'Atari(R) Flashback 2.0' Announced....

[OldSchoolGamer]

If true, I will buy this one..................

:eek 2:

'Atari(R) Flashback 2.0' Announced

- Plug-and-Play Console Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Pong(R) -

NEW YORK, April 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In response to consumer and retailer demands, Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) today announced the summer launch of Atari(R) Flashback 2.0, the follow-up to the holiday 2004 hit, the Atari(R) Flashback Classic Game Console, which shipped more than 550,000 units to retail. Atari Flashback 2.0 will be modeled after the pioneering Atari 2600 console and heralds in the 30th anniversary of Pong(R), the first arcade game created for the home which started the revolution that has today turned into a $10 billion industry.
The Atari Flashback 2.0 will feature Pong as well as 40 other classic
games including Asteroids(R), Centipede(R), Millipede(R), Lunar Lander(TM), Breakout(R), Missile Command(R), Combat(TM) as well as retro game and arcade classics that have never before been released for the home console. Atari Flashback 2.0 will feature the same wood grain paneling and look of the Atari 2600, and will capture the feel through two classic joysticks for multi-player competition and vintage controls.
"The Atari Flashback series harkens back to the early days of video games where the simplicity of design and the addictive game mechanics connected instantly with audiences of all ages. Even in this day of advanced and more complex gameplay, these legacy games continue to elicit fantastic reactions via the on-screen action, and again, to a wide and broad audience," said Wim Stocks, Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing, Licensing and Distribution. "Now, on the 30th anniversary of Pong -- the grandfather of all video games -- it is fitting that we begin to commemorate this milestone with the launch of Atari Flashback 2.0."
The Atari Flashback 2.0 promises to deliver the same gaming sights, sounds and action as the original Atari 2600. To ensure this authenticity, Atari has engineered the tools and code of the original games for reproduction on modern chip technology.
"Unlike other nostalgia gaming products on the market, the Atari Flashback is the real McCoy and the games included are originals, not third-party ports," said Curt Vendel, president of the Atari Historical Society and contributing producer for Atari Flashback 2.0. "Atari has traveled back in time to recall an era where the experience was paramount to the technological bells and whistles."
Developed by Atari, the Atari Flashback 2.0 will be available early this
summer for under $30 at retailers nationwide.

[Ed Oscuro]

Whoa, sweet.

...Starts me to wondering if Sega would re-release more of their games - but I mean something like Saturn. By the time that'd be possible...it'd be downloadable to a set top box...but the only problem is that they weren't all that popular the FIRST time around. Anyhow...

[MegaDrive20XX]

Whoa, sweet.

...Starts me to wondering if Sega would re-release more of their games - but I mean something like Saturn. By the time that'd be possible...it'd be downloadable to a set top box...but the only problem is that they weren't all that popular the FIRST time around. Anyhow...

I agree, Sega needs to make a collection disc with the original goods. the Sega Classic Collection on PS2 is cool, but I don't need any flashy graphics on the classics to make it look "Hella cool!". It just makes me miss the original Sega games as they were.

[Bratwurst]

Rumor has it that the circuit board for this thing will have a spot to solder in a cartridge connector. Not that it'd beat getting a standard 2600 anyway, unless it was 7800 hardware for some reason.

[GarrettCRW]

Rumor has it that the circuit board for this thing will have a spot to solder in a cartridge connector. Not that it'd beat getting a standard 2600 anyway, unless it was 7800 hardware for some reason.

Two words: composite video. Of course, presuming this is true, is there anyone who'd be willing to provide this mod for me? :D

[rick weis]

Rumor has it that the circuit board for this thing will have a spot to solder in a cartridge connector. Not that it'd beat getting a standard 2600 anyway, unless it was 7800 hardware for some reason.

i did not buy the first one that came out, but you can bet i will buy a few of these babies!

can't wait!

Rick

[oesiii]

I see classic gaming folks buying two of these. One to mod and one to keep original. I know I did that with the C64TV stick that came out last Xmas :)

[Arqueologia_Digital]

C´mon!!!, not again!!!, another Flashback is not great...it´s only a little trick to f*/ the collectors imo...

By the way, any pics???...

Matías

[GrandAmChandler]

I want a full game list before I consider a purchase. There needs to be something reallllly good on there.... Like the A-team. No Sabetouer (sp?) :angry: Seriously, its not that big a deal to plug in a cart into my 2600.. Price is ridiculous too. I bet someone is making a boat load off these though....

[goatdan]

Rumor has it that the circuit board for this thing will have a spot to solder in a cartridge connector. Not that it'd beat getting a standard 2600 anyway, unless it was 7800 hardware for some reason.

Somehow, someway, I am positive that this is true. It will have a spot for cartridge connectivity...

;)

[omnedon]

Why would I step down to composite, when my original outputs S-video.

A video mod to an original console vs a cart slot mod to a repro console

meh.

Neato product for the masses though.

[ozyr]

They primised similar stuf with the original Flashback. I don't believe that the 2nd unit will be any better than the first - which sucked. Time may prove me wrong, but I doubt it...

[Leo_A]

"They primised similar stuf with the original Flashback. I don't believe that the 2nd unit will be any better than the first - which sucked. Time may prove me wrong, but I doubt it..."

You're wrong.

[zmweasel]

C´mon!!!, not again!!!, another Flashback is not great...it´s only a little trick to f*/ the collectors imo...

What leads you to believe that the Flashback was conceived as a way to screw collectors, as opposed to a way for "Atari" to cash in on its name-brand retro IPs?

-- Z.

[Arqueologia_Digital]

C´mon!!!, not again!!!, another Flashback is not great...it´s only a little trick to f*/ the collectors imo...

What leads you to believe that the Flashback was conceived as a way to screw collectors, as opposed to a way for "Atari" to cash in on its name-brand retro IPs?

-- Z.
I believe both, Atari want to cash in and screw the collectors at the same time...CD´s (PC Games), Flashback, the TV Game, and now...another Flashback???...really pathetic...

[zmweasel]

C´mon!!!, not again!!!, another Flashback is not great...it´s only a little trick to f*/ the collectors imo...

What leads you to believe that the Flashback was conceived as a way to screw collectors, as opposed to a way for "Atari" to cash in on its name-brand retro IPs?

-- Z.
I believe both, Atari want to cash in and screw the collectors at the same time...CD´s (PC Games), Flashback, the TV Game, and now...another Flashback???...really pathetic...

So you're lumping Atari's PC (and console) retro-compilations into the screwing-collectors category, as well? Do you feel the same way about Activision Anthology, et al?

-- Z.

[TheRedEye]

The Atari Flashback 2.0 promises to deliver the same gaming sights, sounds and action as the original Atari 2600. To ensure this authenticity, Atari has engineered the tools and code of the original games for reproduction on modern chip technology.

But the Famicom is like 22 years old!

[stonic]

Wim Stocks, Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing, Licensing and Distribution. "Now, on the 30th anniversary of Pong -- the grandfather of all video games -- it is fitting that we begin to commemorate this milestone with the launch of Atari Flashback 2.0."

O_O

Missed by about 3 years there, Wim....

>PIC (http://home.ptd.net/~scottith/fb2.jpg)<

[Lady Jaye]

What's with the buttons on the consoles? Switches were too difficult to make? At least, this time, it won't be based on the NES processor... And the classic Atari joystick: great for right-handed people, but for lefties like me, it's not.

Anyway, we're not the target people for that, the target are people who had an Atari 20 years ago and haven't played it since the 80s. Not us who probably already have most if not all of these games.

Now, if there was a working cart slot out-of-the-box, I'd be more interested. But again, this is meant for the person who got rid of his Atari when he grew up or bought a NES or what not.

[stonic]

The buttons are kinda lame, but what's really lame is that it doesn't have a cart port even though it *looks* like it has one.

[Ed Oscuro]

The Atari Flashback 2.0 promises to deliver the same gaming sights, sounds and action as the original Atari 2600. To ensure this authenticity, Atari has engineered the tools and code of the original games for reproduction on modern chip technology.

But the Famicom is like 22 years old!
Ah, but Nintendo still has their own systems! LOL

I'm also pretty sure that some hardware guys from back in the day were impressed with the Flashback design (I could be confusing this with the direct-to-tv C64 design?), and an even better version can't be bad. Face it - do you REALLY want to mangle your old, collectable 2600, or would you rather mod the Flashback 2.0?

[TheRedEye]

I'm also pretty sure that some hardware guys from back in the day were impressed with the Flashback design (I could be confusing this with the direct-to-tv C64 design?), and an even better version can't be bad. Face it - do you REALLY want to mangle your old, collectable 2600, or would you rather mod the Flashback 2.0?

Yes, you're confusing it with the C64 thing. The Flashback console is just an NES-on-a-chip, hence my joke.

[rbudrick]

What? No ET or Pac Man!? Fuck this!!! LOL :D

-Rob

[Ed Oscuro]

Yes, you're confusing it with the C64 thing. The Flashback console is just an NES-on-a-chip, hence my joke.
Blargh :(

Well then.

@ rbudrick: Heh, that would be funny if you weren't searing my mind with the horrible memories right now xD

[PC-Famicom64]

Whoa, sweet.

...Starts me to wondering if Sega would re-release more of their games - but I mean something like Saturn. By the time that'd be possible...it'd be downloadable to a set top box...but the only problem is that they weren't all that popular the FIRST time around. Anyhow...

I agree, Sega needs to make a collection disc with the original goods. the Sega Classic Collection on PS2 is cool, but I don't need any flashy graphics on the classics to make it look "Hella cool!". It just makes me miss the original Sega games as they were.Sega will do that for The Nintendo Revolution,Sonic is giting one for The Revolution. ;)

[ozyr]

"They primised similar stuf with the original Flashback. I don't believe that the 2nd unit will be any better than the first - which sucked. Time may prove me wrong, but I doubt it..."

You're wrong.

? Not sure what the hell your talking about... Just saying 'you're wrong' prove nothing. The original sucked, that I know. As for the upcoming one...

[Leo_A]

Go read up on some details of it at a place like AtariAge.

The easiest way to sum it up was by saying that you're wrong. You will be in for a pleasant surprise with this product. :)

[GarrettCRW]

Unless that cartridge slot is fully functional, someone seriously needs to mod one for me when I get my hands on one.

[ubikuberalles]

Wim Stocks, Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing, Licensing and Distribution. "Now, on the 30th anniversary of Pong -- the grandfather of all video games -- it is fitting that we begin to commemorate this milestone with the launch of Atari Flashback 2.0."

O_O

Missed by about 3 years there, Wim....


I think Wim was talking about Home Pong and not the arcade version.

[Kid Ice]

I think styling the second machine after the VCS is a smart move. Kinda makes me wonder why they did the first one 7800 style. The 7800 wasn't much of a success and had notorious controllers. Maybe they were just testing the waters with that one? Dunno.

[Kid Ice]

What? No ET or Pac Man!? Fuck this!!! LOL :D

-Rob

Yeah, that's not much of a loss, but actually I would like to see Pac Man on this for historical purposes. I thought it belonged on the Anthology too, even though I hate the game with a passion it is an important part of VCS history (in a bad way).

Guess we won't get Defender, Berzerk, or Galaxian either. Damn licensing.

[stonic]

I think Wim was talking about Home Pong and not the arcade version.

Even if he was, his statement would make even less sense b/c Odyssey had a home version of Pong before there was even an arcade coin-op Pong.

I think it's just another case of a marketing person not fully knowning what they are marketing :/

[ozyr]

I can't really go into details for various reasons.

Sum it up by saying you're wrong, you will be in for a pleasant surprise with this product. :)

Well I hope you are right. I wish you could go into details, but, oh well. I found the orignal Flashback to be a complete piece of garbage. I don't want another games on a NES chip piece of crud. There have been way too many of these type of things in the last few years. The Intellvision one comes to mind - I bought one, and it totally sucked.

So, I guess with your opinion, and some others, I'll sit back and wait on this one. I truly hope I am pleasantly surprised by this one as you suggest. It would be nice for a change.

[Tron 2.0]

What's with the buttons on the consoles? Switches were too difficult to make? At least, this time, it won't be based on the NES processor... And the classic Atari joystick: great for right-handed people, but for lefties like me, it's not.

Anyway, we're not the target people for that, the target are people who had an Atari 20 years ago and haven't played it since the 80s. Not us who probably already have most if not all of these games.

Now, if there was a working cart slot out-of-the-box, I'd be more interested. But again, this is meant for the person who got rid of his Atari when he grew up or bought a NES or what not.
Right it's another way to make some quick cash.

For Atari and or any other compeny that likes,to cash in on the retro craze these days.

[wgungfu]

I think Wim was talking about Home Pong and not the arcade version.

Even if he was, his statement would make even less sense b/c Odyssey had a home version of Pong before there was even an arcade coin-op Pong.

I think it's just another case of a marketing person not fully knowning what they are marketing :/

I think the confusion here lies in brand name vs. category. Such as how Kleenex is used as a general phrase to describe all tissue paper, but there's only one actual brand name called Kleenex. Same with Band-aid.

Atari was not the first to have a tennis (now synonymous with Pong) style video game. But Atari is the only one to have the actual Pong(r) game. AltairBoy was correct, Wim was refering to the 30th anniversary of the home version of Pong(r). And while Odyssey was the first console on the market, it didn't make much of a dent or create much of a "market" to begin with. (A Market usually involves great demand which also sprouts up lots of competition). Atari/Sears' 1975 Pong(r) was indeed responsible for jumpstarting and creating the console market. Of the roughly 250 different "pong" systems released starting from 1975 and ending in 1977 (not including Atari and Sears' own in that number), you can bet it wasn't the 1972 Odyssey they were copying or competing against. :)


Marty
ClassicGaming.Com

Atari Gaming Headquarters
www.atarihq.com

[stonic]

Even so, it's a bit 'goofballish' to note (celebrate) the anniversary of a port as though it's a major event. Kind of pointless IMO :/

[ubikuberalles]

Even so, it's a bit 'goofballish' to note (celebrate) the anniversary of a port as though it's a major event. Kind of pointless IMO :/

A little misinformation never hurts sales. :) Any excuse to make a big splash in order to generate sales is welcome by the marketers. True, it's only a celebration of a port but the great unwashed masses who will buy the product won't care. So it may be "goofballish" to you (me too, actually) but the marketing department won't care. You are not their target market.

Besides it's the 30th anniversary of an Atari product. They're never going to acknowledge the anniversary of a competitors product! It'll be in bad form (and might even hurt sales).

[stonic]

It might not hurt sales, but misinformation like that only distorts the history of it.... and that ain't kewl :angry:

As for not being in their target market, I guess they're not targeting savvy, informed consumers :D

[suppafly]

I thought this thread announced the sequel to flashback: quest for identity (the original genesis game) :embarrassed:

[ozyr]

Just a quick note - Thanks to all those who PM's me on the upcoming Flashback II. I'll have to take back my words about how I thought it was going to be crap again - it doesn't look like it now! If it is everything that people have told me, this thing should sell rather well. I've always wanted a 'new' 2600! 8-)

[boatofcar]

Is there a bigger pic of the console or box than this?

http://www.atariage.com/images/news/Flashback2.jpg

[kainemaxwell]

Pretty boxart.

[Kid Ice]

Is there a bigger pic of the console or box than this?

http://www.atariage.com/images/news/Flashback2.jpg

Check out stonic's pic posted on the first page.

According to classicgaming.com, that pic is a fake...or at least they said IGN's pic is a fake...looks like the same pic to me.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was a fake, looks a little too retro, kinda like what one of use would have come up with if asked to design the box.

[wgungfu]

That pic with the heavy sixer/cartridge slot was an early mock up/proof of concept artwork that was thrown together before the project even started. It's not the real pic.

I put up an E3 review of it at cg.com here (http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/flashback2).



Is there a bigger pic of the console or box than this?

http://www.atariage.com/images/news/Flashback2.jpg

Check out stonic's pic posted on the first page.

According to classicgaming.com, that pic is a fake...or at least they said IGN's pic is a fake...looks like the same pic to me.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was a fake, looks a little too retro, kinda like what one of use would have come up with if asked to design the box.

[kainemaxwell]

Very nice review! I'm impressed how well Atari's catering to its die-hard fans for the 2.0!

[stonic]

That pic with the heavy sixer/cartridge slot was an early mock up/proof of concept artwork that was thrown together before the project even started. It's not the real pic.

The only difference is the arrangement of the buttons and removal of the fake port (so where exactly can you put an actual port now?). I'm kinda surprised that Activision agreed to have Pitfall and River Raid included, since Jakks already licensed them for their Activision system. The single chip design means it's worth picking up to make a portable out of now. Plus it'll be fun seeing just how flawlessly compatible it is :)

[GLASSJOE]

About this new flashback games one thing I don't get suppose the controller or joystick breaks what do you do the old systems you could replace.

[video_game_addict]

Was there a Caverns Of Mars proto or was this port of the 8-bit game?

I'm curious about these other unreleased titles, like Aquaventure & Wizard, have they been finished up or are they same ol protos that are currently available?

[video_game_addict]

About this new flashback games one thing I don't get suppose the controller or joystick breaks what do you do the old systems you could replace.

I'm pretty sure these are detachable db9s, so you could pickup a set of originals off ebay.. I doubt they are gonna sell replacement sticks anytime soon.

[Captain Wrong]

Anyway, we're not the target people for that, the target are people who had an Atari 20 years ago and haven't played it since the 80s. Not us who probably already have most if not all of these games.

People around here always seem to forget this whenever something like this rolls out. This isn't necessarly intended to be for the diehard collectors. It's an impulse purchase for the nostalgia set.

[Jagasian]

Well, since the Flashback 2.0 went with an accurate 2600-on-a-chip, that is a big improvement. Here is my wishlist for the Flashback 3.0:

0. all the improvements of the 2.0
1. s-video
2. full cart slot
3. new paddles, but old design

[stonic]

http://www.atarians.com/

Atari first landed on planet Earth in the late 1970’s.

Atari was credited with starting the video arcade industry with the seminal Pong® in 1972.

:shameful:

[Jagasian]

http://www.atarians.com/

Atari first landed on planet Earth in the late 1970’s.

Atari was credited with starting the video arcade industry with the seminal Pong® in 1972.

:shameful:

Atari's founder Nolan Bushnell is credited with popularizing the arcade industry with an arcade version of Pong. Is that accurate enough?

[GarrettCRW]

I repeat: someone needs to mod this puppy for me when I buy it. This thing looks awesome!

[stonic]

http://www.atarians.com/

Atari first landed on planet Earth in the late 1970’s.

Atari was credited with starting the video arcade industry with the seminal Pong® in 1972.

:shameful:

Atari's founder Nolan Bushnell is credited with popularizing the arcade industry with an arcade version of Pong. Is that accurate enough?

You're missing the obvious error here (hint: should be 'early' 70s)

[Zadoc]

I just picked one of these baby's up today at Fry's Electronics, and I could not be happier.

I am real excited about this find too, because they have been sold out everywhere for almost a year since Atari stopped producing them. I've seen them going for $40 to $60 amounts on eBay. (I was trying to buy one for a reasonable price.)

So, there I was in line at Fry's scoping out all of the stuff in the tunnel of consumerism that you're hearded into on the way to the registers, and BAM! "No fucking way!" There it was :)





It has 40 games, including some homebrews, a new sequel to Yar's Revenge called "Yar Returns," and some unreleased games.

That's to Aeon Storm for getting me into Yar's Revenge for Christmas - This is one game that I missed the first time around and have come to really enjoy.

The best part is that the controllers are real Atari 2600 controllers that can be detached and used with a real 2600. (The system its self is acutally a "real" 2600 too, and in an issue of Retro Gamer Mag that I have, it shows how to mod a Flashback 2.0 to add a cart slot and play actual carts, but I am not brave enough to try that. But hey, I do have a 2600, Jr.)

Surprisingly, aside from Pong, there are no sports titles. Not that I really care, but I did kind of like Hockey.

All in all, this deal rocks.

I also forgot how cool "Adventure" was for the 2600. All running around with that tiny little square. There's another awesome game on there that I've never played before that's essentially an advanced version of Breakout called "Off the Wall," which is simply awesome. It's remake worthy.

P.S. Anyone know if the "paddle" controllers are compatible with the Flashback 2.0? That would be awesome for Pong!

[Lady Jaye]

It is a great console. And it's pretty tough too -- my unit actually was one of the hands-on units used at the 2005 Arcadia Festival (I was one of the people working at the retrogaming section, and our booth was sponsored by Atari. We got to keep the half-dozen units that they provided us with).

My only qualms (but they're minor) are:

1. Solaris. It was in the Flashback 1.0 and should have been included in the 2.0
2. The moddable cart port should have been accessible without any modding. But at least kudos to Atari for making it moddable in the first place.
3. The lack of a home button. If you wanna change games you have to turn off the unit. (The Reset button is to reset the game currently being played.)
4. The use of VCS joysticks. C'mon Atari, you could at least have modified them to accomodate lefties (ie. do like the old Wico sticks and add a second fire button on top of the joystick). But at least the controller aren't hard-wired.

BTW, what were the most popular games on the Flashback at Arcadia 2005 and 2006? Pong, Asteroids, Adventure, and Space War... and I'm not talking parents getting their kids to play it either, but 12-year-olds (the kids most likely to look at the games, compare them to the Xbox and start laughing).

And regarding the controller ports, here's what Classicgaming.com's Retro Rogue has to say on the subject:

"Probably the next thing fans will notice - full size reproduction Atari joysticks. Yes, I bet you can already feel your support hand cramping reading that. These are brand new sticks that actually feel better than the originals, complete with updated internals. Real Atari joysticks can only mean one thing - the joystick ports are fully compatible with the original controllers. That's right, you can use all legacy controllers on here including the paddle and driving controllers."

[OldSchoolGamer]

As I said when I started this thread, if true I'm getting it, and I did last November while visiting Edmonton! Love it, very satisfied.

:D

[stonic]

(The system its self is acutally a "real" 2600 too,

Not exactly ;) Read on...
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70487


and in an issue of Retro Gamer Mag that I have, it shows how to mod a Flashback 2.0 to add a cart slot and play actual carts, but I am not brave enough to try that. But hey, I do have a 2600, Jr.)

Yep, it's been discussed here as well:
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66468

As for doing the mod, my advice is to stick with the JR (or any other console model), otherwise you're going to run into all sorts of incompatibility problems:
http://www.digitpress.com/eastereggs/misctvplugnplay.htm



P.S. Anyone know if the "paddle" controllers are compatible with the Flashback 2.0? That would be awesome for Pong!

Yep, it's compatible. Check the Easter egg page on how to activate it.




C'mon Atari, you could at least have modified them to accomodate lefties (ie. do like the old Wico sticks and add a second fire button on top of the joystick). But at least the controller aren't hard-wired.

I don't know how easy it is to mod the FB2 joysticks, but the originals are easy enough to do:

http://www.digitpress.com/archives/atariage/v1no5_p04.jpg

[Lady Jaye]

Well, I'm zero, manual-wise, so I'll just use a Genesis controller instead. :P

[rbudrick]

My understanding is that the paddles bring up hidden games. I hear there's a bunch of other hidden stuff in the console too.

-Rob

[Steve W]

I'm dragging this one back up 'from the grave' because my Kroger store has a few Flashback 2.0 units for sale in their Christmas toy section. I wouldn't think they were old stock or anything, so I guess Atari has gone back into production on them. So if you never got one the first time around, keep your eyes peeled. You can't keep a good Woody down. ;)

I wonder if they've updated the internals at all? It'd be pretty awesome if they threw in a few more games and hacks, but I don't think they'd bother when they've already got a good thing going. Still, it would be sweet to see Solaris on there, along with a bunch of third-party stuff thrown in. Hell, if they put in Pitfall and Pitfall II and then get David Crane to make Pitfall III, I'd be the first in line to get one!

[Flack]

Funny you should bump this; by complete coincidence, I hooked up my Flashback tonight for the first time (it's been in the closet since launch and I have some friends coming over tonight) and it doesn't work. :( Maybe I will pick up one of those new ones.

[stonic]

AFAIK Atari hasn't started producing any more, so those are likely NOS. And I doubt Activision would allow even David Crane to produce another Pitfall game; even if they did, the licensing fee wouldn't be feasible when only a few hundred copies at most would be sold.

@ Flack
Is the power supply good?

[Flack]

I think so. I haven't pulled my meter out yet, but when I turn it off and on I get a slight pop from my television speakers and no video.

[megasdkirby]

I remember picking one up at Sears when they were liquidating it for $7 each. Purchased the last two remaining.

Loved it. Haven't played much of it, unfortunately, but it was a solid buy.

[Purkeynator]

I saw these recently at Smith's grocery stores in Utah also. I believe they are owned by Kroger so that makes sense.

[thom_m]

I remember picking one up at Sears when they were liquidating it for $7 each.

Holy damn. Last time I saw one for sale, it was going for R$ 200 on our eBay here.

That said, I ask: I can understand the Atari Flashback appeal to the ordinary consumer...but you guys, who obviously have access to the real thing, the original 2600, seem to like it a lot as well. Why? What's so cool about it?

[megasdkirby]

Good question. At least for me, it's collecting purposes only. I admit, I don't think i will every spend my time actually playing the unit (apart from simply testing it), but it's the idea of saying "yup, I have it!".

Psychological, really. Plus it was dead cheap, and I love cheap stuff. :)

[Steve W]

Holy damn. Last time I saw one for sale, it was going for R$ 200 on our eBay here.

That said, I ask: I can understand the Atary Flashback appeal to the ordinary consumer...but you guys, who obviously have access to the real thing, the original 2600, seem to like it a lot as well. Why? What's so cool about it?

I like it because of the new games in it, personally. The Adventure II was fun, the Haunted House sequel was nightmarishly tough, and the unreleased games were good to have in a non-emulated form. I want to play these things on a real television on an actual console, not through a computer screen using arrow keys.

By the way, Kroger wants $49.99 for the Flashback 2! Yikes! I wonder why they thought that was a good price.

[Pantechnicon]

...but you guys, who obviously have access to the real thing, the original 2600, seem to like it a lot as well. Why? What's so cool about it?

Primarily, I bought one to take with me in case I felt in the mood to have retro games available when I travel, and especially when I go to visit my in-laws and some form of escapism is critical to my continued mental health. I figured it's slightly less cumbersome than packing a 2600 Jr. plus carts. I can always unwind with some Missile Command or Yar's Revenge.

Of secondary importance: I would say that the Flashback 2 is a must-have for Atari console collectors by virtue of the fact that it's using a real 6502 chipset inside as opposed to the Flashback 1 which was just game ports running a NOAC. The 2 really is an Atari VCS, not just in name, but in function.

Lastly, the composite output signal is nice and convenient as opposed to going the RF-coaxial route.

[stonic]

Of secondary importance: I would say that the Flashback 2 is a must-have for Atari console collectors by virtue of the fact that it's using a real 6502 chipset inside as opposed to the Flashback 1 which was just game ports running a NOAC. The 2 really is an Atari VCS, not just in name, but in function.


No, it's certainly not using a real 6502. That's why there are so many compatibility problems (http://www.digitpress.com/eastereggs/pnpflashback2.htm) with it ;)

[thom_m]

New games, unreleased games and some portability. Yeah, I guess you guys are right, it's worth it. If it wasn't so damn expensive here, I'd probably get one (since I could even do that cart slot mod thing). Guess I gotta get my Dactar functioning again first (mental note: post about in the Tech. Restoration Society forums).

And I really hate myself for spelling Atari with a "y" on my post. I even edited it, but it's now eternized on Steve W's quote of it. Damn! LOL

[Pantechnicon]

No, it's certainly not using a real 6502. That's why there are so many compatibility problems (http://www.digitpress.com/eastereggs/pnpflashback2.htm) with it ;)

Hmm...Well it's still a darned site better than the Flashback 1.


And I really hate myself for spelling Atari with a "y" on my post. I even edited it, but it's now eternized on Pantechicon's quote of it. Damn! LOL

You're mixing me up with Steve W, I cut you off at the ellipse.

[thom_m]

You're mixing me up with Steve W, I cut you off at the ellipse.

Geez, you're right. Sorry 'bout that, man. Guess I'm even dumber than I thought...and now I got TWO screw ups preserved forever on quotes! LOL