8bitwidgets.com Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 Hi everyone, I was wanting to try oiut some Champ games and I have a standard 2600 + Uno Cart. I have played many game on it and works fine. Any classic rom I have I could throw at it and it played without issue... However I tried the following games: Robot War - screen was all squiggly.. Lady Bug - played flawlessly Scramble - screen was all squiggly.. Wizard of Wor - Black screen. I'm in the US so I'm using an NTSC system. The only thing that might be kinda different about mine is that it has a composite mod installed. However, I know this is probably not the issue because I can play virtually any other 2600 rom and they play without incident. Any ideas? Maybe the Uno cart isn't good for homebrews? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+fdr4prez Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 1 hour ago, Caleb Garner said: Hi everyone, I was wanting to try oiut some Champ games and I have a standard 2600 + Uno Cart. I have played many game on it and works fine. Any classic rom I have I could throw at it and it played without issue... However I tried the following games: Robot War - screen was all squiggly.. Lady Bug - played flawlessly Scramble - screen was all squiggly.. Wizard of Wor - Black screen. I'm in the US so I'm using an NTSC system. The only thing that might be kinda different about mine is that it has a composite mod installed. However, I know this is probably not the issue because I can play virtually any other 2600 rom and they play without incident. Any ideas? Maybe the Uno cart isn't good for homebrews? that is correct. It is a known thing. please read this post: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+splendidnut Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 Most Champ Games utilize DPC+ and CDFJ bankswitching schemes (ARM-based)... which require a Harmony Cart. The UnoCart / PlusCart will not work for those games. Lady Bug is the only game you listed that uses a scheme that is compatible with all the multi-carts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+johnnywc Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 11 minutes ago, splendidnut said: Most Champ Games utilize DPC+ and CDFJ bankswitching schemes (ARM-based)... which require a Harmony Cart. The UnoCart / PlusCart will not work for those games. Hopefully someday! 🤞 It's either that or I start making games without the ARM, and I'm too old for that... 11 minutes ago, splendidnut said: Lady Bug is the only game you listed that uses a scheme that is compatible with all the multi-carts. Other Champ Games not listed above that work with all multi-carts are Conquest of Mars and Avalanche (uses paddles). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitwidgets.com Posted March 29, 2023 Author Share Posted March 29, 2023 Ah wow ok cool, so this is kinda like the Intellivision LTO vs. other multicarts like the Backbit that don't have quite the compatibility / features of the LTO.. but at least support the originals.. Makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitwidgets.com Posted March 29, 2023 Author Share Posted March 29, 2023 And boom.. ordered a harmony cart.. i bought the uno cartridge without really knowing all the options out there.. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted March 29, 2023 Share Posted March 29, 2023 14 hours ago, Caleb Garner said: i bought the uno cartridge without really knowing all the options out there.. Are you using the UnoCart with standard firmware revision (12 char display) or with the UCA firmware (32 char display) ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitwidgets.com Posted March 29, 2023 Author Share Posted March 29, 2023 28 minutes ago, Al_Nafuur said: Are you using the UnoCart with... I'll have to look but i'm using stock hardware. exactly out of the box no changes since I bought it maybe a year ago... I'll look into how to do firmware updates. I'm going to say based on what I recall from memory 12 characters seems more the speed of the display of game names and such.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitwidgets.com Posted March 30, 2023 Author Share Posted March 30, 2023 So I did the update from the website.. it went fine, but it didn't help with any of the demo games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+fdr4prez Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 39 minutes ago, Caleb Garner said: but it didn't help with any of the demo games I don't think it was supposed to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted March 30, 2023 Share Posted March 30, 2023 51 minutes ago, Caleb Garner said: So I did the update from the website.. it went fine, but it didn't help with any of the demo games. No CDFJ and DPC+ are not (yet) supported. But the UCA firmware v2.3.17 supports the ACE and ELF format, which are open source ARM enhanced ROM formats. A good example what will be possible with this formats is @MarcoJ's "Lord of Biscay RPG": 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr SQL Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 On 3/28/2023 at 7:36 PM, johnnywc said: Hopefully someday! 🤞 It's either that or I start making games without the ARM, and I'm too old for that... Other Champ Games not listed above that work with all multi-carts are Conquest of Mars and Avalanche (uses paddles). Conquest of Mars is superb! I just watched the video and downloaded the game. Can't believe I haven't seen this one before it's just like the Atari 400/800 hit from APX. The open source ARM enhanced format looks awesome for PlusCart and UnoCart. Another option for enhanced games is SuperCharger BASIC or the ASDK Abstract Assembly Development Kit. These kits also offer a metric ton of cycles for game development and run everywhere, even on the Atari Flashback portable in TinyCart (R) format, Melody cartridge or classic Cassette Tape. Those formats are also supported for the Commodore 64 via an embedded 2600 emulation stub. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitwidgets.com Posted March 31, 2023 Author Share Posted March 31, 2023 12 hours ago, fdr4prez said: I don't think it was supposed to. Yea I wasn't sure, but when someone asked if I had the latest firmware, it seemed like they were asking because it might improve the OP question. No harm no foul.. it's updated at least and i learned it could be updated 12 hours ago, Al_Nafuur said: v2.3.17 supports the ACE and ELF format, which are open source ARM enhanced ROM formats Wow that RPG is awesome. What an achievement for the 2600! I wonder if that lets you do save games. Or broader, can any 2600 games save progress / high scores? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Al_Nafuur Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 1 hour ago, Caleb Garner said: I wonder if that lets you do save games. Or broader, can any 2600 games save progress / high scores? There are a few games that use the SaveKey/AtariVox to store progress or high scores. The PlusCart and most emulators can use PlusROM functions to save high scores online: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitwidgets.com Posted March 31, 2023 Author Share Posted March 31, 2023 So is there a "best" multicart for the 2600? harmony? PlusCart? Uno? Seems like there are a lot of different ones out there with different specs. Which cart are most home brew games adhering too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+splendidnut Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 Woah, loaded questions there. lol. There really is no "best". Harmony cart has been around the longest and generally supports the most homebrew. The PlusCart has WiFi support built-in and an online game library. Those two both compliment one another with their differing strengths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitwidgets.com Posted March 31, 2023 Author Share Posted March 31, 2023 (edited) 48 minutes ago, splendidnut said: There really is no "best". ah ok yea makes sense. good to know. I got on the notify me list when the next batch is available. Edited March 31, 2023 by Caleb Garner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 Since there is no one "best" multi-cart, why not get them all? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+batari Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 10 hours ago, Caleb Garner said: Or broader, can any 2600 games save progress / high scores? Yes, Star Castle 2600 saves the high scores on the cartridge itself, and the homebrew RPG Grizzards saves progress directly to the cart. Neither of these need the SaveKey or AtariVox to save data. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 I think Chetiry is another cartridge that saves directly to the cart. I was surprised to see my high score listed even though I didn't have a SaveKey or AtariVox. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+johnnywc Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 12 hours ago, Caleb Garner said: Or broader, can any 2600 games save progress / high scores? There are currently 46 games that support (or will support when complete) the SaveKey/Atarivox for saving high scores and game settings: 01 Man Goes Down (Alex Herbert) 02 Fall Down (Aaron Curtis) 03 Go Fish! (Bob Montgomery) 04 Strat-O-Gems (John Payson) 05 AStar (Aaron Curtis) 06 bonQ (Ken Siders) 07 Lead / Pitch'n'Catch (Simone Serra) 08 Elevators Amiss (Bob Montgomery) 09 Juno First (Chris Walton) 10 Karate Master (Greg Kennedy) 11 Halloween game TBA (Mark Ball) 12 Duck Attack! (Will Nicholes) 13 Monster! (Mark Ball) 14 Worm! (Mark Ball) 15 Indenture (Will Nicholes) 16 AtariVox Spell & Speak (Mike Saarna) 17 Boulder Dash (Andrew Davie & Thomas Jentzsch) 18 Gate Racer (Steve Engelhardt) 19 Heartbreak (Shane Lloyd) 20 Circus AtariAge (Jeff Johnson) 21 Wall Jump Ninja (Tim FitzRandolph) 22 Dr.V.Dalek Berzerk (Michael Haas) 23 Scramble (John W. Champeau) 24 Assembloids (Dr. Martin Wendt) 25 Drive! (Lumi) 26 Anguna (gauauu) 27 Amoeba Jump (Dion Olsthoorn) 28 Super Cobra (John W. Champeau) 29 Space Game (kdgarris) 30 Avalanche (John W. Champeau) 31 Mappy (John W. Champeau) 32 Aardvark (Oscar Toledo Gutiérrez) 33 VROOM! (Thomas Jentzsch) 34 Wizard of Wor Arcade (John W. Champeau) 35 Galagon (John W. Champeau) 36 Tap-A-Mole (quohog) 37 rubyQ (Silvio Mogno) 38 Zoo Keeper (John W. Champeau) 39 RobotWar:2684 (John W. Champeau) 40 Gorf Arcade (John W. Champeau) 41 QYX (John W. Champeau) 42 Lady Bug Arcade (John W. Champeau) 43 Mallard Season (Mallard Season) 44 Thrust+ Platinum (Thomas Jentzsch) 45 Turbo Arcade (John W. Champeau) 46 Elevator Agent (John W. Champeau) Hope that helps! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitwidgets.com Posted April 1, 2023 Author Share Posted April 1, 2023 4 hours ago, Keatah said: Since there is no one "best" multi-cart, why not get them all? Looks like some things are (well so far basically everything) is out of stock.. but yea i've ordered a harmony.. and on notification list for PlusCart. the speech thing looks pretty cool too. I appreciate the prices for these devices are reasonably priced for what they do. On 3/29/2023 at 10:42 AM, Al_Nafuur said: or with the UCA firmware is this something that is not just a basic firmware update from the website? I i ran the update.bin from the unocart site, but maybe there's a deeper update somewhere? when i did update it still seems like the characters in the rom menus are pretty large.. 4 hours ago, batari said: Neither of these need the SaveKey or AtariVox to save data. Yea i'm looking more for something like these.. something that can serve many games. I don't buy one off carts.. only roms. I know this limits access to some great games, but the space and cost is just where I have to draw the line with my hobby I love that they release carts though. If I get my home brew chops I'd probably ironically be happy to sell a cart.. heh heh. though I'd likely still do a digital release too. 2 hours ago, johnnywc said: Hope that helps! It certainly does! I'll have to get one of these too.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+johnnywc Posted April 1, 2023 Share Posted April 1, 2023 1 hour ago, Caleb Garner said: It certainly does! I'll have to get one of these too.. The AtariVox also plays voice and advanced sound effects and is used in some 2600 games as well, such as Wizard of Wor Arcade and Gorf Arcade. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted April 1, 2023 Share Posted April 1, 2023 7 hours ago, Keatah said: Since there is no one "best" multi-cart, why not get them all? That's the spirit - that's what guarantees we keep getting more new toys! I like toys, I buy toys, more toys go on sale, I get more toys!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8bitwidgets.com Posted April 1, 2023 Author Share Posted April 1, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, Stephen said: I like toys, I buy toys, more toys go on sale, I get more toys!!! Toys? I make toy.. you like? =D 7800 coming soon.. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1usjY5Ahwqlx-2dT7lpo4jxzg31vcWVTkExFVqXxTMio/edit?usp=sharing Edited April 1, 2023 by Caleb Garner 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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