Ramblings (Underdog Chamber)

It is early in the morning today, but I pulled out and quickly tested the old Bally/Astrocade game console, with its past updated S-Video output. Working like a champ, I must say. as I expected it to. The Incredible Wizard never looked so good! Thus, this system is in the show, taking the place of the Apple //e (which will hopefully make its own appearance next year). The old Bally will be running the Wizard, plus a bunch of other fun games for this system, as I have the entire library (or most of it) at hand.

Next at hand is trying to quickly video MOD the Timex/Sinclair equipment, which I hope works better than the Odyssey2 upgrade I tried. If this work, they will be on display with Apple // and /// monitors. If the upgrade doesn’t work well, then only one unit (the 1500) will be on display with an old SR3000 TV set (not sure who made this brand of TV).

I also plan on putting a Mac SE in the show too, but this is pending getting the game(s) onto it.

Off to get some Zzzzzz’s.

Bally (Astrocade)

Yup, I’ve got two systems ready to go for the UC ’09 display.

First off, there is the Apple //gs, one of my favorite old computers (I actually have one on a desk playable any time of the year). This one comes with a nice SCSI card and hard drive, with a nice selection of games on it. Some of the games will be //gs specific, such as Out Of This World and Arkanoid II, to The Immortal and Rastan. //e games will also be running on the //gs, from Crisis Mountain and Dino Eggs to Sabatage and more. Time permitting, I’d like to just run some graphic and sound demos too (which I may setup on a 2nd //gs – depending on time and display space at the show). I’ve got a nice set of speakers that would kick butt for this purpose too, but they may be used for something else.

The other system that is ready to go is the good old Odyssey2. Yes, my favorite game system of old from the late 70′s/early 80′s, just because! For those not too familiar with it, it was around when the 2600 was doing rather well. It didn’t compete all that well with the other systems of that time, but it still did well enough for itself (and much better in Europe and Brazil). Such games as Attack of the Time Lord, Killer Bees, Pick Axe Pete and many more will be on display. I also plan on showing off many of the homebrew games for the Odyssey2 released recently (and a bit back as well). Stop by and take a look at a system that many folks have never seen, but is rather fun in its own unique way.

On a side note, the 2nd attempt to upgrade the video on the Odyssey2 failed, thus this system will be running on a TV using the RF connection. Hopefully some day I’ll get this thing updated with a better video output. (Sorry to those O2 fans out there waiting for me to finally try this upgrade. I’m bummed out that it didn’t work, but I have not given up yet).

Now I’m off to do my taxes (weeeee), and other things as well.

Apple //gs – Odyssey2

It is a bit early today, but after some thought, I’m pulling the Apple //e out of the UC ’09 display. I’m not 100% sure what will take its place, but I just don’t have the time to work out keeping it in the show. Hopefully it’ll be ready for the ’10 show (after I get some time to work on things during the Summer and Fall of ’09).

Other than that, I’ve got homework I’m still working on, and other things as well. I don’t expect any major update here until possibly Thursday or Friday, in regards to getting final systems ready to go. Then I get to switch to the paperwork, signs, and other secondary but still important things.

Got lots of school work to do for a few days. While thinking about things lately though, I’m very close to making some last minute swaps. I wanted the //e in the show, but the system I was going to use to run the games on it has failed (not sure if it is truly dead, but it will take too much time now to try to fix it). I want to get a few video MODs in too, but with time running short, I’m inches away from pulling out of those too. In that case, the Sinclair stuff would just be on one TV set (not two monitors), and the Odyssey2 would be on a regular RF TV set again (not one with a clearer picture).

I’ve got to get realistic here as time runs out. I’m still going to make an attempt at some of these things, but there is a good possibility of some last minute swap(s).

Of to get some homework done.

It is getting into the final stretch here, and I’ll admit that I’m running into problems. IIe game testing did not go well today, and the video upgrade on the T/S 1500 ran into a snag. At this point in time, I’m seriously thinking of doing some last minute swaps before the show. I’ll make these announcements soon, I hope, all depending on what I can get done (I’m short on time). It does look like the //e will get yanked, as much as I hate to do so. If I do, most of the games for that system will be running on my //gs then. Simple as that.

I decided today to get another system ready for the show that I knew would not take a long to to prepare. I dug out the old 110 to 220V convertor, plus the PAL to NTSC convertor as well. Snagged some cables, and the current TV I’ve been using, and plugged everything in. And, as I would expect, it all worked just fine (minus having the video and sound cables mixed up on the first try).

Note that this is the special G7400 that my friend René MOD’d for me a few years ago. Built in Voice and video modification as well (so it’ll work with my PAL to NTSC convertor).

I’m going to be doing a bit more testing with the G7400, in regards to games that I can load onto it with the RAMcart. Beyond that though, the system is ready for the show.

One more system ready, and a few more to go. I’m still wondering about creating some Apple //e games, as I’ve found stuff on the Internet that goes against what I found a few weeks ago. Ah. Worse comes to worse, and I use the games I already have.

That is it for now. Another busy day (as are most). I’ll hopefully be working on that T/S 1500 after midnight tonight. Later folks…

Oh, and it is the first day of March! Spring is less than three weeks away (as is the MGC show)!

Philips G7400 (with convertors)