C64 Moondust
Play 'Moondust' on C64 online.
Moondust game data
Commodore 64 game name: Moondust | Release date:
1983 |
Publisher: Creative Software |
Game media type: crt |
Language: en
User rating of this C64 game (you can also rate it under the C64 emulator):
About Commodore 64 Moondust
Moondust is a generative music video game created in 1983 for the Commodore 64 by virtual reality pioneer Jaron Lanier. Known for its graphical complexity and abstract ambient score, Moondust features a unique gameplay style. The player’s goal is to cover the bullseye at the center of the screen with “moonjuice.” To achieve this, they control a spaceman named Jose Scriabin (inspired by synesthetic composer Alexander Scriabin). Jose drops a seed square and then moves in arcing paths to spread the moonjuice by running over the seed. As Jose moves, both his flight patterns and those of bullet-shaped spaceships (which must be avoided) create visual trails. These trails, combined with the spreading moonjuice, dynamically modify the game’s musical score through a generative algorithm. The scoring system assigns points based on the player’s performance at the end of each level, and players can start with three seeds, potentially earning more with high scores.
The game offers four modes: Beginner, Evasive, Freestyle, and Spinsanity. In Beginner mode, the seeds stay where they are dropped, while in Evasive mode, they move toward the edge of the screen, trying to escape. Freestyle mode enhances control over Jose by removing momentum, linking his movements directly to the joystick input. In Spinsanity mode, spaceships follow a spiral pattern, making it harder for players to smear the seeds. Moondust has been compared to the works of game designer Jeff Minter for its innovative and abstract design.
Here you can find the original C64 MoonDust user manual.
In order to play Moondust online, click on the start button located below the Commodore 64 emulator window.
This file type doesn't support auto Joystick port detection. Please choose 'Joystick Swap Ports' if needed.
Moondust C64 keyboard mapping
When you start a game, each joystick port is automatically turned on. Sometimes this causes a problem as the joystick port is mapped to the keys below. If a game uses these keys, you need to turn off the joystick ports.
C64 emulator joystick - keyboard mappings| DIRECTION | JOYSTICK 1 | JOYSTICK 2 |
|---|---|---|
| LEFT | A | CURSOR LEFT |
| RIGHT | D | CURSOR RIGHT |
| UP | W | CURSOR UP |
| DOWN | S | CURSOR DOWN |
| FIRE | LEFT / RIGHT CTRL | LEFT / RIGHT SHIFT |