New Atari Compatible Console & Controllers being released.

[ATARI800XLfan]

Not sure if this is the right section but it appears the talented creator of the Atari Flashbacks and the Atari 7800XM Curt Vendel has plans to release a new Atari 7800/Atari 2600 console. He is currently asking for people's opinion on features, case, and controller designs by Sep 15th when he has to give the information the the supposedly classic company from the time that is not Atari. Here is what he said.

"OKay,

So, do you want a NEW console that is 2600/7800 compatible in the

2600jr Style:
http://www.pugo.org/media/collection/co ... 2600jr.jpg
Or

3200 "System X" Style:
http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/c ... sylvia.JPG

With the 7800 Expansion Module moving to shipping shortly, it would be the intention to incorporate its features inside this new console, so it would all be built in - the high score keeping, pokey and so forth (just not the SIO and keyboard ports) So this would be a new super-7800 system. It just comes down to, which design would you prefer? The 3200 console is slightly bigger then the 2600jr, but around the size of the 7800 console, it is a more complex casing so the product cost would be higher due to the case, just keep that in mind.

This would NOT be an Atari product, it would not be licensed to use the Atari name, it would however be under a very well known video game company name that some may feel is equally as important as Atari. So this would be done and sold under a non-Atari name, it would be an Atari-compatible system only.

Need as much input from people as possible by Sept 15th please... thanks.

Curt "
What do you guys think, would you buy one?

[KillerJuan77]

The 3200 looks awesome. I vote for that one!

[BurningDoom]

If they could, they should make it compatible with all Atari carts: 2600, 5200, 7800, and Jaguar. That would be sweet as hell. Also make sure it has the 9-pin connector so we can still use our Genesis controllers on it.

[o.pwuaioc]

Count me in as interested. I'm not going to have high hopes for Jaguar inclusion, but Atari 2600/5200/7800 inclusion would be awesome.

[CRTGAMER]

Where is the link for submissions?!

The 3200 is nice, but I don't think it would sale. A case has to be recognized, Curt Vendel should either stick with the famous woody 2600 or not as known 7800 shell. I'm still waiting for a 5200 Flashback with updated Wico style sticks.

In this age of gamepads DO NOT USE STICKS! Go with the Euro 7800 pad design, but keep the 2600 compatible ports. This way any Retro 2600 Stick or Genesis Pad will plug in.

[ATARI800XLfan]

Where is the link for submissions?!

The 3200 is nice, but I don't think it would sale. A case has to be recognized, Curt Vendel should either stick with the famous woody 2600 or not as known 7800 shell. I'm still waiting for a 5200 Flashback with updated Wico style sticks.

In this age of gamepads DO NOT USE STICKS! Go with the Euro 7800 pad design, but keep the 2600 compatible ports. This way any Retro 2600 Stick or Genesis Pad will plug in.

Sorry about that here it is. Not sure if you have to be a member of the website it is listed which is atari age or if you can email mail him your opinion. I would think email's would work. Supposedly he decided to do this because of his contacts and suppliers from the Atari 7800 XM module. Here is some more about it.

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/18 ... ntrollers/

here is his comments about the controllers, also people could visit the site if you would rather read all the comments instead of just his.

"I have the 3200 controllers, they are a little smaller then the 5200 controllers and feel very comfortable in your hand.... playing games is perfect with them, they are stiff for joystick usage and the paddle works perfectly. The left button is always fire button A, the right fire button is either (2600 mode - Paddle Fire Button) or (7800 Mode - Fire Button B) with a slide switch in the front of the joystick, so you are able to select which way the buttons work which is versatile and handy."

"This would be a full blown real console, using real cartridges. An SD Cart slot could be put on, but with the Harmony and H2 carts, I don't want to hurt their sales, so unless they stop being made, I don't think it would be fair to include SD card support and hurt someone elses product.

I would like to get homebrewers involved and include several games on a pack-in menu driven multicart, so that is a definite then I want to go with."

"This isn't going to be a plug and play tv toy, this is a cartridge based system right from the get go, it will have a standard 7800 cartridge port (that accepts 2600) cartridge, I've already had new 7800 cartridge port guides made, I have 1,000 right now and can make as many more as necessary, I have db9 ports and I'm working on sourcing the 36 (32) pin cartridge connectors in large quantity too, so the ball is already rolling on this.

This'll be an FPGA product, so conceivable it could come with composite and VGA out if that'll satisfy everyone, the composite would be out through a scan converter with a select switch for PAL/NTSC output.

Joystick ports would either be on the front or back, most people are saying they want them on the front which is fine. The only thing I need to look into is the plexi/acrylic top design, but that should'nt be too big of a problem.

I would like to include a menu driven multicart and include 5-10 homebrew games to be included as a pack-in with the console. New 7800 plastic cartridge shells will be made available and I can get them done dirt cheap so homebrewers will be able to buy them for $1 for their games, I just need to see if there is a way to have a universal die cut down for 2600/7800 boxes and then homebrewers could submit their art and boxes could be run very inexpensive, and this will allow everyone to make boxed real games where the physical parts cost will be $3-5 dollars and they can make a good profit, bring out high quality games in boxed fashion an"

and about his manufacturing.
"Right now putting feelers out, I've taken a lot that I've learned from the 7800XM to not make the same mistakes, but now I've built a good network for manufacturing and I'm in talks with several people to build a team to join in on this, maybe work could start in mid Oct, the controllers will be the first things to start and finish since people will all want those and they'll also be the new "Classic II" USB controllers as well because so many gave asked for USB paddles, so this will be the next joystick and paddle solution. "

[ATARI800XLfan]

so far from the polls on there most people seem to like the Atari 3200 design the most by a few percentage too.

[BoringSupreez]

Is this something that's going to be sold at major retailers like the Flashback, or is this a small scale, online-only operation?

[ATARI800XLfan]

Is this something that's going to be sold at major retailers like the Flashback, or is this a small scale, online-only operation?

not sure about it. he has not said yet.

[KillerJuan77]

Lets just hope they add Jaguar support.