CrossBow
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Posts posted by CrossBow
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14 minutes ago, Sabertooth said:
That's a really cool addition @CrossBow. Thanks for sharing! It's fantastic that Plaion/Atari are working with the community techies to improve emulation over all. Focusing on a single game goes beyond my expectations.
Any progress on 7800 Rampage or Double Dragon in your build? My 7800 Klax (from CPUWIZ about a decade ago) doesn't work, but I've seen others whose carts do work.
Yes and no on the Rampage Double Dragon question.
One of the changes that my FW has is that it provides very specific information from the Dumper side of things on what it actually detects. Comparing the results of my cartridges with those of others has revealed something that is a bit interesting although not quite sure why. So Double Dragon and Rampage were apparently released in multiple revisions that aren't well documented. What is more strange is that the code of the games themselves isn't really different. But what is different is the bank switching schemes used and apparently other changes on the hardware level of the cartridges themselves appear to be confusing the dumper. So as a result I don't just provide a pass/fail on my testing. I also have to provide a bunch of other data that is shown from the system when I activate a specific controller combo. So hopefully that data can be used to get those games working.
Klax is another one I've been testing. I don't own the actual cartridge as honestly, Klax isn't my style of game that I enjoy that much. But I was provided ROM images of the two main ones out there. The one that CPU made is basically the prototype as it was found as it happens to work on actual 7800 consoles. But it seems the header information for it isn't quite right and so the 'fixed' version that was released later on does work on the 2600+. Not sure if they will work around that on the 2600+ since it is sort of a special case and again, the same ROM with corrected header info in it, does work as expected.
Another thing I've been testing is more modern home brew releases. But a small snag has been found between the ROM of the final games and what is actually on the carts. That small snag is the HOKEY itself. Most of the modern brews are working with updated FW on the 7800 but those games with HOKEYs in them vs actual POKEYs aren't playing the Pokey audio or in some cases, failing to load up. Last night with revised FW I was finally able to get Keystone Koppers to come up and work with full Pokey audio. So this is a good step towards hopefully getting more of those games working. Again, everything I've been testing with is actually slightly older FW than what everyone has been given access too. But that is because the FW I'm working with and being provided is just to test stuff on the 7800 side of things so that it can eventually be implemented into a much more robust FW update in the future. As an example, the 2600 games that have been corrected and are working with the beta 1.1FW that everyone else has been loading up, do NOT work for me on my FW because those changes weren't or aren't being implemented. Again, my testing focus is on the 7800 side.
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Check it out folks! There is some really cool new stuff coming to the 2600+. For those not aware, I'm testing separate FW from what everyone else is testing that has some experimental stuff on it. Mostly 7800 centric in nature and this is one that I was just advised to test and confirm.
If you weren't aware, Tower Toppler usually looks like a striped mess of graphics on anything higher than composite video output. That is because the games graphics rely on the use of NTSC artifacting to make the graphics and colors look the way they did back in the day. But once you go with s-video of above, then the artifacting effect is lost and you see the graphics as they were actually programmed but not as they were intended to be seen. And it isn't pretty. Well, the new FW currently loaded on my 2600+ features a new test composite filter for Tower Toppler to siumlate the artifacting effect. It isn't 100% and I'm not sure how much more work will be done on it, but this is far far better than it what it looks like right now to everyone else on the 2600+ and at least makes it possible to know what you are looking at.
- MistaMaddog, Sabertooth, MaximumRD and 1 other
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My only issue with videos like this right now, is that it is all but assured that Atari will replace this process out with something more user friendly. So while I can appreciate someone creating a video like this for those of us wanting to test the latest BETA release, it isn't good to have this on YouTube because a year or so from now, this process being shown won't be relevant and you wouldn't want someone to come across it thinking this is how you update the console and then end up making a mess of their system using incompatible FW etc.
So I do think stuff like this shouldn't be posted in this particular medium until the actual FW release and process has been made more public and finalized.
- Justin, Sabertooth, sramirez2008 and 1 other
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Oh I get that, but I can only work off what I have in the service manuals and the tools that I know to use. That was why I purchased my chiptester from Backbit.io over a year ago was so I could better verify some of the more commonly used ICs and customs used in many consoles and computers back in they day.
But even the chip tester isn't perfect as it reports a Rockwell 6502 as passing that clearly was showing issues on a 7800 when installed.
So at the end of the day, I should have been made aware of the issue so I could have tested it more specifically. But it was already back in the hands of the owner and they feel satisfied with the work that was done and just plan to play it using their flash cart going foward.
You mention cartridge ports, do you know a source for those exact ones? I can tell you that I do clean out the cart ports on each console using a size to fit cut credit card, with a section of t-shirt wrapped around it and then saturated first with my de-ox-id cleaner and then folowed up with 99.9 IPA until no more black or grey is being shown on the t-shirt section.
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1 hour ago, Scott Stilphen said:
Then your client needs to send the system back to you since there's still an issue with it in regards to Decathlon, and it's clear Atari's diagnostic carts can't detect it. Atari's VCS diagnostic cart doesn't do any in-depth testing of the CPU, and "alex_79" wrote a simple test program for testing it, which he posted in this thread:
https://forums.atariage.com/topic/349009-atari-2600-berserk-issue/#comment-5220321
Perhaps he can write a similar one for the 5200.
But I'm not so sure there is an issue. As I stated with my own testing. Even my actual cart doesn't seem to want to work most of the time in my actual 5200. But if I have my tongue and cart at the right angle, then I can get my cartridge to boot up and play. Also, they did confirm that the game loads up find on their Atarimax. So I do think the issue here is just poor contact with the PCB in regards to Activision games in general.
And had I known that they had an issue with the game I would have tested it before sending it back. They stated it is the only game they have issues getting to work and since they can play it on flash cart, they aren't bothered by it at this point.
You are making it sound like I didn't do enough testing with it but that couldn't be further from the truth. And there isn't anyway for me to test every single game that is out there on everyone of these consoles that comes in. For one I don't own ever game and two, the time needed to adequately test every game like this isn't something that 1 person can do when I usually have a few systems here at the same time to receive services. If the diagnostics say everything is good, and the games I play on it via flash cart work then I don't have any reason to believe there is anything seriously wrong with the console. I also don't consider a single game that doesn't seem to work as dictating there is a failure with the console. There has to be other games that would fail in similar fashion if there was a console fault and I and my client didn't encounter any issues other than my client having issues with his Decathlon cartridges.
If they wanted to send it back for me to try replacing the CPU I can do that and it might get that one game working again sure. But they don't seem interested in doing that at this time and have stated they are very happy with the results Decathlon withstanding.
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Likely something with the heuristic scanning of your virus software that is flagging code it doesn't like but it actually safe. I've got a lot of older emulators and some game installers that passed fine years ago but now seem to trigger my mal-ware bytes and I have to keep removing the files from quarantine and add them to the exclusion lists.
Heck we have legit software we install at work that flags both our virus software and our hardware firewalls. The ONLY way to run that software and get it installed is to use outside networks and run the installer on the computer after taking it off the network because our network security just kills it instantly.
In the case of the software at work, it is because the installer uses auto installing scripts to install several different software packages one after the other through a single EXE and this is interpreted as virus behavior. Our network security specialist refuses to account for this to change it since we found a work around anyway...
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36 minutes ago, sramirez2008 said:
I won’t be able to apply/test until Tuesday. @CrossBow nice to hear that EXO is working with your beta. Hopefully it works with the community build too.
I believe it will but not everyone has a copy of the game to test since EXO just go released in the AA store and I guess no one that attended PRGE has been following this stuff or interested? Pretty sure John would have tried to test it as I'm sure he bought a copy of the game. The only downside with EXO is that the Savekey/AVOX doesn't work and from what I'm told those never will. The 2600+ only polls the ports in read only mode. It can't write back to them. So as a result... you can't save anything. EXO is a much more challenging game when you have to play it in one sitting LOL!
This also means that the Keypad controller apparently can never be made to work either. So no Star Raiders with this current hardware they have released. I was able to get Petscii Robots to start up, but I wouldn't exactly call it playable. No music only TIA audio worked, and all of the graphics were messed up. But the actual game was able to be played provided you knew exactly what the garbage on the screen was representing LOL. As I've played Petscii Robots quite a bit I was just about able to get through the first map even with it all screwed up looking. But the fact that EXO is working means that large size games can be made to work and the improvements made to the pro system emulator in these new builds is crazy impressive!
- Justin, sramirez2008 and Sabertooth
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6 minutes ago, Sabertooth said:
I responded on Twitter, but will here as well for the good of the order. I had the same issue but found that it was recognizing the device as an Evercade handheld - which I also have. Apparently they use the same chipset, so Windows thinks the 2600+ is an Evercade. Once I realized that, I opened that device and followed the rest of the steps. Worked fine. Hope that is helpful!
See I don't own an Evercade so didn't know that was an issue but interesting to know. I just know that I've not had any issues with the actual update using the power cord it came with on my PC so I do wonder if some folks are using different USB cables etc.
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7 minutes ago, Cryptocoffee13 said:
I was able to do part one the Dumper part, part 2 with the Emulator part 1, my computer does not find the Unknown Device under the Other Devices folder or anywhere else in the Device Manager. I tried several times making sure I had to correct set up with the unit switch being on Color and holding the Game Reset switch while turning it on and then hearing the noise that it worked. Anyone else having an issue with this?
Worked for me 1st try. however, the process I was given had the opposite order. I was told to update the console core with the update.img file first and then update the dumper. But for the dumper portion to work for me, I had to install a driver file first and then the dumper update worked without issue.
Now that all of that is in place, I can go back and forth without too much trouble.
Also be sure to use the cable that came with the 2600+ when doing this. It isn't just providing power and works great for data as well. Also, I'm on windows 11 and using a USB 3.0 port. But I've seen others state they could only get it working using a USB 2.0 port on their computers.
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55 minutes ago, Scott Stilphen said:
If you still have your client's system, I'd start changing the major ICs one by one. Someone on AA recently ran into an issue with Berzerk where the game was unplayable, and it turned out their system's CPU chip was at fault.
As I've said more than once already...No. I sent it back and then they reported to me that Decathlon wasn't working right and apparently that was an issue before they sent it to me but I wasn't aware that game was an issue until they had it back in hand and told me then at that time. I ran both the 1.1 and 2.3 diagnostics on it and nothing looked out of place nor did I see any issues with the games I tested it with being Blaster, Last Star Fighter, and I use both Ball Blazer and Rescue on Fractalus as burn in test games since they have built in demos I can start up and leave the console going for hours until I finally turn them off.
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1 hour ago, Sabertooth said:
The BETA firmware is up and available for download.
https://forums.atariage.com/topic/358796-atari-2600-beta-update-11/?do=findComment&comment=5377055
It's vastly improved the 7800 compatibility although my Rampage and Double Dragon carts still do not load. Also, Circus Convoy!
Yeap..apparently the request demand was too great so they decided to go ahead and release it at this time. Although I think the one I've been testing today is slightly newer as EXO is also working with the build I have. We might be on the verge to getting Rampage working though. I have a new build to update my 2600+ with that will dump data from my copy of the game to hopefully provide some clues.
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22 minutes ago, sramirez2008 said:
I like the 2600+ but as long as my CRTs continue to work, it will not replace my OG consoles. I prefer OG with CRT over HDMI and emulation, but it’s nice to have options.
Are you part of the new beta testing? If not...then again you say this now but just wait.
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Well, all I can say right now from what I'm seeing first hand, is that at this rate... Atari is going to put me outta business on console upgrade services LOL!!!
Oh well, it couldn't last forever right?
- TrekMD, Smell Dawg, sramirez2008 and 1 other
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18 hours ago, Sabertooth said:
And there is more...hehe. A new FW beta release was given out yesterday to testers and from initial reports... it has nearly all of the 7800 homebrew now working including games with FM sound through the use of a Dragonfly cartridge.
I will be able to confirm this for myself perhaps a little later on today... 😉
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30 minutes ago, Scott Stilphen said:
I recently tested a Decathlon cart on a 4-port, and 3 different 2-port systems, and it worked fine with all of them.
Interesting... I wonder why my client's 5200 doesn't seem to like the game though? They have tried two different carts without success on their 2 port unit and it also has a 4 port BIOS installed. I wasn't aware of the issue with the game prior to sending it back so I couldn't test it for myself. Still there has to be some hardware issue that might cause this? They did have a rockwell CPU but as it was a 2 port unit, it didn't have the timing issues that would normally be found with older Rockwells in the 4 port consoles.
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I have a client that has sent their SMS II for me to do some work on. One of the requests was to see if I could add a separate Reset switch to the console because for some odd reason, Sega didn't think that was needed on the smaller model II SMS? Now, I've not looked into the reasons for why you want this that much, but I understand that some cheat options for games require the use of the soft reset function that the original models have?
Well, in looking through schematics and other online stuff, all I could really find was info on how the soft reset function works on the PAL model of this console. That wasn't going to help me but as luck would have it, the NTSC model II SMS is literally just a smaller version of the model 1. Same chips...same schematics.
So, in looking at the mode 1 schematics you find that the reset switch on the console was tied to pin 22 of the gate array IO chip. That pin doesn't appear to be connected to anything else on the system. In the model 1 console, when you press the reset switch, it just grounds pin 22 on the gate array chip and that sends a soft reset command to the rest of the system. As a result, the actual reset line on pin 26 of the Z80 CPU isn't really used on the model 1 SMS console.
On the model 2 SMS, Sega instead decided to use a diode/resistor combo to cause a safe quick short circuit to the Z80's reset line when you power the console off/on. Or rather, when you apply power the console, it also sends a hard reset to the Z80 at the same time and that is it. That is the only way to reset a game on the SMS II console is by cycling power.
Well, you can easily restore the soft reset function by using two lengths of wire and a momentary switch that you install on the console somewhere.
Simply solder one end of a length of wire off pin 22 of the gate array IO chip (marked as 315-5216). This pin is marked and easy to find and is soldered to the board but has NO traces running to it. The other end of that wire you solder to one side leg of your switch. Then solder the other length of wire from the other leg of the switch to a point attached to ground.
That's it... that is all you have to do! I made a quick video that demonstrates this in action below.
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<--- raises hand...
- 7800 Pro Gamer, Justin and MaximumRD
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6 hours ago, MaximumRD said:
Not a perfect solution but....
I had not seen or heard of this trick yet! Very nice. I will give it a shot, but there is a difference between what I get and what the older TEDs were doing. The older 1.x version TEDs simply never show up as Hucards you can play on the Analogue and that is what this seems to get around. The issue with my TED 2.5 version and most other 2.x versions is that they do appear and we can run it, but then the TED boots up tossing an SD IO error or other error related to accessing the SD card.
So I will see if this does anything different and report back.
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2 hours ago, Scott Stilphen said:
The pcbs always came from Fred - both he and Chris Walton created the Harmony, and the Melody pcb (and variants of it) are a Harmony board w/o the USB + SD interface board. But is Fred programming them, or is John C?
Yarusso always printed his own labels and manuals, and possibly the boxes? (though I think he might have out-sourced those).
Far as I know the boxes and manuals Al has been outsourcing for the past few years. I only state this as I've seen posts from him when he got these items back from a print shop and not been happy with them, or had the items shipped straight to PRGE so they were ready to be assembled to have for sale.
I didn't know that Fred was the only one able to provide PCBs? What happened with Joe from Pixels Past? I want to say I've seen some projects with his logo on them that were more recent and weren't related to Atari, but still I remember Joe providing earlier PCBs in the mid 2000s.
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23 hours ago, Scott Stilphen said:
Who's making the carts?
The parts are being provided by Fred Quimby aka Batari on the AA forums. But I think the initial labels and manuals were likely printed by Al or whomever Al uses for those since I believe that is of the exact same quality. But the PCBs were coming from Fred.
- Sabertooth and DegasElite
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I also had the 7800 when it was new back in the late 80s and for me it began with mostly the arcade ports. Although it was mostly those that I didn't already own for the 2600. So it was games like Pole Position II (That it came with lucky me!), Xenophobe, Crossbow, Rampage... stuff like that. You know, the at the time more modern arcade games.
But then I only really played on my 7800 for about 2 years before turning to the PC darkside. Once I got back into retro game collecting and playing again, it is now strongly all about the 5th era or modern homebrews for me on this system as that is largely what I play on it most now.
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Yes I placed an order for Elevator Agent last week when John first announced it!
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Well, this pretty much confirms it. I'm not the only one to encounter this as it seems Games Radar confirmed this during their review of the console but I hadn't seen that review until this Reddit post finally popped up in my searches a bit ago.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AnalogueInc/comments/18hs8nx/analogue_duo_turbo_everdrive_v25/
So yeah, it seems that the ONLY Turbo Everdrives working currently with the Analogue DUO are the latest TED PRO versions. It does anger me a little that according to the Games Radar review, this issue with the TEDs was known about months ago and passed onto to Krikzz but apparently nothing was done to address it and focus seemed to be with the newest TEDs working.
So just have to wait and see if a FW update from Krikzz is needed for the older TEDs work, or if a FW update from Analog is needed to correct...or...
Everyone just waits until the thing is jail broken allowing games to be loaded from the SD card anyway like the other previous Analogue consoles.
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16 minutes ago, Justin said:
I was worried about that. To some users that would be a big deal.
Yeah I'm really surprised since several YT vids for it state that they got their TED carts working with it. Mine does load like I said but I've tried several SD cards in it and they all come up with one of two errors when trying to load up the TED through the Analogue: SD IO error or FAT read error? But the SD cards are formatted as FAT32 and again it works on my actual TurboDUO and my TG-16 that I brought out of the closet to test with again. So there is a timing issue here and the TEDs above v.2 are supposed to work. Oh well...
Atari 2600+ My experiences and helpful information
in Atari 2600
Posted
Yeah I think good deal is using the fixed version of the prototype.