Coleco Gemini difficulty switches reversed?

[DrSidneyZweibel]

Hi all,

 

So I recently picked up a Coleco Gemini at a local retro game store. It works 100%. I had to reflow solder on the power jack and right controller port, but otherwise it's fine.

 

However, I did notice one odd behavior - the difficulty switches are reversed - meaning A is B and B is A, according to the labels on the console front. I had one of these when I was a kid, and don't remember this being the case, but that was 35 years ago.

 

Has anyone else ever noticed this? It's not a big deal, obviously, since I just need remember to use the reverse setting of what a 2600 would, but just curious if this is common with these, or I got an oddball console.

[up2knowgood]

I don't know what counts as "reversed" because I down own a 4 Switch Atari currently, but on my Gemini, A is left, and B is right.

[DrSidneyZweibel]

B is supposed to be easy, A is supposed to be difficult.

 

On my Gemini, that is reversed.

 

I confirmed this with several Activision carts, and with my Harmony cart.

[up2knowgood]

Interesting. Well, mine is a Canadian model, wonder if that makes a difference.

[alex_79]

B is supposed to be easy, A is supposed to be difficult.

 

 

While that was initially the intended behaviour, some games have it reversed, or use the difficulty switches for different functions.

(the switches are just inputs like joystick directions and button, and the code in the game determines if and how react to them)

Try "Space Invaders". You should have large cannon with the switch set to "A" and normal one with the switch set to "B".

If it's the opposite with your console, then the switches are indeed reversed.

[DrSidneyZweibel]

I'm not asking if they are reversed. I know they are. As I explained, I already tested it with games I know to be different on the 2600/7800. In particular - barnstorming, with it set to b, it is in difficult mode where the barn entrances are smaller/shorter. With is set to a, the openings are larger, to the top of the roof.

 

What I'm asking is if this is common behavior for a Gemini, or if mine is different.

[Flojomojo]

The Coleco Gemini manual is very vague! "Use the switches to change the difficulty. Refer to your game instructions for more detail."

[DrSidneyZweibel]

I have to say though - the Unmodded RF output of this Gemini on a this year's model Sharp 4k 55" is actually quite outstanding. At the shop I bought it from I jokingly told the guy "I'll probably just AV mod it anyway". But it really doesn't need it. It's clean as a whistle. Colors are better and brighter than my Composite modded 7800. occasionally there's a little bit of RF noise on scanlines, but nothing terrible.