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SimpleStereo v3 and IO-Board

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:43:47 +0000

As I see some intrest in IO-Board (SIO2PC running at 126kbit/s under AspeQT and connector set for SimpleStereo) and SimpleStereo (dual pokey upgrade, audio mixer and amplifier, aki (atari keyboard interface - enables Atari to use standard PC keyboards), and covox all in one upgrade) I wonder if there is a point in making another production run of those boards

i would also like to introduce some improovements compared to v2 boards:

as for SimpleStereo
- audio channels remapped in Amiga style (required by interia player, NeoTracker can be set up for SimpleStereo board mappings)
- added support for Atari ST (Mega ST, STE and TT) keyboards

as for IO-Board
- stand alone mode (to enable it for use as 1050 to PC interface with aproperiate software)

price would stay the same

$45 for SimpleStereo (pokey chip not included)
$28 for IO-Board

I need at least 10 people to make it happend, otherwise board cost would not be acceptable for anyone

Scroll F'ever

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:22:15 +0000

Hello,

as usual I'm sharing our (MaPa & PG) newest 1kB intro called Scroll F'ever for anyone interested. In the attached ZIP file you will find all the necessary files to successfully compile the main source file scroll.xsm (with XASM assembler which I used) to working executable. On top there is compiled executable scroll.xex and compressed one Scroll F'ever.xex which is about 40% smaller and was used as the compo entry. As usual it works correctly only in PAL, NTSC doesn't have enough time in one frame. Also there is source file scroll_chngcol.xsm and its corresponding .xex file which was made to test some different color schemes. In the upper part of the screen is displayed color register C0-C8 which means $2c0-$2c8 end next to it its corresponding color value. You can play with the colors with keys Q and A (changing color register), W and S (changing hue of selected register), E and D (changing luma). We hope you like our intro so enjoy it!

Scroll Fever.zip (29.76K)
: 17

Kroah's Decompiing page

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:09:26 +0000

Hey I was looking to see how Kroah and his crew were doing at decompiling Return of Heracles, but apparently the website is gone.

Here is what it looked like...

http://web.archive.org/web/20061126163421/http://bringerp.free.fr/RE/#

Anyone know what happened to Kroah? They had some great insite in some great Atari 8 games.

WANTED: Game Boy Advance SP

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:55:45 +0000

I'm looking for a Game Boy Advance SP for linking to my Gamecube, but Gamestop stopped carrying them and no one around here has one. Anyone got a good condition working one with charger? I'd like to trade if possible but if you want to sell, I'll take that into account as well.

For trade, I have:

-FC Mobile II lot(yes...it STILL available)
-Atari XEGS with keyboard, joystick, RF unit, Bug Hunt, Flight Simulator II, Pac Man, Centipede, Robotron 2084, Dig Dug, and Star Raiders. For this trade, I don't mind taking it out of box to ship
-Colecovision system with AC Adapter.

Let me know.

New Low-Water Mark for Lochjaw?

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:09:58 +0000

I ended up nabbing this lot earlier tonight that happened to have a Lochjaw cart tucked away in it. I confirmed with the seller that the cartridge does have an end label after getting nauseated by the fact that I might've just bought a Lochjaw without an end label... which would've led to one hell of a case of buyer's remorse and/or a drinking binge. Despite being sort of hidden and not being spoiled by anyone that came across it, isn't this pretty cheap for a Lochjaw cart? I've seen some that looked like they'd been digested by the Sarlacc sell for more in recent memory.

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 270548243925

Another repair topic.

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:59:47 +0000

Hi all,
As you all know, I am always having problems with my units. I haven't got around to fixing my sixer yet, so I popped out one of my 4 switchers. Turned it on and all is working ok, but it seems like some rf or something is coming in on the screen. I tried taking a picture, but it doesn't show up too well.

It is hard to explain, looks like if you had the screen under water and was looking down thru it while the water was moving a little. So, I thought I would open it up and tinker. So far, I changed the power regulator, that green thing next to it, the grey tube thing right above it, and also reflowed the board. Also changed the cable leating from the unit to the tv. STILL HAPPENING!

Like I said, it plays ok, I would just like to clear up the "watery" look. BTW, if I switch it to channel 2, the screen looks pretty good, hardly any interference.

Any ideas? Thanks

Donkey Kong blue text label?

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:21:29 +0000

I spoke to a friend of mine yesterday. I told him I was at a flea market. Funny thing is that someone else we knew was there earlier than I was. He told me that our mutual friend found a guy with Atari games and had a blue label Pitfall and blue label Donkey Kong. He texted the guy I spoke to on the phone and asked him if these were good to pick up. He suggested the DK, so he bought the DK. I got to the table later on, not knowing this guy bought a DK from the seller already, and saw the blue label Pitfall. I actually passed it up for a buck, being a rather common blue label.

Anyway, I did not see the DK, but had not heard that there was a blue label DK. Can someone confirm this? I saw some weird black cart with blue title on Atari Mania made by Coleco. But I was under the assumption that this was a blue text Activision label. I'm going to try and get in touch with our mutual friend and see if he can send me a scan of the DK.

Phil

EGM returns!

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:01:37 +0000

The April 2010 edition of Electronic Gaming Monthly will mark a return more than a year after the magazine was shuttered by Ziff-Davis (aka THE DEVIL). The original creator of EGM has purchased the rights to the property and is heading up the new publication.

This is sweet! EGM was and still is my favorite rag for good, solid info. Even Seanbaby is back on board writing new articles on terrible games. I'll definately be picking this one up. It's nice to see that even with the total saturation of the internet, that monthly magazines still have a place in gaming. Since ZD is no longer involved in things, maybe they'll resurrect a bunch of the old standards that I loved during the mags early years, like "Trickman Terry" and the "Quartermann" sections. Maybe even bring back Sushi-X!

Import Psone games FS

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:27:56 +0000

Star Ocean the Second Story $20
Final Fantasy VII International edition $42
Thousand Arms $15

or buy the lot for $70 shipped

These are all originals, not the best or ultimate hits case version

Prices are shipped

Don't hesitate to make offers either

P166 DEC laptop $25 shipped

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:00:10 +0000

I'd get it myself but too strapped for cash right now. Wanted to see if anyone would like to get their retro game on a cool older laptop

http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?19748-Digital-HiNote-Ultra-2000-P166-32mb-2gb-GOOD-battery!!
Hope someone wants this!

Doom 1.5?

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 01:23:06 +0000

Here's a video of me trying Doom 2 level 1 on the Jaguar.

A friend of mine has been exploring the inner depths of the Jaguar Doom WAD file format, stripping it down & learning all about the different component parts & how they work together. This video is of a .rom he sent to me to look at - level 1 of Doom 2 - I wouldn't know myself, I'm not massively up on any version of Doom other than the Jaguar one & I haven't played for around 15 years, but that's what he tells me it is.

As you'll see there is a little bug with the outside world part, looks a bit crazy That's no big deal apparently.

I think the aim of what he is doing in his explorations is to push the Jaguar version of Doom, see what it can & can't handle. After that, who knows? Just thought some people might be interested in seeing a little of what he has been doing.

Spring Cleaning - lots of stuff at 99 cents

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 01:06:34 +0000

Hi, I've decided to clean up a little and sell games from my collection that are just taking up space. All of these are good ol' 99-cent auctions with no reserve. I hope you folks don't mind posting the link here, I figured some of the items might be of interest to members.

Items include a big Atari Lot (including a boxed Pressure Cooker, Dolphin,... and loose Crackpots, Frostbite...), a Coleco games lot, lots of Nintendo Stuff (N64, GameBoy,...), OIDS for the Atari ST, and some AD&D Gold Box Editions for the C64/128.

eBay Seller: mepaddy

Thanks! Let me know if you have questions.

Phantasy Star Universe: Extra Mode

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:39:06 +0000

So I recently managed to beat the one-player mode of Phantasy Star Universe. (The ending was very disappointing, but that is another topic). I have started playing "Extra" mode.

All of the free missions, weapons, and NPCs are now unlocked, but I am still finding it rather boring. There are only a very few missions open to low-level characters (i.e. below level 10) and the only way to level up is to do those same few missions over-and-over again.

Am I mssing something here, like a faster way to level-up, or is that all there is?

Put up one of my defend atlantis forms up on Ebay

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:37:50 +0000

After the 3 and half years since I have gotten the standee with the forms, I still have not seen another one. I think it is the one Atari2600.com sold a few years back before I got this. So thanks for looking.

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 140393179115

OK, where are these Ebay tags that Albert speaks of. Really want to know how to use that?

Limited Edition™ Store™ - Sony PlayStation 3 [Reference TOOL] Development Station / DECR-1000A

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:54:00 +0000

Any News, and Selling of "Sony PlayStation 3 [Reference TOOL] Development Station / DECR-1000A" contact me on this e-mail address: v_series@hotmail.it
Want to Buy a Dev Kit of PS3, if have any... or, if have Notice how do, or know a (Licensed Tools Developer) tell me! thanks!

http://www.atariage.com/forums/blog/307/entry-6918-sony-playstation-3-reference-tool-development-station-decr-1000a/

What peripherals for US market would work in Europe?

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:10:18 +0000

I think I asked a similar question about the 1050 some time ago (can't remember the answer I was given though). There is a shortage in the UK of decent Atari stuff (when hasn't there EVER been) and not much hardware is appearing on ebay.co.uk at the minute.

So I'm just wondering what hardware sold in the US would actually work in the UK with a suitable power supply or power inverter?

FS: SpartaDOS X and R-Time 8 cartridges

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:40:38 +0000

I also posted this in the auction forum since it's listed on eBay, but anyone who wants to make a straight offer here can certainly do so. Pictures, of course, are with the auction:

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 280482396413

I normally wouldn't part with these, but I'm currently in need of some quick cash.

thanks!
James

SpartaDOS X and R-Time 8 on eBay

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:34:34 +0000

In an effort to raise some quick cash, I've listed a set of ICD cartridges for the 8-bit computers:

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 280482396413

If anyone wants to make an offer outside of eBay, I'm ok with that as well and will remove the listing. Any questions, feel free to send me a message.

thanks!
James

Renting games at video stores

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:24:33 +0000

I was not sure the best place to post this, but thought this might be the best place.

For a long time, my Mom worked in the video store business. She never went to college and took six years off of work when she had me to stay home with me. Not until I started school in the first grade did she go back to the work force. It was 1982 by then, and after doing some office work for a year she ended up being hired at a video store.

Mom and Pop chains were all the rage in those days. The national chains really did'nt exist, especily in the rural areas. We lived in MI and IL at the time, although I don't remember too much about the area. To this day, she loves movies, and is always watching them and renting them and giving out cheap movies as gifts.

Anyway, in 1984 we moved to Amherst NH -- back them, a fair size town but nothing really all that happening. With her experience, my Mom had no problem landing more work in another store in nearby Milford, and soon she was assisant manager. She made friends with someone over there who owned several stores and in 1987 aproached my Mom with the idea of her managing a new video store that he would own. She'd have the authority to fully run the place -- hire and fire people, buy inventory, control day to day operations. Of course, she took it.

The store finally closed in 2006 -- Cinema Scope Video, in case any of our NH posters ever happen to live around Milford.

I thought it was cool cause I got to watch numerous movies before they officialy were released. Companies send stores 'screeners' which are full vrsions to try to convience the stoes to buy numerous copies. I also could ask for any movie in the store (well, anything that a 10 year old can watch ) and she'd bring it home for the night if it was'nt a new release and it was in.

I got my Nintendo for Christmas in 1987 and by the summer of 1988 I was hooked on it. My Mom really did'nt know much about the whole NES thing, but she could see (like everyone else in the country) how big it was and how much it was taking off. When the court case between Nintendo and Blockbuster was settled that year saying the stores COULD rent NES games, the owner aproached my Mom with the idea of renting games as well to bring in more money. My Mom agreed it was a good idea but really did'nt know about how to go about it. So she asked me for help.

Being only 12 at the time, I thought I was in heaven. Of course, the help I could give was really limited.....she mostly just wanted advice on which games she should buy for the store that would rent well. This was really uncharted waters at the time and it's not like anyone knew what they were doing. But I had been renting from Blockbuster and some other local stores since they started doing it, and swapping games with my friends was common, so I knew which games were hot. Plus I had my subscription to Nintendo Power, which was also a godsend in those days.

I drew up a list of about 50 or so games that I suggested would be good for the store to carry. She placed the order with a large retail company for less then retail prices and worked out a price scheme for the games. Originaly when it started you could rent a NES game for two nights for 2.99 or for five days for 4.99 -- better then Blockbuster was doing, and better then many other stores (it seemed all the video stores, and some other places, started to rent games right around this time). She also bought these ugly (but perfectly fine) clear cases for the games to go in when they rented out (the game boxes were on the display in the store) and photocopied the manuals to go with the games, since she did'nt want to include the manuals.

I still recall that wonderfull night when she brought home the boxes with the new games for me to try out. The store was'nt ready to start renting quite yet so I got to play those games for two weeks. I had'nt played everything that we bought, but I was in heaven, going through 50-60 games and trying them out and all my friends wanted to come over.

Anyway, the experiment worked. The games did well for rentals and soon my Mom and I worked out a deal on the side. She would continue to bring home new games she bought for the store and I could play it for as long as I wanted (well, within reason -- no more then a week) and she would bring home a game for a night if it was in. In return, I agreed to clean and check out any non working games if a customer had a problem with it (with my official Nintendo cleaning kit and one of the special screwdrivers to open the cases) and to continue to advise her on what games to buy for the store. Of course, I also was expected to keep my grades up, do other things besides play NES all day, do the chores, etc.

She would place a order for new games about once a month -- normaly around 3-5 titles. That was also the time that she would go through the books and decide which ones were too old or not renting anymore and get rid of them. Sometimes that ment giving them to me, sometimes that ment selling them on the floor, and sometimes that ment rewarding employees of hers who said they would be happy to take the game.

This continued well through the rest of the NES's life. In early 1992 she branched out into starting to rent SNES and Genesis games as well, and I continued to help. Finally in the summer of 1994 she quit the job as she was just burned out and the store had come under new ownership. I went to college in September anyway, so that was fine. But for six years, I considered it a dream position for me to be in.

I can't tell you how wonderfull a experience this was -- trying out literaly dozens of new games for free and as long as I wanted them, then asking my parents for the best games for the holidays myself. My friends always wanted to come over when I had a new game, and I could play older games anytime I wanted also. These games were expensive back them, keep in mind -- I must have saved hundreds of dollars on rentals, not to mention on not buying bad games.

The question I had -- shortly after she started renting games, another court ruling was passed down saying the manuals could not be photocopied. So my Mom ordered 'one sheet instructions' from a company. They were attached to the inside cover of the case that was used to hold the rented cart, and were just a summary of the instructions. I know other companies made them also, but this one was pretty good -- it had the goal of the game, a screenshot (in color) of the game and a explanation of what the screen ment and the major items in the game, the controls, and even hints and tips for the game. The text was pretty small but there was a lot of info cramed in here.

I have'nt seen one in over 10 years. Has anyone who has done collecting for the NES found these? I imgine the SMS, the SNES, and Genesis must have had them also. They may even be uncommon these days.

All in all, I consider myself a lucky kid.

Planet Bob - Stonekeep

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:18:00 +0000

Hi there!

Interplaying Stonekeep (1995):

http://home.arcor.de/cybergoth/xype/stonekeep.gif

Remember me complaining about the eternal delay of Dungeon Master II in the last Interplay article? Well, the development of their own Stonekeep took only half as long, a mere five years ...

http://www.atariage.com/forums/blog/54/entry-6917-stonekeep/

WTB Sega 32X Empty Console Box

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:48:30 +0000

Just looking for the console box with the inserts, doesn't need to be in mint condition, just as long as it is in decent shape and presentable.

Air Raid - I got one

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:35:35 +0000

Hello!

I was surfing the internet last night and came across this article:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/20/mf.rich.off.video.games/index.html

I read the discription of the Air Raid game and realized that I had a copy! I dug into all the storage boxes in my garage to find my 2600 and there it was! I was surprise to find it was worth so much and even more surpised to find that there was so lttle known about it. Thought I would add my information:

I am the orginal owner. I remember having my mother buy me the game back in the mid 80s. We were shopping at a Tuesday Morning discount store at the corner of Arkansas Ln and Medline Dr in Arlington Texas. It was in an unopened white box with no writing on the cover. I don't remember if I could see the cartridge through a window or if it fliped open but I only knew it was a 2600 game because of the shape. I remember thinking how cool it was with the blue "T" handle.
I am 99.9% sure there was no manuel that came with this game.

I plan on selling this on Ebay in the next week. If anyone has any other suggestions on where to sell this let me know because I am sure Ebay charges a hefty fee.

Here is a picture with a date stamped lotto ticket so everyone doesn't think I am making this up:

Thanks!

atari2600land's Blog - Eight Miles High

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:26:00 +0000

I was bored, so I decided to go with mom to her weekly visit to my sister's house. Bad idea. A few minutes after I got there, my eye began to hurt. This is a migraine thing, only my head doesn't hurt, it's my right eye (yes, it's as painful as it sounds.) So, I went to the carousel with them. I don't know how, but I kept most of the popcorn down. And after that, we went to Burger King, where I got a large milkshake. I couldn't even eat most of it because of my eyeache, and whatever I ate of it I barfed up. The whole reason of me wanting to go with her in the first place is to go to f.y.e. which I (finally) got to do, and got the CD of the Byrds' Untitled album, which I was surprised to see. I got it for the 16-minute-long live version of "Eight Miles High." I am however, having an exceptionally hard time trying to find "Circle of Love" by the Steve Miller Band (which I want for the equally long "Macho City.") And another thing...

http://www.atariage.com/forums/blog/168/entry-6916-eight-miles-high/

Nukey Shays hacks at AA store?

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:06:57 +0000

All of Nukey Shays hacks are awesome! I am getting a 7800 soon. And I just don't know why you can't have any of Nukey Shays hacks on real hardware. They are so awesome! They just have to be real carts! Heres a list of the best hacks he did in my opinion.

Space Invaders Deluxe
Pac-Man 8k
Bottomless Pitfall
ROL-out
Missile Command Arcade
Hack'em!

Why can't they be real 2600/7800 carts?

FS: Music Mate cubes

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:22:13 +0000

Hey All,

If you're not sure what they are, I'll post a picture.

Basically, they hold 4 2600 carts per cube, and they interlock in all four directions.

Currently, I have between 80-84 of these.

Selling them for $5 each, plus shipping. Shipping is at cost.

Anyone interested, let me know!

Thanks,
Steve