Need help deciding for another 2nd Generation System to add to my game room

[Nutsy Doodleheimer]

Hey everybody!! The past few days I have come to a debate, pondering, and maybe wanting to add another second generation/pre crash video game system in my game room. But I am not ready to pull the trigger just yet. I could use some insight and schooling on these mentioned systems. I have several Atari 2600 systems. A Heavy Sixer, Light Sixer, 4 switch woody, Vader, and Junior models. I also have an Intellivision 2609 model from 1979-1982, a Colecovision, and a 2 port model Atari 5200. And I really really enjoy these systems. That comes to a choice of The Fairchild Channel F. I always liked the Channel F. The controllers are sweet and look comfortable designed like a pilot/cockpit style, some fun multiplayer games. But, they are relatively expensive and very hard to find on ebay, I heard they are pretty unreliable and are known for overheating issues, and the games cost quite a bit and there is 32 I believe and also a multicart that recently came out. The Bally Astrocade sort of reminds me of the Channel F design wise coming from the system. I don't think the library was huge either. But cost a ton on ebay and craigslist. And I heard they are prone to malfunctioning as well and one of the most unreliable systems. The graphics from some of the games look great for late 70's early 80's. And that controller looks badass! The Emerson Arcadia 2001 is one I know I'm not interested in. It came and went quickly from '82 to '83. Had a meager library and looks like a compact intellivision. So the last one brings The Magnavox Odyssey 2, which is the one I am leaning towards. The prices for them on ebay are not too high, they are durable and sturdy, and no flickering graphics. But negatively there are only 50 games give or take, graphically not as good as the 2600, and the sound is dull. Any schooling on these mentioned systems and if they are worth or not worth owning will be helpful. Or if I am better just sticking with the 2600, Intellivision, Colecovision, and 5200. Thanks!! :-)

[CatPix]

What I can tell from them:

 

The O² should be your first choice, as you mention yourself.

The library is far from the huge Atari library, but complete, and even count some original games (KC Krazy Chase, if you like your PacMan with more than 4 boring labyrinths, and moving pac pills that require some stealth ) The Voice add-on really add some fun and the sound is excellent, much clearer than the Intellivision one.

Graphics are blocky on most game, but totally flicker free. The unit and carts are extremely reliable. The same can't be said fro mthe controllers, but they survived the years well usually, and it's always possible to mod the console to acept Atari or other standard pads.

As you mentionned, the console and games come rather cheap, even if I personally saw a price increase those last two years (when I checked in 2011, you could get a boxed 0² and some boxed game for about 50/60$. Today it's more around 80/100$)

 

The Bally Astrocade is the Neo Geo of the year 1977.

It's a Bally arcade machine board stacked in a console, sadly hampered with a low resolution mode and a mere 2 or 4ko or RAM when the arcade had 64ko.

It's still a powerful machine, able to do more than the Atari 2600. And it's a BEAST in the audio department, with a soundchip unmatched in the console world until the Atari 5200 and Nes came out.

The library of game is small but very solid, with lots of Bally arcade ports and even some third party games.

The bad point is a chronic unreliability, mostly being prone to overheating. And the units are expensive.

 

The Channel F is a piece of history.

As you mentionned, it has excellent controllers and some good games. It's however impaired by low resolution graphics (about half od the Atari 2600 capabilities) and a very rough sound chip.

I don't know about the reliability; tho the machine I'm more aware of are the second generation ones marketed in Europe, at which point they probably fixed some issues.

Also, first gen unit have a build-in speaker; second gen unit have sound output from the TV.

The library of games is rather small; however there is no really bad games on the system, given it's weaknesses and pioneering of home entertainment.

 

If you plan to play, I'd advice you to pick up the system in this order; the O² is definitively playworthy if you stand the Atari standards.

The Astrocade is playworthy as well but come more expensive so it come second.

The Channel F com last because of a certain lack of game and overall very low "quality" (tho as I said, you gotta remember it's 1976 and it was kinda more of an experiment, so, personally, I forgive the system of being what it is : an awesome pionnering system)

 

I wouldn't throw out the Arcadia. The games are mostly ports/copies of arcade games, mostly copies, but some licenced from Konami.

There is a multicard available if you don't dare getting all the original games, so you can enjoy it.

In my opinion, the graphics of the system have something to them... they are reminiscent of early IBM PC games of sort.

[Rick Dangerous]

Get a Bally Astrocade. It is possibly superior to all or many other systems that have ever been made, or so the question has been posited on here quite recently.

[Hyperboy]

Odyssey 2...Homebrew scene, multi/flash cart available for cheap and the system itself and games are easily available with only a few hard to find rarities.

[carlsson]

I've gotta ask: are you a strictly consoles typ of guy? I see that you have scouted pretty much all pre-crash video games that came out in the USA (with the possible exception of Vectrex), but your list doesn't mention a single home computer. Perhaps you already got plenty of pre-crash computers next to the consoles, so that is not where your focus is, but if you will consider Atari 400/800, TI-99/4A, VIC-20, C64, even Apple II and some others, you will have a much broader range to choose from.

Edited May 22, 2015 by carlsson

[+phoenixdownita]

No love for the CreatiVision?

 

http://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/pg80-creativision.htm#page=games

 

I personally find intriguing the Epoch Super Cassette Vision.

 

http://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/pg80-super_cass_vis.htm#page=games

[carlsson]

If the Channel F is considered pricy, don't even think about the CreatiVision. While I have an abundance of systems around me (not kidding, in the past half decade I've had/seen close to 10 CreatiVision systems in my neighbourhood), generally it is a bit hard to find. Not to mention it is PAL only which would be a problem for anyone living in the NTSC world. It might be possible to modify to get a different signal out of though, but that is cutting edge.

 

I agree about the SCV but it can be questioned if it is pre-crash, as it was released in 1984. Even the Japanese Famicom and SG-1000 came out in 1983, and although generally we consider those as the next generation systems, they logically predate the SCV. Same of course goes for the Atari 7800 which was not mentioned in his original post.

 

There are some oddball Casio and Bandai consoles too that were released in 1983 or earlier, but then we are looking at imports. Although the Arcadia already was ruled out, you have its even lesser cousin, the Interton VC-4000 and other 1292 based systems. You also have the RCA Studio II if you want something really primitive, but I understand the idea is to add a reasonably unique system with playable games.

[Rhomaios]

I personally find intriguing the Epoch Super Cassette Vision.

 

http://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/pg80-super_cass_vis.htm#page=games

 

The SCV is a neat little console, but it has a very limited library and the controllers are no good (and attached to the system). And, like carlsson mentioned, I'd lump it closer together with the ColecoVision, 5200, or NES than 2600, Odyssey², Astrocade, or Fairchild F.

[Austin]

Astrocade if you want to go the expensive route, Odyssey 2 if you want to go the cheap route. Just out of curiosity, have you thought about the Vectrex? Not sure if you have one, but it stomps both of those above choices in my opinion.

[Nutsy Doodleheimer]

I've gotta ask: are you a strictly consoles typ of guy? I see that you have scouted pretty much all pre-crash video games that came out in the USA (with the possible exception of Vectrex), but your list doesn't mention a single home computer. Perhaps you already got plenty of pre-crash computers next to the consoles, so that is not where your focus is, but if you will consider Atari 400/800, TI-99/4A, VIC-20, C64, even Apple II and some others, you will have a much broader range to choose from.

Yeah. I'm more of a console person. I actually can't believe I forgot about the Vectrex. But I know I have no room for it. They are awesome systems, don't get me wrong. But don't have a setup and good spot for the monitor. I do like the Atari 8 bit computer. I have a 5200 with the gold silicone dots and flex circuit controllers. It kind of makes no sense in owning one. I enjoyed the heck outta the Apple 2 as a kid. They had some awesome games!! Oregon Trail was my favorite and enjoyed the most. The C64 always intrigued me, and has one of the best libraries. Wouldn't mind that one.

[Nutsy Doodleheimer]

Astrocade if you want to go the expensive route, Odyssey 2 if you want to go the cheap route. Just out of curiosity, have you thought about the Vectrex? Not sure if you have one, but it stomps both of those above choices in my opinion.

I can't believe I forgot about mentioning the Vectrex. I like them. But don't own one, I don't have room for the monitor at the moment. :-( As time goes on. I may consider it when I do a rearranging project. I'm gonna probably look for the O2 and have that as my next choice. My birthday is about a couple months away. May snag that as my present for myself. The prices are excellent in ebay as well.

[fiddlepaddle]

I'd suggest you reconsider finding a way to make room for the Vectrex, by far the most fun of all systems mentioned here, in my opinion. It doesn't really take more table space than the Bally (although it's a bit heavier, and obviously taller), which is my second recommendation. I got bored with the Fairchild and the Magnavox pretty quickly, even though I have almost complete US libraries of both.

 

As far as reliability, all these systems are several decades old and any individual console is likely to have some issue or another. As long as you get a working one, and are willing/able to learn how to take care of it, understanding how not abuse it (for example, use a laptop cooler under the Astrocade) will go a long way to keeping things working.

 

I don't worry too much about cost if it's affordable to me. A few hundred dollars sometimes seems like a lot, but when I'm spending hours and hours with it, it becomes cheap compared to eating out, going on trips, or even having a few beers with the boys. If it's too much for me, then it's just not an option and I don't consider it at that time. One thing I've learned about myself is my finances seem to go from "plenty" to "not enough" and back on a regular basis.

[Noah98]

The Vectrex is the best of all that has been mentioned in this thread! It really does not take up much room at all. Have you ever seen one in person?

 

Otherwise, the Bally Astrocade would be great but it is really expensive and too unreliable. Channel F is really primative.

 

Go with the Odyssey 2 and get both KC Munchkin games, Pick Axe Pete, UFO, Attack of the Time Lord, Freedom Fighters, Killer Bees, Monkeyshines, and Smithereens.

[Mayhem]

Obviously I'm going to be championing the Vectrex here as well

 

It was really one system that deserved to survive the crash, partly because it was unique, and partly due to the fact there's barely any duff games. It was the Dreamcast of the pre-crash era.

[SS]

I would suggest an Atari 800 or 800XL computer. Similar to the 5200 but with a whole ton more of games made for it. Plus, if you get an SIO2PC cable you don't need to worry about a disc drive (or even cartridges for that matter, although carts are cool).

Edited May 23, 2015 by SS

[CatPix]

Or better, an Atari XEGS to keep the console aspect then. Yes, the XEGS is from 1990, but the guts are from 1978.

[Nutsy Doodleheimer]

The Vectrex is the best of all that has been mentioned in this thread! It really does not take up much room at all. Have you ever seen one in person?

Otherwise, the Bally Astrocade would be great but it is really expensive and too unreliable. Channel F is really primative.

Go with the Odyssey 2 and get both KC Munchkin games, Pick Axe Pete, UFO, Attack of the Time Lord, Freedom Fighters, Killer Bees, Monkeyshines, and Smithereens.

I have never seen the Vectrex up close in person. But always admired it. And the game pad is sweet. Right now I am leaning towards choosing the Odyssey 2 or the Vectrex. I have the K.C. Munchkin homebrew for the 7800. K.C. Crazy Chase looks fun, Pick Axe Pete looks addicting. Reminds me of Donkey Kong mixed with Miner 2049er. UFO is similar to Robotron 2084. And the prices for systems are low as well for the most part. Only negative is the hardwired controllers. I think it's the systems from 1978-1981 that have this feature. And detatchable from 1982-1983. I will keep my eyes open on ebay and look for a system with game lot. Decent price and condition. Since my birthday is in a couple of months. Have a new console as a gift for myself. :-)

[Noah98]

Or better, an Atari XEGS to keep the console aspect then. Yes, the XEGS is from 1990, but the guts are from 1978.

XEGS is a great console too!

[high voltage]

Well, Coleco and 5200 are third gen, and so is the Vectrex

Edited May 23, 2015 by high voltage

[Nutsy Doodleheimer]

Or better, an Atari XEGS to keep the console aspect then. Yes, the XEGS is from 1990, but the guts are from 1978.

I do like the design of the system. The Easter colors. Actually it came out in 1987 (North America that is). And it plays all the 2600, 7800, and 8 bit computer games. I have all the 2600 systems, a 7800, and a 5200 with the 128 in 1 multicart. I think the O2 is what I am gonna shoot for first then down the road next will be The Vectrex.

[Austin]

Odyssey 2 or the Vectrex

There is only one choice here.

[carlsson]

And it plays all the 2600, 7800, and 8 bit computer games.

I'm not sure which system you are talking about here, but the Atari XEGS only takes Atari 8-bit computer cartridges. It has a 6502, but that is probably as close to either 2600 or 7800 as it gets.

[Nutsy Doodleheimer]

I'm not sure which system you are talking about here, but the Atari XEGS only takes Atari 8-bit computer cartridges. It has a 6502, but that is probably as close to either 2600 or 7800 as it gets.

My bad. You are correct. I thought for some odd reason it did. I just researched.

[ls650]

I own both an Odyssey 2 and a Vectrex. I like the O2, but I love the Vectrex.

[VIRTUALboy]

The RCA studio ii was made in an era when almost all consoles were pong consoles with one game. It used cartriges.