Atari SA releasing limited run 2600 cartridges.

[7800 2]

17 hours ago, groundtrooper said:

1986 Atari Corp called, they want their Quality Assurance Dept back. 

 

Wow, just wow. I should be shocked, but I am not. 

Great joke!

[+KaeruYojimbo]

Is there any reason to even open this at this point?

[+Nathan Strum]

2 hours ago, KaeruYojimbo said:

Is there any reason to even open this at this point?

You'll only lower its value.

 

 

[Nall3k]

On 9/4/2022 at 5:28 PM, KaeruYojimbo said:

Don't bite off more than you can chew.

 

You can fault whoever actually made the carts, which I assume Atari outsourced, but ultimately it's Atari's responsibility to make sure the products they send out actually work. Someone there needed to go on eBay and buy an actual 2600 and test a couple of carts before sending them out. I'm waiting to see what their response is (so far nothing on their website or Twitter). I want to see a complete no-cost replacement, with Atari covering the cost to return the faulty games and to ship replacements. For those who want to fix the carts on their own (rather than wait until 2023 to get their game), Atari should offer free replacement labels to anyone who ends up damaging the label when they remove it.

 

On 9/4/2022 at 4:39 PM, Stephen said:

I'll remember that the next time I screw up at work.  Doesn't matter that the customer has paid for something.  I'll just tell them "meh - it's a lot of work for me" and I'm sure they'll understand.

I wasn't arguing that Atari isn't at fault, but that they exactly "bit off more than you can chew" by not actually having enough people working on so many different initiatives. It is entirely on them for not testing and ensuring quality control on the products they send out.

The only thing I can say is if anyone bought a SE copy is to get a refund or get an exchange, and if the whole experience makes you feel burnt, then don't buy anymore after you get the refund or exchange.

I personally think the XP initiative was a missed opportunity to bring Albert and the AA community onboard to assist.

[Mockduck]

I can see how it happened; you have to figure the production house actually putting the carts together had to deal with the odd facing of the Limited Edition carts. For the LE the LED light up side is facing the front of the console, and there's a graphical "back" side facing away from the console. Their instructions were probably to put the PCB board in so it faces the back of the cart, which for the LE means the opposite side from the Standard Edition, which has the traditional label facing away from the console. So, they probably looked at the "face" of the cart and put in the board from that, which is different between the LE and SE. 

[+-^CrossBow^-]

2 hours ago, Mockduck said:

I can see how it happened; you have to figure the production house actually putting the carts together had to deal with the odd facing of the Limited Edition carts. For the LE the LED light up side is facing the front of the console, and there's a graphical "back" side facing away from the console. Their instructions were probably to put the PCB board in so it faces the back of the cart, which for the LE means the opposite side from the Standard Edition, which has the traditional label facing away from the console. So, they probably looked at the "face" of the cart and put in the board from that, which is different between the LE and SE. 

This is my guess as well and makes sense to me.

 

But it also means that testing of the carts was strictly limited to testing the PCBs and not the final assembled cartridge in an actual console. Or if they did, it was a console that somehow allowed them to insert the carts backwards and defeat the dust cover doors.

 

When I get mine, I can actually use my 7800 high score cart to test this without taking the cartridge apart in the process. The simplest solution and most cost effective one, is for AtariXP to offer instructions on what needs to be done to open the cart and reverse the PCB while supplying a new set of replacement labels in the process. Or perhaps just offering a mail in service to send the carts too.

 

Speaking of shipping notifications... The only notifications I've received via email was the annoucement last month stating they would begin shipping and then the notice about the SE versions not working. I've never seen anything else from them but was told that the emails came from their shopify accounts? I still have the original confirmation email from AtariXP when the pre-orders first went live over a year ago now I think? But sadly the link in that email for me to check on my order status directs to a non existent page now...

 

*UPDATE*

 

Guess I should have mentioned the shipping notification earlier because I just got a ship notification on my order and the tracking. Course I don't expect mine to work when I receive them but will update in this thread.

 

 

[nadir]

Got mine yesterday and as expected it does not work.  I've never actually taken one of these apart before.  What's the process?

 

I saw something about a screw to be removed somewhere, is that under the big label?  Does the end piece simply split apart (could I slit the label in half?

[+KaeruYojimbo]

20 minutes ago, nadir said:

Got mine yesterday and as expected it does not work.  I've never actually taken one of these apart before.  What's the process?

 

I saw something about a screw to be removed somewhere, is that under the big label?  Does the end piece simply split apart (could I slit the label in half?

 

If you've never taken a cart apart before, it might be a good idea to wait to see what kind of return plan Atari comes up with. There is a screw under the main label. You can use a heat gun or hair dryer to remove the glue. After the screw is out you have to sort of squeeze the sides of the shell to get it to open. And there's the spring-loaded dust cover which can be fiddly to work with. Like I said, unless you're absolutely dying to play your game right now and don't care about possibly damaging the labels you should probably wait or practice first on an extra common game if you have one.

[Mockduck]

2 hours ago, nadir said:

Got mine yesterday and as expected it does not work.  I've never actually taken one of these apart before.  What's the process?

 

I saw something about a screw to be removed somewhere, is that under the big label?  Does the end piece simply split apart (could I slit the label in half?

I tried opening it up but stopped; I suspect I was not squeezing the sides enough or something. The spring seemed like it'd be an issue as well. However, peeling up the label carefully with a hair dryer worked easy as did taking out the screw.

[Hydro Thunder]

On 9/5/2022 at 9:54 AM, Gunther said:

It's not that bizarre really.

I answered your question honestly.

I was still right about ATARI XP though, so...

 

You'll likely post my next reply too...

You can't be "right" or "wrong" or "lying" when posting an opinion.  If I want to flame XP for what I feel makes them a shoddy company at this point, I will, and will continue to do so.  Whether they paid someone for their work on this vs whether they properly gave credit to the CREATOR of these games is a whole other situation, but again, it's an opinion.  No lies.

Unlike your lies of omission, where people ask you if you Either Work for Atari XP OR are financially invested in them, and you give an evasive, partial answer...

That ends up being a lot of the answer.  We know you're financially invested, and therefore are taking some of these comments personally.  Not a recommended path for your emotional state or making the company look any better.

 

I am NOT going to get into any childish flame wars, I'm way too old for that and over it.  The bare bones of the matter is you have made some reasonable points about Debro and his involvement, and yes, I give major props for all of that.  I will move my position based on info I didn't know previously, I'm cool like that.  But these carts, not working, labels peeling off on day one?  It's not "Done", and saying so makes the company look REALLY eager to sweep things under the rug.  This is the WORST kind of customer service, wouldn't you agree?  We will all, investors in particular, have to wait to see what the resolution is.  But so far, a letter promising resolution for an ENTIRE PRODUCTION RUN is still a huge black eye.  And I will say again, this is a GREAT community.  We call out things when we see them, we enjoy making fun of companies when things go wrong.  But we don't get personal for the most part.  If you are an investor or board member of Atari XP, please let us know, it would be both interesting and we would be much happier to have you part of the discussion knowing where you're coming from.

 

I will admit readily, I WANT to love Atari XP.  I even sort of WANT a VCS (budget is tight these days and I don't want to have to...do the steps people say are needed to make it do its best).  I like the game selections they used for the re-releases.  I DON'T like how evasive their PR has been, changing their claims continuously, the bad carts, the bad labels...  So I call them out.  It's not that I want them to fail.  I want them to be better.  Don't you?

[nadir]

9 hours ago, Mockduck said:

I tried opening it up but stopped; I suspect I was not squeezing the sides enough or something. The spring seemed like it'd be an issue as well. However, peeling up the label carefully with a hair dryer worked easy as did taking out the screw.

Rather than peeling up the label and risking damaging the whole thing I was thinking about doing minor damage by cutting the label where the screw is to gain access.  Feels like it's centered left/right and about 1/3 of the way up from the label end?  Something else feels like it's under the label just about centered in both directions, but feels larger than a screw.  Anyone have pictures of one disassembled?

[+-^CrossBow^-]

Confirmed here as well. Mine just arrived earlier this evening. And aside from this, the shrinkwrap they used is very tight. So tight that all three boxes were showing some buckling under the stress and two of them had holes already in the shrink on the back. So make sure to remove that shrinkwrap if you want them to not crush themselves horribly over time. 

 

And yes... the PCB is flipped around wrong on the carts.

 

[nadir]

14 minutes ago, -^CrossBow^- said:

Confirmed here as well. Mine just arrived earlier this evening. And aside from this, the shrinkwrap they used is very tight. So tight that all three boxes were showing some buckling under the stress and two of them had holes already in the shrink on the back. So make sure to remove that shrinkwrap if you want them to not crush themselves horribly over time. 

 

And yes... the PCB is flipped around wrong on the carts.

 

Well, now there's a market for a dedicated cartridge reversing adapter. 

[+-^CrossBow^-]

6 minutes ago, nadir said:

Well, now there's a market for a dedicated cartridge reversing adapter. 

That is actually my 7800 high score cart. It has an exposed 7800 connector on the end of it so it can be used as an extender. it was how I played some of the tight fitting games before I modified my cartridge sleeve on that 7800. But by defeating the dust door on the 2600 carts, I can also insert them facing the wrong way to show something like this also without opening the cartridge up.

 

[nadir]

3 minutes ago, -^CrossBow^- said:

That is actually my 7800 high score cart. It has an exposed 7800 connector on the end of it so it can be used as an extender. it was how I played some of the tight fitting games before I modified my cartridge sleeve on that 7800. But by defeating the dust door on the 2600 carts, I can also insert them facing the wrong way to show something like this also without opening the cartridge up.

 

Yeah, honestly, if something was still for sale that would let me do that, I'd just order one, permanently attach it to this cart and call it good. 

[dogbowl]

They came close to getting it just right -- would have been great to add these seamlessly to the originals

 

[Gunther]

15 hours ago, Hydro Thunder said:

You can't be "right" or "wrong" or "lying" when posting an opinion.  

Opinion's one thing, but everything that I called a lie can and has been proven to be false.

These games have received updates, so they are not just a cash-grab. Real effort has gone into making sure of that and can be found on their websites and from the people that worked on them.

Saying people haven't been paid - or credited - is also a lie that can and has been proven ewith verifiable evidence.

 

Now when it comes to the standard editions, fire away.

It was embarassing to know that such a simple mistake was made, but it will be rectified.

 

ATARI XP will be fine, with their games selling-out within days, and its not going anywhere.

 

And from the sentiment on this forum, it would appear that most wouldn't work with ATARI even if they asked.

 

 

[Gunther]

False in the sense that they were lies, and wildly speculative.

[BONEMAN]

I don't know Gunther. You told me to stop spreading misinformation and all I did was ask a question. 

[rennervision]

11 hours ago, -^CrossBow^- said:

And aside from this, the shrinkwrap they used is very tight. So tight that all three boxes were showing some buckling under the stress and two of them had holes already in the shrink on the back. So make sure to remove that shrinkwrap if you want them to not crush themselves horribly over time. 

Yep, I mentioned earlier I had the exact same problem.  After shrink wrapping it super tight, they pack it in a nice well-protected box to ensure it safely arrives damaged!  I sort of debated returning it right then and there.  Little did I know at that point about the extra special surprise in store for me before I tried to play the thing.

[nadir]

20 hours ago, Hydro Thunder said:

I DON'T like how evasive their PR has been, changing their claims continuously, the bad carts, the bad labels...

Just curious, what's bad about the labels?  The labels on mine look really nice and are in no danger whatsoever of falling off or anything (which is unfortunate as I wouldn't mind if they came off easy for flipping the PCB).

[nadir]

3 minutes ago, rennervision said:

Yep, I mentioned earlier I had the exact same problem.  After shrink wrapping it super tight, they pack it in a nice well-protected box to ensure it safely arrives damaged!  I sort of debated returning it right then and there.  Little did I know at that point about the extra special surprise in store for me before I tried to play the thing.

Guess I got lucky with the shrink wrapping.  It was tight, but the box was not deformed and there were no tears in the shrinkwrap.

[+KaeruYojimbo]

On 9/4/2022 at 11:17 PM, Gunther said:

Embarrasing as it is, ATARI has already offered to rectify the problem.

So far, I have not seen any offer to rectify anything, only variations of "we are looking into the issue." Depending on what, if any, exchange plan they announce, your statement is at best premature.

 

I suspect Gunther has no actual ties to Atari, but is being intentionally cagey about his relationship with them to make people think that he does.

[legeek]

58 minutes ago, KaeruYojimbo said:

So far, I have not seen any offer to rectify anything, only variations of "we are looking into the issue." Depending on what, if any, exchange plan they announce, your statement is at best premature.

Quote

 

No action is required on your part at this time. We are working on a solution to ensure you have a working cartridge and you will hear from us soon.

Our sincere apologies.

 

FWIW, it seems pretty straightforward that they are planning to fix it.  that said, I am still bummed that I just got my carts, but now have to wait longer.

 

Really, my takeaway is kudos to Albert, for the quality of ALL the AtariAge releases.  You make it all look easy, but it's got to be a crazy amount of work.

[SabertoothRetro]

My LEs arrived last night.  They were also very tightly wrapped.  I removed the shrink wrap immediately to prevent warping. I was going to open them anyway but appreciate the frustration of those who intended to maintain a seal.

 

I tested in the following:      7800 (x2), 2600 Jr. (x2),   Coleco Gemini,   4-Switch Woody,    4-Switch Video Arcade,  and   Retron 77. 

 

They did not work in a Retron 77.  They did not fit my daily driver 7800 but DID fit my spare.  They were a little tight in my Video Arcade.  All other consoles worked fine for all three titles.  

The LE Aquaventure manual has a print error but its a DIFFERENT print error than is in the SE carts.  Here's a side-by-side courtesy of @fultonbot via Twitter.