Atari 7800 and 2600 Burgertime Compatibility Problem?

[phuzzed]

I did some searching through the forums, and didn't see a previous post on this. Nor did I find anything via Google, so, I figured I would post. Let me know if this has been discussed in the past.

 

I decided to fire up Burgertime on the 7800 this evening, and give a play--I used to play this as a kid, and had a lot of fun.

 

On my 7800, when playing burgertime, when I get killed, the lives counter goes, 5, 4, 3, 0, and then rolls back to 99 and starts counting down from there.

 

But, when I fire it up on the 2600, it plays normal.

 

Maybe this only affects certain models of the 7800 as well? My serial number of the 7800 is 72R4BR A17B 5017910. It has the hole for the expansion port, but no connector is in place.

 

Anybody else ran across this, or am I the only one who plays the 2600 version of Burgertime?

[shadow460]

I've loaded it a couple of times, but I've never seen anything odd. There's a couple different boards they used with BurgerTime. Mine doesn't have actual ICs on it--it has glop tops.

 

I should fire it up and see what's going on...

[phuzzed]

Shadow,

 

That's interesting. I only have one Burgertime Catridge. I popped the top off of my BurgerTime catridge and took a look inside. It's unlike anything I've seen before. I have three epoxy glue tops over the ICS, and then I have one large IC. Looks like the inside of the the "Cloak and Dagger" 5200 game catridge in the movie

 

[shadow460]

That's the same as what I have. What version of the 7800 are you playing it on?

[phuzzed]

My 7800 has No expansion port, but there is a hole in the side for the expansion port.

 

While I was popping the covers off of stuff, I went ahead and popped the cover of. All the chips under teh shield are soldered tothe board. I've never had this thing apart, since I bought in the mid 80s!!

 

not sure if this answers your question.... Is there any other markings that I need to be looking for, in order to determine what model it is. I'm only aware of the three different models, details on the FAQ page here on Atariage.

 

I'm going to get some video of this later.... I have it currently running, and it has reset itself to 99 lives. I'm curious to know once the counter reaches 0, if it will end the game, or reset itself back to 99 again...

[phuzzed]

Sorry... I meant to include the shots of my system.... I was anxious

 

Atari 7800 Serial Number

[phuzzed]

Dang it... missed another....

 

[phuzzed]

Let it run all the way from 99 to 0. Same pattern. It just keeps resetting itself back to 99 and counting down. INFINITE LIVES!

 

Okay... New uncoveries. If I get killed by either the Cheese or the Hot Dog all in a row, the Life Counter does the funny countdown thing. If I kill myself with the Breadsteak or the Egg. It acts normal. I don't see this behavior on the 2600 console, or on the 5200 with the 2600 adapter. With that that said, I assume the catridge is working normally.

 

Very very odd....

[gdement]

On my 7800, when playing burgertime, when I get killed, the lives counter goes, 5, 4, 3, 0, and then rolls back to 99 and starts counting down from there.

 

But, when I fire it up on the 2600, it plays normal.

 

That's a weird pattern, skipping from 3-0 as it does then seemingly wrapping around. If the byte wraps around to say 255, I wonder if that would be read as 99 in BCD. I'm not very familiar with BCD but there's a good chance the game is using it.

 

Does Burgertime use cartridge RAM? I wonder if that could be a factor. It seems like either:

A) One particular RAM address, that holds remaining lives, is getting corrupted somehow.

B) The CPU is taking the wrong branch when you lose your last life. Don't know why that would happen. This also doesn't explain the 3->0 jump.

[Underball]

Sorry... I meant to include the shots of my system.... I was anxious

 

Atari 7800 Serial Number

 

Why is your metal sheildings covered with the cocaines?

[shadow460]

Yep, BurgerTime has RAM onboard. Ain't it two megs or something?

 

My 7800 is a temperamental third run unit. I'll have to try getting killed by the enemies you mentioned and see what happens.

[phuzzed]

 

Why is your metal sheildings covered with the cocaines?

 

Um... That's my magical pixie dust....

 

No, in all honesty, this is the first time I've cracked this system open, believe it or not. I think I've had all my other systems apart, but the 7800 has been rock solid, and have not had a reason to rip into it.

[phuzzed]

Yep, BurgerTime has RAM onboard. Ain't it two megs or something?

 

My 7800 is a temperamental third run unit. I'll have to try getting killed by the enemies you mentioned and see what happens.

 

 

If you just start a game, and let it sit, the Cheese should be the first to kill you each time.

[phuzzed]

Here's a video of me demonstrating the problem: In non-THX Surround sound...