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Armonigann

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Posts posted by Armonigann

  7. Posted

    I got my Atari 7800 today and I have a few questions. First thing, go easy on me, I'm 28, my first system was an NES at 5 years old for Christmas. I remember how things work with systems I had over the years. Atari 7800 and any Atari previous I never owned, so I don't remember or know what should and shouldn't happen with a system. No doubt, if I grew up with an Atari 7800 I probably would know the answers to many of these questions already, just like I know what to expect with NES problems from memory. But I didn't grow up with it, so I can't tell what is perhaps problems due to age or just the way the units are. Even a new NES could be a picky. So thats why I am asking here to people who probably know alot about what is what with an Atari 7800, etc.

     

    Ok questions:

     

    1) Is the power button normally finicky or is that just my used unit I bought online, being a little broken down over the years. Times when I hit the power button and it doesn't shut off, other times it does. Basically I usually just keep trying to it works or doesn't work. Although it seems pushing it down hard to start and hard again to stop works most of the time. My other question in connection with that, if it is not normal, is it possible the power switch might simply stop working one day. So that I wouldn't be able to start the unit anymore.

     

    2) what does the select button do, is that just basically the same as a select button would be on an NES controller but its on the unit instead of the joystick/joypad. Probably a stupid question but I am dying to know.

     

    3) is it normal to get a garbled colored mess of a picture when trying games, that is usually all going on diagonals rather then horizontal and vertical. Hard to explain, but it's very odd looking. I almost always only get it on 2600 games, 7800 games usually load up fine. Sometimes just taking the cart out and putting it back in fixes it or sometimes, just restarting the system fixes it. Other times, it needs a cleaning, other times, nothing fixes it. Another image I sometimes get is a black image with very very fine white specks or spots randomly appearing on the screen. I get that almost as much as the garbled mess, usually from the same offending carts.

     

    4) is a rolling picture (in my case, only one game, Donkey Kong 2600) a good sign that the cartridge may be a PAL cartridge. I have an NTSC USA system, I am from Florida. I can't see any UK/PAL or USA/NTSC markings on the cartridge at all to be sure. Tried cleaning it five times with the same result.

     

    5) Is it normal for 2600 games to be fussy particularly with a 7800 system, I realize they are very old. I usually have to clean every NES game I get. But I've never had an NES game not work after at least a few cleanings. I have at least three 2600 games that seem like they aren't going to work again. Is that just the way it is considering the age of the 2600 cartridge or could it be the system, is perhaps the used system not in very good condition and its not playing cartridges that a good system would. On the flipside, at least so far, every 7800 game I've tried works on the first shot or at least the second shot. But those games, while old are not nearly as old as a 2600 game. Also while most of the 2600 games do require a little effort to work. I do have about two 2600 games out of 15 that seem to work really nicely just like the 7800 games. So it isn't like ever 2600 cart gives me a hard time. Just almost every one. Also note, I've cleaned every cart at least once with rubbing alcohol and a q-tip.

     

    Ok sorry for the long topic and all the questions, but people on here who have dealt with Ataris alot, especially those who grew up with them, can help me to understand a little better, what I should expect and what I shouldn't expect from a 7800 and 2600/7800 games.

     

    I appreciate any responses. Thanks

    Robert

    :-o ... KENNETH MARTIN DOLAN - SOCIAL SECURITY #..... Is that you?

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