CrossBow
-
Posts
1,378 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
31
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Blogs
Gallery
Store
Events
Downloads
Posts posted by CrossBow
-
-
18 minutes ago, TrekMD said:
I'm going to guess they may just do that last thing you mentioned. Erase the PCB's and use them for other releases.
When you think about...it is likely the cheapest solution overall because then they aren't actually out of the cost of the hardware at least. Yes they are having to spend more to have more carts made of games they already paid to release. But... at least they can reuse the hardware and just slap new labels onto the carts once done. So they are only out the labor spent to assemble them initially and the shipping. Still a big chunk of coin I'm sure, but they also just got hardware stock back in hand they don't have to have made up either.
-
10 hours ago, TrekMD said:
I think you may have misunderstood me, @CrossBow. I'll swap the carts I have with the ones they are sending. I haven't opened the boxes yet because I was waiting to see what Atari was going to offer. What I do have to wonder is what happens if someone returns a cart that they fixed by opening them and installing the PCB correctly.
I imagine that AtariXP plans to receive the hosed up ones...make sure the PCBs are flipped right way around, and then likely sell them off cheap as cart only fire sale items.
But that is only my guess. So if they have some returned that owners already corrected, then hopefully they check them ahead of time before assembling.
Another thought I had, is that they could just wipe the PCB contents, and use them for the other releases. That way, the only have to put them into the newer shells. Unless they do decide to offer SE releases for Warlords and stuff. Then they just reload the PCB with whatever game they want on it, and apply a new label to the cartridge.
-
13 hours ago, TrekMD said:
I got the email earlier today. I will now open my games so I can get the cartridges swapped. It's good they are offering this as a solution.
Except you can't because it states they are wanting the original carts returned and providing a return shipping label in the process. So they are sending replacements and want the original carts back.
Therefore, it does in essense make owning one of the original messed up carts now somewhat collectable since the question will be whom is actually willing to return their originals back to AtariXP?
What will AtariXP do to those that decide to not send them back the originals? I assume they would charge for the replacements using whatever payment information they have on file for when the purchases were first made? But then, what if those people have changed bank accounts or the CCs they used are no longer valid? Hmmm?
-
On 9/10/2022 at 1:07 PM, RickR said:
A few old PC games that I picked up at a library sale.
Very cool! I've never been able to get my hands on the Sierra 3D Mini-golf or their Pinball games. But I do own Outpost. Sadly it is a very finicky game to get working these days and I've never managed to get it working on anything later than Win98. Even the various compatibility modes would just cause the app to crash on any other OS I've tried over the years so I've honestly never been able to play my CIB copy of the game LOL!
-
@Sabertooth That does look really good! I'd be concerned over time though of that paint on the cart getting scratched off over time. I've heard some reports of these carts being quite tight to fit in some consoles and as usual, 7800s. I can't vouch for this as my carts are still backwards on the PCB side so I'm using an extension to play them. But yeah, I could see at least the Atari logo over time easily getting scratched away.
-
Well, I might just use my heatgun on low heat to lift the labels and reverse the PCBs myself. And the labels are really poor looking compared to what we are used to from recent releases from AtariAge. Mine all have a very soft and semi washed out look to them with a lamination like effect on them that isn't the normal gloss we are used to. I do like that the boxes are standard Atari box sizes though because they do fit correctly in my box protectors.
- Sabertooth, Smell Dawg and RickR
-
3
-
Mine arrived a bit ago as well. I immediately opened them because the shrink wrap is so tight it was already starting to show bowing in all three boxes with two of them already having holes forming in the shrink due to stressing. So you really need to remove that shrink wrap unless you want the boxes crushing themselves badly over time.
And yes... the PCBs are flipped around wrong inside the carts...
- Sabertooth and RickR
-
2
-
19 hours ago, Mockduck said:
I bet they end up just shipping new carts to all of the Standard Edition orders. Would be fine with that myself.
If they do that, I will be more inclined to actually try lifting the labels on the initial ones I get to fix them.
Speaking of, I got my ship notification over the weekend and another notice that they are supposed to be delivered today. So I will find out soon. It seems the labels come up pretty easily with a hairdryer.
-
1 hour ago, TrekMD said:
I got that same message today. And I haven't even received my carts!
Same... so it looks like it was probably every single one of the SE carts has those PCBs in backwards. I still think they give an option to just ship out replacement labels so that we can crack em open ourselves to swap them right side round when we do get them. It would be the most cost effective solution for them. Although I'm sure they are likely going to just send out replacement carts to cover all the bases.
- Sabertooth and TrekMD
-
2
-
Still no notice of mine specific order being shipped. But as I also go SE releases I expect all three of mine to not work. From what I've seen on FB this morning, it seems all copies of the SE games have the PCB in backwards because the same fab house was putting together both editions. But because the LEs have the special cases and their labels are facing the players, the fab house thought it was the same for the SE releases. At least, that is the rumor/theory going around and it makes sense.
If mine arrive and don't work, I do actually have a way to play them strangely enough. Since the carts can't be taken apart without possible damage to the labels, I can actually use my old 7800 high score cart to play these, because it is just an exposed cart port that sticks out the top. That would allow me to easily plug the carts in backwards to test. I have to defeat the dust doors to do it, but a clipped cotton bud is all I need for that.
Will have to let everyone here know once mine come in. I do think that the cheapest solution for AtariXP is to just send out replacement labels to everyone affected so that those affected can just open the cart up and flip the PCB around and apply a new label.
-
32 minutes ago, Sabertooth said:
I placed them via the AtariXP site too. They use Shopify for their processing platform so I got my notices automatically through that. YMMV.
My emails came from Atarixp support and not shopify. However, they have made changes since I placed my original order because the link in my original confirmation email for the order status, comes up to a dead link now. So .... who knows?!
-
3 hours ago, Sabertooth said:
FYI - Notices came via the Shopify app and not via email.
Shopify app? I ordered from AtariXP directly on the web and did so as Guest as I usually do. I rarely create accounts for stuff like this. So I got the notification about games shipping soon to my email I used when I placed my order.
-
9 hours ago, Sabertooth said:
In other XP news, someone may have received a shipping notification for the first three carts...
I didn't receive an email stating my order had shipped, but I did receive an email last week from AtariXP stating that orders would begin shipping soon. But if I do get a specific one for my order of games, I'll update here.
-
19 hours ago, Funkmaster V said:
We are gonna be releasing Silverback's review of Wizard's Dungeon very soon... but to tide you over:
We look into several prototypes and hacks: Rampart, Star Wars, GATO, Pit Fighter
and there's a much sunnier update to the site's "Atari 7800 Biography". No more doom and gloom. It's the 7800's time to shine!
Thanks for the love! www.Atari7800Forever.com
I tested the crap outta this game. It was fun to find all the initial exploits that of course were removed from the final version of the game. As an example, in earlier builds of the game, it was possible to get the wizard boss stuck on his tree in the center of his arena screen and then use the lightning to take him out since the lightning had the ability to go through obstacles to take out enemies. So I used it to stay safe on the other side of walls and the like. I believe in the end the lightning was made to be much less effective through walls and a second tree was added to the center of the arena to prevent the wizard boss from getting stuck and so you couldn't spam him with lightning through the obstacle.
Fun game but after playing it so much during testing I did get burnt out a bit on it and haven't played it as much since.
-
3 hours ago, socrates63 said:
I ordered Vectrexians and it arrived yesterday. I love Galaxian, and I heard that this is a good one. Not shown below but the game came with an overlay.
I don't own this one from Kristoff, but I do own Vector Pilot and Vector Patrol and they are amazing games on the Vectrex!
-
4 hours ago, RickR said:
Maybe once @CrossBowis back in six months to do regular upgrades.
6 months? Nah... I should be able to get back to offering normal services again not long after PRGE.
- socrates63 and RickR
-
2
-
Couldn't help it... I was trying to take a break from the iron for a few days after a lot of work I've been doing lately, but wanted to see this in action so... I did this last night. I will provide more thoughts on it in a blog but here is some pics and a quick video:
Front and Back of the completed kit:
There is only a little bit of soldering involved, but it requires lots of flux and patience as it requires soldering to very fine pitch pins off the GBA CPU directly. My first attempt the controls weren't working. Found out I had soldered the ribbon cable 1 pin off on the left side of the CPU and had to undo and remove it, re-align it, and solder it back down.
And of course a quick 1min video when I was testing it all put together on one of my test TVs in the lab area:
- RickR, socrates63 and TrekMD
-
3
-
Here are few recent pickups for me....
First is that I've had the game for at least a month now but hadn't posted any pics of it. However, the CD with the alternate soundtrack on it I just got late last week in the mail. If you didn't know, the game supports the ability to play back music from music CDs if you have a SegaCD attached and working. So having this awesome alternate soundtrack from Anders Jensen is really the best version of the game you can play currently. At least, until the even more awesome Pokey enabled 7800 version is released at PRGE!
I mentioned this in another thread here not too long ago but finally received it in the mail today. I don't know when I will have time to put this together, but I will be sure to give my thoughts on it when I do!
Last for now is that I have to state just how impressed I am with this release! I ordered this back in Nov of last year from Castlemania games but it did arrive late last week and it is crazy impressive! This is the game Gaiares which, was re-issued as a special set of which several places were selling it. Compared to most releases like this, it was a bargain at just under $70 shipped. The game comes with a t-shirt like from the original ad back in the day that you specify the size you want, it comes with a reversible insert on the clamshell with either the original US release artwork or much better Japanese artwork etc. Here are individual pics of this great re-issue.
The cartridge is actually a transparent smoke colored shell with a foil label featuring the JPN artwork once again and is overall very high quality. Pics can't do the foil justice.
The clamshell features a slip cover that is actually very detailed again with the JPN artwork on it but also with raised relief on it?! Again, the picture doesn't capture this.
The back of the slip cover features several screenshots from the in game cutscenes and they are printed in very high detail on the back. They are also raised relief on these individual shots?! This pic kinda shows that with how you can see the slight shadowing off the edges of the pictures etc.
So yeah overall just a very impressive re-issue for this great shooter on the Genesis. I own the original as a loose cart only so getting it in this official reissue as a new complete package is awesome!
- TrekMD and socrates63
-
2
-
One recent pickup that isn't gaming related recently is this:
I've not put it together as again, I have no where for it to go. But there wasn't anyway I was going to let this set get past me. Here are few more pics of the box as aside from that 90 years of play bit in the corner, they pretty much nailed the classic space box look from the late 70s early 80s.
- RickR, Sabertooth and - Ω -
-
3
-
19 hours ago, TrekMD said:
This arrived today...
Curious how many of the pieces have actual printing on them vs stickers? I was shocked when I found out that the new Galaxy Explorer is all printed pieces with not a single sticker in use. But this set I'm guessing will have a lot of stickers as I just can't see them printing all of the designs seen onto the bricks. That would make them crazy unique to this set and LEGO don't typically do that.
I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money, especially when I really don't have anywhere for it to go.
-
12 hours ago, Atari 5200 Guy said:
I watched his video on the board and how it was suppose to perform. I do like how he allowed for flexibility with both sticks but the regulator is overkill in my opinion. He did say the microprocessor he used he discovered was a pain in the tush to work with.
Did he explain what the VR is for? Again, there is only +5 coming off the controller port in the first place? Does this VR regulator +5 down to +3? That would make sense if the parts used are only 3v parts? I just can't imagine there is enough omph through the +5 on the controller ports to power a VR?
-
Yeah... good point @Atari 5200 Guy about the regulator? The ports only provide +5 to begin with so I can't see how that regulator would be doing anything?
-
Here is the official website for Printerboy's console covers currently. Looks like 5200 covers are there again.
I think I only purchased his PS3, PS4 Pro, SNESjr, and Zelda Wii-U console covers.
https://printerboy.net/category/dustcover/atari/
-
1 hour ago, Atari 5200 Guy said:
I like that dust cover!
Pretty sure that is a printerboy cover he has there. I've got a few of them but still prefer my covers done my Barb that adorn most of my consoles. I only have printerboy covers for the ones that Barb didn't offer a cover for and isn't likely to in the future.
Recent Pickups -- (Non Gaming)
in Retro
Posted
@TrekMD Nice work! I just wanted the 4k directors cut of the Motion Picture...but naturally it is sold out everywhere and being scalped on the bay and amazon already. So... I've had to settle for the standard blu-ray release of the directors cut.
I was able to get Wrath of Kahn in 4k though and that is my favorite one of the original movies anyway.