Atari 2601

[Madaracs]

Check this out:

 

http://retromaster.wordpress.com/a2601/

 

 

It's really cool. A lot of caring work went into it and they even posted the specs...

 

Fun stuff.

[+batari]

Undocumented instructions are not implemented, which means most homebrews are not going to work However, this one is open source, so maybe that can be fixed someday, and I made sure to grab the source

[Pioneer4x4]

That is cool! Merge that with project unity!

[kain_kusanagi]

That's pretty cool. Needs a more retro case, but I like the idea.

[Dr Manhattan]

What's the point of hooking it up to my PC monitor? I can already play Atari 2600 games on my PC through emulation. Is there an option for TV out?

 

I don't want to use Sega Genesis controllers to play Atari 2600 games. Will this machine support 2600 controllers?

 

How long before we see a box like this that supports dozens of different classic systems? (I know the MCCS is a step in that direction.)

[Madaracs]

What's the point of hooking it up to my PC monitor? I can already play Atari 2600 games on my PC through emulation. Is there an option for TV out?

 

I suppose because it might actually replicate play better in hardware than in software?

[Rex Dart]

The point of hooking it up to a monitor is to view the game being played... surely composite video could be added easily if it's not already supported.

[+RevEng]

What's the point of hooking it up to my PC monitor? I can already play Atari 2600 games on my PC through emulation. Is there an option for TV out?

 

I don't want to use Sega Genesis controllers to play Atari 2600 games. Will this machine support 2600 controllers?

They've hooked it up to an LCD TV using composite video. Its not a computer monitor.

 

The Sega Genesis pads work on the Atari 2600 pretty much the same as a CX-40. I'm pretty sure he's just using them because he prefers them or they're all he has on hand.

Edited September 15, 2010 by RevEng

[caver]

What's the point of hooking it up to my PC monitor? I can already play Atari 2600 games on my PC through emulation. Is there an option for TV out?

 

I don't want to use Sega Genesis controllers to play Atari 2600 games. Will this machine support 2600 controllers?

They've hooked it up to an LCD TV using composite video. Its not a computer monitor.

 

The Sega Genesis pads work on the Atari 2600 pretty much the same as a CX-40. I'm pretty sure he's just using them because he prefers them or they're all he has on hand.

 

From the Website:

 

The B button on the joypad acts as the fire button. The Start button works as the “Game Reset” button. When the A button down is held down, the direction buttons function as the switches on the console main unit (i.e. “Difficulty”, “Select”, etc.). Holding the C button down and pressing left or right moves to the previous or the next game on the flash memory, respectively.

 

So it looks like a genesis pad is required.... But I don't see why you couldn't either make some kind of splitter, or just swap controllers after you've chosen a game.

[bomberpunk]

one controller port?

[iwan-iwanowitsch-goratschin]

one controller port?

 

It´s a cool little gadget but having only one controller port is

[caver]

You guys all seem to be focusing on the negatives... Although I'm pretty sure you've placed this in the "That's Cool" category...

 

When I see things like this 3 things pop into my head:

1: Woah that's like 90% of the way to Nirvana right there, I'm sure the last 10% can't be far behind.

2: The Last 10% of the work takes 90% of the time...

3: Alas, I'm too cheap and too lazy to ever have something that cool :-/

 

That having been said, Yeah there's a lot of little things that could be better, but damn that's cool!

 

My hat's off to the creator for not being as cheap/lazy as I am...

 

CAVer

[+batari]

I'm just pleased that this one is open source. It may not be as capable as the FB2 at the moment, but with the source, someone could improve it by adding the undocumented instructions, second controller port, or other things even if the creator never does.

[yuppicide]

He should have a PCB design online.. that one website you can sell your designs and make a part of the profit.

 

If someone had as how-to I'd be willing to buy one.. I'd rather have something pre-built if I could though.

[+batari]

He should have a PCB design online.. that one website you can sell your designs and make a part of the profit.

 

If someone had as how-to I'd be willing to buy one.. I'd rather have something pre-built if I could though.

Where exactly? If you know, post a link.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

I'm just pleased that this one is open source. It may not be as capable as the FB2 at the moment, but with the source, someone could improve it by adding the undocumented instructions, second controller port, or other things even if the creator never does.

I am pretty positive he will at least add the illegal opcodes.

[+RevEng]

Where exactly? If you know, post a link.

One site...

http://batchpcb.com/index.php/Products

 

And the article where I originally read about it. Seems that BatchPCB is owned by SparkFun...

http://hackaday.com/2010/03/01/batchpcb-pays-you/

[Lord Helmet]

one controller port?

 

Meh. Few games require both, and I hardly ever have anyone to play with anyway.

[Madaracs]

one controller port?

 

Meh. Few games require both, and I hardly ever have anyone to play with anyway.

 

And it would be a great portable kit to take with you on the road when the real deal isn't convenient to lug along with you.

[horseboy]

No cart slot...

[yell0w_lantern]

I've gone with the MCC but this does look cool. Waaaaaaay beyond my meager capabilities to put one together too.

[Lord Helmet]

No cart slot...

 

Cartridges are overrated when you can fill up an SD card with roms.

[Dr Manhattan]

You guys all seem to be focusing on the negatives... Although I'm pretty sure you've placed this in the "That's Cool" category...

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm actually very interested in products like this, and I think this particular invention is brilliant. I really respect the guy who made it.

 

I just think if you're going to sell something like this you should consider the needs of your market. Here's what I want, maybe some of you agree with me. I want to hook it up to my living room TV. I want to use original controllers. (For me that is a big part of the Atari experience.) And obviously I want to share this brilliant little device with my friends so it must have 2 player support. Give me all that and you've got my money.

 

I'm a sucker for gadgets and game machines. And I really want to support this product and every product like it. (like MCCS)

[carmel_andrews]

Exactly Dr Manhatten, playing a 2600 game with a cx 40 is a better experience then playing a 2600 game with a pc joypad

 

After all you would'nt want to play a nes game with an atari cx 40 (and have additional buttons giving you the same button set as a nes contoller)

[Madaracs]

Exactly Dr Manhatten, playing a 2600 game with a cx 40 is a better experience then playing a 2600 game with a pc joypad

 

After all you would'nt want to play a nes game with an atari cx 40 (and have additional buttons giving you the same button set as a nes contoller)

 

I think we all agree on those points! Though, I'd probably hack a CX40 to make it work with this if need be. It's got lots of potential. Just like the Flashback 2 had lots of potential. I had a FB2 for about a year and sold it because really... whats the point if you can't expand or plug in an original cartridge? If they made an FB2 with an expansion USB/SD port or some other awesome thing like that I'd buy it all over again in a heartbeat!