Zuse

I could use some advice. A few months back, I opted to do a composite mod on my 4-switch Woody. Since I didn't feel like hunting down some perfboard and didn't have the right resistor values on-hand, I just picked up one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-2600-A-V-Composite-RCA-Audio-Video-Mod-Upgrade-Kit-Fully-Assembled-/272271974442?hash=item3f64aca02a:g:xssAAOSwHoFXtCcF I clipped the resistor between "Ground Out" and "Video Out" since I'd read that it only succeeds in dimming the display a little. The install was simple and there's no static, the sound is great, and the rest of the restoration work on this console made it look like new. But there are still some things that bug me. For one, the colors look a bit strange. I've used the color pot to tune this as best I can (using the colors on Centipede and Barnstorming as a guide), but some games are simply not looking like I would expect them to - some of the dark colors seem off, and the whole image is more dim than I'd like. There's also the problem of sharpness in the details. Compared to the output on my 7800 (also AV modded), many of the same games just look like garbage, though are playable in any case. Normally I would be playing both systems exclusively on a CRT television, but the one I have is finally giving up the ghost, so I'm stuck using an LCD TV for now. I understand that, regardless of the mods you do, an LCD is seldom kind to consoles of this vintage. Suffice it to say, I'm not expecting miracles here. So, now that I've laid all that out, is there anything I can do to improve the picture further? My first thought was that this machine is showing its age and probably just needs some capacitors replaced or something, but I don't (yet) have the technical expertise to say that with any certainty. Any help would be appreciated, and I can supply pictures if needed.

Sounds like you're on the right track, then. It's a good thing there have been so many enthusiasts keeping the Atari scene alive all this time. Best of luck!

I'm basing these on a single criterion: it has to be the kind of game that, when I lose, it never stops me from going back to it. In no particular order: Yars' Revenge TRON: Deadly Discs Berzerk Battlezone Solaris Warlords Demon Attack Atlantis Adventure H.E.R.O. Joust Centipede Dig Dug Jungle Hunt River Raid Video Pinball Galaxian Gorf Donkey Kong Missile Command I'm usually quicker to play the original arcade versions of some of these when possible, but the 2600 versions hold up well.

I've had a lot of fun with this one for the 8-bit computers: http://atari800.sourceforge.net/ As with similar emulators, it takes certain machine ROMs to run. How you go about that is up to you. I also wholeheartedly recommend a real 800xl, 65xe, 130xe, or even XEGS with a MyIDE-II cartridge. It's not very expensive to get into, opens the door for a huge amount of software, and is often even more enjoyable than emulation. The 800xl is likely to give you the best experience typing, and hence, doing longer programming projects, though I've heard that not all its versions are created equal.

I've seen far worse. Heck, I've written far worse. You seem to understand, though, why your later poetry is better. It's that unquantifiable element called expressiveness. Excellent programmers and writers can conjure it up in an instant, using all the rules and limitations of language and logic as tools - less developed ones stick to the formula and never really express anything. I know of no curriculum that can teach expressiveness. It's just something that one cultivates, methinks.

One heavy sixer in mint condition and a copy of Video Olympics signed by Nolan Bushnell, if you please. My life would be complete.

I've been debating buying an Atari 5200 with fully refurbished and improved controllers, and new overlays would make that decision a no-brainer. Do want!

Well, it's a start. Now if only the developers could get some compensation for the medical attention needed to bring everyone's blood pressure and cortisol levels down.

Nothing good was ever accomplished without at least a small share of crazy. Or maybe "passion" is the right word...