Ballblaɀer

I was better at Defender when I was young. I love when you get killed when an alien hits your exhaust. ????

Halo Spartan Helmet & Bonus Discs in box from the Halo 3 Legendary Edition (no game)

This NeoGAF thread seems to indicate that revision 1.6 and newer boards don't have this issue.  But, yeah, looks like a number of folks with older models have reported the clock capacitor leaking.

I showed these off back in my pickups vid from a few months ago, but here are some photos to add to the mix. 

Quest Industries Inc.'s Questar II -- a high quality 8-way leaf-switch joystick with arcade styling, a metallic base, and dual buttons for ambidextrous use.
 

 
TG Products' EnjoyStick -- fits in the palm of your hand, has a self-centering stick similar to a Vectrex joystick, and the top black piece is reversible, allowing placement of the button on either side.
 

 
I still need to take some good photos of the Fire Command II...

Picked up a pair of CX78s while I was in Poland and had them shipped home -- they arrived today!  (I think they can still be considered 2600 joysticks since they were packed with Atari 2600 Jr systems in Europe.)
 

 
So far after a little bit of testing with a few different games, I think they're... alright.  They're certainly not as precise as a stock CX40 stick, but they seem fairly comfortable to use.  Next step is to try them with the console they were designed for!

Picked up a pair of CX78s while I was in Poland and had them shipped home -- they arrived today!  (I think they can still be considered 2600 joysticks since they were packed with Atari 2600 Jr systems in Europe.)
 

 
So far after a little bit of testing with a few different games, I think they're... alright.  They're certainly not as precise as a stock CX40 stick, but they seem fairly comfortable to use.  Next step is to try them with the console they were designed for!

I should get it today!

Albert posted a statement on AtariAge regarding Coleco that I think is deserving of everyone’s attention: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/265739-coleco-strong-arming-homebrew-publishers-and-fan-sites/page-42?do=findComment&comment=3777374
 
Many of our members are active on AtariAge and are also Coleco enthusiasts. The ColecoVision community has set a high water mark for classic gaming at its best. Just one example of this community is Eduardo Mello of OpCode Games who has done an outstanding job with bringing his projects to fruition. Eduardo has been a personal hero of mine for well over a decade, and in my opinion he's really hit it out of the park demonstrating a level of innovation and top shelf quality that can be done in homebrewing. Seeing what other classic gamers have done is inspiring. It's pushed me to go farther, try harder, and make everything I'm working on even better than I thought possible. This is exactly the sort of passion needed for classic gaming to thrive, and those who dedicate themselves to creating "new things for old toys" should be lauded for their endeavors. This might be a nice time to drop Eduardo a line, or any one of your favorite homebrewers, just to say thanks for all that they do.

I've had a CIB for years that I've obviously not touched: opened a factory-sealed version for this occasion.

 
And ended up with 137,250. Not too bad! Those baiters, though....ughh...

From 4000 miles away across the Atlantic to my little ol' collection, one of the toughest Atari carts to acquire, NTSC *or* PAL:
 

 
That there is CX26190, the Atari-branded re-release of TNT's BMX Airmaster, in pristine condition.  This was the one red label title released as NTSC that I didn't have, and... well, I still don't have it.    This particular cart is PAL format.  If I ever come across an NTSC red label cart I'll naturally swap this one out of the collection, but it's a low priority given that 1) I have the original TNT version of the game in NTSC format, 2) the labels for the NTSC and PAL Atari releases are identical, and 3) there's some absurdly low number of NTSC carts that have surfaced.
 
CX26190 is the highest Atari 2600 game product number to have both an NTSC and a PAL release.  Klax (CX26192) was only ever released as PAL.  It's not known whether CX26191 was ever assigned to a title.  As for the game itself, BMX Airmaster is one that I really enjoy.  It was programmed by Adam Clayton, who also did Dark Chambers.  Fun fact: at age 15, Adam was the one who first wrote to Atari about having found Warren Robinett's easter egg in Adventure.
 
As for this latest acquisition... even better, it came with the Atari manual!
 

 
Since I generally don't collect game boxes (but I do like having manuals!) it was the perfect score, and I got it for an amazing price.  It's a great feeling when a tireless search pays off!

From 4000 miles away across the Atlantic to my little ol' collection, one of the toughest Atari carts to acquire, NTSC *or* PAL:
 

 
That there is CX26190, the Atari-branded re-release of TNT's BMX Airmaster, in pristine condition.  This was the one red label title released as NTSC that I didn't have, and... well, I still don't have it.    This particular cart is PAL format.  If I ever come across an NTSC red label cart I'll naturally swap this one out of the collection, but it's a low priority given that 1) I have the original TNT version of the game in NTSC format, 2) the labels for the NTSC and PAL Atari releases are identical, and 3) there's some absurdly low number of NTSC carts that have surfaced.
 
CX26190 is the highest Atari 2600 game product number to have both an NTSC and a PAL release.  Klax (CX26192) was only ever released as PAL.  It's not known whether CX26191 was ever assigned to a title.  As for the game itself, BMX Airmaster is one that I really enjoy.  It was programmed by Adam Clayton, who also did Dark Chambers.  Fun fact: at age 15, Adam was the one who first wrote to Atari about having found Warren Robinett's easter egg in Adventure.
 
As for this latest acquisition... even better, it came with the Atari manual!
 

 
Since I generally don't collect game boxes (but I do like having manuals!) it was the perfect score, and I got it for an amazing price.  It's a great feeling when a tireless search pays off!

If you've been following me over at @AtariSpot then you've seen me post these things already, but 140 characters doesn't leave much room for blatherin' on about things! 
 
A little while ago I completed the CBS collection of games for the 2600:
 

 
Is Wizard of Wor the only Atari cart that explicitly spells out your game objectives right on the label?  I can't think of another one off the top of my head.  Tunnel Runner is probably my favorite of these games in terms of gameplay, but I'll always love Gorf having played that one as a kid.  I didn't get to play it in an arcade until relatively recently, so I never knew what I was missing with the 2600 version.  Four unique screens of gameplay was never not awesome!
 
I picked up a nice copy of the Atari 1983 Coupon Calendar in an eBay lot:
 

 
I should have taken the photo with something else in the picture for scale.  It's about as big as a standard magazine.  Then you open it up, and... wow!  Before Art of Atari was released, this was one of the only ways to see some of Atari's best artwork in a larger format.
 

 
I'd never seen this particular artwork anywhere before...


 
...and until the other day I didn't notice that it had a signature:
 

 
Any ideas?  I've asked Tim Lapetino about it and will update should he be able to tell me more.
 
One final thing for this post -- the second-to-last Atari 5200 title I was missing:
 

 
I need to get a photo of my entire 5200 collection now (since I likely won't have the last cartridge I'm missing in the near future given its typical asking price).  A few of my carts could use an upgrade, and I'm still in search of a number of manuals and overlays, but having QFQR was my last *major* goal for 5200 collecting -- so I'm happy to have finally crossed it off!

I mentioned this in a status update a while ago but never got around to taking some photos until today.  The newest addition to my Atari hardware collection: the stylish 1200XL computer!
 

 
It was possibly the most poorly-packaged item I've ever received from a seller -- I could see what was inside the box before I even took it out of the package locker.  The tape on the box was more decorative than anything else!  That said, for what I paid I would have expected a trashed computer that reeked of cigarettes, or something... but what I got looks great and still works, so I can't complain too much.
 

 
The design of this computer is just off-the-charts good.  It's sleek, sexy, and eye-catching, and there aren't too many computers from this era for which I could say the same.  Hats off to Regan Cheng, seriously.
 

 
I love that the cartridge port is on the side -- it seems natural there, as opposed to the 600XL / 800XL where it cuts into the face of the case.  Little details like the slightly forward-facing controller ports only add to an already great design.  On another note, Oil's Well is a *great* game.
 
Gotta start saving my pennies for either an Ultimate cart, or an SIO2PC cable.  It looks like I can probably make my own cable pretty easily if I can just find a cheap SIO cable to cannibalize.
 
Super excited to have finally joined the A8 club with this beauty!

Taking this opportunity to celebrate Atari Day with... Sears! 
 

 
That there is every Sears picture label cartridge produced, minus the insanely rare Superman (of which fewer than 20 are known to exist, I think, but of course it's hard to say for sure).  Picking up the last non-Superman cart that I needed, Gunslinger, in December was what finally put me into the Sears "32 Club".  Here are what I feel are the nine hardest-to-find:
 

 
The AtariAge rarity ratings for Sears pic labels need an overhaul.  Gunslinger's picture label is at the top of the heap -- using AA's rating system I think I'd honestly give it an 8 or 9.  I waited almost two years for a single copy to turn up!  Following that would be Canyon Bomber, which I'd be comfortable calling an 8.  Next up would be Night Driver, Basketball, and Asteroids, all a solid 7.  The remaining four games I'd probably make a rarity 6.  Some of those not pictured here come close, though -- I feel Adventure, Arcade Pinball, Missile Command, and Race would all be should all be at least a 5.  Rarity ratings change over time, certainly, but AA's rarity ratings for these haven't been updated since 2001.  Here's 2001; here's now.
 
A few interesting things...
 
- Asteroids' artwork is rotated 90 degrees compared to the Atari artwork:

 
I think I prefer the layout design of the Sears carts... the Atari logo and product number get in the way of the artwork, and could just as easily have been placed elsewhere on the cart (á la Sears):

 
"Outer Space" is the only non-Sears-exclusive picture label cart not to have a respective Atari picture label cart.  Atari did, however, introduce this unique label for Star Ship that looks like no other release -- it has elements of the text labels (i.e. listing the game variations), the picture labels (the font used for the title and game variations), and even silver labels (the Atari 2600 logo up top and the controllers/copyright text at bottom)!

 
I've started a thread with a poll that asks which artwork variation you prefer for certain Atari/Sears variants.  Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

My collection saw some really big additions in December, including a handful of 2600 carts I was beginning to feel like I'd never find.  I'm also enjoying collecting foreign carts way more than I thought I would.  Check out these new beauties:
 

The top two rows are all NTSC format; the bottom row, L-to-R, is PAL, PAL-M (Brazil), PAL.
 
Going through 'em, in order:
Gray label Asteroids NTSC is crazy rare, and was the next-to-last unique silver/gray USA title I still needed.  PAL versions of the gray label Asteroids are way more common.  NTSC versions are all copyright 1986 and mention the joystick controllers.  PAL versions don't mention the joysticks, and sometimes also have the old picture label style end label (with blue text). Sears pic label Canyon Bomber is more rare than most guides claim; I've only seen a few copies show up on eBay in the last 20 months. I absolutely love the artwork -- I wish this copy were slightly cleaner but I'm thrilled to have it regardless!  After this addition, Gunslinger and Superman are the final two on the Sears pic label list... Obélix is a quite uncommon cart as well, though nowhere on the same order of rarity as the first two carts listed.  I find it to be a pretty enjoyable game, actually, and I'm really glad to have gotten a great deal on this one.  The final silver/gray label NTSC cart now needed: Asterix. The Atari Corp version of Missile Command with controller info omitted was a huge find -- it also has a unique Harry/Hammer Fat font end label (see below).  I'm still in search of a Basic Programming with the same style of end label. Guardian is the second-rarest cart produced by Apollo (the rarest, Lochjaw, is orders of magnitude harder to find).  Got this really nice example as part of a trade/sale with an AA member. Dishaster is about as rare as the other four Zimag carts, but to snag one with such a great label was super unexpected.  They're usually in horrible shape; I honestly wondered if I'd gotten one with a repro label but... it's legit! Pac-Kong (aka Spider Maze, Spider Monster, Spider Kong, Inca Gold) puts up a formidable fight when it comes to worst Atari 2600 game ever.  But... it does score highly in the title department with me!  It has literally nothing to do with Pac-Man or the Transformer-looking thing on the label.  One *could* draw a slight comparison with Donkey Kong gameplay, but... yeah, no. The Polyvox version of Beamrider is considered one of the rarest Polyvox carts -- between that and Mr. Chin I think I now have the two hardest-to-find titles.  I love that Polyvox carts look like the Atari silver/gray labels, but yet you'll find Activision games, Parker Brothers games, and a few other non-Atari games mixed in. Last but not least, Kampf um die Schatzinsel was a Quelle (a German department store / mail-order company -- think Sears) produced cart, and it's the same as an original game by Home Vision called Treasure Discovery (also known as Treasure Island).  It's... not a good game, haha.
 
I've had to put the brakes on collecting for a little bit, but there's one more purchase that I made in December that I look forward to sharing soon... 

That is a feature, not a bug. 

I love Defender but man, is it tough.
 
Score: 55,250

Ok ok so this just happened!! I didnt even bother to open the system carry case until after i just uploaded those pics. All of these games were in there!!

Sallah came to visit the Game Czar today to warn him to stay away from bad dates, and to drop off this great trade from the No Swear Gamer!



109/125 guys!

From 4000 miles away across the Atlantic to my little ol' collection, one of the toughest Atari carts to acquire, NTSC *or* PAL:
 

 
That there is CX26190, the Atari-branded re-release of TNT's BMX Airmaster, in pristine condition.  This was the one red label title released as NTSC that I didn't have, and... well, I still don't have it.    This particular cart is PAL format.  If I ever come across an NTSC red label cart I'll naturally swap this one out of the collection, but it's a low priority given that 1) I have the original TNT version of the game in NTSC format, 2) the labels for the NTSC and PAL Atari releases are identical, and 3) there's some absurdly low number of NTSC carts that have surfaced.
 
CX26190 is the highest Atari 2600 game product number to have both an NTSC and a PAL release.  Klax (CX26192) was only ever released as PAL.  It's not known whether CX26191 was ever assigned to a title.  As for the game itself, BMX Airmaster is one that I really enjoy.  It was programmed by Adam Clayton, who also did Dark Chambers.  Fun fact: at age 15, Adam was the one who first wrote to Atari about having found Warren Robinett's easter egg in Adventure.
 
As for this latest acquisition... even better, it came with the Atari manual!
 

 
Since I generally don't collect game boxes (but I do like having manuals!) it was the perfect score, and I got it for an amazing price.  It's a great feeling when a tireless search pays off!

From 4000 miles away across the Atlantic to my little ol' collection, one of the toughest Atari carts to acquire, NTSC *or* PAL:
 

 
That there is CX26190, the Atari-branded re-release of TNT's BMX Airmaster, in pristine condition.  This was the one red label title released as NTSC that I didn't have, and... well, I still don't have it.    This particular cart is PAL format.  If I ever come across an NTSC red label cart I'll naturally swap this one out of the collection, but it's a low priority given that 1) I have the original TNT version of the game in NTSC format, 2) the labels for the NTSC and PAL Atari releases are identical, and 3) there's some absurdly low number of NTSC carts that have surfaced.
 
CX26190 is the highest Atari 2600 game product number to have both an NTSC and a PAL release.  Klax (CX26192) was only ever released as PAL.  It's not known whether CX26191 was ever assigned to a title.  As for the game itself, BMX Airmaster is one that I really enjoy.  It was programmed by Adam Clayton, who also did Dark Chambers.  Fun fact: at age 15, Adam was the one who first wrote to Atari about having found Warren Robinett's easter egg in Adventure.
 
As for this latest acquisition... even better, it came with the Atari manual!
 

 
Since I generally don't collect game boxes (but I do like having manuals!) it was the perfect score, and I got it for an amazing price.  It's a great feeling when a tireless search pays off!

Let's go.
 

 
220,850

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