[Atari Mr Run and Jump]

On 12/7/2023 at 4:50 PM, Thomas Jentzsch said:

I doubt the game has anything build-in. So you have to wait until you can use Stella's save states. Or buy a R77.   

Hi, I got the Atari 2600+ and the Retron77. But playing a brand new game from Atari on the Atari 2600 is so .... anachronistic . But I presume that I have to play the game on Stella as it seems (BTW Stella is amazing, but I prefer the real hardware).

[Atari Mr Run and Jump]

Still noone with a level jumping hint? BTW Anyone got an contact mail address from the developer?

[Atari Mr Run and Jump]

23 hours ago, Thomas Jentzsch said:

Unfortunately the 2600+ doesn't offer this option (yet?). Since the Stella emulator supports save states (and the R77 makes use of them), there is hope that access to the Stella UI will be added with future updates. E.g. Stella's command menu for R77 looks like this:

Here you have direct access to some options. And with "Settings..." there are many, many more options available. A command menu for the 2600+ would look similar (or identical).

Thanks for your hint. But I like to play it on my good, old Atari 2600. Its so anachronistic playing a new game from 2023 on my 197x Atari 2600 ! So I need some button combination cheat to jump directly to levels.

[Atari Mr Run and Jump]

21 hours ago, livingonwheels said:

I am strongly considering purchasing a Retron 77 just so I can enjoy Mr Run and Jump. I saw a review that said the game is nearly impossible to finish, and just not very fun without some type of save system, and he completed it using the save state option in the Retron 77. It would be a benefit with other 2600 titles too in my opinion, like Dragon Stomper and Mindmaster.

I wont use it for cheating (means making snapshots during playing the levels). At least not yet . But its boring to play through the levels you already completed just to reach the level you are like to play. Thats something the developer should have thought of. And indeed there wont be any high score playing that way (cause its a timer). Or a per level high score (but this is an Atari 2600 game. So this is surely to much to aks for within its limits).

[Atari Mr Run and Jump]

I really like the game. I played it on my original Atari 2600 connected to a Sony Trinitron CRT. Yes, the flickering is obvious. But thats the only problem this game got technically (and also PacMan got that flickering and it was one of the games me and my friends spend the most time playing on the Atari 2600 back then). Otherwise its really an addicting game. But I see one problem with the game: When you power off your Atari 2600 everythings gone. I understand that restarting at the beginning of each level after you died is part of the challenge. And I also understand the criticism that sometimes there are screens which depend on a good amount of luck (which makes it annoying to get back to the screen where you died before). But you could see that also as part of the challenge of that game.

 

But playing everytime you start the Atari 2600 again from the first level is really a bug. Why should I replay level 1 and 2 the next day when I simply got stuck in level 3? Right now I see only the solution to leave the Atari 2600+ running overnight (the timer doesnt change when you dont press fire after you died). Thats not much of a problem with an Atari 2600+. But im not leaving my old Atari 2600 powered on just cause a game doesnt offer level jump tables. Thats a huge bug inside that game. So does anyone know some button pressing "cheat" to jump directly to levels?

[Microvision replacement screen project - pre-order & purchase here]

13 hours ago, 5-11under said:

Update: The production run has been paid for and ordered! Hopefully parts will arrive in about 6 weeks.

My next steps (notes for me perhaps as much as for you):

1. Wait for parts to arrive. Prepare online store in the meantime.
2. Finalize price after all fees (customs, taxes) are paid.
   • Final price will likely be $17-19 each - I'll make sure it's my "best price" for the initial orders.
   • The price will be flat per unit (because mailing a bunch of orders in one shot will save lots of time).
   • Actually, there might be some very minor savings for higher quantities, because packaging cost per unit will be lower.
   • Shipping costs will be basically the actual cost.
3. Inspection of all parts, and testing of a few of them.
4. Send mass PMs to all who have expressed interest in this thread, with info on how to order.
5. A few days later, open up orders to any/all.
6. A couple of days later, book a chunk of time to mail out all orders.
7. Raise the price a couple of dollars or so after the initial run (to account for my time processing individual orders).
8. If I ever run out of parts at any point, order another batch, and continue.

 

Just to be on the safe side: I was one of the first supporters on this thread and always liked to get 2 screens.

[Microvision replacement screen project - pre-order & purchase here]

39 minutes ago, RevEng said:

I've been holding my tongue, because I didn't want Harvey's thread to continue with this garbage, but it doesn't stop.

 

It's crap form to go in someone else's project thread and start posting about a competing project. You start your own thread and drum up your own damn interest.

 

It would be like me noticing that Walmart was out of some item, so I setup my stand and start selling that good right in their store. They're have no competing product at the moment, so fair is fair, right? It would light a "necessary fire" under their feet to get the product back in, so really I'd be a hero.

 

This is hobby project space, and six months is a blink of an eye. But I get it... people want screens so badly they're willing to overlook bad manners. Whatever. Go light your necessary fires somewhere else.

It isnt that hard to understand. The original poster had other priorities. And some other guy was nice enough to tell about his project. How else should we learn about it? And we all getting the notifications about this thread. So does the OP. And he havent reacted for months (besides a ton of notifications). So he clearly had other priorities. And thats why the only users with bad manners are the ones which insulting the user which helped us getting screens. Without him there wont be any progress at all on this topic!

[Microvision replacement screen project - pre-order & purchase here]

6 hours ago, rwburbage@msn.com said:

The Microvision LCD Project is back on track!  ?

 

Get this!!  Apparently,  when the 2 MV's arrived at the supplier, the entire eng team was OOT on another big project.   So, the project management group went ahead and tried to get the project started.  They tried "many many many times" to get the units powered on.  The said the LCD's were "rainbowed".  They were not working for them so they were about to give up.   For over a week, many disparaging messages went back and forth and the project seemed doomed.

 

Then, the eng team got back.  They took over.  Powered everything up fine.  Pulled the LCD's.  Tested the only working LCD unit and the specs were known.  TN type.  The second LCD unit was toast.  It faded into oblivion. Which was expected.  It was fading before shipment.  What an unbelievable turn of events!

 

So, sample money has been dropped ?, the LCD spec has been created,  drawings made, 2 sample types are being build.   They will drop the sample LCD's into the 2 working MV's electronics for testing.  Then, send some videos.  If everything is acceptable,  samples will be shipped for further testing.

 

Stay tuned for another exciting episode of...  Are those Microvision LCD's done yet?

 

As an early supporter of this thread im glad to hear that you made so much progress! Congrats!

[Microvision replacement screen project - pre-order & purchase here]

Hi,

 

I already ordered 2 of the screens and would prefer backlight.

 

[WTB: Atari 2600 Swordquest Waterworld repro box]

Hi,

 

did anyone make a repro box for the Atari 2600 game Swordquest Waterworld?

 

Thanks in advance

[Microvision replacement screen project - pre-order & purchase here]

Change mine (from 1) to 2 screens. Thanks in advance!

[Microvision replacement screen project - pre-order & purchase here]

I will purchase one of them!

[Multicart classic edition cant reset]

Hi,

 

got some huge problem with the Multicart classic edition from John from Madtronix. He is really helpful, but right now it seems like the Multicart classic edition is completely useless. The Multicart classic edition has one huge bug:

 

When you press the "Reset" button on your Vectrex the Multicart classic edition doesnt go back to the Games selection menu (as it should to select another game), but instead reset the running game (which doesnt offer any purpose at all, cause when you like to start a new game simply select "New game" at the according game ).

 

The problem with this is, that you cant switch between different games without completely shutting down your Vectrex and power it on again. This is already some huge problem for old electronic components, cause of the power built up when you power on a device. But for the CRT its simply suicide. CRT hating nothing more then being shutted down and then a few seconds later being powered on again.

 

I contacted John about this in May 2015 and he wrote "i'm working on an extension/loopthrough cart at the moment though that allows switching carts while the vectrex is powered on." and "i cant give you a release date but i hope within 1-2 months.". I sent him 2 further mails a few months later, but still no reply or new hardware to solve that major bug (which simply destroys your Vectrex way faster then without using the Multicart classic edition).

 

So does anyone here know how to solve that problem? Is there any spot at the cartridge board where I could manually solder a reset switch? Or ist there way to really reset the Multicart classic edition? Or is there any Flashcart for the Vectrex which avoids that bug? Having now the Multicart classic edition since 18 months and using it almost never (cause of this bug).

 

Thanks in advance for any further assistance.

[Wanted: Qberts Qubes for the Atari VCS 2600 CIB]

Hi,

 

im searching QBerts Qubes for the Atari VCS 2600 (at least with Box and cartrdige, but should also include the manual).

 

Thanks in advance.

[Wanted: Mr Dos Castle VCS 2600 box scan]

Hi,

could anyone pm me a complete good quality scan (including the front side, back side and all 4 side sides ) of the "Mr Dos Castle" box for the Atari VCS 2600?

Thanks in advance!

[Mr Dos Castle VCS 2600 box scan]

Hi,

could anyone pm me a complete good quality scan (including the front side, back side and all 4 side sides ) of the "Mr Dos Castle" box for the Atari VCS 2600?

Thanks in advance!

[Mr Dos Castle VCS 2600 Box scan complete]

Hi,

 

could anyone pm me a complete good quality scan (including the front side, back side and all 4 side sides of Mr Dos Castle for the Atari VCS 2600 box?

 

Thanks in advance!

[W: Montezuma's Revenge, Q*bert's Qubes and Mr. Do!'s Castle 2600 boxed]

You may want to post a price, those are all fairly expensive games

Usually the seller announce the prices . But I would suggest US $ 50 for Montezuma's Revenge (this game isnt really rare. I just missed it in my collection), US $ 300 for each Q*bert's Qubes and Mr. Do!'s Castle.

[W: Montezuma's Revenge, Q*bert's Qubes and Mr. Do!'s Castle 2600 boxed]

Hello,

 

I like to get Montezuma's Revenge, Q*bert's Qubes and Mr. Do!'s Castle. All of them for the Atari 2600 and all of them boxed. Thanks in advance for any offers.

[Drive!]

Hello everyone, thanks for all the positive feedback and discussion!

 

As you can probably tell, we didn't plan to make this a boxed release, but I see there's a lot of demand for one.

 

Unfortunately it is a little late in the process to change it up, but as Albert said, a run of boxes (as well as boxes only for people who've already bought the game without one) is something we could definitely explore in the future.

With all that box talking it was perhaps not clearly stated from my side how fantastic your game looks like. And as soon as you release the boxed version I will order it for sure.

[Drive!]

My shelves have both and I like both. I do know that with my atari games I was able to cram more on a shelf due to fewer boxes. And if a cart is defective why keep it? Think I've gotten rid of all bad stuff

You are absolutely correct. But you shouldnt forget that sooner or later all of them will be defective .

[Drive!]

Do you display front out or spine though?seeing the top of an atari cart and spine of a box isn't much different as the spine of boxes aren't usually great.

Good question . Usually just spine. But I see your point. But even then theres more information to see on the box. And with cartridges it appears so small. Its indeed a question of personal taste. My only point which seems to be valid for everyone is: In decades all we really got is the box. Without the box its just a piece of defective cartridge . And the other point: If you take a look at your collection its always cooler to look at the box to get an impressin of the game. And how it was presented to you bac then. But beside that, its indeed a matter of personal taste.

[Drive!]

I take it you're a shelf collector. Okay. I fail to see how the boxart makes the game if the whole purpose of a box is to house the contents (game). You wouldn't buy a cereal box at the grocery store without the cereal, would you?

 

I get that boxes are pretty to look at. There is no denying it. I even own a sealed Wario's Woods I put in an acrylic case. But I have a loose player's copy of the game to play and there is no way I would collect the sealed case otherwise. The purpose of packaging is to attract the buyer. The actual game is to entertain.

 

So if a homebrewer wants to sell a game loose in a baggie, I'm all for it. If a deluxe CIB homebrew is all that is made available, I'll buy that. If a nice guy like Albert gives us a choice, $30 loose versus $50 boxed, I will 90% of the time choose the loose one, because loose means I can afford more games, and less shelf space needed to display them. I'm running out of shelf space as it is, so extra clutter does not help matters much.

 

Display it at your shelf ? So you are a shelf collector then . And I havent stated that I just like to get the box, but instead the cartridge and the box. And if its being sold wit the box at the usual $ 50 thats fine for me. And you also get your cartridge game for your shelf for $ 30. But one last question: What do you display at your shelf? Just black game cartridges with almost no art at all. And BTW Some Atari VCS games are almost 4 decades old. So the box has also the reason that you know what kind of game it is (beside searching it via Google indeed ). But in this scenario you see your games within the box, check the boxes and decide which game you like to play right now.

[Drive!]

No, you're absolutely right: it's not half the game. It's the whole game!

 

Boxes are just shelf fodder, and it is difficult to remove the games without damage so I have to store them separate. After three or four removals, the box lid is already dented. So I say save $10-$20 bucks by not purchasing the box if there's a loose option. Sometimes with homebrew, it's deluxe edition or bust; othertimes it's cart only or bust. So regardless of whether you're a CIB or loose collector, you gotta take what's offered, boxed or not.

 

You will miss out then.

 

But the box art makes the game. Think about Amidar without the cool box art. It would be just a dot moving on a grid. And having cartridges laying around is so .... 1980s . The box is really essential for the game. Especially with Atari VCS games with its simple graphics . But thats fine. One collector less which takes away offers on eBay. In both directions .

[Drive!]

Box or no box, I'm ready to support this one with my $.

I will buy it for sure too. Game conept looks nice. But I collect only games with boxes. So I wait for the box art first.