The ISEPIC cartridge reveals a clever piece of Commodore 64 history. In his latest video, The 8-Bit Guy demonstrates how this unique cartridge bypasses copy protection and saves the exact state of single-load games. From the first mention, ISEPIC cartridge is at the heart of this fascinating hardware demo. This cartridge was the first of its kind and was later followed by other notable snapshot cartridges like The Final Cartridge and Super Snapshot cartridges.
Copy Protection and the Cracker’s Dilemma
Copy-protected disks once posed headaches for C64 users. Standard crackers needed deep programming knowledge to remove these barriers. However, the ISEPIC cartridge changes the game by letting users capture the system’s RAM at any chosen moment. Instead of dissecting code, users could snapshot their machine right after the game loads, storing everything from memory content to processor status.
How the ISEPIC Cartridge Works
The ISEPIC cartridge relies on a simple 2 KB SRAM chip and clever logic, all packed into a small add-on for the C64. With a switch to make its RAM undetectable, it can store snapshot code safely, bypassing the risk of accidental overwrites by games or programs. When combined with the original ISEPIC software disk, users can prepare a disk, load a game, then capture the full machine state with a flick of the switch.
Real-World Demo: Ghostbusters on C64
David walks viewers through a complete demonstration using the classic Ghostbusters game. After preparing the disk and loading the ISEPIC software, he shows how to time the cartridge’s switch to capture the game’s state. The cartridge saves multiple files, including memory chunks and processor registers, letting users restart games exactly where they left off. In some cases, games can even load faster, as the usual copy protection routines get skipped.
Saving Progress and Breaking Protection
One highlight is the ability to save a game’s progress, even for games that lack built-in save features. If a player gets far in Donkey Kong, for example, they can save and resume their run the next day. For users looking to share or back up games, the “break” function converts snapshots into two clean files, free from copy protection and ready to copy or upload.
Limitations and Closing Thoughts
ISEPIC cartridge works best for single-load games that do not access the disk after loading. Multi-disk titles or those needing further disk access remain out of reach. Even so, this hardware remains a fascinating slice of C64 history, celebrated by fans who remember the ISEPIC logo from old BBS downloads.
Catch the full demonstration and see the ISEPIC cartridge in action by watching the video attached to this post.
