754 replies to this topic

[n8littlefield]

Why the USB Host port, and not a 5-pin Mini USB for downloading from a computer?

(Or am I just seeing that wrong?)

I was wondering the exact same thing myself.

It's even neater looking than I expected though - it's so little!

[werejag]

where is the extra pins port? the one you talked about for cart slot expansion?

[128bytes]

okay, here are some shots of the first article sample unit...



Curt

Wow! Very impressive looking. Love the regular size orange fire button!

[Curt Vendel]

Answers to most of the posed questions -

The expansion port was going to be for an external dongle to plug controllers into the unit, it seemed better to just put actual db9's right onto the unit.

The difficulties are there, you just dont see them through the sample case in this unit.

The USB will be a mini-connector in the final version.

There was never going to be any kind of cart slot on this unit since all the games load via USB into it.


Curt

where is the extra pins port? the one you talked about for cart slot expansion?

[n8littlefield]

Very nice - is there any way that the built in pad will have some type of paddle support or will we need to hook up external controllers for that?

[werejag]

limited memory, no cart pins this thing is looking up. is there a av cable? probly not

[n8littlefield]

limited memory, no cart pins this thing is looking up. is there a av cable? probly not

Limited memory? Exactly how much memory to you think you need for 2600 roms?

[werejag]

from my understanding this will only have 2 meg of memory. way less then i would expect. which is atleast 16-32 meg

[Nathan Strum]

I know it's waaaay too late for this but a small thumb-wheel (like a volume control) built into the side would have made for a nice way to add paddle support.

[mos6507]

from my understanding this will only have 2 meg of memory. way less then i would expect. which is atleast 16-32 meg

Yes, it's tiny by today's standards but 2megs is about 500 4K ROMs. That's not so bad. I would think most people actually enjoy fewer than 500 games in the 2600 catalog.

[mos6507]

I know it's waaaay too late for this but a small thumb-wheel (like a volume control) built into the side would have made for a nice way to add paddle support.

It should be possible to add something aftermarket for this. The signals are there.

[mimo]

the fire button is on the wrong side

looks like that will have to be the first mod

[mos6507]

limited memory, no cart pins this thing is looking up. is there a av cable? probly not

Does it really have no way to access the cart signals, period? I don't think so. I'd be really surprised and disappointed if the signals didn't exist on the edge of the chip itself.

[mos6507]

the fire button is on the wrong side

looks like that will have to be the first mod

Hopefully the LCD is symmetrical enough that you could just rotate that in its housing.

[edman87k5]

OK, I havn't had time to read this whole thread yet, but I got the just of it and saw the pics. WOW!!
When and wher can I get 1? What will be the retail on it? still close to the $40 range?

[Dragnerok X]

The difficulties are there, you just dont see them through the sample case in this unit.

I was hoping so, due to the fact that a few of my current "homebrews" rely on those switches, and the FB2P would make a nice unit to play them on. From the pictures you put up, this looks like a great unit, and as long as it stays under the PSP's $200 price-tag I'll look foward to buying it (hopefully) this Christmas.

[Nathan Strum]

the fire button is on the wrong side

looks like that will have to be the first mod

Hopefully the LCD is symmetrical enough that you could just rotate that in its housing.

Hopefully...

[ls650]

okay, here are some shots of the first article sample unit...

I have just one question...

WHEN CAN I BUY IT? WOW! Yeah, I'd definitely open up my wallet for one of those babies!

[jaysmith2000]

That is SWEET!

[BigO]

the fire button is on the wrong side

Maybe the lettering is upside down?

[Feralstorm]

Looking good so far. If it's possible to use a Mac (or other USB-capable non-Windows systems) to load games onto the unit, it's pretty much perfection. (If not, still pretty darn good)

[purenergy]

Excellent!
Definitely will purchase one(or more) of these.

A 2600 to go, wherever you go!

[Fort Apocalypse]

Will paddles and joysticks also be sold separately at the same time as the portable, or is the plan for those who are interested to use their FB2 joysticks or scour eBay etc. for some?

Second question is whether the race paddle (single paddle per DB9 unlike the tennis paddles) will be supported for indy500/race.

I'm also a huge fan of a/v connection if you can fit it on (would be great for viewing on built-in tv screens in minivans and tv at home!).

Thanks!

[Gregory DG]

Boy, that is one sweet looking portable!

Couple questions:

What's the resolution of the screen? Is it a 1 to 1 ratio for the 2600 resolution?

What is the point of the 2600 controller ports? Can this be hooked up to a TV?

How will games be distributed? Will only sanctioned games from Atari work or will we be able to play any ROM we want on it?

[Curt Vendel]

There will be test points around the cpu chip to access all of the signals, I will also release the pinout of the chip, something I wasn't allowed to do previously (and I know many want to know what pins are the stereo outputs on the FB2)

There will be an AV out on the NTSC units

Racing controllers! Shoot.... need to test those...

Screen is not flippable (software wise)...

Screen is actually a 320X240 capable AOU brand OEM TFT screen


Curt