drive was as thrilling to me as the hum of a lightsaber. The screen's blue border was my Millennium Falcon, jumping me into hyperspace every time I typed LOAD "*",8,1. Each keystroke was rebellion against limitation,a way to explore, to build, to imagine.

Computers for the Masses, Not the Classes

Commodore's famous tagline was "Computers for the masses, not the classes." That line wasn't just marketing,it was truth. My parents weren't technologists, they weren't wealthy, but they believed in giving me access to the future. And that access changed everything.

Decades later, that spark still follows me. Just the other day I spotted a Commodore 64 t-shirt and bought it without hesitation. Wearing it feels like carrying a piece of the Rebellion on my chest. And then, almost as if the Force itself was winking back at me, I saw the news: Commodore is back.

The Return of Commodore

On July 31, 2025, Commodore International Corporation finalized the acquisition of Commodore Corporation B.V., securing 47 original trademarks dating back to 1983. Under acting CEO Christian "Peri Fractic" Simpson, the team relaunched efforts at Commodore.net, positioning the brand as "The Digital Detox Brand™" with a mission to "honor the past, innovate the future™". Their first new release, the Commodore 64 Ultimate, is an FPGA-based reimagining of that classic machine, complete with faithful beige models and futuristic "Starlight" editions.

Of course, like any galactic saga, the Commodore revival isn't without conflict. Rights to C64 ROMs and Amiga assets remain scattered across different holders, and trademark disputes echo like skirmishes between rival factions. But the larger story shines through: a legendary brand returning to the fight, wielding nostalgia and innovation in equal measure.

Full Circle

And now, decades later, I've created something in tribute to that very first spark: the C64 Arcade. It's a nostalgic project created in honor of those early gaming experiences that shaped me as a 9-year-old budding security professional,where I first experimented with encrypting things so only I could see them. The arcade carries the same Commodore 64 soul, right down to playful quirks and a screen that feels lifted from that beige keyboarded world.

For me, it feels like a full-circle moment. That little kid on the floor, dreaming of secret codes and hidden messages, now works every day on security, building safer digital worlds. And the machine that started it all? It's back in the fight too, reminding us that technology can still carry wonder, play, and rebellion in its circuits.

In the end, the Commodore 64 wasn't just a computer. It was my first X-wing, my first lightsaber, my first glimpse into a future where imagination and security could coexist. And as Commodore rises again, I can't help but smile: the Force was with us all along. I can't wait to return to my folks house and power it up.

A Call to Future Founders

That vision I first glimpsed as a 9-year-old , a world where technology is accessible, empowering, and filled with possibility , is one I still hold near and dear today. To the founders and dreamers who are shaping tomorrow: I encourage you to reach out and grab some time with me. Together we can spark the next wave of startups that build "computers for the masses, not the classes," and make this world a better place , one conversation at a time.

And most of all , thank you to my parents, who made it possible for me to rise from the masses and learn from all of life's classes.

#Commodore64 #RetroComputing #Cybersecurity #Encryption #OriginStory #TechJourney #Nostalgia #ComputingForTheMasses