BSA Starfire #1 Posted July 22, 2007 I have bought a XE console in working order, with leads etc on a whim for £3.49 off ebay. I have never owned one before and need some reccomendations for games. I have a pretty good 2600 collection and also a 7800, how does the XE compare? Anyhow suggest some game carts I can't be without! Best regards, Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walter_J64bit #2 Posted July 22, 2007 I have bought a XE console in working order, with leads etc on a whim for £3.49 off ebay. I have never owned one before and need some reccomendations for games. I have a pretty good 2600 collection and also a 7800, how does the XE compare? Anyhow suggest some game carts I can't be without!Best regards, Chris You can get a SIO2PC it can make using the XE so much better! http://www.atarimax.com/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walter_J64bit #3 Posted July 22, 2007 I have bought a XE console in working order, with leads etc on a whim for £3.49 off ebay. I have never owned one before and need some reccomendations for games. I have a pretty good 2600 collection and also a 7800, how does the XE compare? Anyhow suggest some game carts I can't be without!Best regards, Chris You can get a SIO2PC it can make using the XE so much better! http://www.atarimax.com/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+orpheuswaking #4 Posted July 23, 2007 The question is, did you just get the Console, or did you get a keyboard with it'? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BSA Starfire #5 Posted July 23, 2007 You can get a SIO2PC it can make using the XE so much better! icon_wink.gif http://www.atarimax.com/ Um don't really get this, what does it do? I'm not really a computer expert(understatment). The question is, did you just get the Console, or did you get a keyboard with it'? Yes the XE has a keyboard included, does this make a big difference? Best regards, Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WizWor #6 Posted July 23, 2007 You can get a SIO2PC it can make using the XE so much better! icon_wink.gif http://www.atarimax.com/ Um don't really get this, what does it do? I'm not really a computer expert(understatment). The SIO2PC is a cable that lets you connect your Atari computer to a PC using the SIO port on the Atari and a serial or USB port on the PC. You can run software on a PC that makes it look like a disk drive, cartridge, or tape to your Atari. You can download images of Atari games and disks from the internet to your PC, attach to the games using SIO2PC, and play virtually unlimited games for the cost of the cable (~$40 - $65). Look here: http://www.atarimax.com/sio2pc/documentation/ Another possibility is to use an Atarimax "Maxflash" MultiCarts. You can read about those here... http://www.atarimax.com/flashcart/forum/index.php You can put 40-50 games on a single cart. The cart boots to a menu and you choose the game from the menu -- no cables or peripherals to buy. If you look at the 8-meg image forum, plenty of people have posted images containing their favorite games. I think most of these would qualify as must have. It's not difficult to make the carts, but you need an SIO2PC cable and it takes a little work. If you contact the seller of the carts, he may be willing to preload one of the images posted to the forums on a cart for you so you can test drive this solution before diving in. The carts cost $44 for one, shipped. I recommend this image... http://www.atarimax.com/flashcart/forum/viewtopic.php?t=593 have fun...len! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Larry #7 Posted July 23, 2007 I have bought a XE console in working order, with leads etc on a whim for £3.49 off ebay. I have never owned one before and need some reccomendations for games. I have a pretty good 2600 collection and also a 7800, how does the XE compare? Anyhow suggest some game carts I can't be without!Best regards, Chris How much money do you want to spend? I presume that you do not have a disk drive, since you don't mention it? Either way, an SIO2PC cable is the way to go, assuming that you can use a PC as the "slave." Atarimax is a great seller, but you can get a serial port SIO2PC cable from several European sources for quite a bit less. However, Atarimax currently has the only USB version of SIO2PC, and his APE for Windows is the premier software, IMO. There are several other "SIO2PC" software sources, including Windows, Dos, Linux, and (I think) Mac. A very good but lesser-featured alternative to APE is "Atari810" for Windows 2000, XP, etc. But the point is that an SIO2PC device gives you by far the most "bang for the buck" using disk images (ATR mainly) to provide an amazing volume of free software. Specific games? Search here at AA for threads on favorite games. -Larry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+davidcalgary29 #8 Posted July 23, 2007 I have bought a XE console in working order, with leads etc on a whim for £3.49 off ebay. I have never owned one before and need some reccomendations for games. I have a pretty good 2600 collection and also a 7800, how does the XE compare? Anyhow suggest some game carts I can't be without!Best regards, Chris The XEGS is, for all intents and purposes, a repackaged 65XE computer. With a disk drive (and, perhaps, the SIO2PC device) you can access most of the A8 line's vast library, which is many thousands of titles greater than the 2600. Hundreds of cartridges were released for the A8 computer line, and many of them are excellent, although quite rare now. I'd suggest picking up any Atari release, as they made many outstanding games for the A8, and very few of them are not worth owning today. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrFish #9 Posted July 26, 2007 (edited) Anyhow suggest some game carts I can't be without! Hi Chris, Welcome to the A8 community. The ideas suggested by others are very good and, in most cases, the best way to go. However, if you just want to keep things simple to start off, getting some carts is probably a good idea. Here are some of my favorites on cart: archon ballblazer blue max boulder dash commando crystal castles deflektor dig dug (either version) donkey kong jr flip and flop frogger gyruss joust jumpman jr karateka mario bros ms pac-man pac-man q-bert rescue on fractalus star raiders summer games tennis Maybe get a few that sound interesting, and then decide if you want to invest more time/money into other options. This site will give you good info on the games: Atarimania If you have experience with emulation, you can also download files to play on an emulator at Atarimania. There are many good carts for the A8 besides the ones that I've mentioned, but many of the jewels for the system are also to be found on the other available mediums (disks/files). Hope this helps. The A8 is a really great platform. Edited July 27, 2007 by MrFish Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carmel_andrews #10 Posted July 26, 2007 Anyhow suggest some game carts I can't be without! Hi Chris, Welcome to the A8 community. The ideas suggested by others are very good and, in most cases, the best way to go. However, if you just want to keep things simple to start off, getting some carts is probably the best idea. Here are some of my favorites on cart: archon ballblazer blue max boulder dash commando crystal castles deflektor dig dug (either version) donkey kong jr flip and flop frogger gyruss joust jumpman jr karateka mario bros ms pac-man pac-man q-bert rescue on fractalus star raiders summer games tennis Maybe get a few that sound interesting, and then decide if you want to invest more time/money into other options. This site will give you good info on the games: Atarimania If you have experience with emulation, you can also download files to play on an emulator at Atarimania. There are many good carts for the A8 besides the ones that I've mentioned, but many of the jewels for the system are also to be found on the other available mediums (disks/files). Hope this helps. The A8 is a really great platform. Mr Fish...Curious about the following two entries Deflektor and Commando, i think you might be able to add the cart version of summer games as well Don't think Atari ever got around to releasing them, in the UK at least Just because they might exist in emulator format, doesn't mean that they ever got released commerically (Flash Gordon is a good example, as well as MIA on the 7800 and super pacman on the A8 and 5200) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
www.atarimania.com #11 Posted July 26, 2007 Carmel, what's your point? Deflektor and Commando can be bought as cartridges TODAY. Just because they might exist in emulator format doesn't mean that they ever got released commerically (Flash Gordon is a good example). Flash Gordon is a terrible example. I can rename any file to my liking or change the credits, spread it out and claim it's a different game that way. -- Atari Frog http://www.atarimania.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BSA Starfire #12 Posted July 26, 2007 Anyhow suggest some game carts I can't be without! Hi Chris, Welcome to the A8 community. The ideas suggested by others are very good and, in most cases, the best way to go. However, if you just want to keep things simple to start off, getting some carts is probably the best idea. Here are some of my favorites on cart: archon ballblazer blue max boulder dash commando crystal castles deflektor dig dug (either version) donkey kong jr flip and flop frogger gyruss joust jumpman jr karateka mario bros ms pac-man pac-man q-bert rescue on fractalus star raiders summer games tennis Maybe get a few that sound interesting, and then decide if you want to invest more time/money into other options. This site will give you good info on the games: Atarimania If you have experience with emulation, you can also download files to play on an emulator at Atarimania. There are many good carts for the A8 besides the ones that I've mentioned, but many of the jewels for the system are also to be found on the other available mediums (disks/files). Hope this helps. The A8 is a really great platform. Thanks! Have got star raiders, frogger(one of my alltime favourite), mountain king, moon patro & Qbert on there way. Also a friend gave me a cop of kaboom! I'll start this way to begin & as you say see how I get on! Best regards, Chrisl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peteym5 #13 Posted July 26, 2007 If you can get a hold of a SIO2PC or a Atari disk drive, you can download alot of games that were either abandonware or stuff people no longer are concerned about. I find alot of emulation rips on peer to peer networks or do a Google search. This is for disk loaded software. Carts are cool also if you find any still around. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+davidcalgary29 #14 Posted July 26, 2007 Thanks! Have got star raiders, frogger(one of my alltime favourite), mountain king, moon patro & Qbert on there way. Also a friend gave me a cop of kaboom! I'll start this way to begin & as you say see how I get on! With the exception of Star Raiders, none of those are really considered to be A8 classics (although they're lots of fun). If you get a chance -- and these'll be really cheap, too -- pick up: Defender Joust DK and DK Jr Millipede Qix Robotron: 2084 Gyruss All excellent, and all unmissable on the A8 for a variety of reasons. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrFish #15 Posted July 27, 2007 (edited) Mr Fish...Curious about the following two entries Deflektor and Commando, i think you might be able to add the cart version of summer games as well Don't think Atari ever got around to releasing them, in the UK at least Just because they might exist in emulator format, doesn't mean that they ever got released commerically (Flash Gordon is a good example, as well as MIA on the 7800 and super pacman on the A8 and 5200) Ever heard of Video 61? Edited July 27, 2007 by MrFish Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carmel_andrews #16 Posted July 27, 2007 Mr Fish...Curious about the following two entries Deflektor and Commando, i think you might be able to add the cart version of summer games as well Don't think Atari ever got around to releasing them, in the UK at least Just because they might exist in emulator format, doesn't mean that they ever got released commerically (Flash Gordon is a good example, as well as MIA on the 7800 and super pacman on the A8 and 5200) Ever heard of Video 61? So repro's then, not originals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MEtalGuy66 #17 Posted July 28, 2007 Go ahead and get an atari 810, 1050, XF551, INDUS GT, or RANA 1000 disk drive. ATARI load times, and boot-beeps are an integral part of the experience.. and SIO2PC doesnt do it justice, because it isnt slow enough. Then get a copy of the following: Racing Destruction Set Alternate Reality: The CIty Ballblazer Rescue on Fractalus Koronis Rift The Eidolon 5.25" floppies rule.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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