Tubular Gearhead

Ok, so I was able to snap a few pictures this morning of the cartridge. This is the first time I have tried attaching photos here with my new camera, so I hope the files aren't too big. It might be hard to see, but there are definitely other labels underneath the red ones. So what do you guys think?

I know I need to take a number and get in line for this one , but if anyone has 2600 Espial by Tigervision and is willing to part with it for a reasonable price please PM me. Reasonable price? Not really sure what that is but let's talk. Good condition loose is basically what I had in mind... Thanks for looking!

Anyone know about this "Castle of Horror" game? This seller looks like they have three Astrocade auctions right now and each contains this game. It looks like a cartridge too, not a cassette... eBay Auction -- Item Number: 290512736751

Atari 2600. <runs and hides> JUST KIDDING!!!

Is the memory chip/battery combo socketed, or would it need to be un-soldered from the board? Can I buy a replacement label now so I don't have to search for one in 20-years?

I was just playing Yars' Revenge last night and noticed that my cartridge appears to have another label below the front and end label. the cartridge is the Atari Corp. red label variety, NTSC, and is in otherwise very good condition. It looks like the labels underneath the red ones (front and end) are black. It is the standard "late model" cart w/o the spring mechanism and with the holes under the label. Does anyone have any ideas why my cart seems to be a retread? I can try and post a picture or two tonight if anyone is interested...

No problem at all. Take your time and finish it like you envisioned it. We have waited for 25-years for something like this for the 7800, a little bit extra is no big deal...

Yep.

Wow, I will gladly take one of those off your hands for the right price. Even loose is fine with me, I have been looking for this one...

That looks like Inca Gold by Zellers, but I could be wrong...

Bally Astrocade. BTW great find!

That's exactly what I did (not sue, but open an Ebay case), and it worked for me.

Looks awesome! PM sent.

Just an update to my earlier post about the green Polaris stock photo... Last night I got an email from Ebay saying they would decide on my case since the seller still hadn't replied after one week of an open case. Within 20 minutes, I got another email saying that my entire purchase price + shipping had been refunded to my PayPal account (I get to keep the blue labeled Polaris they shipped). I was pretty impressed with Ebay- I was shocked to get a full refund- I just wanted the seller to contact me and figure something out. Maybe they were ashamed that they lied in the first place about the picture being the actual item (I had asked them before I bid). Anyway, pretty cool to have my money back.

I understand what you guys are saying, and it is a valid point. But overall, I personally have always wanted to see larger, more elaborate games that push the 7800- especially an adventure one (Midnight Mutants only goes so far...). Back in the day, Nintendo, with their very deep pockets and resources was able to put more memory and processors on the cartridges like we are talking about, and make the 7800 look pretty bad (and the NES really good- unfair advantage). Atari's own effort with ram and pokey saw limited use, and was too little too late to show people what the 7800 could really do if given the same attention as some other company's games. I really want to see what Maria can do! To put all the extra ram, improved sound and whatever else in a large portion of 7800 homebrew games today is just not as economically feasible as the the 7800XM solution. I am sure there will still be many homebrewers who write games for the stock 7800, but I am looking forward to larger games on the XM, and I still hope someone will do a 7800 Adventure!!!

I have a case open right now on Ebay with a seller that won't respond to my emails. I won an auction for the green label Polaris after confirming with the seller that the picture was of the actual item they would ship (great condition from the picture). They shipped me a dirty, worn blue label Polaris. 5 days after alerting Ebay- still no response from seller and they have other items for sale I don't like sellers who use stock photos...

I have bought protective cases from a seller on Ebay and I am really satisfied with them. The protective poly cases fit most Atari boxes perfectly!!! For reference, type this number into Ebay to see what I mean... ID # 330387683276 These are the ones I use- they are about $1 each, but you can get a great deal if you buy in bulk.

+1 Well said.

I don't understand all the 7800XM killjoys. There is a long history of video game peripherals meant to expand a system that lead to games that are not playable (or playable with all features) w/o the expansion. I presume we all know this. Supercharger, Intellivoice, the Voice, Adam, 32X, Jag CD, and I am sure many, many others I am forgetting about. Not to mention, Curt and team decided to go very conservative and include only features that were possible back in the time after the 7800 was released. I don't know all the details, but from what I have read there was even debate as to whether or not to include the Yamaha sound chip- but since it was around in 80's arcade machines- it got the go ahead. The 7800XM even uses the casing as designed for expanding the 7800 (high scores or keyboard? whatever...) way back then. Seriously. I mean, how much more Atari and period specific can it be?? As said already, you don't have to buy it if you really don't want to support it- but let's not discourage game development for it...

I would recommend reading up on the exact specifications of the 7800XM and the direction Curt and the designers have taken. Everything was available back then, including 128k. That is all I will say. This topic has been addressed over and over in the 7800 threads and it is best taken there. Once again, sorry for the highjack

Seriously guys, how is this any different than the Supercharger for the 2600 when that came out? Back then, you want to play "The Official Frogger" or other supercharger games, buy the Supercharger. Same principal. The 7800XM will only increase the possibilities available for the 7800. And just like the example above, the games can be made larger and more elaborate... I see all of this exposure as only increasing the fan base, not dividing it.

The question "why" has been answered in the many threads about the 7800 expansion module. This project addresses many of the shortcommings and unrealised dreams of the 7800 using old original drawings and ideas that could/should have happened back in 1984 under different management, budget, etc... When one really gets into all the history and promiss of the 7800, you can really see how this new project is very much in alignment with what could have been. And now we will have it! Oops, sorry to highjack this post- I guess we should get back on track...

This is awesome, I can't wait! Thanks so much to all involved.

Well, the seller did choose the name "limpwrist86"... BTW: When the auction was active, I very politely notified the seller that it was a CV cart twice, and that it was unfair to the potential buyer to list it as a 2600 cart. They never responded. I wonder if someone on here bought it?

"am I the only one still waiting for my multicart??" No, you are not the only one waiting, I ordered a Pac-Man cartridge several months ago. @Fredric: Hang in there. Sometimes it is hard to see your way out of depression when it hits real hard. Just try and think about things the way you want them to be and know that more often than not the hard times will pass. You do amazing work with the Channel F, and we are all thankful for your efforts. I hope you feel better soon...