19 replies to this topic

[boxpressed]

I recently won an auction for a NIB Masterplay (with second fire button). I don't doubt that this thing is brand new, as the box was pristine. Anyway, I thought it was working fine after I did a preliminary testing with Pac-Man. But a few days later, as I was testing other games, I got all sorts of weird behavior. First off, Pac-Man, Joust, and Mario Bros. always work, as long as I have the "analog" control switch set to "off." Galaxian, Popeye, and Kangaroo all work after I fiddle with the switches for a while and maybe restart a game. Pengo never works, with the little penguin not responding properly to the digital control and in fact leaping across the screen when registering any movement at all. I haven't gotten Frogger or Q*Bert to work right, either.

My fear is that I have a Masterplay with bad ICs, which is certainly possible. But it's weird that some games are always fine, while others have intermittent problems, and other never work.

I'm wondering if there could be other causes. This is a 4-port model. I don't have another 5200 to test with, and for some reason I think that the power supply might have something to do with it (it's starting to make a buzzing noise). The analog controllers work when plugged directly into the port.

[Official Ninja]

It's normal I think. Some games like Ms.Pacman you need to start a game move the stick in all directions and then restart the game for it to work properly.

[boxpressed]

That's encouraging. Funny -- if some piece of hardware is malfunctioning, I'm hoping it's the 5200 because it's easier to replace!

[Cafeman]

I have used a Masterplay Interface for years. I can't remember which games but some just don't work properly with it. Pengo might be one of them, if memory serves.

[boxpressed]

Oh good. I was hoping to hear that some games just flake out with it.

[sdamon]

Yeah, it's part of the "joy" of the 5200...digital controls for the Masterplay (which I don't have) or the Competiton Pro (which I do) don't work well in a handful of games. I've found Q*bert in particular to be really difficult to control with the digital controls (not that it controls great with the analog sticks either.) Gyruss and Mountain King seem to be pretty flaky using the Comp Pro as well. Unfortunately, you end up needing a wide variety of controllers to get the most out of the system's library. Here's what I've found works best for a number of the 5200 games:

Standard sticks with the coupler: Robotron, Space Dungeon (the coupler works great, and there's no need to use the terrible standard fire buttons)
Trackball: Missile Command, Centipede
Paddle control (homemade controller made by combining a 2600 paddle and a standard 5200 stick) : Super Breakout, Kaboom
Wico stick: Mountain King, Pole Position, Star Wars, Star Raiders, Gyruss
Competition Pro/Masterplay/Redemption: Pac-Man, Kangaroo, Beamrider, etc. (really, most of the 5200 library)

[boxpressed]

Interesting. I was eyeing a Competition Pro for two-button games, but it sounds like that stick is a little hit-or-miss too. Oh, 5200. I wish I knew how to quit you.

[Prodos8]

Some of the games auto-calibrate so you need to thrash the stick around or hit all the directions a few times in order to get them working with the masterplay. I've noticed that Countermeasure does this calibration each time you die. Also, if your console isn't calibrated right (that little pot inside for the controllers) the masterplay will work poorly.

From what I've read, the original masterplay uses an open circuit for maximum resistance and that's what causes certain games (Qix, Ms. Pac-Man, etc.) to not get along with it. I use a clone that I built, from plans online, that corrects that problem and also adds two-button support for sega pads.

[atari2atari]

Prodos8, on Wed Nov 9, 2011 5:05 PM, said:

I use a clone that I built, from plans online, that corrects that problem and also adds two-button support for sega pads.

Are you referring to a Masterplay clone that you built, or an add-on that supports/enhances the Masterplay?

Either way, would you mind linking the plans? I would enjoy building something like that!



-a2a

[boxpressed]

Prodos8, on Wed Nov 9, 2011 5:05 PM, said:

Some of the games auto-calibrate so you need to thrash the stick around or hit all the directions a few times in order to get them working with the masterplay. I've noticed that Countermeasure does this calibration each time you die. Also, if your console isn't calibrated right (that little pot inside for the controllers) the masterplay will work poorly.

From what I've read, the original masterplay uses an open circuit for maximum resistance and that's what causes certain games (Qix, Ms. Pac-Man, etc.) to not get along with it. I use a clone that I built, from plans online, that corrects that problem and also adds two-button support for sega pads.

Yes, I've seen your posts in the Marketplace but was too late to buy one of your adapters. If you make any more, please keep me in mind.

[Prodos8]

atari2atari, on Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:47 PM, said:

Are you referring to a Masterplay clone that you built, or an add-on that supports/enhances the Masterplay?

Either way, would you mind linking the plans? I would enjoy building something like that!



-a2a

http://www94.pair.co..._5200_adap.html

It does not show hooking up the second fire button, but its easy, just wire pin 9 to the 5200 top fire button and pin 5 & 7 on the genesis side need to be wired to +5vdc.

[atari2atari]

Prodos8, on Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:56 PM, said:

atari2atari, on Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:47 PM, said:

Are you referring to a Masterplay clone that you built, or an add-on that supports/enhances the Masterplay?

Either way, would you mind linking the plans? I would enjoy building something like that!



-a2a

http://www94.pair.co..._5200_adap.html

It does not show hooking up the second fire button, but its easy, just wire pin 9 to the 5200 top fire button and pin 5 & 7 on the genesis side need to be wired to +5vdc.

Thank you so much!

I look forward to building this.

I have some 4050 ICs around from repairing ATARI 2600 consoles - - that part gets fried fairly often by static, unless you make the necessary mods!

Will I definitely need a 4052 instead, or can I use the 4050s?

-a2a

EDIT: Just looked it up - - the hex buffer 4050 will not work as a switch, I'll have to get some 4052s! Thanks!

Edited by atari2atari, Sun Nov 13, 2011 12:11 PM.

[wongojack]

+1 if you ever make those adapters again

Do you have some of the parts? If the problem is time to assemble then I could pay you for parts and take a shot at putting it together myself.

[boxpressed]

My Competition Pro arrived today. Wow. Everything has worked with it so far, even Pengo. You just have to be sure that the connected analog stick is perfectly centered. I'm not crazy about the button placement, but Moon Patrol is playable now! I may end up selling the Masterplay.

[atari_envy]

boxpressed, on Mon Dec 5, 2011 12:55 PM, said:

My Competition Pro arrived today. Wow. Everything has worked with it so far, even Pengo. You just have to be sure that the connected analog stick is perfectly centered. I'm not crazy about the button placement, but Moon Patrol is playable now! I may end up selling the Masterplay.

I like the Competition Pro, but why is it so dang big?

On Berzerk sometimes the little dude just stops in place and fires in the direction of the joystick and I can't move.

In Pac Man it seems like sometimes it goes a direction I am not pointing the joystick. Is this a case where maybe the attached 5200 is not centered or I need to adjust the pot?

Does it help to open the Pro and clean the contacts?

I love the 5200 sound and graphics, but the controllers can be so frustrating. (I feel the same way about my Intellivision).

[0078265317]

^^ So how much Are you selling the masterplay for?

[Tombstone]

I recently purchased a Masterplay and it won't seem to allow my 2600 controller to go to the right. I have the same issue with the Wico controller I've tried to use on my system. Both cannot possibly have issues with going right? I've fiddled with the pot but have not had any luck with movement to the right. Any suggestions here? btw- the regular 5200 controllers WILL go right when I use them in this same system.

[Official Ninja]

Tombstone, on Thu May 3, 2012 11:12 PM, said:

I recently purchased a Masterplay and it won't seem to allow my 2600 controller to go to the right. I have the same issue with the Wico controller I've tried to use on my system. Both cannot possibly have issues with going right? I've fiddled with the pot but have not had any luck with movement to the right. Any suggestions here? btw- the regular 5200 controllers WILL go right when I use them in this same system.

Adjust the analog pot in your 5200 according to the numbers found here:
http://www.atariage....on/#entry164111

[Tombstone]

Movement to the right does not seem to take place no matter where the pot is adjusted. I've moved the pot in minute increments. Left....great. Up....great. Down.....great. Right......nada, not even a twitch. Thought it might be the port (althought the standard controller will go right without any problem in port 1) so I switched to port 2......same. Atari 5200, why must you be such a diva?!

[Tombstone]

Official Ninja, on Fri May 4, 2012 7:52 AM, said:

Tombstone, on Thu May 3, 2012 11:12 PM, said:

I recently purchased a Masterplay and it won't seem to allow my 2600 controller to go to the right. I have the same issue with the Wico controller I've tried to use on my system. Both cannot possibly have issues with going right? I've fiddled with the pot but have not had any luck with movement to the right. Any suggestions here? btw- the regular 5200 controllers WILL go right when I use them in this same system.

Adjust the analog pot in your 5200 according to the numbers found here:
http://www.atariage....on/#entry164111

Turns out the MasterPlay was defective. I adjusted the pot and got the Wico stick to work, but the MasterPlay would not play ball.