jaybird3rd

It doesn't; I've successfully used both at the same time.

One place to start would be to look at the metal domes on the circuit board inside the joysticks. I don't happen to remember if they are the same size as the domes used in 2600 sticks; if they are, you could probably pick up some inexpensive replacements (although these seem to wear out faster than the originals). Another alternative would be to simply unplug the whole board and plug in a new one; if you're interested, I think I have a few extras.

I had both striped and non-striped versions, and they seemed identical aside for the cosmetics. I actually like the non-striped version better, so when it came time to sell one, that's the one I kept. Speaking of the Intellivision II ... the label says that it requires a 16.2VAC power supply. Is it really that picky? I'm running my unit right now with a 12VAC 1200mA power supply because it was the closest match I could find, and it seems to work just fine.

I had an XEGS with a bad ANTIC chip once, so I swapped it out with one from a dead 600XL. It worked fine, and I suspect that the 6502 and the other coprocessors are also interchangeable.

One other issue with the AtariMania site (and I do visit periodically when I'm looking for something that can't be found elsewhere) is the abundance of hacked/cracked versions of Atari software. One example is Boulder Dash: there are 24 "versions" in the database, but if I remember correctly, there were only three legitimate releases for the Atari 400/800 (Boulder Dash, Boulder Dash II, and Boulder Dash Construction Set). The others seem to be duplicates or cracked versions with different (annoying) greetz screens, and I've seen this problem with other games, too. It would be nice if the cracks could be filtered out or somehow distinguished from "virgin" copies (if any are available). In spite of that, though, I do think it's a great resource, and I wish I had more to contribute. I did get a bunch of brand new Atarisoft titles today (Apple II and TI games) that I wouldn't mind scanning in for the Atarisoft section, if anyone at AtariMania is interested.

The XF551 is actually capable of using DSDD diskettes in their full 360K capacity (assuming you're using the correct DOS), so it is not necessary to notch these if you're using them for simple data storage or to store game binaries. A lot of larger programs that require the older 90K format of the 810, however, are configured to read data from both sides of the disk and will ask you to switch to one or the other as needed. If you're interested in making backups of these, you may find it necessary to notch your disks. I'd recommend getting a proper disk notcher for this; it's a lot easier (and safer) than measuring and punching out the holes and B&C ComputerVisions sells them for only a few dollars. Does anyone happen to know whether the XF551 is capable of reading/writing to flippies as easily as the 810 and 1050 could? I know it uses a standard IBM-compatible drive mech, and from what I remember, those aren't nearly as compatible with flippies. I'd test it with my XF551, but I'm using it with a 3.5-inch drive mech at the moment.

I think Curt indicated that it would be a slot that is pin-compatible with the original cartridge slot, but in a different form factor. I imagine it will be something smaller, cheaper, and easier to carry around with you than the original cartridges, but also something that would allow an (unauthorized) adapter so you could play original cartridges if you want to. I don't care too much if they use a 5200-looking case, which would probably be "retro" enough to suit the product even though it isn't as recognizable as the 2600, as long as it is a 400/800 clone internally and not a 5200. As for games that should be included, one of my points in pushing the 8-bit computer idea for FB3 is the richness of its library of titles. Almost all of the major arcade games of the era had ports on the Atari 400/800 or 5200, many of them of high quality, and they could easily assemble a recognizable collection of core pack-in games by tapping into these, as well as some of Atari's 400/800 titles like Star Raiders, Star Raiders II, Caverns of Mars, and some APX games. Other titles they could tap into to create a really nice mix include the most popular games from EA, Broderbund, and Lucasfilm (I'm thinking mostly of Archon/Adept, Ballblazer, and Lode Runner), as well as some games from Synapse (Necromancer and Pharaoh's Curse would work great in a handheld, IMHO) and some others like Spindizzy, the Boulder Dash games, Flip and Flop, Jumpman Junior, etc. A lot of these are third-party games that would have to be licensed, though, so they might make better "sold seperately" titles instead of pack-ins. Of course, I wouldn't mind seeing some new games, either, as long as they aren't rushed like some of the FB2 games seemed to be.

Inside the FB2, until you extract them according to these instructions.

It's another NOAC (NES-on-a-chip) system. There are two little glop-tops on the tiny board inside; I assume that the larger one is the main integrated chipset, while the smaller one is either the game ROM or the chip that controls the menu. The games in this unit weren't terrible, but they weren't accurate enough to hold my attention for more than a few minutes. With a little modification and a few parts, though, they make the best Atari 7800 controllers you can buy.

I can tell you for a fact that the Intellivision TV-game units are NOT the real deal. They're NOAC systems like many of the others, and the handful of games I tried only superficially resembled the Intellivision originals. I heard Keith Robinson say in an interview somewhere that they were produced as a way to raise money to license more Intellivision games for future emulation compilations. I picked up one of the 10-in-1 units after I heard that (albeit at a discount), just to support the Blue Sky Rangers. I think the final product could have been much better, though, and I don't plan on getting much use out of it.

I've always liked the SMS/GameGear implementations of Sonic. The Genesis versions blow them away graphically, of course, but the SMS/GameGear versions were very impressive 8-bit efforts. Didn't they give you things (like different level designs) that you didn't get in the Genesis versions? I seem to remember getting a rocket pack of some sort in Sonic Chaos. One of my most ambitious homebrewing goals is to attempt a port of SMS Sonic 1 to the Atari 7800 once I get more familiar with the system.

I personally would recommend the Atari XEGS. It has a couple of advantages over the other machines in the 8-bit family: it has composite video/audio jacks built right in, the cartridge slot is right on top of the unit and easier to access than the XE computers (which moved the cartridge slot to the back), and it has a detachable keyboard that you can extend using any DB15 joystick extension cable. I've also found that the video quality is better than the other machines, which require a special cable to connect to today's front-panel composite TV jacks. The XEGS is compatible with all XL/XE cartridge software and comes with Missile Command built-in. You can get them in pristine condition for $50 from B&C ComputerVisions (which is where I got mine), or you can usually find inexpensive ones on eBay if you want to risk going that route.

I've got quite a few carts with soldered ROM chips also. You can't use EPROMs as drop-in replacements for these chips, though, at least not without also adding a hex inverter.

It sounds like you're using either an XL or XE computer, both of which have a built-in BASIC interpreter that the computer sees as a "cartridge" when it is turned on. Just hold down the "OPTION" key when you switch on the machine to disable BASIC, and the programs that are giving you the "cartridge out" error should work fine. As for the ROM vs. ATR issue, ROM files are executable binaries (most likely cartridge images) while ATR files are diskette images. You can load them both using APE without changing the files, but it requires two different procedures. APE files can be loaded through the virtual disk drives as you've been doing, while ROM files have to be loaded using APE's PC-Mirror feature. Collect all your ROM files in one subdirectory, reconfigure APE to use it as the default PC-Mirror directory, and mount the PC-Mirror into the first virtual diskette drive. When you boot the computer, you'll get a list of files on the screen, each of which has a number or letter associated with it. Just press the letter or number corresponding to the file you want to load, and APE will do it. Hope this helps, and in case nobody has said it yet, welcome to AtariAge!

... such as the Fairchild Channel F controllers ... I actually get used to the Intellivision controllers after a while (and I have an Intellivision II, and those controllers are worse than most). I only play it in short bursts, so I've never had any hand cramp problems. An alternative controller would be nice, though.

I addressed a similar question in a previous post in this thread ... #221

I would only add Action Fighter to the list. It's a nice little top-down driving game, and I always liked being able to change from a motorcycle to a car to a plane all within the same game.

I'm going to have to put in a good word for the Intellivision here. Sure, the graphics are blocky, but that's the case on just about any classic console of that age. The 2600 and the Inty are both first-generation, late-70s platforms; if I remember correctly, the Colecovision is from 1982. The Intellivision's biggest advantage over the Colecovision, in my opinion, is the larger library of original games that are unique to the system. Most of the memorable games on the Colecovision seem to be arcade ports or ports of games that are also available on other platforms. That may be one reason that it hasn't had as active an "afterlife" through emulation as the 2600 and the Inty systems have had; after all, why play ports (even if they were good ports for the time) through emulation when you can play the originals just as easily?

I voted this morning, and the FB2 is still ahead! (I posted this earlier this morning but it disappeared for some reason ... ???) EDIT: Never mind, this thread was double-posted in Classic Gaming General and I got the two mixed up.

I put in my vote for the FB2 this morning, and it's still slightly ahead!

Thanks for that information; I've been looking for something like this. On a related note ... is it possible to reverse the function of the OPTION key (only enable BASIC if it is held down and disable it if it is not) instead of disabling it outright? I'm thinking it's probably something as simple as finding out where it checks the status of OPTION and changing a BNE to a BEQ (or vice-versa) afterwards, but I haven't had the chance to try it myself. I've only played around with assembly on the A8 computers long enough to disable copy-protection on AtariWriter Plus.

Wow, how often has the C64 changed owners lately? Last I heard it belonged to an American outfit called Yaronimo Media Ventures (or some such thing).

Yes, the two-month development window is what I was alluding to in my "rushed to market" comment. Some of the games (particularly Caverns of Mars, Yars' Return, and the Asteroids hacks) could definitely have used more time. I'd love to see more Activision/Imagic games on future compilations or handhelds.

That's just what I was wondering ... why shouldn't buyers just post reviews of the game here on the forums so other interested people can make up their own minds? That would be a whole lot easier than finding a way to let everyone try it without giving away the game. I'll certainly post a review when I get mine. As for new 7800 games, I can't wait to see them, and I certainly can't wait to add my own (I'm working on some ideas right now).

Wow, this does sound exciting! I'm learning to develop for the 7800 right now and had planned on putting together a very similar game based on the eight-player Tank coin-op. Mine was going to be called "Combat 3," because it would have been the third Combat game (after the original and the unreleased Combat 2), and because the original two-player Combat game raised to the third power would give you eight players. But anyway ... I think the 7800 is very well-suited for a game of this kind and I can't wait to get a copy!