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Justin

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Posts posted by Justin

  1. Why Atari Jaguar Got COMPLETELY DESTROYED! - Video by "Lady Decade"

    in Atari Jaguar

    Posted

    1 minute ago, socrates63 said:

    You're totally right about what "Atari" means to people. They're usually thinking the 2600.

    To add more salt on the Jaguar wound, I had known about the Lynx and had even seen one back in the day. Maybe it was because I had the OG Game Boy that I paid attention to handhelds. I should also add that I only found out about the 7800 a few years ago as well when I was looking to get back into playing 2600 games.

    It's on our shoulders to change the narrative and foster a stronger, more optimistic conversation about Atari, and that is my primary goal in creating Atari I/O.

    It's okay to acknowledge these were niche systems, enjoy them and play them until their ICs pop. It's okay to play different!  :mcfur:

  2. Introducing MUTINY COMMUNITY ⑆ A New Web Hub to Explore Atari I/O

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    :pow_big:

    https://forums.atari.io/swapmeet/

     

    Swapmeet received it's own page today! Think of Swapmeet as Craigslist for Atari I/O where you can trade with trusted friends :wreck-it-ralph: We've added an additional page to Mutiny just for Swapmeet, which is linked in the navigation menu at the top of the page under "BROWSE" where "Marketplace" used to be. The Swapmeet page acts as an aggregator, pulling from across Atari I/O to display the 25 most recent listings in our Wanted, For Sale, Ebay, and Trading Post forums, and includes quick links to popular Atari vendors. It's my hope this will enhance the trading experience and give a lot more value to posting trades here, and make Atari I/O a fun destination to buy, sell and trade with friends! The Swapmeet boxes on the Mutiny Community home page will always be there to give, at a glance, a quick overview of what's for sale and trade on our site. The Marketplace Forums will continue to function the same as always, with Swapmeet providing an aggregated view of everything for sale and trade in one place. Enjoy!

  3. Why Atari Jaguar Got COMPLETELY DESTROYED! - Video by "Lady Decade"

    in Atari Jaguar

    Posted

    On 8/29/2023 at 8:38 PM, socrates63 said:

    What little I know about the Jaguar is because of the I/O. I didn't know about the Jaguar when it was originally released, and I only learned of its existence a few years ago. I bought one because I wanted to take part in the I/O high score challenge. I sincerely hope the I/O community continues to keep the Jaguar love alive.

    @socrates63 I'm surprised how often I've heard this, even today. It speaks volumes not just about the Atari Jaguar's lack of mainstream popularity, but about Atari's incredible lack of marketing and advertising at the time. When you say "Atari", so many people in the world think of Atari 2600 (or possibly Atari 8-Bit computers) but rarely does the general population think of or are even aware of the Atari Jaguar (both today, and even at the time the Jaguar was being sold. Similarly for Lynx and Atari 7800)

    There might've been one generic print ad during the Jaguar's run, that you could search for in Next Generation Magazine or Die Hard Game Fan Magazine. Every other advertisement was something for Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis and they were all memorable. "Sega Does What Nintendon't" etc. Most of the ads were for new games from 3rd party publishers that were pushing their games for almost every system BUT Atari Jaguar. The whole thing made the Atari Jaguar feel "niche" at best, and "left out" when you really thought about it.

     

    On 8/29/2023 at 6:39 PM, Atari 5200 Guy said:

    It was not marketed in my area at the time.  The only reason I knew it even existed was by an ad mailed out by Go Atari.  I don't even know how they got my address.  If not for Radio Shack I would not have received one.

     

    On 8/30/2023 at 4:40 AM, Atari 5200 Guy said:

    If it wasn't for that ad showing upon the mailbox about the Jaguar I would have never known about it.

    This proves my point. Imagine this sort of advertising for Nintendo or Sega. What was Atari thinking???

  4. Why Atari Jaguar Got COMPLETELY DESTROYED! - Video by "Lady Decade"

    in Atari Jaguar

    Posted

    On 9/1/2023 at 12:11 PM, RickR said:

    Or maybe it's just the gigantic fall of Atari from industry leader to nothingness in such a short time.  Instead of taking the bigger picture view of how that happened, it turns into potshots at the last gasps from Atari.  I guess it is an easy target and although it is lazy, it probably brings in the viewers. 

    Mattel, Coleco, Commodore, and many others suffered the same fate, but didn't go out punching like Atari did. Therefore, it isn't so easy to kick them so hard. 

    I hear what you're saying, that's absolutely a plausible theory. It's still weird to me, though, how Atari is always the one to be singled out. Nintendo never suffered the same fate as Atari, falling from industry leader to nothingness... but Nintendo did suffer through some darker times. N64 sold about half as well as the Super Nintendo, and the GameCube was no where near as successful as either of those. I can remember seeing mainstream nightly news reports (Tom Brokaw) reporting on 3rd party publishers dropping support for GameCube and how Nintendo was facing challenging times. Wii turned everything around, and then Wii U sold one-tenth as well as Wii had. Fortunately Switch is a hit, and regardless of Nintendo's hardware or sales, they have always had their IPs to fall back on. Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Mario Kart, Pokemon, and others will always be good sellers. However Nintendo has been kicked from the top spot more than once, and in all my years of being a classic gamer, even working at Toys R Us during the early stages of Nintendo's misfortune, I've never heard Nintendo spoken of the same way Atari has. I'm willing to bet there are more YouTube videos with clickbaity titles about how the Atari Jaguar was "COMPLETELY DESTROYED" than there are about how the Wii U was "COMPLETELY DESTROYED".

    Who knows, I could be wrong, this is my perception and I've never understood the scoffing mean-spiritedness behind Atari discussions. At best the comments are "I loved Space Invaders but Pac-Man and E.T. killed the video game industry!" - which is a valid view to hold, but still not a positive conversation.

  5. 2023 Atari 7800 Buyers Guide

    in Atari 7800

    Posted

    @Silver Back You're welcome to create a "7800 Pro Gamer" Thread dedicated to your YouTube channel, in our YouTube Community Forum. We created the "YouTube Community" Forum specifically to help Atari I/O members promote their YouTube channels, build their audience, and help do exactly what you are doing - bring positive awareness to Atari platforms and build our classic gaming communities. The idea is you have a Thread dedicated entirely to your YouTube channel where you can embed your latest videos, and post news and updates about your channel, and carve out a spot within our Forums. If you share your videos to your thread regularly we will keep it pinned toward the top of the page, and you are welcome to share your videos in other parts of the Forums and status updates as well :wreck-it-ralph:

    https://forums.atari.io/forum/46-youtube-community/ 

     

    1 hour ago, Silver Back said:

    I want to start guiding people this way as I feel it's more welcoming to most but I have to mention other forums for the reason of homebrew. I appreciate all the support.

    Atari Age members are welcome here ☺️ You are more than welcome to post about Atari Age homebrews, share AA links, whatever you'd like. Most of our Atari I/O Members are on Atari Age as well.

     

    1 hour ago, Silver Back said:

    I think it's important to keep our side of the hobby alive and accessible.  The channel has 3 goals:

    1. bring awareness to Atari specifically the lesser known 7800 era

    2. allow ALL members and developers of the community both new and old (from the original guard at Atari corp to those keeping the system alive today) to get their due credit for all their hard work

    3. and to grow the community and keep it alive hopefully long after us.  I hope the buyers guide and other videos embody these goals. 

    I TOTALLY AGREE!! :wreck-it-ralph_anim:

    For you to take the time to create YouTube videos that draws attention to the Atari 7800 era, and depicts Atari in a positive light is profoundly appreciated. The more of that, the better. I think we all have the same goals, and I hope we're able to reach new people in the process.

     

    1 hour ago, Silver Back said:

    I plan on doing a controller video among many others. There are a ton of videos I have started and need to finish, some I need to restart as I keep learning more, and tons I need to start.  I have enough ideas written down to keep the channel running for about 14 months on planned content so hopefully I keep making you guys and the rest of the community proud. Thanks. 

    Can't wait to see what you cook up next!  :atari_7800: 

  9. Squad Challenge - Centipede (Atari 7800)

    in High Score Squad

    Posted

     

     

    squad_challenge_text_purple_flat_w_logo.

     

     

    Centipede
    Atari 7800
    Controller: JOYSTICK / TRAK-BALL / KEYBOARD / PLAYER'S CHOICE
    Difficulty Level: EXPERT
    Play on: Real Hardware / Dedicated Console / Emulation OK! ✔
    Squad Challenge ends 11:59 pm PST September 30, 2023
    Nominated by @Gianna 

     

     

    Objective

    Play for the highest possible score using the difficulty settings defined in the challenge. Post a photo or YouTube video of your score in this thread. Scores must be achieved between September 1st through September 30th, 2023. Screen captures are not allowed as they are more easily manipulated for falsified scores. Multiple submissions are permitted. The player with the highest score at the end of the competition is the victor!

     

    Eligibility

    Anyone can join in. All players are welcome!

     

    Play Rules

    Games may be played on real hardware, Flashback / Mini console, officially released compilation, or emulation, using any controller or keyboard, following all rules and game settings defined in the challenge. Choosing between real hardware or emulation, and choosing which controller to play on is part of formulating your strategy. Enhancements, rewinds, updated and hacked versions of this game are not allowed.

     

    Difficulty Level

    EXPERT. We are playing Centipede on the EXPERT Difficulty Setting, which provides the most challenging level of gameplay for prodigious adult players of the highest skill levels.

     

    Fair Play

    Your integrity is everything. Players should play fairly, be honest, and have fun! Falsified scores will result in your immediate removal from the site. It goes without saying that we will not allow cheats, hacks, cartridge frying, enhancements, rewinds, deceitful photo manipulation, subterfuge, or any other dishonest advantage. Everybody hates a cheater.

     

    More

    To review detailed rules on how to play, please visit the High Score Squad page here: 

     

     

    Message

    Welcome to our 149th Squad Challenge! This month we're playing Centipede on its EXPERT Difficulty Setting for Atari 7800! This Centipede High Score Squad Challenge is a "Double Feature" that coincides with @Sabertooth's Centipede Recharged Squad Challenge in ClubVCS! We invite you to play in BOTH Squad Challenges, if you can! Special thanks to @Gianna for nominating this game! ROM is attached below. Good luck!

     

     

    large.atari_league_world_championships_150.gif

     

    Centipede.A78Centipede.pdf

  11. Squad Challenge - Venture Reloaded (Atari 2600)

    in High Score Squad

    Posted

    :pole_position_blimp_big: Congratulations RickR!

     

    Congratulations to @RickR on another incredible victory! "The Don" RickR takes the top spot in our Final Standings with an outstanding score of 269,400 points. Awesome! @socrates63is back with us once again and fought a valiant fight, securing 2nd Place in our Final Standings with an incredible score of 240,200 points! We once again welcome back recent Squad Challenge newcomer @Smell Dawg who takes 3rd Place with a stellar score of 197,200 points. @TrekMD beams up with 154,400 points, taking 4th Place, and "The Mayor" @greenween fought a fierce battle, taking 5th Place with 136,400 points.

    We had a great competition this month for what is effectively a homebrew game, I hope everybody had a great time! As always I'd like to encourage "The Don" @RickR to  post his high score on the Scoreboard, and let's make sure this Challenge continues on! Congratulations once again to RickR for his BIG WIN, and I want to thank @TrekMD for nominating this game!

    👉 Also,  Be sure to join Club VCS this month to participate in our Recharged Squad Challenges for the new Atari VCS!

    NOTE: Our next Squad Challenge will be announced shortly. Be there!

     

     

    large.final_standings_atari_2600_venture_reloaded.gif

     

     

    large.atari_league_world_championships_150.gif

     

  12. 2023 Atari 7800 Buyers Guide

    in Atari 7800

    Posted

    @Silver Back This is terrific content! You bring a lot to the Forums and we're thrilled to have you in our community! :wreck-it-ralph:

     

    4 hours ago, Silver Back said:

    I know most of you are well steeped and established in the Atari 7800 and Atari communities as a whole, I just put out a buyers guide for people maybe looking to get into the console for the first time.

    One of Atari I/O's biggest objectives is to be a beacon to new Atari players. We want to welcome new people to the World of Atari, people who went home to their parents house for Thanksgiving, found their old Atari 2600 in the basement and are rediscovering Atari for the first time in decades, people who bought a Flashback on sale at Costco and want to learn more, and young gamers who are just discovering Atari for the first time.

    It's very important that new Atari players  - and don't feel like they've walked up to a closed inner-circle having a conversation that goes above most people's heads and isn't welcoming to newcomers.

    For every esoteric conversation we have here about the inner workings of "Jack Tramiel and Shiraz Shivj debating the AMY chip being worked into 68000 architecture as opposed to the YM2149F", we also need to also have more welcoming conversations such as "what makes Centipede so fun." This video fits that perfectly! :nintendo_mario_1up:

     

    4 hours ago, Silver Back said:

    It covers options for buying consoles and hooking them to different televisions, controllers to use, which games to start with and some homebrew recommendations including a game or two from atarisales.com and gooddealgames.com. 

    It's meant to be an introduction and companion videos will be releasing for the life of the channel digging deeper into controllers etc.  If you have any game collector friends who maybe ignored the 7800 in the past, share it with them and see if it peeks there interest. 

    A current-year Atari 7800 Buyer's Guide in video form is a fantastic tool! It helps to welcome new players and onboard more people into the 7800 and the World of Atari in general. Terrific work @Silver Back! 🏆

     

    4 hours ago, Silver Back said:

    Oh and sorry if I've been posting this stuff excessively, I can cut back.

    You have not been posting excessively. You are far from. hitting the guardrails. If you were monopolizing the conversation it would be obvious. You and your content are always welcome here :invader:

     

    4 hours ago, Silver Back said:

    But I truly value all of your opinions and hope to get feedback and ways I can improve.  This community has been a big help in that and keeping me motivated.  Ok guys let me know thanks. 

    It's so nice to hear that you feel that way. You're a big inspiration to us all!

     

  13. Post your latest/recent pickups!

    in Classic Gaming General

    Posted

    1 hour ago, TrekMD said:

    The baseball game is pretty cool.

    @TrekMD At the moment I think it's the best Baseball game on the Atari 2600! I think Champ Sports Baseball is going to be the new GOAT when it's released ☺️

    rs=w-600,h-451,cg-true.jpeg

     

    1 hour ago, TrekMD said:

    I own the 7800 version of that game.

    @TrekMD Definitely the best Atari 7800 baseball game! If you move the difficulty switch just the right way you can place sports bets with Pete Rose :wreck-it-ralph:

     

    1 hour ago, TrekMD said:

    I have never played ET Phone Home but it does look like a cool game.

    @TrekMD It's a 16k cart, I really would've enjoyed a 64k version of this game! I've gone in depth before about how I think a proper E.T. game should've looked ☺️:et_elliott_bicycle:

    blog_7800_avenue_et_its_dangerous_to_go_alone.png

  14. Gauntlet vs. Dark Chambers vs. Dandy

    in Atari 7800

    Posted

    Interestingly enough, @nosweargamer reviewed Dark Chambers for Atari 2600, immediately after reviewing it for Atari 7800, and he found that he really loved the 2600 version and thought it was more enjoyable to play than 7800 Dark Chambers. He ranked 2600 Dark Chambers as #2 on his list of Atari 2600 games, compared it to Legend of Zelda, and appreciated the large scrolling maze and "zoomed-in" action. Watching his review let me wanting a large scrolling maze game for the Atari 7800, something like 2600 Dark Chambers but more complex. @Video 61 Maybe there's room for a really cool Atari 7800 "Secretum Labyrinth" game that gives us a scrolling maze / dungeon the way Dark Chambers did on the 2600?

     

     

  16. Why Atari Jaguar Got COMPLETELY DESTROYED! - Video by "Lady Decade"

    in Atari Jaguar

    Posted

    There's definitely something in the zeitgeist about the Jaguar, and Atari in general. You never see clickbait videos and articles about "Why 3DO got COMPLETELY DESTROYED!" ... but you always do with Jaguar and certainly Atari. Makes you wonder why the haters can't help but hate.

     

    Some other examples:

    "Why Atari LYNX was SO FAT IT FAILED!" - but never TurboExpress (or early cell phones!)

    "Why Atari 7800 FAILED against NES!" - but never Sega Master System

    "Why Atari Jaguar was SO OVERPRICED people hardly bought it!" - But never Neo Geo

     

    It's okay to play a niche game system. As I've always said, it's okay to play different:

    large.meme_ad_lynx_play_different_1.jpg

  18. Post your latest/recent pickups!

    in Classic Gaming General

    Posted

    4 hours ago, Smell Dawg said:

    All these titles appear to be in immaculate condition - nicely done!

    @Smell Dawg Thank you! 🏆

     

    6 hours ago, RickR said:

    Could not agree more.  I bought this game back when it was new and loved it.  I still have the cart and manual but not the box 😞 

    I love to hear that @RickR!! The more I see what was available for Atari 8-Bit computers, let's say during the Atari XL period while the Atari 5200 was out, I really feel like the Atari 8-Bit Computers were the way to go for the greatest home gaming experience. With the understand I have now, I would certainly have chosen to go with an Atari XL computer in 1983 as opposed to spending money on an Atari 5200. Not only did the XL offer many of the same games, but a ton more. Plus it was a real computer. Definitely the way to go.

    I find it surprising - even confusing - that almost universally there's never a mention of "E.T. Phone Home" for the Atari 8-Bit  when "Atari ET" is mentioned in the media. I think "Atari: Game Over" went through the entirety of that film without mentioning or showing Atari had another E.T. game out that was better done and provided a more fulfilling adventure. It's rarely mentioned in magazine articles, blog entires, general discussions about "E.T. and Atari." It's strange.

     

    6 hours ago, RickR said:

    GREAT pickups @Justin.  It is always a pleasure to see boxed games. 

    Absolutely! I got into the habit early on, about 30 years ago right now. I checked out a book from the library that showed "a home video game collection" with a bunch of Activision games lined up in the box, displayed like books on a book shelf. And I thought that's a really great way of preserving and organizing your games. I was ordering directly from Atari and from @Video 61 very early on, so I was in the habit of having new games and keeping them nice once I had them. We're long past that being an easy thing to do, but I always make the attempt.

    I also realized a tremendous part of the classic gaming experience for me was looking at the box, reading the verbiage on the back and staring into the screenshots, opening the box up and pulling out the instruction manual and game catalog. At a young age I began preserving those too. The classic gaming experience extends beyond the games themselves, and I wanted to preserve all of that.

    Some classic gamers disagree, even get angry over people wanting the box. I understand that's their view, and different approaches work for different people. As far as Atari games go (2600-Jag) I always like to have the complete game.

    Thank you for looking!

  19. Post your latest/recent pickups!

    in Classic Gaming General

    Posted

    I picked up three new games this week, all new in the box in good condition:

    • Pete Rose Baseball (Atari 2600)
    • Cookie Monster Munch (Atari 2600)
    • E.T. Phone Home (Atari 8-Bit Computers)

    Let's take a look at the pickups!

    IMG_1741.jpg

     

     

     

    Pete Rose Baseball is a really nice looking (the best looking?) Baseball game for Atari 2600. It's an Absolute release and has a copyright date of 1988. It was programmed by Alex DeMeo who also did Title Match Pro Wrestling for Atari 2600.

    IMG_1742.jpg

    IMG_1743.jpg

     

     

     

    Cookie Monster Munch is one of the original Kids Controller games designed as a collaboration between Atari and Children's Television Workshop (Sesame Workshop). I have two brand new Kids Controllers put away, and I picked up this game not just because they are becoming harder to find - but because I had always wanted my future kids to be able to play the Kids Controller Sesame Street games as some of their very first video games. I think a 2 year old would still appreciate Cookie Monster even in 2600 mode 🙂 

    Cookie Monster Munch is an educational game designed for children Ages 3-7 to help learn numbers and how to count by helping Cookie Monster catch and eat cookies. Alternate artwork is shown in Tim Lapetino's book "Art of Atari" page 212 showing the names "Cookie Monster's Garden" and "Cookie Monster Maze".  

    Another interesting note about the Sesame Street Kids Controller games packaging is that they have always been very difficult to find in "perfect" boxes. These were made at a time when most Atari 2600 video games were displayed in stores on open shelves, as opposed to behind a sliding glass door. Games sat on store shelves at K-Mart, Sears, Kay-Bee and elsewhere, and anyone could walk up, pick up the game and walk around with it before putting it back where they would all get crunched together. Sesame Street games with Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Ernie and others were prone to being handled by excited children and made crunchy before mom told them to "put it back", so to find any Kids Controller games in a decent box is a challenge.

    IMG_1744.JPG

    IMG_1745.jpg

     

     

    E.T. Phone Home is the often overlooked Atari 8-Bit Computer version of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial for the Atari 2600. It's a 16k cartridge originally released for the Atari XL line and works with all 16k Atari 8-Bit Computers. I think this version of the game should've also been released for the Atari 5200, but in the context of everything that happened I understand why it was not. I wonder if it was ever planned?

    The objective of E.T. Phone Home is the same as the Atari 2600 version: you play as Elliott searching for pieces to help E.T. assemble his interstellar telephone so he can "phone home" and call his spaceship. Other than that, this version of E.T. is much different from the Atari 2600 E.T., as  E.T. Phone Home has much better graphics, controls and sound, and even has voice synthesis where you can hear E.T. call home. The game plays and looks much better and allows you to explore Elliott's neighborhood and feels like a much more "finished" game without constantly falling into pits.

    My game has a 1986 copyright from Atari Corp. and was a Tramiel release as a 2nd printing. The only downside to this was that I would have like to have had a color instruction manual, but otherwise it feels the same as the earlier 1983 Atari, Inc. version.

    IMG_1748.JPG

    IMG_1750.jpg

    IMG_1756.JPG

    IMG_1753.JPG

     

    From the back of the box:

    You remember that marvelous moment, when the moon sailed high before the stars, the crickets sang softly in the fields, and Elliott held his breath. Something was waiting in the shed, and neither vou nor he knew what would happen next — but somehow you both knew it would change vour lives. Would you have been as brave as he was, to face that moment and see what it would bring? If so, you would have entered into Elliott's magnificent adventure — and now, with your ATARI Home Computer and this game, you can! YOU ARE ELLIOTT, searching for the hidden pieces which will create E.T.'s “phone" and make him speak to you. It's not easy — the agents are on your trail, and there's very little time before your extra-terrestrial friend loses all his energy. But if you save him, you’ll see his spaceship take him away! Plav it and discover — THE MAGIC OF E.T.

    I got all of these games from @Video 61 and included free shipping on orders over $40 within the lower 48 states.

     

     

     

    IMG_1752 2.JPG

  20. Why Atari Jaguar Got COMPLETELY DESTROYED! - Video by "Lady Decade"

    in Atari Jaguar

    Posted

    9 minutes ago, Atari 5200 Guy said:

    What I was speaking was the truth from a street level perspective.  In my area the last time anything Atari was around was the 2600/5200 systems. I never seen any XL, XE, 7800, Lynx, ST, or Jaguar anything.  Atari was dead and gone after the crash. It was all about either Nintendo or Sega.  That was it.  The 7800 i found with my grandmother as by coincidence or accident.  After the holidays 7800 stuff could not be found.  Anywhere.  It was easier to find SMS games with clearance prices than 7800 games. 

    If it wasn't for that ad showing upon the mailbox about the Jaguar I would have never known about it.  Once I did get a Jaguar it was an insecure feeling because local support was limited. And, yes, Walmart supported the Jaguar.  It was the only local store to do so.

    My rampage was based off street level experience with the console. Sure I had a Genesis and SNES but they didn't have Tempest 2000 and that was what I kept going back to the most.  It simply blew me away. As mentioned I can't speak for Atari at the time UT I can and will defend Jaguar regardless.  It was such a great system that waz mishandled.

    I went around for 3 years telling people "Atari Jaguar is going to beat Nintendo Ultra 64 to a pulp!" and Atari folded into a reverse merger with JTS before the Nintendo 64 ever launched. It was a pretty brutal time to be an Atari player, and heartbreaking as someone who loved classic Atari systems and saw the Jaguar as the rebirth of Atari. It's one reason why I have empathy for people who have so much passion for these newer systems coming out like the VCS, 2600+, and what could have been a new Intellivision system. People don't want to see the things they love die.

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