CrossBow

Sometime back I remember that the AMax cart PCB had a spot for a reset switch on it? But I think I was drinking my bathwater. I think the issue is that there ins't a way to reset the console in a manner to cold boot it that is needed to reload back to a menu on the AMax from within the console. Many of my flash carts for my 130xe still require me to power cycle the 130xe as well to get back to my menus. Although now that I know about the "bye" command from the basic prompt, it has helped with a little less stress on the power switch. But you know now that I think about it, all of my flash carts require me to get up and push something or hit reset to get back to a main menu so I guess it is just how it is? We had to do the same with original carts after all?

They are very nice looking. I have one of his 7800 NES style controllers and it is a very nice controller! My only issue with these 5200 controllers are that they are a bit on the too large size for me and I do wonder why he doesn't use carriage bolts like arcade cabs did back in the day to provide a smooth rounded surface around the screw bolts? But it again it looks to be built like a tank!

Okay, I hadn't heard of Space rocks having any issues on the 7800? I'm only aware of the Activision carts that use the FE bankswitching scheme that aren't compatible with the extra timing circuit that was added to the 87' to mid '88 7800 systems. A single capacitor can be clipped to take it out of circuit to disable that extra timing circuit. Doing so will then render 2 2600 games non functional, but restores the compatiblity to all of those activision titles. Those two games that will no longer work are the 2600 version of Dark Chambers (And any of the hacks that use that kernal engine), and the 2600 version of Kung Fu Master. However, I have disabled that circuit on at least 2 7800s now where Dark Chambers continued to work afterwards but Kung Fu Master only gives a black screen. But it can easily be argued that the 7800 versions of those two games are better anyway so it isn't much of a loss. I only have Space Rocks in rom format and don't own the actual cart. So I wonder if the earlier build I have of the game on rom isn't affected and that is why I've not known about it?

Which compatibility issues specifically? Because...um.. I have a cheap easy fix for most of that and I can take care of that cartridge sleeve too.

I had forgotten about Dreadnaught Factor but is an excellent game on the 5200 and I agree, you really need the control of the analog to pinpoint your shots against the enemy ships and cannons. The others mentioned I don't know that I've tried with digital controls as I honestly use my original CX-52 all the time LOL! It is more usable than the 7800 proline at least! So yes quite a number of the original released games were designed with the analog control in mind but I know that quite a few are playable at least with digital with some of them playing much better with digital controls.

Some games that really only work with the analog controller would be Galaxian, (Although the paddle trimmer on the Retrogameboys controller will do this), Star Raiders, The Last Starfighter, Blaster, Pole Position... I'm sure there are more I'm just not thinking of right now.

I'm just now seeing this reply and I'm heartbroken?! You didn't have me do the UAV in your 7800? 🙂

I used to do pick up vids on my channel but stopped when I realized it was basically advertising what I have for people to know to take and they were my least viewed vids anyway LOL! But yeah, after what happened with Jason last year, I kinda decided that I would only share a few things here and there.

I don't post things like this too often as I kinda like keeping what I have in my collection private sometimes. But sometimes I get like Doc Brown and figure... 'What the hell?' These didn't come all at once but are fairly recent within the past month. As I finally installed the UAV into my 130xe it renewed my interest in the Atari 8-bit line so I picked up some stuff there. Also got my Collector vision order in for 2 of the new Intellivision games and 1 colecovision game that are all Halloween theme games I figured. Last in the center of the pic was a game I totally forgot I even ordered from Castlemania games. Retrobit released an official translated version of the previous JPN only SNES game Undercover Cops. It is a side scrolling beat em up and that is one of my favorite genre of games!

Sadly, the 5200 'brew scene isn't nearly as prolific as the other systems. I only own a few 5200 'brew games being Koffi Yellow Kopter, and Adventure II. The more impressive games for the system are those games that were completed back in the day but never actually released. Like Blaster and The Last Starfighter.

You still have one of the cases from the Brewing Academy it looks like? I recently changed out the case on my FinalGrom with a much nicer one. I still need to get me a 32k sidecar though as many things on the Finalgrom and in general require it.

Only Bounty Bob Strikes Back is the last major big grail I need for the 5200 collection. But I've resigned myself to the fact that isn't likely to ever happen. Of the games you listed, I do consider Dreadnaught Factor and Wizard of Wor to be really good! The stock controller is really good in Dreadnaught Factor in fact. For Wizard of Wor you have to remember that all versions of this game followed the arcade control panel setup so you actually play with the controller in port 2 for a single player game. Since the arcade had player 1 on the right and player 2 on the left. All ports of the game follow this control method and it can be confusing if you don't know that at first!

You can actually tell if it has been modified to work with the VCS adapter without removing the RF shield because some soldered on wires would be present and go under the shielding near the right center of it. If they did everything underneath, then you would see similar going under the bottom RF shield but most did it exactly like the factory required. So that means there is usually 1 or 2 wires going through the cart slot hole on the right side and that should also be visible with that top cover removed.

Very strange. What is the black mass on that tape to the right of the boss post hole? It looks similar to the same tape I've seen on 7800s near the power port. Likely because there is only about 1mm of space between the + input voltage rail and the large ground for the RF to sit on. But I've never see it on the 5200 in that part before. Because there really isn't much of anything in that part of the main board. I mean, the bottom RAM chips are under there, but really nothing that would require any tape to be used to isolate anything. And in looking at the tabs that have been shown, the one next to port 3 doesn't look right. Looks like it was twisted counter clock vs clockwise as Atari normally did. So it is possible someone has been in it and just twisted them back the way they were supposed to be. And actually that tarnish really doesn't come off without some sanding. I've tried trust me LOL!

Well if you take a close up pic of the metal tabs that hold the RF shield in place, that will be a good indicator to me if it has been removed in the past or not.

No..the crosshair will NOT be centered in Star Wars when calibrated. It will usually be off center towards the right most of the time. Missile command is a better game to use as the cross hair on that game is roughly dead center when you have the controller plugged in and both pots in their 6 and 9 positions for centering. BTW... why is there a piece of masking tape in the lower left of the RF shield on your console? That wasn't done by the factory.

I agree that the upgrade on the 5200 is really a night and day difference. It is actually that way on most of the consoles. One thing to point out as @RickR is correct in regards to some games not looking correct with these upgrades. Far as I know there aren't any released 5200 games that used the color artifacting tricks on them. I know there are a few protos out there like Miniature Golf that would have relied on it and lots of the Atari 8-bit stuff will only look correct through RF or composite but it seems Atari and the games programmed for the 5200 didn't really use this color trickery back in the day. That means that in the case of the 5200, that the s-video looks really good. I've not tried the Sophia upgrades which, provide digital and RGB outputs, but I assume they would just be a more sharp image of what s-video provides now and I honestly feel that the s-video is excellent enough as it is.

I believe the 2600 'brew of this known as Draconian has the same amount of speech on it as well. That is also a true marvel of 2600 programming.

Well I actually don't have a dedicated place for my 5200 to sit due to the size of the console. I actually have it on a rolling cart that was designed originally for a 2600 sized console so it still doesn't fit right. But doing this I can roll the 5200 nearby when I want to play it and then use whatever controller I want. If I use the trak-ball then I place that on my cocktail cab that I use as a coffee table in the middle of the game room. Not ideal and yes it is something I basically have to "setup" for when I want to play but quite a few of my consoles require this sort of treatment.

Far as I know the CX-53 Trak-ball is the only one that was ever made available for the 5200. The designer of the Trak-ball Dan Kramer is a member of the 5200 group on FB in fact. For the record, it isn't just the best controller that Atari designed for the 5200, but very possibly the best controller that Atari has ever designed. Missile Command with one of these is my favorite way to play the game. I did try it with Xari Arena, but I'm not that good at that game to begin with so can't really say it helped me much there.

I'm on the opposite side of this. I pretty much use the standard controllers more often than not. But that is because the games I like to play most on the 5200 actually play better with the standard controllers. That being Fractalus and The Last Starfighter. But, I also own one of the older AtariAge Redemption adapters that allows me to use a 7800 or sega controller with the console in combo with a CX-52 controller. I actually have a Wico command pad that I connect to it instead when I use that setup. But it doesn't get used that often. BTW...Moderclassics video really doesn't show the proper way to take apart the 5200 controller. It is imperative to remove that top bezel for the Start, Pause, and Reset before separating the two halves. While it won't always happen you do run a large risk of the traces in the flex in that part getting broken or pulled loose from the Mylar due the friction of trying to pull it out from the 90 degree angle it has to come through. Also I believe he is using copper foil tape which, will work just as well but usually costs more than the cheaper HVAC foil tape I use. The foil tape I use is also aluminum based and isn't as likely to cause issues with mixed metals like the copper might over time.

Well I have mentioned it in places where shipping systems comes up or someone else complains of having received broken consoles in shipping from time to time yes but I've only really spoke and shown examples of it from my clients twice over the past 3 years. Most of my clients are pretty meticulous in how they ship their systems. But even shipping carefully, things can still happen. I did have another 5200 that was sent just before this one and it was in an oversized box with plenty of padding around it and even bubble wrapped along the front to back and side to side. But yet, it still arrived with one small corner chipped out and one of the hinges on the controller cover broken in two. I was able to use some epoxy to at least put those pieces back together. But I had also advised to only send in the bottom shell and main board for me to work on. Really the point is that providing proper shipping protection isn't perfect, but providing little to none will only provide regret like what is shown at the top of this thread.

Numerous posts? I've only publicly posted about another 5200 that arrived in similar condition nearly 2 years ago. I've not said anything really since. And again, I didn't ship this. This is how the console arrived to me that a client sent to me to be worked on. As I've not been able to find a parts only system with a good case locally, my client will have to source a replacement for themselves and has consigned to this already. I will continue to work on the console and provide the services originally requested. At least it is only the top shell parts affected in this case so I can do all of the needed work without issue. The last one I had that arrived in pieces has damage to both the top and bottom shell case halves.

To play in Altirra I find I have to use the rom marked as just Bosc5200. It is a 512k sized rom and requires choosing the 512k bankswitched option when the cartridge types come up. The ones specific for the Max I've not been able to get working on Altirra.

Pretty much this. Or also perhaps some of the 8-bit computer conversions. Satan's Hollow for example!