Atari Flashback on USAToday

[Grasshopper]

MPS, out of curiosity did you have anything to do with the C64 based units?

It would be cool if someone did a unit based on the Amiga. There were loads of original games for the platform and it would be fun to hack as Amigas are still usable computers.

[MPS]

MPS, out of curiosity did you have anything to do with the C64 based units?

No, we weren't involved in that C64 joystick.  The company I work for has been involved almost exclusively with Atari to this point, but we would love to dive into a project for other classic equipment. 

I haven't had a good look at that C64 unit, but I have heard that it is "hacker friendly."  After reading the story below, I wouldn't be suprised if we start to see more in the way of Commodore stuff hitting the market....

http://www.ferrago.com/story/6534

Mike Stulir
Flashback 2 Engineering Team

[captainpotato]

I'd LOVE to do a Colecovision unit.     However, one of the reasons for not doing a Coleco unit is the Coleco library of games.  There isn't enough "original" content in the Coleco library.  Most of Coleco's library was made up of licensed titles -- and any games that would be used would have to be licensed all over again for a new Colecovision.  I think that may make the cost of the unit prohibitively expensive.   

.. and the games, as you point out, aren't original anyway. Yeah, I'd forgotten that when I suggested it

The Intellivision might be a better candidate for the "Flashback 2" treatment as a big chunk of the Intellivision library is made up of original games that would not need to be relicensed.

I know there are some Intellivision Plug & Play units floating around out there.  I have never played one, but my understanding is that they are ports of the Intellivision games to an NES-based unit.  The technology is similar to the Jakks units or even the original Atari Flashback.

I'd like to see the Blue Sky Rangers go back to their original schematics and do a Intellivision based on the same principles as the Flashback 2 -- the REAL games on the REAL hardware.  That would be cool!    

I'd settle for an Intellivision unit as well

Even better - a Vectrex unit

[RandyT]

I want a miniature Atari 400 computer with the whole library of games and a little chicklet keyboard.

Oh, and a little cartridge door on the top to stuff a compact flash card under for cassette tape emulation 

RandyT

[Havok]

I want a miniature Atari 400 computer with the whole library of games and a little chicklet keyboard.

Oh, and a little cartridge door on the top to stuff a compact flash card under for cassette tape emulation

[DaFoo]

Ahh I turn 40 Sunday... man that was to good old days, I have a used Sears console I bought with a couple games for $85 (paper route) and I bought a 1960's (I think) used color TV about 24 inchs for $70.  Man I had WAY too much fun.

I'll have to get on eof these as well.   Sigh... I'm going to need a game room before I die...

[SirPeale]

I'd love to see an Intellivision Flashback.  I have the handheld one, and it bites.  Not anywhere near as cool as the original, and the games are all wrong.

[Zakk]

Well we're well into 2006, is there any teasers or tidbits on the new model yet?

[missioncontrol]

well 2006 is almost done and over and I haven't heard a word on a FB3 

[Texasmame]

I always liked when the rubber handle would fall off the joystick and you were left with just the hard white plastic that is underneath...  I think I still have callus's on my hands 

That is so hilarious and so absolutely true.  A few months after Christmas everyone was playing their 2600s with hard, white joysticks.

And if there was ever a console system that was best left as a fond memory, it is the 2600.  Actually enjoying a 2600 game in today's world is a difficult task.

Yars' Revenge is a much better game than most of the crap being offered up on modern consoles.  Simple, fun and challenging game!

[Havok]

well 2006 is almost done and over and I haven't heard a word on a FB3 

The FB3 has been shelved for the moment - they are considering a FB2 portable, but want to do a FB3 (Atari 800) as well. Curt Vendel (the guy in charge of the project) is on the Atari Age forums and communicates with the user community quite a bit. More info here:

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showforum=69