I came up with a pretty reliable way to fix 5200 controllers for cheap. I refurbished 3 and they all work flawlessly. I have a forth that still needs work. I planned to use it to do an instructional video but never got around to it. My 5200 is totally playable and one of my favorite systems!
Wow these two things are absolutely awesome and makes the Atari 7800 so much better. I just wish that RetroHQ would find a better way to handle the firmware updating process. But other than that, it's a fine little flash cart.
How is scanning a QR code or typing in a URL an issue? Given the degree of hardware cloning, I need some way to try and protect against this, and this is the easiest and least intrusive way I could come up with. Given I concentrate on the much smaller and more niche markets, if my devices were cloned, I would most likely have to stop developing these devices entirely. 🤷♂️
@@RetroHQ That is a problem, I'm not going to argue that point. I just wish it could be as simple as either a drop onto a SD Card and go process, or an on device firmware updater. I am thankful you did not do just a QR code as it's helpful for those that can't scan QR codes.
@@CCH3900 what does ‘drop onto a SD card and go process’ mean? I could, for example, write a URL onto the memory card rather than having to use QR or type in URL? Regardless this process of unique URL is not changing, unfortunately.
@@RetroHQ It was more a account keyed firmware, which would make it easier to just drop the file onto the card and run the update on the cart/system. But I imagine the infrastructure for building and maintaining that would a pain. Once again the way it is now is fine, especially if you're concerned about cloning. A URL link file on the memory card would be good insurance. But is also a risky step if the end user accidently deletes the file. Again it was more of a wish that people didn't have to worry about cloning. And have the process have as few steps as possible.
@@CCH3900 thanks for the feedback, there are definitely some ideas I can work with there. It would be possible to register a cart to an account on the website and just download firmware compatible with your cart from there, although I wouldn’t know what version was currently installed. And I can write out a url each time the cart boots which could be used to link to the firmware. I’ll give it some thought! 👍
I've always wanted to know: Why did the U.S.A. receive the Cursed Phallic Object that is the ATARI 7800 joystick while everyone else on Planet Earth recieved that delicious Nestle's CRUNCH Bar?
Don't know how technically possible it is, but I've always wished someone would come up with a 7800 controller solution that had the pause button mapped to it. Getting up to walk over to the console to pause in-game is so cumbersome
@@RetroHQ That's cool. This is a great product, but unfortunately it still wouldn't be worth it to me, because I'm a long time collector & currently own a complete NTSC 7800 library aside from 1 game
That's very weird that your 7800 didn't work with the European style controller. I've got both an NTSC Atari 7800 and the European controller and they worked fine together. I will have to dig them out of their boxes and see which models I own.
I got the Atari Lynx flash cart from RetroHQ a couple of years ago. It's excellent. Works perfectly. Might have to grab one of these for my 2600 woody 6 switcher lite.
@@AdamKoralik Oh damn. Thanks for the heads up.. I thought it was a universal cartridge that fit both machines. Thats a shame. Might just get an everdrive for the 2600 then. .
In the US, most people had TVs without composite video input and if they used composite video input, they often went through a VCR around the time this was designed in the mid 1980s.
Would like this, but it’s not cheap and it looks to be out of stock. Wonder if Stoneagegamer will end up carrying this. For now I’m just going to play my 7800 with rf or maybe if I can get it modded to play composite.
This cartridge with the FPGA is sort of sounding like the Amiga Vampire of the Atari 7800 console. I wonder if all it is doing is processing the RGB video out or if it is doing more. How much of the actual 7800 hardware is actually being utilized do we know when using this?
@@AdamKoralik And I asked :) It is only processing the video (Maria chip in FPGA) and that's all. The system is handling the rest. And, just for fun (since I have one of these now) I connected RF and the RGB at the same time. I can flip between the two and the loaded game is playing on both outputs. Kind of cool as you can show your friends what it used to look like and then awe them when you move to component on your TV ;) It's a great device indeed.
I love the Atari Junior/7800 controller and think it's super great. It's a good joystick without the bulky, clicky stuff the C64/Amiga has. Though 1 button, you need 2 for (some) 7800 games. Also, the Junior Controller never breaks, i played mines from as a kid untill now, very strong build!
You don't _need_ the MEGA adapter to update firmware. Iirc, I used the select button on the console or something like that. Also make sure you scan the QR code that appears on the screen, follow that link and download that file into the root of your SD card. You'll be set after that. 👍
Adam, the 7800 came out in the U.S. after the Original NES, right? that's like your friend that shows up late to a party at 1 A.M. & wonders why no one's awake to party with him!
The 7800 and the NES were about on par with each other hardware wise, with the exception of the 7800s disappointing sound capabilities. Fortunately some games rectified that by including a real sound chip in the cartridge. The game library though, whole other situation entirely. Unfortunately real stand-out titles for the 7800 that actually showed off what it could do were few and far between at the time both were competing on the market.
Yeah I did recently purchase a Pac-Man collection cartridge from Atari age. But also I was trying to find the ROM which is in the actual romset they recommend you use and even with that it was a little bit glitchy so hopefully they can fix that soon ... And I think some versions of klax which was actually a Homebrew had issues as well..
I Still have my OG Christmas '89 Atarti 7800 & a Junk One I picked up years ago as well. I need to Take mine apart and Cleanup then Restore / UpMod it for Future Proof!
You said press Select and Reset on the 7800 console to get "Start" in 2600 games. That got me wondering... When is says "Press START to for Firmware Update", will it do the same and let you press Select and Reset on the 7800 console, to act as Start?
I wish something like this existed for the 5200. I've never managed to get audio through mine's rf signal due to EU tvs using different channels and frequencies.
Hi there I went through their website and it doesn’t look the aisle like the item is available at the moment. Do you know when the item might be back in stock or how I might go about ordering this item even at Atari age and Stone Age gamer are out of stock apparently When exactly did this item come out I’m looking to buy both the 7800 Game Dr. and the mega 7800 controller adapter any help would be appreciative. Thanks.
it's both hilarious and depressing how criminally incompetent Atari executives were in the mid 1980s... it's like they were on Nintendo's payroll to 86 the company for good. At least the console part.
That’s crazy the whole library of both consoles is 15 mbs
💥 thats like 10 or 11 floppy 💾 disks 😂
Nice to see that you obtained a PAL 7800 controller. It makes the system actually playable.
New cx78+ controllers are out for $30
I came up with a pretty reliable way to fix 5200 controllers for cheap. I refurbished 3 and they all work flawlessly. I have a forth that still needs work. I planned to use it to do an instructional video but never got around to it. My 5200 is totally playable and one of my favorite systems!
The Adam's back, oh yes sirree, with the 7800 from Atari!
Wow these two things are absolutely awesome and makes the Atari 7800 so much better. I just wish that RetroHQ would find a better way to handle the firmware updating process. But other than that, it's a fine little flash cart.
How is scanning a QR code or typing in a URL an issue? Given the degree of hardware cloning, I need some way to try and protect against this, and this is the easiest and least intrusive way I could come up with. Given I concentrate on the much smaller and more niche markets, if my devices were cloned, I would most likely have to stop developing these devices entirely. 🤷♂️
@@RetroHQ That is a problem, I'm not going to argue that point. I just wish it could be as simple as either a drop onto a SD Card and go process, or an on device firmware updater. I am thankful you did not do just a QR code as it's helpful for those that can't scan QR codes.
@@CCH3900 what does ‘drop onto a SD card and go process’ mean? I could, for example, write a URL onto the memory card rather than having to use QR or type in URL? Regardless this process of unique URL is not changing, unfortunately.
@@RetroHQ It was more a account keyed firmware, which would make it easier to just drop the file onto the card and run the update on the cart/system. But I imagine the infrastructure for building and maintaining that would a pain. Once again the way it is now is fine, especially if you're concerned about cloning.
A URL link file on the memory card would be good insurance. But is also a risky step if the end user accidently deletes the file.
Again it was more of a wish that people didn't have to worry about cloning. And have the process have as few steps as possible.
@@CCH3900 thanks for the feedback, there are definitely some ideas I can work with there. It would be possible to register a cart to an account on the website and just download firmware compatible with your cart from there, although I wouldn’t know what version was currently installed. And I can write out a url each time the cart boots which could be used to link to the firmware. I’ll give it some thought! 👍
I've always wanted to know: Why did the U.S.A. receive the Cursed Phallic Object that is the ATARI 7800 joystick while everyone else on Planet Earth recieved that delicious Nestle's CRUNCH Bar?
Hell if I know
I bought one on day 1, absolutely awesome!
Also, I personally think the 7800 joystick gets too much hate, cuz I can actually play games with it.
Don't know how technically possible it is, but I've always wished someone would come up with a 7800 controller solution that had the pause button mapped to it. Getting up to walk over to the console to pause in-game is so cumbersome
The 7800GD does this via being able to break into the game by pressing START on a megadrive controller connected via the Mega7800.
@@RetroHQ That's cool. This is a great product, but unfortunately it still wouldn't be worth it to me, because I'm a long time collector & currently own a complete NTSC 7800 library aside from 1 game
That's very weird that your 7800 didn't work with the European style controller. I've got both an NTSC Atari 7800 and the European controller and they worked fine together. I will have to dig them out of their boxes and see which models I own.
Yeah it was nonsense, the europads definitely work on the North American consoles. Gonna guess he is just trying to push the adapter 🙄
cool piece of tech! someday I'll have to locate a 7800 and pick up one of these! (and likely that genesis adapter too)
I got the Atari Lynx flash cart from RetroHQ a couple of years ago. It's excellent. Works perfectly. Might have to grab one of these for my 2600 woody 6 switcher lite.
This is a 7800 cart, it won't run on a 2600.
@@AdamKoralik Oh damn. Thanks for the heads up.. I thought it was a universal cartridge that fit both machines. Thats a shame. Might just get an everdrive for the 2600 then. .
@@AdamKoralik Seems the Harmony is $86 AUD delivered vs this 7800 flash cart at $300 AUD delivered.. Thats a huge difference.
In the US, most people had TVs without composite video input and if they used composite video input, they often went through a VCR around the time this was designed in the mid 1980s.
Would like this, but it’s not cheap and it looks to be out of stock. Wonder if Stoneagegamer will end up carrying this. For now I’m just going to play my 7800 with rf or maybe if I can get it modded to play composite.
SAG do carry it, more stock in a couple of months!
This cartridge with the FPGA is sort of sounding like the Amiga Vampire of the Atari 7800 console. I wonder if all it is doing is processing the RGB video out or if it is doing more. How much of the actual 7800 hardware is actually being utilized do we know when using this?
The engineer would, I do not.
@@AdamKoralik And I asked :) It is only processing the video (Maria chip in FPGA) and that's all. The system is handling the rest. And, just for fun (since I have one of these now) I connected RF and the RGB at the same time. I can flip between the two and the loaded game is playing on both outputs. Kind of cool as you can show your friends what it used to look like and then awe them when you move to component on your TV ;) It's a great device indeed.
I love the Atari Junior/7800 controller and think it's super great. It's a good joystick without the bulky, clicky stuff the C64/Amiga has. Though 1 button, you need 2 for (some) 7800 games. Also, the Junior Controller never breaks, i played mines from as a kid untill now, very strong build!
You don't _need_ the MEGA adapter to update firmware. Iirc, I used the select button on the console or something like that. Also make sure you scan the QR code that appears on the screen, follow that link and download that file into the root of your SD card. You'll be set after that. 👍
TIL the 7800 must be the first console to have region locked game controllers.
Adam Koralik consistently covers the obscure gaming topics that other RUclipsrs do not!
Cool looking but bizar at the same time with it’s composite out and the required genesis controller just to press start to update the menu?
Adam, the 7800 came out in the U.S. after the Original NES, right? that's like your friend that shows up late to a party at 1 A.M. & wonders why no one's awake to party with him!
Technically two years prior and then resurfaced later.
The 7800 and the NES were about on par with each other hardware wise, with the exception of the 7800s disappointing sound capabilities. Fortunately some games rectified that by including a real sound chip in the cartridge. The game library though, whole other situation entirely. Unfortunately real stand-out titles for the 7800 that actually showed off what it could do were few and far between at the time both were competing on the market.
@@AdamKoralik I finally figured it out !!! I think....
Yeah I did recently purchase a Pac-Man collection cartridge from Atari age. But also I was trying to find the ROM which is in the actual romset they recommend you use and even with that it was a little bit glitchy so hopefully they can fix that soon ... And I think some versions of klax which was actually a Homebrew had issues as well..
Turn off break, there should be a warning telling you there are issues when you start the game. After this point it’s glitch free.
The Atari 2600 Junior was my first console. 🙂
RetroHQ sees Krikzz's Everdrives and the RGB blaster and raises him the 7800 Game Drive and yet everyone wins.
cool video and it helps people who are thinking on what to get for the 7200 for video and controller options to use on the system now.
I Still have my OG Christmas '89 Atarti 7800 & a Junk One I picked up years ago as well.
I need to Take mine apart and Cleanup then Restore / UpMod it for Future Proof!
You said press Select and Reset on the 7800 console to get "Start" in 2600 games. That got me wondering...
When is says "Press START to for Firmware Update", will it do the same and let you press Select and Reset on the 7800 console, to act as Start?
Not that I noticed, but I didn't think of that.
Atari started selling brand new Atari 7800 euro-style controllers. Maybe those will work without the adapter.
Definitely going to need this. Was just looking at options the other day!
Im on the backorder list i bought it but they oversold it on stoneage gamer 😢 so i will recieve it whenever they start shipping the 2nd batch.
Now Blu sky can make ninja golf 2
Try to get yourself a physical copy of Rikki & Vikki for 7800 if you still can. Best 3rd party 7800 game, hands down.
Hasn't it been out of stock for like a year or something? I tried to get it several months ago
My plasma tv has component inputs. Would the HD Retrovision cable work well on it's own plugged directly into my tv without the need for a retrotink?
Not likely, most HDTVs don't support those resolutions via component.
So was it ever confirmed if you need both products to do a firmware update?
Nice, and so great you are doing a video on it... keep up the good work Adam 👏 greats from Belgium 🇧🇪
How do you hook it up to a flat TV without RGB input, via component?
You need an upscaling device as mentioned in the video.
Definitely going to add this
I wish something like this existed for the 5200. I've never managed to get audio through mine's rf signal due to EU tvs using different channels and frequencies.
you can install a UAV mod to get composite and audio out of an atari 5200. that is what i did on mjne.
@@teknohed I am aware of that. Would still prefer a simple rgb expansion.
@@AfterBurnerTeirusuYeah, that would be pretty sweet. 5200 was my first system. So I'm always on the look out for ways to keep the old beast alive.
Hey man just wondering does this function with original 2600 consoles or just 7800? Thanks this looks awesome very interesting
Just 7800 if I recall correctly.
Great, now we can play *Xeno Crisis* the way the developers truly intended - on the Atari with RGB out
Now this does put a smile on my face
I am confused, isn’t there as “start” button on the system itself. did you try pressing that to update the firmware?
I didn't think to try that at the time, which was a huge oversight on my part.
@@AdamKoralik time for a youtube short!
essential tools for any Atari fans, great overview and recommendations!
Hello friend, this flascart is compatible with atari XEGS ??
Not to my knowledge.
I got the backbit instead because it has adapters that fit tons of different consoles.
Can this work on the Atari 2600+
Not sure, kind of doubt it to be honest.
@@AdamKoralik want to test it out?
I don't own one.
@@AdamKoralik I Do can I buy one from you so I can use it!
I was just looking into this, get out of my head Adam. There’s bad thoughts in there!
Hi there I went through their website and it doesn’t look the aisle like the item is available at the moment. Do you know when the item might be back in stock or how I might go about ordering this item even at Atari age and Stone Age gamer are out of stock apparently When exactly did this item come out I’m looking to buy both the 7800 Game Dr. and the mega 7800 controller adapter any help would be appreciative. Thanks.
I'm guessing it's a small batch product, I'd message them about it. But should be back in stock soon enough.
Wonder if this works with the 2600+ 🤔
is it beveled and 3,3 to 5v safe?
Does a Sega Master System controller work?
It might, not sure.
Just a note, Adam. You put 2800 instead of 2600 in the description.
Fixing!
He was confused by the Japanese version
Awesome finally !
Love the content, but.. a suggestion maybe get a better mic
That was a mistake, my mic wasn't on, only had the backup.
Awesome stuff buddy :)
I need a 5200 man!! Get on that for us man
I have one.
Where can I get one for the 5200 !!! I hate that remote 🥲
Down below. There i did it.
it's both hilarious and depressing how criminally incompetent Atari executives were in the mid 1980s... it's like they were on Nintendo's payroll to 86 the company for good. At least the console part.
Since my 1st video game system was an NES although cool i give it an pass. RGB is nice but I pefer HDMI.
Adam Koralik will be there for you and your family and friends with you and I will be going to bed soon.
Don't really need it. Have a full PAL set and the PAL pads. The US controller does also work on my PAL system strangly enough.
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