Earlier this month, we detailed an update for the Commodore 64 iPhone app that developer Manomio had been busy working on for the past several months. This update would bring some much needed control optimizations both to the overall functionality of games and added flexibility for specific titles that would need more than a standard control stick and button setup. And of course, a nice selection of new downloadable titles would be included in this update as well.

As of earlier today, the update has gone live in the App Store. Here is the list of features from the App Store description:

• NEW – Lots of new games, including Last Ninja series, International Karate, Armalyte and Druid
• IMPROVED – Upgraded to OpenFeint 2.5
• IMPROVED – Reimplementation of control layout system, to support the complex controls scenarios for games like The Last Ninja
• IMPROVED – Display OF notifications at top rather than bottom
• IMPROVED – Removed bottom bar in full-screen landscape to prevent obscuring screen in games like Wizball
• NEW – Fixed-mode joystick in landscape mode, automatically selected for specific games
• NEW – Option to force fixed-mode joystick in landscape mode for all games
• FIX – Borders correctly drawn in landscape (Wizball)
• FIX – Corrected dead zone area at side of screen in landscape, rendering controls unresponsive
• NEW – Added grouping to In App Store to separate downloaded / purchases
• IMPROVED – Hi-res icons added for retina and iPad displays
• NEW – Option to adjust dead zone / sensitivity of joystick
• IMPROVED – Shop now separates downloaded games

I’ve given the update a spin and can really tell the improvement in controls across all of the games that I tried. I’m especially fond of being able to adjust the dead zone of the control stick, as that has been a point of frustration for me when playing certain games before. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, not every new game is available in the in-game store. Apparently the problem lies on Apple’s end at the moment, and developer Stuart Carnie has stated in our forums that he contacted Apple to correct the situation, and is hoping to have the games become available in the next few days.

Until then, definitely make sure to update your C64 for iPhone app to take advantage of the revamped controls, as well as the other tweaks and optimizations contained within.