Atari 2600 emulation

[GAtekwriter]

Does anyone on here run their Atari 2600 games on their cabinet in addition to standard arcade games?  I've got a HUGE collection of Atari 2600 cartridges (legal) and their images and I see that they work find on my PC running the Stella emulator. 

I would love my little boy to grow up starting out playing some of the games I played at a young age... Combat, anyone?

Jim

[More Cowbell]

Yep, I run Stella and Virtual NES all the time on my cabinet. I hacked in a port so that I can plug in an old Atari joystick and play them the way they were meant to be played. I also hacked an NES controller to fit that same port. Works like a charm.

[ahofle]

Me too.  I probably get more requests to play 'River Raid' than anything else.  Outlaw is also a huge hit for some reason with my brothers (probably the head to head trash talking and laughter at the abysmal graphics).  I think this is definitely one console that I don't mind not using the original joysticks though.    I have bad memories of blisters from using those horrid sticks after the rubber came off and you were left to grip that hard white plastic.  Ouch.

[unclet]

Yes, Atari 2600 is great for little kids who have not been swayed by the Xbox and Playstation graphics yet.   My young children started out playing "Adventure" .... they hated it when the dragon ate them though   

I run Atari2600 using Stella through the MALA frontend .... very easy to do.

[XyloSesame]

I "plan" on running Stella and Mala, assuming I can ever get my project underway. I had originally thought I'd have my sixer modded with S-Video and run it native to my LCD, but decided on the controller hack route.

There's something to be said for handling the cartridges, though...

[zaphod]

Z26 on Mamewah.  Still love Combat. 

[GAtekwriter]

Thanks for the replies, all.  It's great to know that the Atari 2600 still has a fan base out there in the MAME crowd.  I remember running home from the bus stop so I could get in a few extra minutes of play time before my little brother made it in the house.

Adventure, Kaboom, Combat, River Raid...  my little boy is gonna have some fun when he gets a little older.

I'm hesitant to connect a real Atari joystick and would prefer to use my cab joysticks.  Anyone know if the spinner will work fine with Kaboom?

Jim

[vidmouse]

Don't know about Kaboom but I did get my trackball to
work as a paddle for Warlords.  Used Stella.

Another thing I like about Stella is that it will save states...
still working on my all-time highest Laser Blast score
just not in one sitting (I know, kind of a cheat)

[missioncontrol]

I'm hesitant to connect a real Atari joystick and would prefer to use my cab joysticks. 

Why are you hesitant about hooking up your old 2600? I have one hooked up to a TV in the house. There's nothing better than the feeling of handling the real equipment.

[GAtekwriter]

I guess I could, but I want to keep the cabinet "untangled" - I broke about 3 or 4 of those joysticks during my early years and I wasn't that impressed with their sturdiness.  Yes, I was probably a little hard on them, but all kids are.  I'd prefer to use my cab joysticks which I think will stand up to a bit more punishment.

Thanks for the info on Stella saving its state - that'll be nice for Yar's Revenge which only gets fun later in the game when the spikey-thing starts making angled turns and triples its speed.

Jim

[missioncontrol]

finding unbroken ones on e-bay is simple. You could always pick up a Flashback 2. The sticks that come with it are a bit sturdier and fit in the 2600.

[XyloSesame]

I guess I could, but I want to keep the cabinet "untangled" - I broke about 3 or 4 of those joysticks during my early years and I wasn't that impressed with their sturdiness.  Yes, I was probably a little hard on them, but all kids are.  I'd prefer to use my cab joysticks which I think will stand up to a bit more punishment.

Check out the forums at http://www.atariage.com/ - they've typically got NOS/used/rebuilt joysticks posted FS/T. And I know of at least one fellow there that can do excellent rebuilds and repair.

Nothing quite like the original...

[Kevin Mullins]

Nothing quite like the original...

Cool read.... this thread made me feel good about the empty Atari System 1 cabinet I converted to a dedicated Atari 2600 cab.  I even have a pair of the wireless sticks for it although they don't really work all that great IMO.
Yars Revenge tends to get played alot.
And who can forget the 2600 version of Pac-Man. 

[csa3d]

Don't forget Spider Fighter.  Still awesome as well.

[XyloSesame]

Yars Revenge tends to get played alot.

Yars Revenge, Warlords, Pitfall I & II, River Raid...

My son is doomed to dorkdom.

[ahofle]

And who can forget the 2600 version of Pac-Man. 

I remember making fun of that game the day we plugged it in.  And when Ms Pacman came out, it was so incredibly advanced because her head actually turned when you went up/down.   

[missioncontrol]

Cool read.... this thread made me feel good about the empty Atari System 1 cabinet I converted to a dedicated Atari 2600 cab. 

got any pics of the setup? I had considered making an Atari cabinet and taking the innards of an atari so that I could put the carts in the CP to switch games.... but with my slackness it's something that is far off from doing right now....

[torcer]

I have most of the Consoles on my Cab, but the Atari 2600 is 1st in the list b/c its nearest and dearest to my heart.  Adventure still holds up rather well! 

[ahofle]

Adventure was always my favorite too.  And it has the best easter egg ever.

[Kevin Mullins]

[quote author=missioncontrol link=topic=73168.msg755664#msg755664
got any pics of the setup? I had considered making an Atari cabinet and taking the innards of an atari so that I could put the carts in the CP to switch games....
[/quote]

I originally thought about gutting the console and having a cartridge slot with ports for the joystick plugs and all that as well. But then I re-thunk it and figured the console itself was part of the nostalgia about it. So I kept it pretty simple......

We just moved a bunch of stuff into a storage building while we do some remodeling, so the pics aren't that great and it's stuffed in amongst a few other projects.

P.S. Didn't mean to stray away from the original thread. 

[MaximRecoil]

got any pics of the setup? I had considered making an Atari cabinet and taking the innards of an atari so that I could put the carts in the CP to switch games.... but with my slackness it's something that is far off from doing right now....

That would be pretty cool, especially if you designed the control panel so that it angled up in the back like a VCS did, and design a CPO that looks like the top surface of the VCS, along with woodgrain on the front. And around the base of the joysticks, have the graphics on the CPO look like the base of a VCS joystick.

Maybe some sideart that shows those original dozen or so games in the TV screen-shaped outlines like was on the back of the VCS box they came in—like this, but from an original box or catalog from the '70s or '80s.

It wouldn't be something I'd do because my memories of the Atari 2600 involve sitting on my living room floor staring at an early '70s 25" RCA console TV (i.e. nothing to do with arcade machines)—but it would be a cool project to see someone else do.

[missioncontrol]

MaximRecoil you link is 403 forbidden

Kevin Mullins that angled area above the CP is just begging to be used as the admin panel for the 2600 switches and place to insert the carts. using the original switches would still give it the authentic feel. I would use a 6 switch 2600 so that way you could have easy access to the difficulty switches also.

[MaximRecoil]

MaximRecoil you link is 403 forbidden

Yeah, it must not like linking. Just right click it, "copy shortcut", and then paste the URL into a new instance of your browser.

[GAtekwriter]

I remember finding the Easter Egg in Adventure by accident (I imagine most of us did because this was pre-Internet and there was no googling Easter Eggs).  I thought I'd damaged the game at first when I went through that secret wall.

I'm kinda psyched to get Stella setup when my cab is completed.  I've done very little research on Atari cartridges, but I imagine the rule is if you own the cartridge you can use the image in an emulator?  Have any Atari games gone into "open source" or whatever the term is?

Oh, and others that I have that I can't wait to play - Haunted House (the eyes point in the direction you're heading), Joust, Vanguard, and one very famous one called Star Raider.

Jim

[ahofle]

I remember finding the Easter Egg in Adventure by accident (I imagine most of us did because this was pre-Internet and there was no googling Easter Eggs).  I thought I'd damaged the game at first when I went through that secret wall.

How on earth did you stumble upon that?  If I remember you had to pick up a one pixel 'dot' in some hidden room (that required the bridge to get to), bring it to a certain screen, and bring a couple additional items to the same screen and drop them before you could go through the wall to the easter egg.  I found it from a friend who read it in a magazine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Adventure_Easteregg.PNG

[genesim]

My problem with Atari 2600 games is that they are paired down version of the coinops.

While Kaboom is great, I prefer the original Avalanche...same goes for the Video Olympics being variations of Pong or Combat being a crappy version of Tank!...Airsea Battle being a crappy ??(I can't remember the name)...Football Basketball..etc. etc.

Unfortunately most of those great games will never see the ligh of day correctly though because of the discrete circuits, and for the ones that are, it will be nill impossible to get the timing right.   So I guess we will have to settle in that capacity.

It is still a shame though.   That is why when I find them, I play them in the arcades as much as possible!

[solderguy1]

My problem with Atari 2600 games is that they are paired down version of the coinops.

I agree, but do think River Raid and Yar's Revenge would have made great arcade games.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe they're console exclusive (Yar's does seem a little Star Castle-ish though).

[genesim]

Yeah, I was typing fast, I should have said...alot of them.

Still River Raid is a masterpiece and set the groudwork for many games to come.]

Yars Revenge was also cool, but got this from Wikipedia:

The game began as a licensed port of the Cinematronics arcade game Star Castle

So your assessment makes total sense, though Yars added alot to the game.

I guess my reference was considering alot of games I enjoyed.   I would have enjoyed them more if I had more access to the arcade originals.  But the Atari had many perks...along with the many dogs.   Donkey Kong anyone?

[genesim]

As a side note.  Demon Attack is one of my favorite Galaxian type shooters of all time.  It goes on and on and on and on.   Smashed a few controllers over that one!

[vidmouse]

Thanks for the info on Stella saving its state - that'll be nice for Yar's Revenge which only gets fun later in the game when the spikey-thing starts making angled turns and triples its speed.

The weird thing is, I don't think Stella has a Pause key function!
This is what I use the state/load for the most, as it works pretty
well.

I think it does have snapshot capability too, if you want to
use w/ a frontend...

[GAtekwriter]

I found the magic dot by sheer luck - using the bridge at that particular location.  I heard the "bleep" indicating I'd picked something up but I never could see the item.  Somehow I managed to drag it around and kept trying to insert it into castle doors and walls, hoping I'd see something.  I guess I just got lucky and crossed into that hidden room.  Pure luck!

Jim

[MaximRecoil]

My problem with Atari 2600 games is that they are paired down version of the coinops.

While Kaboom is great, I prefer the original Avalanche...same goes for the Video Olympics being variations of Pong or Combat being a crappy version of Tank!...Airsea Battle being a crappy ??(I can't remember the name)...Football Basketball..etc. etc.

Unfortunately most of those great games will never see the ligh of day correctly though because of the discrete circuits, and for the ones that are, it will be nill impossible to get the timing right.   So I guess we will have to settle in that capacity.

It is still a shame though.   That is why when I find them, I play them in the arcades as much as possible!

I think the Atari 2600 version of Space Invaders (the game that put it on the map) is more fun than the arcade version, especially if you do the trick that allows double-fire capability (two shots in the air at once rather than just one). It is the only console port I can think of that is more enjoyable than the arcade counterpart (IMO).

[JimmyU]

I think the Atari 2600 version of Space Invaders (the game that put it on the map) is more fun than the arcade version, especially if you do the trick that allows double-fire capability (two shots in the air at once rather than just one). It is the only console port I can think of that is more enjoyable than the arcade counterpart (IMO).

I think that the NES port of Tecmo Bowl is a lot more enjoyable than the arcade version.

[missioncontrol]

My problem with Atari 2600 games is that they are paired down version of the coinops.

blah..blah..blah

But that's the thing, when playing the 2600 you already know it's not a coinop, I play the 2600 for the nostalgic reason of playing the 2600. Sure they don't compare to the coinop version, but at the time they came out, it was the closest you could get without forking over a quarter for 3 lives.

I still play my 2600 on a regular basis and I have a blast with it. My kids enjoy it too. But then again i'm not playing it for the intense graphics, but the fun game play each cart packed....

[genesim]

Hey man calm down.   I was playing the original for intense graphics...because for that time they were.

And yes the Atari 2600 was paired down from that, in those cases.   I do understand the concept that you don't have to fork over coins.   My hat in the ring was that it is a sad shame that we have to settle because of the discrete circuit problem.

Many of the game experience came after the fact because I too didn't have the money growing up.   It is only years later did I find out that many games in their original form were a whole lot more fun.

Most of the time, the coinop was simply better.   There are rare exceptions listed above.

So in retrospect, thanks for the blah blah blah.    Because I wasn't putting down the Atari 2600 because I loved so many of the games myself!

[missioncontrol]

relax dude, I was calm... 

anyways, here's some of my latest and greatest carts I got recently:

Journey Escape - Actually came out for the 2600 before coinop. Yes the coinop is better, but hey it's also great on the 2600

Air-sea Battle - Great for for all ages in head to head action.

E.T. - Very underated, but enjoyable if you know how to play it.

Superman - Just got it last night, but my memory tells me I had logged many hours playing it as a kid

Porky's - Hadn't played it yet. Got it last night. Screenshots look like it's fun to play.

Kangaroo - Hadn't played it yet. Got it last night. Coinop will most likely be better, but I'm sure the game play will still be cool.

Fast Food - Hadn't played it yet. Got it last night

Flash Gordon - Played it last night and got ---my bottom--- kicked. Had very good/challenging game play to it.

[genesim]

I don't know if you have ever been here, but this is a good place to start for Atari information.

http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/arcade/arcade-menu/arcade-menu.htm

My beef with the Atari 2600 love comes down to people remembering the console more then the vastly superior arcade games.

True there are many many exceptions, and the Activision group in particular made quality games, but at the same time I lean more toward the original incanations being documented correctly...i.e. emulation.

The Atari roms for Stella are easily obtained and pretty much play exactly as I remembered..matter of fact, you can get prototypes that many people never played at all or were never released...also the pitiful Adult games as well.

BUT when I think of all the games that are lost because the MAME team has parameters that they won't go beyond I get sad.   True Pong wasn't exactly true to the original, but at the same time, until then, I love their version and file it under CLOSE ENOUGH.    I wish that same care could be put into the others.

That said, they are working for free, and I messaged a few of the guys at length and I understand the roadblocks.    Hopefully someday this will all be documented.    I just don't have room for every Arcade machine in its original form!

Now the controller problems...thats a whole different headache.

[torcer]

I remember finding the Easter Egg in Adventure by accident (I imagine most of us did because this was pre-Internet and there was no googling Easter Eggs).  I thought I'd damaged the game at first when I went through that secret wall.

How on earth did you stumble upon that?  If I remember you had to pick up a one pixel 'dot' in some hidden room (that required the bridge to get to), bring it to a certain screen, and bring a couple additional items to the same screen and drop them before you could go through the wall to the easter egg.  I found it from a friend who read it in a magazine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Adventure_Easteregg.PNG

Well... Adventure was not huge in terms of modern RPGs and we spent countless hours exploring every nook and cranny. 

[XyloSesame]

Good to see someone here still collecting carts.

Mission, do you run a virgin Sixer, or have you modded the console?

[missioncontrol]

Good to see someone here still collecting carts.

Mission, do you run a virgin Sixer, or have you modded the console?

None of my Ataris are moded

I also have a Vader 4 switch




and a Sears-Telegames....




More Carts here: