Rick Dangerous Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Looks really cool! Where can I find these universal game cases? You can find them on ebay or amazon. If you google them and get the in bulk from a video supply store they are really cheap. Obviously only worthwhile if you plan to house most of your collection in them. Most cartridges will fit in them but for the 5200 you need to dremel out the tabs to get the carts to fit. Not too hard, takes 30 seconds or so per case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaserCat Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 I finally got around to testing my cart. The initial Atari logo screen looks as it should but when it switches to the Pac Man title screen the image degrades. There are a myriad of fine lines coursing through the image as if the cart is not seated properly. I tried this on a 2 port and a 4 port with the same result. Anyone else encounter this problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted September 15, 2015 Author Share Posted September 15, 2015 Could you post a pic so we can see what it looks like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaserCat Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 (edited) I'll post a picture just as soon as I figure out exactly how to do it! Edited September 15, 2015 by LaserCat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted September 16, 2015 Author Share Posted September 16, 2015 Also, have you tried the other channel or another television? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaserCat Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Apparently my RF box on my 4 port will only play on channel 3. I have 2 more crts to try the game on but I am working quite a bit of overtime and will not get around to trying them until the weekend. I have a photo to post but for the life of me I cannot figure out how to do it. Is there a FAQ somewhere that I have overlooked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted September 18, 2015 Author Share Posted September 18, 2015 click on the orange More Reply Options box at the bottom of the post editor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaserCat Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 (edited) The vertical distortion lines are visible in this shot. Unfortunately my 4 port is turning everything yellow! Edited September 18, 2015 by LaserCat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaserCat Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 (edited) Unfortunately it seems the photo I have posted is either to small in the post or too large when one clicks on it for the vertical lines to be visible. I am not sure what to do about that. Hopefully you can adjust the size on your end and you can see what I am talking about. Edited September 18, 2015 by LaserCat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic George 2K3 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Not bad. Can't complain that it's a demo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaserCat Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 (edited) I am not really complaining. I have never purchased a homebrew and I do not know what to expect. This is actually the reason I wanted to post on a forum instead of communicating via PM. I LOVE the game and how it plays but since the PQ for this particular game is not as good as any of the official carts that I own I am just wondering if this is normal or OK for a homebrew. What I find curious is that the vertical distortion lines are not visible on the Atari title screen. NOTE: The horizontal bands on the pic in post #133 are an artifact from my phone and are not visible otherwise. Edited September 19, 2015 by LaserCat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+discotronic Posted September 19, 2015 Share Posted September 19, 2015 This is what is looks like on my 4 port on a LCD TV. The picture doesn't look as good as the actual screen but I don't have the lines and yellowing that you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted September 19, 2015 Author Share Posted September 19, 2015 I can't think of how the game could cause the vertical lines in you photo. It's using a standard graphics mode and standard programming techniques. I'm not even sure how I could make it do that if I wanted to. Do the lines appear on the menu screen or during game play? Do they move or are they static? What kind of adapter are you using to connect it to your tv? You should try it on another television if you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcleverly Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 It could be interference. If you have other electronics devices around. Have you tried it on a crt TV to see if it is clear that way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaserCat Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 (edited) The tv I am using is a 2004 Sony sd crt of the FS100 line. My set up is in a 10ft by 13ft room which also contains my turntable, amp, and preamp. My stereo was off when the Atari was in use. I tried the cart on both a 2 port and a 4 port. I no longer have the 2 port. I did not take any pictures of the game on the 2 port because the system had glitches and the game would actually crash after a few seconds of play leaving the screen a jumble of alpha numerics. However the 2 port had some problems with my other games so I exchanged it for the 4 port. My 4 port is the original Made in USA version that is not compatible with the 2600 adaptor. I am using RF/power combination switchbox. Unfortunately, as you can see from my photos, this system has a problem in that it makes every game yellow. Last night I moved my Atari to the master bedroom and hooked it up to my 2001 Toshiba hd crt. It displayed the same problem. I have decided to return this system for one that does not turn the screen yellow but because of the Pope's visit and how it will affect traffic patterns this process will take at least 2 weeks. I just took a moment to examine the lines and I would say that they "shimmer". That is they appear very jumpy or nervous, shaking to the left and the right but their range of motion is very limited. They also appear on the menu screen. Not nearly as noticeable during play but by that time everything has turned yellow. My next step is to trade in this system for another and see how it plays on that system. Edited September 20, 2015 by LaserCat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 That certainly looks like RF interference to me, I can't imagine it has anything to do with the game itself. One thing to note is that homebrew games generally do not have the RF shield that carts produced by Atari did. Thus, they are generally going to be "noisier" than any of Atari's games. The best thing to do, of course, is to have a 5200 modified with A/V outputs, which will completely eliminate this type of issue, and you'll end up with better video and audio as well. I know this isn't always an option, though. ..Al 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MegaManFan Posted September 25, 2015 Share Posted September 25, 2015 Are these still being made? I'm conservatively interested but didn't read all six pages to find a price. Haven't picked up a 5200 homebrew in a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaserCat Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 That certainly looks like RF interference to me, I can't imagine it has anything to do with the game itself. One thing to note is that homebrew games generally do not have the RF shield that carts produced by Atari did. Thus, they are generally going to be "noisier" than any of Atari's games. The best thing to do, of course, is to have a 5200 modified with A/V outputs, which will completely eliminate this type of issue, and you'll end up with better video and audio as well. I know this isn't always an option, though. Luckily for me A/V modification IS an option. The gentleman who runs my LGS is game to perform any mod you ask of him. I am just not sure if composite or s-video is preferable for a system of this vintage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Luckily for me A/V modification IS an option. The gentleman who runs my LGS is game to perform any mod you ask of him. I am just not sure if composite or s-video is preferable for a system of this vintage. If you have a television with S-Video input, that is definitely the way to go. Ideally, though, you'd add S-Video and Composite outputs so you have more flexibility. That's what I do with all of my systems, where possible. ..Al 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atariboy2600 Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 In case anyone like to know me I been ask to make a updated label on this game so I replace all the line art on it and added the word ARCADE on it, dont know how it would look on a real cart. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atariboy2600 Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Here's an ALT version of the label but dont know if this one will ever be used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share Posted September 28, 2015 Al has built some of these to sell at PRGE. I told him to go ahead with the alternate version. I think it looks pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atariboy2600 Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Al has built some of these to sell at PRGE. I told him to go ahead with the alternate version. I think it looks pretty cool. Thanks I used the old arcade side art and trying to fit if on the label with Inkscape vector programing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 Thank you! You did a great job as usual! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannibalCat Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Thanks I used the old arcade side art and trying to fit if on the label with Inkscape vector programing. I like the alt version alot, but the bright yellow background is brutal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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