Is it possible?

[jeremysart]

There are plenty of "retro" console remakes out there between yobo, retrobit and hyperkin etc. But the new one by Hyperkin really has me wondering about the possibility of a truly all-in-one console.

 

If you have not seen the Retron 3 by Hyperkin, you should check it out. Its similar to the FC3 by Yobo, but this one has in addition to two wireless controllers, 2 NES ports, 2 SNES ports, and 2 DB9 (Genesis) ports.

http://hyperkin.com/index.php/retro-system-retron-3.html

 

It's the fact that it has DB9 pin outs that has me wondering.. is it possible to get Atari 2600, or even Intellivision or Colecovision games to run on Sega Genesis hardware? Since all of these consoles use DB9, if there was a way to emulate, port, or even convert ROM images to be used with or read as a Genesis game, you should also be able to use the actual controllers for the systems and hence have a console that can play VCS, INTV, Coleco, NES, SNES and Genesis games, all using the original controllers. THAT would be really nice.

 

With all the homebrew, reverse engineering, emulating, and console flash cartridges going on these days, it seems like a good possibility, just thought I'd throw the idea out there. I'm sure it would be some hard work, but the tools are there and it would definitely be a project worth working on.

Edited July 12, 2010 by jeremysart

[mbd30]

I've wondered whether anyone has considered manufacturing a Colecovision clone console, since the original console is supposed to be shoddy. But I dunno how much demand there would be. Probably most classic gamers who are that nostalgic for Colecovision would want the real thing anyway.

[Wickeycolumbus]

The Genesis doesn't have enough power to emulate any of those. It might be able to do Colecovision, but I'm doubtful.

[jeremysart]

If you dont think Genesis hardware is powerful enough to emulate VCS or INTV, what would make you think Coleco would be possible?

 

But if not direct emulation, perhaps some of the better games could be ported (similar to how OpCode and Colectorvision are porting classic arcade titles to the CV) to the Geneis and used in a flash cart with a "VCS/INTV/CV controller rom patch" to emulate the classic controllers.

 

There has got to be a way to get those games onto this console and make use of its DB9 pinouts.

[PsychoKittyNet]

Product seems kind of cool, but even if you could emulate other systems on it, I prefer to use original hardware when I can. Would save a lot of space though.

[Wickeycolumbus]

Genesis is backwards compatible with SMS, which is very similar to the Colecovision.

[BigO]

It seems to me that a general purpose computer running emulators might be a way to accomplish this.

 

Vaguely stated, I imagine that emulators could be made to read actual cartridges instead of ROM binary files. Choose a platform that has all of the desired emulators. Build some OS executable to detect cartridges or switches or something to make it boot into the proper emulator. Maybe some specialized configuration or "embedded" or "appliance" version of the OS would be a practical means of bypassing the front end associated with Windows and the like.

Edited July 12, 2010 by BigO

[SoulBlazer]

Only semi-related, but I seem to recall reading something that a company was putting together a Atari 2600 emulator for the Jaquar? That system was powerfull enough to do that? What's the min console that could handle a 2600 or a Coleco or Intelivision, you figure?

[Herbarius]

Vaguely stated, I imagine that emulators could be made to read actual cartridges instead of ROM binary files.

 

Actually that has been done, I believe there is even someone selling such adapters for some consoles... I think I've read something about that around here. Don't remember exactly which consoles (NES and/or SNES? Genesis?), or whether they're planning on expanding to more consoles.

Edited July 12, 2010 by Herbarius

[rjchamp3]

With the Coleco being so poorly made and at times was FULLY defective right out of the box, it's time for a remake for all retro systems.

 

I know I would want my kids and grand kids to play my antique games, on another system and NOT my orig lol for both their sakes and the next generations sakes, my old systems still work today but, how much longer will they run is the question.

 

I would love to see a new coleco/atari/intv in one IDEEEEEEEAL lol

[jeremysart]

It would be nice to see a system like the FC3 but with VCS/INTV/CV cartridge ports, but its never going to happen. Manufacturer's like Hyperkin always reply to the idea as there would not be enough profit involved to work on something that would be so compicated and costly to produce. And that is understandable.

 

But if it were possible, not just to get the games to run on Genesis hardware, but to get the games to run on a console like this (retron 3) with DB-9's, so that we would be able to play with the actual original controller, but not risk using the hell out of my aging consoles.

 

I mean, you can always get a USB Atari joystick.. but surprisingly there is still yet to be an alternative for those who love Colecovision and Intellivision.. and that surprises me because DB-9 is so simple and readily available for purchase. One does not necessarily have to reverse enginere an Intellivision to make an expensive console and manufacture new cartridge ports, but rather just a system that emulates (with a program like Nostalgia or BlueMSX) and allows you to load ROM's by flash or USB, and has DB9s so you can use the actual controller..... or at least make a friggen' joystick similar to an INTV/CV with a keypad!!

 

Its got to be done dammit!

[godslabrat]

Take a look at what's happening to the current batch of clones, then ask yourself if you want that happening to your system of choice. Yes, for less than $40, I can buy a brand new repro NES. This is a good thing. But, most are of flimsy build quality, have compatibility issues, and some even have mismapped controllers.

 

Do you really want this happening to the Coleco or Atari?

[jaybird3rd]

One of the problems with making a low-cost Intellivision clone is that the hardware is so unusual. Making a clone of a system based on a 6502 or a Z80 is easier because those CPUs were so popular, having been used in many video game systems and computers, but I don't think the General Instruments 1610 was used in anything else except the Intellivision. Beyond that, you've got the unusual 10-bit architecture and the unusual controllers, which are also more difficult to replicate than the relatively simple NES. That's probably one reason why Intellivision Productions opted for a NOAC (Nintendo On A Chip) solution in their 25-in-1 and 10-in-1 handhelds; I just wish that Techno Source had done a better job with the game recreations on those units. I still believe that, with more time and effort, they could have been a lot better than they were.

 

I think the real solution for an Intellivision clone is to use a new, off-the-shelf chip that is efficient enough to run on batteries, yet powerful enough to run an Intellivision emulator at full speed. I'm sure that would be a lot easier than trying to do a re-implementation of the original hardware.

[goldenegg]

With the Coleco being so poorly made and at times was FULLY defective right out of the box, it's time for a remake for all retro systems.

 

I think you're confusing the Coleco ADAM computer with the Colecovision console. I've come across many Colecovision consoles and the only time I've seen non-working systems were years later with loose solder joints. Those systems were made extremely well.

 

The ADAM on the other hand ... those cost Coleco a fortune in support and repair costs, as they had a very high defect rate.

[Atariboy]

If you dont think Genesis hardware is powerful enough to emulate VCS or INTV, what would make you think Coleco would be possible?

 

Because they both used a Z80 processor so you conceivably wouldn't even have to emulate it.

[jeremysart]

Genesis is backwards compatible with SMS, which is very similar to the Colecovision.

 

Your right, I forgot they are both Z80 based.

 

I think the real solution for an Intellivision clone is to use a new, off-the-shelf chip that is efficient enough to run on batteries, yet powerful enough to run an Intellivision emulator at full speed. I'm sure that would be a lot easier than trying to do a re-implementation of the original hardware.

 

Yes! Thats exactly what I am trying to say. I dont want a plug n' play controller, but a small console that emulates the three systems, has DB9 ports, and has a flash slot or USB.

 

That would be possible to do at a lower cost, and I am positive that it would be profitable.

 

Making controllers (to sell separate or come with) that replicate the CV or Intv feel, if the original controllers could not be used, would not be too hard either. It would be the same principal as mapping a 16 button joystick using an emulator (I currently use a 12 button playstation like gamepad to map Intv & CV controller functions).

[Video]

Genesis isn't powerful enough to run Intv or 2600 straight, though I'm sure a passthrough cart like the Coloco module that ran the 2600 could be made for the Genesis. As for coleco, it uses a lot of thee same hardware that's in the SMS, which the Genesis can run stock, so I bet you could make it run a coleco without nearly the hastle.

 

As for was there a clone? Well, I do have a Dina 2 in 1 system. Apparently there are different models of it, and I got the shittier model. But it will run most Coleco games just fine....when the system itself works. Mine unfortunately, as I said, it's the worse of the systems, it'll come on, and run for a bit, then gets to hot and fades to monochrome and looses its sound. I've thought about hacking it up and seeing if I could fix the problems with it, but it's a fairly rare and expensive system so I just never have gotten around to it.

[rjchamp3]

With the Coleco being so poorly made and at times was FULLY defective right out of the box, it's time for a remake for all retro systems.

 

I think you're confusing the Coleco ADAM computer with the Colecovision console. I've come across many Colecovision consoles and the only time I've seen non-working systems were years later with loose solder joints. Those systems were made extremely well.

 

The ADAM on the other hand ... those cost Coleco a fortune in support and repair costs, as they had a very high defect rate.

 

 

 

You been lucky Colecovision was NOT made well and even when it works it still had static problems and almost always goes defective, now Adam I cannot say cause I don't have one.

[mbd30]

You been lucky Colecovision was NOT made well and even when it works it still had static problems and almost always goes defective, now Adam I cannot say cause I don't have one.

 

So Colecovision was like the XBOX 360 of its day?

[dooglehead]

I've never heard of any defective Colecovisions. Obviously, there were some just like all other devices, but if Colecovisions were not made well, I would hear a lot more stories about defective ones.

[rjchamp3]

You been lucky Colecovision was NOT made well and even when it works it still had static problems and almost always goes defective, now Adam I cannot say cause I don't have one.

 

So Colecovision was like the XBOX 360 of its day?

 

 

Back in the day it was a very bad system, many electronic flaws went unreported and back then we did not have ways to find out all these errors and situations with systems and YES just like X-BOX 360 a piece of GARBAGE lol

 

but back to the topic a multi system of any kind is doable and or possible, it all comes down to money, I would love to make a INV/Atari/coleco all in one but I don't know enough t do it yet, and hopefully someone will

[rjchamp3]

I recently dug up my colecovision systems and went to test them out. I bought rf adapters for both systems, and after I hooked them both up I ran into some problems. The systems power up fine, but I get a scrambled mess on the screen which consists of random colors. And its not like its scrambled and I can make out a title screen, its just colors and thats it.

 

 

Most common problem to say the least

 

and and the controllers OMG if you think xbox controllers were bad try comparing them to a Atari 5200 and or coleco controller lol

 

My old pal had a retro store back in the day, and told me about 80% percent of his systems for coleco were defective right out of the box and this is just one guy, ya know.

[rjchamp3]

I've never heard of any defective Colecovisions. Obviously, there were some just like all other devices, but if Colecovisions were not made well, I would hear a lot more stories about defective ones.

 

 

Defective does NOT always mean broken, it just may not function to it's full potential and Coleco's wee known for it, well I know they were for sure I have four in my room here and all of them have some kind of issue.

 

 

One is brand new BTW

[Atariboy]

Aren't those symptoms of a bad power switch that the Colecovision has become well known for in recent years?

[jeremysart]

Back in the day it was a very bad system, many electronic flaws went unreported and back then we did not have ways to find out all these errors and situations with systems and YES just like X-BOX 360 a piece of GARBAGE lol

 

Whoa, lets not be calling the Colecovision a peice of garbage please.

To answer some questions, no, Colecovisions were not built to be the most durable. Where it is much easier to find a working VCS 2600 in the wild, you will have a harder time finding a working Colecovision. A lot of them have the similar problem to yours, when you load a game you get a scrambled image. My childhood Coleco does this, and when the game does load, your character is forced to move left only.. yet I have tested the controllers to work just fine on my ADAM, and another working Coleco console I found in the wild.

 

But these problems did not go un-noticed.. Coleco, like Microsoft, did make an effort to refurbish consoles, and infact, its not all too rare to come across a Colecovision in a box that has "REFURBISHED UNIT" printed across it. Most of these problems are pretty easy to fix, there are guides online, and people in this forum who provide this service.

 

Now back on topic

 

This is an idea I would like to get people interested in: A new console, with a chip set just poweful enough to emulate Coleco & ADAM, Intellivision & ECS, and VCS 2600. It would have two DB9 ports, a usb slot for a pc keyboard, and a mock-up cartridge slot sheild (like the door to the coleco cart slot) but with an SD chip slot in it. It could come with two wireless controllers, a square joystick with two fire buttons, and a detachable keypad with side buttons for playing Coleco and INTV games.

 

This machine would be possible (I was emulating these same systems on my computer back probably 10 years ago, so I am sure an inexpensive processor is readily available to do the job.) and inexpensive for the most part (not having to produce an INTV on a chip).

 

It could even just allow emulation of CV and INTV, but have an actual cart slot for 2600, as "AOAC" exists already.. unless certain copywrites would prohibit the production of such a product.