New to 5200 / Damaged Space Invaders cart?

[Ian Primus]

I have had my 5200 (4 port) for about a year and never got around to hacking up a power adapter for it. I finally got around to it tonight, and I must say, that it really is a great system, the graphics and sound are great, and once I repaired that #$*% controller, it is a lot of fun to play. I haven't done much playing other than testing the small pile of carts I had with it, and I noticed that Space Invaders did something odd. All the graphics are scrambled, and the invaders are smeared across the screen. It almost reminds me of a dirty NES cart, where the CHR ROM isn't making good contact, so the program is still there, but the graphics are hosed. But I have already checked the contacts, and cleaned them again for good measure, but I still get the same results. Besides, the 5200 doesn't use that method of game storage(separate PRG and CHR), does it? The other carts I have play fine (except Q*Bert, which appears totally dead). Any ideas? Anyone seen anything like this before on the 5200? I'm new to the hardware, I'm mostly a 2600/7800 nut myself, but I'm learning what I can (like: Yes, there is such a thing as a console bigger than an XBox, and that there _is_ something harder on your hands than an Intellivision controller)

 

Ian Primus

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[Bryan]

Well, that's a good bit of interference. I can see the RAM refresh cycles on the left and everything. Maybe the cartridge is out of whack enough that it no longer meets Antic's timing specs, but still meets those of the CPU?

 

-Bry

[Video]

Could possibly be a Pal game? Maybe?

 

Or perhaps it's a 400 cart, to my understanding, don't those work in a 5200, but not play?

 

Most games don't matter, but maybe this particular one was a 2 port game or something?

[joeybastard]

Can't be PAL, the 5200 was never released in PAL countries. I don't think 400 carts will work(or fit for that matter) either. It looks like the problem my Space Dungeon had just before it died for good

[Ian Primus]

I finally figured out what was causing the weird garbage. Dirty cartridge connector. I had tried cleaning it with a q-tip and alcohol through the bottom, but it didn't help. I took the cart apart, and scrubbed the contacts with a paper towel soaked in alcohol. That did the trick, it plays fine now. That is weird what it was doing though, I have never seen an Atari cart do that before, although it is extremely common on NES carts.

 

Ian Primus

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