I turned a rare Atari 2600 Junior single-chip console into a portable

[Benheck]

https://www.benheck.com/project-started-in-2000-finally-finished-atari-2600-junior-single-chip-portable/

[Shawn]

Over the last 20 years your work and equipment you use sure has come a long way, Ben.

 

[KevKelley]

Now why can't these companies making portable and flashbacks learn a thing from you?!

[+save2600]

I shudder to think what some might pay for one-off's like this, but yeah... if a like minded model were mass produced, I'd buy for sure. Love it!  

[Tavi]

This is some absolutely amazing designing and engineering! I would love to have a portable like this.

I have to admit to being a bit curious though, how long does the battery last?

You certainly did an exceptional job creating this unit, and I enjoyed watching the video you made documenting the entire process.

Very well done!

[Yarzzz]

A job as amazing as usual Mr. Heckendorn. I specially love the case, its a very nice design.

[DragonGrafx-16]

You should totally license the design to Hyperkin and have them make a Retron 77 portable. Would be emulation instead of the real thing, but it would still kill the awful Atgames portable. 

[Nukey Shay]

49 minutes ago, KevKelley said:

Now why can't these companies making portable and flashbacks learn a thing from you?!

Because it's not cost-effective to cannibalize antiques ?

Modern consoles get -all- their profit from SW, subs, and DLC.  None of that is applicable to FB systems.

[+DrVenkman]

Amazing work, and great job salvaging your earlier failed effort instead of throwing the parts away as someone else might have done in your place. 

[amiman99]

I just saw the video, all 53 minutes, very nice project.

[+Nathan Strum]

Just watched the video - very cool! It's great to see that finally finished off. What a contrast to the original VCS Portable. It's fascinating to compare then vs. now with all of the additional experience you've had and the modern resources available.

[Keatah]

Single-chip VCS? That's pretty spiffy.

 

[+Andrew Davie]

5 hours ago, Benheck said:

https://www.benheck.com/project-started-in-2000-finally-finished-atari-2600-junior-single-chip-portable/

Time to revisit the mechanical TV, too!

[+D Train]

12 minutes ago, Andrew Davie said:

Time to revisit the mechanical TV, too!

it's the ben heck greatest hits compilation!

[azure]

I haven't heard of this single 3-in-1 chip before. Has there been much research on it?

[bluejay]

Nice!

I always wanted to learn how to make portable consoles but never got the chance.

But to be honest, we sure to have different tastes for console designs:)

[KevKelley]

13 hours ago, Nukey Shay said:

Because it's not cost-effective to cannibalize antiques ?

Modern consoles get -all- their profit from SW, subs, and DLC.  None of that is applicable to FB systems.

Was it the Flashback 2 that essentially was a hardware Atari? That was more my line of thinking.

[JasperAK]

I wish I could afford something like that. Although, I'd be afraid to take it anywhere for fear of damaging it. I still use my Pocket Go because it was so cheap.

[+DrVenkman]

52 minutes ago, KevKelley said:

Was it the Flashback 2 that essentially was a hardware Atari? That was more my line of thinking.

Yes, it was. The single-chip “blob” package IC was basically a single-chip VCS designed by @Curt Vendel back when “Atari” still had some modicum of ambition in doing something besides endlessly licensing IP for emulation. 

[jaybird3rd]

8 hours ago, azure said:

I haven't heard of this single 3-in-1 chip before. Has there been much research on it?

Some later 2600 Jr. consoles (with Rev. 4 motherboards, I believe) shipped with a single chip inside, the C101688, which was a 6507 and TIA/RIOT combined into a single 64-pin package.  The ones I've seen have 1987 date codes stamped on them, so this must have been a change made very late in the life of the 2600.  Perhaps that's why so few of these so-called "Unicorn" consoles have turned up in the wild.  I finally managed to find one "accidentally" when looking for a replacement Jr. motherboard to upgrade to composite; I ultimately found another board and left my Unicorn unmodified.

[Keatah]

13 hours ago, bluejay said:

Nice!

I always wanted to learn how to make portable consoles but never got the chance.

But to be honest, we sure to have different tastes for console designs:)

Once you realize that it's mostly re-packaging an existing console's electronics into a different container you're half-way there. It's not like you need an EE degree to redesign the circuitry or anything.

[Brian1969]

First time seeing this video.
I love this! Was looking for a link to buy this. Would love a mass production release. Well done sir!