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Atari 2600 Bar Top Cab
billm75:
Hey all, I'm new here, and pretty much arcade stupid. I'm trying to read and absorb as much as I can from all of you, but it's a bit over my head. One day I'd love to build a MAME cabinet, but I'm not much on learning how to program. So, with that said, I have a plan to build a bar top cabinet using a classic Atari 2600 to run things.
My goal is to have an arcade style control panel. The atari joysticks only had 1 button, but I've seen some where folks have used 2 or 3 buttons. Anyone know why and how?
I'm removing the guts from this old machine and am going to retro-fit it into my cabinet, leaving the cartridge slot exposed for changing games. I've looked into the multi-carts, but honestly, I only have a few games I like from the old system. (I was a kid when Atari was new, so, it's a walk down memory lane for me). Pitfall, Pac Man, Space Invaders, and that's about it. Maybe donkey kong and Ms PacMan.
If anyone can give me any tips, advice, or background info, that would be great. Otherwise, I'll keep combing the forum for ideas. My main question right now is about the multiple buttons people add when building something based on the 2600 system, not MAME, but the actual system.
Thanks!
javeryh:
2 or 3 buttons on a bartop that only plays atari 2600 games using original hardware and software? That seems like overkill. I never played a game with a controller other than the paddles and the joystick and both had one button. Maybe they were admin buttons? Also, I'd love a link or something to one of these projects you are describing - don't think I've ever seen one other than the 2600 handhelds that ben heck
If you are going to go through the trouble of building a bartop why not use a computer and an atari 2600 emulator? Seems like it would be way easier and you'd get to play every single 2600 game as well as a ton more. :cheers:
LeedsFan:
Well I'm not an expert on the Atari 2600 machine. But if the original games all used the old sticks which just had one action button then what would the other buttons be for? Only thing I can think of would be admin buttons to replace the toggle switches on the Atari console. Or if their machines emulated other consoles which needed extra buttons.
billm75:
Here's a link to one, it's not a cabinet, but it's a control panel using arcade style joysticks and buttons.
http://www.8-bitcentral.com/joystick/joystick2600.html
And now that I'm posting it I see where they said the did it for the 7800 games......eeesh. I told you I was stupid.
As to why I'm not doing a PC based emulator.....I don't know how to do that. I already have a 2600 system ready to implement, and I have the 4 or 5 carts that I want to play. Eventually I may learn about emulators and such, I would love to. But right now, I want a Pacman/Pitfall machine. LOL
javeryh:
--- Quote from: billm75 on May 12, 2011, 05:06:59 pm ---As to why I'm not doing a PC based emulator.....I don't know how to do that. I already have a 2600 system ready to implement, and I have the 4 or 5 carts that I want to play. Eventually I may learn about emulators and such, I would love to. But right now, I want a Pacman/Pitfall machine. LOL
--- End quote ---
There's almost nothing to learn. If you can turn on a computer you can build a bartop around one. Just the fact that you know how to post on this forum means you have the computer know-how to figure it out. This is not an exaggeration. If you get stuck on some details that's what we are here for. Pac-man on MAME is just so much better than the 2600 abomination. You can do it! :cheers: