Dtshifter Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 I just recently bought a used 7800 console and stared picking up 7800 and 2600 cartridges everywhere I can find them for sale. After some replacing the power, pause, reset select microswitches, cleaning all connections, rebuilding the potentiometers on the paddles and rigging a failing fire button everything works perfect except I can't play Activision Starmaster if my 7800 is connected to a modern flat screen TV. On newer TVs the vertical hold will not stay, the image rolls on the screen. If I connect it to an old CRT TV it is fine. I thought maybe I had a PAL version of the game so I picked up two other Starmaster cartridges from other sources and they do the same thing. I have a couple questions for the experts here. Is there any way to tell if a Activision cartridge is NTSC (for USA use) by looking at the label? If no, then are non NTSC cartridges in the USA that common that three in a row were from another country? Last question is there a known issue with Activision Starmaster cartridges for the 2600 when played on a 7800 with a modern TV? Every other Atari or Activision game cartridge I try works fine. Thanks for any answers! Thanks! Dtshifter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Itchy Koala Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 I can answer the last part, I play all my games through a modern LCD using a 7800 and I've never had a problem with any of my games, including starmaster. All of your starmaster games have the same problem (vertical scroll)? I've read on older threads here that rolling screens are a sign of PAL.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Some LCD TVs are very picky about the display specs which some 2600 games use. You probably have an NTSC Starmaster and a picky TV. Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dtshifter Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 Thanks Guys, I'll just have to use an older TV when I play Starmaster. John AKA Dtshifter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dtshifter Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 OK I gave up on using a newer TV. New question with the same hardware and game; I have no color / black and white switch on a 7800, is there a way to bring up the star chart so I can warp to other locations or must I really have a 2600 system to play Starmaster? John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 OK I gave up on using a newer TV. New question with the same hardware and game; I have no color / black and white switch on a 7800, is there a way to bring up the star chart so I can warp to other locations or must I really have a 2600 system to play Starmaster? John Try one of the difficulty switches, I forget which one it is. Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MattelAquarius Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 OK I gave up on using a newer TV. New question with the same hardware and game; I have no color / black and white switch on a 7800, is there a way to bring up the star chart so I can warp to other locations or must I really have a 2600 system to play Starmaster? John Try one of the difficulty switches, I forget which one it is. Mitch I thought it was the pause button, but I have memory issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toiletunes Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 THe pause button, but you have to hold it down to stay in b/w mode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 No, you should be able to use one of the difficulty switches. http://www94.pair.com/jsoper/7800_compat.html Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dtshifter Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 Wow, Thanks everyone! I am learning a lot! Next for me will a Harmony cartridge and composite video... Thanks! John AKA Dtshifter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.