Alarm

I don't think any firmware update will be able to help resolve that issue.

I will also gladly test the beta firmware. I have around 150 VCS/7800 carts, with a mixture of NTSC and PAL.

Owning a copy of Karateka for the 7800 is something to be afraid of, lest you attempt to play it. I have a copy, but I am uncertain if it is PAL, as it doesn't have a P on the back.

That was my PAL copy. Seems a little weird that that version works fine, but the NTSC version doesn't. You would have thought it would be the other way around.

I would like to see more homebrew/new games such as Mr. Run and Jump for the VCS, and some 7800 homebrew (Rikki and Vikki, perhaps?). Enhanced versions of old games is good too.

I have two PAL copies of Robot Tank. One works, the other didnt, but I haven't tried to clean that again to see if it could be made to work.

I'm making a mental note of things to log: so far Demon Attack cut-off screen (could be PAL only?) and no blending of graphics in Tower Toppler 7800.

I've been told Boots no longer sell it (as 'rubbing alcohol') because some customers were drinking it. Worth a try though. I bought some from Amazon. I just tried Enduro and had two scrambled pictures then it worked on the third try. From memory, this is normal behaviour, I'm fairly sure this happened on my VCS with some carts. What is weird for me is my PAL copy of Demon Attack. When it does load, around a quarter of the screen is out of view. I cannot view my ship nor the area that should be underneath it, rending it unplayable.

I've been using some isopropyl alcohol (also known as IPA, not the pale ale), 99%. Use a small flathead screwdriver and push through one of the holes in the panel that covers the contacts, and a finger to push down the other side of the panel. This should release the mechanism and you can keep it in place with your finger and use the other hand to clean the contacts.

Does the Concerto cartridge have a similar option to present itself as if it is one game, so the 2600+ may be able to load a VCS or 7800 game?

Hotswapping carts, saves a bit of time.

I have tested my PAL 7800 carts: Barnyard Blaster - loads. Cannot 'shoot' one or two player start as light gun incompatible with HDTV. Commando - loads. Can change settings, but fire button does not start game (maybe need to press the second button?). Pressing reset resets the game, does not start it. Desert Falcon - playable. Had to insert the cart twice for it to load. Galaga - playable. Jinks - playable (debatable). First load had corrupted audiovisuals. Mat Mania Challenge - playable. Had to insert cart three times for it to start loading. Pole Position II - playable. Cannot accelerate as my controller is resting with the 7800 in a box somewhere. Super Huey - playable. Tower Toppler - playable. The game uses colour blending, which do not blend here - rendering background tiles and others to look not as good as the original. Might be a problem when outputting to a HDTV? Xenophobe - playable.

I've just tried the UK version of Donkey Kong and on the first try I had audio but no picture. I've put the cart in twice more and it worked both times.

This evening I will be mostly playing VCS shmups.

I've tried some PAL 7800 games (Galaga and Commando) and they loaded. I'm not sure if the colours are correct, especially in Galaga, but it has been a long time since I played them, and that was on a CRT, so I'm not entirely sure.