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Just letting everyone know that the delay with shipping Concertos was due to my desire to get the firmware built with a new compiler. I have dozens of assembled Concertos on my bench right now, which are otherwise ready. The firmware code builds and runs great with the old compiler from 2007, but the code it produces isn't as efficient as that of the new compiler. Plus, the old compiler doesn't run natively on my current systems: I have to use a VM which is a pain. In order to add all of the features I want, I want to use the best compiler out there. The new compiler does run on my systems but has yet to produce fully working code, though, as it's too smart for its own good, and optimizes stuff out that it shouldn't, and I have tracked down most of this but some remains. But, this is turning out to be a good thing, as the new Concerto firmware I am working on now has an error/exception handler so if a user does something unexpected and really goes off into the weeds, Concerto will report useful information on your 7800 screen that will help me make future firmware better! The reason I wanted the newest firmware was because the old firmware cannot update to the new using the menu (you would have to use a USB cable.) I didn't want to trouble more people with that than necessary right now, so this is why I have been feverishly trying to get the new firmware built and validated. But, I have to let it go and work on it later, so for the short term, in order to get Concertos to you sooner, is I have put together an older firmware version (the one released on carts that shipped a couple of weeks ago), with the only change being that you *can* update to the new version from the menu. However, please note that in doing so, it can't downgrade to an older firmware from the menu. Not that anyone would do that. So, the batch of Concertos that is shipping out shortly (will be in tomorrow's mail, couldn't make it today) will have this firmware, version 0.92. Not the latest and greatest, but it will let you easily keep up on firmware updates as they are released, so that you have the latest features and functionality. Hopefully, I will sort out the compiler issues soon but for now I need to focus on getting Concertos out the door!

I don't even think l'Atari knows. It's just a buzzphrase they can use for publicity. File it away with "blast processing" and "hybrid emulation".

I've been using developer mode this morning. Compile a test build, send it to the cart via USB and run it. No swapping of SD cards. For me this is brilliant. No wear on the SD card slot and time saving for real hardware testing.

Another small batch will be up tomorrow evening. * tomorrow = Wednesday here

Look what arrived today!!! Most of it is going under the tree(minus the candy ?). It may be difficult to wait, but I am gonna give it my best. I might do the old Christmas Eve opening, sounds like a happy compromise. Thank you Secret Santa, amazing job with the presentation and I can not wait to drive into them.

Oh for F---ks sake,'first Atati VCS original game'? There are more developers for the 40-year-old VCS than there are for that new bookend with an Atari Logo. (Thinking of creative things to do with the new VC/CS.)

For anyone getting lost in the shuffle, here's an update on reasons to buy an Atari VCS. So far we have: 1) Having an Atari logo on a circuit board (by extension we could have the LED backlit Fuji logo on the case) 2) A case that sorta looks like an old VCS 3) You can connect it to a TV without an RF adapter 4) You can get a new CX-40 joystick for it (additional charges apply) 5) Scroll through a mostly empty menu with gouraud shaded boxes 6) Mine Atari-branded cryptocurrency to further enrich Fred Chesnais 7) Hold important papers down. Particularly useful in windy locations 8 ) Hold open important doors. Particularly important in houses 9) Use it as an outdated, underpowered, always connected PC 10) Download an official Atari VCS digital remote 11) Spend $300~$400 to play a $10 collection of games available on Steam I do think #7 is debatable though - if it doesn't have rubber feet, then it's not going to do that job very well. Did I miss anything?

Only when the cartridge is ready for shipment, will I send a message asking for the color of the housing, the selected cartridge configuration (even if someone mentioned it before), asking for the address and sending the payment details. I don't charge for something I don't physically have

Of course he wants to do more with cryptocurrency. When you can make it for free and sell it for real money, that totally dovetails with his business model. ?

I think you missed the creative hacking community that will inevitably arise to modify the VCS. Just off the top of my head, I imagine it can be repurposed to prop open kitchen cabinet doors, or press the water out of tofu.

Rumor has it that some guy called Moses had the first tablet that could connect to the cloud.

Hi! I noticed your for sale thread from 2005, but because reading is way too hard, I was wondering: IS IT STILL AVAILABLE?

Short version: Opening package live on Twitch on Monday, December 14th @ 6 PM Eastern Time !! Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/drmoocowz Long version: I feel I've exercised enough patience (more than last year!) and it'll officially be at 3 weeks + 2 days since the package arrived and when I open it on Dec 14th. I'm definitely more in the boat of "open it now so you can enjoy it sooner" side of the argument. I'll make sure addresses are peeled off the box before putting it on camera. I won't waste too much time and will do it right at the beginning of the stream. I would love for people to be there for it and maybe hang out after the package is opened, too. I'll do a "bump" as a reminder when we get closer. For those who can't/don't want to be there, I'll post a video clip and photos after it's done. Excited!

The Lynx was a cutting edge platform for its time though. No handheld even came close to what it could do until the, much bulkier, Sega Nomad came out several years later. The GameBoy was generally a better machine to have on account of its vast games library, small size and really good battery life, but the Lynx certainly held a niche. The Jaguar too was at least a vaguely competitive platform for a year or so until the PlayStation came out. You can look back at games like Tempest 2000 and Rayman as classics for their time even if the machine was always doomed to be a commercial failure. The VCS just looks over a generation behind machines that it's selling at more or less the same price as. $389 for it versus $299 for a Series S or $399 for a PS5 Digital - not that any of them are in stock at the moment - is just no contest.

You can't brick a Concerto through a firmware update. Even if the firmware gets corrupted, you can restore it over USB.

@Probabilitydragon let's move it here so we're not off topic, bruce lee atr/atx now boots, it was reading sectors that are beyond the disc capacity and that wasn't working very well it'll be fixed in the next firmware

I don't know where to begin with this since I can't tell if you're being sincere, sarcastic, or somewhere in the middle.

That's because most of us are Autistic. Social communication difficulties and fixed interests come with the territory. They are manageable aspects and often don't require any skill that challenges the difficulties that come with the condition. Collections of things is manageable, predictable, and ordered. This is probably my true answer to why I collect. Its one thing I never have to be good at in order to succeed, I just need to pump all my disposable income on it. At some point, we all find our limit, and then it's about whether we slow down, stop, or start reducing. I'd say most users on this forum is at some stage or another of this process. I'm definitely still in the slowing down phase. Not everyone will go to reducing their current collections to tailor it, but many will. Various YouTuber game collectors have gone through this process, making it more visible. For some, game collecting becomes like bonsai, clipping out the unwanted and tailoring your own aesthetics.

Apathy, irony, and fate are not the same thing as parting a fool from his money. Be sure to use it with the case off so that you get your money's worth out of staring at that logo. ?

Sure, you take an existing gaming technology, like unique items in an MMO or virtual land and items in Second Life, add an additional layer of unnecessary "blockchain" technology and pull in the idiots who don't know anything about gaming or blockchain... but heard that bitcoin made people a lot of money. Blockchain brings nothing to the table that doesn't already exist in gaming in some form.

As long as it isn't Koala Kai. Fred, take all the time you need, shipping mine. No rush at all.

What he’s trying to say is it took about eight tries for me to beat my own game.

Four years ago the membership was down to one guy - @sparkdrummer. VAST is twice that size now.

All good thanks @batari! Really appreciate the time you have put into getting Concerto out the door!

Here's an updated render of the box. These are being printed now! Along with manuals and labels. ..Al

Back in the 80s, I spent a lot of time working on an RPG system, that was inspired by Ultima and other tile-based games of the era. I had a world exploration portion, a combat system, a tile and map editor. The idea was that it would a game system that would be extensible through story "modules". Kind of like how D&D works. The game here would be a sample of what the system could do, and other authors could use the system to design their own games. It was ambitious, and I never finished it. I've included the "world exploration" portion as a demo. The doors work, but NPCs/monsters were never implemented. If anyone is interested, I can package up the other components like the tile/map editor and the combat system. rpggame1208.zip

I reached out to Dan this afternoon and got a quick response that I'm sure anyone here would want to see. I don't think Mr. Kitchen would mind if I copied and pasted the relevant info here. See below. Yes, Gold Rush will be released in early 2021, primarily because I've been working on a secret project that will be announced soon after the 1st of the year. While I can't discuss specifics now, I will post an update this week for everyone. I assure you that I'll be writing new 2600 games for as long as I can!

Yeah, it's worth it. I almost passed thinking "do I really need ANOTHER Galaga??" but the 2600's hardware limitations actually make this one better because its something new. It's also a damn good, high quality, well executed Atari 2600 port Don't even get me started on how much I love Wizard of Wor as well!!! Champ games is on a freakin roll

Yeah. For us in Europe, Asia or Oceania, it is almost a given that we'll have to ship internationally. So far out of my 5 years with the Secret Santa, 4 of my recipients have been located in the USA and one in Germany. Cost wise, shipping within the EU includes VAT while packages to rest of the world don't which means it is a little cheaper for me to have a SS recipient in the USA than anywhere in Europe. EU: 1 kg = 190 SEK (22.30 USD), 2 kg = 270 SEK (31.70 USD) Rest of the world: 1 kg = 152 SEK (17.85 USD), 2 kg = 216 SEK (25.35 USD) I understand the rates may be even higher in other countries' postal systems so I'm not complaining, just telling how it is.

Unfortunately not, since the entire API is semi-complete, subject to change, and not yet documented. The last time I worked on the GOS, I was procrastinating about what is basically yet another rewrite in order to move to the final driver model, and that rewrite is pending and essentially the next job on the list. All the 'apps' in the demo are packed into a ROM volume and since the positioning of window controls and such has to be done by trial and error, it is not much fun. I want to get people on board with it as soon as I can, and basically if I don't find time to advance things in the next year or so, I'll just open source it and let someone else do something with it, since it will be apparent by then that I just have too many projects running at the same time.

Thanks for doing this; looking forward to it and hoping those folks who are comfortable doing videos share them as well. I will give it a try as well.

Because TI-99 cartridges not quite fitting in three out of four cassette storage slots is a proud tradition! And it shall not be besmirched or replaced!

http://www.indieretronews.com/2020/12/the-latest-raycaster-engine-for-ti-994a.html?m=1

OK, here is beta1 of the Harmony Programming Tool v2.0. It's been 7 years since the last release, so I feel a bump to 2.x is justified Changelog as follows: Updated lpc21isp code to version 1.97 (last released version since 2015). Completely reworked serial port autodetection for Mac and Windows ports. Changed from using 'right-click' to 'double-click' to select ROMs in the 'QuickPick' list. This fixes bugs in all ports, but particularly in MacOS, where the UI would sometimes become unresponsive. Fixed annoying bug where a dialog box would appear when first starting the app, and would have to be manually closed. Added option to skip bank 0 when compressing F4 images. This is needed for some roms (Triptych). Added option to delay after each write, to help with bad UARTs. Added option to specify the number of connection attempts. Included NTSC HBIOS 1.06. Updated bankswitch autodetection code to latest from Stella 6.4. Codebase ported to (and now requires) Qt 5.15. So what does testing involve? I need everything tested. That means every option and combination for every type of bankswitching scheme. And if you find a problem, if possible to then test on the oldest released version of this software, to see if it's a regression or if it was already there (ie, is this an old bug or a new bug?). I understand this is a lot of testing, but going 7 years without a new release will cause that. A lot has changed in the code, so the only way to fix it is to test. Files are as follows: HarmonyCart-2.0_beta1-x64.exe (Windows 64-bit) HarmonyCart-2.0_beta1-macos.dmg (MacOS 64-bit) harmonycart_2.0-beta1_amd64.deb (Ubuntu 20.04 64-bit) Source can be downloaded from https://github.com/sa666666/harmonycart. Good luck, and good testing.

WIP English Mad Pascal documentation is now partially converted to MkDocs http://zbyti.great-site.net/mp-docs-en/

Action 52 is listed as a single entry. Currently it has 3982 minutes so if you cram at least 1018 minutes out of it, it will exceed the 5000 minute limit. Actually it was the 47th most played game as per the end of 2019 stats. (6th most played NES/Famicom game!!)

Attached there is a test rom with the complete tune of my game (no video, only the audio) in infinite loop. The tune was converted from a free (Creative Common license) tune found on The Mod Archive site. I can try to make some gfx icons when needed, but there is no way I can compose original musics. My creative part in making this tune was adapting the ABC driver, tha seems to work as expected. Happy listening: ABCTest.lnx Edit: This is the tune transcription. All the game code will be released as open source after the Jam char tune0_A[] = "X7 O1 I1 V80 T7 R0 H0 K3 |: c2c4 G2c2c4 G2f2e2d2c2B2c2d2G2c2c4 G2c2c4 G2F2G2A2c2B2c2d2G2 c2c4 G2c2c4 G2f2e2d2c2B2c2d2G2c2c4 G2c2c4 G2F2G2A2c2B2c2d2G2 c2c4 G2c2c4 G2f2e2d2c2B2c2d2G2c2c4 G2c2c4 G2F2G2A2c2B2c2d2G2 c2c4 G2c2c4 G2f2e2d2c2B2c2d2G2c2c4 G2c2c4 G2F2G2A2c2B2c2d2G2 aecAaecAaecAaecAafcAafcAafcAafcAgecGgecGgecGgecGgdBGgdBGgdBGgdBG aecAaecAaecAaecAafcAafcAafcAafcAgecGgecGgecGgecGgdBGgdBGgdBGgdBG aecAaecAaecAaecAafcAafcAafcAafcAgecGgecGgecGgecGgdBGgdBGgdBGgdBG aecAaecAaecAaecAafcAafcAafcAafcAgecGgecGgecGgecGgdBGgdBGgdBGgdBG :"; char tune0_B[] = "X7 O3 I1 V60 T7 R0 H0 K3 |: C2C4 CcC2C2c2G2F2F4 FfG2G2g2G2C2C4 CcC2C2c2G2F2F4 FfG2G2g2G2 C2C4 CcC2C2c2G2F2F4 FfG2G2g2G2C2C4 CcC2C2c2G2F2F4 FfG2G2g2G2 C2C4 CcC2C2c2G2F2F4 FfG2G2g2G2C2C4 CcC2C2c2G2F2F4 FfG2G2g2G2 C2C4 CcC2C2c2G2F2F4 FfG2G2g2G2C2C4 CcC2C2c2G2F2F4 FfG2G2g2G2 A2A4 AaA2A2a2A2f2f4ff'f2f2f'2f2c2c4cc'c2c'2c2c2g2g4gg'g2g2g'2g2 A2A4 AaA2A2a2A2f2f4ff'f2f2f'2f2c2c4cc'c2c'2c2c2g2g4gg'g2g2g'2g2 A2A4 AaA2A2a2A2f2f4ff'f2f2f'2f2c2c4cc'c2c'2c2c2g2g4gg'g2g2g'2g2 A2A4 AaA2A2a2A2f2f4ff'f2f2f'2f2c2c4cc'c2c'2c2c2g2g4gg'g2g2g'2g2 :"; char tune0_C[] = "X7 O1 I1 V100 T7 R0 H6 K3 |: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz z2g2e2c4 G2c2e2f4 g4 d10 g2e2c8 c2a2g2f2a2g8 z2g2e2c4 G2c2e2f4 g4 d10 g2e2c8 c2a2g2f2a2g8 e10 ddccGGf10 efeeGGe10 ddccGGd10 ddccdd e10 ddccGGf10 efeeGGe10 ddccGGd10 ddccdd z2ggeecc3 GGcceeff3 g3 gd4 d6 ggeecc7 ccaaggffaag4 g4 z2ggeecc3 GGcceeff3 g3 gd4 d6 ggeecc7 ccaaggffaaggffeedd :";

Not a definitive list by any means but from the top of my head: Yamaha: Pac-Man Collection XM Pokey: BallBlazer Commando Pac-Man Collection (Pokey version) Donkey Kong PK Beef Drop Bentley Bear's Crystal Quest Froggie (Pokey version) Super Circus Atari Age For the discussion of novel hardware configurations... They're nice to have. I've got an AtariVox permenantly plumbed into my 2600 and a stereo Pokey setup in my A8. They're both only supported by a handful of things but those things that do are greatly enhanced by having that hardware there so are most appreciated. Making the hardware mandatory is what will limit your audience to your games, but if it's possible to make it optional, then it will enhance them for those with the bits. I'm liking the take up of the add-ons for the DragonFly. As far as I can tell every single one is going to have at least a single Pokey and the Yamaha. Making it everything we wanted from the XM really. If we only get a few awesome demos/games that support it's features, so be it. For me the above games are already enough to justify it, any more will be a bonus. The biggest problem is selling them as a physical cart given the costs involved, which I totally understand. I think the ability to buy roms from AA will be what might encourage people to use the features. Something I've wanted for a while given it's compounded for me by the cost of importing them.

Here is a 400 auction that is a good reference. Also has the original clear plastic bag! ?

Good- then I don't have to feel guilty about breaking first!

Incidentally, does anyone know WTF this actually means? Fauxtari keep using the term like there's some sort of substance to it, but every time they open their trap about it it seems to be slightly different and no clearer than before.

3 weeks left in this year...anybody got their VCS yet? I laugh when I think about Nutari generating 11,000 plus shipping numbers. I doubt that could muster enough to successfully ship 11 products. Weeks not months....

I think Batari should cancel the orders and start over. Tell everyone that was just trail run for the real release. ? Then put up 1 cart for sale every couple hours or days depending on the phase of the moon and dog farts. I see it as the only way to be fair about this matter.

I think it was Tacodon who had a creative use for the VCS as a homebrew doorstop.

It was a good meeting. We met at a different DD that had the dining room open and we liked it better than the old location! I got to watch a complete play thru of the Captain’s soon to be released game and we were able to escape, took a few plays though... Anyway, we have a new place to meet and the coffee was good( and free for me, thanks Cap!) and the VAST club rides again.

With @Synthpopalooza producing lots of music for us developers a Pokey chip really should be a considered a minimum requirement going forward to give you the best experience. For my games Millie and Molly uses the pokey for all sounds and Arkanoid will use it for the majority. Yeah both carts are fantastic and offer plenty for everyone!

And now it is in my safe hands. Thanks to my X-ray vision ... err ... the customs declaration, I've already got a decent idea what's inside which is enough to quench my curiosity for a couple of weeks.

Here's the summary for Week 49, running from November 30 - December 6. We logged 3909 minutes of eligible play, playing 82 games on a total of 14 systems. Top 10: 1. Star Trek 25th Anniversary (Game Boy) - 390 min. (#1) 2. Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (Genesis) - 302 min. 3. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis) - 275 min. 4. Buttsubushi (PlayStation) - 227 min. (#8) 5. Solar Fox (Atari 2600) - 221 min. (#4) 6. Mario's Picross (Game Boy) - 214 min. 7. Eggomania (Atari 2600) - 206 min. 8. Bases Loaded (NES/Famicom) - 188 min. (#2) 9. Mario Bros. (Arcade) - 160 min. (#9) 10. Hyper Final Match Tennis (PlayStation) - 156 min. Pre-NES top 10: 1. Solar Fox (Atari 2600) - 221 min. (PN#1) 2. Eggomania (Atari 2600) - 206 min. (PN#6) 3. Mario Bros. (Arcade) - 160 min. (PN#3) 4. Pac-Man (Atari 2600) - 80 min. 5. Squish 'Em (Atari 2600) - 73 min. 6. Cavernia (Atari 8-bit) - 68 min. (PN#9) 7. Alpha Roid (MSX) - 62 min. 8. Beamrider (MSX) - 37 min. 9. Kaboom! (Atari 2600) - 34 min. (PN#5) 10. 1942 (MSX) - 30 min. 10. Rally-X (MSX) - 30 min. Top 10 systems: 1. Genesis (836) 2. Game Boy (677) (#1) 3. Atari 2600 (661) (#2) 4. PlayStation (383) (#3) 4. TG-16/PC Engine (383) 6. MSX (330) 7. NES/Famicom (208) (#5) 8. Arcade (185) (#8) 9. Atari 8-bit (68) 10. Game Boy Color (62) (#4) While Star Trek 25th Anniversary on the Game Boy keeps its place as #1, Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master is only 88 minutes behind. The pre-NES list has a lot of usual suspects with Solar Fox and Eggomania in the top, but also a strong showing of MSX. Systems wise, the Genesis goes from not even being on the list last week to becoming the most played this week. (Zanac Ex is a MSX2 game and thus listed as its own system) No changes to the 1000, 5000 or 10000 minute clubs.

Everyone will have this label, but if you don't like it, it's easy to peel off @hizzy, any power supply with a voltage of 9V and a current of 1.5A or higher, and 5.5 / 2.1mm plugs will be good, as long as it is of good quality and will keep parameters.,