Ramblings (Underdog Chamber)

I had planned on getting some sleep today, but I found that I was too far behind in getting things packed up for the move to the show on Friday. So, I’ve been busy packing and getting TV sets ready to move. I finished the one O2 showboard, and am undecided at this point how to use the other two. I will use at least one more.

Oh, and as far as moving TV sets, I scared the heck out of myself doing so. I dropped my Sanyo 20″ TV – blam! – about a three foot drop! First thought was that I just lost a part of the show. However, after fixing the plastic casing – part of which is permanently damaged now – the TV works just fine! Don’t like the cosmetic damage, but I’m just glad the thing works.

For now, I’m making a listing of games per system. I did not have time to create those plastic cart port shields I wanted, so I made up some cards instead to put over the cart ports. They are just laminated paper stating to not change the cartridge/game unless an attendant helps with it. Simple as that. So, back to putting the Atari 7800 and Odyssey2 game listings together (they are the last). Plus, I have to pull a few Odyssey2/Videopac games out that are not current in ROM form yet, but I do have on cart. These are some more recent releases, like Puzzle Piece Panic and such. On to the work…

I’ve spent the last few hours getting the Quake instructions done – finally! Just need to laminate them now (so I can use them again in future years if need be – just like my Marathon instructions). This is a little more work than I would like, but then again I should have gotten this done on Monday (but was busy with other stuff).

MGC HQ has issued the final PDF copies of Place Cards for the many systems at the show. My systems are all covered, and include my Ozyr.com or Fbshq.org (Black Spot club) logos on the bottom! This sure helps spread the word!

Well, onto getting that large UC banner done, and then to the Odyssey2 display board. The O2 board will get done later today, as I need some sleep soon! Zzzzz

Getting things packed up – Working on the Quake instructions

At this point in time, there is just two days until the show. Of course, there is only 1 day until I have to start setting things up. And, just like last year, there are too many last minute things. One of these years I’ll have everything ready ahead of time. 2006 wasn’t bad (I had stuff from 2004 already done), but because I’m doing a Quake LAN this year, I have to make up new paperwork (instructions and such). Plus, I am still not sure what will fit on the tables in my area, at least the 6′ round ones. It’ll be another fun experience setting up on Friday – well not actually. I love doing the show, but setting up is not my favorite thing by a long shot. Time consuming, and it can be a back breaker!

Well, I’m off this early morning hour(s) to try to finish the Quake instructions. Plus, I still need to print up the UC banner and put together the Showboard for the Odyssey2 area. I would also like to have another show board with misc. stuff, but am not sure if I can make that in time. I may just go nuts on the Odyssey2 this year, as this will be the one year I plan on pushing this thing to the limit (3-4 systems and virtually all the games available for it)!

Later – I have to get cracking now…

Well, after that last post about only having my joystick modified Intellivision system available, Marty (from the shows Museum) has volunteered one of his ‘disc’ systems for my area. (Thanks Marty!!! )

So, simply put, this means I should have a ‘disc’ system on display, like the original Intellivision. Thus, I should not get any ‘its not the original thing’ complaints!

The show is almost upon us, 4 days till setup time, and the show producers (or whatever their official titles are) are drastically changing the table layout for the Museum and surround game areas. As of yet, my area has been mostly untouched. I had them take some tables away because I would not need them. Only problem now, is I am worried things will get worse by Friday. I hope I don’t show up to a whole room of Round tables!!!!! (And no, I’m not really blaming the guys running the show, as they are running into last minute stuff. I just don’t like this, simple as that, but I understand they have to do what they have to do so they don’t loose money on the show!)

On a side note, I’m plunking away at small signs and such for the UC area. Plus I really need to get the Quake LAN instructions done today! Other stuff like my banner will also hopefully get done today or tomorrow… Man, I hate this last minute dash!

It’s late Saturday night, and I’ve managed to fix the Intellivision video upgrade. I got that tiny wired soldered back on and the video is looking good.

However, there is another problem now. The Intellivision is fried! I would guess it got a static shock or something, I really don’t know. All I do know is with the upgraded video, only the 1, 4, and 7 buttons works on either controller, nothing else!? I took the video upgrade completely out of the system, and the controllers still won’t work. Checked what I could, but this system now joins it cousin, another old system I have were the controllers don’t work at all but you still get video!

So, the only problem now is that the best Intellivision unit I have left has joysticks on it, instead of the normal thumb-pad. I like these better, but I got complaints last year from gamers who wanted the original pads. Problem here is, I don’t want to risk damaging this system by opening it up and swapping out the controllers. I did try just changes the pads, by opening up the controllers, but the pad did not work on the controller that had the joystick on it. Don’t know why, but it would not work. Time is running out, so at this point I am just bringing my joystick modified model without the video upgrade (I don’t have time to put it in this unit). If some people don’t like the joysticks, to damn bad, its all I have now!

I’ll eventually get another INTV unit to try to video upgrade, but this will happen after the show. I am damn tempted to just bring my GameCube instead, but too many other people wanted to have this system on display. I still find this odd, as so many gamers say the Cube is crap, but it is always popular at the MGC show!?

Oh well, this has not been a fun experience at all. Good INTV now basically dead, that was working very well…

When I got home from work today, I thought I’d just take a quick look at that Intellivision video upgrade kit again. Nothing fancy, just a quick look over, and try it one more time. Putting it back in, which involves taking a chip from the INTV (model I) out and putting into the video upgrade is the trickiest part in my book. Having it back in, it still would not produce a picture. I scanned over all the wiring on the actual video board itself, which is rather small. And, in doing so, I found the problem. A super, tiny wire on the video board had broken free. Don’t know if it was that way, or if I bumped it, as the wire is really small and fragile looking. However, when I used a small screwdriver to cause this little wire to make contact, I got a picture!!! Only problem now, is how do I solder that darn small wire on without hurting the video board. I’m a tad afraid of frying something. Guess it is time to get a new soldering iron. I have one, but it isn’t for this small kind of wire. Hopefully I’ll get this bugger fixed on Saturday!

Fingers crossed!!! And I’m glad it wasn’t an issue with the board overall, as I’ve been impressed with 8bitdomain.com’s upgrades so far!