Fishing for the wisdom of AtariAge

[Gabriel]

I'm thinking of purchasing the 128 in 1 Atari 5200 Flash Cart, but I want to ask some other AtariAgers a question first.

 

See, I have a flash cart which stores one game at a time. For some games this flash cart works nicely, no problems whatsoever. For some other games, it takes a bit of finagleing to get the cart to work. I'll have to power on the console just right, or else I'll get a lockup, a garbled Atari screen, or a blank colored screen. And then there's a final category of games which just won't work at all.

 

Now, it's my own fault that I'm just now getting around to testing every ROM I can. For the most part, I just use the flashcart to play Return of the Jedi and Megamania. But I'm starting to notice that about half the games I test it with don't work. I'm wondering what the cause is and whether I'd have the same problem with the 128 in 1.

 

By and large, the games I have problems with, or can't get to work, are generally those with custom title screns. I'll note that I have a 2 port 5200. A list of games (but, by no means complete) I cannot get to work at all are:

 

A.E.

Asteroids

Astro Chase

Buck Rogers

Congo Bongo

Diagnostic Cart

Frogger

Gyruss

Krazy Shoot Out

Microgammon

Miniature Golf

Mr. Do's Castle

Realsports Tennis

Star Wars Arcade

 

All rom images are from Atari Age when Atari Age has them.

 

Anyway, my purpose behind getting a 128 in 1 would be just like most others' goals. I would want to be able to load it up with rare games I can't get and unreleased prototypes which I don't own a reproduction of. So, I'd like some expert opinions on whether the problem is:

 

a) The flash cart

b) The Rom image

c) My console

d) the dummy behind the wheel.

 

Anyway, thanks everyone. Special thanks to those out there who have made all this stuff available in the first place.

[Paranoid]

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...t&p=1089227

 

My review on the 128-in-one I just got. It works great for me on all of the titles you mentioned.

[Gabriel]

Today while testing some hacks, I noticed that all of the games which will not work on my flashcart are 16K. Not all 16K games fail to work, but all of the ones that do are 16K.

 

In a thread about hacks, I recall seeing mention regarding a process of doubling the bin image. For instance, Pac Man Plus 16K will not work on my flashcart. Pac Man Plus 32K will, and I'm guessing the bin image has just been "doubled" or padded out.

 

Could someone direct me to a tool which will allow me to "double" the images like this?

[+Allan]

Today while testing some hacks, I noticed that all of the games which will not work on my flashcart are 16K. Not all 16K games fail to work, but all of the ones that do are 16K.

 

In a thread about hacks, I recall seeing mention regarding a process of doubling the bin image. For instance, Pac Man Plus 16K will not work on my flashcart. Pac Man Plus 32K will, and I'm guessing the bin image has just been "doubled" or padded out.

 

Could someone direct me to a tool which will allow me to "double" the images like this?

 

OK. but I must warn you it's expensive. It cost me $3000. No, just kidding. Just load the game in a text editor, highlight the whole thing, then hit copy, then paste. Save it and your set to go.

 

Allan

[Gabriel]

OK. but I must warn you it's expensive. It cost me $3000. No, just kidding. Just load the game in a text editor, highlight the whole thing, then hit copy, then paste. Save it and your set to go.

 

Smart Alec. Sometimes I gotta ask really stupid questions in order to learn anything.

 

Believe it or not, I figured out that method just before you posted. At the very least, it's gotten Star Wars Arcade running.

 

No luck yet with AE or Gyruss. AE just will not hit that second title screen. Gyruss always produces a blank screen. Any known 2 port issues with those?

[JB]

Couldn't you use the basic command-line copy to double it?

 

Something like "copy Starwars.bin+Starwars.bin StrWrLng.bin" should have the same effect.

[gdement]

You need to specify binary mode:

 

"copy /b starwars.bin+starwars.bin sw32.bin"

 

Otherwise the output will be broken. I don't think a text editor will work either for the same reason.