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Fort Apocalypse

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Posts posted by Fort Apocalypse

  1. Posted · Edited by Fort Apocalypse

    no fb2 portable = looks like Atari lost me permanently then they can go fudge them selfs

     

    I was really disappointed also when I first saw Curt's post about that. But I got over it, because:

     

    There would have been problems with sales and support

    * The target market was too small. There were a lot of people that wanted to play Atari games with real old style atari joysticks in the general market when the FB2 came out, but assuming that the same or even more people would pay $10 more to get a portable version was probably wishful thinking.

    * The support costs could have been much higher than the FB2 because of things like people crying that their game they loaded didn't work, or they had chosen a 2 player game since the majority of games support 2 players. The cheap way to handle this was to put 2 DB-9s on it and then if people had usability issues around 2 player games, Atari could say that they could use the FB2 controllers, but then people would get upset about that. Also sharing the screen with two controllers attached would have been a little clunky since the device was light. They could have also responded that the customer could use the A/V connector to a T.V., but the customer would argue the whole point of a portable is not to require a T.V. Another much more expensive way to handle it would have been to have the bottom part of the device slide out to reveal a detachable part of the device (connected by wire) with a second TFT, controller button, and fire button. However, THAT would have definitely driven the price out of the target market.

     

    There is still hope for the obsessed

    * Atari could sell the rights to the FB2 portable to someone else who could handle a more limited target market and increase the price to sell on a geek toys site, AtariAge, etc.

    * Curt said he may be selling one or more prototypes on eBay

    * If Atari tanks at Infogrames and there is enough interest in Atari, someone else with more money may buy up Atari and take on the FB2 portable despite the risks mentioned above, or maybe to create a beefed up legacy console: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t=#entry1327594

    * I think I saw a thread where someone was using an http://www.vgwiz.com/a26maxicart.html with the FB2 to dump roms... Naybe loading games on the FB2 may work with the cartridge port hack and an A26 maxicart for those willing to try. Don't blame me if it doesn't work though- I haven't tried it.

    * http://www.atariage.com/2600/emulation/index.php

    * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GP2X

     

    Atari Flashback 3 is now coming sooner than we thought

    * Please, please, please include Fort Apocalypse in one of the carts that are sold. I smell a free car wash or maybe a gift certificate to Chili's for Curt if this happens! (you have the "power of influence"!)

    * Plan is to have SD support (memory stick) via carts that contain them

    * If you buy one, Atari makes money and is more likely to continue producing legacy gaming consoles and possible portables

  3. Posted

    What are your favorite Atari 800 games? Looks like the FB3 is on now, so time to bring it to the table!

     

    I found this list: http://www.atarimania.com/top100.php?TYPE_...n_sauver=Search

     

    My top 9 would probably be:

    1) Fort Apocalypse

    2) Blue Max

    3) Zorro

    4) Karateka

    5) Pole Position

    6) Dig Dug

    7) Aztec

    8) Lode Runner

    9) Castle Wolfenstein

     

    http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft-TYPE...FT_ID-2055.html

    http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?...VERSION_ID=5978

    http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?...VERSION_ID=5948

    http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?...VERSION_ID=6047

    http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?...mp;SOFT_ID=4043

    http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?...mp;SOFT_ID=1628

    http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?...;VERSION_ID=451

    http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?...VERSION_ID=3018

    http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?...;VERSION_ID=929

     

    Others that would be cool:

    Last Starfighter - http://www.atarimania.com/detail_soft.php?...VERSION_ID=2927

  4. Posted · Edited by Fort Apocalypse

    Here is everything so far compiled from Curt about the FB3 in earlier posts. According to a recent post the FB3 is replacing the FB2 portable project and is slated for Spring '08. Curt said in post here http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...00#entry1339391

     

    "We are looking now at a Spring 08' launch timeframe. On the plus side, what was being developed for 08' as an advanced follow-up system has been moved up to the front burner and is being worked on now in place of the original FBP design... No details will be given/shown until after the New Year."

     

    FB3 Info directly from Curt's previous posts:

    From thread here: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=74783

     

    Yes.... there WILL be a cartridge slot... sorta

    No need to solder, a cart port will be included, electrically compatible with a particular system, but in a different physical layout/formfactor

    FB3 Carts would have full games, not some lame (here's the rest of your game) upgrade like Jakks.

     

    "Will it use the same hardware as FB2?" (No, it will be a) Different platform...

     

    I know, I know... just can't give out too much right now, heck the hardware wont even exist in proto form till about Jan-Feb, so we're getting a little ahead of things, but I think everyone is on the right track and I think you'll be pleased with some of the solutions to some age old previous console shortcomings that will be put into the new design on the next console, and this will be a console and not a TV plug and play, this unit will actually come with its games off-board on a card, which means that "More Games, More Fun" certainly will be the slogan to go with on the next Flashback.

     

    Atari released the Atari 8bit chipset into PD (Public Domain) for me several years ago, so any FB3 project at this point could very well turn into a PD or individual released project/product ;)

     

    800 computer in a 5200 case

    function keys/buttons along under the silver strip for pause, select, keypad, etc...

    FB2 joystick usage

    Front SD card slot acting as D1:

    edge connector inside on board to solder an 800 cart connector to for legacy cartridge usage.

    Built in SIO2PC connection port for transferring to/from console

    footprint for SIO connector to be added

    footprint for ps/2 keyboard connector

    footprint for vga out

    Composite out

     

    Games included would've come on an SDcard

     

    That was what was being shot for, much of the VHDL work on several of the chips went through first pass work and I have in fact tapped a few people from the community to help on the completion of the chipset and need to send out appropriate chip schem's on the 800 for some additional work to be done.

  7. Posted · Edited by Fort Apocalypse

    didn't he say a while back that it was something in the modern gaming realm?

     

    Yes but he just posted this in which he said "We are looking now at a Spring 08' launch timeframe. On the plus side, what was being developed for 08' as an advanced follow-up system has been moved up to the front burner and is being worked on now in place of the original FBP design... No details will be given/shown until after the New Year." In other words, the Flashback 2 portable is out, and the Flashback 3 is on (that's my interpretation).

     

    I posted a topic here with the compiled FB3 specs from Curt's previous posts.

     

    Ok, now here goes my speculation:

    * FB2 portable was not going to be feasible because: (1) people were clamoring for DB-9 ports, no controllers would be available with FB2 portable, so they would be wasted on casual consumer. (2) Game licensing and support issues with providing USB loading of games. (3) unit was too clunky to deal with with controllers attached since it was so light

  12. Posted

    I made made a guess at the number of games you could fit on a Flashback 2 portable (about 140-180 of the smallest games including resource files).

     

    Curt, have you tried to see how many could fit on it yet, or is it not to that stage yet? What would be the ballpark estimate?

     

    Also, is there a name for the project that is holding up the Flashback 2 portable right now?

     

    Thanks! Now I'm off to a pool party.

  14. Posted

    I'm pretty sure 1 meg will easily hold 30 Atari ROMs ;)

     

    Or BINs, or games, or whatever official term Atari will be using to refer to them.

     

    From my estimation, I think spacewise if the resource files just contain the cartridge type, maybe a category type, and a name, you could fit somewhere between 140-180 of the smallest games on it. However, that is not from Curt and have no idea if that is a real world guess.

  15. Posted

    I call shenanigans on any solution more complex than simply plugging the FB2p into my computer and using Explorer to drag 2600 binaries into a "Games" folder.

    How's the file going to tell the FBP the type of bankswitching and weither or not there's extra RAM in the cartridge?

     

    Thats a good point. I'm sure thats why they are including the syncing software.

     

    Since I know how they want to support homebrewers as much as possible, I hope that whatever solution there will be to create resource files should be very straightforward and easy to do on any platform via some utility, or even by hand, but I would opt for a utility if it helped make the resource files take up less space.

  18. Posted

    Thanks, Asaki!

     

    I updated this post where I tried to compile Curt's previous posts to try to get a summary of FB2 specs as we know them currently:

    http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1331316

     

    (Note: atwwong is going to update the FAQ/specs post he had when Curt provides full revised specs again, which we're hoping will be soon. :) )

     

    I think you said you might let us know soon what the latest specs were for the FB2 portable. Any chance you might be able to provide them, or not yet?

     

    Besides what's posted here, Curt posted a little something in this thread:

    ...

  21. Posted

    This was verbatim from Curt's post I think. Let me know how I can clarify it.

     

    USB:

    The USB will be a mini-connector in the final version.

    it is a USB peripheral, not a USB Host device, you will load games through a special piece of software Atari has developed that will have our device support integrated into it.

    (USB) acts a peripheral device only (to the portable), in game mode it is read only, in USB mode is acts as a thumbdrive on a Host PC Computer.

     

    Okay, full stop, I demand an explanation for this extraneous layer of clusterfarkery. I have never in my life encountered any OEM USB transfer software that didn't fundamentally suck. I call shenanigans on any solution more complex than simply plugging the FB2p into my computer and using Explorer to drag 2600 binaries into a "Games" folder.

     

    I agree (not about Explorer, but about using any OS's file manager). I believe Fort Apocalypse is wrong. Read this:

    http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...p;#entry1169974

    The idea is to make it a standard USB HID so it would be recognized on Win/OSX/Linux systems.

     

    that's the idea at least.

  25. Posted · Edited by Fort Apocalypse

    Update: FB2 Portable project cancelled, but there will be a Flashback 3 in 2008/ See http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...00#entry1339391

     

    Seems like it would be a good time for everyone who visits to give a heads up if they are planning to buy a FB2 portable when it comes out as there seems to be some question about it.

     

    Here are the latest specs: Info straight from Curt, compiled from all of his posts in these threads:

    http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=96356

    http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1304596

     

     

    Latest photos (Jun 18, 2007):

    http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1316997

     

    Older mockup/photo:

    http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1276196

     

    Appearance:

    black (see photo)

     

    Controller on unit:

    left dpad, right buttons. (1 player joypad & fire button)

     

    Internals: 2600 on a chip with a separate system handing I/O and Memory scheme management

     

    Memory: 2 separate 1MB flash ram systems, one for housekeeping, memory schema's and high-res graphic images/menu. The other is binary storage for the games, and their companion resource files.

     

    Power:

    Unit will run on 3 AAA batteries with 15hr run-time.

    include external AC socket

     

    Internal speaker:

    volume knob to control the internal speaker

     

    Support for external controllers:

    The expansion port was going to be for an external dongle to plug controllers into the unit, it seemed better to just put actual db9's right onto the unit.

    The port will support joysticks, 2 sets of 2 paddles, trakballs and also keyboard controllers - something that FB2 didn't support, so games like Star Raiders and all of the educational games (and Basic programming) will also work with the unit as well.

    Driving controllers support unsure

     

    Games:

    Can't really comment on included games right now.

    Pitfall II, no sorry, it does not work.

     

    Difficulty switches:

    The difficulties are there, you just dont see them through the sample case in this unit.

     

    USB:

    The USB will be a mini-connector in the final version.

    it is a USB peripheral, not a USB Host device, you will load games through a special piece of software Atari has developed that will have our device support integrated into it.

    (USB) acts a peripheral device only (to the portable), in game mode it is read only, in USB mode is acts as a thumbdrive on a Host PC Computer.

    You will be able (to dump carts via usb)- through a piece of software to load/unload games to/from the unit.

    standard USB HID so it would be recognized on Win/OSX/Linux systems.

    USB connection (Mount of a storage drive - so PC, MAC, Linux could all access)

     

    When plugged into a host PC, the Atari portable goes into drive mode - a USB logo appears on the TFT and now the device looks and acts like a USB thumbdrive.

     

    Once unplugged, the system does a software reset, the system first checks the housekeeping memory for any updates to firmware or internal graphics and performs any internal updates. Once complete or if none are present, the system then does an inventory check of the games memory, inventories the resource files, generates the new menu list and initializes the 2600 mode and the menu is presented to the gamer.

     

    Stereo output:

    There will be test points around the cpu chip to access all of the signals, I will also release the pinout of the chip, something I wasn't allowed to do previously (and I know many want to know what pins are the stereo outputs on the FB2)

     

    AV out/Audio and Video out:

    AV audio output (for TV or headphones)

    There will be an AV out on the NTSC units

     

    Screen:

    Screen is not flippable (software wise)...

    Screen is actually a 320X240 capable AOU brand OEM TFT screen

    backlit, absolutely.

    (Non adjustable backlighting) It will be a constant backlight and the LCD glass we are using has excellent viewing angle range, no adjustments are necessary, it plays in almost all light levels.

     

    Cost:

    Around $39.99 price range

     

    Cart slot/hackability of cart slot:

    There was never going to be any kind of cart slot on this unit since all the games load via USB into it.

    Curt said earlier "hanging a USB mass storage device and connecting it into the cartridge lines, so the lines will be there"

    He said he'd release the pinouts so should be able to hack a cart port in theory. (need to verify)

     

    Development tools:

    Yes, we are in discussions with several development tools authors and if we haven't gotten to anyone, please email me, the system should supply as much as possible to give all who buy one the ability to join in on programming.

    A supplied CD-ROM will contain all (development) software and manuals.

     

    Other info:

    prototypes are completed and working and I gotta tell you... its damned neat to download a game, transfer it to from the PC into the unit, unplug the unit and it performs a soft reset and updates the menu listing with the new game(s) added/removed.

     

    About the dongle that was later replaced by having 2 actual DB-9 ports:

    "The micro connector is a 20 pin port bringing out the lines for both player 1 and player 2. The port will use a dongle (either by 3rd party or you will be able to build yourself - the part# of the connector will be made available online and in the manual for those looking to make a dongle.)"

     

    About thumbpad: "...the thumbpad has been altered - it wasn't "Atari" enough so it was updated in its shape, has an orange dotted ring around it to give it a joystick base appearance... -Curt"

     

    Timeline:

     

    project looks like it will however happen, it just may not make it for the holiday season 07'

    In the meantime another project may get the green light in the modern gaming arena ahead of the portable, I will keep everyone posted.

    if it wasn't happening I think you'd all see my tirade on the forum, so just hang tight, things take quite a bit of time to get signed, sealed and delivered.

     

    Nov 2006: Evolution of the design: ...The case design was completed back in November - we brought in one of the top Industrial Designers who has done work for Jensen. I spent a great deal of time detailing the look and lineage of Atari products and how - if production of the 2600 had never stopped - it would've evolved into this very product.

     

    VGXPO show in 2005: One of original prototypes shown was Linux-based: "What he is referring to was a handeld FB2 with Pong only installed into the prom inside of a 1/2 sized paddle controller, running with 1 AAA battery and had a composite AV cable coming out of it.

    Somebody had it posted in a photo thread of the Dallas VGXPO show in 2005. - Curt"

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