Overlays - do you use them?

[+atari2600land]

I am wondering if anyone actually uses the overlays for the Intellivision controllers. Mine are stored in a plastic baggy. They fell once and scattered all over the place. Just now I decided to alphabetize them. I find them more like a trading card than something to slip over the controller so it's not naked. I look at the overlay, memorize what number on the keypad does what, and then just play the game. I find that if I ever finish my Celery intellivision game, it won't even need an overlay because none of the buttons do anything.

[+cvga]

I use them for some of the games. Lots of games either don't really need them or I have the overlays memorized.

[+fdr4prez]

I am wondering if anyone actually uses the overlays for the Intellivision controllers. Mine are stored in a plastic baggy. They fell once and scattered all over the place. Just now I decided to alphabetize them. I find them more like a trading card than something to slip over the controller so it's not naked. I look at the overlay, memorize what number on the keypad does what, and then just play the game. I find that if I ever finish my Celery intellivision game, it won't even need an overlay because none of the buttons do anything.

 

I rarely use them, too, or have them resting near me for a quick reference guide while playing. But if you play your favorite games often enough you remember what is what

 

For storing your overlays, if you haven't seen this other thread discussion, please do so:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/255116-anyone-have-ideas-how-to-store-an-overlay-collection/?p=3557244

[+intvsteve]

Most of the games that needed overlays are ones I played the *hit out of and muscle memory still works!

 

As age and addle-brainedness sets in, I just set the overlay on the floor next to me to refer to if needed.

[spacecadet]

I use em nowadays if I have them, because I don't remember how to play most of the games I own anymore. In the old days I played the crap out of most of my games so pretty quickly I didn't need them anymore. I usually did use them for a while, though, until I knew what I was doing.

 

Personally I see them now as kind of "controller protectors" - like a screen protector on a phone or something. I've seen a lot of controllers that were just trashed, and the overlays keep that from happening so much.

[The Eyeball Mural]

Back in the day I always used the overlays, even if they were superfluous. Buying an Intellivision game back then that didn't include overlays always felt like a rip-off. I sometimes made homemade overlays using medium-weight paper, markers and laminating film.

 

These days I use them whenever possible, but my overlay collection is small (something I hope to improve). I agree that they make good controller protectors, as well as adding enjoyment to the gaming experience.

[+BBWW]

I use them when I need them...

[+Lathe26]

I place them next to me so that I can refer to them but I don't put them in the controller.

[wolfy62]

I don't use them, I may look at them occasionally for reference, but I love to collect them because they are pretty and a great part of the Intellivision history!

 

Does any other system even have them anyway?

[TrekMD]

They look great and I don't want to damage them but I do use some as there are games that really need them. To answer Wolfy, yes the 5200 and the Jaguar both use overlays but not for all games.

[+DZ-Jay]

I use them.

[m-crew]

I use them just to make it a complete game experance, just like I did back when.

[xSeriesMan]

I use them if I have then. I have lost a few over the years. They still remind me of gameplay but like "m-crew" I think it makes the game experience more complete.

Edited August 20, 2016 by xSeriesMan

[+cmart604]

I place them next to me so that I can refer to them but I don't put them in the controller.

This.

[+cmart604]

I am wondering if anyone actually uses the overlays for the Intellivision controllers. Mine are stored in a plastic baggy. They fell once and scattered all over the place. Just now I decided to alphabetize them. I find them more like a trading card than something to slip over the controller so it's not naked. I look at the overlay, memorize what number on the keypad does what, and then just play the game. I find that if I ever finish my Celery intellivision game, it won't even need an overlay because none of the buttons do anything.

Not needing an overlay for gameplay is one thing....having Inty collectors not lose their minds might be a reason to make sure it includes them. Lol.

[+the1hatman]

I have extra sets for the games I still play often. Like m-crew, I prefer to have the full old school experience and play with the overlays actually in the controllers. For the games where I do not have extra overlays, I keep one out on the side in case I need to reference it.

[wolfy62]

They look great and I don't want to damage them but I do use some as there are games that really need them. To answer Wolfy, yes the 5200 and the Jaguar both use overlays but not for all games.

Yea, I did remember the 5200 ones, but they were so weak I didn't count them.

 

The Jaquar I never owned, so thank you so much, I appreciate the info!

[+DZ-Jay]

I don't use the overlays because I need them; I use them because it enhances the retro-immersion.

 

I always try to put at least one, if not both, on the console whenever I play a game, and sometimes I review the manual, or just have it lying around the console for extra retro-coolness.

 

dZ.

[mr_me]

I've heard Keith Robinson say that once you learn a game you dont need the overlays. But games like Treasure of Tarmin, B17 Bomber, Space Spartans, Bomb Squad, Sea Battle ( i suppose nobody plays thar anymore), Utopia, Sub Hunt, Space Battle are some of the games that might be hard to remember. I suppose if you play alot you could have them all memorised but I cant even remember the colours in Space Battle.

 

Baseball is better without the overlays; you can feel the buttons so not to make a mistake. Some say with Sea Battle the sound of pressing through the overlay gives away laying a mine. I use to use that to my advantage laying false mines.

 

Edit:

Mattel had a policy of overlays for everything even if the keypad was not used. INTV had a policy of design games that dont use the keypad. Some of third party games lack of consistency starting games using different keypad buttons was frustrating.

Edited August 20, 2016 by mr_me

[freewheel]

Making me look away from my input device of any sort is bad, bad, bad. It's not quite as bad as covering up my display with my fat fingers (damn you touchscreen!) but it's close.

 

We really just need to agree on an acceptable button mapping for using an Xbox/PS controller, and have all new games coded to take that into account. Oh, and nurmix to make some crazy adapters.

[+DZ-Jay]

Making me look away from my input device of any sort is bad, bad, bad.

Horses for courses... *shrug*

[+JasonlikesINTV]

I have extra sets for the games I still play often. Like m-crew, I prefer to have the full old school experience and play with the overlays actually in the controllers. For the games where I do not have extra overlays, I keep one out on the side in case I need to reference it.

I do this. I have spare, slightly worn overlays I use for actually playing games like AD&D, Utopia, Night Stalker, Deadly Discs, etc. I keep my primary copies mint, though.

[freewheel]

Horses for courses... *shrug*

 

For sure. Some people love taking their eyes off the road to change the radio station because it's all modern; I'm just eternally grateful that they at least left tactile buttons on the steering wheels (for now).

 

At least with the Intellivision there are enough strategy type games that it's feasible to look away from the screen and not risk dying.

[+DZ-Jay]

 

For sure. Some people love taking their eyes off the road to change the radio station because it's all modern; I'm just eternally grateful that they at least left tactile buttons on the steering wheels (for now).

 

At least with the Intellivision there are enough strategy type games that it's feasible to look away from the screen and not risk dying.

Ha! Ha! Because I enjoy the nostalgia inspired by experiencing games in the same manner I did as a child, I must be doing it because I enjoy distractions and would probably drive and text too.

 

It's so cool that you are so quick to judge. You must be a hoot at parties.

 

Could we just keep this as people sharing their personal preferences without having to declare who is "right" or "wrong"?

 

dZ.

Edited August 20, 2016 by DZ-Jay

[jaybird3rd]

I place them next to me so that I can refer to them but I don't put them in the controller.

Me, too. I agree with Keith Robinson's view that the overlays are unnecessary once you've learned the controls; all that's needed is to keep them handy until that happens. I want to keep my overlays in good shape, so I generally don't use them in the controller; instead, I store them in one of these:

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FVJDV2//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=atariage&linkId=5359d0aa9753f6b524277b8683f32927

 

The pouches in this binder are the perfect size for Intellivision overlays, and they work well with Atari 5200 overlays, too. If I need to refer to an overlay, I just flip to the corresponding page. I've got one of my complete Intellivision Flashback sets (60 pairs of overlays total) in there now, together with some third-party and licensed game overlays not included in that set, and together they take up about six pages (both sides) out of the twenty that are included. More than enough room for growth.