-^CrossBow^-

Not again.... Will this madness never cease?

Jag: It won't take that long..trust me. Tempest is over 300 now...and I just got over 100 myself yet I have been posting here since before he has. It just depends on how much you wish to open you mouth and talk. I usually refrain unless I am pretty sure there is something I can provide. Just keep posting and it will happen..hehe

Bogus... The 84 models are the ones with the expansion ports...these same models are the only ones which truly sport a 100% compatibility with all the 2600 games including Robot Tank, shuttle, Decathalon, and the Supercharger. The 84 models are the ultimate 7800s to get just for the compatibility factor. In fact...there are more issues with the later revision units made in the 86-89 era than with the two models you have. Worship them...hold them up proudly...baby them. hehe...

heheh..well I am not sure eithe...on the real 7800 the joystick could be used between them..in emulation...you have to use the select switch. Which in mess32...is the " S " key. Hope that helps...

I heard that as well. Apparently those who have tried the superchargers in non compatible 7800s ended up with dead superchargers. So there is a short or stray current leaking in on the contacts somewhere. That would have to be a hardware trace design flaw...feature...whatever. Crack the case open on either of your 7800s...then remove both the top and bottom RF shield plates...then look here.. 84 model 7800 back board scan... hold the board as you see here and look in the lower right hand corner. You will see a 4 digit number, that is week and year of manufacture (IE 2584 in this pic is July 84). Then also notice the REV A and the -001 on the end of the board assembly number. Finally look for the Atari INC (Not Corp...) and again a year will be listed. If you got one made in 84...your 100% compatible...if you have an 86 model...then it is about 98% compatible (supercharger may may not work...some games roll or lock up..) if is later than 86...then the compatibility is still being found..as some work...with some games...and some won't...and none of the later version 7800s will work with the supercharger...and are the ones reported as frying them...

Five more postings..and you get another star!!! Hehe...

And I just sent you another review to stick out there...hehe.. Check yo M-Box Vinnie...

Hmmm...that would mean they would have to be shown at actual size then...or at least the actual dimensions given so that they could be printed correctly. It is an interesting thought, I have a few 2600 carts whose labels need replacing or repair..and this is a good idea.

Good points...all of them. I am just surprised that you hadn't made your presence known sooner here. You have so much to provide for all of us I was just shocked and figured you had lost interest. Either way we will all benefit from your visits here.

haha...your right. Still the point goes to illustrate that the VCS could do better. But basically at the time Pac-Man didn't get the attention it needed. But it is still a lot more fun to play than say...most of the others we mentioned above. The basic idea I was trying to point out is that Atari really didn't have all that many duds they produced. Considering all the games that Atari did produce...the few duds they have are really not even worth mention. The fact is that there were too many other games of basically the same ideas and poor concepts which ultimately created the Crash of 84. Oh well, I shall stop my ramblings for now...

I still don't like Frogs N Flies...I find it just too stupid for words. I know there are those that like it...but it simply doesn't make much sense from a gameplay perspective. Even in two player mode...the game isn't that much fun. And the computer AI..hehe...is non existent. Oh well, At least nobody disagrees with the Froggo releases..and that most of the Data Age carts were a waste..Except Frankenstein of course.

sorry...here you go: http://www.concentric.net/~Twist/atari800win/ I am surprised that Alex and Al haven't added this to the list. It really is a fairly simple emu to use...and great for compatibility. Enjoy...

Yes...Atari800 for windows..will do 5200 emulation great. You just have to get a copy of the 5200 bios and stick it in a directory for it to find. And since the 5200 is basically a slightly modified Atari400...The emulator doesn't seem to haven any prob with it. Just specify that the machine you want to use is the 5200 and make sure you tell it where the 5200 bios is. Then tell is where the roms are..and viola!...your playing 5200 stuff. I do think that Tempest and some of the protos give is some trouble. But most of the other roms seem to work great. Otherwise for the protos I think you have to use Jum5200 for dos.

Just wanted to let everyone know...that there is copy of Gremlins going for fairly good prices thus far at both Ebay..and at Yahoo auctions. The Yahoo ones tend not to get much attention...since people forget they even have auctions. Also..there is a copy of TigerVision's Threshold going over at Yahoo... Just FYI for those interested.

Okay...Okay.. Sneak n Peek is okay...provided you have a second person to play. I never did but on the few occasions that I did...my number 1 one hiding places were the behind the window bit in the living room...and also under the sidewalk in the yard...That was my favorite...hehe. I forgot to mention another dud of a game that I really regretting spending my hard earned allowance on back then. That was none other than: Frogs n Flies... Ugh...

I agree...I only use Atari800 for windows. It emulates as near as I can tell to near 100% accuracy of the 8-bit systems.

Hehe...Albert was so cool...he posted that twice... I am impressed. Now if you really want the ultimate in 2600 VCS systems...then I would have to say that my 84 model 7800 can't be beat...It's 100% compatible...and doesn't exhibit the odd symptoms of some of the later and cheaper 2600 and 7800 units. so yeah...the 7800 deserves it's own place in that category of the Ultimate or real VCS. But still...the original Stella...is the only true Stella...

I only mention the original Heavy Sixer model since that was the 1st VCS to arrive to the home. But there are some compatibility issues with that model. I can't think right off hand...but some games are glitchy on it Centipede? Anyway...the 4 switch Woody is 100% compatible..and has a decently constructed planar board it is built on. So to me...that would qualify as the best of the VCS series. I do still love my Sears Heavy Sixer though...hehe...can't trade her for anything I am afraid.

I am interested...as this sounds like the perfect way of being able to build your own Portable 2600. My question is what contributions are you needing...since you stated that both the Tia and Riot chips were readily avail to you?

Dan, Are the bankswitching modes that are used on the Activision carts a pain? I can only assume that is the last hurdle preventing the last 10% or so of the carts to be playable on the emu. Has there been any development on the 7800 driver in Mess? It has been awhile and so I was just curious. Doesn't matter a lot to me..as I can just play the stuff on my actual 7800 here. But it would be nice to know if Tank Command and some othe other games are worth the prices they command on Ebay sometimes before just getting them and being disappointed.hehe..

all of you compare ET and Pac-Man..as banes of VCS 2600 programming. Let us not forget the other dogs out there. Like...: Sneak n Peek. Cruise Missle (any Froggo game). Space Jockey (Looks cool...but WTF?) Journey Escape (Most Date age games) There are others...and because of these others...is why the crash occured in the first place. We are all so quick to blame Pac-Man and ET as the beginning of the end of Atari. However, Pac-Man while being a rush job for sure...is still better than what Atari had done previously to that. Ms. Pac-Man showed us what could have been...but was done several years later. And ET really isn't that bad from an adventure game point of view. At least the phone pieced scatter about randomly. My point is that although Atari made a few semi Dud games...they didn't make nearly as many of them...as some of the third party vendors did. Except Activision...who could do no wrong really.

To me...two models come to mind... The first and absolute Real VCS is the original Heavy Sixer models..from circa *77. But other than that...I would say the 4 switch woody model intruduced in 80 I believe. That was the first VCS I had...and I wish I still did have. As it was also the first VCS I repaired...hehe...

NE! where the heck have you been buddy? It's good to see you here. I really didn't think you had any interest in this old system...hehe... Glad to see you onboard and Welcome.

Mitch any hope of getting that proto of Sentinel for NTSC dumped? More importantly..have you tried in emulation? And...then of course...if it is possilbe to convert sentinel from PAL to NTSC...then what about Impossible Mission? That would be too cool...

Glad to help... As for the transplant thing...not sure you really want part of mine...besides...if I give you my Atari side of my brain...then where will get the info I know...now? We would have to loan it out to each other or something... It getting late...and I am hyped...sorry.