fiddlepaddle

The Vectrex was the first cartridge-based video game system that I bought new, right when they came out. I was convinced it was going to revolutionize the game industry and bought stock in Milton Bradley (eventually lost some of my money when it didn't). I later saw one for 20 bucks at the San Jose flea market in the early 90's, and bought it as a backup. Both still work, but the joysticks do wear out if you play a lot. I can ignore the buzzing, but need some music going. I've always thought vector graphics games were the most fun in the arcades with their super-sharp graphics and ability to show continuous perspective at high speed (home raster-based consoles have only been able to do this within the last few years). My favorites include Rip Off, a GREAT two-player game, Mine Storm (the built-in game), and Armor Attack. Hyperchase is fun, also. Haven't tried any of the homebrews. On the other hand, these days I find I get tired of playing with it after a few hours and put it away for long periods of time. As a collectible, the Vectrex is unique technology, it's portable and doesn't require a TV (although you do have to plug it in), and historically significant. The fact that no one makes vector graphics hardware anymore makes it even more interesting. Even $75 is a lot less than they cost new. I wouldn't even hesitate in getting one.

I just brought home a Hong Kong sixer, cleaned it and set it up and started playing, then noticed that the power supply (non-Atari) was only 6v (1000ma). And it works anyway! The specs say it should be 9v/500ma. Just how forgiving is the VCS? Maybe you could run one off of 4 AA batteries? Can you run one off of a 12v car battery? Anyone know what voltage range will work? What happens if the voltage is too high? How high can it be and not burn up the system? What happens if the amps are too small: will the power supply overheat and catch on fire? or will it just not work?

Who the heck goes to a flea market on Tuesdays?!? So THAT's the secret.

I always wanted to own a big warehouse and fill it with pinball machines and video games and slot car track and fooseball tables and pool tables and everything else fun for two people to play, and then have parties every couple of days. That's like a big shed, isn't it?

If I didn't have any and they were all different from each other, then definitely worth it. Currently, though, I would have to check out the titles since I have several hundred and wouldn't want to pay $200 for a few I didn't already have. Also would depend on whether I needed the $200 for the rent that was due last week...

Mine's light blue.

Most people choose to work during the week, leaving weekends available for quality dating and sex, except married people, of course, who use that time for shopping, TV, and taking the kids someplace they don't want to go. Also, aren't you the guy who's "man" pays him to type stuff in here?

I don't remember ever having issues installing the MC with these...is your MC a standard flat shape? You can always put the MC in slot 2. I think he was referring to the PS One (PS1) where the memory card slot and the controller slot are closer together than the PS2. The receiver for this controller sticks up almost double the height of the slot itself.

Remember, being a nerd is equal to a normal guy that is drunk in a bar who thinks a 1 is a 10. The difference is that the normal guy sobers up and regains his discernment, but the nerd will always think anything less than a 5 is a 10. It's God's way of making sure that nerds get pussy too. Seriously? Are you folks movie idols or models? Are you dating stunningly gorgeous women? Or are you familiar with women only through games featuring computerized women? I've dated stunning women. She's cute, she likes video games and on at least a few of her youtube bits, even shows a sense of humor. That's pretty neat as far as I'm concerned. By the way: 1 to 10, how good looking is what you're dating now? Isn't it interesting that so many of these comments criticizing the lady game player are being typed into a computer on a Saturday night? By the way, my wife is a 10.5 (in case she reads this).

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I've been wanting a better one too (already tried four or five that were unsatisfactory for one reason or another), so, thanks for asking the question. I went down today to my local Radio Shack today to pick one up (Logitech Cordless Precision 963455-0403), where they were only $11.17 ($11.92 with tax)! (I also got one of those "F-connector/RCA plug" adapters for connecting the old RF output directly to old-style TVs without an RF modulator for $2.49, about half the price I've seen them elsewhere.) Don't know if it's an aberration, but RS seems to have a better selection than it has in recent years. By the way, at least some games allow the memory card to be plugged into the second memory slot (above controller port number two).

It won't fit in a Sega box, but if you go get an Accolade(?) box that is designed to accept either a standard cart or the accolade style that is shaped like the EA carts, you can cut out a couple of small pieces of plastic so it will fit. You may also be able to use just about any EA box (with similar mod), especially some of the sports titles (Madden comes to mind). These EA boxes also tend to be thicker, which might be appropriate since the Sonic & Knuckles cart is thicker than normal ones, giving you a little extra room for instructions and other literature.

I suppose this is too harsh, but, to me, Atari is gone. I started thinking what "Atari" actually means, to me. It may not be the literal definition, but the word stands for a line of game machines, not a corporation (or trademarks or other "intellectual properties"). What comes to mind is the VCS, the 5200, the 7800, and assorted coin-op video games including Pong, Football, Star Wars, Missile Command, Asteroids, etc. The new stuff is only related by bloodlines, and we all know how people usually feel about distant relatives, especially those who are remnants of divorces and remarriages...

Nice trick, spinning the foam pad 45 degrees. I didn't think of that. I just glued four little pieces of a sponge to the indentations.

Yup, worked great on my toaster...haven't had a problem with cleaned carts since.

She just turned 16. And Loving Megamania & Demon Attack. She flipped out when I answered her question on how long until you get to the end, she's having a hard time understanding why there is no game endings. I've been telling her that back then we didn't play for an ending, we simply played to get the highest score that we could and to pass time. I never understood this "end of the game" thing. I always assumed that games would and should keep working (and getting harder) indefinitely, even if it only meant they cycled through levels again (like Space Invaders). Pinball machines don't "end". Part of the attraction to arcade games was that theoretically you could play forever on one quarter. Of course, once games were turned into movies, that mindset went away.

I wouldn't be surprised if most Americans thought Japan was another state. I heard on the radio the other day that something like 30% thought Georgia (the one near Florida) was just invaded by Russia a couple of weeks ago...

I would have rented a truck and opened up Fiddlepaddle Landfills, Inc. or at least volunteered to "oversee" the operations down in New Mexico...

I find if I come home and turn the TV on, it kind of drains me of energy. If instead, I put on some music, even after a hard day, I get more energy and start doing something productive, like playing my games, or even setting up and testing a new (old) system I picked up last weekend at a garage sale. 'Course, sometimes I just end up reading AA forum items...

I bet Nintendo has the software to do it, somewhere in their R&D lab. Go to Japan and get friendly with the receptionist...

"Conditioner"? I first use 91% alcohol to clean off the contacts, sometimes even an eraser if necessary. Once the contact is clean, I then use "Caig Laboratories DeoxIT® GOLD G5 Spray" (formerly "Caig Pro-Gold", even more formerly "Caig R5 Power Booster". This product works miracles, and is better than the several other "contact conditioners" I've tried over the years. The company keeps changing the name and the type of container it comes in, and it's hard to find in stores. I have found it at Fry's Electronics, Microcenter (sometimes), and some other speciality electronics stores in Santa Clara County, California. Couldn't find it in Oregon or Ohio. Here is an interview with Mike Livesay, the Colecovision programmer that I thought was kind of interesting, but he doesn't say much about stuff he did to make it easier to debug. http://miner2049er.classicgaming.gamespy.c...ikelivesay.html I tried entering the phone number (213 782 6861) like the Atari 400/800 version cheat in combination with other various keys and buttons, but I couldn't get it to go to any other levels. I did get it to disable the sounds by pressing 12345678 and waiting a few seconds...don't know if that is a test sequence or what...

I've been playing around with my Colecovision lately and, finally fed up with using the standard controller, got my super action controller out of the box it's been in for 20 years because it wouldn't go "up" and took it apart and cleaned all the contacts and put conditioner on them and... it works GREAT. The problem now is that I've been playing Miner 2049'er and (I'm not as spry in my gaming as I used to be) can't get past the third screen. I've looked for a cheat for this game but haven't found one. It must exist! Anybody know how to get to higher levels (without being Mr. Supergameplayer)?

Programmers used to have to enter the boot loader through binary switches on the front panel when the card reader messed up. I bet you could write a little memory matching game, or maybe a flash-card type educational program. Could also probably make it a Supercharger program and use the audio signal to create a save function with a tape recorder (with a minor mod, of course).

I always enjoy Outrun, Super Hang-on, R-Type, and Psycho Fox, mostly played on my Game Gear with the Nuby doo-dad. By the way, Genesis controllers work too.

You're not the only one... The first Commodore PET had a chicklet keyboard, and Commodore quickly decided to come out with a regular keyboard version of the computer (within months). It was the only way anyone would take it seriously. Same for the IBM PC Jr. which shipped with a stupid chicklet keyboard. Most buyers bought the alternative standard keyboard right along side of the computer if they were serious about actually using it for anything. The keyboard is the first thing people see, and what they have to touch to accomplish anything. If it looks comfortable and polished, people like it. Just like the mouse sold the Lisa (and then the Mac). The Aquarius was just too toy-like.