View Full Version : The Atari 2600 is back! (sort of)
Night Hacker
09-30-2005, 03:22 PM
This is called the Atari Flashback, it is the Atari 2600 with games all built into this unit that looks like a scaled down version of the original machine.
I definately want one!!! http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/games/2005-09-22-atari-flashback_x.htm
NutWrench
09-30-2005, 03:39 PM
Whoa! This is the most fun you can have with your pants on! http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Night Hacker
09-30-2005, 06:56 PM
That's a screenie of Pitfall 1. Pitfall 2 was much better (in my opinion of course).
Edit: Oh wait, maybe that is Pitfall 2, near the beginning?
Kevin Wolff
09-30-2005, 06:57 PM
What's funny is that the ROM space for all 40 games is probably around 100KB. Game carts were 2k/4k. My UT2k4 install is 5.5GB.
Gotta love it.
avatar_58
09-30-2005, 06:59 PM
I've seen that thing at ebgames for the longest time, I might eventually pick one up for dad's birthday as a joke http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Wamplet
09-30-2005, 07:29 PM
They sell those and other ones at the malls, I think. They got atari, nintendo, and some other ones. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Phayzon
10-01-2005, 09:15 AM
Kevin Wolff said:
What's funny is that the ROM space for all 40 games is probably around 100KB. Game carts were 2k/4k. My UT2k4 install is 5.5GB.
Gotta love it.
40? Mine, my friend's, my other friend's, his friend's, my uncle's, my other uncle's an my neighboor's, all have 20.
8IronBob
10-01-2005, 09:32 AM
Yeah, at least the 2600 Flashback may be far better than Atari's plug and play TV joystick that only holds, like, a half-dozen games. That seems to pale in comparison to the real deal.
Kevin Wolff
10-01-2005, 10:59 PM
Phayzon said:
Kevin Wolff said:
What's funny is that the ROM space for all 40 games is probably around 100KB. Game carts were 2k/4k. My UT2k4 install is 5.5GB.
Gotta love it.
40? Mine, my friend's, my other friend's, his friend's, my uncle's, my other uncle's an my neighboor's, all have 20.
The article says 40.
Never played an Atari system before, but I distinctly having some sort of system pre-Nintendo days. Can't remember what it was called. Hooked up to the TV and there was this special connector for it.
avatar_58
10-02-2005, 01:04 AM
Jeff said:
Never played an Atari system before, but I distinctly having some sort of system pre-Nintendo days. Can't remember what it was called. Hooked up to the TV and there was this special connector for it.
I had a vic-20, but I recieved it after my NES. It used tapes and odd shaped cartridges. Really crappy games though...
The Dukenator
10-02-2005, 03:52 AM
Jeff said:
Never played an Atari system before, but I distinctly having some sort of system pre-Nintendo days. Can't remember what it was called. Hooked up to the TV and there was this special connector for it.
It might've been a Colecovision. You had to have a TV/Game switch for it to work. I cheated and used a cable instead, it worked that way. You could've got an extension so it can play Atari carts. It came with 2 games. Donkey Kong & Donkey Kong Jr.
I don't have mine anymore, sold it to a guy, who runs a gaming place, prior to getting the NES last year from a pawnshop.
oak man
10-02-2005, 11:52 PM
NutWrench said:
Whoa! This is the most fun you can have with your pants on! http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
http://inauspicious.org/coding/smc/original.png
this was the most all time!
I remember having a console with it, and there was a switch I had to hook up to it which switched from TV to the game. It said TV/Game on it or something like that.
http://www.atarimuseum.com/fb2hacks/page1.htm
I kinda want to get one just to try this
avatar_58
10-03-2005, 02:11 AM
Hey I checked Atari's site and it directed me to walmart. According to them this thing isn't out yet? Maybe I was mistaken and saw the flashback 1 in stores...
Well when this comes out (10/17 according to whale-mart) I'll pick one up. My parents actually want the thing too http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Night Hacker
10-03-2005, 10:23 PM
That's kewl. I imagine your parents played an atari 2600 when it was out.
I should see if my old 2600 still works. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I don't know if I will be able to get one this month, my VCR died and I had to replace it and now my TV is starting to go. grrrr... it never rains but it pours.
avatar_58
10-03-2005, 10:44 PM
My mom is a big Pitfall fan http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif So its nice to see the flashback 2 has it. I played an original 2600 before, but I'm not quite sure if we sold it or gave it away.
I wish Atari would license out more games, it sucks to know that certain popular names aren't included due to greed. Just look at the Pacman and frogger only tv games http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif They would get more sales by including them in this deal.
Night Hacker
10-04-2005, 01:49 AM
California Games was excellent on the Atari and one of the most complex games I played on it used EVERY button and switch on the machine, including the B&W/COLOUR switch etc... it was a Space Shuttle simulator for the atari 2600.
Joe Siegler
10-04-2005, 07:42 PM
Old news. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
You should be reading this:
http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/flashback2/
Night Hacker
10-05-2005, 11:41 AM
If you look at the image in that news item I posted, it looks like it is the Flashback 2 not the original Flashback. Looks like the article forgot to put the 2 in or sumpin.
Either way, looks good and I want one. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Edit: Joe, I just noticed this part in that article you posted!
Hacking Heaven
The excitement doesn't end there though. Atari realized that because this is an actual 2600 under the hood, fans may want to run their original cartridges with it. Including a cartridge slot would have been a technical support nightmare however, with average joes calling wondering why this 20 something year old cartridge they just picked up at a garage sale won't work on the new console. Of course, we all know a little cleaning rubbing alcohol on the cartridge contacts will do wonders. But who wants to spend a fortune maintaining staff just to dole that bit of wisdom out? So they did the next best thing. Open it up (which will void your warranty) and you'll find it's all set up for people to hack in their own cartridge ports!
The only thing standing in your way (besides the cosmetic surgery you'll have to perform on the case cover), is Gizmo. No, not the furry little Gremlin from the 80's, but the MMU/Menu chip. According to Curt, "There are 2 convenient traces on the board leading to the Menu/Game chip to cut and disable with through board holes on either side of the trace points. What this means is you cut the traces, wire up a double throw/single pull toggle switch, and you can switch between a cart and built in game."
This is kewl! Although I don't know if I would want to hack at it. I have an old Atari if I need it.
avatar_58
10-06-2005, 01:13 PM
Joe3DR said:
Old news. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
You should be reading this:
http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/flashback2/
The one posted was the flashback 2, because it includes 40 games. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Joe Siegler
10-07-2005, 07:32 AM
Of course some of us still have their Atari collections..
Joe Siegler
10-07-2005, 01:57 PM
avatar_58 said:
Joe3DR said:
Old news. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
You should be reading this:
http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/flashback2/
The one posted was the flashback 2, because it includes 40 games. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Huh? I don't understand that at all.
Night Hacker
10-07-2005, 01:58 PM
Nice! I was wondering when you would post something about them. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I tried my machine the other day but couldn't get it to work. I still have over 20 cartridges left, some were stolen/damaged when loaned out years ago.
I used to have an Atari emulator with some games, but it was for DOS. I still have the ROM files laying around somewhere. I believe I have around 512 cartridge rom files. I should check around for a Windows emulator one of these days.
avatar_58
10-07-2005, 07:50 PM
The link night hacker posted WAS the flashback 2. The site just didn't refer to it as such in the title.
Night Hacker
10-08-2005, 12:44 AM
Woot! I downloaded an Atari 2600 emulator for WIndows so now I can play the 500+ roms I have. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Played some frogs and flies today, I don't know why I like that game, it's so simple... perhaps it's the atmosphere. heh.
DOSGuy
10-08-2005, 08:25 AM
Having read the instructions, I don't think I would try to mod one of those things myself. Here's hoping that Flashback 3 has a real cartridge slot (and maybe some cleaning alcohol for good measure, or at least instructions on how to clean 25 year old cartridges).
8IronBob
10-08-2005, 08:50 AM
Night Hacker said:
Woot! I downloaded an Atari 2600 emulator for WIndows so now I can play the 500+ roms I have. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Played some frogs and flies today, I don't know why I like that game, it's so simple... perhaps it's the atmosphere. heh.
Yeah, an Atari emulator would be far better than any of those dumb game collection CD-ROMs that you see in the store for $10 - $20.
Joe Siegler
10-12-2005, 04:25 PM
I picked one up today at the big Walmart near me.
It's quite "cute", actually. It's a baby version of one of the old console designs, with buttons instead of switches. Comes with real Atari joysticks (although the originals didn't have the Atari logo on them).
Beats the ever lovin tar out of the Flashback 1. That was crap.
It's got some of the classic games (Centipede, Missile Command, etc). It's also got some hacks on there. Arcade Asteroids was never officially released. Save Mary and Combat 2 were prototypes. So there's some oddball things here. Some original games are on here too. The Atari Climber is kinda fun.
As someone who still has their original Atari 2600 from 1977, and has an insaneo number of game cartridges, and knows the legacy of all this material, this was done right.
And what's cool is that you can hack it (http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/flashback2/) to take original 2600 cartridges, since this isn't an emulator, it's legit 2600 hardware.
Simon Charles
10-12-2005, 04:39 PM
Joe, why do you think the Atari Flashback 1 was crap? I was thinking about getting one since I used to play as a kid and the only thing that really bothered me was the absence of Joust on it. If it hadn't been for that, I would have gotten one because it looked like a faithful throwback. Why is it crap? http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Joe Siegler
10-12-2005, 05:01 PM
1) It's an emulator. Sounds and "feel" aren't right. Flashback 2 is real 2600 hardware, no emulation.
2) The controllers are those horrific Atari 7800 style controllers. Bleargh! Flashback 2 has real 2600 joysticks.
I have a Flashback 1. I'm not just randomly insulting it. I've played it. It's not good. Flashback 2 kicks it in the head.
avatar_58
10-12-2005, 05:05 PM
Joe3DR said:
1) It's an emulator. Sounds and "feel" aren't right. Flashback 2 is real 2600 hardware, no emulation.
2) The controllers are those horrific Atari 7800 style controllers. Bleargh! Flashback 2 has real 2600 joysticks.
I have a Flashback 1. I'm not just randomly insulting it. I've played it. It's not good. Flashback 2 kicks it in the head.
I had doubts about the flashback 2 but hearing that it sounds amazing. Its good that they chose the real hardware instead of an emulator.
http://www.arcadeflyerarchive.com/videoflyers/photos/S_Tank%208%20F.jpg
I still want my own Tank 8 machine.
Night Hacker
10-12-2005, 06:44 PM
I'm curious, are the joysticks like the originals? I mean, I remember the originals joysticks and they were tough suckers to move! heh. I still have the original machine and the sleeker design they made later on. I just couldn't get them working on my TV, not sure why. They originally needed a switch box on the back, I am wondering if maybe I just done something wrong, I'm not exactly certain how to hook them up now. One reason why I want the FLashback 2.
I think I have about 30 cartridges. That Space Shuttle Simulator still impressed me the most I think. Pitfall 2 was one of my favorites, Yars revenge, California Games was awesome. I also loved Battlezone and another Battlezone like game from Activision I forget the name of it off hand, but was fun.
The Activision games were always the best in my opinion. They just seemed to know how to make the best of what the machine had to offer. I still have a pad you could plug in as well, it was a numeric keypad that came with a game, I forget the name, some game where you flew through space shooting other ships, the pad had these cards you could stick on it that said what keys were for what (shields, map etc...). Was pretty kewl, but only one game used it that I know of.
Interestingly enough, I think the Atari 2600 had 256 colours if I am not mistaken, quite impressive for it's day. Even the Atari computers had that.
Joe Siegler
10-13-2005, 09:47 AM
It's not a 100% exact original joystick. But that's cosmetic.
I haven't taken one apart to see what's in there, but it looks and feels exatly the same. The only exterior visual difference is the fact that there's an Atari logo on there which wasn't on the originals.
crunchy superman
10-13-2005, 12:51 PM
I figured I'd skip this. It ain't quite the same as the nostalgia of plugging in cartridges into one of those heavy chunks of plastic.
Besides, that ain't enough games. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Joe Siegler
10-13-2005, 12:54 PM
crunchy superman said:
I figured I'd skip this. It ain't quite the same as the nostalgia of plugging in cartridges into one of those heavy chunks of plastic.
That's fair enough. I can understand that. But I wanted one just the same. It is also the first 2600 hardware to come with av cables as standard equipment.
The hardcores have long ago modded their original hardware to remove the RF stuff and replace it with av cables anyway, but it's nice to see it "out of the box", so to speak.
crunchy superman
10-13-2005, 01:01 PM
Joe3DR said:
The hardcores have long ago modded their original hardware to remove the RF stuff and replace it with av cables anyway
Yeah, I already have one of mine composite modded this way - another reason I figured it'd be a waste to get a Flashback.
Simon Charles
10-13-2005, 01:43 PM
Bah! No Joust on that one either! http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Joe Siegler
10-13-2005, 02:09 PM
There's like 700 or so unique titles in the 2600's history. You can't have everything! http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Simon Charles
10-13-2005, 08:21 PM
Joe3DR said:
There's like 700 or so unique titles in the 2600's history. You can't have everything! http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I know, I know... yet they put both Yar's games in there.
avatar_58
10-13-2005, 08:23 PM
What I would really like is a NES-flashback type system. You know, a plug in play device with about 50 best NES titles. http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I would buy it...
Joe Siegler
10-14-2005, 10:18 AM
Simon Charles said:
Joe3DR said:
There's like 700 or so unique titles in the 2600's history. You can't have everything! http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I know, I know... yet they put both Yar's games in there.
Well, one's a user hack. There's several hacks, and a few protos in this collection, which is a cool thing. That's likely due to Albert over at atariage.com being involved with this.
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