2600 flash cart project

[Frotz]

Given that the Chimera cart project seems to have fizzled out, I was wondering if anyone would be interested in collaborating on a new 2600 flash cart project. Unlike the Chimera, it would only be a flash cart. Hopefully that approach would avoid the problem of trying to do too much.

[Mark Wolfe]

silly question OF COURSE there's interest

 

I have no idea why there has not been a flash cart for the 2600. I use my modded supercharger with an iPod mini and it works great but it's clumsy. I would love a USB or removable media solution and I'm sure everyone here would as well with the possible exceptions of a few purists.

 

I have to wonder though, if a mass produced flash cart has not materialized by now [cuttle carts not included], there must be some technical reason as to why... and if not, what's the holdup?

 

get crackin'!!!

[Foster]

I too feel there is huge interest around here for an Atari 2600 flashcart. I know I'd love to see it happen at some point.

[+FujiSkunk]

I have no idea why there has not been a flash cart for the 2600.

 

There have been two, the Cuttle Cart (which you mentioned) and the Kroko Cart. Neither are being made anymore, though.

Edited February 13, 2009 by skunkworx

[Mark Wolfe]

I have no idea why there has not been a flash cart for the 2600.

 

There have been two, the Cuttle Cart (which you mentioned) and the Kroko Cart. Neither are being made anymore, though.

 

 

this is the problem because these short run units ultimately drive the cost up way beyond comprehension after they finish their run. I'd really like to see a 2600 flash cart come along that could be continually made to order without too much trouble and thereby leveling the market to a fair price.

 

It would be nice to have an open source project with off the shelf parts so that anyone with some startup money could get a bunch of them made at once at any time they wanted. maybe it could be a home-made kit with moderately skilled soldering requirements.

 

given that the entire 2600 library is so small, what is keeping a multi-cart with a on screen menu from being made? I have a dip switch multi cart that was very cheap to have made but dip switches are cumbersome... what would it take to make that same cart have a menu screen? I assume a custom control chip of some sort? Another idea would be a single game at a time flash via usb with a socketed flash chip that can be replaced once it reaches its flashable limit?

 

seems to me a modest project along those lines would be easy and cheap to do given that most of the design is already out there. The AtariAge store has most of the parts already I think. AtariMax has those 8 bit Atari computer flash carts, 1Mb and 8Mb sizes and they flash through the SIO. how hard would it be to make a cart like that for the 2600 and make it a USB or removable media?

[+batari]

The Harmony cart is a current flash cart project. You can find more about it by searching.

[Mark Wolfe]

when i search the forums for "harmony cart" I get nothing specific. there is a chimera link and then this thread because you used the term "harmony cart"

 

it has got to be this thread:

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...p;#entry1657511

 

sheesh

Edited February 14, 2009 by Mark_Wolfe

[gambler172]

How about a flash cart,which plays 7800 and 2600 games?

This would be a dream.

greetings Walter

[Thorsten Günther]

How about a flash cart,which plays 7800 and 2600 games?

This would be a dream.

 

I am more interested in a Flash Cart that also plays Supercharger/SARA/RAMplus games. And a removable flash memory media would be great (this way, new games could be published on Flash cards and the need to cannibalize original carts for the SARA chips would be gone).

 

Yes, and I also hate dip switches and would opt for an on-screen menu.

 

 

Thorsten

[Shawn]

This day in age there is no tech reason for a flash cart not to be avalible that can handle all things 2600 & 7800 in one go. It's just putting the time, effort and money into the idea. All 3 of those things are hard to find at once in one place.

[Lord Thag]

We totally need a flash cart. If someone could design one that uses easy to obtain, cheap parts, not only would it be great for the gamers, it would be a HUGE shot in the arm for potential homebrew authors. We need a cheap, easy to use dev-kit for bothe the 2600 and (especially) the 7800.

[lapetino]

I would definitely be interested in a flah cart, to help beta test new homebrews, try out new games before I purchase carts, etc. I hear Chimera and the Harmony cart are still in progress, but since I can't get a Krok or CC, I support any and all 2600 flash cart projects! I'd buy whatever comes out first, and am excited about all new 2600 hardware efforts.

[+selgus]

I hear Chimera and the Harmony cart are still in progress, but since I can't get a Krok or CC, I support any and all 2600 flash cart projects!

Don't count on Chimera coming, it has seemed to fizzle out. Harmony does seem to be progressing though...

--Selgus

[tremoloman2006]

I would definitely be interested in a flah cart, to help beta test new homebrews, try out new games before I purchase carts, etc. I hear Chimera and the Harmony cart are still in progress, but since I can't get a Krok or CC, I support any and all 2600 flash cart projects! I'd buy whatever comes out first, and am excited about all new 2600 hardware efforts.

I couldn't have said it better!

[simonsunnyboy]

Any news on this issue? I'd really like to run a few homebrew titles, esp Demos (http://pouet.net/prodlist.php?platform%5B%...p;x=18&y=11), on my real 2600jr.

[+GroovyBee]

Harmony is coming soon...

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1755535