Are all 7800s Backwards compatible?

[Gabsters89]

Ok so a few years back I bought a 7800(not sure from where but probably ebay), and I just now got around to playing around with it... And to my surprise it wasn't backwards compatible. I tried at least ten 2600 games and none of them worked, but it played 7800 games fine. I was under the impression that they were all backwards compatible, but does anyone know if there was possibly a hardware revision of some kind that wasn't, a la the old PS3s vs. the newer models?

[mimo]

Ok so a few years back I bought a 7800(not sure from where but probably ebay), and I just now got around to playing around with it... And to my surprise it wasn't backwards compatible. I tried at least ten 2600 games and none of them worked, but it played 7800 games fine. I was under the impression that they were all backwards compatible, but does anyone know if there was possibly a hardware revision of some kind that wasn't, a la the old PS3s vs. the newer models?

 

They are all 99.9% backward compatible, maybe you have a faulty one

[GroovyBee]

Do you have a 2600 to try them in? Have you cleaned the connector on the 2600 carts?

[Austin]

I have the exact same problem with mine, and a huge percentage of the 2600 carts I had didn't work even after cleaning them properly. I think Space Invaders and Jungle Hunt were the only two carts that I managed to get working, out of 30. IIRC, it's due to an iffy-shaped cartridge slot on a small number of 7800s.. at least, that's what I think someone said when I posted the same question a while back.

[Gabsters89]

Yes I tried them in my old Vader after the 7800 decided not to run them, and I had recently cleaned the majority of my 2600 carts.

[Albert]

Yes I tried them in my old Vader after the 7800 decided not to run them, and I had recently cleaned the majority of my 2600 carts.

I assume they worked fine in the Vader? I've never encountered a 7800 that would not run the majority of 2600 carts I've tried, so that's an interesting issue. I'm not familiar enough with the 7800 architecture to know what would cause this particular behavior, but I'm sure there are others here with the knowledge to chime in. Anyway, sounds like you may need to get another 7800.

 

..Al

[carmel_andrews]

Sounds like you might have a dicky 7800 Gabsters89, since your in the US I am sure that for a small charge (and P&P) someone here might be willing to fix your 7800 (so you can play your 2600 games)

[CongoZombie]

Interesting... what did you get when you tried to run them? The crazy screen patterns that you expect from a non-working 2600 cart? My 7800 seems to not recognise a couple of my carts at all without some wiggling (the internal asteroids rom will display).

 

Maybe the TIA is faulty?

[Underball]

I've heard of this issue on here before. I believe it's a problem with the TIA chip.

[jferio]

Be sure to check your power supply... if it's not putting out enough juice anymore, that could result in one side of the system not working.

[Gabsters89]

Yes Al, all the games ran fine in the Vader(then I got sidetracked playing Snoopy and the Red Baron ). Congozombie, I got nothing when I powered it up, black screen. It does sound like it could be the TIA chip, because the only purpose that it serves is to play the 2600 games correct? I'll check the power supply later, I have class now then I plan on watching the Saints Vikings game. I'll check it out and update.

Edited September 9, 2010 by Gabsters89

[Classic Pac]

I can tell you for a fact that Burgertime 2600 does not work on the 7800

[The_Laird]

I can tell you for a fact that Burgertime 2600 does not work on the 7800

 

Who cares when we have Beefdrop!

[horseboy]

I can tell you for a fact that Burgertime 2600 does not work on the 7800

 

I think different revisions of the hardware have different compatibility issues. If I remember right there is an easy mod that you can do that gives you better compatibility. I think someone even posted the link in this forum within the last month or two.

 

 

Edit

 

 

Here it is.

Edited September 9, 2010 by horseboy

[Underball]

I can tell you for a fact that Burgertime 2600 does not work on the 7800

 

I think different revisions of the hardware have different compatibility issues. If I remember right there is an easy mod that you can do that gives you better compatibility. I think someone even posted the link in this forum within the last month or two.

 

 

Edit

 

 

Here it is.

 

Yes.

 

But that is NOT the same problem the OP is having. That only affects a very small number of games: 2600 Robot Tank, Space Shuttle, Activision Decathlon, Burgertime, Time Pilot, and the Starpath Supercharger, and even then only certain revisions of those carts, and on only certain revisions of 7800 consoles.

 

I have one 7800 Console I performed the above mod on and all these games now work. I have another where all of these games already worked fine with no mod.

[horseboy]

I can tell you for a fact that Burgertime 2600 does not work on the 7800

 

I think different revisions of the hardware have different compatibility issues. If I remember right there is an easy mod that you can do that gives you better compatibility. I think someone even posted the link in this forum within the last month or two.

 

 

Edit

 

 

Here it is.

 

Yes.

 

But that is NOT the same problem the OP is having. That only affects a very small number of games: 2600 Robot Tank, Space Shuttle, Activision Decathlon, Burgertime, Time Pilot, and the Starpath Supercharger, and even then only certain revisions of those carts, and on only certain revisions of 7800 consoles.

 

I have one 7800 Console I performed the above mod on and all these games now work. I have another where all of these games already worked fine with no mod.

 

Yeah, I was just responding to Classic Pac about his Burgertime comment.

[Classic Pac]

I had this one 7800 which I could not even play Kung Fu Master 7800 on. The game would freeze up after 30 seconds or so.

[Gabsters89]

Ok so it's the TIA chip then? Is it possible to remove a TIA chip from a 2600 and put it into a 7800? I have like 5 2600s(when I see one for 5 dollars at a flea market it's hard not to grab it just because )

[Austin]

Ok so it's the TIA chip then? Is it possible to remove a TIA chip from a 2600 and put it into a 7800? I have like 5 2600s(when I see one for 5 dollars at a flea market it's hard not to grab it just because )

 

That or it's the cartridge slot. The easiest way to find out would be to crack open a common, like Combat, and pop just the PCB itself into your 7800's slot. This is actually how I had to play some repros I got..

[Gabsters89]

Austin, I'll try that first before I do anything else... I have 3 copies of E.T. just itching to volunteer for this.

[Dr Manhattan]

I just wanted to report that I'm having the exact same problem as the OP. Going to keep an eye on this topic.

[Gabsters89]

Doc, I plan to take a look at the 7800 tomorrow. It was supposed to be today, but I'm swimming in homework(online classes were a mistake). I'll update ya

[+Mitch]

I tend to doubt it's the TIA chip though you never know. A misaligned cart slot collar is a common problem though not usually to the extent that you guys are experiencing.

 

Mitch

[Austin]

I tend to doubt it's the TIA chip though you never know. A misaligned cart slot collar is a common problem though not usually to the extent that you guys are experiencing.

 

Mitch

 

That's what I'm thinking as well. I know from personal experience, most 2600 carts (especially slightly larger ones like the Activisions) feel like they don't go in all the way, whereas the 7800 carts do. Strange.

[TheGameCollector]

Actually I also have a CIB copy of Kaboom! and it doesn't work on my 7800 either. You are right, it's mostly Activision games that have problems running on the 7800. I think there were other Activision titles I had not on the last person's list who mentioned them that had the same problems.

 

This also reminds me of how I had an older revision of Dragon Warrior 1 for NES that didn't work on my toploader system but worked on my front loader so I traded it for one that did work on both.

Edited September 30, 2010 by TheGameCollector