Atari Flashback 2.0 (40 built-in games) Mod to play ACTUAL 2600 games!

[GizmoGC]

http://www.classicgaming.com/images/image.asp?/features/articles/flashback2/flashbackboxfront.jpg


Hey all...Thought this was sorta interesting since some people here do own a 2600, and would love to play the games through an A/V connection.

Apparently, Atari is releasing another Flashback system (The first is $19.99 and has 40 games builtin to a 7800 style system). Well, not only will this system have another 40 games built-in, it is possible to hack it to play 2600 games (which they did on purpose)...

http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/flashback2/flashback_unitthumb.jpg



"The excitement doesn't end there though. Atari realized that because this is an actual 2600 under the hood, fans may want to run their original cartridges with it. Including a cartridge slot would have been a technical support nightmare however, with average joes calling wondering why this 20 something year old cartridge they just picked up at a garage sale won't work on the new console. Of course, we all know a little cleaning rubbing alcohol on the cartridge contacts will do wonders. But who wants to spend a fortune maintaining staff just to dole that bit of wisdom out? So they did the next best thing. Open it up (which will void your warranty) and you'll find it's all set up for people to hack in their own cartridge ports!

The only thing standing in your way (besides the cosmetic surgery you'll have to perform on the case cover), is Gizmo. No, not the furry little Gremlin from the 80's, but the MMU/Menu chip. According to Curt, "There are 2 convenient traces on the board leading to the Menu/Game chip to cut and disable with through board holes on either side of the trace points. What this means is you cut the traces, wire up a double throw/single pull toggle switch, and you can switch between a cart and built in game." "

For the full info, check it out here (http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/flashback2/)

[erehwon]

I'm not sure if I read that right. Is there a cartridge slot hidden inside and you just have to alter the case?

[GizmoGC]

No, from what I understan, you will need your own 'cartridge' port, meaning taken from an ACTUAL 2600 system.

[Abdullah2]

http://www.classicgaming.com/images/image.asp?/features/articles/flashback2/flashbackboxfront.jpg


(The first is $19.99 and has 40 games builtin to a 7800 style system). Well, not only will this system have another 40 games built-in..


so it has 40 or 80? if 40 , the same 40 as model 1? thnx

[urzishra14]

so it has 40 or 80? if 40 , the same 40 as model 1? thnx

i read it as 80.. (that way they can still sell the "model 1" and this "new" model.).. hacking it shouldn't be too hard.. getting the cartridge slot if you don't already own a 2600 will be the hard part.

[doodle777_98]

wow, thats awesome.

[wubb]

Neat

And I'm pretty shocked the original Flashback sold over 500K units according to that article. My local Target has/had probably 100 of them just sitting on the shelves for months. Led me to assume it tanked, but I guess not.

[MaxBiaggi2]

Neat, but I've already got an original working Atari 2600 (four of them actually), and I'm probably not going to cannibalize a working 2600 for use with this new system since I'm no technical guru to begin with. Still, it's nice to imagine the system's designers had players in mind.

[Backlash]

Neat, but again, I have a working 2600 (my original one from the early 80s actually) so I wouldn't want to screw with it just to put my cartridges into a different deck.

[Heyricochet]

Neat, but again, I have a working 2600 (my original one from the early 80s actually) so I wouldn't want to screw with it just to put my cartridges into a different deck.

Well the point of it wasn't that its new hardware, but that you can use a/v out instead of RF out.

[eldad9]

Neat

And I'm pretty shocked the original Flashback sold over 500K units according to that article. My local Target has/had probably 100 of them just sitting on the shelves for months. Led me to assume it tanked, but I guess not.

surprising, especially since the first one was not actually a 2600; more like a NES with reprogrammed games.

[GizmoGC]

Well the point of it wasn't that its new hardware, but that you can use a/v out instead of RF out.

Bingo. I would must rather have a 2600 with A/V connection instead of RF.

[shipwreck]

Sweet, I've always hated having to use that little RF switchbox whenever I hooked up the 2600. Can you hook different controllers up to this new model though? I always play with Genesis controllers now and I would like the option of using the paddle controllers as well.

Edit: from the picture it appears like the controllers detach and I'll be able to use any controllers that I want. This thing's going to be great.

[GizmoGC]

Ship, yes, you can use ay of the 2600 accessories, and even Genesis/SMS Controllers (since they have the same input)

[shipwreck]

Ship, yes, you can use ay of the 2600 accessories, and even Genesis/SMS Controllers (since they have the same input)

Hiphiphooray! I'll definitely be picking one of these things up once they go on clearance at Target. :) Now I have to be on the lookout for a cheap 2600 because I'm not going to rip apart my childhood systems for this.

[TheShiz]

anyone seen these for sale? i hear some walmarts have them, but no luck in Richmond, VA

[CYRiX]

I can get the cartridge connector from a broken atari right (broken as in any part besides that).

[urzishra14]

cyrix.. i would assume so.. and i see them at wal mart kmart and the like all the time.. look in the toy section around the board games.

[GizmoGC]

Check the TOY SECTION, not Videogame section. My Wal-Marts have tons...If not, Gamestop should be caring it fairly soon, if not now.

[bmulligan]

I haven't seen this thing anywhere. Not TRU, Gamestop, Walmart, or Target. It's a conspiracy !

[Purkeynator]

Neat

And I'm pretty shocked the original Flashback sold over 500K units according to that article. My local Target has/had probably 100 of them just sitting on the shelves for months. Led me to assume it tanked, but I guess not.

My target had probably 20 of these sitting in the clearance section about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Then after the price drop every single one was gone. I am not sure if they really sold out that fast or Target pulled them. I really wanted to bag a couple for gifts, D'oheth!

[alonzomourning23]

So few people will know of this, or actually go ahead with modding it, this seems pointless.

[TheShiz]

I haven't seen this thing anywhere. Not TRU, Gamestop, Walmart, or Target. It's a conspiracy !

me either! i see the crappy atari flashback 1, but no one around here has the new version. guess they are taking their time to get on the east coast. should be here by 10/4 at the latest (official release)

[daroga]

I find the excuse of not wanting to man support calls to say "clean your carts" pretty lame. A) Put it in the instructions B) Have a recording answer the phone telling people to do that. I think it was more a laziness / price point of the unit itself and not wanting to test a ton of games to ensure they worked. This way, if a game is not compatible, they can blame it on the modder (and you're out of the warranty anyway). Cool in essence... lame in practice.

daroga

[bmulligan]

Actually it's not that lame of an excuse. There could be hundreds of thousands of people who would try to use their old carts in a factory modded machine with a cartridge slot. Millions of old carts may not work right and need to be thoroughly cleaned and many will be beyond repair. Atari manufactured many PCB's with tin and alumininum contacts that have corroded over the last 20 years of non-use. Even the gold contact ones can have years of dirt, dust, and slime built up on them. Not to mention the extra cost the unit would have to be to add a cart slot, why put yourself in a position to have to deal with stupid people in the first place.

[TheShiz]

unfortunately the mod is a pain, they really should have made it easier, you have to do a lot of sodering, and cutting a cartridge slot, i'm just going to play the 40 games it comes with and not bother.

[zman73]

I was reading about this in Hardcore Gamer magazine, they did a good job going through the steps, not sure if I would try it, looks tedious

[urzishra14]

i don't understand (well other than licencing) why they can't have like 100 Atari games on a console like this.. and i never had an atari so I don't have any reason to pick it up i guess..

[bmulligan]

Link to mod with photos and step-step hack:

http://www.hardcoregamermag.com/download.html


Download Sept. 2005 issue. It's 4-5 pages in the middle of the mag. It's a whole lotta ass pain if you've already got a 2600, but for those who don't....

[TheShiz]

i don't understand (well other than licencing) why they can't have like 100 Atari games on a console like this.. and i never had an atari so I don't have any reason to pick it up i guess..

i agree, but i hear they are going to make a version 3.0, so if they follow the current trend it will have 60 games.

[TheShiz]

walmart.com just moved the release date to 10/17/2005, arrrghh.

[TheShiz]

walmart.com just moved the release date to 10/17/2005, arrrghh.

just found one at my local wal-mart, so they should be in all stores by now.

[bmulligan]

just out of curiosity, where is your local Walmart ?

The Walmarts in metro Detroit do not yet have them.

[GizmoGC]

Ive had mine for 2 months now...Got it FROM a Walmart. Too bad Ive only played it like 10 minutes.

[TheShiz]

just out of curiosity, where is your local Walmart ?

The Walmarts in metro Detroit do not yet have them.

richmond, va

[bmulligan]

I finally saw one of these at a Walmart in South Lyon, MI. It's almost worth $30 for the joysticks, but I just couldn't bring myself to buy it. I just feel like I'm still getting ripped off with only 40 games. Now if it were a 40 game 7800 collection I'd probably bite, but I just can't bring myself to re-purchase the same games I already have. Anybody play this yet ?

[bsesb2003]

I saw them today in Target for the first time, but not sure how much as they had it behind glass.

[daroga]

I saw them today in Target for the first time, but not sure how much as they had it behind glass.

They were $30 at my Target. Left it and the $70 PSOne 3 Game bundle on the shelf. MAybe if they drop 50% or 75% of the price...