seastalker

So I'm testing a TI99 I just got. It came with an RF adapter but even my portable tvs dont have the connection or adapters are a pain. I looked up the video output and some people claim to make video cables that are compatible with Atari 8 bit, Commodore, and TI99. The 5 pin din LOOKS similar but did not want to mess anything up without checking and this news justified a go at it. I have a Commodore monitor with an SVIDEO cable input I run a C64 and 800XL from just fine but the TI99 video out was black.. ok maybe because it is outputting standard yellow RCA jack composite. I have other Atari cables with 5 pin to composite/ rca audio male ends but that also did not work. Does this mean the ti99 I got for a song untested has issues or is there still a video output aspect I may not have considered?

Greetings! This is exciting news! Congrats on the FPGA core creation. I just got into messing with the TI99 and you can pick them up inexpensively. I like their sleek look and keyboard feel. I got into them BECAUSE of the absence of a MiST FPGA core. I'd love to see this get developed. Even if like some Beatles records where mono mixes were the main project and stereo the afterthought at the time, Mister projects with more headroom can always be ported for systems that still fit on the MiST. Interestingly some YT video comments also talk about porting this to the ZX Next too. Any updates on the MisT port?

Thanks for that head's up - know where these adapters can be found?

So, had a discussion and have updated info: seems the game was a store bought bargain bin title with no artwork (disk in a bag- probably printed label), but it was fascinating in that it was coded in basic and you could LIST command the code. It had an AUTORUN code that we copied to make some of our own disks boot at startup with a directory. Our copy is likely with HOLMES in NZ, or at least its last whereabouts.

Atari Frog, Atarimania has no dump of the game "Age of Adventure" which is 'Return of Heracles' and 'Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves' as a double sided compilation. I have this title but in .ATX format - Is that helpful? I'm still learning about some of the lesser used file extensions and yet know even how to convert them.

I am mostly certain it was a type in game but not 100%. The only other way we could have reasonably got hold of the game was it was one of those 'disk-only in a bag' bargain bin titles or it came bundled with a magazine. Whatever the format, I went through many web archived places and feel bad it seemed to have disappeared and I once had a copy. It's not the greatest game but it was a fun one to two-player game memory of mine.

That is a great idea, and yes it was a basic Snake type clone or Wrap Trap. I am 100% certain of the name "Chicken Out" (I have disks that borrowed some of the code to make multi-file directories boot automatically and can relist the menu by typing RUN"D:CHICKEN.OUT") and can describe it: It used the blue screen like when you boot an XL, with various colors to represent your character movement. One color was even the basic white like text. As you move, it made a repeated sound similar to holding down any character key in basic but slightly different pitch. It changed to a low buzz when you crashed into a wall of the trail left behind by you or your opponent. Three hits and it made a high pitched musical tone to indicate the game round ended. The game IS listed on Atarimania but with no ROM dump/atr etc.

Incidentally, I do have the game 'Chain Reaction' from from Jan 1987 of Compute! as well as 'Marbles' from October 1987. Magazines linked here: https://archive.org/stream/1987-01-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_080_1987_Jan#page/n0/mode/2up/search/chicken https://archive.org/stream/1987-10-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_089_1987_Oct#page/n0/mode/2up/search/chicken

For the record, I just went through the entire "COMPUTE!" magazine 'archive.org' archives which are scan-able and searched by "chicken" and ruled out 1982-1990 for having Chicken Out as a type in game.Antic is next.

I'm leaning towards ANTIC or COMPUTE! because: - I remember skimming through them and not other magazines featuring Atari. - One youtube video says he got BIKER DAVE from ANTIC (and my bro and I typed that one in) and another specified it's in Compute! NOVEMBER 1986. - I remember WHERE we lived when typing in CHICKEN OUT which would be probably 85/86 not considering if we typed from a back issue. There is interesting back history in the comments on: Question about .atr files. I'm still going through some backups. Using RespeQt software, why do some of my disks boot with the beep-beep beepety beeps and get a READY prompt? I can type LOAD or RUN and nothing happens. On SOME of them, if I hold OPTION before power on I get a DOS menu the disk had, but option A for directory comes up empty. How do I ensure or not that my backup atrs have data on them or not? Is there a foolproof method?

So- what was the most common mid-1980s magazines for Atari fans that had TYPE-IN games like 'Biker Dave' and 'Chicken Out'? Compute! or Antic maybe? If I had to narrow a guess, I'd say 'Chicken Out' was somewhere in an issue between 84-88 and more likely 85-87. I may start digging around for this title.

Got busy with life stuff this week but will continue on in PM with you. @_The Doctor__ I will try the enter command as well as I like sorting things out on my own and not bothering others to do what I can. EDIT: I now realized the name you linked is the author of Chicken Out. I guess I need coffee.

Just a quick hello and thank you to flashjazzcat. I've watched your YT videos which have helped me greatly. I got my 64k upgrade kit and hope to install it this week.

Ok, so I may have found some possible candidates on disks that HOLMES from his Atari page did for me ages ago. Trying to remember the run command for files that have a space in the name... For example, I can do: RUN"D:ROCK" just fine but what is the command for a file on a multi-program .atr that is called "CHICKEN OUT 001" that would prevent an "ERROR- 170". I think a family member used part of Chicken Out as a basis for creating multi-disks from some built in DOS function if I can remember from 30+ years ago. If I can nab the game I will upload it for all! P.S. Are there any noteworthy archivists PRESENTLY that can extract and make executables from individual files, etc? Some may be private files so I would need someone who'd honor the code of conduct for such matters. I'm happy to do it myself with proper instruction. I have PC2SIO capability and emulators and RESPEQT software, etc.

Thank you for the replies.... sadly none of them are it yet. I will go through some floppies that HOLMES backed up for me a LONG time ago. If I find it, I will post and share. Otherwise, if anyone finds the magazine and issue it was in, I may have it and I can type it in [sigh]... again.

Anyone remember the type in game "Chicken Out" (not to be confused with 'Chicken') in BASIC? I lost it from an old floppy. It's a Tron cycle like game where two players move, leaving a line trail behind them in hopes you get your opponent to crash into a trail before you do. I'd love an image if anyone has it to avoid tracking down that magazine name and issue and having to type it in again. If I had to guess it may have been in Antic magazine.

Hi! Recently got a IIGS Woz Edition and cleaning it nicely. My 3.5 drive from the IIGS wasn't working so I watched some tutorials and opened it up: not too dirty but I cleaned it anyway. I discovered I had a broken cog wheel and have a replacement on the way - I re-did the moving parts lubrication with new silicone grease and cleaned the read/write head with alcohol on a cotton swab. Still won't read disks. So far my 5.25 drive works but I can't load GS stuff until I sort the 3.5 drive. Also, is the drive motor for the auto-eject function or to move the read/write head? If the latter, then that explains it and I must wait for the new wheel part. Otherwise I'd greatly appreciate any contact info on repair services/Super Drive upgrades or advice if it is a simple fix I missed. Many thanks!!

Perhaps your Apple expertise would know more about this Apple IIGS product: My Rom1 Woz Edition GS: Online guides and videos say to ONLY use original PART NO: TADIRAN BATTERIES TL-5902/P 1.2 Ah, 3.6 V, 1/2AA. Prior to that tidbit, I ordered someone's suggested Tadiran TL-5101/P at 3.6V 0.95Ah 2-Pin. I'm concerned about the 0.95Ah if the original is 1.2 Ah. Other guides say NOT to use alternative brands like SAFT and GMPower, etc. I know the battery is just for RTC but: QUESTION: Can two convenient AAA 1.5v cells really work well on a GS? I'd like to avoid damaging the motherboard, exploding batteries, smoking computer etc. I use RECHARGABLE batteries - see any harm over traditional ones? Thanks!

Thank you thank you!

I have an XEGS working except a problem with the micro-switches. OPTION does not seem to work so XEX files are out for me right now with ReseQt software. Now, If I turn on the system, it alternates between built in Missle Command and the Self Test. Seems my SELECT button micro-switch somehow now is REVERSE polarity: If I push select it WONT boot into M.C. I've a feeling I should replace the microswitches for OPTION and likely SELECT, if not them all or just the wonky ones and wait for the others to go. I have many microswitches but does anyone have a link to or part number for these taller ones needed on an XEGS? Most appreciated!!

Posted in the wrong spot before- my apologies. Just got two fully socketed 600xls. Using a new power supply, one 600 is not working and I swapped all chips out (and thus reseated). The good 600 found three bad chips from the bad: ANTIC (CO21697), CPU Sally 6502C CO14806 and the CO60472-D (Delay). After putting them aside, I put the GOOD versions from the working board into the bad hoping I'd just need the three chips to fix it. No dice. Now, it powers up to an odd screen (see pix) I was hoping not to desolder willy nilly. *I followed the Black screen/Red screen guides from http://atari.boards.net/thread/893/black-screen-problems-fix-checklist so all steps from Star Raiders to channel 2-3 moving tried. Anyone know my next troubleshooting steps to try with that screen on a fully socketed 600xl with all tested and working chips? Does knowing those three chips failed reveal anything from the board's unknown backstory? Bad PSU? Loose socket? Bad crystal?

With my XEGS, I wanted to know what light games were out ther... sadly, not much at all! Starting with the wiki of light gun compatible games came up with a list across ALL Atari platforms: Games designed for the XG-1 Alien Brigade (7800) Bobby needs Food (2600, homebrew) Bug Hunt (XEGS) Barnyard Blaster (7800/XEGS) Crossbow (7800/XEGS) Crime Buster (XEGS) Meltdown (7800) Operation Blood disk (XEGS) Operation Blood II - Special Forces (XEGS) Gangsterville (XEGS) Sentinel (2600/7800) Shooting Gallery (2600, unreleased) That is a SHORT(!) list to say the least and spread over ALL of Atari's home computers and consoles. So, then I searched the April 2018 TOSEC rom set for anything with lightgun, light or gun it it as well: Playing on an Atari 800xl or XEGS came up with the following results as to COMPLETE gun game compatibility: 1. Bug Hunt (XEGS) BOTH CART AND SIO2PC work 2. Barnyard Blaster (7800/XEGS) BOTH CART AND SIO2PC work. So I have two carts and that's it unless I migrate the gun to the home console market to test. Then I looked up others to load: 3. Cementerio (1989)(Pelusa Software)(es)[Light Gun] 4. Sharp Shooter (1989)(ANALOG Computing)(US)[Light Gun] BOTH WORK!!! Don't know if these two are official or not. What's left? The other XEGS listed games: Gangsterville (XEGS) (gun works but no on screen target cursor makes it hard to know what you are shooting. For me mostly unplayable. Crossbow (7800/XEGS) (Not enough RAM to load) Crime Buster (XEGS) (Only have BIN format- not tested yet) ALL others game do not support gun despite rom names implying light gun support _Operation 1 and 2 for example - didn't work. A game NOT on the list that is supposed to be lightgun compatible but in my case not is "Alien Blast (1993)"... Alien Blast (1993) - CRAP- loads but gun is useless. So of XEGS compatible (XL XE in general) light gun games my tests as of June 2018 show there are two commercial carts (Bug Hunt and Barnyard Blaster) that work, two of unknown origin and three to be determined. This means to sum up: The Atari 8 bit line as of 2018-06-02, There are two supported light gun games, two more that work, and then a game that technically works but with bad light gun support, then Crossbow and Crime Buster I have yet to test. At MOST, I find 7 POSSIBLE light gun games as of mid year 2018 but for me 5 confirmed.

In the 80s I had stock XLs. I have a Rev C 800xl I'm messing with with SIO2PC thru USB and may get an U1MB upgrade. I've only seen cursory glances at terms like Omnirom, SpartaDos, TurboDos, etc. These upgrade boards talk of multiple rom/OS switching and I am new to alternate 'Basics' and "Dos'es". Is there a good comparison guide or feature list (or video I missed) that helps demystify some of these software things? I'd like to know about features that can push an XL and don't know the questions to ask. SpartaDos is built in to some upgrades- does this make the others unnecessary or do they still have features SpartaDos does not?

Nearly bought a SIDE II but am waiting for this. I have a MIST to do some fast loading. Really hope to hear about an update.

Hope I am not hijacking the thread- thought it might be not an individual troubleshooting one and more of a home for anyone with a troubleshooting issue.