BUILD YOUR OWN SIO2PC Serial (RS232) Interface
As an Atari enthusiast you probably are already familiar with SIO2PC, but did you know that you can now own one for less and more importantly get it custom built to your exact needs.
When we decided to build this interface we wanted to have a high quality device at an attractive price. To meet our objective, we used a prototyping board, designed our own circuit layout and built the device ourselves, so no manufacturing costs/overhead are involved.
This is not a mass manufactured device, so every board we build uses highest quality components, receives the same attention to detail and passes a vigorous burn-in test to make sure that it performs flawlessly.
We are so confident of our product, we also included a Lifetime Warranty. Yes, if our device ever fails, we will repair or replace it free of charge. (Regular Shipping charges apply)
Link: http://atari8warez.for-the.biz/build.html
From: http://www.atariage.com/
The Atari 2600: The Box That Launched A Million IT Careers
In a world where videogame experiences are becoming ever more lifelike, it's hard to imagine that people once played games that ran on just 4 kilobytes of RAM. But when the Atari 2600 was released in October 1977, millions of kids (and adults) quickly fell under its spell.
In addition to bloodshot eyes, sore thumbs and carpal tunnel syndrome, the Atari 2600 opened many kids' eyes to the capabilities of technology. For some enterprising youngsters, opening the Atari 2600 console and modifying it to do things other than play games was the first step on a path that ultimately led to a career in the IT industry.
But while the curious young minds of today tinker with the Xbox to run Linux, the challenge of modifying the Atari 2600 was far greater, due in large part to its limited system resources, according to solution providers.
As a teenager, Matt Hymowitz, president of GMP Networks, a Tucson, Ariz.-based VAR, remembers building a hardware interface to the joystick port on the 2600 to control the lights and stereo system in his bedroom. The challenges of working with the 2600's MOS 6507 microprocessor, which offered a mere 8 KB of addressable memory, gave Hymowitz an early introduction to the challenges of working with embedded systems.
"Today we have an almost unlimited supply of system memory and resources, but there are valuable lessons to be learned in working with very limited systems like the 2600," said Hymowitz.
Modifying modern day consoles like the Xbox is fairly straightforward, but the limited resources of the Atari 2600 made hacking it a more formidable challenge. Kelly Keeton, a physical security engineer with Seattle-based integrator Network Computing Architects, says that modifying the 2600 required just as much imagination as technical ability.
"I'd say that general spirit [of modifying consoles] hasn't changed since 1977, although today there are obviously more resources and technology and collaboration with like-minded individuals," said Keeton.
As a youngster, Allen Allison, vice president of security at MTM Technologies, a Stamford, Conn.-based solution provider, attempted his first physical modification of the Atari 2600 when one of his joysticks failed. "I was able to pull it apart, and hook it up to a couple of old telegraph keys I got from my grandfather," Allison recalls.
Later, Allison attempted to replicate games available on the Atari to the Apple II Plus using Basic. "The gaming experience really launched my interest in computer programming and eventually, information security," he said.
John Menezes, president and CEO of Cyberklix, a Mississauga, Ontario solution provider, enjoyed tinkering with the Atari 2600 as well as with Commodore and Sinclair computers. He says the 2600 gave him a solid grounding in technology, especially since the console remained commercially relevant for more than a decade.
"I think the 2600 was the start to the whole technology revolution. I believe we were the first generation of geeks who have now grown up and run very successful technology companies," Menezes said.
Some solution providers even draw a connection between the interactivity of the Atari 2600 and the development of online communications.
"The fact that a real computer could be brought into your house and hooked up to the television set foreshadowed today's demand for ubiquitous Internet and computer resource access," said Joe Bardwell, president and chief scientist at Connect802, a San Ramon, Calif.-based solution provider.
For others, the Atari was simply the first example of technology being boxed up and packaged in such a way as to capture the hearts and minds of consumers, a practice that shows no signs of slowing today.
"The main thing that Atari and all those early computers did was make me dream of a future where computers would be what they are today: Appliances that let us do so many things so much more efficiently," said Andrew Plato, president at Anitian Enterprise Security, a Beaverton, Ore.-based security solution provider.
Link: http://www.crn.com/hardware/202300216
Atari 2600: The Future of 1977
Consider this: At one point in time, the Atari 2600 was thought of as a “next-generation” machine. That may sound silly in this day and age of high-definition resolutions and on-demand content, but really, who’s to argue? Released in the winter of 1977, Atari’s console was a revolutionary leap forward for a world grown tired of Pong clone after Pong clone. The story of how that revolution unfolded is a legendary tale of fortune and failures, but what debt do we truly owe to the original king of games?
Atari may not have been the first to introduce the concept of game cartridges, but the runaway success of the 2600 was due in part to consumers realizing the benefits of owning a box that could play more than a handful of built-in titles. Previous consoles had their games hard-coded to the circuitry itself, making it so no new titles could ever be played.
In addition, most Atari 2600 games came with a wide array of different options and gameplay styles that made for completely different experiences. The original pack-in title, Combat, is the perfect example of this, as it came with 27 different variations of the shooter, featuring different vehicles and unique shot styles from mode to mode.
Before we ever questioned the duck-like nature of the dragons in Adventure, games were relegated to a single screen of gameplay. Even the biggest hits of the era such as Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Asteroids were single-screen titles. Initially thought to be impossible on the 2600’s hardware, Adventure showed that the future of games would not be constrained to a singular screen, but would be open to a vast, explorable worlds.
Taking this concept even further was Activision’s Pitfall which is regarded as the first side-scrolling platformer, setting the stage for the likes of Mario and Sonic years down the road. Even more impressive was the 1982 release of River Raid which was the first vertically scrolling shooter--and one that still stands up to this day.
The thought of licensed titles on the Atari 2600 tends to conjure painful memories of the infamously terrible E.T, but the truth is that Atari brought the arcade home like none before. For the first title that was licensed from one company to another, Atari teamed up with Taito to bring the massively successful Space Invaders exclusively to the 2600.
Of course, this paramount set the scene for a flood of garbage, created solely to cash in on popular icons. Millions of E.T cartridges met their fate at a landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico…one that should have been shared with the childhood tarnishing port of Pac-Man. Companies began popping up overnight, dumping everything from games based on Purina dog show (Chase the Chuck Wagon) to the Korean war drama M*A*S*H. Publishers have wised up over the years, but you still don’t have to look too hard these days to find a half-baked licensed title to scoff at (we see you hiding in that corner over there, Zack and Cody).
Would Kaboom have become a legendary classic if the paddle controller didn’t exist? Are wireless controllers really that revolutionary? The Atari 2600 played host to these controllers and more, some of which are just now becoming the standard. Beyond the original one-button stick, Atari offered a trak-ball to replicate the arcade experience of Missile Command at home, and even offered a touch pad controller intended for use in children’s games.
Atari also managed to trump modern-day inventions all the way back in 1982 with the Amiga Joyboard, which was a pressure sensitive board intended for use with a skiing title, much the same way Nintendo’s WiiFit is intended for exercise. It wasn't the only time Nintendo found itself following Atari's lead, either: The Exus Foot Craz jogging pad beat Nintendo’s Power Pad to the market by five years.
As one of the buzz words of this generation, digital distribution--the act of downloading content via the Internet--isn’t something you typically associate with the Atari 2600. Yet back in 1983 the CVC GameLine Modem achieved just that. For the cost of the device ($60) and a one-time subscription fee (about $10), players could download new games for $1 for about every 10 plays simply by plugging the cartridge into their home phone line. Subscribers also competed in high score competitions and received a GameLine magazine in the mail.
The innovative service didn’t last long, but don’t shed a tear for those behind the GameLine. Its creator, Control Video Corporation, enjoyed a modest success later on by forming a small, Internet startup company called American Online.
Link: http://www.gametap.com/home/read/article/8a250901156fb875011572a330...
Animated Atari Pong T-Shirt
The unseasonably warm San Francisco weather today makes me think of Summer attire. That, and how I'd rather be outside today. Bringing such thoughts back to the realm of gadgets, I present you with this T-shirt which mounts an animated (but unplayable) game of Pong on the bony forefront of your chest, using some unspecified display tech and two AAA batteries. This piece of unquestionably tacky attire joins the ranks of more tasteful Pong watch and clock we've recently written about, but this could be the most relevant Pong-themed gadget yet.
Please Note: The Animated Retro Table Tennis Shirt looks best in a darkened room... but that should be no problem since you spend most of your time gaming in the basement.
Product Features
* It's Animated Old Skool Goodness!
* Dark Gray 100% Cotton T-Shirt
* Animated Decal is Removable (with hook and loop fasteners) for Easy
Washing
* Battery Pack is Concealed in a Small Pocket Sewn Inside the Shirt
* Runs for hours off Two AAA Batteries (not included)
Washing Instructions
1. Carefully peel animated decal from front of T-Shirt
2. Unplug ribbon connector behind decal and remove decal
3. Unplug battery pack and remove it
4. You can leave the ribbon cable inside the shirt
5. Machine wash gentle cycle on cold
6. Hang to dry
Please Note: If you plug the connector into the battery pack backwards the shirt will not animate properly. It will not damage the shirt. Simply reverse the connector.
Link: http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/gaming/8e31/
From: http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/animated-atari-pong-tshirt-24358...
Halloween for the Atari 2600
I just got done spending 2 hours playing the infamous Wizard-made Halloween for the Atari 2600 and its a grand old time. The game is simple enough. You take on the role of Lauri Strode and must rescue the children by dragging them to the end of a hallway. Of course your brother Michael is stalking you the whole time. The gameplay is pretty simple and the graphics are, well Atari graphics. What makes this game memorable is the blood. Sweet spouting fountains of 8 bit blood.
Another great thing about the Halloween game was the music. Its a bit repetitive, but compared to other Atari 2600 soundtracks its a awesome.
The game was not a great seller and is very hard to find nowadays. Why? Well glad you asked. Since the game was so “violent” it caused a bit of an uproar and most retailers were forced to keep it behind the counter. No shelf fronting = low sales. So sadly we never saw a Halloween II. I know its hard to believe that a simple game like this could get people concerned. Especially when you compare it to modern game violence. Still if you were playing Atari back when this came out and saw this game it was pretty exciting. My friend Sean saved up and bought this game with his allowance. When his mother saw it, she freaked out and took the game away. Nothing ever changes — the graphics just get better.
Link: http://www.retroist.com/2007/10/10/halloween-for-the-atari-2600/
AtarICQ 0.171 is released
Following the 0.170 release in June earlier this year, there is now a new aICQ release ready for download. A good deal of small issues have been sorted out but there are a couple of additions made this time too.
Compared to the previous official release:
* A number of minor bugs sorted
* In some popup menus it was not possible to select an entry in case either
contact list or msg window was also open. Fixed now.
* Fetching of contacts from the server side list had accidently been disabled
in 0.170. It works now, but this needs to be reimplemented in
the future.
* Found and fixed a small bug that would result in form_wbutton() not
being used under MagiC for handling of mouse clicks in background.
* AtarICQ now use AV_STARTPROG instead of VA_START when:
1. Asking AV-SERVER to launch the Colour Selector (In Prefs./Contact list)
2. Asking AV-SERVER to replay sound sample files
3. Asking AV-SERVER to display history file (CTRL+H)
4. Asking AV-SERVER to display the help file (HELP)
(This should be good news to people who use other desktops than Thing)
* A right click on an empty place in contact list will open up the popup
menu with a listing of contacts, allowing you to "Create TAB for ".
(Also available through CTRL+T)
* All popup menus that have window titles will now also have a CLOSER
widget. Also, these popups can now also be moved like any other GEM window.
* Using TAB or UP/DOWN-ARROW to jump to next text edit field in a dialog
now works better under MagiC. SHIFT+TAB will now move focus backwards.
Also, when we hit the last (or first, depending on TAB-direction)
editable object of the dialog, focus will not wrap back to the first
(or last) editable object. (This is in fact a workaround for MagiC's
limited implementation of FORM_KEYBD)
* Last AtarICQ release had a bug in the keyboard evaluation code that
prevented user to type chars that required ALT-combinations. Should be
OK now.
* Adapted aICQ to some server changes on the ICQ-servers, making the logging
in process a tad faster, and the updating of the contact list
a lot smoother during it.
Have fun, and please don't hesitate to send feedback! I hope there are a bunch of people out there still using the program, is that so? :)
Link: http://www.ataricq.org/
From: http://www.atari.org/
Classic Home Video Games 1972-1984
A great-looking new book has recently been released, entitled Classic Home Video Games 1972-1984 - It has detailed descriptions/reviews of every game for every system of that period, and is tailored well towards the classic gamer in us all. A list of the chapters available can be found below:
* 1. Adventure Vision
* 2. APF MP1000
* 3. Arcadia 2001
* 4. Astrocade
* 5. Atari 2600
* 6. Atari 5200
* 7. Atari 7800
* 8. ColecoVision
* 9. Fairchild Channel
* 10. Intellivision
* 11. Microvision
* 12. Odyssey
* 13. Odyssey2
* 14. RCA Studio II
* 15. Telstar Arcade
* 16. Vectrex
So, as you can see, it's definitely for classic gaming specialists! More information can be found on author Brett Weiss' Blog.
Link: http://brettweisswords.blogspot.com/
From: http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/
1979 Buick Riviera gets pimped, Atari-style
Predating the carputer by easily two decades (not counting KITT, of course), this '79 Buick Riviera would have clearly elevated you to alpha status in your elementary school. Featuring what appears to be a Sears Atari 2600 clone and a 13-inch CRT with a custom fake-ice RIVIERA logo, there's no wonder Kevin, the owner, says this whip is his "absolute pride and joy."
Link: http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/12/1979-buick-riviera-gets-pimped-a...
Modo - Atari ST support now available
A new update for Modo, the ultra simple mod player application, is now out with a bunch of useful bug fixes, as well as new functions to make using Modo a tad more simpler than usual. Homebrew developer wbb also added support for Atari ST, adding it to the lengthy list of supported files.
Link: http://dl.qj.net/Modo-%28October-14,-2007-Update%29-PSP-Homebrew-Ap...
From: http://pspupdates.qj.net/Modo-October-14-2007-Update-Atari-ST-suppo...
Wife scores on some carts
There is a big festival going on in my little town this weekend, the wife and I we're looking around the plethora of part time antique dealers that set up booths when we came across a box of 13 atari 2600 carts. Experience has taught me these people always want WAY too much so I didn't even want to bother asking how much, but my wife offered $2 for the whole box and the dealer accepted. Holy crap.
I got:
Spider Man
Kangaroo
Centipede
Football
Asteroids
Breakout
Moon Patrol
Battlezone
Crystal Castles
Pole position
Atlantis
Firefighter
Video Olympics
The labels aren't the best, but they all play.... not bad for two bucks. Taught me a lesson.
From: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=114914
