Atari Flashback2

[Death from the Sea]

I just bought an Atari Flashback2 for my brothers family for Christmas.


My brother (who is 32), his wife (same age), and their six year old daughter and 4 year old son. I think it will be a great way for the kids, who are not great at the video games on the XBOX, due to the complicated controllers and such, will be a great way for them to play with my brother who will be able to play the great games from his childhood.

what do you think? is this a good way to bridge the gap between generations video game wise?

FYI. the Atari Flashback2 has 40 games built into the console itself, so there are no cartriges to mess with or buy. Among the games are Asteroids, Pitfall, Centipede, Missle Command, River Raid, Comabet and Pong.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

I got one back in October and think it's simply bitchin'. I'd like to eventually pick up some paddle controllers to play the two hidden paddle games.

The best thing about the Flashback 2 is that it fixes pretty much everything that made the original Flashback subpar: it's based on a 2600-on-a-chip and actual game code rather than an NES-on-a-chip and emulations, and comes with updated 2600 controllers but is also compatable with vintage controllers.

But the greatest thing is that the project team actually designed the internal circuit board layout to make it very easy and simple for owners to modify the console and add a cartridge port (owners with large 2600 game collections have compiled compatability lists, with the FB2's level turned out to be very high, in the 80s or 90s, I think). And Atari approved the concept completely!

Eventually I'd like to do that as well, and I hope it's compatable with Paul Slocum's Synthcart cartridge, so I can get two keyboard controllers and make music on the 2600.

[LordShaithis]

I'm a little disappointed they didn't add a default cartridge port. I would have liked to see it compatible with old carts right out of the box, and they could have released their entire library on a series of just a few new carts. You know, you buy a cartridge and it has EVERY vintage sports title on it.

Still cool as hell to see the 2600 back in production of a sort.

[Crossroads Inc.]

We are selling them at the SEARS I work at, I'm amazed at how they have sold so far, and by how many people are surprised that they can fit 40 games into one box.

[LordShaithis]

I know it came along very late in the system's career, and thus gets little in the way of attention or nostalgia, but I'm disappointed that they couldn't make room for Solaris on there. Ah well, everyone has their "pet" game I suppose.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

Solaris was included on the FB1, and Atari and the project team wanted a good number of the games on the FB2 to be different, so that it wasn't seen as just a rerelease or version two of the FB1.

At one point in development, there was talk of giving the FB2 a cartridge port so regular games could be played on the console, but in the end it was dropped because Atari thought including it would be a tech support nightmare because of the number of people calling and e-mailing in saying that their games didn't work, not knowing it was due to dirty or faulty contacts on the cartridges themselves.

I believe early work has already began on the Flashback 3, which the team leader has hinted will be somewhat different from the previous two.

[Dangermouse]

I was hoping it would come with Beamrider and Warlords but it looks kinda neat. Kudos to Atari for bringing it back. I think the games are fun but I wonder if my little brother would play it instead of Playstation razzle-dazzle Madden etc.

[LordShaithis]

A shame they couldn't give it a real cart port. The hypothetical customer who still has his quarter-century old Space Invaders cartidge and can't figure out why it doesn't work like it did back in the disco era... He doesn't seem like someone to base your plans around.

EDIT: I'm pretty sure I remember where my old original 2600 and carts are. If the FB3 has a proper cart port, GAME FUCKING ON.