Ataritard

I think a mod has to do two things: Improve its function in some way, and look good doing it.

...Coming up on the score that glitched the first time. I've got my fingers crossed that it doesn't glitch. If it does, I hope he takes the game out, puts it on the table, and smashes it!

Makes for good background noise even when you are not watching...

That's very strange. I suppose it might have something to do with it being an Atarisoft game that uses two buttons.

I like to leave my roller controller hooked up to my Colecovision just for convenience. I never had a problem with using my controllers through the roller controller until the other day when I bought Defender. The first five shots I make uses all of my bombs like I am pushing both buttons. If I hook my controller straight up to the console it works fine. Is this the only game that does this?

Wow! The very first topic on AtariAge about my favorite console. I don't have anything to say, I just wanted to be a part of it. Thanks Al.

It is pretty cool how they work. I'll do my best to describe what I did to make the road flash... With the cover off and in the back there is a light blue gear with four points that periodically turns clockwise, and two side by side metal flaps that touch each other (ignoring the T-shaped one). When the gear turns, it is supposed to push the flap on the left away from the flap on the right, disconnecting the circuit for the light. For this to happen, bend the flap on the right, slightly to the right, to where it barely touches the flap on the left. That will make more sense when you are looking at it so I'll post a picture of it. It's a neat effect and you can bend the thing back if you don't like it.

Lift the tape and the silver dome. It's what is under the silver dome that you want to clean with an eraser. Then put silver dome and tape back on and it should work like new. Did what you said and it worked! Now both buttons work! Funny I never thought to try that. Thank God I never told anyone I was smart!lol Plus I learned something new. Guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.Thank you very much for all your great help! I really appreciate it! I owe you one! You're very welcome. I'm glad I could help.

Lift the tape and the silver dome. It's what is under the silver dome that you want to clean with an eraser. Then put silver dome and tape back on and it should work like new.

Did you use an eraser on the square part under the dome switch to clean it?

Thanks, you were right! Just hope my "fix" works. You're welcome. I'm on the edge of my seat...

Hey! Glad to hear you got it open.

Rather than trying to change the software, you might have better luck modifying the hardware. I did something similar with an Atari 5200 controller. Here's a link to it. http://www.atariage....200-controller/ The Intellivision controller is a completely different animal so it might not even be possible, I haven't thought it all the way through, but it may be as easy as switching some of the wires where the controller cord connects to the console.

I bought one of these in great cosmetic but nonworking condition. I've got it to run and the road to move. It shifts properly now and makes the right sounds. The speed and fuel gauge changes like it's supposed to. There is even a feature I stumbled upon to make the road flash off and on while you are driving. I'd say I've got it 90 percent there but the problem I have is when in third and forth gear it seems to bog down and stop. I can get it going again by shifting gears, but I don't think it's meant to do this. It feels like the problem is inside the white box that houses all the plastic gears. I don't care to take this apart for fear of all the gears springing out and never getting it back together. Can I just spray something like WD-40 into the gear box or is there another kind of fix for these Tomy mechanical toys?

If you can solder, it is a matter of replacing one capacitor on the sound board. It's a known issue and I did this a year or two ago with success. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA1CAmqWzYA If you would like to fix the screen at the same time all you have to do is replace a hand full of capacitors on the main board, well worth the trouble.

Why is it that you couldn't use the original sensors that came with the trackball?

You are right, SoundGammon. It is an issue of voltage. I hooked up my Wico trackball that uses external power and it worked. I use a regular Sega controller plugged into port #2 to get the game going, so I'm happy with the way it worked out. As for the game itself, it has a decent version of Centipede, and Pong is Pong... but Missile Command is terrible! Has any one played this game? It plays like it's stuck in slow motion. I can literally spin the trackball 20 times to get from one side of the screen to the other. Even with the regular controller, it is still very slow. Thanks for your help SoundGammon.

Yes, I tried it in trackball and joystick mode. No luck in either.

I recently picked up Arcade Classics for the Sega Genesis. It has Centipede, Missile Command, and Pong. I don't have the Sega trackball but I figured the Atari trackball would work for sure. Well, it doesn't. Does any one know why, or better yet, a mod to make it work?

This is what I've decided to do. It's fast and easy and reversible.

Sure it's possible. Going digital adds an extra element to the mix but in the end would be worth it. How handy are you?

Get the stuff and practice soldering first, it's harder than it looks. Google and Youtube are good "how to" resources. You might start with controllers... open them up and make them do something different. Let us know what you come up with.

What was the original hex logos made out of? Metal... cardboard... paper?

Can you post a picture of the digital controller you are talking about?

Have you seen this? http://www.atarimuse...2600on5200.html