Cassidy Nolen

Can I run it on an emulator on a PC? I have an XE system, so if I needed to, I could use that instead. Does anyone have the program that they could send me? I assume it is a very small program. Can I make a cartridge of it for my XE? Thanks for the info, guys. All the effort will hopefully be repaid to the community via new goodies. I really am quite stubborn about things, and am not afraid of a few year commitment. Cassidy

Hi all, After doing some reading, I am not sure what language I would use to write a game for 2600, or for 5200 for that matter. Is there a cross compiler for C? I am by no means a programmer, but I was looking at "how to" books on C, and maybe that is the language to do it in? Geez, wish I had taken a class in computers back in the day. I have come a long way on my own, but still a lost cause! Thanks for your thoughts. Cassidy

I use a printout of all titles for 2600 that I bound into a book. As for the other 35 sytems, well, I sorta know what I have. I am a lot like Tempest that I just know what I have (at least for 2600, TG-16, and Odyssey). I just look around and see what I have for the others. Cassidy

My dad bought me Raiders of the lost ark at a Tom Thumb grocery store in Dallas. I can also remember Dart Drug here in Virginia used to sell games. I think it was growing pains for the industry. Honestly, nobody knew how to market this stuff. Makes for great legend about it all! Cassidy

Count me in on Coleco! Man, there is so much to do at these things. I cant wait! Cassidy The Computer Space guy from PC3

Hi all, Considering I am getting married in like a week (actually next Saturday), I have needed something to occupy my time (I am a little nervous, gee wonder why?). Anyway, I found this XE system at the thrift store about two weeks ago, and have spent the last 10 days programming on it. I know that Basic is a far cry from Assembly language, but I am making advances. Mind you, this is an attempt from someone with an undergrad degree in Piedmont-Colonial Archaeology, not computer sci or CS..... Have a basic, primitive game of pong going on the machine Understand all the graphic and color registers Understand what the heck a subroutine is Have drawn the graphics on the screen for the objects I plan to animate. Not too shabby, considering I do not have a floppy or tape drive, and have to start all over every time I turn it on. Just wanted you all to know, I am really trying; so when I ask some stupid programming question, I can avoid the flames! Wish me luck, on both! Cassidy

There are some die-hard NES fans out there, too. I cant understand how 2600's are going for half their holiday price right now on ebay, but I just sold an NES for the same money I could get at XMas time. Strange. Of course, there was a vote for the woodgrain from my computer! Cassidy

Indeed, a blessed occasion. If I was a wealthy man, I would love to send the money to Infogrames, buy back the name and give it to Nolan with a bow on top. I would not care what he did with it, just as long as it was returned to the rightful owner. Give him and all the other Atari-Gods back what they deserve. I got to go to the 30th Celebration (thanks to Curt and a very overpriced fiberglass toy I have) for Atari and the 40th for Steve Russell's SpaceWar. I have a photo of Nolan and Steve playing on a Galaxy machine projected on a big screen. Heres to all the memories, joy and fascination he brought the world. Heres to you, Nolan! Cassidy

There were a few arcades around when I was growing up, but the arcade experience for me was not there. I used to go to Scoops Ice Cream parlor and play Qbert and Pac Man with my friends. There was a K-Mart about three miles away my Mom and I used to go to. They had a Wild Western there that I fell in love with (its one game in my collection NO ONE but me likes!). When I would go out to see my Dad in the summer, there were a few places we would go that had games. In Dallas, circa 84, Dave and Busters was just opening up. They opened in 82, but no one had heard of them yet. We went there, and I can remember rows of Cockpit Pole Positions, Galagas, and Ms. Pacs. When I went back in 2000, it was all modern stuff, but I could still see the old machines in their places when I thought back. Finally, then I will quit; there was a roller rink in Euless, Tx that had a few odd games. I remember playing Smokey Joe around 85. Now that was an old game by then, and must have had the crap beat out of it by skates. Boy would I love to have that exact machine. Sometimes I like to think I have the Wild Western I played as a kid. I did get it from an operator in the area, and he does have games on that road...... Cassidy

Hi all, I would like to be using my pc rather than my xe for some programming. Can someone recommend an emulator to use, and maybe a quick how to in order to get it working? I tried several today and could not get one to work right. Could I use MESS? Would it let me store the Roms in a folder and access them as if they were cartridges (really interested in one that will let me do assembly at some point-figure I should start out with one that can do that). Thanks for the help. This is a new world to me. Cassidy. BTW, tried to read an ROM from a cart today. Anyone know if the chips are similar in pin layout to the 2532 eproms? Just wondering. Thanks. Cart I used was Defender.

You can get a working Frogger for a little more. If you can find a working board, for say 50 bucks, then you are in good shape. If you cant, you may be spending a good bit more to get yours fixed. I know that is not helpful, but just know there were thousands of them made. I personally will only pay shipping on a VERY special piece (Pong, Computer Space, Lunar Lander, etc). Just my .25. Cassidy BTW, I sold one about a year ago for 300 that was in great shape.

You may want to direct that question to the boys at digitpress.com. They are running the show, and should know the details. I did not think the Combat 2 line was bad. However, I was not going to wait for the release of EA, not when there was a Tempest machine on free play!!!! Cassidy

OOPPS, I am the dork who did not read the details and said no. Sorry. I thought you meant the recent homebrews. If it was released back in the day, so to speak, yes, it deserves a rarity rating. Some of the neatest labels and carts I have are some of those wierd ones. They are as much a part of digial history as the others. They are the reason Nintendo had a security feature, and every system from then on. Cassidy

Welcome aboard! For many of us, I think we read this more than we do newspapers. As for SoCal, no luck here. Spent a few days in Sunnyvale this past year, and it was pretty dry. However, many of us on the board have extra goodies. I would be glad to sell some of my extras to another Atari-fan below ebay prices. If you are interested, drop me an email. [email protected] Welcome again, Cassidy

I have never had a problem (other than the silver labels for some reason) opening the cases. Heres the secret: The hair dryer set on hot and a pair of tweezers. If you heat those old labels, they literally fall off. My Submarine Commander label had slid over very badly, so I tried it there about a year ago. Take your time, and the entire label will come off. I put the labels on a ziplock bag until I am ready for them again. Just warm them back up, and they go right back on. BTW, I never put the screws back in. The edges hold it together fine. Its not like we are riding bikes or playing war with these in our back pockets like we used to! HTH, Cassidy

Bugs. Either that or I would go buy Skeet Shoot just to leave it behind. You know, there are quite a few games that fit that bill. Cassidy

I tried in the county teacher workletter that goes out. Not a single call from outside of my school. Just one guy who made big promises, but no product. Glad that works for ya. I think it all depends where you are in the country. Seems more established areas, with less military moving around does better for that. Good luck, let us know what ya get! Cassidy

Hi all, First off, I have no idea what I am doing. Any of you that know me, well, you can attest to that. Anyway, found an XE system this last week, and want to program using it. Now, heres the thing: I do not have a disk drive or tape drive. Which one would you recommend. I am leaning towards the tape, because I can then use the .wav to binary converter so I can make binaries to burn onto eproms. Eventually I would like to be able to make cartridges for other systems. If I buy a disk drive, I cannot figure out how I could get the data to the PC to burn onto eproms. Any thoughts on that would be helpful. As for programming advise, I think I am going to putter around in basic for a while. Am I correct that there was a machine language cartrige for the XE? If so, does anyone have it, and is it worth whatever it would cost to get? Does anyone have the .bin from the cart and can I just make one from another cart (of course using an eprom). Sorry for the bazillion questions. I appreciate any help and good wishes. I got the system along with 30 games, keyboard, 2 controllers and a light gun for 30 bucks. Did not do too badly. Also had a few rare games in the lot. Not bad. Cassidy BTW, Ms. Pac and Pac on this system rock!

I got a lot of goodies you could sell there, drop me a line. You know, you could also put a Pac Man machine in your store for sale too. Would not hurt to set a few games up there for quarter play, either. Most vendors in your area would be glad to set the location with games for sale, you pay them their price and add 100 bucks. Meanwhile, you are splitting the profits until they sell. Cassidy

#@[email protected]$^^%&*$&^*&^##[email protected]!#$$#@#@$#^^% ARGH! After all that to make the POLO labels flawless, argh. And it cost me 30 bucks on fonts.com. Again, Atariage becomes the backbone of the community. You guys (collectively) and gals rock. Cassidy

When I was out in May, I got a shot in front of 1165 Borregas ave. That was the office for Arcade equipment. It looks live every other .com building out there. I have to confess, it did feel like walking in the steps of giants. Borregas is interrupted by two major freeways. To get from downtown Sunnyvale, you have to wind through a few overpasses to get to the business end of the street. The first few blocks were all houses, and I was majorly thinking I had the wrong address. With some perserverence, it paid off. Now that my internet issues have been resolved (DSL has been a pain in the rear!), I should be able to get some shots on line. Of course, Curt does an amazing job of covering all that on the above link. It was just special to be there (for me, anyway). Cassidy

For me, its coin op Ms. Pac. I insist on at least 100,000 or I cannot get away from it. As for 2600 stuff, I want at least a 4000 on Kaboom or I will keep trying until I get it. Cassidy Good idea for a thread.

We carry additional insurance on our house for the arcade machines, the games, my toy collection and for Nicole's jewelery. You are crazy not to. If you will recall, my mothers house burned down back in March. Thank God everyone was ok, but they lost everything. They had let their insurance run out and never renewed the policy. If I could urge you all to cover yourselves, then I would feel better. I know you think it could never happen to you, but trust me, until you have walked through the room you grew up in and seen that hell after a fire, you will never understand. Cassidy BTW, I think the additional 50,000 in coverage was like 150 bucks a year. Its pocket change as monthly payments. Most insurers will offer an installment plan for policies too.

Got a Sunnyvale Heavy Sixer (Sears model). That is the second one this year we have found at this one thrift store. Could disclose where, but would have to kill all who found out! As for games, Missile Command, Apollo Racquetball, Popeye and Demon Attack. Not bad all in all. And I got a call from Stan Jr. telling me he found a SW Yoda for me at the local store. Stan is the man. BTW, trying to get boxed Activision games for my collection. Would be interested in trading the sixer for some specific Activision carts and their boxes/manuals. Email me if you are interested. Cassidy

The 2532 is the one that does not require any mods. You just bend up leg 20 and attatch to an inverter. The other leg goes to the hole on the board. For some reason though, the file was not working on that chip. I know the binary was fine, because I could play it on the emulator, and was able to make the cart using a 2732. I just had to do the jumpers on the board. I know that some of the Activision titles have strange board situations. Laser Blast has the pin 20, CE directly to the 5V. Strange. Cassidy