Atari Flashback Gold: 50th Anniv- Anyone else experiencing joy fire button issues?

[dgrams2000]

So, I may be one in a short line of people, but I actually like the sticks that come with the Atari Flashback 130 game Gold edition (50th Anniversary) 

Not only do I use them on the flashback, but I used them with a USB adapter on the PC for emulation, on a TheC64 maxi/mini, all kinds of places.

 

The stick is looser than an original CX-40, but when playing games like HERO or titles where you hit diagonals, it feels really nice.

 

ANYWAYS.. I'm on firmware 1.1.1 for the flashback unit.  I've noticed when playing games on the flashback, the fire button doesn't want to fire one out of ... like 20-30 times.

A lot of games call for precise button pressing (Lets take Pitfall for example)  within the first 10 screens of playing, the fire button doesn't respond like once or twice in that timeframe.

I've tried BOTH joysticks that come with the unit and they do the same thing.   

It happens with either of the Flashback Joysticks, used in port 1.

 

So now we experiment.

I take my new CX-40+ joystick I just got and slap it in port one... I play Pitfall, and it works flawlessly.  The problem seems only with the flashback controllers ON the flashback.

(When I use the stick on a different console, it works perfectly.)

 

Lets try something else. 

I have games on the USB stick.  Lets load Pitfall off the USB stick instead of off the main flashback menu.

If I load the game that way, both Flashback stick's buttons work just fine.

So now I have the issue narrowed down to Flashback Joysticks On the flashback, playing games running off Internal memory of the flashback.  

(once again, the 'usb version' of the game works fine)

 

Strange.  

Anyone else having this?

I just got the unit a few weeks ago, so it is pretty new - AND controllers/buttons work great everywhere else, but that main combination on the flashback using the flashback roms.

My band aid solution is just to load any game I want to play off the USB stick instead of the flashback version of the game.. but that is kinda weird to have to do.

 

[vagabondartist]

I’ve experienced this and it’s maddening.

I speculated it had something to do with the rewind functionality but I don’t know if that carries over to games added via usb or not

[Pac-Man Senior]

Same problem here - with Flashback 50th Gold and Flashback X. I like the Flashback joysticks too, but not on the Flashbacks. If you cannot rely on the fire button for example in Pitfall and in many other games that's awful. The joysticks without these extra buttons are perfect for my original 2600. These special ones including buttons for menu, select, rewind etc. are plugged into port 2 of my flashback for an easier handling of the console. In port 1 I normally use the ArcadeR. There are no fire button issues with this one on my Flashbacks. I also noticed that usb phenomenon. Whenever there are issues with the included games (sound, frame rate, colors, ...) I put a rom on my usb stick and everything is fine. Despite these curiosities I like these two Flashbacks. Not perfect but a good addition to my original hardware.

 

 

[sifi89]

Very late to the party but I’ve googled the same issue, though mine misses presses even on the USB stick games. Glad I saw this as I was ready to take the controller apart. But it seems like the error is on the flashback console itself?

[dgrams2000]

Yeah.. its the controller itself it seems.  the issue follows no matter if I use the sticks on the flashback, or in other systems (Or with usb adapter on the PC on emulators)  the button misses random presses.  That is too bad as I actually like the way the sticks feel with the little bit of looseness that they have.  If any techies have a fix for this.. it would be awesome.

 

[alboran]

Same issue here, with the Flashback 12 Gold, with 1.1.1 + custom firmware with the USB expansion. I think the unreliable fire button is unacceptable. I am planning to send the unit back and ask for a refund.

[MrChickenz]

I only use Hyperkin controllers. And I noticed the miss fire also.

[Gabe]

I've had problems with the fire button on the multi-button joystick with my Flashback 12 Gold. Sometimes it just doesn't work... at all. 

[dgrams2000]

So, considering the issues is in the electronics of the joystick(s) themselves... 

(Both joysticks have the random fire button not working issues, either on the flashback, or on a PC with USB adapters or wherever...) 

How can one troubleshoot and fix this?   I'm not an electronics expert, but would LOVE for these sticks to be operating at 100%.

 

As sick as it sounds.. I kinda dig the feel of these things. 

Do we have any masters of electronics in the house?  I can rewire buttons and switches and that kind of stuff, but if it comes to working on the boards or whatever, that is where I would get lost. 

 

 

[Piledriver]

Same problem here!

 

What's the most important thing about a video game?  Being able to play the effin thing!  (Angry Video Game Nerd)

 

This product is a fail!  Atari!  I want you to succeed!  Why do you allow crap like this to come out tarnishing your brand?

[famicommander]

1 hour ago, Piledriver said:

Same problem here!

 

What's the most important thing about a video game?  Being able to play the effin thing!  (Angry Video Game Nerd)

 

This product is a fail!  Atari!  I want you to succeed!  Why do you allow crap like this to come out tarnishing your brand?

Sorry this happened to you, but the sad answer is they simply don't care. 

 

You're probably going to have a much better experience with curated collections like Atari 50 on other platforms, or just venturing out into the abyss of installing and configuring your own emulators on your own devices.

[dgrams2000]

I sent in a support ticket to see if there is ANYTHING they can do to correct this.  The console is useless when the button does not fire (randomly)

Dont even want to order a replacement if this is happening on so many.   

The reason I am hoping to do something here is that I run a streaming channel that is devoted to retro mini-consoles. 

Mini consoles that look like mini replicas of the originals.  I know that there are lots of other devices that can play these games from the gamestation to other emualtors, etc... but am hoping to play off of devices that actually are based off of their larger selves.  

Are there any other Atari 2600 mini systems that run awesome that could be a replacement in this situation?

 

Edited Saturday at 10:17 PM by dgrams2000