Albert Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 What's the best way to play games on a real Atari 8-bit computer? While emulation is fine and dandy, I'd really like to play games on a physical computer on a nice CRT television (of which I have many, to say nothing of the tons of Commodore 1702s I own). I currently have a stock Atari 800XL setup, but I have many other 8-bits as well (400s, 800s, 800XLs, 1200XLs, 130XE, etc). I guess the first question would be, which 8-bit is ideal? Next question is, best way to get the games onto the 8-bit to fire them up? I do have a SiDE2 cart that uses a Compact Flash card.. It's nice, but all my computers have SD card slots now, and I have to hunt down a CF card reader to load files onto it. Curious to hear about others' setups. Thanks! ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erichenneke Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 I recently bought one of these and it has been working out great. Cheap and flexible solution to the SD vs. CF flash issue. DIGIGEAR SLIM CF Adapter : SD... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XO2KSEO?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 That's handy, I've added that to my shopping cart, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 (edited) I've found that I enjoy A8 games the best with a couple of big sandwiches, chicken noodle soup, and some kind of chips or other crunchy snacks. It's also nice to enjoy with a bottle of wine or a few beers. Edited January 22, 2019 by MrFish 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Cade Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 (edited) I use a (homemade) composite-modded and RAM-upgraded 600XL with a dual-switched stock ROM and Hias hi-speed ROM for the OS. It's the smallest and most compatible. It could be further upgraded to S-video, but I haven't done that. The composite is pretty clear as it is on a Sony PVM. For storage, either a SIO2USB, SIO2SD (the newer Max version using the Arduino sheild) or my old compact SIO2SD someone made me a long time ago. With the hi-speed OS, I never really saw a reason to go to the cartridge storage solutions. I imagine they are faster... I had a first-gen MyIDE cartridge, but it was very unstable for me. Edited January 22, 2019 by R.Cade 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 I've found that I enjoy A8 games the best with a couple of big sandwiches, chicken noodle soup, and some kind of chips or other crunchy snacks. It's also nice to enjoy with a bottle of wine or a few bears. LOL, what kind of sandwiches? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 What's the best way to play games on a real Atari 8-bit computer? While emulation is fine and dandy, I'd really like to play games on a physical computer on a nice CRT television (of which I have many, to say nothing of the tons of Commodore 1702s I own). I currently have a stock Atari 800XL setup, but I have many other 8-bits as well (400s, 800s, 800XLs, 1200XLs, 130XE, etc). I guess the first question would be, which 8-bit is ideal? Next question is, best way to get the games onto the 8-bit to fire them up? I do have a SiDE2 cart that uses a Compact Flash card.. It's nice, but all my computers have SD card slots now, and I have to hunt down a CF card reader to load files onto it. Curious to hear about others' setups. Thanks! ..Al You're using the SIDE2 with a U1MB modded 800XL for ATRs and roms or just stock 800XL with roms only? I believe SIO2PC (SIO2USB?) and SDrive Max are the only two to read cassette game files, but they don't read ROMS or xex's. So, I have an Ultimate SD Cart, an SIO2PC and an SDrive Max. SIO2PC is nice, because it has the file system access flexibility of a PC, but you are tied to the PC. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 I've found that I enjoy A8 games the best with a couple of big sandwiches, chicken noodle soup, and some kind of chips or other crunchy snacks. It's also nice to enjoy with a bottle of wine or a few bears. What do the bears do? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 I use a composite-modded and RAM-upgraded 600XL with a dual-switched stock ROM and Hias hi-speed ROM for the OS. It's the smallest and most compatible. It could be further upgraded to S-video, but I haven't done that. The composite is pretty clear as it is on a Sony PVM. For storage, either a SIO2USB, SIO2SD (the Max version using the Arduino sheild) or my old compact SIO2SD someone made a long time ago. With the hi-speed OS, I never really saw a reason to go to the cartridge storage solutions. I imagine they are faster... I had a first-gen MyIDE cartridge, but it was very unstable for me. I'm a big fan of S-Video, so I'd definitely like to have that as an option, both for the televisions and the Commodore 1702s. Composite is certainly better than RF, but S-Video is nicer still. An SIO2USB and/or SIO2SD would be nice.. I don't mind using a cart solution (which I expect is fastest), but being able to connect to the computer would be nice, rather than having to futz with an SD or CF card every time you want to load new software that's not already on the card. ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 You're using the SIDE2 with a U1MB modded 800XL for ATRs and roms or just stock 800XL with roms only? I believe SIO2PC (SIO2USB?) and SDrive Max are the only two to read cassette game files, but they don't read ROMS or xex's. So, I have an Ultimate SD Cart, an SIO2PC and an SDrive Max. SIO2PC is nice, because it has the file system access flexibility of a PC, but you are tied to the PC. Just a stock 800XL at the moment. What are the advantages to upgrading? I assume with SIO2PC I would only be able to use it with Windows? That would be more of a pain for me, since I predominantly use Macs. I have some PCs, as well as VMs that run Windows, but that's outside my normal work flow. Thanks, ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Cade Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 (edited) I'm a big fan of S-Video, so I'd definitely like to have that as an option, both for the televisions and the Commodore 1702s. Composite is certainly better than RF, but S-Video is nicer still. An SIO2USB and/or SIO2SD would be nice.. I don't mind using a cart solution (which I expect is fastest), but being able to connect to the computer would be nice, rather than having to futz with an SD or CF card every time you want to load new software that's not already on the card. ..Al I have a little USB to serial board that I glued into an SIO shell, so it just has a USB micro port right on the plug. I plug in my phone charger on my desk to the 600XL and fire up RespQT and it's ready to go... Eight drives point and click. I think S-Video onto the 600 XL is just a couple of resistors more than I have... should be a 30 minute add-on. As it is now, I just tapped onto the composite signal going to the RF box and amplified it a little with a transistor. Edited January 22, 2019 by R.Cade 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 What do the bears do? Yikes! That sounds dangerous; better scratch that idea. Haha... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 LOL, what kind of sandwiches? Ah... too many to name. Sandwiches are one of the best inventions on the planet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 I'm a big fan of S-Video, so I'd definitely like to have that as an option, both for the televisions and the Commodore 1702s. Composite is certainly better than RF, but S-Video is nicer still. An SIO2USB and/or SIO2SD would be nice.. I don't mind using a cart solution (which I expect is fastest), but being able to connect to the computer would be nice, rather than having to futz with an SD or CF card every time you want to load new software that's not already on the card. ..Al I know people who have used a WiFi SD card that will allow you to copy files to and from an SD card from your computer by WiFi in the Ultimate SD cart. Not sure if this magical SD card is Mac compatible. Ultimate is only roms/XEXs/car?. It may also work with the SDrive Max, though. Not sure. I will try and check. Just a stock 800XL at the moment. What are the advantages to upgrading? I assume with SIO2PC I would only be able to use it with Windows? That would be more of a pain for me, since I predominantly use Macs. I have some PCs, as well as VMs that run Windows, but that's outside my normal work flow. Thanks, ..Al A memory upgrade will allow you to play a lot of the disk/cassette games converted to roms/xex's larger than 64kb, which is nice if you don't have a 130XE. The U1MB has SIDE firmware that allows you to load ATRs from the SIDE2 cart to your atari 8-bit. Mac's have become a bit foreign to me now, so not sure. I think about getting one, since I have an iphone and apple watch, but it would be like moving to a foreign country after 25 years of PC. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talanthalus Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 I have about 30 actual cartridges in case one of those interests me. Additionally, I have about 100 physical 5.25" disks full of stuff I'm going through. I did invest in the Ultimate cart for an SD card to load with downloadable software, which I've played with some, and I have added the SDrive-Max to the collection with the hopes of backing up floppies to other media, so I can store them away again and access the content on demand. There are advantages to each, I suppose. Fortunately for me, I have been carrying around a reasonable collection of hardware and software for decades, so a fair amount is already available to me on all original hardware and media without having to jump through a bunch of hoops, but preservation of old content and portability of new onto the Atari have me working with some of the other solutions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 (edited) I do have a SiDE2 cart that uses a Compact Flash card.. It's nice, but all my computers have SD card slots now, and I have to hunt down a CF card reader to load files onto it. Two things: Make sure you update to the newest version of the SIDE Loader. Get yourself a CF/SD adapter, and then you can use SD cards in the SIDE cart too. Let me know if you want to go for the CF/SD adapter, since you need to choose the correct one (but they're cheap and available on eBay). Edited January 22, 2019 by flashjazzcat 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 ^this the cfcard adapters are pretty much hit n miss. don't buy the cheap ones - they're not exactly sturdy and more or less disintegrate inside after a few insertions (oooer) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 Two things: Make sure you update to the newest version of the SIDE Loader. Get yourself a CF/SD adapter, and then you can use SD cards in the SIDE cart too. Let me know if you want to go for the CF/SD adapter, since you need to choose the correct one (but they're cheap and available on eBay). Thanks for the advice, I'll make sure to update the SIDE2 firmware. There was a CF/SD adapter recommended above, but if you want to point me to others, that would be great. Definitely will buy one. ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magic Knight Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 I'm a big fan of S-Video, so I'd definitely like to have that as an option, both for the televisions and the Commodore 1702s. Composite is certainly better than RF, but S-Video is nicer still. Hi Albert, this s-video mod takes about a couple of minutes to do if you just wire straight off the motherboard to the monitor port. See here: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/286982-make-your-own-s-video-for-your-8-bit-card-easily-and-quickly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Robot Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 I'm going to say an Ultimate Cart and a RAM upgrade in a 800XL (preferably PAL) is the best/most compatible way to play games on a real Atari, a Stereo upgrade is a nice to have as is some kind on PAL/NTSC switch (AntiX?) and a S-VHS upgrade like UAV. This will give you maximum compatibility with newer games too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 There was a CF/SD adapter recommended above, but if you want to point me to others, that would be great. Definitely will buy one. I can't personally speak for the adapter mentioned above, but this is the one which I tested extensively with SIDE2 and the XEL-CF last year: eBay Auction -- Item Number: 192369777289 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 I'm a big fan of S-Video, so I'd definitely like to have that as an option, both for the televisions and the Commodore 1702s. Composite is certainly better than RF, but S-Video is nicer still. An SIO2USB and/or SIO2SD would be nice.. I don't mind using a cart solution (which I expect is fastest), but being able to connect to the computer would be nice, rather than having to futz with an SD or CF card every time you want to load new software that's not already on the card. ..Al The ultimate S-Video solution is Bryan's Ultimate Audio-Video Mod (UAV), IMHO. Whoever does the installation, make sure the mod board fits good and tight in the old IC socket or replace the socket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 I'm going to say an Ultimate Cart and a RAM upgrade in a 800XL (preferably PAL) is the best/most compatible way to play games on a real Atari, a Stereo upgrade is a nice to have as is some kind on PAL/NTSC switch (AntiX?) and a S-VHS upgrade like UAV. This will give you maximum compatibility with newer games too. What's the advantage to running in PAL? Are there are quite a few games that only support PAL? I'd then need a proper monitor that can display PAL, something I was looking to do anyway for other reasons. Definitely need a RAM upgrade of some sort, if I'm going to stick with the 800XL (my first computer was an 800XL, so I'm a bit keen on them--I upgraded that one to 256K back in the day). And absolutely will get S-Video output one way or another. ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 The ultimate S-Video solution is Bryan's Ultimate Audio-Video Mod (UAV), IMHO. Whoever does the installation, make sure the mod board fits good and tight in the old IC socket or replace the socket. I'll ask Bryan about that, I've heard good things about his UAV board. ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share Posted January 22, 2019 Hi Albert, this s-video mod takes about a couple of minutes to do if you just wire straight off the motherboard to the monitor port. See here: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/286982-make-your-own-s-video-for-your-8-bit-card-easily-and-quickly That would be easy enough if I could get one of those boards. I'd probably install an S-Video jack, though. ..Al 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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