Author Topic: Atari 2600 Flashback 2 (Read 11393 times)

rchadd · « **on:** June 17, 2005, 08:53:17 am »

http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/flashback2/

hackable to accept real carts too

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2005, 09:37:14 am »

have youplayed atari today

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2005, 09:57:42 am »

They had one at the FunSpot annual classic videogame tournament a few weeks back. Looked pretty cool; much much smaller than the old VCS.

grueinthebox · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2005, 11:34:48 am »

I've got a stack of 4 and 6 switch 2600's in the closet, and I think one of them is non-functional... Think I'll pick one of these up, hack it for the cart slot and install it in the original case with original switches. Likely be more reliable than my current A/V modded 4 switcher (which doesn't like to work on some TVs).

ChadTower · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2005, 12:17:47 pm »

Quote from: Hoagie_one on June 17, 2005, 09:37:14 am

have youplayed atari today

Yes, I play Atari nearly every day with my kids. The other day we played Berzerk for probably two hours.

brained · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2005, 11:18:45 am »

Speaking of Atari, my atari is not working, I'm only getting a black screen. Does somebody knows what it can be??
HELPPPPPPPPPPP I've bought a ton of NOS atari joysticks to sell them through ebay and now I don't have a way to test them!!

daywane · « **Reply #6 on:** July 05, 2005, 09:20:27 am »

atari what?
2600?
400?
800?
800xl
800 xe
1200
st?

what have you tried?

brained · « **Reply #7 on:** July 05, 2005, 12:09:31 pm »

it's a 2600, i've only tried cleaning the connectors, only that!!

daywane · « **Reply #8 on:** July 05, 2005, 05:37:57 pm »

I would guess its your cable going to TV.
That is my first guess

if that don't fix it try opening case, give everything a real good cleaning.
I have stuck many Atari Pc's in the tub. ( I have heard other used a dish washer)

some people even dry there boards in the oven. low heat! like 100 degree

this should help.

If it was the 8 bit PC I could have been more help.

brained · « **Reply #9 on:** July 07, 2005, 11:56:01 am »

I've already did the cleaning thing, BTW it was really clean inside... and still no luck

daywane · « **Reply #10 on:** July 09, 2005, 09:23:19 am »

best I can say is try a new cord going to the tv.

brained · « **Reply #11 on:** July 11, 2005, 12:06:49 pm »

It's sending data to the TV, 'cause when I switch to channel 3 and I turn on the Atari I get a Black Screen!!

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #12 on:** July 11, 2005, 05:23:17 pm »

Did you blow into the cartridge? That's as far as my console troubleshooting goes

daywane · « **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2005, 08:02:49 am »

a pencil eraser will clean the carts. if that is the problem.

ferrarimanf355 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2005, 01:02:02 pm »

I'm tempted to get one of these and put it on display next to the Xbox 360 I have on order. Old school meets new school...

And the price is only $30, according to Gamestop...
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=322166

missioncontrol · « **Reply #15 on:** July 30, 2005, 09:47:52 pm »

I wish they would hurry up and get these on the shelves........

I can't wait to take one apart........

Quote from: Hoagie_one on June 17, 2005, 09:37:14 am

have youplayed atari today

yep, I got my 2600 right in my computer room.........

I play it reguarly

RecycledPast · « **Reply #16 on:** August 04, 2005, 11:18:21 am »

Here's a link to a hack to use cartridges
http://www.atarimuseum.com/fb2hacks/index.htm

The site might be getting slammed since the link is getting posted all around. I found the link at http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000860053083/

Level42 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 05, 2005, 03:39:24 pm »

Geeeezzzz and I thought they would make it EASY to hack

geomartin · « **Reply #18 on:** August 06, 2005, 02:11:56 am »

Holy crap Bat Man, thats alot of work just to play 2600 carts. I can find an Atari 2600 with games and multiple paddles/joysticks for less than the Flashback console and mod equipment. Check your local flea markets

Level42 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2005, 04:34:45 pm »

Yeah, when I read that they would make it hackable and even that they would make indications on the PCB, I at least thought they would include soldering islands to solder in a connector, and away you go....but this sounds insane to me....

jhanson · « **Reply #20 on:** August 13, 2005, 02:24:16 pm »

Yeah, that's a bit much. I've got an old Atari 2600 Jr clone around here somewhere that accepts cartridges and has 32 built in games. I'll have to dig it out sometime and list it on the B/S/T forum.

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #21 on:** August 13, 2005, 05:06:59 pm »

One day I want to pick up a 2600, stick a m-ITX pc in the case, and run Stella on it. Would be cool.

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #22 on:** August 14, 2005, 12:09:03 am »

Then you could hack apart a cartridge, replace the original media with a flash card, and have it plug into the cartridge slot like a normal cartridge.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #23 on:** August 14, 2005, 03:28:23 pm »

Quote from: USSEnterprise on August 13, 2005, 05:06:59 pm

One day I want to pick up a 2600, stick a m-ITX pc in the case, and run Stella on it. Would be cool.

there's a tutorial on how to do it in this book:

Game Console Hacking

Havok · « **Reply #24 on:** August 15, 2005, 12:21:00 am »

Quote from: missioncontrol on July 30, 2005, 09:47:52 pm

I wish they would hurry up and get these on the shelves........

I can't wait to take one apart........

Quote from: Hoagie_one on June 17, 2005, 09:37:14 am
have youplayed atari today

yep, I got my 2600 right in my computer room.........

I play it reguarly

Coming soon - August 23rd!!!

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?dest=9999999997&product_id=3942996&sourceid=1500000000000001547870

Havok · « **Reply #25 on:** August 15, 2005, 12:22:16 am »

Quote from: geomartin on August 06, 2005, 02:11:56 am

Holy crap Bat Man, thats alot of work just to play 2600 carts. I can find an Atari 2600 with games and multiple paddles/joysticks for less than the Flashback console and mod equipment. Check your local flea markets

But it won't be new - could die any day...

geomartin · « **Reply #26 on:** August 15, 2005, 01:19:22 am »

At $29.82, I'm sure they used the finest quality electronic parts in the Atari Flashback 2

I will take the original any day. Just to make sure, I have 4 Atari 2600's in my stockpile

missioncontrol · « **Reply #27 on:** August 16, 2005, 01:17:48 pm »

Quote from: Havok on August 15, 2005, 12:21:00 am

Coming soon - August 23rd!!!

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?dest=9999999997&product_id=3942996&sourceid=1500000000000001547870

yes 2 days after my birthday............ guess that'll be my present to myself...........

MameMaster! · « **Reply #28 on:** August 17, 2005, 05:46:25 pm »

holy cow!....I thought for "fun" I would try my hand at a hack for once.....sigh. That's WAY too complicated!!!

But I'll buy one for sure.

Even though we have amazing modern gaming machines that can outdo anything an Atari did...it's still really cool to see an entire Atari 2600 with 40 games essentially on a chip.

Neat!

MameMaster!

Stingray · « **Reply #29 on:** August 18, 2005, 12:54:18 pm »

Looks pretty easy to me. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to do it in an evening in front of the TV. I'm really looking forward to this thing coming out. I may actually build that VCSp that I keep thinking about.

-S

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #30 on:** August 23, 2005, 01:21:49 pm »

Oooh! It's on sale as of today! Where else other than WalMart carries it? I'm part of the union boycott so couldn't shop there even if I wanted to.

Edit: Looks like CompUSA is also selling them, but their not in stock anywhere yet.

Havok · « **Reply #31 on:** August 23, 2005, 06:05:29 pm »

Quote from: JoyMonkey on August 23, 2005, 01:21:49 pm

Oooh! It's on sale as of today! Where else other than WalMart carries it? I'm part of the union boycott so couldn't shop there even if I wanted to.

Edit: Looks like CompUSA is also selling them, but their not in stock anywhere yet.

Lots of places will be carrying this:

Best Buy, Best Buy Canada, Blockbuster Canada, BMG Direct, Canadian Tire, Circuit City, Columbia House, CompUSA, Inc., EB Games Canada, Fred Meyer Inc, Fry's Electronics, Inc, Future Shop, Gamestop, Hastings Book Music Video, HEB, Hollywood Video, J&R Music World, Jumbo Video, Kmart, Loblaws, London Drugs, Macy's, Meijer, Inc., Micro Center, Movie Gallery, QVC, Real Canadian Superstore, Royal Electronics, Sears, Shopko Stores Inc., Staples, Target, The Musicland Group, Toys R Us, Transworld Music, Videotron, Walmart, Zellers

Take your pick!

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #32 on:** August 23, 2005, 08:09:32 pm »

None of them have it today though

Hoagie_one · « **Reply #33 on:** August 24, 2005, 09:15:41 am »

walmart only had one the other day

Stingray · « **Reply #34 on:** August 24, 2005, 02:51:07 pm »

I haven't seen one on the shelves yet. I'll probably wait for the inevitable post-xmas price drop before I buy one or two of them.

-S

Havok · « **Reply #35 on:** August 24, 2005, 10:52:18 pm »

Just got an update from Atari - there was a batch of units that had a defect in the sound chip, (I believe they actually used an incorrect model) so they have delayed shipping to get it fixed. If you buy one now (from Wal-mart), you will have the defective sound unit. The new release date is by 10/5, so we'll just have to wait...

missioncontrol · « **Reply #36 on:** August 27, 2005, 08:08:02 pm »

Quote from: Havok on August 24, 2005, 10:52:18 pm

Just got an update from Atari - there was a batch of units that had a defect in the sound chip, (I believe they actually used an incorrect model) so they have delayed shipping to get it fixed. If you buy one now (from Wal-mart), you will have the defective sound unit. The new release date is by 10/5, so we'll just have to wait...

I wait waiting.......

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #37 on:** September 02, 2005, 07:33:19 pm »

My very thoughtful wife just gave me a Flashback2! It works great (apart from Millipede which has vertical screen roll) and the joysticks are spot on! Now I can't get her to stop playing River Raid.
No problems with the sound chip as far as I can tell.
I haven't opened it up to see if there's space on the pcb to add the cartridge slot, but all in good time...

Edit: Yep, this one does have the sound problem (no voice sounds in Quantum).

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #38 on:** September 02, 2005, 08:28:32 pm »

Okay, curiosity got the better of me; I took it apart to see if the rumours of a possible edge-connector addition were true. There seems to be some kind of strange array of 14 large mirrored connections; this thing screams "edge connector", but I was picturing a set of 24 connectors. A litle more investigation will need to be done. There's a million threads on adding a cartidge slot over on AtariAge, better have a gander over there.

Here's some photo's of its innards (click for a big photo)...

Edit: For anyone wondering, here's a guide to adding a cartridge slot.

Scott84 · « **Reply #39 on:** September 02, 2005, 09:51:23 pm »

That seems sooo complicated to do that. My atari 2600 and its cartridges shall stay tucked away in my closet for the next while to come.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #40 on:** September 06, 2005, 02:18:07 pm »

Quote from: Scott84 on September 02, 2005, 09:51:23 pm

That seems sooo complicated to do that. My atari 2600 and its cartridges shall stay tucked away in my closet for the next while to come.

come out of the closet man....

Stingray · « **Reply #41 on:** September 06, 2005, 02:58:48 pm »

Wow, the board really is tiny isn't it? I saw on eof these in a store over the weekend. I was tempted, but I kept my resolve to not buy one until they get cheaper.

-S

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #42 on:** September 06, 2005, 03:37:27 pm »

Quote from: Stingray on September 06, 2005, 02:58:48 pm

Wow, the board really is tiny isn't it? I saw on eof these in a store over the weekend. I was tempted, but I kept my resolve to not buy one until they get cheaper.

-S

Cheaper than $30? Wow, I thought I was tight.

Stingray · « **Reply #43 on:** September 07, 2005, 10:40:09 am »

Why pay $30 for one now when the same thing will probably be $15ish after xmas? I've already got four real 2600s.

-S

Pik4chu · « **Reply #44 on:** September 07, 2005, 05:34:09 pm »

that is kind of a letdown. All that soldering just so I can play my big box of games because my atari's stopped working a while ago.

Im not all that good at soldering, and it would be cool. maybe after I get my next few cab projects done.

But also, look on the bright side. atleast its only a 24pin slot. Not like your trying to splice a JAMMA harness/board in there or something

Stingray · « **Reply #45 on:** September 08, 2005, 10:06:54 am »

If you really just want to play your old games again, jump on ebay and buy yourself a real 2600. You can buy a Junior any day of the week for less than a FB2.

-S

missioncontrol · « **Reply #46 on:** September 11, 2005, 10:46:28 am »

everytime I go into wal-mart or any other store with a toy section, I allways head state for the toy section to see if they have them yet........

Havok · « **Reply #47 on:** September 11, 2005, 01:02:23 pm »

Quote from: Stingray on September 08, 2005, 10:06:54 am

If you really just want to play your old games again, jump on ebay and buy yourself a real 2600. You can buy a Junior any day of the week for less than a FB2.

-S

But you get two brand new controllers, which will work with the old 2600s as well. Besides - it's so tiny!

Stingray · « **Reply #48 on:** September 12, 2005, 11:10:31 am »

Controllers? This is BYOAC. I built my own 2600 controller. Didn't you?

-S

Havok · « **Reply #49 on:** September 12, 2005, 01:41:31 pm »

Quote from: Stingray on September 12, 2005, 11:10:31 am

Controllers? This is BYOAC. I built my own 2600 controller. Didn't you?

-S

Nah - I only rebuilt them, which should also count!

Besides, yours is only good for actually using if it duplicates the cramping in the hand that you get from playing too much...

Stingray · « **Reply #50 on:** September 12, 2005, 02:02:29 pm »

Sadly, that feature could not be implimented in this version.

-S

Pik4chu · « **Reply #51 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:53:33 pm »

Quote from: Stingray on September 12, 2005, 02:02:29 pm

Sadly, that feature could not be implimented in this version.

-S

nothing a little reworking wouldn't fix. Just replace the balltop with a mini-stick,the button with a mini, make the box smaller and you will be getting those Hand Cramps

Level42 · « **Reply #52 on:** September 13, 2005, 12:55:47 pm »

Quote from: Havok on September 11, 2005, 01:02:23 pm

Quote from: Stingray on September 08, 2005, 10:06:54 am
If you really just want to play your old games again, jump on ebay and buy yourself a real 2600. You can buy a Junior any day of the week for less than a FB2.

-S

But you get two brand new controllers, which will work with the old 2600s as well. Besides - it's so tiny!

Wow, 2 brand new, most awkward, flimsy, clumsy, wrist-paining controllers ever made that break exactly after the 6 month warranty expired. Good thing we now have 2 years warrant by law in Europe

MajorLag · « **Reply #53 on:** September 16, 2005, 03:00:24 am »

*cough* somebody could probably make a tidy profit selling pre-moded AF2s *cough*

I know I'd buy one.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #54 on:** September 16, 2005, 11:49:25 am »

most people here will wait till they are on sail then b y o

missioncontrol · « **Reply #55 on:** September 27, 2005, 11:48:09 am »

Someone claiming to be on the Flashback 2 Engineering Team posted in the Atari Flashback thread on the main page....

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=43443.msg406763#msg406763

edit by moderator: direct link to message

Stingray · « **Reply #56 on:** September 27, 2005, 12:20:25 pm »

I'm pretty sure he's on the level. I know that Curt Vendel is involved with the FB2 design.

-S

missioncontrol · « **Reply #57 on:** September 29, 2005, 11:47:53 am »

yeah I've been keeping up with that thread alot of interesting things in the works.......

I just wanted to point it out here incase someone missed it.....

missioncontrol · « **Reply #58 on:** October 09, 2005, 08:34:17 am »

Quote from: Havok on August 24, 2005, 10:52:18 pm

The new release date is by 10/5, so we'll just have to wait...

I still havn't seen one in the stores yet

Stingray · « **Reply #59 on:** October 10, 2005, 10:49:49 am »

I have, but IMO, they're still too much. If you you really want one I can pick one up for you if you like.

-S

daywane · « **Reply #60 on:** October 11, 2005, 10:06:42 am »

ok , who is this guy? I have seen his case mods on teck TV screen savers.
now look at what he is doing to the flash back
http://mods.xkill.net/redir_minimame.html
if this don't take you to the flash back hit his current project.
man! his PC case mods and his skills at molds make me SICK. I am so green I am just going to bed.

missioncontrol · « **Reply #61 on:** October 11, 2005, 08:41:11 pm »

Quote from: Stingray on October 10, 2005, 10:49:49 am

I have, but IMO, they're still too much. If you you really want one I can pick one up for you if you like.

-S

I'll just wait it out. but thanks anyway.........


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Author Topic: Atari 2600 Flashback 2 (Read 11393 times)

jhanson