jaybird3rd

D'oh! Guess I stand corrected on that one! I mist have searched in the games section by mistake ...

"Activision's Music Studio" and "Garry Kitchen's GameMaker" were both released, but never for the Atari 8-bit computers (at least as far as I know).

Toys "R" Us

First Star Software is still producing BoulderDash games and is VERY interested in protecting the franchise, and I don't think they'd appreciate an "unauthorized" version even if the name/graphics were changed. Besides, First Star seems to be willing to work with classic game enthusiasts (didn't they authorize the port of Atari 400/800 BoulderDash to the 5200?), so it's best not to antagonize them.

I just read Curt's update again and noticed that he mentions doing some MCU coding, so I suspect he's already got an interface for modern keyboards in mind. It might even be similar to keyboard interfaces designed for the Atari 8-bit computers (like this one), since the original design used keyboard mechs from the XL series. Using a modern keyboard might make the 7800 computer module a little less "retro," but it would almost certainly make it cheaper and easier to produce as well. I'm sure none of us would have a problem finding a spare keyboard of our own to use.

You might want to look at Thomas Jentzsch's Missile Command TB. There are versions which support both of Atari's trackballs (the CX-80 and the CX-22), as well as Amiga and Atari ST mice.

Twenty-six hundred (or 'twenny-six hunnerd' depending on your pronunciation). I don't think I've ever heard anyone say "two thousand six hundred" or "two six oh oh." Of course, it goes by other names too: the Video Computer System (or VCS for short), and of course 'Stella'.

A question just occured to me regarding these new 7800 cases. As I understand it, designing and tooling a new injection mold for new cases like these is a VERY expensive process (something like $10K or more depending on the complexity of the mold), but once the mold is done, it's relatively easy and inexpensive to make the cases themselves; all that requires is new plastic. Since a small number of cases have obviously been made, the money has already been spent to create the mold. What would prevent someone from using it to make more cases that could be sold by themselves? I think it would be a great thing to have for refurbishing/restoring beat-up 7800 consoles (even without the logo/signature if those have to be left out for legal reasons), and it would allow Curt to recoup at least some of his design and manufacturing costs. It would be a shame to stick that mold on a shelf somewhere--or on the scrap heap!--and have all of that work go to waste.

Thanks for that very interesting info Curt! I knew I wasn't imagining things when I remembered the connection to the Flashback, although I wasn't aware of the O'Shea's connection. Making a new 7800 to help sell the games was a good idea (INTV did much the same thing with the Intellivision III in the mid-80s), and it's too bad it didn't work out; I would have LOVED to see a brand new 7800 released in today's world. Come to think of it, it's such a pity that so many of these cool projects have gotten canned! From the FB3 prototype to the original Flashback concept to the Atari keychain games, it seems that something always comes up at the last minute and cuts them off. I certainly appreciate all your efforts to create new Atari products, and I'm glad to hear that the FB3 isn't a dead project after all. Looking forward to seeing it!

Interesting ... I seem to remember someone (Curt perhaps?) posting a picture of one of these units before, only that one was molded in black plastic with silver writing. I recall that it was described as being Curt's original vision for the Atari Flashback console, but one that "Atari" passed on in favor of a more inexpensive design that went on to become the FB1, and that it could house an original 7800 motherboard too (although the power LED had to be mounted directly on the board because there wasn't as much clearance as the original 7800 case). I had assumed this was one of the prototypes, only molded in a different color plastic. I wish I could find that original post ...

It's a real pity that more of these weren't made. Wasn't this intended to be the original Flashback console before "Atari" decided to go the cheap route with a NOAC-based system, or am I misremembering this?

One of the few exceptions to the rule is the Jakks Atari 13-in-1 Paddle unit, which includes the best implementation of Warlords and Pong that I've seen outside of the arcade originals. But otherwise, I agree with the others ... the TV-game units are mostly low-budget knockoffs that aren't worth your attention if you are a classic arcade gaming purist. Whatever you do, avoid the Atari keychain joystick/paddle units like the plague; they're the most craptacular of all.

I just re-checked their Google Financial page, and it looks like this thread has returned: http://finance.google.com/finance?q=%22Basic+Fun%22 EDIT: Well, it was gone for a while, but now it's back again ... at the top of the list! Woohoo!

Heh ... these kids think they're cool smashing an Intellivision? Gallagher did it twenty years ago!

Perhaps it would be helpful to look at how the Atari 7800 joystick triggers are implemented (there's a wiring diagram in the 2600/7800 FAQ). They are connected to the paddle inputs as well as the fire button input, and use one 680-ohm resistor per trigger.

Yeah, I'm not sure what they were thinking with the power supply, but it's VERY easy to modify the console to accept a more standard third-party power supply (I've done it to two of mine). Anyway, great find! I'd be totally stoked to find anything that nice in a local shop (even though I'm not a Commodore guy and would probably resell it).

I wonder if Jakks' (apparent) abandonment of the GameKey idea has anything to do with the failure of "Atari" to follow through with the Flashback 3. The FB3 was to have been a cartridge-based system, but now that it isn't coming (at least not from the bumbling "Atari"), maybe there isn't as much motivation for Jakks to make their own systems expandable via the GameKey.

let us ponder...Heh ... I guess that explains Driver 3, doesn't it? Personally, I'd say they deserve it. They're screwing Curt and his company, and they're screwing their customers, and "Atari" and "Basic Fun" deserve all the heat they've taken (and are going to take) over it. It will be interesting to see how these developments play out.

You're right ... those of us who care that these are poorly-made and untrue to the original games have already made up our minds not to buy. But even those who don't care about those things should still refuse to buy them because of the unfair comments Jacob Rose cited above. Any company that spreads lies like that doesn't deserve anyone's hard-earned money, even if it is only $15 to $20. True, but people are being ripped off, and I still think it's only right to do as much as possible to get the word out. Fortunately, nobody has to scour the AtariAge boards to be duly warned: if you do a Google search for the words atari keychain right now, this thread shows up at the top of the list. It's possible that those who don't even know about AtariAge can find their way here just by doing a little research.

You'll probably get much better results with an RCA adapter, like this one. You can buy it through the AtariAge store, and I've also seen them on sale at Radio Shack and other places. Alternatively, you can look into getting a composite A/V kit for the 7800, which will give you a dramatic improvement in the video and audio and will also make it a lot easier to connect your 7800 to modern televisions. There have been complaints about the amount of time it takes for 8BitDomain (the site I linked to) to fulfill their orders, however, so you might want to do some additional research before you make any decisions.

WHO DO THEY THINK THEY'RE KIDDING ?! So now Curt is an "engineer" who doesn't have the know-how to finish a project or deliver what he promises?! Is that what "Atari" said to them when they handed over his keychain prototype and told them to turn it into a nasty piece of crap? I guess that means the FB2 must have just appeared out of thin air somehow despite the bumbling efforts of that so-called "engineer" Curt. Boy, I don't know about you, but I'm so glad "Basic Fun" came along to set the record straight about what's really been happening ... up until now, I actually believed that Curt was the one building all this cool stuff! What was I thinking???!!! Seriously, everybody, I think it's time to BOYCOTT the "Atari" keychain games RIGHT NOW if you haven't already decided to do so. Comments like that, directed at somebody who delivered a successful product (about the only one to come out of that worthless company masquerading as Atari) only to have his ideas ripped off by some cheap Chinese junk factory, are just WAY out of line!

If this is a stock 7800, my first guess would be a bad RF signal; I've seen very poor reception result in a black-and-white picture before. Are you losing color on 7800 games as well, or just 2600 games? If it's the 2600 games that are black-and-white, you might want to fiddle with the "Pause" button on the console, which is just the (renamed) black-and-white switch from the 2600.

Now THAT is something I'd love to see. Keith knows that a lot of people are unhappy with the Techno Source handhelds that they're selling now, and when he was asked about upgrading to a real Inty handheld someday (at CGE '05), he certainly seemed enthusiastic about the prospect. I think he said that the best quote they had received at that point was $30K for 5,000 units, which was still a bit too expensive for them. I'm really hoping that they go for it.

Well, as I said before, I never for a moment thought you would have signed off on them in their present condition. As soon as I saw it was based on the NOAC, I knew something was very wrong: this couldn't have come from Legacy Engineering, because why would they have gone back to the NOAC when they've already got the FB2 technology? It really sucks that your original design was screwed up so badly by somebody else and then put into production anyway, and the price point totally baffles me. Your "expensive" prototype was still cheaper than the $15 unit that I bought, and that $15 was actually a reduced price; the original sticker price was $19.77! They've got a lot of nerve asking so much money for such a shoddy product, especially one based on technology that was made totally obsolete by the FB2 chipset, and it tells me that they're only doing it to make a quick buck off of unwitting consumers. I can only see this becoming a complete disaster for them, as if they needed another failure. In any case, thanks for shedding some light on the subject, and for posting those pictures; the paddle proto in particular looks sooooo much nicer than the one I saw on the shelf. Either one of them would have been a pleasure to own.

Well, I never thought I'd say it, but my opinion of Atari marketing has actually improved somewhat after seeing this (and that freaky Joust ad, too). Brilliant! We really need more commercials like this today, or at least more of whatever hallucinogenic drugs inspired them.