Upcoming 2600+ Keypad support and keyboard controller bundle wish list

[atwwong]

Recently in the Atari VCS Discord, davpa mentioned that:

Quote

Right now, the Star Raiders keypad is not supported. We recently got it working “in the lab”, so when we get an official firmware update released, it will then be supported. 

I'm hoping that this means that all Keyboard Controllers, including the Kid's Controllers for the CCW games, will eventually work.

 

If Atari released a new 2600+ Keyboard Controller Pack like it did for the paddles, they could fit all their original keypad games onto one cart, including Star Raiders, and hopefully include all the manuals.

 

There are a few other keypad games, including the CWW ones, but Star Raiders is the best of the bunch, IMO. Any thoughts on adding, cheaply licensing, or adding a newly developed one (gasp! 😲 if that happens) to a keypad games pack?

[Ben from Plaion]

The quote is referencing the VCS and not the 2600+, right?

 

For the 2600+ there has been no change since I last mentioned it, the guys have looked at the code and indicated that it should be possible, but I have seen nothing yet.

[shane857]

43 minutes ago, Ben from Plaion said:

The quote is referencing the VCS and not the 2600+, right?

 

For the 2600+ there has been no change since I last mentioned it, the guys have looked at the code and indicated that it should be possible, but I have seen nothing yet.

Obviously game compatibility is the priority for the 2600+. Would be awesome if touch pad, kid's controller and driving controller could be supported soon thou...

[DEANJIMMY]

9 minutes ago, shane857 said:

Obviously game compatibility is the priority for the 2600+. Would be awesome if touch pad, kid's controller and driving controller could be supported soon thou...

But Trakball first😉

[Brad_from_the_80s]

Yeah, Trakball

 

Isn't Starmaster better than Star Raiders anyway?  🤡

[shane857]

41 minutes ago, DEANJIMMY said:

But Trakball first😉

And Trakball. I have not used this. Trakball also...

[shane857]

6 minutes ago, Brad_from_the_80s said:

Yeah, Trakball

 

Isn't Starmaster better than Star Raiders anyway?  🤡

Depends... Both are great games. Starmaster is personally for me more like an arcade version of Star Raiders.

Star Raiders is more of a 'Flight sim' type of game with the additional keypad. 

[Bitsized]

We all want to use that little keypad. Flipping switches (Starmaster) is fine but nothing beats that little keypad and the overlay!! Pew pew!

Edited July 12 by Bitsized

[atwwong]

7 hours ago, Ben from Plaion said:

The quote is referencing the VCS and not the 2600+, right?

 

For the 2600+ there has been no change since I last mentioned it, the guys have looked at the code and indicated that it should be possible, but I have seen nothing yet.

Yes, it was from the #troubleshooting-2600plus channel of the Official Atari VCS Discord. So I'm hopeful!

[atwwong]

It would be nice to have both the Trackball and the Keyboard Controller.

 

I also have a CompuMate SV010 keyboard that I would just love to work with the 2600+, but I'm not getting my hopes up that high, yet...

 

Edited July 13 by atwwong
Corrected punctuation.

[tradyblix]

How many games actually support that thing anyway ? Star Raiders and Star Master ? that's it ? 

[atwwong]

21 minutes ago, tradyblix said:

How many games actually support that thing anyway ? Star Raiders and Star Master ? that's it ? 

Atari Keypad Controller:
Basic Programming, Brain Games, Codebreaker, Game of Concentration, Hunt & Score, MagiCard (Commavid), Memory Match (Sears), Synthcart, Testcart
https://atariage.com/controller_page.php?SystemID=2600&ControllerID=4

 

Kid's Controller:
Alpha Beam with Ernie, Big Bird's Egg Catch, Cookie Monster Munch, Grover's Music Maker, Holey Moley, Monstercise, Oscar's Trash Race, Peek-a-Boo
https://atariage.com/controller_page.php?SystemID=2600&ControllerID=6

 

Video Touch Pad:
Star Raiders
https://atariage.com/controller_page.php?SystemID=2600&ControllerID=5

 

All the keypad controllers are functionally identical, so if the Star Raiders keypad is working "in the lab," all should theoretically work in an upcoming official 2600+ patch.

Edited July 13 by atwwong
Corrected spelling.

[Trebor]

45 minutes ago, atwwong said:

All the keypad controllers are functionally identical, so if the Star Raiders keypad is working "in the lab," all should theoretically work in an upcoming official 2600+ patch.

That is incorrect.  As is the title of this thread.

 

As stated and emphasized, the statement of "in the lab" working is for the VCS not the 2600+.  

 

Meaning this system:

https://atari.com/products/atari-vcs-onyx-all-in

 

Not this one:

https://atari.com/products/atari-2600-plus

 

Star Raiders keyboard working "in the lab" all should theoretically work in an upcoming official VCS patch is the correct statement and more appropriately mentioned and discussed in the below linked forum:

https://forums.atariage.com/forum/356-atari-vcs/

[atwwong]

3 minutes ago, Trebor said:

That is incorrect.  As is the title of this thread.

 

As stated and emphasized, the statement of "in the lab" working is for the VCS not the 2600+.  

 

Meaning this system:

https://atari.com/products/atari-vcs-onyx-all-in

 

Not this one:

https://atari.com/products/atari-2600-plus

 

Star Raiders keyboard working "in the lab" all should theoretically work in an upcoming official VCS patch is the correct statement and more appropriately mentioned and discussed in the below linked forum:

https://forums.atariage.com/forum/356-atari-vcs/

The information is directly from the 2600+ channel #troubleshooting-2600plus! I realize that it is from the Atari VCS Discord, but it also has a 400 Mini section with channels as well. Apparently, Atari does not have a dedicated 2600+ Discord. davpa was answering another customer, who was asking about the Star Raiders keypad not being support yet (for the 2600+).

They were not discussing the Atari VCS.

[Brad_from_the_80s]

How would the keypad connect to a VCS?  Official support for an adapter?

 

I have the system, but it mostly collects dust and I don't really follow developments for it.

[atwwong]

3 minutes ago, Brad_from_the_80s said:

How would the keypad connect to a VCS?  Official support for an adapter?

 

I have the system, but it mostly collects dust and I don't really follow developments for it.

I failed to mention in the first post that the original info was taken from the #troubleshooting-2600plus! channel of the Atari VCS Discord, where Atari actually gives "official" support for the 2600+.