2600 homebrews?

[Dauber]

Just curious...I'm considering "upgrading" to a 7800...I haven't gotten any 2600 homebrews [yet], but I'm curious as to whether there are any 2600 homebrews that have been found not to work in any variation of the 7800???

[gambler172]

Hi

as soon as i know,all 2600 homebrews work on the 7800.

greetings gambler172

[jbanes]

Most of the homebrew developers are aware that the 7800 systems have occasional glitches, and tend to test for them. Now that the Cuttlecart 2 is a popular platform for playing ROMs (only available on the 7800), EVERYONE tests for 7800 compatibility.

 

I own a 7800, but I've only had a single instance where I've had a problem. (Starmaster) I thought there was a problem with A-VCS-Tec when I received it, but it turned out that the long tone (that sounded like the console glitching out) was just the beginning of the music.

[Atarifever]

Yep, there seems to be no problem. Wolfenstein VCS and This Planet Sucks (the only 2 homebrews I ordered yet) both work fine.

[jpfalcon2003]

I have several and they all are fine on the 7800.

[vdub_bobby]

Some are specifically coded to detect a 7800 and run different code when they do so! I know Go Fish! does that.

 

EDIT: And I think Reindeer Rescue does so also.

Edited October 3, 2006 by vdub_bobby

[jbanes]

Some are specifically coded to detect a 7800 and run different code

That raises two questions:

 

1. Any specific reason for doing this?

 

2. Any links to how this is done? I've got some 7800-style pause code that would benefit from this routine.

[vdub_bobby]

Some are specifically coded to detect a 7800 and run different code

That raises two questions:

 

1. Any specific reason for doing this?

 

2. Any links to how this is done? I've got some 7800-style pause code that would benefit from this routine.

That's why. Nukey Shay wrote the code I used, it involves reading RAM values at startup - on a 2600, RAM is random, on a 7800, certain locations are not. I'll see if I can dig the posts up.

 

EDIT: You can start here: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=63710

 

EDIT EDIT: Here's the code from Go Fish!

StartBank1
	sei
	cld
   ;--the following code determines whether the machine running it is a 7800 or a 2600 :)
   ;	   Credit: Nukey Shay (http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=63589&view=findpost&p=793752)

	ldy #0
	lda $D0
	cmp #$2C			   ;check RAM location #1
	bne MachineIs2600
	lda $D1
	cmp #$A9			   ;check RAM location #2
	bne MachineIs2600
   ;--else this is running on a 7800.  Thanks, Nukey!
	ldy	#%01000000
MachineIs2600
	ldx #0
	txa
ClearStackLoop
	dex
	txs
	pha
	bne ClearStackLoop

	sty Flags			  ;set Machine Type.

Edited October 3, 2006 by vdub_bobby

[jbanes]

VDub, you rock!

[jboypacman]

All should work on the 7800.All my seem to work fine.So unless anyone else knows otherwise.

[BrianC]

My replacement Conquest of Mars doesn't work right on my 7800. The screen flips on the title screen and the game goes to a black screen when I start the game. However, one time when I tried different RF hookups and switched back, I got it working on the 7800, but the times I tried it after that, I got the black screen age. I didn't have any problems with screen flipping or the black screen on my 2600s, but hits would occansionally (but rarely) not register. It's not nearly as bad as it was on my initial copy and it doesn't happen often, though.

 

My other homebrews, Marble Craze and Star Fire both work great on my 7800, though.

Edited October 4, 2006 by BrianC

[mos6507]

Does that 7800 detection also work when loading games on the Supercharger and Cuttle Cart?

[+batari]

Does that 7800 detection also work when loading games on the Supercharger and Cuttle Cart?

It is known to work with a CC2, never tested (AFAIK) on a CC, but I'm pretty sure a Supercharger would always "detect" a 2600 even if running on a 7800.

 

If someone would like to try on a CC/SC anyway, I wrote this program a while back, which will detect the console and display 2600 or 7800 on the screen.

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?a...st&id=31186

[godzillajoe]

I thought using a Super Charger on a 7800 could break it

[jbanes]

I thought using a Super Charger on a 7800 could break it

According to the FAQ, the SuperCharger does work on some 7800s. If it doesn't work on your system, then you may damage the SC.

 

The relevant passage:

Superchargers may be permanently damaged when used on the 7800. Try Robot Tank first and then proceed only if that cart works.

Edited October 4, 2006 by jbanes

[jaymz887]

i havent had any problems with the homebrew games...but i know of one game pleides i had problems with it on the 7800 system on the return home screen...it wasblank..but on the 2600 it works great..

[Video]

The real incompatibility issue with the 7800 is that some carts don't fit, but the only instance I know of a rom not working is Koolaid man, which won't work.

 

As for Homebrews, All of mine work, I have

Skeleton, Jammed, Combat Rock, Venture 2, Christmas greeting cart 03, Marble Craze, Berzerk VE, Waring worms, and the Test cart, All were tested and worked fine on my 7800.

[Urchlay]

The real incompatibility issue with the 7800 is that some carts don't fit, but the only instance I know of a rom not working is Koolaid man, which won't work.

 

I have yet to come across a cart that doesn't fit in my main "workhorse" 7800... Some Activision and Imagic carts seem to be a tight fit. Admittedly, I've jammed so many "don't fit" carts in there that the slot is looser than it was originally... but no damage to the 7800 or carts. Still, I'm a player, not a collector. I wouldn't recommend this to a serious collector, it probably lowers the resale value of the console (and it probably scratches the carts, but most of mine were so scratched when I got them that I'd never notice).

 

I have another 7800 that's so tight, the 7800 Pole Position II that came with it barely fits. I haven't tried any of the Activision or Imagic carts on it (probably they'll work fine, but there's no need). This 7800 is beautiful, and if someone told me it was brand new, I'd believe it (but it didn't come in a box, and I only paid $35 for it, with controllers and 6 or 7 games).

 

Where does AA get the cart shells for homebrews? I know they used to all be recycled Pac-Man and Combat carts (which would fit any 7800 just fine), but now some of them come in translucent cases that I assume are newly manufactured...?

 

I've read that Kool-Aid Man also doesn't work on some 2600jr consoles (the later ones made in China, I think), so I wouldn't consider it a big deal if it doesn't work on the 7800.

 

...time passes...

 

Hm, I just tried Kool-Aid Man on my main 7800 (using the Cuttle Cart 2), and it seems to work just fine. I'm not that familiar with the game, but I don't see any graphical glitches or obvious gameplay problems. How exactly does it fail on your 7800? Could it be something electronic, related to the circuit board on the cart, rather than the game code? (I don't see why it should be, it's just a 4K ROM, no need for fancy/weird cart hardware...)

[Shawn]

My replacement Conquest of Mars doesn't work right on my 7800. The screen flips on the title screen and the game goes to a black screen when I start the game. However, one time when I tried different RF hookups and switched back, I got it working on the 7800, but the times I tried it after that, I got the black screen age.

 

 

I find thqat quite odd seeing as COM was debug and functionality tested on 3 totally different models of the 7800 for months threw the growth of the game.

[+johnnywc]

My replacement Conquest of Mars doesn't work right on my 7800. The screen flips on the title screen and the game goes to a black screen when I start the game. However, one time when I tried different RF hookups and switched back, I got it working on the 7800, but the times I tried it after that, I got the black screen age.

 

 

I find thqat quite odd seeing as COM was debug and functionality tested on 3 totally different models of the 7800 for months threw the growth of the game.

 

Hello Brian,

 

I'm sorry that you're experiencing such issues with CoM on your 7800. Like Shawn stated - CoM was debugged and tested on many different systems prior to release, including a 7800 (in fact, all of my testing was done on a 7800). The one difference is that I tested through a CC2, but the 4 copies I've received from Al have all worked without issue.

 

Do you have any other TV/Atari systems to test it on? I'm just trying to troubleshoot the issue and determine if it's a specific system or television that's causing the issue. I certainly want to figure out what's causing this so that I can make whatever adjustments to the code to increase the compatibility of CoM for all systems.

 

Please PM me with any suggestions or any other info that you think may be helpful.

 

Thanks,

[BrianC]

I tested on two different TVs and had the same problem with the 7800. However, I actually got the game working for a bit on the 7800 when I switched to one of the direct hookups and then back to game mode on the multiple system switch box. Also, when I used the hookup with a coaxial to female RCA adapter, I didn't get the screen flipping, but I still got the lockups. On my two 2600s, the game works fine for the most part.

 

I haven't had problems with any other game on the 7800, though the power switch on it is very finicky. I need to get my hands on a robot tank to see if that one works.

 

Edit: I got the game working again after switching the channel on the back of the 7800 and then back to the default. I have a feeling that the game may not be the problem, but I sure would like to know what is causing the odd behavior, especially since no other game displayed it.

 

I should also mention that my 7800 is one of those that was made in Taiwan.

 

I love the game itself, though. I find it to be even better than the original Caverns of Mars in some ways. Also, the replacement does work much better than the previous one and that hit detection thing happens so rarely, it's not much of a problem. Even with the minor issues I had, this is one killer game.

Edited October 5, 2006 by BrianC

[shadow460]

I see you've taken the pluge, Dauber. Keep your Jr for a little while, as you'll need it to play Imagic and Tigervision games until you've modded the 7800. It's easy to do.

 

I'd actually keep the Jr anyway in case you ever get a game that your brand shiny old 7800 doesn't like.

In fact, I'd like to have a VCS myself, but I'm waiting for a good deal on a Sears Heavy Sixer.

 

I have a Kool Aid man cart and it works fine. I also have a SuperCharger, which I (like a moron) just plugged in one day. I've seen more SuperChargers out there than Robot Tank games (they're both R4 items). My Robot Tank works, too.

 

Only thing I ever did to the machine was cut the cart sleeve. Like Urchlay's, mine looks brand new, so I'm keeping the number of mods down. Until you look into the cart port, you can't see it's been cut down.

Edited October 5, 2006 by shadow460

[vdub_bobby]

The real incompatibility issue with the 7800 is that some carts don't fit

There is a whole section of the FAQ here on AA devoted to this: http://www.atariage.com/7800/faq/index.htm...mID=7800#cat3_3

And this has been talked to death here on AtariAge: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and etc.

[BrianC]

Keep your Jr for a little while, as you'll need it to play Imagic and Tigervision games until you've modded the 7800

 

I don't have any Tigervision games, but all of my Imagic games work on the 7800. They sometimes take some trying to get them in, but I even got No Escape and Quick Step working without moding the 7800 or the cartridges.