-^CrossBow^-

Well in that case...you do this: Set the options screens or inventory...whatever to be activiated via something similar to what Ace of Aces does. Basically in that game when you want to see one of the views I believe you press a button twice followed by the direction you wish to look out of. You could do something like this...or make it where you press the fire button and then press up twice or something like that. To make it easier to execute this...you basically set the game play to pause while your in the options screen or whatever. This way you don't have to worry about getting tagged while your fiddling with the controller.

Guys..the link is a Geocities account...you have to cut and paste it. As for my link...I hosed it the first time..but it should be working now. I just tested it..it does. Anyway, if you guys can't cut and paste..then you don't derserve to see Aimee in all her loveliness anyway!

hmm..well..guys. I don't have but my one Sears Heavy Sixer. However, I actually see original Heavy Sixers in various condition all the time. I just usually don't inquire as to their costs. I would say that most of the vendor around town will want 20 or so bucks for them. If I have to fix them in any way..then that of course is extra. Last deal I got on a heavy sixer was on one with an original cx2400 stick and a tac-scan3 stick...with the entertainment storage bin..but no top to it. And..also about 10 or so games..most common...with a few 4s in there...total cost.. Well..I talked him down to 7 bucks total. Course the VCS still needed a new voltage regulator in it..and I replaced the 2200uf cap in it even though that isn't really needed. Power switch needed to be cleaned up as well. Anyway, I plan to go looking this weekend. I can inquire as to costs..and see what they want for them. Then perhaps I can pick them up for you guys assuming the price it right.

Umm...I have a question. I totally understand what John is saying...but this is already possible in some respects on the 7800. What is wrong with using the difficulty switches to turn this options screen on? Shuttle on the 2600 did this...so did several other games. It always worked for me...and my 7800 is never more than an arm's length away anyway.

Hehehe..Aimee that totally allows a face to be put to the text now. Thanks! As for posting while working...what do you think most of us do during the day who visit here? There are probably about a million things I should be doing right now other than checking AtariAge twenty times a day. Okay, so on the covers...are you also willing to add the lovely Fuji Logo and Unit # underneath such as 2600, 5200, 7800..etc? hehe...for the morbidly curious... me... [ 02-01-2002: Message edited by: -^Cro§Bow^- ]

Heheh..see..I am not the only one! You see Aimee all we have to base your image on is the Avatar you provide us. So for now I have this image of Ms. Pac-Man wearing silver stockings or maybe just some Knee high Silver boots...hehe.. To stay on topic: Aimee does that basic price include any monograms or anything special like that? Or is that pricing basically just for the covers themselves? You know if you can really get these things cranked out fast enough you could make a decent extra from this.

Who the hell cares about the worth!!! Play the damn game! It's one of Activision's more complex multiscreen yet fun games. Rarity only matters to those who are in this as a business. And if that is all you are here for...then please move along people!

Been swapping out with these 5 games lately: MoonSweeper No Escape! Mario Bros. Piece 'O Cake Dark Cavern

Aimee needs to post a pic of her wearing them silver stockings...hehe... so dimensionally speaking...do you just need to know the rough lengths of the consoles...such as max height, etc?...or are you going to make them to fit the wedge shapes of the 5200 and 7800 units? Otherwise I need to get my buddy to start rendering in Lightwave again for that... wonder how he is coming along on that Heavy Sixer Model I commisioned him to do?

Ever since I started attaching the foil to my carbon dots...I haven't cracked the sticks open either...since they just work now... also the foil doesn't dirty up the flex contacts since the foil is what touches it and not the carbon pad anymore... Either method works well...mine is just damn near free that's all.

Yes...the 5200 version graphically is pretty much the same as the 2600 version but then most of the Activision games are this way. However the feature with the keypad is a much better control scheme...seems more realistic as well. Also the 5200 controls actually make the more precise movements easier. Lining up with the satellite on the 2600 version required lots of joystick tapping...whereas on the 5200 you can just ease into position. Shuttle is more over a better game on the 5200 than the 2600. Hence why I am on the lookout for a copy...hehe...

Inky... if you only wanting the carts...I can actually find several of these for cheap locally. They don't look the best...but they work usually. Here is what I know I can find... Frogger, Phoenix Haunted House Combat..(Several label variants avail...) Empire Strikes back... Best part is they shouldn't be more than a buck each... So..let me know...I am going to the Flea market this weekend to the same dude that had all of these. I picked up 6 games from him this past Saturday..and while they all needed some serious cleaning..they all worked..and I was happy. Let me know.

This is most excellent news Andrew! American postal service being what it is...I probably will get the instruction booklet well ahead of the actual item. As an example I recently had a package come from Ontario, Canada. I paid for Priority..and it still took 2 weeks to get to me!!! So...I am being optimistic and setting my QB's arrival at like 12-16 weeks...hehe.. Either way...I am glad that Andrew is being successful in getting these put together and more importantly...that people are buying these up. Excellent!!

If the Logos are too much work..then I would be happy with a nice -^CB^- on each one at the lower edge of the covers..with a big "2600" or "7800" and of course "5200" in the center...heheh.. Just let us know some projected costs...so we can start to paypal it your way..or whatever... Email any of us for details...might make it easier than scrolling through this each time.

Amiee: If you actually can do something like this for us...you will forever be hailed as our Gaming Queen!!! Seriously...I would love to have either Silver with Black Atari Logo...or Black with Silver logo covers for all my systems...2600,5200,7800...that would be most cool!

Chaz is right...I use this setup to connect my 5200 and Intv on the same selector. Basically the 5200 switch box is connected to the TV...and the Intv has a Coax to RCA phono converter plugged into the Coax Ant In on the 5200 switchbox. Select the channel..and turn on the Intv...I have the Intv...turn on the 5200..and it's signal takes over..and I have the 5200... So as Chaz said...maybe the NES switcher can't detect the 5200 signal... Try connecting the 5200 into the TV directly...and then get a Coax to RCA phono converter..(Radio Shack calls them F - Phono adapters...) and use that for the NES plugged into the Coax Ant in on the 5200 switchbox. This is assuming you have the 4 port switch box which has the Coax Ant In. I actually have one that has it etched on the board...but doesn't include the coax connector..and the case cover for the switch box doesn't have an opening for it either...so it basically only has the VHF terminal screw contacts...Odd ehh?

Okay...so I happen to see this and thought I would post it for the benefit of TheCrazyYelloFellow in case his switchbox is dead. 5200 swtich box for 4 port 5200 on Ebay... Good Luck!

Nope...they made them all with Coax connection to the TV...like all of mine. But they did make some with only flat wire ant in on the switch box itself. Those particular ones must not be too common as several people on the RGVC thought it was odd when I showed some scans of mine. Mine was broken and I was having them tell me what components I need to look at for repair. Turned out the transitor and Op amp on that one were both shot. Apparently someone in the past had most likely connected up a power supply for an 800 to it and that won't fly I am told. Anyway, I will try and scan that switch box again tonight so you can see what I mean.

You know..I don't recall a Bat on that level anywhere either. Maybe Activision took it out at the last minute thinking it made the level too easy. Actually that level is easy anyway..and the bat would only make it more fun...hehehe... I have since lost the box to my Double Dragon...and had forgotten about this altogether...thanks for showing the light on this... Perhaps someone will know the story behind this..?

As everyone else has said..."Get well soon and God speed". We all miss your posts...

Okay...well I will actually try and take a stab at this one. APB - All Point Bulletin. Basically a cops chasing game. I haven't played the Lynx version but the Arcade version plays kinda like Spy Hunter...in that it is a top down view racer type. But in APB you have to track down and get the criminals while doging stuff in the road. Slimeworld - Todd's Adventures in Slimeworld. This game is a 2D platformer through and through. Basically you play the role of Todd and go spelunking in the slime caves. You have a basic blaster to shoot enemies with...sometimes you have grenades if I remember correctly. And you have a Jetpack for flying around. Slimeworld I have played on the lynx...and to put it simply...it is one of my top wants for my actual Lynx. I recommend that if you really wish to choose between them. Get ahold of the Lynx emulator known as Handy and then try and locate some Lynx roms of the two games you mentioned. This way you can play them both and get an idea for which you would rather have. In the end you may find you want them both...hehehe...

It needs to be added however, that you need to make dern sure you remove the bezel ring and buttons for the Start, Pause, and Reset. If you attempt to take the controller apart without removing those first you stand a big chance of tearing the flex circuit undernearth them and then permanently rendering those button functions useless. Also many of the 5200 controllers you get on ebay now have already had the rebuild kits applied and therefore contain Rev. 9 flex circuits. While most agree that these are the most reliable design of the flex circuits you have to know that you can't really clean these as their traces internally are made of carbon and not thin aluminium strips as in the Rev. 7 and 6 flex circuits. In other words if you take a pencil eraser to a Rev. 9 Flex you and "clean" hard enough...you will eventually erase the traces altogether from the flex!!!...I have actually done this so be careful. Also when you have the controller apart and are looking at the Flex circuit...try and look for cracks in the traces. These Flex circuits are notorious for broken traces due to the bending of the circuit and over time the metal strips simply just fracture. This is also repairable but it take a super steady soldering skilled hand to fix these. I have only managed to fix broken traces on the flex once..and even then...that controller is still flaky from time to time. Also, one of the best kept secrets as of late to fixing these things I would like you to email me for. This assumes your traces are intact. Keep us posted...we will do are best to get your 5200 up and running dude!

Actually check the 5200 FAQ here, I believe there is info on how to mod the 5200 to eliminate the need for the switchbox. I know there is info on how to make a switchbox that will work the 4 port model using a standard Atari Switchbox that you modify. Either of those should be a decent alternative. You could also use some Velcro strips to hold the box in place onto your TV. The switchbox that came with my used 5200 had been used in this fashion. Of course double sided foam tape will also work..but it won't come off nearly as easy.

Don't worry about the spark too much. The power current actually passes through the video RF to the unit itself. So if you leave the power supply plugged into the switchbox and then unplug the video it will spark more than likely. I have three switchboxes for the 4 port model and they all spark when I forget to unplug the power first. Now about your problem. When you turn on the 5200, you should hear an audible "click" from the switchbox as the relay switches over to the game side to allow the video signal to pass through. If you don't hear this "click" then your switchbox is most likely faulty. However the relay itself almost never goes bad. It is probably the opamp chip that is inside just off the choke and some other stuff in there. They are cheap to purchase at Radio Shack but do require some fairly steady hands with a soldering iron. So you have a few choices...you could ask several of us here whom I know we have spare 5200 switchboxes. Most of us prefer to do trades for other items we do not have for things like this. Or you could check ebay and find one there. Or some of us...(Myself included) could repair the one you have either for a modest fee of basically the parts plus shipping, or trade. Let me or Tempest know...since I know right off hand that he has a spare switchbox. Gunstar might also...

I actually have lots of Imagic games: Moonsweeper Trickshot Atlantis No Escape! Demon Attack Cosmic Ark Riddle of the Sphinx Starvoyager... And out of all of those...only two Imagic games give me fits...Trickshot and Fathom. All the others slide right in just as easy as normal Atari carts do. I will confess that a few M-Network carts try to slip out of the slot like Kool-Aid Man, and Dark Cavern. Also many report that the Tigervision carts are nearly impossible to put into a 7800 as well. I myself am not lucky enough to own even a single tigervision cart so I can't confirm this. I can tell you that I have one of the 84 year runs of the 7800 and for the most part I don't have too much trouble with carts going into it except the few I mentioned above. couldn't all this be made simpler if we just remove the inner collar around the cart connector off the mainboards of the 7800? I know that it won't look quite as cool since you will be able to see into the unit a little. But then Colecovision is still pretty cool and those things could have benefited from a collar without me playing guessing games trying to get my carts into its slot.