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TheRealOC

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  1. Just a thought... What would it entail to run a single ROM containing the entire Atari 2600 library with an integrated menu system? This would differ from systems where the flashcart's menu is part of its firmware. The Harmony user interface for a game selector is already developed and, to my understanding, compatible with most of the library. We've seen similar setups in collections like "Intellivision Lives!" for the PS2, where the entire game collection and menu are within one ROM file. Considering the Atari 2600+ system's specs (Rockchip 3128 SOC microprocessor, 256MB of RAM and storage), it seems more than capable of managing a ROM likely less than 20MB in size. The main question I can see is whether the 2600+'s game dumping and emulation system can handle a complex ROM that includes thousands of game ROMs. I realize this might be a technically challenging proposition and apologize if I'm oversimplifying it. Just seems like it could be possible, right?
  2. Evening all, I'm currently working on some videos and wiki articles about classic online gaming, and one interesting topic that caught my attention is how multiple Atari Jaguars communicated with each other during Battlesphere sessions. Out of the three games that supported Jaglink (Aircars, Battlesphere, and Doom), two of them (Aircars and Doom) only allowed for two players in a one-on-one multiplayer setup. However, Battlesphere takes it to the next level. In Battlesphere, you become a space pilot, and the game supports multiplayer gaming with up to 8 players. I've come across reports that by connecting multiple Jaguar consoles via the Jaglink, a 32-player daisy-chain network could be formed. I haven't found any pictures or videos of such a massive Jaguar/Battlesphere network setup. Some sources suggest that the network was indeed a daisy-chain, with each JagLink II port connecting to the Jaguar on either side of it. There are also mentions of the first Jaguar acting as a "server Jaguar" for the other "client Jaguars" in the network. On the other hand, I've read about a device called a Catbox being necessary to act as a hub. The conflicting information leaves me wondering what to believe. So, I'm wondering if there's any interest among fellow owners of the necessary hardware (Atari Jaguar console, Jaglink II interface or Humble Bazooka's JagAIOA Plus, and a Gamedrive or original copies of Aircars/Battlesphere/Doom). in organizing an in-person meet-up to enjoy a few hours of Battlesphere multiplayer gaming and capture the experience for posterity. If you have the required equipment and are interested, please drop a reply in this thread and mention the country you're based in. It would be fascinating to know if such an event is workable. Looking forward to your responses
  3. Does the DRAM in the Retron 77 console have any identifiable serial numbers that distinguish older revisions from the newer revisions that may have compatibility issues? Or would it just be a case of trying to get any woodgrain Retron 77 from eBay and crossing your fingers?
  4. @SpiceWare Stupid question... I don't have an original 2600 unit with the stereo mod, but I do know a guy who owns a Retron 77 that I might be able to borrow for testing. I assume the stereo mixes on those games should work in the same way over a Retron's HDMI output (whether it was using a Harmony cart or original cartridges)?
  5. Yikes, okay I definitely need to consult with the mods to fix that. Thanks for pointing that out. I will put a citation to all these threads in the relevant section of the wiki article
  6. Thanks @Thomas Jentzsch Very difficult to summarize all that information in a short wiki note - but here's what I came up with "Stereo" mods exist which split the TIA's two audio channels into left and right audio; however although this provides an enhanced audio experience for Atari 2600 users, true stereo effects are limited. Early games like ‘Combat’ were designed with the assumption that the 2600 would have two separate built-in speakers for each player’s sounds. However Atari removed this feature, and most of the library outputs music/effects in mono. The stereo mod for the 2600 allows for potential stereo sound effects in newer homebrew games designed with stereo in mind. However, games without stereo programming may exhibit stereo-like effects or remain similar to their original mono output. Some games prioritize sound effects, causing them to come from random sides on a stereo-modded console. A prototype game called Sonar did demonstrate proper stereo utilization however. Here's a screenshot:
  7. Hi all, I'm just writing up the wiki entry for the Atari 2600's audio capabilities https://consolemods.org/wiki/Comparison_of_game_consoles_by_sound_capabilities#Second_generation_of_consoles And I wanted to expand a bit on my notes, which currently just note that a stereo mod exists, but doesn't go into any detail at all. Now my assumption would have been that if I'm playing an Atari 2600 game on a stereo-modded console, and the game was not programmed with stereo audio in mind, then the resulting audio experience is not going to be significantly different from the original mono audio output - because while the stereo mod will split the audio channels into Left and Right, the actual audio content within the game would remain unchanged. At best, I would have thought that the 2600 console would output duplicate or mirrored sounds through both the left and right channels, and maybe the mod might provide some sense of spatial separation (giving a slightly wider audio experience) but would not dramatically alter the audio output which would remain as it was originally designed, with mono effects and music - and lacking the immersive stereo effects found in newer games specifically programmed for stereo audio *** All that being said, I then came across this post by @82-T/A ("Atari 2600 - Stereo Mod?"), and here's what I took away from it: * The original design of the Atari 2600 included provisions for two built-in speakers, one for each sound channel. Early games like Combat were programmed to utilize this setup, with each player's sounds coming from the corresponding speaker. However, Atari eventually scrapped the built-in speaker idea, possibly for cost reasons, and opted for mixing the audio into the TV signal. * The stereo mod for the Atari 2600 involves tapping into each sound channel on the motherboard and routing them to separate left and right audio channels. This allows for the potential of stereo sound effects in games that were designed with stereo in mind, but these are largely going to be homebrew game that were designed after official games stopped coming out. * Some games, like Combat, were mentioned as having certain sounds always come from a specific side of the speakers, representing each player's actions. However, these games were not necessarily designed for audio directionality or true stereo effects. * The stereo mod can provide a stereo audio output from the Atari 2600, but the actual impact on games that were not programmed for stereo audio will vary. Some games may exhibit stereo-like effects, while others may still sound similar to their original mono output. To me, the overall consensus seems to be that while the Atari 2600 can be modified for stereo output, true stereo effects and directionality in games were limited to a few early titles. However, the modded stereo output can still enhance the audio experience slightly and provide a wider soundstage, even for games that were not originally designed for stereo audio. I don't have access to a stereo modded 2600 console; can anyone more knowledgeable confirm if that's a fair assessment, so I don't put misinformation on the wiki? Thanks! @Thomas Jentzsch @macdlsa @SpiceWare @Turbo-Torch @atari2atari
  8. Morning all, I'm interested in connecting my Windows 98 PC to a 56k modem via a twisted pair cable with RJ11 connectors. My goal is to connect the modem to a media converter with an RJ11 input and an RJ45 output, which will then connect to my modern broadband network infrastructure of switches and a router. I've been looking into using the US Robotics Sportster 56K External Faxmodem for the modem and the Grandstream HT812 ATA device for the media converter. However, I am unsure if these devices are the best options for my intended purpose. Would appreciate any feedback or advice from those with experience using these devices to access BBS bulletin boards or create peer-to-peer connections using retro computers. Additionally, if there are other devices that would work better for this purpose, I would be interested in learning about them. While I am not interested in using WiFi PCI cards for this setup, I am looking for a solution that can work with a variety of retro devices that were designed to connect to standard analog phone lines, such as the Sega Mega Modem. Thanks!
  9. I'm just working on a wiki article about dimensions of various retro ROM cartridges; hoping that it will be a good resource for people who want to make Sketchup models, reproduction cases, etc etc https://consolemods.org/wiki/Dimensions_for_Game_Cartridges#Fifth_generation_of_consoles Grateful if anyone could provide caliper measurements of standard Atari Jaguar cartridges, and also information on whether there are variances between NTSC and PAL cartridges, or any other non-standard cartridge types that might exist. Would also appreciate if anyone would be willing to upload photos of their own original Jaguar cartridges that could be used on the wiki, as public domain photos of the cartridges are hard to come by Many thanks!
  10. Not yet, I only got the cart in the post this morning - but I just remember finding the setup process for the Atari Harmony cart pretty challenging, and there was an actual manual available for that cart. Is there agreement on what model of SD card are compatible with the latest firmware?
  11. Is there a guide anywhere for setting up the SD card?
  12. Just got news that they'll be making new units in 2023; all good!
  13. Interested in buying an LTO Flash, or similar Intellivision multicart. Will pay by PayPal.
  14. Truly these are the end times 😀 Found an NTSC console in the end with an upgraded OS for running PAL games, best of both worlds
  15. @juansolo @Muddyfunster Thanks very much for your feedback; that’s pretty much made my mind up for me - NTSC all the way. I’m experimenting with a “wireless” RF setup at the moment (RF consoles > Coax line combiner > distribution amplifier > stubby antenna > CRT with bunny ears antenna), to see if I can improve stock picture quality that way, so I might hold off on a UAV mod in the short term. Will definitely replace the PSU though 👍
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