All things Atari VCS Thread

[tthurman]

I think Felix is spot on, the community will make this thing a gem most likely.  Atari is seemingly incapable of doing anything but tripping on themselves, but it does seem like they provided a powerful X86 architecture to build upon.

I look forward to videos and of this system progressing.

 

<edit> I would spring for doubles on the controller, IMO it's always a must to have at least two!

 

 

[hansolo77]

@Draco1962 - Try giving Tempest a go in the VCS Vault 1 with the classic controller.  The twist stick works well and the rumble is a cool bonus.

[RIP-Felix]

Can you not install windows on this thing internally? Does it have to be on an external drive?

If so, that's kinda a bummer. I like having a console be a self contained thing. Having a dongle that must be permanently attached in order to make the thing cool doesn't appeal to me. I'd prefer to install windows to the add-on m.2. That way I don't need to worry about the external drive being always connected, plugged in, getting bumped or lost. That and m.2 is nice to have on windows. It's speedy!

[Draco1962]

With limited storage built-in, installing an OS on a bootable stick or external drive is the only option.  This could be a good thing if you want to play with the various OSs the device supports in PC mode. Opportunities to explore.

[hansolo77]

I've been talking in the Founder's Discord.  You can install a bootable OS onto the internal m.2.  The way it works, you have to select it in the BIOS as the boot device.  There was a guy last night saying that the Windows 10 install would automatically boot up from a cold start after he installed it.  But when he was trying to do that with Ubuntu, it wouldn't work and always went to the AtariOS first.  But in either case, he was doing it off the internal expansion m.2.

I can't afford a larger capacity m.2, but I ordered a 2tb one.  You have to be careful though.  It doesn't support NVME, only SATA.  That limits offerings quite a bit, as most m.2 drives now are coming out as NVME.  I just ordered a Samsung 870 Evo.  Should be here by Monday.  RAM is another thing.  There was an interview with the CEO, I believe, where he was talking about the hardware.  In that interview he said you can install up to 64gb (2x32), but now all the documentation says up to 32gb (2x16).  The speed is also only at 2400mHz. 

So here's what I got coming:

• Samsung 860 EVO SSD 2TB - M.2 SATA Internal Solid State Drive with V-NAND Technology (MZ-N6E2T0BW)

  • https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07822SVMS

• HyperX Impact 2400MHz 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 CL15 SODIMM (Kit of 2) HX424S15IB2K2/32

  • https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KB7L7QR

Wait to make the same purchase until I can test and verify they work together (if You want the same).

[Draco1962]

Thanks for that as it may be a viable option! I have signed up for the Discord channel. I stll need to find a viable keyboard - I probably have one, just need to locate my stash.

At this point I am not sure how far down the rabbit hole I want to go with upgrades, PC mode, etc. and, that said, may wait it out a bit and see what shakes out in the community.

[Draco1962]

The classic controller, for me at least, is a problem. The controller configs out of the box do not work in VCS Vault in any of the games. I was able to get the modern controller to work. According to Discord, you have to use the controllers wired and not over Bluetooth.  I hope that future console updates will remedy this.  Full keyboard support is problematic and only works for the usual keyboard game inputs. 

Before upgrading I'm going to see what if any fixes can be done for some of these basic issues.  

[hansolo77]

I noticed a problem when I first played with the classic controller, in that it wanted to be set up as the 2nd player.  Looking back, I think it was because I had been originally using the modern controller first, turned it off, and then started using the classic.  A day or so later, I turned the system on and used only the classic controller, and it worked exactly like it should.  I need to test further but I think the system gets confused on the inputs if you have two different controller types active in the system at the same time.  Rebooting and using a different controller seemed to fix it.  So I'll need to test this.  But right now it looks like it's one controller type or the other, and you have to reboot the system if you want to switch, rather than being able to switch it up on one boot, and you have to use 2 of the same type, not one of each.  Kinda sucks if true, because Dad would most likely only be able to use the classic controller while I'd be better with the modern; and we couldn't play together.

I never had any wired vs Bluetooth issues, other than what I said above.  The one thing that confused me was identifying when the battery was dying while wireless.  The inputs I was giving were sporadically different.  Like it was thinking I was holding a direction longer than I was, or pressing the wrong buttons.  Plugging it in resolved that.  But the irritating part was not knowing how much battery life was left.  I saw a post in Discord today while I was at work that explains a lot of my frustration.  Apparently, when you're in a game (at least in Atari mode), the LED indicates if you're player 1 or 2, etc.  When you're out of a game and in the Atari menus, the LED is indicating the battery life (4 LED's is full, etc).  I thought the 1 LED when playing a game meant I had 25% battery life, thus the sporadic behavior.  Now that I know that's not the case, the problem may be input lag from interference or something.

Bugs like that aside, I'm still impressed with the console and thrilled to be a part of what is essentially beta testing a new Atari console.  Waiting for the hardware upgrades is killing me because I want to see what else I can do, because right now Atari's offerings are slim at best.  I did go ahead an buy the Vault 2.  Still unsure where they're saying you get "over 100 games" in the first Vault.  Seemed like maybe 25?  Maybe I'm just not looking right.  But the stuff Atari has available only SEEMS small; they have already announced a LOT more content is coming, they just want us to test the base system first, before they add all the other stuff.  One thing I might look at is Anstream, but I've heard it's a subscription service.  Don't really need that if you're in this hobby (if you catch my drift); but I'd like to see what it's all about/what they have. 

[Draco1962]

I'll be interested in how your upgrades progress so please post your results. 

I will try booting only with the classic controller to see if that at least partially fixes the functionality issues I initially encountered.

Don't mistake my reporting negatives as giving up on the product. I do think it has good potential. I do have concerns that they are pushing an unfinished product upon a public that is expecting high-end finish.

[RIP-Felix]

I'm still unconvinced. I see this as a glorified Atari Mini PC. Okay, they have a bets OS and Atari Platform they are hoping to make money off of, but I wouldn't be interested in that unless they had some killer 1st party games and a track record for producing them (like SEGA AM1/2). Instead the utility of the console seems to be in it's support for windows. Basically it's a miniPC. I would feel more comfortable building my own from off the shelf parts. I could get a better experience and have an upgrade path.

Unless ATARI can offer more than a few old Atari2600 and arcade games, something pc emulation has been doing well for a long time now, then I don't see any reason to get a VCS - other than to look at it.

[hansolo77]

I can now confirm that YES, the SSD and RAM I purchased work great.  I sent a few hours yesterday playing around with getting Ubuntu installed and then trying to get RetroPie on that.  Ran into a problem where the repository for snes9x was offline and I couldn't complete the install.  But I'm going to try again today with maybe ARES instead of RetroPie.  might also look at Batocera.

If you get an SSD, make sure you also order/buy an m.2 screw set.  The console doesn't come with one, and most drives don't come with it either.  I went to Microcenter and bought a kit:

https://www.microcenter.com/product/600435/micro-connectors-m2-ssd-mounting-screws-kit

[stigzler]

Dayyuummm... Kudos to those of you who backed this thing. It performs really well:

Now, need to set up my ebay watch to scoop up those unwanted xmas presents, rip her open and transfer her to an original shell...

Oh yeah - and Happy New Year and all that..

[tthurman]

It plays PONG

[hansolo77]

I'm still loving it. :P

[tthurman]

bada bump bump ba

 

[stigzler]

22 hours ago, tthurman said:

It plays PONG

What a good point. Why have I spent all this time and money on tech that outstrips the moon landing gear when all I want it to do is play Pong? (Which I never play because I'm too busy building the thing to play it on)

Bonkers.

[Draco1962]

Once I get a handle on some other Christmas toys I will go back to tinkering with the VCS, possibly with the SOLO mods or a variation thereof.

My daughter bought me a reflector telescope - Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ - for Christmas and I am already modding it (added a Telrad to replace the meager finder scope - loving the aiming rectical!, and probably will replace the  primary mirror's rubber cusions with tension springs as well as the hex adjustment screws with "Bob's Knobs" for on the fly collimation  which is almost always needed after transport jostles the scope).

[ClassicGMR]

On 1/7/2021 at 10:56 AM, stigzler said:

rip her open and transfer her to an original shell...

THIS

[hansolo77]

I always wanted a telescope.  Seems too much work/cost for what's available in my area.  Living in a city has a lot of light pollution.  I'd like something substantial.  Something that has counterbalance weights and a motor to control movement for long exposure photos.  It's just another tick on my long list of "man I wish I had" things.  But like I said, being in a city really limits what I can see so I've not really bothered to look much into them.

[Draco1962]

7 hours ago, hansolo77 said:

I always wanted a telescope.  Seems too much work/cost for what's available in my area.  Living in a city has a lot of light pollution.  I'd like something substantial.  Something that has counterbalance weights and a motor to control movement for long exposure photos.  It's just another tick on my long list of "man I wish I had" things.  But like I said, being in a city really limits what I can see so I've not really bothered to look much into them.

You don't have to spend big bucks on a tricked-out light bucket to enjoy astronomy. Light pollution is a big issue where I live as well but there is much I can see from my front yard with a bit of patience. Start with a good pair of binoculars, work your way up. There are some budget scopes to be had for under $500, like the Celestron Nexstar 45E. It will get you viewing the moon, planets, and the Messier catalog of object. Don't expect Hubble quality or you will be disappointed. 

You've spent as much on Retropie and Atari VCS and mods so if the desire is there, you will find a way! You always do!

[tthurman]

On 1/8/2021 at 10:41 AM, stigzler said:

What a good point. Why have I spent all this time and money on tech that outstrips the moon landing gear when all I want it to do is play Pong? (Which I never play because I'm too busy building the thing to play it on)

Bonkers.

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http://tags.hfc-essentials.com/stigzler.png

 

It's okay stigz, we all have our vices!

 

Anyway, when you pick up that deal off ebay you can really hot rod it out by plopping it in these new digs!

 

[tthurman]

Seriously though, it will be interesting to see where this thing winds up in a year.

 

Don't make these mistakes

 

 

[tthurman]

Off with the antennas take two:

 

 

[Draco1962]

Atari VCS Teardown 32GB RAM Upgrade & M.2 SSD Install +Win10 on Samsung 128GB USB Dongle

List of items in video from video description:

Samsung USB Drive For Windows 10: https://amzn.to/3sulxmO 
M.2 SATA SSD: https://amzn.to/3igPJ02
32gb DDR4 SO-DIMM Ram: https://amzn.to/35KPFk2
Wireless Media Keyboard With Touch Pad: https://amzn.to/3iilMg2
8Bitdo Arcade Stick: https://amzn.to/2XNDmPE
Novus Plastic Polish & Cleaning kit: https://amzn.to/39xAqw6
Torx screwdriver - need T10: https://amzn.to/3qi9oQa
Buy Atari VCS on ebay: http://ebay.to/38OwtnK

Install Windows 10 information:
Atari guide: http://bit.ly/39yX8UM
WinToUSB guide: http://bit.ly/2LZgaLy
Download Windows 10 ISO: http://bit.ly/3sxbfCH

Recommended Amazon Products: https://amzn.to/2yUs8MX
Shop Play-Asia: https://bit.ly/2m4xq5c
Shop Castle Mania Games: https://bit.ly/2MsQuFG
Shop Stone Age Gamer: https://bit.ly/33dGaY6

 

[tthurman]

Yeah, Ron does a much more graceful disassembly, especially for the wireless.