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Mikebloke

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Posts posted by Mikebloke

  1. Posted

    Hi everyone, in case anyone thought I had dropped off the scene, here is my current progress with using F8 processor to make a Fairchild Channel F game.

     

    I'm considering making a "3 in a row" game, essentially tic tac toe, but with variants including three men's morris. This is basically tic tac toe but with only 3 counters each - and then you get to move a counter each turn.

     

    The image here is what I've got so far. Yep. Its just a grid. I'm learning very slowly by looking at other peoples assembly, editing things and seeing what happens. What you see here is the progress of on and off testing for probably a year now. Realistically, you could edit pacman_10 (its on the ves wiki here!: http://channelf.se/veswiki/index.php?title=Homebrew:Pac-Man ) and edit the bits shown in the image I've attached, and get what I got here. The difference is however is that I sort of understand the other assembly lines now and how it does what it does. I'm now stuck trying to work out how to do other graphics, that change due to player interaction (such as the counters, player selection), so I'll probably be back in 12 months with some kind of player movement!

    grid.png

    • Like 3

  3. Posted

    I think Atari did pretty well with 7800 Galaga for the time but with that said I never did play it much because it felt 'off'.

    I've just tried it on a retron 77 I got today and it feels totally amazing! Haven't tried it with my 7800 controller which I quite like but compared to the official 7800 release it feels just right. The hdmi to TV might be tricking me, but still it feels like an extremely competent game for the system of any year! Absolutely gorgeous game.

    • Like 1

  4. Posted

    I think warlords is the obvious 2600 one but it makes me realise I don't actually play many 2600 games Multiplayer.

     

    Across other consoles:

    Videopac: conquest of the world, I prefer that to quest of the rings. I do have the business one too but haven't played it yet

    Snes: secret of mana

    Saturn bomberman

    Gamecube: gauntlet legends (yeah bite me!)

    Any decent rendition of super street fighter 2 / alpha game

     

    I enjoy 7800 games with competitive and cooperative modes, like asteroids but often don't get anyone to play with.

  5. Posted

    Hi KB,

     

    I recently bought an UNO cart, and I'm very happy with it, as stated some homebrew won't work, things like the galaga demo recently released, Space Cactus Canyon which is really fun doesn't work either :( I think these are labelled as "DPC+" or something, it relates to the way Harmony Encore carts can take advantage by altered hardware in the cart, while Stella can run these games (such as on Retron 77) UNO carts can't yet as they run much more like original carts.

     

    I can play things like Halo 2600, Zippy the Porcupine, Princess Rescue and many others from it.

     

    Here is some games I have under my homebrew folder:

     

    Arcade ports: Avalanche, ColorGotcha, DK VCS

    Demakes: Aadvark (I think there is two versions, only one work on UNO), Beeware (Super Bee on Videopac), Choplifter, Distopia, Halo 2600, Ladybug, Princess Rescue, Scramble, TitanAxe (Golden Axe!), Zippy

    Others: Robo Ninja Climb, Osytron, Assembloids, Dungeon etc

  6. Posted

    Cnet has a new video up https://www.cnet.com/videos/the-new-atari-vcs-console-is-more-than-a-retro-game-box/

     

    The console actually looks kinda cool. Definitely overpriced and not mainstream, but I can see them selling a fair amount and with the price I would guess they are making money on each unit

     

    "I've played it" but not showing any footage of you actually playing it, instead cycle a minute worth of pre recorded footage multiple times but in different sequences. Also, no guarantee or proof the Borderlands footage is direct from VCS, looks like a poor recording of a underpowered PC trying to play it instead.

     

    Still no real evidence that this is any better than any "classic" device, I have a Retron 77 coming in the post I paid £65 for, which can play off both SD card and original carts, why would I spend £300 on a crippled version Atari sells when I already own Atari Vault on Steam (which I'm pretty sure I got for less than £8 if not free) and android games I can play on my existing phone?

  9. Posted

    It was my first console, before I eventually got given a NES and eventually moving over to Sega. I actually don't like the 2600 that much and didn't buy any extra games for it for over a decade, and play a lot more 7800 games, but the benefit of the 7800 is the ability to play 2600 too. 7800 plugged into my TV right now so it gets a lot of use.

     

    Galaxian was my first video game that I owned and it got a LOT of use followed by centipede which I also love.

     

    I just bought a UNO cart (awesome stuff!) so playing homebrew games at the moment, but I have 136 carts after a recent spree - its actually beaten my 118 PS2 game collection.

  10. Posted

    I figured out the issue. I changed my TVs channel settings from cable input to antenna input and the colors have went to what they are supposed to be. I dont know what the difference iis but it fixed the issue on all three games.

     

    That's really odd! But great that you can experience both colour palettes ;) (Though a PAL game obviously doesn't look like that on a PAL console!)

  12. Posted

    Hi everyone, Ebay has just had a 1p fee on final sale offer so thought I would take advantage to list some things. There is nothing super rare here to be honest, but if you are in the process of grabbing games in this period then there might be something for you.

     

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/acebloke1986/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

     

    I'm UK based, but I'm not against shipping abroad, especially given that a number of games might have a wider appeal than just the UK. I'm not 100% sure how that works regarding ebay but I'll work it out.

     

    Some of the more interesting games probably include:

     

    German version of Tank Battle (unboxed sorry :( ) for Palladium

    A number of uncommon acetronic games like Musical Games, Othello, electronic pinball and laser attack

    A good number of Fairchild games, most boxed, starting at £4.99 each

    A PC 50x machine boxed, 1292 and videopac with some games

     

    But there is something from every UK released 2nd generation + PC 50x (atari 2600, 1292 machine, videopac, intellivision and colecovision). I've tried to make some funny because listing them all can be boring, so if you have ten minutes you can try and work out which bits are supposed to be funny.

     

    I might add a few more things before midnight hits as that is when the ebay deal finishes, I can do another 50 odd items yet but they'll be PS1/PS2/X box mostly.

  13. Posted

    I have considered the option of making a docking cartridge and make smaller cartridges with just eproms in them. It would be cheaper to get new games but a memory card solution would be the best.

    When done with the current orders and perhaps also trying to finish up Atari2600land's Killer Heads of Lettuce that I started poking around in I'll get to it but there's some details to work out and then there's the financial situation.

     

    Thanks for even considering it! I would totally understand if it was impractical, but you'd definitely have a sale with me in any format which allows easy file transfer.

  15. Posted

    The NeoSD is around 500US$ (or NeoSD Pro around 630), there are around 150 total MVS/AES games so that comes down to about 3.3US$ (or 4.2US$) .... now assuming you only actually like say 20% of it that's 16.7US$ (or 21US$) .... the only caveat is that you have to buy it up whole (the whole 500 or 630) which is kind of scary but once you slice it down per game it's not really that bad (even assuming only 20% fits your cup).

     

    I understand that 500+US$ upfront in gaming is a little hard to justify but "this is NeoGeo".

     

    EDIT: crap, just ordered a NeoSD Pro ... look at what you made me do ... the wife is gonna get so pissed .... gotta sell my NeoSD to recoup some of the "impulse buy".

     

    If I buy a Neo Geo in the next few days I'll give you a PM XD

     

     

    As there are no publicly available auction or catalogue sales records (eBay does not count) as there are for art, there is no way to really assess value. There is no information on long-term market trends (e.g. x game has risen in price 15% per year over the past decade; y game has remained flat or even declined over the same time).

     

     

    CEX based in the UK actually has a great library of entries and split into conditions and I'm sure they have the database to track their own prices historically though it isn't public, it initially started as a "currently on sale" second hand game shop, but its slowly delved (admittedly ground down to a halt now) into retro games. Even they don't cover Atari 2600/7800 though (Lynx, Jaguar is), which is a shame because I'd say 7800 at least would be worth them pursuing.

  16. Posted

    The current version uses flash/eprom so when it's stored it can only be changed with an eprom programmer, the chips are usually soldered so for an update to be made it needs to be desoldered reprogrammed and resoldered unless there's a socket installed.

     

    I have thought about this for years, something using a memory card of some sort (like many other multi-carts), would be most handy to try out new software - it will of course be more expensive and developing isn't free so I guess that's why there hasn't been any progress.

    The upside to using the current method is that it has no odd or programmable logic chips so it could be repaired by "anyone" should it break. That's what I like about it and that's why I haven't popped in a CPLD or other programmable logic chip - which would reduce price, size as well as soldering time.

     

    I'm selling the service of reprogramming released Multi-Carts if anyone wants to upgrade, mentioned it on page 1.

     

    I'm pretty stupid so desoldering, eprom programming and resoldering is beyond me. I suppose its useful to know it can be sent back to you for reprogramming - and Sweden is closer to me than the states at least. It cuts the possibility of me using it as a test device for my own homebrew though.

     

    I'd definitely buy one with an sd/usb slot to transfer files - but I'll have a think about the current model you have too. Would be nice to play tetris and the golf homebrew on a real console, but I have most of the base library myself already.

  18. Posted

    I read as much of this thread as I could. Sometimes it's hard because it's so painful to read about other people being able to collect so much when I unfortunately am limited in what I can buy (although I am proud of the little collection I have; and I do try to play the games, not just keep them sealed away). That being said, I salute all collectors and hope they continue the hobby, because it is cool to read about (I especially loved the photos of the collection of the Duke Nuke-em guy; that's a game I never got into, but it is still an awesome story to read).

     

    But the real reason I am posting this reply is because it seems like an apt thread in which I can post a question that has been on my mind (hopefully the small change of subject won't be too jarring). Which is:

     

    I'm curious to what extent video-game collections have become an asset class. Are there big buyers out there strategically acquiring collections for purposes of investing? Is a collection no different than a Picasso painting? I'm thinking about stuff we see on YouTube, all those big collections of enthusiasts who show off (I don't mean that negatively, I enjoy watching them) their complete collections of Nintendo 64, or PlayStation, or Atari 2600 (do people have complete collections of Atari 2600, actually? What about the computer systems?), or whatever...what is the value of this stuff? I wonder too if hedge-fund managers are getting into this, or billionaires, or even retailers...should retailers buy up collections and then hold onto the inventory as an investment? Should Warren Buffet/Berkshire Hathaway invest its cash in game collections? I wonder how many estate sales these days yield video games.

     

    I guess, in a sense, what I'm really asking is if someone has a link to a long article about this topic, or maybe someone on the board who writes pieces that are industry-based (I'm fairly certain there are several people here who do) could perhaps try to do so. Lately this topic has been fascinating me. If I were a billionaire, I seriously think I would buy up as many collections as I could not just for myself to play (and I would play them, to be certain) but also to duplicate them for investment purposes. I'm thinking, for really rich people who love video games and who own several homes and a lot of real estate, it would make sense...if you have the space, make use of it.

     

    Then again, am I overvaluing game collections? I just don't know. Maybe museums just buy them, or libraries. But going back to retail for a second, it's odd a company like Toys R Us never thought to hold on to inventory that never sold (even beyond video games) and simply store them away until they appreciated in value and then sold them during specially-branded events..."Shop 1983 again, pick up Atari ET carts!" I'm also surprised Amazon/eBay don't allow people to buy games but not take delivery...buy some rare game that goes for $200 but keep it at Amazon and immediately put it up for resale, sort of like buying a stock.

     

    Sorry for this side topic, but it's sort of related. If there is a better forum for it, please let me know...(note: not sure if I have posted something like this recently, if I have, please forgive; I think I have discussed this only on other forums, but memories can sometimes be faulty; thanks...)

     

    I dread getting into the SNK AES. I would love to have a complete UK release collection, at least of cartridge systems, but the AES is particularly prohibitively priced. The only game I have ever paid more than £40 for so far is one for the videopac (magnavox odyssey 2) which I hunted for ages and couldn't find cheaper. I wait. A lot. I don't buy as cheap as I can because I want to resell high, I buy as cheap as I can so I can buy more. I buy to play, not to fill shelves, however the balance has moved slightly more towards collecting than playing its still firmly in the play side of gaming. I track how many games I've finished so far (consoles and handhelds: 581 games out of 1,213 or 48% and part way through another 10%) and admittedly a little too much time is spent tracking that data (spent 20 minutes just looking at a spreadsheet today already!). I've bought sealed games and opened them, I bought them because they were being sold cheap, I would never purposely buy a sealed game for the sake of it being sealed.

     

    Complete collections can fetch a high price, there is always someone who will say: "Sod it, I'm going to buy this complete collection rather than taking 10 years to find everything, and I'm willing to pay that price", but for most of us that is out of our capacity.

     

    Not a particularly thrilling interview, but there is this one here: http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/05/ninterview_ahmed_bin_fahad_discusses_building_the_worlds_biggest_nintendo_collection that guy is a policeman, but I think he comes from some degree of money.

  19. Posted

    The worst thing I ever did is start cataloguing my games. I did this because I was finding they were being stored more than being played. They were being stored because I had so many, and had started inadvertently buying doubles of games.

     

    This is across platforms, My 2600 journey started when my brother in law bought me one when I was quite young at a boot sale, probably for about £10 knowing him. It came with galaxian, jedi arena and centipede.

     

    I didn't really buy any 2600 games for over a decade, mainly because I got a NES next, and then Sega machines. It was only when I started specifically looking for retro games that my collection started to increase from 3.

     

    With any of my collections for different consoles, I'm starting to track which were actually released in the UK first, then grabbing others which work in an unmodded console. 2600 is a bit different for me though, primarily because even with any colour differences (well, on a 7800 at least) most games is still playable.

    I'm going for first party Atari released titles first, even ignoring ones I have through Atari Vault. I have 8 more to get, and this isn't limited to UK but US releases as well. I keep a log of Atari Vault games I need in cart, and which games I have in 32 in 1 cart but not as individual games. I have only just started tracking third party games, starting with activision, but I buy whatever depending on interest and price.

     

    I don't know what to do with regards to limiting 2600 collecting, there isn't really any good database as far as I know of purely UK releases, and even those for PAL or european seem sketchy to me, hence why I'm just going for Atari first and branching out. I am not fussed about how good it looks, vast majority is loose carts, if it works I'm happy.

     

    My PAL 7800 collection is 3/4 complete and mostly boxed, I don't have a Jaguar or a Lynx yet, and while I know I can just get a converter to play a 5200, I have no current plans to grab it (although admittedly I do like the look of it!)

    • Like 1

  21. Posted

    I'm a PAL user, so I have a Videopac instead of a Odyssey 2.

     

    I'd be interested in a RGB/Component mod to future proof the machine as its something I really enjoy.

     

    I have a feeling though from composite mods that is out there that it would require slightly different configurations than the US version (however, my knowledge on what that is, is poor).

  22. Posted

    Hi guys, I recently picked up a "found in the loft" ebay sale for a Fairchild Channel F, with the last remaining UK released games I needed and a bunch of games I needed boxed.

     

    Games all seem to be working well, the console... not in the best condition but functioning alright. Unfortunately one controller has an issue, and its with the "up" key (thats D pad up, not pull). I've tried it in another port / switched controllers and can confirm its the controller only.

     

    I opened it up, tried to figure out if it was something really simple like some food (ugghhhhhh was not in good condition) or something preventing contact. After 20 minutes messing around playing the Hockey game nothing I could do with my limited experience could get it to work.

     

    Has anyone got any experience with these things? to confirm, all other keys work (twist left right, down left and right, pull and push) and attempting to make a contact made no difference. Yellow wire which I can only presume is the right wire in my addled Ramadan fasting brain, appeared fine. The only thing I could think of in my have-no-experience-of-these-things-mind is that maybe the port pin isn't making a connection when its inserted. into the console To reiterate: totally out of my depth here, my tools consist purely of a screwdriver, the most complex thing I've done is NES pin connector boiling (which worked for me!) and never modded a console (but want to, hence buying a second Fairchild Channel F).

     

    I suppose I could just try and buy a spare controller if one ever pops up, but wanted to fix these rare bits if I can.

    post-64411-0-67387900-1557401255_thumb.jpg

    post-64411-0-52996400-1557401316_thumb.jpg

    post-64411-0-57963100-1557401341_thumb.jpg

  23. Posted · Edited by Mikebloke

    The1

    It doesn't seem to exist any golf games for the Bally Astrocade or APF M-1000/MP-1000 either (or for that matter the RCA Studio II). UVL has a rather comprehensive list with 625 golf games starting with golf on the Odyssey^2 and Atari 2600 in 1978 and all the others following. So yes those were common but perhaps a little later than the prime market for the Channel F.

    The 1292 programmable machine line had a golf game that from memory plays similar to 2600 golf or the videopac golf, can never remember which one it represents more like.

     

    Also, trees! Best second gen golf game!

     

    Edit: some grey sand dunes next perhaps :o

    • Like 1

  24. Posted

    Appreciate the work being done on Channel F homebrew, something to inspire me one day to actually get something working myself!

     

    Golf was surprisingly common on the 2nd gen machines, I wonder why the Channel F never attempted it.

  25. Posted · Edited by Mikebloke

    I buy my PAL collection from the entire world, buying from US, Germany, Italy, France and a few others.

     

    Out of those, Midnight Mutants is the only one I don't have. Loose copies come up now and again but boxed is rarer. Tbh, the price puts me off so I'll probably delay as long as possible, there is a few cheaper ones I still need to grab that aren't common either: Ms Pac Man, MotoPsycho etc.

     

    Edit:MP isn't particularly rare here, I just haven't got it yet. Games like planet smashers and cracked are fairly common. In fact, games I struggled to find earlier in my collection is now common like Xevious, Galaga, Dig Dug etc. Donkey Kong seems quite rare though, but Junior is common.

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