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Atari's newest dedicated video game system: Flashback 2.0

Agent X

Agent X

Member
Atari released the Flashback dedicated (self-contained, plug-and-play) video game system a few months ago. It had 15 Atari 2600 games and 5 Atari 7800 games in a system that resembled a smaller version of the Atari 7800, with controllers that were like miniature replicas of the 7800 Pro-Line joysticks. Unfortunately, Atari couldn't prepare a true "7800-on-a-chip" in time to make the planned launch, so they instead switched to "NES-on-a-chip" hardware and scrambled to port the 2600/7800 games to NES-like hardware.

The machine sold fairly well (mostly to casual gamers wanting to relive a little nostalgia), many Atari enthusiasts were disappointed with the resulting games, which generally looked and played inferior to the originals. Atari had hinted that if the Flashback sold well, more retro hardware projects would follow...and apparently the sales were strong enough to warrant a successor.

So, Atari went back to the drawing board, and this time are using a true "2600-on-a-chip" solution--that means no 7800 games this time around. Since it's based strictly on the 2600, the new console will now resemble the early (1977-1983) versions of the 2600, complete with faux woodgrain. The controllers are now modeled after the original 2600 joystick design, almost identical to the original in size and appearance. Pack 40 games into a ROM chip residing inside of this console, and what do you have? Flashback 2.0!

flashback_unit.jpg


Yes, there are 40 games this time, and they're not conversions, but rather the actual Atari 2600 programs! Many are classic favorites from Atari, but there are also a few unreleased prototypes, a couple of Activision games, a few homebrew games, and even some newly-created conversions of classic Atari arcade games. Here's the list (taken from this thread on AtariAge) to get you excited:

Atari Originals:
3D Tic-Tac-Toe
Adventure
Centipede
Combat
Dodge'em
Fatal Run
Frog Pond
Hangman
Haunted House
Human Cannonball
Maze Craze
Millipede
Missile Command
Off the Wall
Outlaw
Quadrun
Radar Lock
Secret Quest
Space War
Video Checkers
Video Chess
Yars' Revenge

Activision Originals:
Pitfall
River Raid

Atari Prototypes:
Aquaventure
Combat 2
Saboteur
Save Mary
Wizard

Brand new Games:
Arcade Pong
Caverns Of Mars
Lunar Lander
Yars' Return

Homebrews:
Thrust
Atari Climber

Hacks:
Adventure II
Arcade Asteroids
Asteroids Deluxe
Return To Haunted House
Space Duel

Want to be tempted even more? Here's a screen from the newly-developed Pong:

Arcade_Pong-screenshot.gif


Although the 2600 previously had a version of Pong as part of the Video Olympics cartridge, it should be obvious to longtime Atari fans that this is not Video Olympics (or a portion of it), but a completely new conversion. Joe Decuir (one of the original Atari 2600 hardware designers, who also programmed Video Olympics) was consulted on this Pong conversion. He apparently even wanted to do the new Pong himself, but due to his scheduling could not commit to the project, but has seen this game running.

This really has the makings of a winner, and looks to be right up there with the Commodore 64 Direct-to-TV as one of the most promising of the new generation of self-contained video game machines. Like the C64DTV, this unit was designed internally to be "hackable." People with the proper skills can solder a cartridge slot onto the Flashback 2.0 in order to play standard Atari 2600 cartridges.

The Flashback 2.0 is being demonstrated at E3 now, and should be released in July!
 
I still see around 50+ of the old Flashbacks at Best Buy.

They still want like 30 bucks for the thing. They can't move them.

Would maybe get one for 5 bucks but thats about it.
 
Wow, actual 2600 programs... that's the way to do it! Are they talking price yet? I'd like to check out the prototypes, homebrews and new games. Too bad the Homestar Runner RPG isn't done... It woud be great to have that on there, too.
 
I recently bought an Atari Flashback and I must say I'm quite disappointed with it. The biggest problem in enjoying it is the awful controller. I've never owned an Atari 7800 so I have no idea how accurate it is (besides being smaller), but it seems to only be able to handle 4-way movement....which sucks ass for games such as Yar's Revenge. Sure you can move the stick diagonally so it hits the contacts of 2 directions, but in reality it's very unresponsive.

Here's a review that's imo not scathing enough.
http://www.classicgaming.com/features/articles/reviews/holiday04/atariflashback/

Skip this and get the real thing or Activision Anthology for the various consoles.
 
Keyser Soze said:
Arcade_Pong-screenshot.gif


There Is No Way This Shit is Real Man!!!
Click to expand...


I dunno man, look at the jaggies in the 'O' and the other curved letters.... :\

And that ball screams Enter the Matrix wheels.
 
Pity it's not the 5200 or 7800. 2600 may have been popular, but the games were not that good, especially compared to the arcade versions of the time.
 
Agent X said:
This really has the makings of a winner
Click to expand...

How do you figure? This sounds like the same thing as last time only with more games. Still no cartridge slot. Still a palty number of games compared to what they could have. The retro collections on the consoles are infintely more impressive.
 
Ignatz Mouse said:
Pity it's not the 5200 or 7800. 2600 may have been popular, but the games were not that good, especially compared to the arcade versions of the time.
Click to expand...
Yeah, they're going to try to make a modern version of the 5200 controller :lol

What did the 7800 have that was any good and not an arcade port, besides that Broderbund first-person car soccer game?

Yar's Revenge alone is better than any 5200 or 7800 game I own, excluding arcade ports.
 
I picked up Atari Anniversary collection (console title) a few weeks ago for $9.99CDN used. Beats the pants off of the stand alone unit.

18 Atari Arcade games

67(!) Atari 2600 games.

Tons of bonuses too.
 
Nikashi said:
I picked up Atari Anniversary collection (console title) a few weeks ago for $9.99CDN used. Beats the pants off of the stand alone unit.
Click to expand...
Hell yeah. I was hoping the Atari Collection that first appeared on the release list for the DS would be that. If the PSP version isn't the 80 game collection I'm going to be very, very sad.
 
Ignatz Mouse said:
Pity it's not the 5200 or 7800. 2600 may have been popular, but the games were not that good, especially compared to the arcade versions of the time.
Click to expand...

I agree that the 5200 and 7800 generally had much better (or at least "more accurate") arcade conversions than the 2600 did, but a lot of 2600 conversions had their own charm, particularly when they tried to add extra features not found in the arcade game or other home versions. The 2600 had some good original games, too.

VALIS said:
How do you figure? This sounds like the same thing as last time only with more games.
Click to expand...

Read what I wrote earlier. This is almost nothing like what they did last time. The original Flashback had recreations of the original games (the majority of which were shoddy and inferior to the originals), while the games on the Flashback 2.0 are "the real deal."

VALIS said:
Still no cartridge slot.
Click to expand...

It's not supposed to have one. It's supposed to be a self-contained plug-and-play console where you hook it up to the TV, power it up, pick a game from the menu, and start playing.

From what I have heard, Atari didn't want to put a cartridge slot on the unit, because they didn't want their support people fielding questions on where to buy new cartridges and why their local Best Buy and Target isn't stocking them, or why some dusty cartridge they happened to find in a thrift store doesn't work with their new unit.

But, for those who must find some way of plugging in a cartridge, the creators deliberately designed it so that someone with the know-how could modify it and add a cartridge slot...of course, this is not officially supported, so you're on your own if you screw up your machine.

VALIS said:
Still a palty number of games compared to what they could have.
Click to expand...

True, but this also applies to most of the modern-day dedicated consoles. But, in relation to the others, this is a darn good value...40 games (including some completely new developments) for $30, with two joysticks so two people can play. Most others are $15-$25, have only 5-10 games (some have only 1), and most can only be played by one player.

VALIS said:
The retro collections on the consoles are infintely more impressive.
Click to expand...

The retro collections are nice, and I tend to buy a lot of them myself...but I'm looking forward to getting this, too. It'll be a great collectible for Atari fans. It'll be great to hook up when you have casual gaming friends over and want some easy-to-understand "pick up and play" games. It'll also be great to try some of the new homebrews and newly created classic arcade conversions.
 
Agent X said:
(Joe Decuir) apparently even wanted to do the new Pong himself, but due to his scheduling could not commit to the project, but has seen this game running.
Click to expand...

What, did he have a hair appointment that afternoon? How long would it take a halfway competent programmer to code up pong? 15 minutes? 20?
 
....i see some jaggies and lighting seems to be off, i think i can judge this footage real-time, although with that said...it's still on alpha kits so, it's running on 20-30% capacity. On a side note...the pads are just concepts..not final, we're just playing around with ideas right now...

DCX
 
Squirrel Killer said:
What, did he have a hair appointment that afternoon? How long would it take a halfway competent programmer to code up pong? 15 minutes? 20?
Click to expand...
To code up an accurate "arcade" version of Pong on Stella, after your 6502 skills have atrophied and you've begun to forget that awful video setup?

I'd find a hair appointment too :P
 
VALIS said:
How do you figure? This sounds like the same thing as last time only with more games. Still no cartridge slot. Still a palty number of games compared to what they could have. The retro collections on the consoles are infintely more impressive.
Click to expand...
The last model included not so accurate ports. The new model is an Atari 2600 with 100% accurate games.

As for the console collections, the joystick games were perfect, but paddle and alternative-controller games were ruined due to having no equivalents on current game controllers. Not to mention the selection of games, while large, was arbitrary. (Does anyone care about Atari 2600 games released in 1988?)

The vector-based arcade games fared even worse. Whoever's decision it was to shrink the graphics, especially to such miniscule sizes, needs to be fired.
 
SKOPE said:
The vector-based arcade games fared even worse. Whoever's decision it was to shrink the graphics, especially to such miniscule sizes, needs to be fired.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about Atari Anthology on PlayStation 2 and X-Box? If so, then seeing the graphics on most of the games (not just the vector games) shrunk down to a smaller size irked the heck out of me...that is, until I learned that you can change the screen size. While you're playing the game, pause it, and you should be able to resize the screen image from there.

I agree that it was a strange decision, but apparently the designers wanted to ensure that you'd be able to play the games on any TV set, including older sets that might have problems with the edges of the picture. While I admire such thoughtfulness, I would've preferred that they started off mid to large size (default resolution for the raster games, and just a good large screen size for the vector games), and then allowed the person to shrink the screen image down from there if necessary.

The selection of 2600 games was generally pretty good, considering they couldn't use any third-party or licensed games. There were some pretty major omissions, like Indy 500, Basketball, Solaris, and Secret Quest. For arcade games, I was surprised at the absence of Food Fight, which was probably more popular than half the games they did include (and had an excellent 7800 conversion, too).

Secret Quest is on Flashback 2.0, which is a very cool game. I'm surprised there's no sign of Solaris, which is considered one of the 2600's deepest and most graphically impressive games, rivaling even fairly decent NES games of that period.
 
I find that *only* the 2600 originals are decent to play. Thats why I would rather have had the 7800 or 5200 versions (with fixed controls, thanks) than the 2600 games. I'm all about the arcade games of the time.
 
Only 40 games? Ugh, I have a disc for my modded PSX with an NES emulator and virtually every NES game ever made (including tons of those hilarious hacked ROMs and some translated versions of games that never made it to the US, like FF2 and 3 and the Ys games). They should basically try to put every single Atari 2600 game on this that they can get their hands on. Most of types of games are fun until the novelty value wears off after 15 minutes and you`re left with stupid, old games.
 
I don't get the griping about the lack of a cartridge slot. If you want to play your old Atari carts, why don't you go out and get a 2600 or 7800? They're readily available and cheap (and durable, I've never had any real problems with Atari console hardware). As for reprogramming Pong in 15 minutes: programming the 2600 was a lot more involved than you think :).

I'd like to see a 5200/8-bit dedicated game system combining games from both the 5200 and 8-bit home computer libraries. To me that was the pinnacle of early 80s arcade gaming at home. Excellent graphics and sound (I love the distinctive POKEY chip sound) and a ton of great ports and original games. Although licensing issues would probably preclude many of the great games from appearing.
 
Arcade_Pong-screenshot.gif

Wow. It looks so clean and pure (hold the Clean and Pure jokes). We've come a long way with graphics capabilities, and things have gotten very visually cluttered. A lot of this is necessary, like numerous enemies on-screen, though a lot of it isn't always as necessary, like the lens flare, weapons trails, and hit marks/sparks/lighting. i'd love to see a current gen game that was intentionally minimalistic, moreso than Killer 7 even. i'd also like to see one that was intentionally minimalistic, and good.
 
PC Gaijin said:
I don't get the griping about the lack of a cartridge slot. If you want to play your old Atari carts, why don't you go out and get a 2600 or 7800?
Click to expand...

I do have a 2600, a 7800 and so on but I want the easy composite video hookup of these retro consoles instead of the coax/switch box deal on the originals. I really regret not buying the Colecovision DYNA when Telegames still made 'em up to a few years ago.
 
The Flashback 2 (without the ".0" in the name now) system is in production, and should be arriving in stores in just a few weeks. Meanwhile, a few lucky people in the classic gaming community have gotten units in advance to review.

Click here to read a review of the Flashback 2. While you're at it, click here to see photos of the games, which include several of the newly developed games such as Asteroids Deluxe, Space Duel, Lunar Lander, Caverns of Mars, Yars' Return, Return to Haunted House, and Adventure II!
 
Damn the list is missing my killer favorites like Pitfall 2,Vanguard,Phoenix,and Moon Patrol.

Hell I'd buy this release if they just had PitFall 2 on the list-I remember the game set new
standards for 2600 graphics in its day. And compared to the first PitFall this one was alot more meatier with much larger areas to play through. I loved the underground and swimming sections in the sequel. Plus the scorpion and vultures were hella tough to manuver around,I hated it when a new screen refreshed and there they were ready to mess with you.:lol
 
Agent X said:
The Flashback 2 (without the ".0" in the name now) system is in production, and should be arriving in stores in just a few weeks. Meanwhile, a few lucky people in the classic gaming community have gotten units in advance to review.

Click here to read a review of the Flashback 2. While you're at it, click here to see photos of the games, which include several of the newly developed games such as Asteroids Deluxe, Space Duel, Lunar Lander, Caverns of Mars, Yars' Return, Return to Haunted House, and Adventure II!
Click to expand...


I may have to take the plunge and buy this. I thought the first Flashback was a cool idea, but the reviews scared me off.

Does anyone know if this one keeps track of high scores? Probably notm but if it did that would be cool.
 
I sincerely apologize for bumping an old thread but since one was made already covering this system I felt it silly to create my own. Anyways I thought I should share a review I wrote for those of you who are still on the fence or have forgotten that it was recently released, which I sadly did.



atari-flashback-2a-fdasdfs-20050712094337476.jpg


If you were to glance at the picture above and guess that the Atari Flashback 2 looks like a shrunken and improved Atari 2600 you'd be correct. This recently released system is an accurate remake of the hardware done with a one-chip solution hence the smaller form factor. Although not an engineering marvel by today's standards, among the TV Games releases (where hardware is emulated with sketchy results) it's a godsend. Thankfully they've extended the same dedication to the original CX-40 joysticks, which now control like a dream with stiffer response and durability. Now Atari fans needn't depend on aging hardware and controllers as they now have a cheap and improved alternative to play their old favorites.

To go with this release Atari included 40 games, which range from the excellent Battlezone to the dreary 3D Tic-Tac-Toe but overall it’s a great compilation. As an added plus they've licensed Pitfall! and River Raid from Activision, and included homebrew favorites Atari Climber and Return to Haunted House. The games cover four categories; Adventure Territory, Arcade Favorites, Space Station, and Skill and Action Zone. Some categories contain more titles then others (like the heavily stacked Skill and Action Zone) but each features a sizeable amount to whet your appetite. Many of these games also include two player modes but you'll have to go by memory to remember or read the manual to determine which title features it. A word of caution to those of us with fuzzy memories of the halcyon days; these are the original games so expect to see some flickering and video distortion. Purists wouldn't have it any other way.

For the retro fan this is a fantastic piece of hardware that I highly recommend. Albeit a bit pricey at $30, in comparison it's only a bit more than you would pay for a console-released compilation pack. As with the previous Atari Flashback and other similar TV Games releases, the box includes everything required to play with no batteries required. The extra touches such as controllers that can be used on the original systems and designing the hardware for easy modification Atari has definitely gone the extra mile for the fans. Hopefully other companies will take notice and provide the same respect for their fans instead of aiming to make a quick buck, well done Atari.
BUY IT!

Games:
ADVENTURE TERRITORY
Adventure
Adventure II
Haunted House
Return to Haunted House
Secret Quest
Wizard (1 or 2 players)

ARCADE FAVORITES
Arcade Asteroids (1 or 2 players)
Arcade Pong (1 or 2 players)
Asteroids Deluxe (1 or 2 players)
Battlezone
Centipede (1 or 2 players)
Lunar Lander
Millipede (Atari version)
Missile Command (1 or 2 players)
Space Duel (1 or 2 players)

SPACE STATION
Caverns of Mars (1 or 2 players)
Quadrun (has no voice)
Saboteur
Space War (1 or 2 players)
Yar's Revenge (1 or 2 players)
Yars Return (1 or 2 players)

SKILL AND ACTION ZONE
3D Tic-Tac-Toe (1 or 2 players)
Aquaventure
Atari Climber
Combat (2 players)
Combat 2 (2 players)
Dodge'em (1 or 2 players)
Fatal Run (1 or 2 players)
Frog Pong (1 or 2 players)
Hangman (1 or 2 players)
Human Cannonball (1 or 2 players)
Maze Craze (1 or 2 players)
Off The Wall (1 or 2 players)
Outlaw (1 or 2 players)
Pitfall!
Radar Lock (1 or 2 players)
River Raid (1 or 2 players)
Save Mary
Video Checkers
Video Chess


Official Website:
http://www.atari.com/us/games/atari_flashback2/7800

Online Manual:
http://www.atari.com/us/images/games/FBK2/manual/main.htm

Cartridge Mod Hack:
http://www.atarimuseum.com/fb2hacks/index.htm

AtariAge Dedicated Hardware Forum:
http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showforum=19
 
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