Rediscovered Fast Food (2600) a number of weeks ago and quickly took the world record on Twin Galaxies for emulator play. At that time I did not have a working console: my 2600 Jr. was out of commission. I had applied the composite output mod years ago and a faulty wire had rendered it useless. Since I was happy with my emulators (PC and XBOX) and due to some amount of laziness I was not interested in seeking said bad connection/wire.

Well between now and then (the past couple weeks) that has changed -- I got out my console, dusted it off and found the problem. However other problems arose with the simple composite mod which I had done sloppily -- I de-soldered everything and reassembled with the traditional coax connection. Shortly thereafter I sorted through the rats nest in my living room as I had acquired a tiny 13" TV which I placed in my bedroom. I moved a number of systems to my new video game cave and left only my 'modern' PS2 and XBOX in the living room. Now having a new comfortable environment and working console I started to do alot more gaming.

My initial high score (which I submitted and had verified) was a paltry ~2500 points. I later submitted my current 4644 which still stands but I knew I could do better - my camera batteries actually died during the submission! (I have since purchased an AC adapter for my digital camera).

I purchased a beat up cartridge on ebay recently for 99 cents. I was hoping it would arrive before the long holiday weekend but it did not -- it arrived today. I rushed home and before I even plugged it in found a problem - the chip was quite loose within the cartridge, I didn't even need to try to know that it wouldn't possibly seat in my console.

I disassembled the case and witnessed the cheap construction from our friends at Telesys. A tiny plastic 'post' holds the chip vertically (when seated) to keep the chip in a 'forward' position. The post was cracked and gone. The game (after scrubbed clean with denatured alcohol) played just fine as a chip. However although I only purchased this copy as a beater (I am very interested in a CIB copy) it just wouldn't do to have anything played in this form.

I cracked open one of my spare Activision cartidges (Tennis, like I even need one of these) and mashed the chip into it. Not exactly a perfect fit but good enough and it seats perfectly.

Onto the game play - I did a 6000 on my first try and on my second (my goal was 10,000) I was around 9700. It is easy to lose your focus in this game. Total concentration is not needed as it is on the level of many other titles, but focus (which to me is something different) is. My current goal is to top video game legend Robert Mruczek at 15,746 putting me in third. First (Todd Rogers at one million, of course) is out of reach and second from Stephen R Riesenberger at ~62,000 is equally as impressive despite the difference (his WR on Dolphin is amazing!).

Last night I threw down on videotape the second time I have cracked 40,000 on River Raid (weak, I know) and the first time I have finished all 20 minutes on Pitfall! (around 90,000). Other goals include breaking 100K on Frostbite (already done it on emulator, score is posted) and 100K on Seaquest (done it easily many times on emu but I seem to have trouble without my simple D-pad on my Logitech controller).

Well back to the grind. I have beer to drink and games to play. Stole some cotton swabs from the first aid kit at work and poured some denatured alcohol from the shop into a rinsed Vitamin Water bottle and I've been going to town on my collection all day. Planned a trip to the video game store to pick up some new (old) stuff but now its raining, making bike riding impossible.

I have much more to say but don't want to overwhelm in each post. No doubt I'll be back soon. Thanks for reading.