The Atari VCS Info Thread

[The Atari VCS Info Thread]

14 minutes ago, Shaggy the Atarian said:

Yeah, no clue. Best guess from that tweet is that they're looking to do some kind of eSports thing with it. I do know a game dev in Japan who says that he say the specs for this console last year, although I'll have to ask him for a follow-up - at the time he said it was less powerful than the PS5, but they have had time to change that. They are one company who has a lot of IP under their belt still, but they've also kept it alive with new releases. If this comes with new exclusive versions of The King of Fighters and Metal Slug, that'd be a strong start...but we'll see if they have a stronger hook than that.

I would be INCREDIBLY, indescribably bummed if the new Metal Slug was an exclusive to their new console. Ugh.

[The Atari VCS Info Thread]

6 minutes ago, Shaggy the Atarian said:

Speaking of other consoles, SNK wants to remind everyone that they announced the NeoGeo 2 some time ago, and they say it's coming next year. No crowdfunding for it so far...

 

The MVSX released very recently, and SNK put out two mini-consoles not that long ago (the tiny cabinet and the Arcade Stick Pro). They were too pricey for my tastes, but I wonder what a "bridge" between "passionate fans" and "console gaming enthusiasts" (false dichotomy?) even means.

[Atari 2600 Mascot?]

Pitfall Harry, followed closely by a small square.

[doubledown]

I received a custom-made arcade stick from doubledown and it's absolutely gorgeous. Shipping was prompt, the package arrived safe and sound, and it came with a nice instruction manual! Fantastic seller.

[How old were you when you played your first Atari 2600 game?]

In my early 20s in college, a handful of years ago. 

[How do you stay up on New Releases?]

If you're referring to homebrews, keeping a tab on the ZeroPage Homebrew YouTube videos and the programming sub-forum here are worth doing: https://atariage.com/forums/forum/50-atari-2600-programming/

 

And the same goes for checking on this 2600 forum every so often, of course, and scanning the latest threads for any homebrew developments. Finally, checking the AA homepage for any big new batch of releases, like the one that just happened recently, is a good way to go.

 

Those are my go-to ways for keeping up with the homebrew scene for the 2600.

[8bitdo brand of controllers any good?]

I've preferred the Switch Pro Controller whenever I've had the option, but the SN30 Pro+ is arguably the best third-party controller I've ever encountered. I haven't encountered a LOT, mind you, and my frame of reference is basically Mad Catz from the mid-2000s, but still. I think it's solid for the price tag.

[The Atari VCS Info Thread]

50 minutes ago, 6502wrangler said:

 

I think you missed the creative hacking community that will inevitably arise to modify the VCS.

 

Just off the top of my head, I imagine it can be repurposed to prop open kitchen cabinet doors, or press the water out of tofu.

 

It's this kind of forward, outside-the-box thinking that should have been there in the earliest stages of R&D for the new console.

[New 2600, 5200, 7800, and Atari 8-bit Computer Games! Pre-Order Today!]

4 hours ago, gilsaluki said:

What is this guy Jerkin'?

If anything, he's abidin'.

[Macromedia/Adobe Flash dies this year, what are your memories?]

4 hours ago, bluejay said:

I've had a lot of fun playing various flash games that weren't blocked during at school in the middle of class with my friends when we weren't supposed to. We got extremely skilled at pressing alt+tab lightning fast when the teacher comes around to see what we're doing. Every once in a while one of us would get caught which was always fun.

I'm curious to see how fellow students would react when they find out that all their favorite unblocked flash game sites are now completely useless.

Man, this brings me back to MY middle school days. We would get through whatever assignment we had to do and then would browse Miniclip, AddictingGames, ArmorGames, CrazyMonkeyGames, Kongregate, Nitrome, and other websites for our favorites. Some of those were Bowman 2, Thing-Thing Arena, Fancy Pants Adventure, N-Game, Heli Attack series, Desktop Tower Defense, Crush the Castle, Stickman RPG, and of course, the life-changing RuneScape (2). Played that for YEARS. 
 

never would have stumbled on it were it not for Miniclip. 
 

the end of an era. 

[New 2600, 5200, 7800, and Atari 8-bit Computer Games! Pre-Order Today!]

[Deep Space [ ATARI 2600 ]]

Amazing!

[Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A]

2 minutes ago, Intellivision Master said:

That's a very nice collection you have there Bixler.  Too bad you don't have a console to play them on.  

Thanks! Yeah, that's alright. I don't have the time or space right now anyway. I told him to hold onto them for me all the same.

[Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A]

On 12/3/2020 at 11:37 AM, Bixler said:

Just popping in to say this console looks far more promising of a product than whatever it is Atari is about to put out... good luck! It looks like the Amico won't be able to play original carts, but all the same, this reminds me that I believe I have a few boxes of Intellivision CIB games at my parents' house that I should call about soon... wonder what happened to them.

 

EDIT: Just going to add that the woodgrain limited edition is so, SO tempting. I've bookmarked the page to really take a look at this over the weekend.

I mentioned to my parents that I thought I had some old video games stored away at their place, and sure enough...! (My father took some pics and sent them to me).

 

No system to play them on, alas. But this is exciting!

[Latest Harmony Cart software]

Understood. Thanks for the replies.

[Intellivision Amico - Tommy Tallarico introduction + Q&A]

Just popping in to say this console looks far more promising of a product than whatever it is Atari is about to put out... good luck! It looks like the Amico won't be able to play original carts, but all the same, this reminds me that I believe I have a few boxes of Intellivision CIB games at my parents' house that I should call about soon... wonder what happened to them.

 

EDIT: Just going to add that the woodgrain limited edition is so, SO tempting. I've bookmarked the page to really take a look at this over the weekend.

[2600 Trooper joystick]

Necro'ing this to say thanks for the reviews. Seems like an upgrade in some respects from the CX40. It looks like they've changed the design a bit, though: https://www.amazon.com/Hyperkin-Trooper-Controller-not-machine-specific/dp/B07M5HYTZL

[Latest Harmony Cart software]

On 10/14/2020 at 1:46 PM, batari said:

That would be awesome to get a new release done.

 

I am not able to build Windows binaries at the moment, so if you can build one I will test it out and we can get this released before too long.

Is there any update on this potential update to the HarmonyCart, out of curiosity?

[Alice in Wonderland - new homebrew game]

This looks fantastic! 

[Atari Joystick Controller with 2600 & 7800 2-Button Compatibility]

10 hours ago, doubledown said:

Informally at this point, if I were to make these 2600/7800 2-button PCBs available, what would your preference be to any would-be buyer:

 

Fully assembled, with resistors, diodes, and switch

PCB with some or all, loose components, as a solder yourself kit

Bare PCB, you supply your own components & switch

Definitely the first for me, as someone with no know-how or proper tools to put it together in my small apartment. I'd just save up and eat the inevitably higher price. But I'm sure others would prefer the third one.

[Atari Joystick Controller with 2600 & 7800 2-Button Compatibility]

7 hours ago, hizzy said:

I would love something like this for real hardware. I'm sure others would, too!

100%. If you're selling these, I'll happily get in line.

[Just showing off my custom-made joystick]

Gorgeous! :)

[2600 HDMI Mod?]

Not that I know of, but it's fairly common to perform an AV or S-video mod on one. Then you can run it through an upscaler if you'd like!

 

Another option is to pick up the Retron 77 and then read the relevant thread(s) on AtariAge for the Stella community build for it to expand the Retron 77's gaming potential.

[Homebrew Haul]

Gorgeous controller and awesome haul.

[Nothing here]

Could I see pics of the HDMI mod? Does it affect the display of any 2600 or homebrew games negatively?