Jump to content
Have You Played Atari Today?
2600|5200|7800|Lynx|Jaguar|Forums|Store

Forums

  1. Atari Systems

    1. Atari News

      Please post Atari-related news here, so we have it all in one place.

      3.2k
      posts

    2. Atari General

      A general discussion for Atari-related topics that aren't covered by a specific Atari console or computer forum.

      21.3k
      posts

    3. Atari 2600

      The Atari 2600 is the system that started it all for Atari, and is by far the most popular classic gaming console. This forum covers all 2600 systems produced by Atari, as well as 2600-compatible consoles produced by third-parties.

      722.5k
      posts

    4. Atari 5200

      The Atari 5200 was Atari's second cartridge-based game console. Based on the Atari 8-bit computer line and labeled the "SuperSystem", the 5200 was Atari's answer to growing competition in a market they were losing control over.

      92.4k
      posts

    5. Atari 7800

      The Atari 7800 ProSystem is a contemporary of the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Master System. Based on extensive feedback from Atari customers, the 7800 features a streamlined design, backward compatibility with the 2600, a powerful graphics processor, and simplified controllers.

      173.4k
      posts

    6. Atari Lynx

      Lynx was Atari's first portable game system, and world's first color handheld. It was designed by Epyx and the engineers who created the Amiga. Ahead of its time, the Lynx sported a backlit color screen, stereo sound (in model 2) and an impressive range of games. Check out our rarity guide or explore many games listed on Atari Gamer.

       

      74.4k
      posts

    7. Atari Jaguar

      Atari's last game console, the Atari Jaguar represented a huge leap in technology from previous offerings. Featuring a 64-bit architecture, the Jaguar had great potential, but its power was difficult to tap. Even then, many great games were released and the Jaguar has an avid fan base today.

      221k
      posts

    8. Atari VCS

      Discussion forum for the new Atari VCS console.

      19.5k
      posts

    9. Dedicated Systems

      Before Atari produced the famous 2600, they created many standalone consoles such as Pong, Speedway, and Stunt Cycle. Recently, Atari has been creating new dedicated consoles, such as the Atari Flashback.

      36.4k
      posts

    10. Atari 8-Bit Computers

      Atari's original 8-bit computer line, featuring the Atari 400, 800, XL, and XE series of computers. Powerful and well-engineered, the Atari 8-bit computers are still popular with fans today!

      696.9k
      posts

    11. Atari ST/TT/Falcon Computers

      Atari's next generation computer line, the Atari ST computers were based on the Motorola 68000 series chips, the same as the Macintosh at the time. The ST would also be followed by the TT and Falcon.

      66.8k
      posts

    12. Atari Portfolio

      The Atari Portfolio is a palmtop, IBM PC-compatible portable computer released by Atari in 1989, the world's first palmtop computer!

      604
      posts

  2. Classic Consoles

    1. Classic Console Discussion

      Discussion of classic gaming consoles outside the Atari realm.

      428.1k
      posts

    2. ColecoVision / Adam

      Coleco launched the ColecoVision in 1982, with the console quickly becoming popular due to its library of arcade ports. The ColecoVision has a large homebrew following today.

      134.5k
      posts

    3. Intellivision / Aquarius

      This forum is for discussion of the Mattel Intellivision, Atari's primary competitor against the 2600, as well as the Mattel Aquarius computer. Intellivision systems include the original Intellivision, Intellivision II, INTV III, and the Sears Super Video Arcade.

      283k
      posts

    4. Bally Arcade/Astrocade

      Discussion forum for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade console.

      3.8k
      posts

    5. Odyssey 2 / Videopac

      Discussion revolving around the Odyssey 2 / Videopac G7000/G7400

      7.8k
      posts

    6. Vectrex

      Discuss the world's only vector-based video game console here!

      12.6k
      posts

    7. Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) / Famicom

      Discuss Nintendo's first cartridge-based system, the NES, here!

      12.4k
      posts

    8. Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) / Super Famicom

      Discuss Nintendo's second cartridge based system here!

      6.9k
      posts

    9. Sega Genesis

      Sega's popular fourth-generation 16-bit system, would ultimately compete head-to-head with the Super Nintendo.

      15k
      posts

    10. 3DO Interactive Multiplayer

      Discussion forum for the 3DO console and the unreleased Panasonic M2

      3.6k
      posts

    11. Dreamcast

      Discussion for the SEGA Dreamcast console.

      1.3k
      posts

    12. SMS High Score Club

      Join the Sega Master System High Score Club today!

      2.5k
      posts

    13. TG-16/PC Engine High Score Club

      Compete for high scores on the TurboGrafx-16 and PC Engine!

      1.4k
      posts

  3. Classic Computing

    1. Classic Computing Discussion

      Use this forum to discuss the plethora of classic computers outside of Atari 8-bit offerings. These include the Apple II, Commodore 64/128, Amiga, TI 99/4a, MSX, TRS-80 and others.

      41.6k
      posts

    2. Apple II Computers

      Discussion for Apple's 8-bit computer line.

      14.2k
      posts

    3. TI-99/4A Computers

      Discussion for TI-99/4A Computers

      246.1k
      posts

    4. Commodore 8-bit Computers

      Discussion for Commodore PET, Vic-20, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, and other 8-bit Commodore systems.

      17.7k
      posts

    5. Commodore Amiga

      Discussion for Amiga Computers, CDTV, and CD32

      8.1k
      posts

    6. Tandy Computers

      Discussion for Tandy computers, including the TRS-80 Models I, II, III, and 4, Color Computers, and Model 100.

      7.9k
      posts

  4. Modern Consoles

    1. Modern Gaming Discussion

      This forum is for discussion of all modern game systems, including gaming on consoles and computers.

      234k
      posts

    2. Sony Playstation 5

      Discuss Sony's Playstation 5 console here!

      939
      posts

    3. Xbox Series S/X

      Discuss Microsoft's latest Xbox Series S and X consoles here!

      757
      posts

    4. Atari VCS (Redirect)   (10,325 visits to this link)

      Discussion forum for the new Atari VCS console.

    5. Nintendo Switch

      Discussion about Nintendo's latest game console and games.

      10.3k
      posts

    6. Microsoft Xbox One

      Discussion forum for the Xbox One.

      3.3k
      posts

    7. Sony PlayStation 4

      Talk about the Sony Playstation 4 here.

      3.4k
      posts

    8. Microsoft Xbox 360

      Discussion about the Microsoft Xbox 360 (not including the original Xbox).

      22.4k
      posts

    9. Sony Playstation 3

      Please discuss the Sony Playstation 3 and games here.

      13.4k
      posts

    10. Nintendo Wii / Wii U

      Discussion forum for the Nintendo Wii and Wii U consoles and games.

      27.6k
      posts

  5. Gaming General

    1. Gaming General Discussion

      Gaming discussion not covered by other specific gaming forums.

      3.7k
      posts

    2. Arcade and Pinball

      Many of us grew up pumping quarters into arcade games, and here's where you can discuss all your favorites. From Pong to Pinball to the latest arcade games, if it has a coin slot, then you're at the right place!

      46.2k
      posts

    3. Emulation

      Emulators allow you to experience classic games on modern PCs (and other devices!) Discuss the latest emulator developments and ask questions about emulation here!

      31.9k
      posts

    4. Hardware

      This forum is for discussion of hardware at a more technical level than you'll find in the other forums. If you have a hardware question you'd like to ask or have some interesting knowledge you'd like to share with others, post it here!

      33.4k
      posts

    5. Prototypes

      Ever wondered about all those games that were announced but never released? Or games that have been discovered over the years that no one even knew existed? Or have you discovered a new prototype that no one's seen yet? Here's the place to talk about prototype games, led by Tempest of AtariProtos.com.

      16.7k
      posts

    6. Gaming Publications and Websites

      This forum is for discussion of gaming related magazines, books, websites, and other publications.

      20k
      posts

    7. International

      Internacional - Internazionale - Internationaal - Internasjonal - This forum is for discussion of classic and modern gaming in languages other than English.

      4.6k
      posts

  6. Marketplace

    1. Buy, Sell, and Trade

      Please use this forum as a tool to buy, sell, and trade games and hardware.

      242.2k
      posts

    2. Auction Central

      Use this forum to discuss auctions on eBay. Have something up for auction you'd like to share? Post it here! You can also highlight amusing, off-the-wall, or interesting auctions that others may want to hear about!

      170.6k
      posts

    3. Wanted

      Use this forum to post a list of the gaming hardware and software you're looking for!

      51.3k
      posts

    4. Free Games and More

      Spreading the Love with Free Games and other items.

      2.6k
      posts

    5. User Feedback Forum

      Please use this forum to leave feedback about other users on AtariAge that you've had good and/or bad experiences with. Please read the sticky at the top of this forum before posting!

      14.5k
      posts

  7. Community

    1. Events

      Use this forum to discuss gaming events of all types, including expos revolving around classic gaming, events catering to modern systems, arcade expos, and local gatherings of collectors getting together or a day of gaming.

      23.9k
      posts

    2. Show Us Your Collection!

      If you're a repeat visitor to AtariAge, it's likely you also collect classic games and systems. Here's your chance to show off to the rest of the community your collection!

      16.5k
      posts

    3. Member Blogs

      As members update their Blogs, messages will be posted in this forum so you can more easily keep tabs on who's writing what!

      11.9k
      posts

    4. High Score Clubs

      Participate in high score contests for your favorite systems!

      2.4k
      posts

    5. Poll Forum

      6.7k
      posts

    6. Contests

      These forums are for discussing and participating in contests started by AtariAge, contests run by forum members, and of course, the weekly High Score Contests!

      15.3k
      posts

    7. User Groups

      This forum and its subforums are for classic gaming and computing user groups. Find people in your area who share your love of this hobby!

      2.8k
      posts

    8. AtariAge News Discussion

      Discuss news posted on the front page of AtariAge!

      • No posts here yet

    9. User Submitted News

      Please submit classic gaming news here!

      125
      posts

  8. Game Programming

    1. Homebrew Discussion

      Here you can talk about homebrew games that don't have their own forums allocated (which will be most of them). Have an idea for a game that you'd like to see someone program? Are you programming a game and want some feedback? Discuss it here!

      54.1k
      posts

    2. Programming

      The programming forums are technical discussions of programming various classic gaming consoles. The more popular consoles have their own dedicated programing forums, so please only use this forum for topics that fall outside of those forums.

      7k
      posts

    3. Hacks

      A hack is an existing game that has somehow been modifed in terms of graphics, colors, sounds, and/or gameplay. If you've modified a game and would like to share it with others, or have an idea for a modification you'd like to see done to an existing game, you can discuss it here.

      23.9k
      posts

  9. Site

    1. Announcements

      Important site or forum-related announcements will be posted here. If you see a new announcement, please stop by to read it!

      6.5k
      posts

    2. Forum Questions and Answers

      Have a question about how to use the forum?  Ask here and others can answer (including admins and mods!)  

      728
      posts

    3. AtariAge Store Discussion

      We'll post announcements about the AtariAge Store here, and you can also post your questions and comments about the store in this forum as well.

      439
      posts

    4. Site and Forum Feedback

      Do you have suggestions for how AtariAge can be improved? Please post them here, as well as criticisms, and kudos about the web site!

      17.5k
      posts

    5. Rarity Guide

      The AtariAge Rarity Guide is a living, breathing document! If you have feedback regarding rarity guide values and the database in general, please discuss it here!

      8.2k
      posts

    6. Archived Forums

      Resting place for forums that have have run their course and are archived here for reference.

      547
      posts

  • Recent Status Updates

  • Recent Posts

    • Albert
      PRGE Photos

      By Albert · Posted

      Not in quite some time, but I definitely want to attend more expos as I make changes on the production side of things for AtariAge to have more time for such things. It would be fun to attend PAX, but it would also be very expensive to do so, so I'm not sure how much of a reality that is for AtariAge (versus Atari, which has been attending PAX).  But expos that are more focused on retro gaming are generally a better fit.  That's not to say I wouldn't love to have a fun setup at PAX East or West.     ..Al
    • Zeptari
      PRGE Photos

      By Zeptari · Posted

      Wow,Amazing photos! Thanks to everyone that posted. @Albert Do you attend any East coast expos like: https://retroworldexpo.com/ OR https://east.paxsite.com/ ?? 
    • PFG 9000
      We want YOU to join the Lynx High Score Club! Vote in the poll for 2025!

      By PFG 9000 · Posted

      I really do enjoy striving for first place, but I think you're spot-on here.  The HSC is a fantastic way to help me dig in to the Lynx's library, "discovering" new games and finally getting into those games I never really spent much time on.  I love it, and it kills me that my time for gaming has been so limited in recent years.  Although at the end of the day, playtesting is even more important to me than the HSC, so when push comes to shove, that is what gets the free time that I do have.    I voted in the poll, even though I haven't been super active in the HSC lately.  I'm hoping I have time to do more of these when the next year opens back up.   Thank you for tagging me in a few of this last year's rounds.  That got me to do a little Lynxing, and I absolutely loved it.
    • -^CrossBow^-
      Tech Tip # 4 On A Heavy Sixer?

      By -^CrossBow^- · Posted

      They heavy and light sixers already have this resistor in place on their main board. The main question everyone asks is why it was removed in the initial 4 switch units where it would late be seen bodged into place and then around the start of the vader model 4 switchers it was then added officially back onto the main board?  
    • TrekMD
      Stella 7.0 released

      By TrekMD · Posted

      Thank you!
    • TrekMD
      The Atari Lynx HandyCast Podcast

      By TrekMD · Posted

      Very cool!  My podcast app already downloaded it! 
    • _The Doctor__
      Bare 850 Printed Circuit Board.

      By _The Doctor__ · Posted

      Note that in the provided pictures they are CD10174's somewhere it's in an RCA book, I think there are 5 books, it's likely to be found as being based on npn transistor networks. That's about the chips shown. A105 and it's neighbor have the LM349's in them, so look them up in the FSM or the engineering sheet. Someone may have swapped them  etc. so double check.
    • Lord_of_Sipan
      Magnavox Odyssey 2: 64 Shapes?

      By Lord_of_Sipan · Posted

      Just to clarify some things all in one place (as far as I understand the system at least). I am a collector and I have never programmed an O2 game but I have read the hardware documentation from BITD and the giant PDF on the BiOS produced by Soeren Gust in the early 2000s.   The O2/videopac G7000 allows for simultaneous display of 4 single color sprites AND up to 8 of the predefined characters on screen at once without any kind of interrupt tricks. It also allows for a grid to be drawn on the screen using horizontal or horizontal lines of a thickness set by the user. I believe these grid lines are used for the lines that pop up after you eat fruit in Super Bee. The system has built in sprite/sprite, sprite/background (ie. “grid”), and sprite/character collision detection that you can control. (so more like a 2600 or NES than a 7800)   Sprites can overlay characters and/or grid lines.   The system does not have enough cycles per frame to do 50/60fps tile scrolling (much less fine scrolling) easily. This is why the Super Cobra port for example is flip screen instead of scrolling. Scrolling “tile” (actually character block) by tile in 8 pixel blocks is possible and some homebrews do it but it takes a more advanced game design than Philips had back in 1978-1982.   The retail O2 library makes as much use of the character set as it does in part because almost all of the games were coded by a single guy. (Philips basically did next to nothing to support the console until 1982 when they extremely belatedly worked hard to attract third party publishers, put out the big box hybrid board game series or games, etc. They would repeat the same bold strategy of releasing a console and then waiting 3+ years to properly support it with the CDI.)   The videopac G7400 (which was never released in the US) is a more interesting console in my opinion as it has kind of strange specs that make sense in light of the shortcomings of the original g7000. It is pretty much fully backwards compatible with the O2 (it removes the pseudo-random number generator, not sure if that breaks any games. I am not aware of any that don’t run on it and I own one and a multicart). It has the same microcontroller/cpu and VDP as the O2 with the CPU clocked slightly faster. It adds support for larger bankswitched carts of 12k or 16k without needing to put any extra special mapper chips in the cart for it.* It also adds a 2 part extra “graphics” processor (actually a modified teletype IC used on the terminals for a French precursor of the internet) that only can use character pseudo-graphics but it has both 90 something predefined characters and the option for 96 user definable characters. It is fully capable of filling an entire screen with these “characters” and using them like a tilemap. The CPU can detect sprite collision with these characters if you set the luma level above a certain amount for a given tile/character. In practice these mostly got used as backdrops for rereleases of older titles but they could be used for some cool effects and did allow for much more advanced games like Norseman, Trans America Rally, and Helicopter Rescue. The system can apparently actually scroll these graphics pretty efficiently.   The (originally unreleased) game Flashpoint shows one way these new graphics capabilities could be used but also displays one limitation in that they are still character graphics so they cannot overlap with the 8 normal characters. The expanded characters are also always behind the sprite layer. (I think the green zones in flashpoint are regular characters even though there are a lot of them because the player sprite goes behind them).
    • Lillapojkenpåön
      My CV Basic questions

      By Lillapojkenpåön · Posted

      Is DEFINE CHAR a buffered command with limitations similar to intybasic, once per frame etc.?
    • laymanpigeon
      What could have saved the Jag?

      By laymanpigeon · Posted

      If there was no insistence on 68000 being present on Jaguar then at very least in its place two 512 kilobytes DRAM chips could have been there. Also increasing frequency of Tom and Jerry to 32MHz or even 40MHz with active cooling solution or some beefy large heatsinks to cool them down. If Jaguar's motherboard did not have cut corners at front then moving things around there would be space to add four 512 kilobytes DRAM chips.   In effect performance of Jaguar could be doubled, just have 64bit wide DRAM controller data bus for Jerry too. Price of Jaguar would not go beyond 300USD.   Port of Doom for Jaguar would be without any compromise, perhaps 6 megabyte hard limit for cartridge would be an obstacle. In theory with CD-ROM Drive such Jaguar would have been able to run Diablo as was case with Playstation 1 that had it. In terms of texture mapped polygon throughput perhaps it could be close to 3DO console and 1/10th of PlayStation. In case Blitter had decent cache then 1/3rd of PlayStation and without hardware bugs on Tom perhaps 1/2 of it. Hence this range goes from very first Need For Speed on 3DO to perhaps to Armored Core on PlayStation.

  • Blog Entries

AtariAge
Forums
Store
General
Follow AtariAge

Copyright ©1998-2023 AtariAge

×
×
  • Create New...