Posted yesterday, Peri Fractic claims to be buying Commodore. Details on YouTube here:

Let's Buy Commodore: Part 1

I haven't heard of Peri Fractic before coming across this video. So, I don't know how legitimate his claims are. What do people make of this? Peri claims to be wanting others involved in some capacity - as investors or collaborators. Assuming Peri is credible, is that something that A-EON, Hyperion and/or AmigaKit would be getting involved with?

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@jingof
We have been discussing the video in the RGL Maxi thread.

https://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=45449&forum=8&start=160&viewmode=flat&order=0

I believe Peri is legit and has been in communication with RGL, Michele Battilana and Commodore IP owners. That does not mean his business plans are credible. He seems like an emotional guy and good at evoking emotions in others but his plans maybe are not as well thought through. Maybe he can gain enough support to make something positive happen but restoring and sustaining Commodore so everyone is happy is not an easy task.

Last edited by matthey on 08-Jun-2025 at 04:48 AM.

@jingof

Quote:

Assuming Peri is credible, is that something that A-EON, Hyperion and/or AmigaKit would be getting involved with?

A flock of vultures

The whole idea of a "reboot" is either a sign of mental issues or a rather dumb scam.
Sounds pretty much like Fleecy's "KOSH" or the more recent David Pleasance attempt to build a paid for cult.

Everything that can be done for 8Bit C= (and to an extend for Amiga) has been done already. Plenty emulation in SW and HW, plenty "new" add on HW and SW for real C64s. Even a remade case for ITX mobos and a C= branded Linux distro.

So apart from mugs, posters and nicknacks what is he gonna bring to the table?

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@jingof

Pointless. Mike already owns the bulk of the C= IP except for the Commodore and C= trademarks. So if he really wanted to do this he could just give some money to Mike.

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Quote:

Kronos wrote: The whole idea of a "reboot" is either a sign of mental issues or a rather dumb scam.

I would like to believe somebody is making it as a kind of hobby.

Quote:

Kronos wrote: Everything that can be done for 8Bit C= (and to an extend for Amiga) has been done already.

True, everyone with 100k $ can setup/order a small production of PET / C64 inspired devices, money for the C= brands and names could only be useful for people who are more into brands than in technology.

@OneTimer1

Quote:

OneTimer1 wrote: [quote] I would like to believe somebody is making it as a kind of hobby.

Well then don't make megalomaniac claims of "bringing xxxx back".....

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@Kronos

Quote:

Kronos wrote: Well then don't make megalomaniac claims of "bringing xxxx back".....

I even saw Trevor's AmigaOne involvement as some kind of hobby, an expensive hobby with a high financial risk and amateurish efforts.

@OneTimer1

So "mental issue" is your guess

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- We don't need good ideas, we haven't run out on bad ones yet
- blame Canada

The Commodore brand certainly still attracts good interest, considering one hundred thousand views and over 1500 messages in a few hours.
That said, I struggle to understand the idea behind it, which seems to me more focused on the brand than on product ideas.

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@jingof

Way too much nostalgia driven. Only looks back to childhood days. C went bust and world moved on. Far, far on!
Sure, when looking back the 80ies and 90ies looked pretty nice, but a) actually it wasn‘t all gold that glittered and b) you cannot turn back time.
Today I don‘t see any room for C except some nostalgia equipment.
And nothing against nostalgia, but that‘s not moving forward.
Then again I do not care too much, as it just don‘t catches me.

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@matthey

I'll continue to answer what questions I can:

here

#6

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@thread

AmigaNews Article (German)

AmigaNews Article (English)

#6

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@Zylesea

Quote:

Way too much nostalgia driven. Only looks back to childhood days.

That may be true, but I don't see that as a negative. It's yet another form of entertainment and escapism, that appeals to a certain audience. And as such, that point isn't about "moving forward", any more than watching a movie or playing a video game is about moving forward.

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@thread

A rather quickly growing thread on Reddit:

Here

Some rather well informed posters historically speaking.

#6

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Mobileconnect Quote:

Pointless. Mike already owns the bulk of the C= IP except for the Commodore and C= trademarks. So if he really wanted to do this he could just give some money to Mike.

It makes sense to have as much retro IP as possible under one roof for the ease of of licensing. From license holders, Cloanto/Amiga Corporation have been offering reasonable licenses unlike Commodore Corporation BV. Mike buying the remaining Commodore IP for his one stop shop retro IP business with financing from others is reasonable. My Retro Computer Ltd (Commodore 64x guys) with supporters could invest in Mike's retro business and could receive a discounted Commodore IP license in return.

While Mike seems to be a good steward of retro IP, some structural changes of his financial/business entities in order to guarantee survival may be in order. Commodore/retro IP investors would want survival beyond Mike rather than the retro business disappearing and the retro IP being sold off again. One possibility would be to allow other stockholders in the business and perhaps require that stockholders have a right of first refusal to buy other stockholders shares when they are sold. A publicly traded business would likely survive too and an IPO could raise capital but it is more involved. Another option would be to set up some kind of foundation like the RPi Foundation with the primary goal of survival rather than profit. RPi Holdings (LON: RPI) was then created as a for profit business which sells the hardware. There are other options as well but survivability should be a concern.

Peri suggests My Retro Computer Ltd would buy the Commodore IP with him becoming the new CEO. While Peri claims they will license their Commodore IP to anyone meeting quality standards for a set license fee that will be used to resurrect Commodore, his vision sounds idealistic and utopian. There are potential conflicts of interest as the license fees could be used to subsidize Commodore x86 Linux after the debt is paid, which has little to do with the original C64 other than the brand name, a C64 case and a C64 Linux theme. It is right up there with the Atari VCS and perhaps worse than the AmigaNOne which at least retains the AmigaOS. I am suspicious of these hardware replacements that rely on branding and facades to legitimize their unfaithful hardware recreations. Sadly, it works for many people who do not understand and love the hardware, some of whom consider these attempts to be abominations. I would rather not see the remaining Commodore IP fully under the control of such people even though they likely have good intentions.

OneTimer1 Quote:

True, everyone with 100k $ can setup/order a small production of PET / C64 inspired devices, money for the C= brands and names could only be useful for people who are more into brands than in technology.

The original C64 (and Atari 8-bit) hardware is simple, limited and difficult to upgrade while retaining compatibility. Faithful recreations with limited enhancements are possible with minimal investment/capital using a FPGA. The branding and facade treatment is a form of hardware bait and switch which limits brand resurrection and continuation. The Amiga is different as it is possible to modernize the 68k, chipset and AmigaOS which should be good for at least very low priced small footprint devices like the RPi. However, the modernization requires more investment/capital than a small FPGA device or C64 x86 Linux box. Modernizing the 68k Amiga requires cooperation for one big development effort that could achieve economies of scale with mass production rather than many small projects that lack economies of scale to push down prices. The nice thing about a 68k Amiga effort with faithful hardware is that more people would be supportive unlike with the AmigaNOne and Atari VCS failures which rely on branding and facades but still failed. A modernized 68k hardware could easily support other retro chipsets and provide more faithful hardware than is available for 68k retro systems while further improving economies of scale. Peri says the Amiga is part of the plans for obtaining the remaining Commodore IP but is their plan another reskinned x86 Linux device for the Amiga when the Amiga is different and we can have better?

OneTimer1 Quote:

I even saw Trevor's AmigaOne involvement as some kind of hobby, an expensive hobby with a high financial risk and amateurish efforts.

A guaranteed loss is not high financial risk but charity. Trevor's attempt to corner and control the Amiga market, keeping competitors out and attempting to force Amiga users to buy his noncompetitive unfaithful hardware is not charity though.

andres Quote:

The Commodore brand certainly still attracts good interest, considering one hundred thousand views and over 1500 messages in a few hours. That said, I struggle to understand the idea behind it, which seems to me more focused on the brand than on product ideas.

The Commodore and Amiga brands are still valuable and Peri is good at marketing the nostalgia. Many of the comments are emotional responses. Peri's idea does seem to be too brand focused but a product like the Commodore 64x depends on it.

@matthey

In addition to the Reddit thread, there are also recent replies by Peri in the vid comment section.

Quote:

I love MorphOS. We would want to do much more than that though with a new Amiga.

#6

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@thread

Tom's Hardware:

Commodore shocks retro TechTuber with option to buy 'the whole company

#6

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@number6

Quote:

number6 wrote: Quote: I love MorphOS. We would want to do much more than that though with a new Amiga. #6

Pipedreams I‘d say. In recend 30 years every now and then some pplpopped up who wanted to conquer the world based on Commo heritage. None succeeded, not even remotely.

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I always thought the Commodore name was the weakest link for the Amiga. People thought it was like a C64 which is wasn't. I was glad when the Amiga was separated from Commodore. In the end Commodore became the Amiga's greatest liability instead of an asset. Commodore never seemed to know what to do with the Amiga or its unique strengths. Also, they allowed plenty of time for Apple and Microsoft to catch up. Commodore should have let the innovations keep coming and coming so no-one could catch up.

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#6 Quote:

In addition to the Reddit thread, there are also recent replies by Peri in the vid comment section. Quote: I love MorphOS. We would want to do much more than that though with a new Amiga.

Peri is a super Amiga fan but no details and the Amiga does not need Commodore branding. Is the idea for investing and crowd sourcing to buy the remaining Commodore IP or to raise more for other projects and charity? Is the 6.4% royalty to sustain the Commodore IP or pay for other projects and charity? Does My Retro Computer Ltd pay a 6.4% royalty to subsidize new projects and charities or are they subsidized from others paying the 6.4% royalty? Is is dangerous to raise expectations with no idea of funding or budgets? Is Peri planning, prioritizing and focusing financing and efforts where needed? Does Peri seem like more of a business CEO or marketing type of person?

The people responding positively with comments to the video are mostly emotionally motivated. More logical people and critical thinkers are skeptical. Commodore fans want to believe but Peri is creating unrealistic expectations far beyond acquiring the remaining Commodore IP. Peri is a charismatic marketing type of person and a big Commodore and Amiga fan but I am not persuaded to invest with him as CEO. I do not like the idea of My Retro Computer Ltd holding the remaining Commodore IP. I would rather see as much of the Commodore and Amiga IP available from one reasonable source with sustainability in mind.

DiscreetFX Quote:

I always thought the Commodore name was the weakest link for the Amiga. People thought it was like a C64 which is wasn't. I was glad when the Amiga was separated from Commodore. In the end Commodore became the Amiga's greatest liability instead of an asset. Commodore never seemed to know what to do with the Amiga or its unique strengths. Also, they allowed plenty of time for Apple and Microsoft to catch up. Commodore should have let the innovations keep coming and coming so no-one could catch up.

I have mixed feelings about the Commodore brand as many Amiga users do. The "Commodore Amiga" is practically two brands and the Amiga brand is better for the Amiga because Commodore failed so bad with the years ahead of its time Amiga. The original Amiga Corporation and developers are seen as the pioneers and Commodore as stagnating and mucking up the Amiga. However, many Amiga users were previous Commodore users and Commodore 8-bit computers only have one brand, Commodore. I would not pay 1% royalty to add Commodore branding to the Amiga let alone 6.4% royalty which seems steep, especially for low end hardware like the RPi. ARM royalties are less and offer more value except for a 68k Amiga where they can also be avoided for a cost advantage.