ColecoVision Flashback System

[fiddlepaddle]

Free Enterprise does it again...

[Pixelboy]

1701 is mine!!!!!!

 

New episode of Star Trek Phase II is coming in early December! Mark your calendars!

 

 

EDIT: Gahhh.... Never mind...

[jblenkle]

From what my friend tells me, Sam's must have the CV and other Flashbacks out by next Friday because they are going to be a featured item on that date. I have absolutely no faith in my local Sam's though...I bet they still won't have them out.

 

 

I assume they may wait until closer to xmas, which I don't understand at all.

[Andromeda Stardust]

I'm just glad to have mine packed away so I can enjoy it at Christmas...

[bkrownd]

Was the controller this frustrating with the original ColecoVision? Grrr! I'm beginning to really appreciate the old Atari with its sensible controllers, even if the Atari's games were as crude and ugly as sin.

 

Does anyone have a circuit diagram for the FB controllers?

Edited November 24, 2014 by bkrownd

[VectorGamer]

This Thanksgiving all Flashback consoles are $28 at Dollar General.

[NE146]

Was the controller this frustrating with the original ColecoVision? Grrr! I'm beginning to really appreciate the old Atari with its sensible controllers, even if the Atari's games were as crude and ugly as sin.

 

 

Funny to me how many people have asked that.. I guess 30 some odd year later, it's not exactly "expected" anymore that if you dig vids, you have played a Colecovision somewhere someway in your life.

 

But yes.. the answer is pretty much yes.

[NIAD]

Was the controller this frustrating with the original ColecoVision? Grrr! I'm beginning to really appreciate the old Atari with its sensible controllers, even if the Atari's games were as crude and ugly as sin.

On the original CV controller, you get used to it, but I can see there being more of a problem with the Flashback controller seeing as the shaft is even shorter.

[fiddlepaddle]

I'm not sure I ever really "got used to it", but I did adapt enough to enjoy playing. On the other hand, I sure prefer a ball knob.

[Andromeda Stardust]

Funny how people claim the rectangular NES controller wasn't ergonomic enough. It was damn near perfect and didn't have lots of unnecessary buttons. Not that there's anything wrong with Dual Shocks and other modern designs.

 

I never understood the point of numeric pads on game controllers. The VCS controller was simplicityat it's finest, even though it was stiff as hell.

 

Maybe someday people look at the Wiimote / nunchuck with the same wtf reaction that we do looking at vintage tech.

[Bill Loguidice]

Funny how people claim the rectangular NES controller wasn't ergonomic enough. It was damn near perfect and didn't have lots of unnecessary buttons. Not that there's anything wrong with Dual Shocks and other modern designs.

 

I never understood the point of numeric pads on game controllers. The VCS controller was simplicityat it's finest, even though it was stiff as hell.

 

Maybe someday people look at the Wiimote / nunchuck with the same wtf reaction that we do looking at vintage tech.

 

I find the NES controller a bit small and those hard angles can also be rough on the hands. I think the SNES and Genesis six button pads were when d-pad-based controllers really started to get refined nicely in terms of real comfort and utility. Of course, it's hard to argue with the quality and comfort of today's controllers, where likely more R&D is spent than on many past complete consoles.

 

Simplicity is fine, but a single button can also be rather limiting and create frustration in certain types of games.

[+HatNJ]

I was asked about the rom date on my Unique Bed Bath and Beyond Flashback the Compile date for the ROM is May 8 2014

[bkrownd]

On the original CV controller, you get used to it, but I can see there being more of a problem with the Flashback controller seeing as the shaft is even shorter.

 

I'm thumbing the stick, but holding the controller stable while operating buttons on both sides is really difficult.

[Andromeda Stardust]

 

I find the NES controller a bit small and those hard angles can also be rough on the hands. I think the SNES and Genesis six button pads were when d-pad-based controllers really started to get refined nicely in terms of real comfort and utility. Of course, it's hard to argue with the quality and comfort of today's controllers, where likely more R&D is spent than on many past complete consoles.

 

Simplicity is fine, but a single button can also be rather limiting and create frustration in certain types of games.

The NES, SNES, and Genny pads are all great pieces of tech. For the record, I don't have a problem with lots of buttons on controllers or modern designs (Sony Dual shock, Wii-U Pro, etc) but with their implementation in certain types of games. I can't do button combos in fighting games worth crap. Mortal Kombat was one of the worst offenders in that regard. A lot less confusing when we had 8-bit brawler/platformer with A to jump and B to punch/kick/shoot/whatever. I can't do twin stick FPS very well either, although 3D platformers and single stick FPS (ie 007 Golden Eye, Perfect Dark on the N64, etc) I can handle without issue.

[Bill Loguidice]

The NES, SNES, and Genny pads are all great pieces of tech. For the record, I don't have a problem with lots of buttons on controllers or modern designs (Sony Dual shock, Wii-U Pro, etc) but with their implementation in certain types of games. I can't do button combos in fighting games worth crap. Mortal Kombat was one of the worst offenders in that regard. A lot less confusing when we had 8-bit brawler/platformer with A to jump and B to punch/kick/shoot/whatever. I can't do twin stick FPS very well either, although 3D platformers and single stick FPS (ie 007 Golden Eye, Perfect Dark on the N64, etc) I can handle without issue.

 

My main issue with many modern games - particularly many modern sports games - is trying to remember all of the possible options. I don't necessarily criticize the number of buttons on modern controllers, as generally speaking they're laid out well, easy to reach, etc. It's more in the game and interface design. I think it wouldn't be much of a developer burden to have optional real-time on-screen button mapping showing what buttons do what at any given time. Once you've mastered it, simply turn the on-screen overlay or mini-guide off. I'd also like to see at least two play options for many games, for instance, one with a simplified control scheme using say a maximum of four buttons (and perhaps certain in-game functions automated as a result), and another with access to the full setup. I doubt it will ever happen, but that's certainly something I would appreciate.

[NIAD]

 

I'm thumbing the stick, but holding the controller stable while operating buttons on both sides is really difficult.

I think thumbing the controller stick/disc is probably why so many people become frustrated with the controller. here is how I hold the controller and you should give it a try if you haven't already:

 

- I hold the controller in my left hand (resting in my palm) with my left thumb over the left button and my left index finger over the right button.

 

- I then place my right thumb at about 7:00 on the disc topped joystick (other people have called it a mushroom while others have called it sh*t), my right index finger at 12:00, the three remaining fingers support the controller further starting at the top/side and wrap to the bottom. The base of my thumb actually covers the "3" and some of the "6" keys on the keypad.

 

It's the way I have held these controllers for over 30 years and no other method has worked for me, especially placing my thumb on top of the disc to make movements.

[SoulBlazer]

 

My main issue with many modern games - particularly many modern sports games - is trying to remember all of the possible options. I don't necessarily criticize the number of buttons on modern controllers, as generally speaking they're laid out well, easy to reach, etc. It's more in the game and interface design. I think it wouldn't be much of a developer burden to have optional real-time on-screen button mapping showing what buttons do what at any given time. Once you've mastered it, simply turn the on-screen overlay or mini-guide off. I'd also like to see at least two play options for many games, for instance, one with a simplified control scheme using say a maximum of four buttons (and perhaps certain in-game functions automated as a result), and another with access to the full setup. I doubt it will ever happen, but that's certainly something I would appreciate.

Madden this for a few years, although I don't know if they still are. You could select to play with 'one button mode' to make it easier. One button did all the important actions -- push to snap the ball, push again to switch between receivers, push a last time to throw the ball, for example.

 

The NES controller was quite good, but I agree that it could cause some pain with those hard corner edges after several hours. I use the dogbone style NES controller today for my NES playing, as it's nearly as good as the SNES one for comfort.

[LynxVGL]

Just picked up mine from Meijers in Michigan. First off: I have a working CV and a pretty good collection of Carts. The Flashback was attractive to me, because a good chunk of the titles onboard are ones that I'm missing. Jungle Hunt, for example, I'd love to own, but never can find one in the right sweet spot of collecting to pick up. So the Flashback, at $39.99 seems like an OK deal.

 

Yup, the controllers are sloppy. I just played Zaxxon, but it felt right. The emulation feels a little fast too. Zaxxon at skill level 2 was flying and Frenzy seemed REALLy fast also at skill 2. (Frenzy is a title that was worth the purchase for me. Again, I've had bad luck scoring a loose one in the wild.) DragonFire (much like Jungle Hunt & Frenzy) also seems borderline unplayable. It may be the original collision detection is soft, but on skill 1, getting across the bridge is a downright challenge.

 

Emulation wise, the sound seems pretty noxious. One of the things I love about my real CV is that I always have considered the sound onboard to be the best of that generation. I'd always prefer a Coleco version over a 2600 or 5200 based on sound alone. Sound on the Flashback is pretty harsh. I'm playing on a CRT TV and it looks OK. The video seems a little off too. Hard to put my finger on it. I'd describe the CV palette as soft, almost pastel sometimes, on the original hardware. The colors seems a little more saturated on the Flashback.

 

I need to play a bunch of the other titles, Mecha8 doesn't seem to want to fire for me. I need to try the other controller.

 

Like others have said, if you don't have your own real hardware, this is an OK introduction to the machine. Some great titles, some terrible ones too. Not the end all solution for CV gaming like a MegaCart, but I think I'll prefer to pound on this for casual CV games versus risk my original hardware.

 

For $39, I think it's totally OK. If you can find a Black Friday deal for cheaper, definitely go for it. It does REALLY make me want the Inty version though...

Edited November 26, 2014 by LynxVGL

[Bill Loguidice]

It's the way I have held these controllers for over 30 years and no other method has worked for me, especially placing my thumb on top of the disc to make movements.

 

Our usual "pincer," "claw," "mushroom," "three finger," "whatever you call it," grip works fine on the original controllers, but I'm not convinced its effective on the AtGames version with the too-short nub. I suspect if the nub were tuned differently, i.e., was more responsive overall and more responsive specifically to smaller movements, then it might work, but as-is, I just don't think either the classic or thumb-based/gamepad grip is effective.

[onmode-ky]

I was asked about the rom date on my Unique Bed Bath and Beyond Flashback the Compile date for the ROM is May 8 2014

Thanks for your data, HatNJ. A month and a half before the production ROM's compile date, interesting!

 

Bill L., out of curiosity, do you remember when between this particular pre-production May 8th date and the production June 24th date your evaluation of AtGames' CV FB game lineup happened? As you may have noticed, I like dating things. Too bad so few of them are women.

 

onmode-ky

[nanochess]

 

I need to play a bunch of the other titles, Mecha8 doesn't seem to want to fire for me. I need to try the other controller.

 

 

For the Colecovision Flashback use the right button to fire , the left button is used fo launch the devastator attack when gauge is filled.

[thegamezmaster]

Thanksgiving Day only, Dollar General has all Flashbacks on sale for $28. Thursday only. Just thought I'd let people know.

[+SabertoothRetro]

Thanksgiving Day only, Dollar General has all Flashbacks on sale for $28. Thursday only. Just thought I'd let people know.

I just ordered the Intellivision and Colecovision FBs from their site. $61 after tax. Not bad.

[ColecoDan]

I just ordered the Intellivision and Colecovision FBs from their site. $61 after tax. Not bad.

Nice now that is my kind of Black friday shopping. Although I will only be getting the Intellivision one since the coleco one is so bad and I have a coleco with every game already.

[Bill Loguidice]

Thanks for your data, HatNJ. A month and a half before the production ROM's compile date, interesting!

 

Bill L., out of curiosity, do you remember when between this particular pre-production May 8th date and the production June 24th date your evaluation of AtGames' CV FB game lineup happened? As you may have noticed, I like dating things. Too bad so few of them are women.

 

onmode-ky

 

I don't know. When I got the game list about a week before June 24th, it was already the one I said with just the three incompatible games. I'm not sure how long after that they changed it to the final retail version.