Sabertooth

It's happening..
 

 
 
From Engadget:
Coleco Chameleon Kickstarter over before it even begins (update)
An image removed from Facebook indicates a big problem.
http://www.engadget.com/2016/03/02/coleco-chameleon-vanishing-act/
 
 
 
From Gizmodo:
Retro Gaming Console Coleco Chameleon's Launch Date Is Being Delayed Indefinitely 
Retro Video Game Systems, Inc.'s Coleco Chameleon is a Farce
http://gizmodo.com/retro-gaming-console-coleco-chameleons-launch-is-date-b-1762408017

press release from Coleco via J2Games.com today:

 

The ColecoVision: Coleco Chameleon drama continues. 

 

"It has come to our attention that the community has certain concerns over the prototypes involving the Retro VGS model. The team at Retro remains confident that their product is developed to the extent as describe; HOWEVER, in order to confirm or debase these concerns, Coleco has demanded to inspect the prototype units within a seven day time frame. At which time, independent engineers will review their findings and determine if those units are up to our standards. We will report some or all of those findings to the community so as long as they do not interfere with proprietary information. We remain hopeful that the community's concerns are merely speculations, but if there is merit to the concerns, then we have no choice but to abandon the project rather than release a sub-par product. During this time, we ask that the community allow us time to complete these inspections. Time extensions will only be granted if requested by the independent engineer. Time extensions and results will be posted here."

 

source: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10153867520339651&id=193998669650

I guess my point was that its his business venture, so I won't be supporting it. This is regardless of content. Although, I let my year one subscription lapse because I personally didn't enjoy it. Just not my cup o tea. Now, even if it were I would have difficulty supporting the magazine. I vote with my wallet.

I feel the same way, its sad because at the heart of the script its about the love of retro gaming.  It's sad to see how far this got out of hand, it's been quite a lesson my kids have been learning this week about telling the truth and how one lie can turn into a nightmare.  Thanks for the kind words about the Jag Bar, I try to take the high road on most things but this part of the story needed to get out, today was the day.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the project BTB. Its very interesting to get the perspective of someone that was involved. I also appreciate that you maintained your principles by refusing to do the video without a working prototype. The high ethical standards of the Jag-Bar apparently eclipse those of Engadget and CNET!
 
Now, I don't know MK personally but I did initially have high hopes for the first RVGS campaign. Prior to the Indiegogo attempt, I had purchased a Lynx from him through Game Gavel, backed the first Retro Magazine Kickstarter and picked up a translucent Jaguar shell. Based on those experiences and his general reputation in the scene, I thought he might be able to pull it off. The John Carlsen video soured me on that project though and when the it quickly reemerged with Coleco branding, I opted to wait in quiet skepticism. As it is, this appears to have been an outright deception and I will not support any MK projects moving forward. If I had kept my subscription to Retro, I would cancel it.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the project BTB. Its very interesting to get the perspective of someone that was involved. I also appreciate that you maintained your principles by refusing to do the video without a working prototype. The high ethical standards of the Jag-Bar apparently eclipse those of Engadget and CNET!
 
Now, I don't know MK personally but I did initially have high hopes for the first RVGS campaign. Prior to the Indiegogo attempt, I had purchased a Lynx from him through Game Gavel, backed the first Retro Magazine Kickstarter and picked up a translucent Jaguar shell. Based on those experiences and his general reputation in the scene, I thought he might be able to pull it off. The John Carlsen video soured me on that project though and when the it quickly reemerged with Coleco branding, I opted to wait in quiet skepticism. As it is, this appears to have been an outright deception and I will not support any MK projects moving forward. If I had kept my subscription to Retro, I would cancel it.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the project BTB. Its very interesting to get the perspective of someone that was involved. I also appreciate that you maintained your principles by refusing to do the video without a working prototype. The high ethical standards of the Jag-Bar apparently eclipse those of Engadget and CNET!
 
Now, I don't know MK personally but I did initially have high hopes for the first RVGS campaign. Prior to the Indiegogo attempt, I had purchased a Lynx from him through Game Gavel, backed the first Retro Magazine Kickstarter and picked up a translucent Jaguar shell. Based on those experiences and his general reputation in the scene, I thought he might be able to pull it off. The John Carlsen video soured me on that project though and when the it quickly reemerged with Coleco branding, I opted to wait in quiet skepticism. As it is, this appears to have been an outright deception and I will not support any MK projects moving forward. If I had kept my subscription to Retro, I would cancel it.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the project BTB. Its very interesting to get the perspective of someone that was involved. I also appreciate that you maintained your principles by refusing to do the video without a working prototype. The high ethical standards of the Jag-Bar apparently eclipse those of Engadget and CNET!
 
Now, I don't know MK personally but I did initially have high hopes for the first RVGS campaign. Prior to the Indiegogo attempt, I had purchased a Lynx from him through Game Gavel, backed the first Retro Magazine Kickstarter and picked up a translucent Jaguar shell. Based on those experiences and his general reputation in the scene, I thought he might be able to pull it off. The John Carlsen video soured me on that project though and when the it quickly reemerged with Coleco branding, I opted to wait in quiet skepticism. As it is, this appears to have been an outright deception and I will not support any MK projects moving forward. If I had kept my subscription to Retro, I would cancel it.

Here we go folks... 
 
[MIKE KENNEDY LEAD-IN]  Hi everyone, I’m Mike Kennedy and we are very excited to introduce you to the Coleco Chameleon.  The Coleco Chameleon is a new cartridge based video gaming console that is designed to play both a variety of classic games from the 80’s and 90’s and also new retro inspired games coming from today’s homebrew, indie and mainstream developers.  We have spent the last few months creating a working prototype as well as seeking out launch games that will scratch that retro itch in all of you.  We hope you will consider backing our campaign and help to spread the word of our campaign to your gaming friends and family.
 
[sTUDIO SET KIDS PLAYING GAMES WITH FADE TO GAMEPLAY VIDEO MONTAGE-Montezuma’s Revenge, Pepper II, Astrosmash, Night Stalker]
 
Remember when video-games looked like video-games?  When colorful, imaginative sprites popped off the screen and into your living room.  When games were more than an impulsive download; they were highly prized, magical transports into a fantasy world all delivered inside plastic cartridges. 
[GAMEPLAY VIDEO MONTAGE-Iron Commando, Dorke & YMP]
Remember when games were hard but you still couldn’t tear yourself away from playing?  When they didn’t include lengthy tutorials or unlimited continues or saves?  Remember when games came with instruction books that you actually wanted to read cover-to-cover? 
[TRANSITION TO LIVING ROOM SET, KIDS ON COUCH PLAYING CHAMELEON]
Remember that feeling you had buying a game in the store and bringing it home and playing it for the first time with your friends and family, all in the same room?  We want to bring those magical times back with the introduction of the COLECO Chameleon.  The COLECO Chameleon is the first new home console in nearly 20 years that will play new games on cartridges and once again give today’s gamers something to buy, play, trade and collect for a lifetime.
[TRANSITION TO COLECO MONTAGE]
It also marks the return of the COLECO brand name, a brand synonymous with the history of electronic handheld games and video games.  COLECO was a pioneer bringing some of the first PONG systems into the home in the 1970’s followed by the hugely successful Colecovision in the 1980’s, the first system to bring near arcade perfect graphics into over two million living rooms.  And it was the company that made Nintendo a house-hold name when Donkey Kong was packed into every Colecovision retail box sold.
[TRANSITION TO CHAMELEON CONSOLE MANTAGE]
The COLECO Chameleon is designed to be the ultimate retro gaming system.  It has the ability to accurately play a variety of your favorite classic video games, available as compilation cartridges, while also being an outlet for many all-new, classically inspired games being programmed by some of today’s best homebrew, indie and mainstream game developers. Now recognized as art form in of itself, retro gaming is once again a mainstay in today’s gaming landscape as developers are realizing classic graphics and gameplay mechanics are still entertaining even in this age of triple A, big budget cinematic titles. The COLECO Chameleon is the best way to experience this new wave of RETRO.  Get ready to Play Again.
[MIKE KENNEDY CALL TO ACTION]
If you’re as excited as we are after viewing this, you have a chance to be one of the first gamers to have a Coleco Chameleon before it’s introduced commercially.  Now, you can play the old games you loved when you were younger, help your friends and family make memories of their own, and enjoy the new games from our collection. 
On behalf of my team at Retro Video Game Systems, Inc. and Coleco Holdings we ask for your consideration to help us bring the COLECO Chameleon into homes around the world.  This is a product that needs grass roots support to grow as it is so completely opposite of where the video-game industry is heading.  Help us change the future of gaming by bringing back the RETRO.
 [TRANSITION TO FADE OUT OF LIVING ROOM. ADULTS 30’s NOW ON COUCH HAVING FUN PLAYING CHAMELEON]
[TRANSISTION FADE TO BLACK SCREEN.  POP IN COLECO CHAMELEON LOGO + REMEMBER WHEN. PLAY AGAIN. TAGLINE]

Incredible.

So I've been sitting on this story for a while but I think its now time to tell another part of the story... The Jag Bar was once involved with the Coleco Chameleon kickstarter.

I've always thought that Baby Pac could make a great port if you had a decent video pinball element. Like the top screen is the pinball playfield and the bottom screen is the maze. I'd love to see someone like PacManPlus make the attempt.

It's interesting that they went silent since that time. With the kickstarter opening tomorrow, I would have expected a lot more activity. Maybe silence is golden considering their communications skills.

It's interesting that they went silent since that time. With the kickstarter opening tomorrow, I would have expected a lot more activity. Maybe silence is golden considering their communications skills.

It's interesting that they went silent since that time. With the kickstarter opening tomorrow, I would have expected a lot more activity. Maybe silence is golden considering their communications skills.

Tomorrow is the big day to launch their Kickstarter campaign. I'm patiently waiting to see what's going to happen. You can't start a Kickstarter without real hardware.
 
They're still denying accusations about what happened at the Toy Fair, but notice they say "Our software was running the games" and don't say anything about hardware. Weird
 

I predict that the next time we see this it will have a working LED and be running a rerelease of Cybermorph on a Jaguar FPGA core. Afterall, most folks just don't have a Jaguar in their homes. Its an opportunity to bring Jaguar games to a wider audience.

I predict that the next time we see this it will have a working LED and be running a rerelease of Cybermorph on a Jaguar FPGA core. Afterall, most folks just don't have a Jaguar in their homes. Its an opportunity to bring Jaguar games to a wider audience.

I predict that the next time we see this it will have a working LED and be running a rerelease of Cybermorph on a Jaguar FPGA core. Afterall, most folks just don't have a Jaguar in their homes. Its an opportunity to bring Jaguar games to a wider audience.

COLECO CHAMELEON AT NEW YORK TOY FAIR – SNES MINI UNDER GLASS?
 
 February 22nd, 2016  Carl Williams
 
http://retrogamingmagazine.com/2016/02/22/coleco-chameleon-at-new-york-toy-fair-snes-mini-under-glass/

"Eagle-eyed viewers will note something familiar about the system's design as well: It looks like an Atari Jaguar."
- Engadget

http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/18/coleco-chameleon-atari-2600/


THIS IS EVERYTHING WRONG WITH GAMING JOURNALISM

I wonder if they will have sections for toys and leather?

Great episode! I should get my modded Lynx back next week and then I'll try to tackle some of these as you play them. I was going to do the install myself but time has been at a premium lately and the screen is too $$$ to screw up.

Another great video! Looking forward to seeing the video capture using McWill's excellent VGA out. This will really set your videos apart as most others either try to film the screen or use emulation.
 
Also, it would be great to get a drink recipe episode. The drinks of the Lynx Lounge!

Ataribc had a note in another thread about getting a clearer RF signal by using a ferrite choke. 
 
I'd never thought of that before....and sure enough, I had a few in my toolbox.  The look like this:
 

 
It snaps over the RF cable.
 
Does it work?  Well...I put it on my 5200, and I'd say it does improve the interference you sometimes see a bit.  More experimentation needed. 
 
Has anyone else played with these things?