Jetboot Jack

I have Altirra, Atari800 both running on OSX - and yes the 5200 version works fine in both. However I use a custom Attractmode FE on OSX to access RetroArch as a command line - cos I like a pretty graphical UI that you can use a joypad to navigate. So I usually prefer to use that where possible, I also have Kat5200 under OSX accessed from the same FE, just not tested Scramble yet 😗 OpenEmu on OSX is fab, but it only does 5200 😕 Altirra is a nice Emu, just not good for a couch experience IMHO. I also use Launchbox on windows as a FE and that is super easy to customise for launching games, just select the box art to play, all with a joypad - on windows I use Atari800 standalone and the RetroArch 800 core with it, again Altirra is less suitable to use that way in my experience. However I do admit Altirra is the best emulator, just for me not the best emulator to use with a FE sadly... sTeVE

Since all 5200 games have been ported to the A8, there is little reason to pick the 5200 versions as special IMHO - they are identical. Dig Dug, Centipede, Invaders etc etc are all in their full 5200 glory on the A8. Some of the 5200 version play worse IMHO - Pole Position, the steering is just odd on the 5200, Space Dungeon and Robotron feel better with twin digital stick too... EXCEPT Star Raiders - the analog controls and use of the keypad on the 5200 version make the game truly excellent - thats the one Id pick as a standout 5200 better than A8 game. Also to be honest if you dont have a Trackball on your A8 - playing Centiepde and Missile Command feel better on 5200 analog sticks vs digital ones. sTeVE

Well I can’t stop playing this - bloody excellent, a really lovely piece of work in every way. Graphics are great, game pace is spot on, quite challenging but that’s a good thing since it keeps me coming back to have one more go. You both should be very proud of this conversion, it’s really great! sTeVE P.S. As I tend to use emulators these days I found that the 5200 version does not play in RetroArch with the Atari800 core, but the xex version does just fine, the 5200 version plays under OpenEmu perfectly...

Like this one? https://www.amazon.co.uk/RockPower-Power-Supply-Great-Britain/dp/B00LLHKKZG/ref=lp_5440365031_1_6?srs=5440365031&ie=UTF8&qid=1534829848&sr=8-6 sTeVE

Thanks for the info and link Level42 - I remember that thread, I had cleared out a bunch of PSUs at the time that had simply stopped working... Its one of the confusions of having a fair few machines from several countries, you end up with a mess of different equipment and power units! sTeVE

Wow - thanks for all the thoughts and feedback, Ill go look at the PSUs I have - mostly really big heavy black ones with moulded Atari logos (UK) if memory serves... Ill also look into the lotharek ones as they are pretty cheap. But for 800 and disc drives should the old psus be reliable? sTeVE

Bump?!?!

Ive sold a few bits, will be adding more next week. The XEGS has now been tested and Ive updated the listing with new photos of the system playing games... sTeVE

I have a box of old Atari PSU's for various devices - computers, disc drives etc. Having seen that circuit rot can render some of them lethal I was wondering what alternatives their are to using the original parts? Are there any modern PSU's that are pin compatible and can power XL's and disc drives, or 800's? sTeVE

PM sent... sTeVE

I have started to list out my 8bit collection and auction it off on ebay in the UK... The first few items are up today - auction thread link I'll add new stuff as I find it and unbox it, there are a lot of boxes so I might be busy for a few months!! If anyone is UK based and wants to grab anything - or everything - drop me a PM sTeVE

Hi, I've got a few items listed up on ebay in the UK - link sTeVE

Fair enough - those contexts are yours nothing I can do about them, nor understand their contribution to your mood... That my reply intsected with those issues is unfortunate. sTeVE

Woah! And I had a smiley in my reply!! Seriously, dunno what's up - if I have offended you I am sorry Paul... sTeVE

Many years ago I contacted Jon (and Phillip from English software) and asked for permission to use jetbootjack as a handle and for my email and domain (now lapsed)... As if its any of your concern, and yes for the most part I am resting 😆 You raised the topic of originality, and as soon as a rational reply comes along you feign disinterest in it, kinda strange... You raised the question of copying - an attempt at Atariblast - not I, my reply was simply that little is original and as such the point you made seems moot... sTeVE

Atari800 compiles and runs just fine under OSX - I've done it recently, the details are linked above by Mr Robot, it took me minimal effort (30 minutes) get it working (I also did an automator script and associated files) Altirra on OSX is also great using PlayOn - see this post, near zero effort to get running and full file associations etc sTeVE

I guess it's a matter of who cares - what is the issue with those guys being inspired by AtariBlast or not, since 99% of all games are inspired by the few actual original ideas? sTeVE

True on some machines like the A8 - but on some other 8bit systems the IO ports shared functionality with other sub-systems at boot up or during tape/disk access - so it was unhealthy to plug in or remove sticks on some computers (the early C64 springs to mind) when the power was on - I have repaired a fair few non Atari machines suffering from popped IO controller chips when all that was done was plug in the stick... sTeVE

Turn old computers into PC usb keyboards - http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2014/03/atari-65xe-usb-keyboard.html sTeVE

In the spirit of sharing experiences getting Atari emulators running under OSX. I have Atari800 running nativley under OSX High Sierra (10.13.6) with full audio using these instructions on a thread elsewhere here. I also used an automator script to create a launcher icon - which makes it pretty slick... And for Altirra running under OSX I really recommend looking at Play On - it does the same as the above wine wrapper work, but is VERY simple and allows you to associate files with Altirra - so running Altirra from WUDSN etc is simple I use both of these with a command line front end too (Attract Mode) - so these are both very flexible ways to emulate on a Mac right now... sTeVE

If you create your wine wrapped version with the latest version of PlayOn for mac you can get drag and drop and associate files with the bottled app (altirra in this case). PlayOn seems a better solution for bottling that crossover or wine bottler on High Sierra. sTeVE

Just an awesome piece of work - this is a great conversion... sTeVE

This is unbelievably good - wow what a fantastic piece of work, just stunning in every way, huge congratulations to you all! Plays beautifully.... sTeVE

Good grief - that is a very sad to hear. You never know why people go quiet on forums, but to hear that they have passed is quite a shock. Is there an archive of his material collated so we can at least remember his contribution and celebrate his passion? sTeVE

I think it is up to Pete and what his vision for the game is - if these visuals fit his idea then that's fine - it's his game and you can choose to buy it or not buy it. I would say that if he were to involve someone who could take on the responsibility for the visual design of his games they may be more appealing to potential buyers... I do not find this game appealing based on it's visuals - but it may play great, so I will wait and see. sTeVE