DocEss

Yeah, was partly thinking of just grabbing a PAL Sentinel if I was unable to find one of the converted carts Res did, and calling it even, since the standard PAL carts can be had fairly easily. I don't think I'd go for label variants, or PAL versions of the same games. I'd call it complete just having a full playable collection of each game. A PAL Asteroids is the same as an NTSC one, so I don't think I'd feel the need to have both.

This one would definitely have my vote.

Would you count the converted Sentinel? I'm working at finishing off my collection (at this point, it's just Tank Command that's holding me back) and I've been debating on if I should count Sentinel among that number. Points against it counting for me are the fact that it was never really released NTSC, and that it's probably all but impossible to get hands on one of the cartridges ResQSoft made, and things like that. So I'm curious what the opinions here would be on what counts as a full library for the 7800?

I have given you quite a bit of it, actually! I have many of what used to be your Atari games.

I admit to being a bit confused. I was speaking of the fact that the store is down, and Al has all these people basically begging him to let them give him money, and his response is sort of "Perhaps in a little while, I'll let you give me money". I just find it a bit funny.

Though, I do find some humor in this. "Hey! Let me give you some money! I have all this money I want to give you!" "No, no. Not right now. Perhaps later, though."

Hope to see it back up soon. I've bought a fair amount of stuff here, and been itchin' to pick up K.O. Cruiser and see how that goes. Edit: And Ladybug, and. . . and. . .

For exclusive games, I point you to Blaster. Yeah, you have to get a cartridge built, as the game never officially got a release (but it's complete), and it truly shows off the highnotes of that machine. Kangaroo is probably the best home version of that I've come across, and many other games on it are fantastic. Especially Berzerk. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a better version of it on a home console, let alone one that also has the voice samples. If you're an Atari fan, there's no real reason not to have one. I love mine. The controllers have their quirks, but really, they don't deserve as much hate as they get. I bought a handful of them on eBay, and none of them worked. 2 hours and some aluminum foil and superglue, and all of them worked again.

From what I can gather, from videos/still images vs. emulation/the arcade version, this is a game best experienced as you're playing it, and watching it doesn't do it justice.

Sent.

After having had some limited experience with this, reading a bit here and there, and being quite interested in it, I have to ask: Has this game ever been put into cartridge form, (blank or with a nice label)? Just curious, as if it were floating about, it'd definitely be something I'd throw some money at.

I know I'm a little late to the party in posting on this one, but I'd been searching for something exactly like this. A port of Frenzy to something other than the Colecovision. If this is still something in the pipeline, should it ever exist on a cartridge, you've absolutely got my purchase. Loved Frenzy. You do great work, as evidenced by all the other cartridges in my collection that came from your efforts.

Even cleaning the pot shafts still finds the stick reacting badly, sticking when it moves, and generally not responding properly.

I'll give that a test when I get home tonight. Admittedly, the way I am about repairing things though, I'd rather just replace them and be done with it.

One of the oft-hated things about these controllers is that they were not designed to automatically return to center. Yeah, I just mean the rubber boot+plastics will bring the stick back to default, when it's not connected to the pots. As in, it's not the plastics/stick assembly holding it locked in place. My fully working stick centers, more or less. It doesn't just stay forced in whatever spot you left it. This one literally locks left, and has to be forced back to center. Definitely not how it should be. However, when pulled up or down, it generalls centers via the boot. It's just left that is really, really bad off.

Yeah, it was a problem I noticed before I repaired the buttons. If you pull the stick to the left, it just stays there. On Gyruss (if you imagine it as a clock face), you can only move from 12 to 3 and back. They're really sticky, don't want to move properly. I'm pretty sure they're the problem. Everything else (plastics-wise) seems fine, as when the controller is apart, the stick moves freely, and defaults back to center with no issue. Admittedly, I'm new to repairing these, so, if that sounds like another issue, please do let me know. The more of these I have in working order, the better.

Well, the foil idea worked wonderfully on one of my broken controllers! However, the pots are still completely shot. Is that something I need to order specific, or can one Radio Shack such a doodad?

Well, I'm highly experienced in disassembly and fine repair of the internal components of laptops, so I figure a controller can't be so bad.

Fantastic, good to know. I know that poor giant box gets a lot of hate, but it has some of the best translations of my favorites (such as Berzerk and Vanguard), so I can't help but love it. Is that glue tin foil procedure fairly simple? I've got a non-functional stick sitting around, and wouldn't be opposed to resurrecting it as a backup.

Depends on which games you play and how passionate you are about the game. It's like estimating how many atoms burn up on a tire when you press the brakes-- should last long if they are gold and don't oxidize easily. Primarily your standard arcade ports. (Ms) Pac-man, Gyruss, Galaxian, Berzerk (hell of a lot of Berzerk), Vanguard, stuff like that. Maybe even some Kangaroo. Some Zaxxon if I can track down a copy. I try not to get to vigorous with the controllers, however, because I'm fully aware of their fragility. Was just shooting for sort of an average. Like 2-3 years, 12-18 months, stuff like that.

I've recently gotten a handful of rebuilt controllers. (BEST, gold contacts, etc.) If I casually play the machine (likely less than my 2600 or 7800, presume maybe 10 hours/month or less) what kind of lifespan can I expect before replacing the controllers (again)?

jaybird3rd is awesome. Fab'd some 7800 carts for me, lightning fast, and even apologized it wasn't faster! Packed safely, well protected (no crappy bubble mailers here!) and worked great. Never need to have anything but utmost confidence when trading/buying/selling with him.

It may not be the prettiest method, but personally, I use large sealable (airtight) plastic storage containers. Each one holds about 50-ish cartridges. I carefully put them in there, and add some silica gel packets with them to keep the moisture levels down. It's worked quite well so far. It's a bit obnoxious when you want a game from the very bottom, but, it's better than letting them be exposed to dust. I'm sure a different strategy would be employed for long-term storage or "collector's item" status, but I regularly play mine, so it works for my purpose.

Have purchased scads of stuff from the Ax on eBay. Nobody I buy from there ever ships games as clean and quick as he does. Thumbs up to the.golden.ax. I'm never disappointed when I purchase from him.

(If this is in the wrong place, feel free to move, couldn't find anywhere better). I wish to print off a couple labels for 7800 games, and while I know my way around photoshop from making custom DVD covers, those will generally print off at precisely the right size I need. However, obviously, I don't need a 7800 label that covers the entire page. Is there a particular set of dimensions I need to restrict the label graphics to in order to have them print properly? Thanks. (However, if anyone happens to have the label graphics for Plutos and Sirius on their hard drive, that would make my life much easier.)