Question - FB2 Portable?

[atwwong]

Wait a second... I stopped reading this thread a (long) while back because I thought it was just a pie-in-the-sky dream. But it's actually happening? What are the specs on this? How many games will it hold? When will it be released and for how much?

I had a mini-faq going but it hasn't been updated for a while (Curt has posted a bit more info since then) but ths is the gist of the FB2 Portable info so far (scroll down to the bottom of the first post): http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...st&p=968362

[Math You]

It's very quiet on the FB2 thread....

[mimo]

[atwwong]

No news doesn't necessarily mean dead, as Atari has been known to be slow to move in the FB scene, but yes, we haven't heard anything new in the last little while...

[Math You]

Why am I so excited about a console thats nearly 30 years old? Anticipation is a strange thing.....

Edited May 25, 2007 by MRB

[mos6507]

so if im reading this right we wont be able to add a 2600 cart port. booooo.

 

I suspect you will, although it may not be as easy to do as on the existing FB2 because of the extra miniaturization.

[jaybird3rd]

will we be able to add a cart port also?

 

Sorry, no. USB Flash Ram only.

 

will development software be included?

 

Yes, we are in discussions with several development tools authors and if we haven't gotten to anyone, please email me, the system should supply as much as possible to give all who buy one the ability to join in on programming.

 

manual for development software?

 

A supplied CD-ROM will contain all software and manuals.

Yeah, but can you run Linux on it? I don't want one if I can't.

 

Seriously, though ... I don't think the inability to add a cartridge slot is all that big of a deal. There are already plenty of other options for playing the original cartridges, so why would anyone want one in a portable? So you have to carry a bunch of 2600 cartridges around with you? I doubt there would be enough room on a portable to add a solid cartridge connector, so you'd only end up dangling them off of some homemade ribbon cable anyway. Much easier to just play the games off of flash RAM, IMHO; after all, it's still the same software either way.

 

I do like the idea of including development tools with it, which will create new opportunities for homebrew developers.

Edited May 23, 2007 by jaybird3rd

[lucifershalo]

Hello,

sorry for my ignorance just joining the FB2 topic

that portable flashback with usb, is it an idea? a project? or a concrete reality?

[jbanes]

Hello,

sorry for my ignorance just joining the FB2 topic

that portable flashback with usb, is it an idea? a project? or a concrete reality?

The guy who posted that image is the one who made the Flashback 2 console. He's actually working to bring that handheld to the market, but it's anybody's guess when it will ship. (If ever.) I'm guessing that if Atari approves it for manufacture, it will come out sometime around Christmas.

[Curt Vendel]

Okay,

 

Everyone has been waiting VERY VERY patiently for an update. Currently the project is in a holding pattern, the prototypes are completed and working and I gotta tell you... its damned neat to download a game, transfer it to from the PC into the unit, unplug the unit and it performs a soft reset and updates the menu listing with the new game(s) added/removed.

 

In fact, next week the sample mockup is arriving. We'll see about showing everyone some photo's

 

The timeline to manufacturing window is closing up in 4 weeks and it is still unclear if production will begin. The project looks like it will however happen, it just may not make it for the holiday season 07'

 

I've had two meetings this week and most likely 1, maybe 2 more next week and we'll see where things go from there. In the meantime another project may get the green light in the modern gaming arena ahead of the portable, I will keep everyone posted.

 

Sorry I can't say more, but... well, I can't.

 

 

 

 

Curt

[atwwong]

Thanks Curt for the update! Patience IS a virtue...

[mimo]

Sounds positive,

fingers crossed, then we can get back to the FB3 :!:

[Math You]

Great news! What could this project in the 'modern gaming arena' be?

[mos6507]

Seriously, though ... I don't think the inability to add a cartridge slot is all that big of a deal. There are already plenty of other options for playing the original cartridges, so why would anyone want one in a portable? So you have to carry a bunch of 2600 cartridges around with you?

 

Because the VCS is 30 years old and nobody is making the chips anymore. Attrition is going to be more and more of a problem. So I am interested in the FB chipset as a way to "refresh" the lifecycle of genuine 2600 hardware. (The FB2 was good, but not 100% compatible so it doesn't count) While the new machine FB is a portable, if Curt were to also make some raw chips available, then people could use them to fix dead consoles or in custom cases.

[Asaki]

I've had two meetings this week and most likely 1, maybe 2 more next week and we'll see where things go from there.

 

Good luck

 

In the meantime another project may get the green light in the modern gaming arena ahead of the portable, I will keep everyone posted.

 

"ahead of the portable", does that mean this new project will get precedence over the FBP, or is it the other way around?

[Math You]

I think the new project is coming out before the Flashback Portable. That makes good business sense as anyone who buys the Flashback Portable and downloads free Atari games probably wouldn't buy future versions of the 2600 Flashback.

 

I can't think of anything that's really modern though? Could he be talking about a 2600jr with Activision/Imagic/Parker Bros games?

[SalemFrost7800]

Thanks Curt, this sounds very cool can't wait to see pictures

[purenergy]

Thank you Curt.

I will gladly wait for the FB2 Portable, and pray for it's release.

(And ponder about the modern product.)

[SalemFrost7800]

Curt,

 

Have you seen this Gameport?

 

Tim

[werejag]

Curt,

 

Have you seen this Gameport?

 

Tim

 

shesh that is a pos. not to even better that fb1

[Asaki]

I can't think of anything that's really modern though? Could he be talking about a 2600jr with Activision/Imagic/Parker Bros games?

 

While there are many Atari consoles more modern than the Atari 2600 (5200, 7800, Lynx, Jaguar, etc.), I'm guessing he means "modern" as in "something new to compete with the DS and PSP"...not that it would be very hard to compete with the PSP at this point in time

 

That Gameport looks promising, but they're awfully vague on it. They say that it won't emulate, but that it will synthesize using downloadable software? Also, I'm not sure why they bothered posting screenshots of all those games when they're clearly not in-action shots. Seems kind of fishy to me, but if they're really planning on getting ALL of those consoles to work on it, that'd be pretty sweet.

 

Of course, I'm still looking forward to the FBP to handle all of my 2600 needs

Edited May 29, 2007 by Asaki

[+remowilliams]

its damned neat to download a game, transfer it to from the PC into the unit, unplug the unit and it performs a soft reset and updates the menu listing with the new game(s) added/removed.

Excellent news to hear that this is still in the works!

 

One question, are we still talking about an 'open' system here, or are you hinting at an 'authorized' only download model?

[jbanes]

I thought the Gameport looked suspiciously close to Ben Heck's work. Turns out that he did the case design. Even named it.

 

That Gameport looks promising, but they're awfully vague on it. They say that it won't emulate, but that it will synthesize using downloadable software?

If I were to take a Wild Ass Guess, I'd say that it's probably an FPGA-based product. Especially given their comment, "RetroGames has decided to take a radically different approach and provide synthesized versions of the original hardware for all the popular 8 bit classic systems." Thus the "software" for the different systems will probably be the circuit layout files that would be uploaded before the game gets played.

 

Their constant references to the iPod do not suggest good things about the final price of this unit.

[antron]

In the meantime another project may get the green light in the modern gaming arena ahead of the portable

 

Are there any 2600 games on xbox live or the such? Could this modern gaming arena be a deal with one of the big 3? I just love speculating.

[stylez]

I thought the Gameport looked suspiciously close to Ben Heck's work. Turns out that he did the case design. Even named it.

 

That Gameport looks promising, but they're awfully vague on it. They say that it won't emulate, but that it will synthesize using downloadable software?

If I were to take a Wild Ass Guess, I'd say that it's probably an FPGA-based product. Especially given their comment, "RetroGames has decided to take a radically different approach and provide synthesized versions of the original hardware for all the popular 8 bit classic systems." Thus the "software" for the different systems will probably be the circuit layout files that would be uploaded before the game gets played.

 

Their constant references to the iPod do not suggest good things about the final price of this unit.

 

This is what was confirmed during an IRC chat (I brought that up in another thread, FPGA+CPU). BenHeck shows one of the early prototypes on the gametrailers show on MTV, it was supposed to air last week but I think it has been pushed to tomorrow evening.