Good choice for a "Screensaver" cart

[Pioneer4x4]

I want to leave my small TV with the Atari connected to it on when I am in that room. What would be a good choice for a cart that has default animation that looks kinda cool but won't burn in. I like the Imagic Game Selector, but only the center changes.

[Animan]

I would say Frogs and Flies, as it can have two CPU players at the same time, but the screen doesn't change much on it.

 

Pacman Jr. I believe has an attract screen that cycles through all the stages, and it stays black for a second in between each stage. That's the only one off the top of my head.

[Pioneer4x4]

I would say Frogs and Flies, as it can have two CPU players at the same time, but the screen doesn't change much on it.

 

Pacman Jr. I believe has an attract screen that cycles through all the stages, and it stays black for a second in between each stage. That's the only one off the top of my head.

I just checked Jr. Pac Man, and it is almost perfect, except for the title at the bottom stays there the whole time. I still got a kick out of it.

[DickNixonArisen]

Well, wouldn't the regular atarisoft line work, because even though the images don't change, the lighting values do? I didn't known burn-in still happened on modern non-projection tvs. Does it happen on LCD?

 

And I actually understand why you want a game displayed if you're not playing, it's kinda comfortable. I could stand having a big fancy flat tv displaying the unlockables and music from Ikaruga.

[Pioneer4x4]

I just setup one of my heavy 6ers on a microwave cart/stand I found at Target yesterday. I put it next to my computer desk with the Atari on the middle shelf, and a 9" TV DVD player (picture tube type) on the top. It has an excellent picture and the Atari looks great on it.

It was the black version of this, they had it for $40. It has legs or wheels and both shelves are adjustable. I put the spoon hook on backwards to possibly hang controllers from.

http://www.target.com/dp/B00008616C/ref=gp_se_search-results-asin-redirect

Anyway, I'll keep looking for something that doesn't have any static image to it. Please keep sending suggestions.

[user42]

Yar's Revenge

[seanhq]

I just setup one of my heavy 6ers on a microwave cart/stand I found at Target yesterday. I put it next to my computer desk with the Atari on the middle shelf, and a 9" TV DVD player (picture tube type) on the top. It has an excellent picture and the Atari looks great on it.

It was the black version of this, they had it for $40. It has legs or wheels and both shelves are adjustable. I put the spoon hook on backwards to possibly hang controllers from.

http://www.target.com/dp/B00008616C/ref=gp_se_search-results-asin-redirect

Anyway, I'll keep looking for something that doesn't have any static image to it. Please keep sending suggestions.

It would be cool to see a picture of your new setup on this microwave cart/stand.

[dark-aleph]

My favourites:

 

5. Xenophobe for telling a story.

 

4. Asterix, 'cos I like belligerent Frenchmen (since you're in NTSC-land I guess it's Taz instead).

 

3. Cosmic Ark for the starfield and the planet surface rising from the ground.

 

2. Swordquest: Fireworld for its many screens and strange abstraction.

 

1. California Games for the psychedelic cascade.

 

None of these have any static elements.

[Pioneer4x4]

It would be cool to see a picture of your new setup on this microwave cart/stand.

Once I clear it up a bit I will!

[Pioneer4x4]

My favourites:

 

5. Xenophobe for telling a story.

 

4. Asterix, 'cos I like belligerent Frenchmen (since you're in NTSC-land I guess it's Taz instead).

 

3. Cosmic Ark for the starfield and the planet surface rising from the ground.

 

2. Swordquest: Fireworld for its many screens and strange abstraction.

 

1. California Games for the psychedelic cascade.

 

None of these have any static elements.

THANKS! I'll test them today.

[Trinity]

I like starship, the level where the stars move faster.

 

And there is a clock program out there too.

[Pioneer4x4]

I like starship, the level where the stars move faster.

 

And there is a clock program out there too.

I remember seeing "Demos" or whatever listed somewhere, but I can't find them now.

[Trinity]

Here it is.

2600_Digital_Clock__V_x1.xx___PD_.bin

[Pioneer4x4]

My favourites:

 

5. Xenophobe for telling a story.

 

4. Asterix, 'cos I like belligerent Frenchmen (since you're in NTSC-land I guess it's Taz instead).

 

3. Cosmic Ark for the starfield and the planet surface rising from the ground.

 

2. Swordquest: Fireworld for its many screens and strange abstraction.

 

1. California Games for the psychedelic cascade.

 

None of these have any static elements.

1. WHOOOAAA, tripping. Louie, Louie... we gotta go

2. Uh, OK, but not attractive.

3. Never played it, and the 2 screens were kinda annoying to me.

4. Nah, the other 3 were better.

5. I'm letting it run now to see.

[A.J. Franzman]

1. WHOOOAAA, tripping. Louie, Louie... we gotta go

Just an FYI, lots of people get that wrong: The word "we" does not occur in the lyrics of Louie, Louie. It's "me", every time.

[accousticguitar]

Scrnsave4.bin

[Pioneer4x4]

1. WHOOOAAA, tripping. Louie, Louie... we gotta go

Just an FYI, lots of people get that wrong: The word "we" does not occur in the lyrics of Louie, Louie. It's "me", every time.

I stand corrected! Aye-yi-yi-yi

And you have to think of John Belushi...

[Pioneer4x4]

Scrnsave4.bin

Thanks! I'll try that too. I did like the clock that Trinity posted. I left it running during 24 tonight. I thought it was appropriate!

[tetrode kink]

Well, wouldn't the regular atarisoft line work, because even though the images don't change, the lighting values do? I didn't known burn-in still happened on modern non-projection tvs. Does it happen on LCD?

 

And I actually understand why you want a game displayed if you're not playing, it's kinda comfortable. I could stand having a big fancy flat tv displaying the unlockables and music from Ikaruga.

DickNixonArisen was on the right track here. Just about any of the Atari 2600 games with screen savers would work OK, since what's important is not necessarily that the image changes, but the colors cycle. This way no one color stays on-screen long enough for a particular pattern to get blasted into the phosphors. So you can use pretty much any one you want with no worries.

 

And yes, phosphor burn-in can happen on modern CRTs if the brightness is up and there is a very high-contrast image on the screen.

 

-tet

 

[edit]It just occurred to me that Yars' Revenge doesn't color-cycle for its screen saver, rather it just dims the image quite a bit. This should be fine as long as you don't have the brightness/contrast on the TV jacked up to the max, such that it causes blooming when the game is at normal brightness (while playing, etc.).[/edit]

Edited April 6, 2010 by tetrode kink

[Pioneer4x4]

Well, wouldn't the regular atarisoft line work, because even though the images don't change, the lighting values do? I didn't known burn-in still happened on modern non-projection tvs. Does it happen on LCD?

 

And I actually understand why you want a game displayed if you're not playing, it's kinda comfortable. I could stand having a big fancy flat tv displaying the unlockables and music from Ikaruga.

DickNixonArisen was on the right track here. Just about any of the Atari 2600 games with screen savers would work OK, since what's important is not necessarily that the image changes, but the colors cycle. This way no one color stays on-screen long enough for a particular pattern to get blasted into the phosphors. So you can use pretty much any one you want with no worries.

 

And yes, phosphor burn-in can happen on modern CRTs if the brightness is up and there is a very high-contrast image on the screen.

 

-tet

 

[edit]It just occurred to me that Yars' Revenge doesn't color-cycle for its screen saver, rather it just dims the image quite a bit. This should be fine as long as you don't have the brightness/contrast on the TV jacked up to the max, such that it causes blooming when the game is at normal brightness (while playing, etc.).[/edit]

I'm not sure I agree %100, if there is part of the screen that is "off" and part that color cycles, the cycling part is still "ON" more that the rest.

I guess it really doesn't matter that much, and when it comes down to it, I could replace the TV for less than the price of some of my carts...

Speaking of replacing the TV. Yesterday I stopped in a Salvation Army, and there was TV I thought would be nice to grab. But since there is not analog broadcasting, I couldn't test it! That sucked, I guess I need to bring something that puts out a channel 3 signal to test a TV.

[Trinity]

I have 4 13" tv's just for Atari. I pick them up whenever I can. I especially like the analog tuner ones that you can fine tune. A must for Atari.

Edited April 6, 2010 by Trinity

[tetrode kink]

DickNixonArisen was on the right track here. Just about any of the Atari 2600 games with screen savers would work OK, since what's important is not necessarily that the image changes, but the colors cycle. This way no one color stays on-screen long enough for a particular pattern to get blasted into the phosphors. So you can use pretty much any one you want with no worries.

 

And yes, phosphor burn-in can happen on modern CRTs if the brightness is up and there is a very high-contrast image on the screen...

I'm not sure I agree %100, if there is part of the screen that is "off" and part that color cycles, the cycling part is still "ON" more that the rest...

I'm not sure I know what you mean. Do you have a game in mind that demonstrates what you're talking about?

 

...Speaking of replacing the TV. Yesterday I stopped in a Salvation Army, and there was TV I thought would be nice to grab. But since there is not analog broadcasting, I couldn't test it! That sucked, I guess I need to bring something that puts out a channel 3 signal to test a TV.

Another consequence of "progress." One of those seemingly trivial things, yet when it crops up you have to slam on the brakes and just wonder what they were thinking. Kind of like the government coming up with a subsidy for digital converter boxes for old TVs but nothing for those who will also need new antennas.

 

[snip]blah blah blah, some unnecessary blathering...[/snip]

 

As far as solutions go, stores that sell old TVs could either get a digital converter box and feed it to the TVs on display. Better yet, set up VCRs playing old tapes to feed the old TVs. I'm sure they're getting those in droves along with the old TVs.

 

I have 4 13" tv's just for Atari. I pick them up whenever I can. I especially like the analog tuner ones that you can fine tune. A must for Atari.

I still have one of those! Mechanical tuning and all! It's sitting in my kitchen, all dark and lonesome, not having been used since the transition since I don't have it hooked up to cable. Poor thing. Guess I'll have to hook a VCS up to it and make it feel better. lol

 

-tet

Edited April 7, 2010 by tetrode kink

[+Nathan Strum]

There's always this.

[seanhq]

There's always this.

That's awesome!

[Pioneer4x4]

There's always this.

Looks promising, has the bin been released? (bin been) sounds funny...