-^CrossBow^-

surprised no one mentioned this yet...but you can actually use both joysticks to play 7800 Robotron just like the 5200 version. However, there was never a coupler for holding the 7800 proline sticks. But you can move and shoot seperately with the joysticks! Check it out...may increase your fun factor..or get a pal to handle the firing while you move...

It could be the RF trimmer actually. While it wasn't a 5200 I do have a Colecovision that had this same problem after I rebuilt the RF circuit inside it. It would give me a screen...but all I had was a loud static like noise. I simply adjusted the coil pot on the RF circuit a little and was able to get the sound back. In fact...while the unit worked before I rebuilt the RF it was only showing black and white and the audio was fuzzy. Afterwards...the picture is beautiful and now the Audio is better than it was to begin with! As Chaz stated the other pots are for adjusting the analog controllers and the color or chroma of the 5200. The only pot I wouldn't touch would be the one for the Analog controllers since I can't think of a really good way to know for sure if it is adjusted right without a Diagnostic cart. Otherwise just keep aware of where you had them starting off with and turn them in slow moves like 1/4 inch or so at a time and see the results. If you want..mark the starting point with some white out or nail polish or a marker so you can match them back up if needed.

Gunstar: Your starting to sound a bit bitter on this I am not sure why however, So yes, I got the system for my Birthday back in 88'. It took me nearly two years to convince my folks that we needed this. To do that several factors came into why they finally bought it. First I had well over 100+ 2600 games at the time and why that may not have been very large of a library, it was a varied one. The compatibility of the 7800 with the old 2600 games was a big plus with me and my folks simply because they played the Atari nearly as much as I did (Especially Mom). They weren't keen on having more than one console hooked up to the TV and even then they wouldn't allow me to connect the Atari to the big TV in the living room for fear of that whole Burn in thing on the screen. So the compatibility was a big plus here as that would allow one console with newer games and better graphics to still be used to play the older stuff we had had for quite some time now. The second thing was price. Back in 88 the Nintendo was still around $200 bucks I believe and my parents didn't have that kind of money to spend on just me for X-mas or anytime of the year. My folks had 3 other step children to shop for as well. So when K-B Toys starting selling the 7800s in 88' for $59.99 that was a big plus money wise to my parents as well. Then finally the biggest feature as to why I wanted it was actually two things. First I thought the 7800 looked Kick @$$!!! Also the graphics pulled me as well. For me the game that sold the system well was Xenophobe. However, Pole Position 2 while not being anything new wasn't that bad a game to include with it. At least it wasn't another Pac-Man or Combat! Okay...I will sit back now...and think upon my youthful years. Later! [ 12-11-2001: Message edited by: -^Cro§Bow^- ]

precisely! And while Scrapyard Dog may not be the best platformer ever for any system, it is about the only one the 7800 has. If the 7800 had come out in 84 as planned and with some new innovative games like Scrapyard or Midnight Mutants...it would have killed the NES from the get go. Afterall, you say it took SMB to bring the console market back and your right about that. So imagine if the 7800 had come out a year earlier, with Scrapyard Dog. Not as good as SMB perhaps...but it would have been first and might have totally reshaped the way things became. I don't know, I think what ultimately killed the 7800 was simply Atari's lack of real marketing on it. They should have pushed the fact it was compatible with the 2600 library more. This feature alone was how I was able to convince my parents back in 88' that we needed the 7800. And while the original games to have been released were simply the old ones that had been done for everything else already...they at least had the ability to do the one thing that most think made the NES such a hit. Basically the gaming consumer wanted the games to look more like their arcade counterparts. The NES was able to capitalize on this with SMB since the arcade version and the home version...were the same. So even with the old Lineup of rehashed games that Atari wanted to release, I still think the 7800 would have done much better. After all Food Fight looks pretty dern close to the Arcade, also Joust, Ms. Pac-Man, Xevious, Donkey Kong, DKjr...you get the idea. If these features had been pushed more back in 84...the 7800 probably would have sold much better. [ 12-10-2001: Message edited by: -^Cro§Bow^- ]

The 7800 would have done much better had it been released originally as schedule in 84 properly. At least then the 7800 would have had 6 months to beat the NES. I think the 7800 at least would have seen more releases and perhaps survived longer than the 4-5 years that is actually did.

And here all along I have been popping the carts in...turning on the TI...then turning off the TI and unplugging the carts...stupid me ehh? Alpiner does rock..and is even better with a speech module

I haven't any idea...but looking at the artwork it appears that it actually accepted either Beta or VHS tapes from which to run the games from. I wish some concept sketches of the controllers or something like that had been found or shown with this. Because as it looks from the artwork there, it operated via a keypad of some sort just under where it says "GAME 1". Interesting, notice how futuristic and almost Star Trek looking this is? Thanks for the Link Alex!

My belief (which could be wrong of course...) is that these red labeled versions were made towards the end of the NTSC cart making era..89' or so. So Atari either ran these late in the game...or simply ran out of silver labeled NTSC ends and started to use the pal end labels on them. As I understand it a lot of the Pal 7800 games have this red end label on them.

Also do you hear the relay switch over in the switchbox? I had a similar problem although I didn't eve get a black screen. I would get power on the 5200 and all seemed okay but then I discovered that I never heard the relay switch over in the switchbox. I had to replace a transitor and an Op amp in the switchbox before it started to function again. So far so good now.

I suppose I was more lucky than the rest here. My first VCS was a 4 switch that I got at Christmas back in 80'. That was my only game console in my house until my B-day 88' when I had finally convinced my parents that we had to have a 7800. At that time the VCS 4 switch after having 20+ controllers used with it, 3 power supplies, 2 rf switchboxes, about an hours worth of other miscellaneous work that I had done to it to keep it working, and an untold number of hours of joy, was finally packed up and sent to a closet for final retirement. Luckily about a month later one of my aunt's had asked about what video games I played as she was wanting to get something for my young cousins to play with. They didn't have a video game system yet and couldn't afford an NES or SMS or anything else that was most currently available that year. So my 4 switch was given to another home. I have no idea what happened to it and that same aunt doesn't recall what they did with it either. Point is that my 1st 2600 wasn't tossed out or forgotten. It was maintained and loved by at least two families during its lifespan. Someday I am sure she will find that trusty 4 switch and most likely hand it back to me. Something else to as I read about some of you having your mothers toss out your old VCS units. My mother never tossed out my 7800 when I retired it 1st back in 90' (Blame IBM PCs). Instead it was boxed with everthing with it. Then placed out in the garage where it remained for almost 10 years until I unearthed it again and brought it back to its new home back with me. I am grateful that my mother would have never thrown out anything like that. Instead she tends to hold onto everything I once owned as a child. To her, with me having my own family now and my own responsibilities in life, my old toys and video game stuff are her happy memories. In fact I am willing to bet that ever since I took the 7800 and all the games back, that she probably has missed me more than ever. Not to fear mom, I have a special Christmas planned for you this year...

Its interesting to read about this. This is actually something that I myself had been wondering. Where I live (Oklahoma Flea market heaven!), I never find Atari stuff and only occasionally will I happen upon a joystick here and there. But there are several places in town that resell, repair, and trade in old computers and video game systems. This is where the Atari items are to usually be found. The problem here is that all these shops know each other..and the guys who run them can be seen working any of those shops from time to time. Also every shop has a DP Rarity guide and the guys are really knowlegable about the value of the games. However, they also think they know more and that is their mistake. Most of these shops have placed really low prices on most of the commons that you and I see all the time. But then they also put inflated prices on commons because they know they will sell at those prices. Examples are Frogger averages anywhere from $5 - $10 bucks depending on its condition at these stores. So they may have a DP Rarity guide...but it is apparent that they also associate the history and name of a game to the value. Either way it doesn't matter to me too much. They sell Wico Controllers for about $15 bucks...and the standard CX2400 sticks for $9 bucks. Since they don't grab those things at the thrifts and fleas...I am able to pick up same said controllers for usually .45 cents to a $1. Also I have managed to snag some deals from them when I visit. Case in point, once I was in there casually browsing looking at the Atari, Sega, Nintendo...etc stuff they carry. I was looking for some specific Genesis games this day. So a kid about 12 or so came in with his mom and together they have about 3 grocery bags full of "stuff". One bag had a complete Intellivision model 1 with about 15 games to include their instructions and overlays. Another had a Nintendo...and SNES...and he also had a N64. The kid was clearing out the old stock from the house and hoping to trade it all in towards a new PS2. I stood close by to listen to the offer made to him for his stuff. The shop only offered $10 bucks for the Intellivision...and would only give him .10 cents for each cart!!! They also were only going to offer him about $5 for the NES front loader (blinker I might add...). And only $10 bucks for his SNES too. I don't remember what they offered him for the N64...but it probably wasn't much more. Most of the games they were only going to buy from him at .50 cents to $1 depending on the condition and what it came with. Okay...so total deal for this kid was going to be somewhere around $60 total as a cash trade in towards a PS2. Now the sad thing is this. The kid accepted this offer because he probably wasn't aware of what he could make. Also I am sure the kid was impatient and just really wanted that PS2. Keep in mind that this place will basically clean up the stuff and resell it with a 1 week guarantee and a much higher cost. Examples: That kid's Intv was put on the shelf 3 days later for the price of $44.95. It came with only 7 of the 15 games he had traded in. The other games were placed out seperately for the cost of $1 a piece. Which is actually a decent deal to me. But the SNES and NES units sold for well over $50 each!!! Also they sell most of their NES games at the price of a least $5 bucks with some ranging as high as $20 or more. The kid traded a NES Dragon Warrior 3 complete and they only gave him $3 for it. They sold that a week later for well over $40. I guess the point is...I felt bad that the kid in my opinion got ripped. But then the place is there to make money. And they can't do that if they sell stuff at the price they pay for it. However, with as much stuff as they get in. I can't believe they have to inflate the prices so high on the consoles. The SNES units sell for $50 there complete and you can get them on Ebay for much less than that! I can tell you that since that day. I have stuck around longer until after the offers were made. And then when the clerks go off to get the paper work. I counter offer with the customer. Needless to say I only have to offer 5 more bucks for the stuff then what the shop gives..and I walk away with the stuff before the clerk comes back. So I guess it is very probable that Flea market sellers or vendors scope out the finds ahead of us. I do know that another source I get lots of Atari stuff from (Got a Xonox- Ghost Manor - Spikes Peak for $10), is only open on the weekends. During the week he is searching all the goodwills, salvation armies, thrifts and even other flea markets outside of town to replenish his own booth. However, this guy doesn't keep a DP guide on him...hehe... [ 11-29-2001: Message edited by: -^Cro§Bow^- ]

Mindfield: Don't get me wrong..Z26 works in XP with no problems...except one. No sound!!! The legacy drivers for the SBLive under XP simply seem to not work...period! In fact I can't really get anything to work with sound under XP in the Dos console. As for StellaX yeah...it works fine under XP but I do miss the resolution modes I could play under in Z26.

When I was using Win98 and ME I was a straight Z26 user all the way!!! With NT systems and now WinXP...I can only pretty much use StellaX. It doesn't bother me as to which one is best these days as I have tried out about every major rom dump there is and played all the games enough to have a mental list of what I really wish to seek out first etc... Speaking of which...I need to find me a H.E.R.O. and Secret Quest carts next...

Just a thought... I would think the Digital Press guys would have several protos of ROTLA for the 2600. Perhaps someone with some pull with them...Scott..or Matt might be able to talk to Joe or someone over there at the Digital Press and see if they will dump theirs...or have them sent out to be dumped..

Tom: As for you Alligator People you have...my belief is that I don't think 20th century fox would have used Atari branded PCBs for any of thier stuff. I could be wrong of course but it seems unlikely. One sure fire way to figure this out...is to scan this sucker and post it here at the Age message boards. The real experts can look at it then and tell you.

quote So your the one!!! hehe...J/K I actually think it is wrong to offer Star Raiders online through Ebay and not provide the controller. Still if people buy it..what can you do? The shops around here have multiples of Star Raiders and only one controller. I tell them that they shouldn't sell it unless the individual buying it has a controller already. Well, that was a mistake..because now those places have like only 1 or 2 keypad controllers and they sell them seperate for like $9 bucks!! Needless to say...the StarRaiders carts keep getting sold. But not the controllers to go with. Some people...

I can actually be found in almost all of those chat programs at any given time. I actually am more partial to ICQ and Yahoo pager but since work actually required me to get an AOL AIM account I am there as well. Also I can be found in IRC almost everyday during the day at the #rgvc channel in EFnet or Undernet...can't remember right off hand since it changes almost monthly it seems... However if we had a cgi or java based chat here I can say with a very high degree of certainty that I would be there.

NE146 and Chaz, I thank thee most heartily for your suggestions. My apprehention (sp?) is that I am afraid that in the course of trying to fix both of these sticks that I have which give me the exact same results on those two games btw, that I will in fact screw up the control for the other games. As I stated there is really only these two games giving me fits. I might try the pot adjustment on the 5200 main board later. But that will be later. I am still awaiting for my SW:TAG for the 5200 and will gauge control off of it. Thanks again however

Well, I don't have Krazy Shoot out so I can't compare with that one. Also I haven't really found a 5200 games yet that I would say really "Sucks" in the ethical sense. But this is what is played the most and the least in my 5200. Least played: Defender Gorf Kaboom! (I don't have paddles so I figure this would help) Frogger Most Played: Rescue on Fractalus Space Dungeon Moon Patrol Kangaroo (Hey I like it! Leave me alone!) And believe it or not I don't have Pac-Man or any of the sports games yet. I see Pac-Man all the time so I that is probably the #1 reason I haven't picked it up. Also many of the 5200 games are great arcade conversions with perfect sound, but the 5200 controllers really ruin it all for me with these games. Like Defender and Kaboom!

Chaz: Can't be a controller problem. Defender and Berzerk! are the only ones that give me fits. Most of the time Berzerk's main character won't move diagnally when I want him to. But I have better luck if I return the stick to center and then move him. So basically I can't roll the controller from say...left to left+up diagnal. I would have to be moving left and then return it to center and then to the left+up posistion for him to move in that diagnal. Defender is just plain odd. Because going left takes no effort at all. But if I want to suddenly change and go right...well I can't unless I move the stick all the way to the far right. That maybe the normal method. But if so then left shouldn't start working until that is at its extreme as well. But Moon Patrol, Frogger, Fractalus, Star Raiders, Kangaroo work great! Yes I actually prefer Kangaroo on the 5200 to the 2600 version. I actually don't have any trouble controlling the 'Roo' in that game. Oh well, probably just me and I'm all weird and stuff.

Cafeman: My only reason for Defender being a pain to control is because on my 5200 with both of my controllers. I have to push all the way to the extreme right to get the ship to change direction. However, Defender is the only game I can really see this happening on. It could be both my sticks need calibrating. But then that doesn't explain why Fractalus, Star Raiders, and yes...even Gorf all respond correctly. Also I have a really hard time controlling Berzerk! as well. I can't get the diagnals to work in that game at all movement wise. I do much better with the digital sticks of the 2600 version than the 5200 version. Because of this alone I am hesitant to get BluePrint or Miner...or some others. I will know just as soon as my SW:TAG for the 5200 comes in.

Funny to see this mentioned. The Vader model is the least common one that I find in my area. Instead, I usually see the 6 switch semi heavy and 4 switch woody's most common here. I have actually only seen one Vader model and the guy doesn't feel like climbing over his piles and piles of dead and half taken apart TV sets to get it. And I don't feel like breaking a leg or getting zapped by a Cathode while trying to get to it either. Especially when the guys wants like 20 bucks for his 2600s. Too much for a bare console that may not even work.

So then basically you guys are saying that all possible points in the game have been found at this point? Or so it would seem? Question about the key. Just to clarify. Aren't all the graphics displayed upside down in the code? That would mean that you guys have been posting the key upside down in the pics. Also, and this is way far fetched. But is it possible to overlay several of the actuall current existing graphics in the game to actually create something new? For instance you could alter the hourclass and turn it into the Anhk by actually displaying the hourglass and combining it with some dead graphic space or something? My theory is that would it be possible to actually create his initials by combining several already placed graphic objects? I believe you stated earlier that the Lunatic is displayed in this way. There are so many places in the code where we have just seemingly random boxes...in the graphics that it might be possible that instead of being just a static image...that it might be a combination of several ontop of one another? Just a thought. I find it hard to believe that the screenshot which has been around forever was done from a proto version. I realize most magazines in that time got those lab loaner carts...but most of the time those were the final released code but without the fancy box and labels. Hence why most of Tempests Protos are actually just the PCB and nothing else. So...either it is in there...and really cleverly hidden somehow. Or this how thing was never there to begin with and Howard Warsaw simply thought it was in there...since they had their initials in other games.

And while it is a lot of work... Keep hitting Flea markets and thrifts. I actually found my 4 port which was just a tad on the dusty side...but no cracks and very few scratches and it works great. Came with two controllers one of which needed a little TLC..the other is completely missing the plastic ring and fire buttons on one side but otherwise I can get it to work again as well. Also the power supply. But no RF box. Total cost to me... $2. hehe...now that was a good day.

the power plugs into the switchbox itself. There is a choke installed inside the switchbox and on the 5200 itself. So basically you connect the switchbox to the TV...you plug the power into the switchbox and then the 5200 rf cord goes into the switch box. It is autoswitching so you only have to turn to channel 3 and turn on the 5200. I too have an extra 4 port switchbox...