Pause?

[0078265317]

I know 2600 did not allow pause without a mode like you guys have here. But 7800 did. However I read somwewhere that it only worked for new 7800 games coded for it at the time. Is this true? 2600 games will not pause even if I get a 7800?

[Atari Punk 78]

It won't do a thing for 2600 games.

[+SpiceWare]

Atari 2600 Pause Kit

[0078265317]

Atari 2600 Pause Kit

 

 

I know about the kit I wasd wondering if I could bypass that by buying a 7800. I guess not thanks.

Edited February 7, 2011 by 78265317

[Nukey Shay]

"Color/B&W" switch on the 2600 = "Pause" switch on the 7800. How the switch is read by software is exactly the same (bit3 of SWCHB). If, when, and how a program implements the switch is entirely up to the program in question.

 

If a 2600 game switches to a B&W palette when using the switch on a 2600...the same effect will happen using the game with a 7800's "pause" switch. However...on the 7800, the switch itself will spring back to it's original position the same way that Select and Reset do (so you would need some way of keeping the switch pressed down if the game was not coded with this "springy action" in mind).

 

Beany Bopper, for example, uses the switch to pause the game on a 2600. This does not work correctly on the 7800...since the switch automatically springs back and unpauses the game.

 

Some modern homebrews and hacks are written to detect which console the game is being run on (and include decision branches to handle either case), so an assigned function will work for either platform.

Edited February 7, 2011 by Nukey Shay