Z64K update adds hot-plug controller support and port swapping

Z64K’s June 25 update added a new gamepad implementation using jamepad, support for more than one game device, and the ability to hot connect or disconnect controllers while it was running for people running Commodore 64, Commodore 128, VIC-20, Spectrum 48/128K, or Atari 2600 software on a modern PC.

The most useful change is the one that keeps a session alive when hardware gets messy. If a game device is disconnected or not detected, Z64K now falls back to the default keyboard mapping selected in the settings menu for joystick emulation, instead of forcing a full stop to rebuild input assignments. The primary game device can also use its Start button to swap which emulated ports the controllers are mapped to, a small but welcome fix for couch setups, desk rigs, and quick demo swaps.

Z64K covers Atari 2600, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, VIC-20, and ZX Spectrum systems, and requires JRE 1.7 or better. On first run, it extracts native libraries into the same location as the jar file for gamepad support, keeping the setup tied to a standard Java install rather than a more specialized launcher path.

Z64K also exposes keyboard shortcuts and extended C128 key options for users who want a more authentic desktop-computer feel, and its command-line documentation lists modes for c64, c128, vic20, atari2600, zxspectrum, vsid, testbench, assembler, and portal. Earlier changelog entries include snapshots, gamepad support, and emulation fixes across C64, VIC 20, and Atari 2600 lines.