Video

February 1

Lol, love it man, ill keep an eye out for the longer version. Pretty funny and shows most peoples issue with the game, holes 😛 while not just dissing the game for them. Looks like, well sounds like you were having fun with it, and after all, that's the important bit.

February 1

Very cool. Yeah the last two is kapers, and enduro ( one of my favorite racers on 2600, I put lots of time in but rarely get past day four, no idea how many days it goes, five or seven if I guessed, AA probably has its instruction sheet, I've just not looked) can't really tell about the other two, poor image.

As for color, is that an LCD tv, hard to tell from the pic,, they often don't like the vcs funky resolutions, and locking to b/w is often one of the things they do, and it could be exaggerated by being a multicart, or it might be a partially corrupt or damaged ROM. This is definitely rarer than a typical one off cart, but I am familiar with space vision, I've seen them, but don't own any.

What did you pay out of curiosity? Like I said, probably someone would buy or trade for it.

January 31

Games going for a buck or two a year after launch was common for the era though. People forget, but back then game stores were rare, if they existed at all in your area. Its not like today where games top will pay you 50 cents to $5 for a game, then throw it on the shelf for $5 less than the still available, still full price, production run. That's a relatively new phenomenon.

On pacman, yes, it sold, and sold well. It sold throughout the life of the Atari too. It was a decent game, that satisfied our itch to play permanent at home. Why people would sell it a fear later for a few cents is easy. A arcade game can get away with simple and repetitive, because I got to play it a few minutes a shot, A couple times a month while the parents were shopping. Home version gets played hours a day, every day. Overly simple games like pacman don't hold up as well when you can play as much as you want, not like say, asteroids, where each game is truly unique as the rocks break up more randomly as you shoot them, despite being a very simple arcade style game, so it has a much greater replay value. I'm sure some out there have a pacman cabinet, either a lovingly restored original, or a modern knock off. Seriously, do you play that for hours every day? I doubt it.

Most peoples problem with pacman is two fold, one, the very likely chance they never played it, or were to young to remember it, so they jump on the internet bandwagon of "it suxors" mostly because of two (and provable by their own comments) because they never played it, all the hate is graphically related. While people say all kinds of reasons the game sucks, its always graphics. You wonder why? That's easy. Most people don't have/play atari, and most don't emulate either. Without one of those, you can only see pacman (on blalions of YouTube videos that are mostly the "look how bad this game sucks" type. You can't play without emulation or actual hardware, because while they made it, atari doesn't own it, so it doesn't pop up in modern game collections. People assume it sucks, because their told it sucks, and they can't experience it themselves, so that becomes perceived as fact. Same with ET, which while like pacman, I'm under no impression its the best ever, I'd also never say its the worst either. Both are middle of the road (maybe a bit better) average games with perfect gameplay, taking 2600 limitations into account.

January 31

My thoughts on recapping, I've got no issue if it is needed. If a cap goes out, your device can quit working, sometimes disasterously so. However, that's if needed, not just "because I can" atari 2600 is a really reliable machine and if you regularly use it, it shouldn't need recapped. Most peoples problem with it is "I got out of playing for years or decades, and went back to it after the caps dried out from lack of use" assuming someone didn't stop playing bitd because a cap blew and back then it wasn't possible to Google fixes.

I don't care for modding, but hey, its your toy, not mine so that is up to you. Recapping is about preservation, not modding, to get as long a life out of a product as possible, so that's cool if you can. Buying someone else's thing is just inheriting someone else's problem, especially with a 40+ year old piece of hardware, so not necessarily a viable option. And as seen with 2600+ even new may not be. I'd love a 100% replacement for my aged 2600, sure, but its going to be a future thing, if ever. Recapping is still a last resort for me as I lack experience/skill to do it, but I'd try if I had to, because I love my 2600, but like I said, last resort, I'd risk serious chance of doing further damage or destroying it doing it myself. Luckily my childhood Vader still works fine, knock on wood.

January 31

I was going g to say that. Looks like an unbundled paddle is available for preorder too.

Man I'm going to drop a load of money the year, it would be a lot more if so much stuff wasn't constantly "sold out" seriously.

When is dark chambers for 7800 going to make N Appearance?

January 31

Copyright can last an obscene amount of time, its to protect the creator, and maybe the first generation of kids so they can use it without people just stealing it. However, its nowhere that simple, copyright does expire relatively quickly if it isn't being used. It can become public domain in as little as five years if its not actively being used, and considering how few people know who even made, distributed, etc rogue, if say its probably public domain at this point.

Seriously, anybody ever see a production run of the original game? Or was it always just a bootleg? I've never seen it for sale, even as a bootleg, it just was always available free for a wide variety of computers and even some consoles (in redone with Mario graphics fashioned)

January 30

While most games do have updates today, Nintendo proves even in the modern world that games can indeed be released complete. I don't necessarily know why they update, just little faniggly things for whatever reason, but I've as of yet, not run into any that are out and out unplayable without updates (my switch doesn't have an internet IV) just to bad quite a few are still released incomplete, or cards as keys style. I'm done with Microsoft and their discs as keys mentality,i got the xbox one and literally played one gsme on it in the six months i had it, as the average game download (from disc media) exceeded my internet quota for a month. At least Nintendo stuff is clearly marked on the front of the package so I didn't end up saddled with a game I potentially can't play.

Love that mockup image (despite flaws) actually reminds me of old Atari adds from the 80's. Whole family gathered around Atari with excitement on their faces, looking at the side, or back of the tv with a boot screen, or no image lol.

January 29

If your going to go with a non custom format like SD, yeah, the vcs already has USB, just make games on a thumb drive and release for that.

I did mention multiple times taking the vcs, updating it for a more up to date capability (the current one is officially five years old, and unofficially probably closer to ten) update it and give it some sort of real media port, cart, disc, something. I spent a chunk of time without access to good internet, and it soured the waters so much ill never go back to digital downloads again. It was ok,ish, when games were 5-10 gigs, not so much when games are 50-200+ gigs. I won't be buying any more consoles that don't have (good) physical support. Tbh, I've got enough stuff backlogged, I'd just do without. Its no real skin off my nuts if people don't want my money.

January 29

I liked the bubsy from a few years ago, if it wasn't for the shortness of that game it could have been great. Seriously, look at the map and your thinking "first world", not " the world" I loved it and had a blast, and was quite surprised when I beat the world and it was just, game over. Oh, that sucks.

Just give us more of that, but make a larger world. That game should have had four worlds at least, and typically that type of side scroller has 8 or more. Lots of people would consider 4 to short too, but it at least wouldn't have been unsatisfactoraly short like what we got.

As for bubsy personality, that's part of what makes bubsy, well, bubsy. I've no issue with adding to his personality, but don't take away what is currently there, at least, not till he has an established improved/different personality to replace it with. Game characters do change, but the love it/hate it mentality of extreme changes could end up hurting it too. Or maybe us old school who remember him from bitd would hate it, but a new one could attract a new crowd. That could be ok, as long as he ends up perceived as well or better than he was.

January 28

In my neck of the woods, it was 2600, maybe the occasional other thing, like odyssey 2 coleco, or some other. Computer gamers were outliers. In my area, I was that outlier. Yeah, nobody thought Atari just made crappy consoles, or dumbed down arcade conversions.

At least here, consoles would be the more important part of Atari by far.

January 26

2600? I'd love a cart adapter for that. I've still not tried the dock yet. What controllers are good for it? Its pretty supportive (self stated) but doesn't work well in practice according to the AA group. I thought about some of the wired USB super Nintendo style pads, probably 8bit$o but haven't gotten around to it yet.

I thought you were referring to Activision anthology or Atari collection for gba, pretty sure those don't support two play at all.

January 26

Yeah the 7800 version uses a two button controller, that it currently doesn't support correctly. With reverse controls many games can't be played, as fire was usually the first button. (Making them partially compatible with a single button controller) here's hoping it will be fixed with an update, same for diff switches.

In the meantime, a two button controller is required to play. I'd suggest picking up some euro pads, which are loads better than the proline crap we got. Buttons will still be reversed, but you'll still have a fire button.

Also, try the 2600 version if you can find one. Its pretty common, so if your local game store has pre Nintendo stuff, they will be likely to have a copy for $5 or less. Clunky looking for sure, but play on advance (b setting on 2600+ till they fix the switches) its still a great game. Or uh... Play on beginner and veg out however long you want to go for, you won't die to death till your tired of playing.

January 25

Worse? There are several games on 2600 that can't be played (or completed) due to game breaking mechanics. I'd place those as worse. While I'd not say et is the worst, its not as some say, the best either, even among its on genera. Now of its genera (I'd class it with the likes of adventure, haunted house, superman, raiders, and a few others) its one of the worst (or maybe THE worst) but not overall.

Now it may be the worst, highly anticipated name brand licensed game. Had say yars been an absolute failure, I doubt it would be remembered the same way. ET did have millions of copies made, like five or so, but I think it did still sell in the millions. Be interesting to see sales vs production numbers. Often et was cited as having more produced than there was consoles, but I don't think so. Depending on the data you get, there was between 12 and 18 million 2600's in its original life. Though that was its life, dont know how many consoles existed in 82 (thanks zzip, thats on me) Wonder how many pluses have sold so far?

January 25

I want to play with an anthropic cube dude. That would be cool.

Maybe just make something like two towers, but themed with adventure characters and locales? That is if your talking a modern "recharged" or whatever version. I don't know though, modern open world adventure games like es tend to be huge, with huge teams and budgets.

I'd definitely love to see one once Atari is big enough to handle such s project. Adventure is my favorite genera modern day, but how long has it been since the last elderscrolls or fallout games? Like a decade?

January 25

Hmm. Several people mention ljn titles. I tend to like a lot of those, despite almost universally getting a bad rap for some reason. Some I see, mostly faniggly level bits where you have to have exact precision to advance, and being brutally hard over all. Outside that (which can apply to most Nintendo era games) I thought many ljn games were pretty good, and usually had above average graphics for their time.

January 25

11 hours ago, Glorkbot said:

I bought some more Activision carts and I just couldn’t get them to reliably load. It was very frustrating.

So… cut some pieces of foam (with slots for the contacts and the plastic guides) and inserted them into the carts so that the carts can’t be fully inserted, and that’s working pretty well. Some are Activision carts are still a little iffy on my 2600+ but others that rarely worked before now work every time with the foam inserted.

Interesting. Some early Activision titles actually had a foam plug originally, but Activision discontinued that on later carts. I always assumed they were pseudo dust covers, but perhaps they originally served double duty as insert limiters as well?

Wonder how hard it would be to have these foam plugs mass produced, I mean, if they actually help in some way, it could be worth a shot.

January 25

You mean here? Gsp is basically a pnp style system and doesn't have its own forum or anything. Several topics about it though.

As for buying, you can purchase one from Amazon (currently 90$ ish) or from Atari themselves. It seems to not be constantly sold out like much of their other stuff.

January 24

Go for it. Many do and I don't think Albert ever says anything.

I'd love to see your play style on ET. I don't play much, but when I do my objective is to crash the ship, then I consider the game finished (hey, Elliot is SUPPOSED to be there, besides, the game doesn't truly end otherwise)

January 24

Yeah et gets credit, but it was released in 81 a full two years before the start of the crash. Same for pacman. Both could have been better, but both are average fully playable games, and both sold really well, and from what I remember, both were played, a lot, bitd. Both of them sucking and causing the crash is just a post internet thing that popped up in the 90's. Its funny that even those who were there seem to no remember these things.

Yes there was a bunch buried in a landfill, along with a bunch of other games, that was from an Atari abandoned warehouse full of games, and outside Atari being unable, or forgetting to pay the bill, it has nothing to do with the crash (or quality, real or perceived) of those games.

January 24

Cool. Didn't see that one before. I was just going to say generic third party stick. Usually they didn't go for exactly Atari style, but plenty of companies made Atari compatible sticks for various common hardware, especially 2600.

Wonder if their 7800 compatible, I mean, if its actually two buttons, or just ambidextrous (both wired the same) if you get some, let us know.

January 24

I'd say a new Nintendo will probably come out the tail end of this year. Right now its all rumor mill speculation, but I do hope its essentially a switch 2. Its interest is declining, but its still the best selling current console, despite being rather outdated.

January 21

It does support extra paddles, but they were more popular than Atari anticipated and are constantly sold out. Even many of us who preordered them ended up waiting. Actually, the entire 2600 line turned out to be more popular than anticipated, and everything is regularly sold out. Funny to those of us who've been asking for clones for literal decades, and constantly told we were wrong and such a thing wouldn't sell lol.

A paddle only sku is coming, I hear, but who knows how long that will take. In the meantime, you just got to keep looking up Atari, amazon, and whoever else sells them and hope to get lucky.

January 21

Not all games use b/w for a b/w color option. Its a dip switch that requires a game be programmed to make use of it, and it can be used for whatever. Some games like 007 use it as a pause switch. I believe moon patrol uses b/w to toggle music. Atari is a pretty "dumb" console, so the switches are usually programmed to do more or less the same thing from game to game, but really can be set by the programmer to do anything they like (or nothing at all)

I think Atari largely abandoned it around 81-82. Most 70's games did do b/w mode. Yars was an 82 title, I think. And as 2600+ will only work on HDMI on modern tv,I doubt anybody would make a b/w mode for any modern games.

I know if I programmed games for 2600, I'd make most of them use b/w to pause the game, with a slight delay before accepting commands again, it could even use the 7800 pause button probably.

January 21

Found another problem on Atari 50 (switch) it doesn't appear to save. Major bummer, I'd about finished atarikarts on jaguar, and was looking forward to finishing it on switch (originally I missed miracle man, I think) I'd only got up to katamari (sp?) On switch, and went to play other games. Imagine my surprise when I go back to Atari karts and have to restart. Gack. I know people dis it as bad, but for 95 it really was a good game, but only after you bypass the early modes that were to easy (imo) and can play the extra tracks and characters.

Here's hoping a future update fixes this. I really want to aim for 100% it at some time. This is the only game I've tried saving, maybe I did it wrong? Just the minus key pulls up the switch options (read instructions, save, load, etc) select save and push a. Load appears to do squat. So I'm assuming it just doesn't work (this is the only game I've attempted to save, or I'd say another game overwrote it)

January 21

They are probably bootleg/pirate games. Many times people or dishonest companies would make carts, and since a larger ROM chip may be cheaper than a smaller one, they filled it with multiple games accessed by dip switches somewhere on the cart.

If you go back, get pics (or just buy them, I'm sure someone here will trade/buy them from you) without a pic, ill say their likely common games, but some may have weird games on them.

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