TREASURE COVE now available for sale - Check it out!

[ballyalley]

Not sure the colors were right, but between the S-video mod and those TV being for the European market, it's hard for me to know the "right" colors.

The colors in the photos look correct to me. You can use this video review of Treasure Cove to check more closely:

 

 

 

If anyone know a workable replacement for the PSU, contact me. I played it for 2 hours, and when I stopped, the PSU was burning hot. As I was worried about, it doesn't take the 50 htz very well.

 

I've probably had 8-10 Astrocade systems over the years: power supply always get really warm to generally hot. I wouldn't say mine ever gets "burning hot."

 

The voltage requirements of the Astrocade are unlike any other console. Here is the short section called "AC Adapter Repair" from the Bally/Astrocade FAQ:

 

"AC Adapter - The hardwired AC adapter may fail over time and spares are difficult to find. Unplug the AC adapter when not in use, or use it with a switched power strip (notice how the AC adapter is warm even when the Astrocade is switched off? That is because it IS still working). The wires at the plug may become broken over time due to chaffing (heavy transformer weight on a wire). If this happens, you can break the glued sealed case by wrapping the transformer cube in a rag and "tapping" with a hammer. Then clip the broken wires and splice/solder the intact wires. Then re-glue the case. NOTE: If you

have to remove/replace the AC adapter, it does not matter which way the plug is connected inside the console."

 

The FAQ goes on to say that "If you have electronics knowledge, then you might consider building a substitution." The FAQ recommends this article:

 

Matte, Michael C. "Experimenting with Your Astrocade: A Power Transformer Substitution." ARCADIAN 7, no. 4 (Aug. 15, 1986): 92-93,91.

 

Here is a direct link to the article:

 

http://www.ballyalley.com/newsletters/arcadian/arcadian_vol_7/arcadian_vol_7_issue_4.pdf#page=36

 

As an aside, I've been in recent contact with Michael Matte, the article's author. He recently retired and has been getting back into the Astrocade. Michael also has one of only two Astrocades that I'm aware of that have been upgraded to hi-res mode. He based his upgrade, which he created in the mid-80s, on the UV-1 computer. Michael recently tested his hi-res Astrocade; it still works fine.

 

I received my Treasure Cove cartridge two days ago, but I haven't opened it yet. I think that I'm going to make my very first "unboxing" video using Treasure Cove.

 

BTW, "CatPix," it's really cool to see an Astrocade being used in Europe! If the colors are correct, then I presume that you're using a TV that can use both NTSC and PAL standards, right?

 

Adam

[CatPix]

Thanks you. It's really an unique system. And I'm not sure that many made the travel across the big pond

Part of the issue is that it's a fragile, unknow system, and with little mods available, displaying the video signal on an European TV is a pain.

For your question about standard, many European TV sets, at least the high end and middle range ones, sold during the mid-90's and later were multistandard able to display PAL and NTSC (and SECAM in France and neighbouring countries that speak French, even if they used PAL standard, such at Belgium and Switzerland).

However, those TV usually only accept NTSC signals from composite source, not RF. I tried on many TV. Some TV can tune on a NTSC signal, and some even get a very decent picture, but no one I found have the correct sound interval, meaning that you can get a picture, but no sound.

 

 

Here is a direct link to the article:

 

http://www.ballyalley.com/newsletters/arcadian/arcadian_vol_7/arcadian_vol_7_issue_4.pdf#page=36

 

As an aside, I've been in recent contact with Michael Matte, the article's author. He recently retired and has been getting back into the Astrocade. Michael also has one of only two Astrocades that I'm aware of that have been upgraded to hi-res mode. He based his upgrade, which he created in the mid-80s, on the UV-1 computer. Michael recently tested his hi-res Astrocade; it still works fine.

 

Mine was really hot. Maybe not enough to inflict a burn, but more than hot enough for my fingers to tell me "it's too hot", so, over 40°C (104F) Which I consider being an innacceptable hot temperature for power supply.

I don't think the pwoer supply is bad, but that the transformer isn't taking too well to get a 50htz frequency instead of 60 htz.

 

Thanks you for the article. It's interesting! As I suspected, you can make the lower tension from the larger one.

This certainly explain why some later power supplies pictures I have seen simply state "12 volts".

I guess I'll run some tests to see if I can make the console works in a reliable fashion (hah!) with what I can get here.

[ballyalley]

I'm not sure that many made the travel across the big pond

 

I have most of the letters that were sent to the Arcadian newsletter. I also have all seven years of the mailing lists of everyone who subscribed the Arcadian. There were certainly some readers abroad, many of whom seems to be American soldiers stationed overseas. In one of the Astrocast podcasts, I mention a reader in New Zealand-- that's pretty far for the U.S. The only official areas that the Bally Arcade/Astrocade was released was in the United States and Canada, but the system did get into Mexico, South America and at several countries in Europe and the Middle East as far back as the late 1970s and early 1980s. I guess where videogames are concerned, there will always be people looking to get interesting hardware!

 

However, those TV usually only accept NTSC signals from composite source, not RF.

 

The topic of getting a composite signal out of the Astrocade came up recently in a thread begun by Carl Mueller Jr. He lives in Japan (which does use NTSC), but those TVs don't tune to channel 3, so he couldn't get a picture from his recently purchased Astrocade. You can read the whole thread here:

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/264376-getting-astrocade-to-work-on-a-japanese-tv/

 

Rather than read the complete thread, I've quoted myself for the easiest (though certainly not the cheapest) way to get a composite signal from the Astrocade:

 

I use the Ambery RFCM2 demodulator to convert my Bally's RF to composite. It looks like this:

 

 

It's a small box that takes RF as input and outputs composite video and audio. Here is a link to the webpage where you an buy it:

 

http://www.ambery.com/prrfcotocovi1.html

 

This demodulator costs $85, but it's worth it. I use it to capture the audio from my Astrocade for use on the Bally Alley Astrocast podcast. I have also used this hardware with my Atari 7800. The cool thing about this device is that it somehow cleans-up the audio. My audio output from my Atari 7800 via RF is full of hiss. When I run it through the demodulator, the hiss is gone. In fact, I don't use the 7800 without this demodulator. The composite output from the Ambery demodulator is fair: it's not improved from the RF input (how could it be?), but it's not noticeably worse either.

 

As for your comments on your Astrocade's power supply: it certainly does sound like it's getting way too hot!

 

Adam

 

[bah]

Hi all,

 

Treasure Cove is back in stock at 2600connection, see the link in the first post. This is still a game and manual in an original Astrocade box.

 

bah

[Serrameade6]

Just ordered one game.

Nice!.

[retroeight]

How many 3rd party carts were made for the Astrocade and which was the first available for sale?

 

lloyd

[Sapicco]

Just ordered one for the Astrocade I wish To buy one day.

[Serrameade6]

My copy just arrived and the game is excellent. Really enjoyed playing it!!. Nice box also!!. Viva "El Bayo de la Matta Fisha"!!.

[bah]

Hi all,

 

Last Treasure Cove has shipped. Fun while it lasted but original boxes are gone. Thank you all.

 

brent

[ballyalley]

Last Treasure Cove has shipped. Fun while it lasted but original boxes are gone.

 

Thanks for creating this project, Brett. It was fun to buy "new" software for the Astrocade this year.

 

How many new Treasure Cove games were re-released? Were they all complete in box?

 

If you ever decide to re-release any other games , then let me know. I'm sure that we can figure out some way to do it. Perhaps we can work something out like was done with the release of War and Crazy Climber. Those were released in DVD cases (yes, the Astrocade carts are small enough to fit in those cases). Ken Lill designed a new (at the time, in 2011) EPROM board that held an 8K EPROM. We used 1980s-era third-party boxes. Those third-party cart cases are used-up, but during that time, someone created 3D-printed Astrocade cart cases, but they haven't had too much testing. Of course, I'd like to see new homebrew games released for the Astrocade, but re-released are great too. It would be cool to see some of the ultra-rare games see the light of day again? Perhaps Machine Language Manager (too small an audience?) or Music Maker (which requires an 2000-baud interface) would make good candidates?

 

Adam

[bah]

Adam,

 

I did 25 boxed copies of Treasure Cove. Most of the boxes were later Astrovision logo boxes but about 4 came from transitional boxes where Astrovision used old Bally logo boxes and place their name on a foil sticker over the bally logo.

 

I would love to do further releases but Cartridge boards and shells were harvested from common carts. Common carts are climbing in price and sometimes the shells do not clean up well.

 

I hope people play Treasure Cove and it helps keep interest in the Astrocade alive.

 

I like the idea of Cassette tape Cases from the other recent post in these forums. I am actually checking on the availability of these.

 

Brent

[ballyalley]

I like the idea of Cassette tape Cases from the other recent post in these forums. I am actually checking on the availability of these.

 

I made a few CDs for personal use that collect some of the music that was released for the Bally. For example, I made front and back CD covers for George Moses' Scott Joplin Ragtime Classics. This is a collection of 14 songs on tape that load into Bally BASIC and then play on an Astrocade. I recorded the songs as WAVs and put them on a CD for my own use. Here is what the CD covers look like:

 

 

 

If you're interested in hearing this ragtime music, then you can listen to it in mp3 format here:

 

http://www.ballyalley.com/audio/george_moses/Scott_Joplin_Ragtime_Classics_[Tape_3]/joplin.html

 

I await with anticipation any additional releases that you make for the Astrocade!

 

Adam

[Place Logo Here]

Love this game and play it every time I spend some time with my Astrocade. Last night, I finally made it to level 10 and was very pleasantly surprised by the new enemy introduced in that level (for those who don't know, jump ahead to about 3/4, 4/5 of the way into the video at the top of this page).

[timdu]

Treasure Cove ( REPRODUCTION CARTRIDGE ) is back in stock at 2600connection!

 

I cannot seem to edit the first post but is now available to order at a new web site link:

 

http://timduarte.blogspot.com/2018/05/treasure-cove-for-bally-astrocade.html

 

Please note: We changed up the box and manual a little bit:

 

Includes REPRODUCTION game cartridge with a color label, a slightly-modified clear cassette tape case ( and the cartridge and manual fit nicely. Of course, the manual is sized down to fit inside the case.

 

of if you have any questions you can always send a PM to bah

or send a PM to timdu

 

 

thanks

 

 

Tim

[ballyalley]

I cannot seem to edit the first post but is now available to order at a new web site link

 

I have edited the first post in this thread to have the updated link.

 

Adam

[timdu]

Hi everyone

 

I am happy to report that TREASURE COVE reproduction cartridges are back in stock!

 

$25 plus shipping.

 

More info at:  http://www.2600connection.com/features/treasure/treasure.html

 

 

thanks,

 

Tim

[ballyalley]

6 hours ago, timdu said:

I am happy to report that TREASURE COVE reproduction cartridges are back in stock!

 

It's nice to see the Treasure Cove reproduction available again.  I pointed this out to the Astrocade discussion forum on Groups.io.  The author of Treasure Cove, Brett Bilbrey, wrote today:

 

There is a 'minor'' issue with the reproduction cartridge... It says "orig. by ESOTERICA, INC,"
It was originally by Spectre Systems, marketed by ESOTERICA

?

 

Is it too late to change the label?

 

Adam

[bah]

3 hours ago, ballyalley said:

 

It's nice to see the Treasure Cove reproduction available again.  I pointed this out to the Astrocade discussion forum on Groups.io.  The author of Treasure Cove, Brett Bilbrey, wrote today:

 

There is a 'minor'' issue with the reproduction cartridge... It says "orig. by ESOTERICA, INC,"
It was originally by Spectre Systems, marketed by ESOTERICA

?

 

Is it too late to change the label?

 

Adam

Hi Adam,

 

I have sold since 2017 with that label and no one corrected me until now.  Brett even posted on this topic about it. 

 

I can change it though.

 

-Brent

[ballyalley]

10 minutes ago, bah said:

I have sold since 2017 with that label and no one corrected me until now.  Brett even posted on this topic about it. I can change it though.

 

Thanks, Brent.  Now there will be the "collectable" original-re-production release.  ;-)

 

Adam