joesmooth

Have you ensured that the ROM you programmed into the EPROM is fully functional? And have you verified that the EPROM was programmed properly? Joe

If you purchased the boards assembled from AA, they have been fully tested by the fine folks over there. Since this is indeed happening on both boards you have purchased (which are completely separate designs), I suspect the problem is NOT with the circuit boards or components on the boards. I would definetely try them on another system and see if the problem is recreated. I suspect it will not be. Please let us know! Joe

The Pixels Past PCBs will not introduce any additional noise into the system. The speeds are low, the traces have been kept as short as possible, and all other proper PCB design practices have been done. We've sold thousands of the 2k/4k and Bankswitch 2600 PCBs with no reports of inconsistencies or problems. It could be a problem with the EPROM you are using, improper soldering/cold solder joints on your PCB, connection problems with your connector, power supply issues (are you using the proper 2600 power supply that provides the right amount of current, or are you using a third-party knockoff?) AtariAge uses Pixels Past boards exclusively to sell their games. The bankswitch board supports Thrust+, as that is what AA uses. Hope that helps, Joe

Check out the table of contents here: http://www.atariage.com/news/article.php?id=4716 Video games are only part of the book. We also have consumer electronics (iPod, Nokia cell phones, Palm PDAs), wireless networking, and other goodies. Joe

We'll be selling any left over books through the AA store. We'll have 100 at the show. If we run out of those, you could always ship a book to us and we'll sign it Joe

You guys are totally going to dig this book. Albert did an awesome job on the Atari and iPod hacks. If you like tinkering with stuff, you'll be in heaven. There's something in here for everyone, even if you're a beginner Joe

Oops, I'm replying to myself. I just added a Popeye cart with a white label: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=3076061852 I got it from Jah Fish and I think it's PAL, but I don't have anything set up to test it with. Joe

OK, I had to do it. I'm cleaning up again and trying to put together some money for the CC2 and to pay rent (and also save some money to pay Thomas my portion of the money for the lawyer to get Thrust+). As cool as the Thrust+ pack is from Jah Fish, and considering how long I had to wait to get it, it's just too big and I'm sure other people will enjoy it more than me! Atari 2600 Thrust+ Limited Edition homebrew http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=3076047010 Atari 2600 Cuttle Cart complete & SGANB CD! (with Stella Gets A New Brain CD) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=3076044354 Atari 2600 Worship the Woodgrain CD game rare http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=3076045436 Intellivision Lives, Rocks, Greatest Hits CD http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=3076046100 Joe

Oh, cool! I wasn't familiar with that. In that case, if it works with the PC-to-5200 adapter circuit that yodan was talking about, then it will most likely work with the Redemption PC version of the adapter, too. If you end up going that route with the ultra-racer, let us know how it works! Joe

I actually haven't tested that configuration, but the first thing comes to mind is PC joysticks use a DB15 connector while the 2600 paddle is DB9 (so it wouldn't fit). Joe

Nope, it won't work. The whole premise of the adapter is to convert the "digital" signals of the 2600/7800 controllers into an "analog" representation to be used by the 5200. Doing the 2600 -> 5200 Paddle Conversion mod is a much cheaper way to go, anyway. If you search the forums, you should find some information on it. Hope that helps, Joe

Pixels Past will be there, too, showing off (and selling) some new Atari-related goodies! Joe

Well, he's definetely answering his e-mail (he responded within a day once I received my first package), so I'm sure he's reading the forums. Joe

And....replying to myself a day later... It's here! Thrust+ Professional Combat Pack #34! Thanks for coming through, Jah And he threw in a bunch of stickers and stuff from the exhibit. Very cool. I'm satisfied! Joe

Jah just let me know a second box is on the way that has Thrust+ in it. So I'm sure it will arrive in the next few days. And I'll let everyone know Joe

Good news. I've received the majority of the trade bait that Jah owes me, but still no Thrust+. I just sent him mail privately to let him know I received his package and I am assuming (and hoping) that he will sent Thrust+ separately. Here is what he owed me and what I received: Tron Wachroboter jagt Jupy, with red label TOP GUN, with grey label GEHEIMKURIER, with yellow label Landung in der Normandie (Commando Raid), with red label Landungskommando (Strategy X), with grey label Stopp die Gangster, with grey label ITT: meteor defense HES riddle of the sphinx (imagic) pink label Sancho Skin Diver Goliath: Forest Goliath: Galactic Goliath: Astro attack Goliath: Capture and some stickers. So, I hope it's on the way! Joe

Digikey is one of the best, but expect to pay a $5 "handling fee" if your order is less than $25. Joe

The important thing is to ensure that the extension cable has ALL 15 pins connected. This is NOT THE CASE with most cables, so check first! Joe

I don't mean a "stock" Atari cable, I mean something purchased from a cable vendor specifying that all 15 pins are connected. Joe

Thanks Maybe AA should sell an extension cable? Joe

You might be able to find a DB15-to-DB15 straight-through adapter (like the joystick-extension cables) to allow you to sit further away from the screen. We figured that the Redemption unit would be close to the system and the length of the joystick cable would be enough, as that is what most people have been dealing wiht for 20+ years? Joe

Thanks for the review We actually struggled with the 5200 connector cable issue for quite some time, before we decided on what we had. Basically, Redemption powers itself from the +5V pin from the 5200 (one of the pins on the 5200 port). Unfortunately, this pin is not connected on 5200 controllers, so we couldn't just get a bunch of 5200 controllers and hack the ends off. Only the 5200 Trak-Ball cables have that pin, and Trak-Balls are way harder to find than controllers. Best Electronics had a huge stock pile of 5200 controller cables, but if we used those, we'd need an external power source to power the Redemption circuitry. So, as the trade-off, we had to go through a cable vendor using a stock DB15 connector. It isn't as sexy looking (beige, yuck!) and we have to trim some of the excess plastic from the housing in order for it to fit relatively well into the 5200. Such are the glories of engineering and creating hobbyist products. If we were in a larger market, we could just design up a new custom cable and have those manufactured, but I don't think we're there yet Hope that helps, Joe

One of the reasons you don't see SCSIcide on there... Joe

SCSIcide has gone over the 200 mark. When I released the game in 2001 at CGE, I ran out of the original 50 almost instantly. I made 50 more after that for the folks that were at the end of the line, then another 50 for PhillyClassic 3. AtariAge has been selling them since then (aside from the few I put up on eBay Not bad, I'd say. It definetely makes all of the work worthwhile to have people enjoy the game. Joe

@mcgrail: Yes, the 7800 Redemption model works with the 5200 games that were designed to work with 2 buttons, like Defender (actually Defender is the game AA uses to test the 7800 Redemption before they go out) @goochman: Games that require the analog-ness of the 5200 controller will only work with the PC Redemption model (which supports analog PC joysticks). Sorry! Hope that helps, Joe