Dreadstar
08-27-2009, 02:36 PM
Hi all. Looking for suggestions for an Atari 7800 I recently picked up at goodwill. Calling it "quirky" would be an understatement. Here's a brief breakdown of how it acts:
Plays 2600 carts with a 2600 joystick in port one just fine.
Plays some 2600 carts with a 7800 joystick in port one just fine.
Plays some 7800 carts with a 2600 joystick. For example I was able to fly around in Choplifter.
The goofiness happens with certain 7800 carts, with or without a joystick plugged in. For example, Karateka. I have two copies of this cart and they both do the same thing, with or without any stick plugged in. Runs through the opening title screens and takes you to the first battle. Then your character cycles back and forth between standing and fighting positions, like it's reading the right button being cycled or held in. Even with no joystick. If there is a stick plugged in it's unresponsive.
Hat Trick loads, goes straight into a game, and your player just tries to shoot over and over.
Realsports Baseball goes straight into a game and starts throwing pitches.
I should mention that I'm not much of a board-level electronics guy, but I didn't see anything blatantly obviously blown or damaged, and all the ICs seemed to be firmly seated in their sockets.
Any suggestions?
Plays 2600 carts with a 2600 joystick in port one just fine.
Plays some 2600 carts with a 7800 joystick in port one just fine.
Plays some 7800 carts with a 2600 joystick. For example I was able to fly around in Choplifter.
The goofiness happens with certain 7800 carts, with or without a joystick plugged in. For example, Karateka. I have two copies of this cart and they both do the same thing, with or without any stick plugged in. Runs through the opening title screens and takes you to the first battle. Then your character cycles back and forth between standing and fighting positions, like it's reading the right button being cycled or held in. Even with no joystick. If there is a stick plugged in it's unresponsive.
Hat Trick loads, goes straight into a game, and your player just tries to shoot over and over.
Realsports Baseball goes straight into a game and starts throwing pitches.
I should mention that I'm not much of a board-level electronics guy, but I didn't see anything blatantly obviously blown or damaged, and all the ICs seemed to be firmly seated in their sockets.
Any suggestions?