Is a new system a possibility?

[keithbk]

Some friends of mine here in Indy passed the $900,000 mark on a kickstarter campaign for their new fantasy miniatures game "Myth." It got me to thinking, what's the possibility of producing a handheld Atari (something like Technabob's creation) with a Kickstarter Campaign? Does the Coleco Gemini mean that an Atari-compatible handheld would not run into licensing issues? Could a successful campaign result in an economical handheld? Has all this been postulated before?

 

http://technabob.com/blog/2011/02/25/atari-2600-portable-flashback-2/

[+Gemintronic]

I'm pretty sure the same guy that is making the FPGA Arcade is on the case. I'm sure a forum search on the subject would crash your web browser with hits

 

UPDATE: I think the bulk of the most recent discussion is here:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/208944-would-you-support-a-crowd-funded-brand-new-atari-2600-console/

[mkiker2089]

I'd be happier if someone would just make a new console. Like the Flashback but one that actually plays carts out of the box and doesn't just canibalize old consoles for parts. I'd not only buy one, I'd back the kickstarter on it.

 

And someone needs to finally create molds to make new games so we aren't destroying the commons anymore as well.

[+Gemintronic]

I'd be happier if someone would just make a new console. Like the Flashback but one that actually plays carts out of the box and doesn't just canibalize old consoles for parts. I'd not only buy one, I'd back the kickstarter on it.

 

And someone needs to finally create molds to make new games so we aren't destroying the commons anymore as well.

 

Here is one at least:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:23216

 

I'd rather buy a 3D printer and donate new cases to AtariAge.

[Master Phruby]

That 3D printer cartridge looks really ragged. I don't like how the cartridge looks like it was made from wicker. It looks like it doesn't fit very well in a regular 2600. How is it going to fit in a 7800?

[108 Stars]

 

 

Here is one at least:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:23216

 

I'd rather buy a 3D printer and donate new cases to AtariAge.

 

What the Atari community would need is real molds for cartridge cases; for all systems. This way the butchering of old carts would stop, the rip-off of people selling old stock cart shells for ridiculous prices would stop, Lynx games would not have to come on naked PCBs, and Atari games would get rid of the stench of being made out of scrounged up old parts.

 

A 3D printer doesn't even come close sadly.

Edited May 15, 2013 by 108 Stars

[Cebus Capucinis]

What the Atari community would need is real molds for cartridge cases; for all systems. This way the butchering of old carts would stop, the rip-off of people selling old stock cart shells for ridiculous prices would stop, Lynx games would not have to come on naked PCBs, and Atari games would get rid of the stench of being made out of scrounged up old parts.

 

A 3D printer doesn't even come close sadly.

 

I think with the increase in tech, however, 3D printers will be able to not only come close but completely match original cart quality. IIRC the prototype shell Joe Grand made was several years ago, and the newer stuff being created on newer 3D printing solutions has been much closer to "perfect" in terms of a cart.I believe batari posted one of his creations a while back and, while not perfect, looked much improved. I think in the next 3-5 years we'll certainly see printers that are capable of producing near-perfect (or perfect) Atari 2600 cart shells for use in homebrews. I think it's just a matter of time, honestly.

 

On the topic of systems: Aside from Atari-on-a-chip or other "emulation" style solutions, I don't think there will ever be a "real" new system made at all. The components, or their replacements, would be much too costly to reproduce, and there's no economic incentive for anyone to actually create something like that. Large amounts of hardware engineering and production for something that might sell 5,000 units on a good run just won't capture profitability in such a way that anyone would be interested in endeavoring in the work. I think we can realistically expect more Flashback-style systems, for sure, because these are relatively low-cost to produce so it counteracts low volume through a decent margin, but anything that we collectors would consider close to "the real thing" in terms of hardware would be completely non-feasible.

[jaybird3rd]

Another factor to consider is the unit cost. Printed shells cost more than new injection-molded shells, assuming the latter are produced in sufficiently high volume, and certainly more than "recycled" shells from common 2600 games. Even if you factor in the time that is spent (efficiently) disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling the old carts, I suspect that "recycling" will still be the cheapest route for some time to come, at least until somebody finally tools a new injection mold and produces a truckload of shells.

 

Until then, I don't think we're in any danger of running out of commons. Even the most successful 2600 homebrew games sell only in the hundreds, but common 2600 titles—Pac-Man, for example—were manufactured in the millions. Even if every new homebrew 2600 game were produced using nothing but old Pac-Man carts as "donors," there would still be millions of Pac-Man cartridges left, more than enough for anyone who wants one. As I see it, every common 2600 cartridge that is repurposed as a homebrew game is another cartridge that is rescued from the landfill.

[Godzilla]

well the flashback already can have a cart port, so that kind of tech could be made into a cart-port having, output having, handheld with it's built in games... I think it would do well at the right price point... and add cart-playing systems to the market, maybe more people to buy homebrews

[+Gemintronic]

Jaybird3rd speaks the truth. However, without 3D printing we may never have a triple-ender adult 2600 title from Bonox!

[jaybird3rd]

Jaybird3rd speak the truth. However, without 3D printing we may never have a triple-ender adult 2600 title from Bonox!

I'd prefer to call them "three-way" carts!

[108 Stars]

Maybe you are right, maybe 3D printers are coming to a point where it makes sense.

 

Yet I am usually more of a friend of the professional method, and the 3D printer method seems more like a potentially cheap work around. We made molds for Mega Drive carts and shells, SNES carts and probably will do so for every system we will support at WM. SFT probably did the same. It's an expensive investion, but one that pays off. And when I look at how active Atari Age already is, and the Atari scene in general I am wondering how much greater the potential audience would be if homebrews were not hidden in the Atari Age store and forums, unknown to the rest of the gaming world and with the stigma of being made out of old parts.

 

Molds could be a big step in getting the whole thing more professional qualitywise.

Edited May 15, 2013 by 108 Stars

[+Random Terrain]

All new cartridges should be made of wood. I like my cartridges to be flammable!

[Cobra Commander]

I have yet to find anything wrong with the old systems. I feel that its limitations are part of the appeal.

[Cebus Capucinis]

All new cartridges should be made of wood. I like my cartridges to be flammable!

 

Ugh, Skull Island...... Such a shame that project ended up in "rip-off" status.

[keithbk]

I have yet to find anything wrong with the old systems. I feel that its limitations are part of the appeal.

 

Perhaps a portable 7800 with an output to a larger screen and left and right optional ports for real joysticks/paddle controllers. Of course, I'm not talking about salvaging old equipment, but thinking it would be nice to have a new piece of equipment similar to some of the kit-bashed mods out there. Of course, it would have swappable power supplies (so you could power it from a cigarette lighter and play it in vehicle).

 

If you had a new piece of equipment like that, I think new cartridges would be close behind (I'm talking new shells).

[+Gemintronic]

Ugh, Skull Island...... Such a shame that project ended up in "rip-off" status.

 

Did anyone find out who his source was for wooden carts? Or, was that just talk?

[sqoon]

Even the most successful 2600 homebrew games sell only in the hundreds, but common 2600 titles—Pac-Man, for example—were manufactured in the millions. Even if every new homebrew 2600 game were produced using nothing but old Pac-Man carts as "donors," there would still be millions of Pac-Man cartridges left, more than enough for anyone who wants one. As I see it, every common 2600 cartridge that is repurposed as a homebrew game is another cartridge that is rescued from the landfill.

 

Plus, every year, more original consoles die, effectively cutting the usage numbers for those millions of Pac Man carts. This means more orphaned carts to repurpose for home brews.

Edited May 16, 2013 by sqoon