[MOD] Atari VCS/2600 - Add PAUSE To Any Game

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  • Опубліковано 24 чер 2024
  • You don't have to "hold it" anymore! I'll show you how to add a pause mod to your Atari 2600, so you can finally take that much needed break. Thanks to pcbway.com for supporting my channel.
    Be sure to subscribe to my second channel / @retrohackshackafterhours
    Pause Mod and Instructions: vintagegamingandmore.com/prod...
    Chapters:
    00:00 - Intro
    01:08 - A New Woodgrain TV
    04:57 - Disassembly And Mainboard
    06:22 - Installing The Mod
    06:50 - PCBWay Ad
    13:26 - Testing And Switch
    18:12 - Woodgrain Label
    18:48 - Final Thoughts
    Music used by permission:
    “Fakebit World” and "Rise And Shine" by Malmen
    / malmen
    Other music from the UA-cam Audio Library
    Support me on Patreon - / retrohackshack
    Website - retrohackshack.com
    Instagram - / retrohackshack
    Mastodon - mastodon.social/@retrohackshack
    Twitter - / retrohackshack
    Tools I Use - retrohackshack.com/tools/
    T-shirts, Books and more - retrohackshack.com/shop/
    Ebay Store - www.ebay.com/str/retrohackshack
    #Retro #Computers #atari #atari2600
  • Наука та технологія

КОМЕНТАРІ • 51

  • @geekwithsocialskills
    @geekwithsocialskills 9 місяців тому +5

    I'm so happy that you didn't drill a hole in your Heavy Sixer. As a side note, the Color/Black and White switch is actually used in the game Space Shuttle by Activision to control the primary engines. If you don't ever plan on playing the game on this console, you're pause switch mod update is good 🙂

  • @Kikay0n
    @Kikay0n 9 місяців тому +2

    Missed opportunity for the best joke you “ had to replace the power cord and worked out the bug “ 😂

  • @kennymurray3249
    @kennymurray3249 9 місяців тому +1

    I did this with a coleco gemini atari clone back in the 80's... it did not require a circut. the pause was simple to do by adding a switch between two points. its nice to see this in modern times. i was only a child fixing the game when i discovered this.. it was a cool feature to add to the game.

  • @artemius130
    @artemius130 9 місяців тому +2

    it's okay) the insect that flew out of the TV is an ordinary night moth. They always seem big, but in fact they are harmless and do not bite. During the day they live in a dark place and at night they fly to the light.

    • @WilliamHostman
      @WilliamHostman 9 місяців тому +2

      Note that there's an entire genus of Moths that do bite... Calyptra, also colloquially called Vampire Moths. 2 or 3 more maintain mouths as adults but are not blood-seekers. They're dispersed to all major continents except antarctica; I've not seen references to them in Australia, but undoubtedly, they have worse things...

  • @adventurebloc
    @adventurebloc 9 місяців тому +14

    You may want to reconsider the B&W switch pause implementation. There are a few games like Starmaster which require the use of BW for game play elements (eg. map toggle) Is this function preserved?

    • @3vi1J
      @3vi1J 9 місяців тому +6

      Came here to say the same thing. I'd composite mod the system and use the 2/3 channel select as the pause.

    • @RetroHackShack
      @RetroHackShack  9 місяців тому

      Good point. Forgot about Starmaster. Luckily it's easily reversed if/when I want to.

    • @RetroHackShack
      @RetroHackShack  9 місяців тому

      The channel select in this model it inside the case. Not great for pause.

    • @3vi1J
      @3vi1J 9 місяців тому

      @@RetroHackShackAh, must be the '77 model then. I completely forgot they didn't have the channel select on the first sixers. Guess that only leaves two possibilities: Cut the case someplace where it won't show (and maybe used a more stealthy slider for the pause switch), or go nuts and develop a mod you can connect to the joyport lines and trigger with a two button joystick. Hehe.

    • @MrJDNJ
      @MrJDNJ 9 місяців тому +3

      Just run the wires out of the RF hole and put the switch in it's own box (like a wired remote).

  • @BilisNegra
    @BilisNegra 9 місяців тому

    Congrats on such a neater and tidier implementation of the original mod, Aaron. Very satisfying to watch.

  • @thanhmcgriff3387
    @thanhmcgriff3387 9 місяців тому +2

    ❤ the Kessel run t shirt & Star Trek movie poster. Hits me in the nostalgia feels.

  • @RacerX-
    @RacerX- 9 місяців тому +1

    NIce! I have yet to mod my Ataris and I think now is the time for this mod and a composite one. Looking forward to seeing the stereo mod. Thanks!

  • @H8fulTeddyBear
    @H8fulTeddyBear 9 місяців тому +3

    This is a pretty good idea for a mod! wonder if people back in the day attempted too do something similar either way really really neat, also I noticed you sound really confident in your newer videos even on the second channel good job Aaron and keep up the good work!

    • @RetroHackShack
      @RetroHackShack  9 місяців тому +1

      Thanks for that feedback! Always trying to improve.

  • @gregledbetter5942
    @gregledbetter5942 3 місяці тому

    Super Rad your tsr80 video came up suggested. I watched part 1 I watched part 2 and it was going good so I watched this and wow. I'm enjoying your Channel

  • @cdrugly
    @cdrugly 9 місяців тому +1

    Your new friend looks like a hummingbird moth.

  • @deucalion5168
    @deucalion5168 9 місяців тому +1

    This is just so cool! I think I have seen a similar hack with the NES, but it was about adding a turbo/auto-press button to the console.

  • @mopspear
    @mopspear 9 місяців тому +2

    6:44 Pogs are back! In toggle form!

  • @fairlyamused
    @fairlyamused 9 місяців тому +1

    That's a much cleaner mod using the via under the T.I.A. good stuff!

  • @slightlyevolved
    @slightlyevolved 8 місяців тому

    As stated elsewhere, i would not mod the BW/Color switch since there *are* some games that use it for some features.
    In fact, I seem to remember one game actually using it as a pause switch....fittingly enough.

  • @MrJDNJ
    @MrJDNJ 9 місяців тому +1

    Fairly certain that the 8bitsinthebasement channel worked on a 2600 (clone console?) that had a built-in game feature.

    • @RetroHackShack
      @RetroHackShack  9 місяців тому

      Cool. There isn't a ton of info on it compared to the other mods.

  • @WilliamHostman
    @WilliamHostman 9 місяців тому +1

    There are several games which use the color/B&W switch as an in play toggle. Activision's Space Shuttle being the most memorable.

    • @RetroHackShack
      @RetroHackShack  9 місяців тому +3

      Good point. I am going to use this as an excuse to my wife to justify how many 2600s I have. 😁

    • @WilliamHostman
      @WilliamHostman 9 місяців тому

      @@RetroHackShack Just checked, and Activision's Starmaster also uses the C/B&W. It's the map toggle.
      Note that Star Raiders, which is almost identical to Starmaster in play, uses the numeric pad, rather than the B&W switch. Have both, prefer Starmaster.
      Played the hell out of Space Shuttle. (Last time I played was 2015... haven't been able to access my Adam since then.

    • @IvoryTowerCollections
      @IvoryTowerCollections 9 місяців тому

      This is true, but in the case of Space Shuttle, you can also use the player 1 difficult switch to activate the emergency OHMs burn rockets. That is how I used to play the game on my 7800 back in the day. For Starmaster, I believe if you have a controller plugged into the second port, you can use the fire button on it to also bring up the galactic chart screen? It has been awhile but I'm pretty sure that is possible. It is almost like Activision could predict the future and programmed around this.

  • @jetpak12
    @jetpak12 9 місяців тому +2

    Or you can be like me and be a terrible Atari player who dies quickly enough to not need this functionality. ;)
    I wonder, though, if it would be possible to route the pause button to the controller? I know there is a mod for the SMS to do that. It would require modification of a controller, probably add complexity to the mod, and would require the modded controller to use. So maybe not worth it, but at least controllers are more readily available and could be cut up with somewhat less concern.
    Also, apparently the 7800 pause button serves as the BW switch for 2600 games, so interesting coincidence with your switch choice!

  • @bonemar66
    @bonemar66 9 місяців тому +1

    Perhaps a discreet 3mm hole for the new feature's switch wouldn't have been so bad after all?

  • @dr.frankenstein5421
    @dr.frankenstein5421 2 місяці тому

    Games that uses the Color/B&W switch for game functionality?
    Here's a list of the games:

    Beany Bopper (pause function)
    Bump 'n' Jump (background music on/off)
    Cosmic Ark [later version] (disables 'background stars' effect)
    Fast Eddie (pause function)
    Ghost Manor (selects protagonist's gender)
    Journey Escape (turn star field effect on/off)
    Off the Wall (pause function)
    Phasor Patrol (turn shields on/off)
    Quest for Quintana Roo (pause function)
    Riddle of the Sphinx (various functions)
    Seawolf (??)
    Secret Quest (turn status screen on/off)
    Snoopy (pause function)
    Space Shuttle (primary thrusters, but difficulty switch performs same functionality)
    Starmaster (Galactic Chart on/off, but either difficulty switch will perform the same functionality)
    Super Cobra (pause function)
    Turmoil (pause function)

  • @CallousCoder
    @CallousCoder 9 місяців тому

    Just put a switch in between the clock signals to the 6502 either with a pull down or inline. No clock no update of state :D

  • @Plarndude
    @Plarndude 9 місяців тому +5

    I had an NES, and all my games had Pause ability. But Dad would just walk into the room and turn the NES OFF!!!!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

    • @RetroHackShack
      @RetroHackShack  9 місяців тому +2

      Ouch! I think my parents did that a few times too.

  • @ryanzmuda3167
    @ryanzmuda3167 9 місяців тому +1

    Very nice. How about a save game mod

    • @RetroHackShack
      @RetroHackShack  9 місяців тому +2

      That seems doable actually. Kind of just save the state.

  • @50shadesofbeige88
    @50shadesofbeige88 9 місяців тому +2

    I called Atari Super Service but they just wanted to sell me a time share on a cruise line.

  • @bountyhunter4885
    @bountyhunter4885 9 місяців тому +2

    Ah yes, a Mod Moth.

    • @RetroHackShack
      @RetroHackShack  9 місяців тому +1

      Mod Moth-ma?

    • @bountyhunter4885
      @bountyhunter4885 9 місяців тому +2

      @@RetroHackShack 😁... Nice find on that CRT set. When I think of so many of those sets, often still in good shape, tossed out all because of flat screens available, it's kinda sad and now they want them back because of the better gaming refresh rate Lol.
      Great video / mod. Thanks for sharing. ✌️

    • @RetroHackShack
      @RetroHackShack  9 місяців тому +1

      Thanks. There are so many that just go to scrap.

  • @squelchtone
    @squelchtone 9 місяців тому +1

    This mod would work well on a 4 switch VCS. You would just need to pilfer a power switch or TV type switch from another VCS or find a switch on fleabay and then Dremel an oval hole for the Pause switch to the right of the Game Select switch or the left of the Power switch. You could then stencil Game Pause above the switch with the pause icon || to the right of the switch to make it look stock.

    • @RetroHackShack
      @RetroHackShack  9 місяців тому +1

      Yeah. I thought about showing that. It's nice because there is that extra space on either side.

    • @jwhite5008
      @jwhite5008 9 місяців тому +1

      I think if you can find an (on)-off-on switch that fits you can dual-purpose game select switch