LeeJ07 Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 So, my Dragster Cart has foam inside it. Is that normal? I've never seen another Activision cart with foam inside it before. Was this something only in early Activision carts? "I'd buy that for a dollar!" -Smash T.V. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowsdower70 Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 Definitely not normal. It should just be the 2 posts and the visible chip. I'd think this needs to be removed. Just my two cents. "For you - Rowsdower from the 70 - have been appointed Omnivisioner of the Game Grid." ~ Atari Adventure Square Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlamoAtari Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 It might be the shipping packing. I never saw it before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Octagon Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 I saw that once or twice about 20 years ago. You'll want to remove that before inserting the cartridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nosweargamer Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 I'm not sure, but I think Ferg may have mentioned that activision used to ship early cartridges with that insert you got, but they didn't do it for long. You might have a rare piece of foam there lee! The No Swear Gamer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChtJuo040EOCTVziObIgVcg Host of The Atari 7800 Game by Game Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and YouTube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted October 13, 2015 Report Share Posted October 13, 2015 In all my years of collecting, I've never seen that. I'd leave it as-is. Very cool if you ask me. As NSG said, rare foam! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeJ07 Posted October 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Oh wow, so does that mean it's one of the earliest Activision releases? "I'd buy that for a dollar!" -Smash T.V. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Octagon Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 How squishy is that foam Lee? Does it flex inward and let you put the cart into the 2600? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Don't squeeze the Charmin. - Mr. Whipple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari Adventure Square Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Yeah, it seems made to protect the chip and tab thingies from transport breakage. Unless it's meant to add soft seat cushioning to your Dragster? eh? eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeJ07 Posted October 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 It's very squishy, Doc. It offers no resistance to the cart slot. "I'd buy that for a dollar!" -Smash T.V. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Octagon Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Activision had to get around the patent for the Atari cartridges. The same man designed them that designed the Tengen cartridges, and he testified in the Atari/Nintendo lawsuit. I'm wondering if that foam piece, as squishy as it is, was Activision's idea of a dust protector that didn't infringe upon Atari's patent. Maybe you just stick the cartridge right in and it works fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StormSurge Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 I hope it's something rare! Very cool!I don't recall any of my Activision carts having that either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Play Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Not normal, It was an method of protecting the teeth from dust and moisture. Cheaper than manufacturing a spring loaded door, like in most ATARI game cartridges! It's safe to remove it! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arenafoot Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 I have never heard nor seen foam like that before....... Lee does it fit into the Atari with the foam in the cart? Brian Matherne - owner/curator of "The MOST comprehensive list of Atari VCS/2600 homebrews ever compiled." http://tiny.cc/Atari2600Homebrew author of "The Atari 2600 Homebrew Companion" book series available on Amazon! www.amazon.com/author/brianmatherne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeJ07 Posted October 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 It does fit with the foam, Arena. "I'd buy that for a dollar!" -Smash T.V. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arenafoot Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 It does fit with the foam, Arena. Cool! I'm guessing its to protect the board inside like the others suggested and to keep dust out too. Definitely a keeper! Brian Matherne - owner/curator of "The MOST comprehensive list of Atari VCS/2600 homebrews ever compiled." http://tiny.cc/Atari2600Homebrew author of "The Atari 2600 Homebrew Companion" book series available on Amazon! www.amazon.com/author/brianmatherne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergojisan Posted October 28, 2015 Report Share Posted October 28, 2015 Yes, it was to protect the board inside, I remember taking them out when we got the Activision carts back in the, uhh... I had forgotten all about this until the 90s, when I bought some Activision carts that had some sticky goo inside that was VERY hard to get rid of. Turns out Actiplaque is not the only problem Activision had with their carts over time (Actisponge? Actigoo?). So I would not leave it in there if I were you, unless the cart is for show. The early carts are common, so getting another shouldn't be a problem. If I remember right, this was only in the first 6 carts. There's also black foam as well as white, and this cartridge molding had some kind of ridges in it to hold the foam in, which are no match for 10 year old fingers. Now I wish I had a cart with the foam in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.