https://www.passingit.com/retro/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:23:06 +0000 MyBB https://www.passingit.com/retro/showthread.php?tid=88 Sun, 23 Aug 2026 21:13:17 +0100 Mark]]> https://www.passingit.com/retro/showthread.php?tid=88
I wanted to purchase a multi cart solution and this is where the architecture of the 7800 becomes interesting. To make the 7800 console backward compatible with the 2600 a TIA chip as used in a 2600 has been used to provide that compatibility but sadly, also limites the the sound for 7800 games to the 2600 sound. The idea Atari had was games that wanted enhanced sound could add a Pokey chip to the game cartridge but this of course comes at a cost for the games developer and only 2 original games (as far as I can find) included a Pokey onboard 
in the game cart - Ballblazer and Commando. A few homebrew games have since used Pokey or Hokey chips to unlock enhanced sound. Hokey is a modern replacement for the Pokey that is no longer being manufactured. 

List of sound chips - Wikipedia

I managed to find a Concerto Plus cartridge that has a Hokey onboard and seems to provide a wealth of other enhancements. Ordered and is on its way from the US to the UK. Let's see how quick that will be but could find any locally.

Concerto - 8BitDev.org - Atari 7800 Development Wiki

I'll report back once I've managed to get this all together.

Mark]]>
I wanted to purchase a multi cart solution and this is where the architecture of the 7800 becomes interesting. To make the 7800 console backward compatible with the 2600 a TIA chip as used in a 2600 has been used to provide that compatibility but sadly, also limites the the sound for 7800 games to the 2600 sound. The idea Atari had was games that wanted enhanced sound could add a Pokey chip to the game cartridge but this of course comes at a cost for the games developer and only 2 original games (as far as I can find) included a Pokey onboard 
in the game cart - Ballblazer and Commando. A few homebrew games have since used Pokey or Hokey chips to unlock enhanced sound. Hokey is a modern replacement for the Pokey that is no longer being manufactured. 

List of sound chips - Wikipedia

I managed to find a Concerto Plus cartridge that has a Hokey onboard and seems to provide a wealth of other enhancements. Ordered and is on its way from the US to the UK. Let's see how quick that will be but could find any locally.

Concerto - 8BitDev.org - Atari 7800 Development Wiki

I'll report back once I've managed to get this all together.

Mark]]> https://www.passingit.com/retro/showthread.php?tid=87 Sat, 22 Aug 2026 21:23:09 +0100 Mark]]> https://www.passingit.com/retro/showthread.php?tid=87 After a few hours researching a slipping down a few rabbit holes I found a composite video mod kit on TFW8b.com >  8bit Deluxe Composite Video Mod Kit

Looks a clean mod and will be able to put the 3.5m jack where the RF cable would normally go. 

Will post my progress once I get my hands on it.

Cheers
Mark]]> After a few hours researching a slipping down a few rabbit holes I found a composite video mod kit on TFW8b.com >  8bit Deluxe Composite Video Mod Kit

Looks a clean mod and will be able to put the 3.5m jack where the RF cable would normally go. 

Will post my progress once I get my hands on it.

Cheers
Mark]]> https://www.passingit.com/retro/showthread.php?tid=86 Sat, 22 Aug 2026 14:06:11 +0100 Mark]]> https://www.passingit.com/retro/showthread.php?tid=86
Over the coming weeks I will be modifying the console to allow me to use on a modern TV, look at what repairs, if any are needed and look for a multi cart that addresses the pokey challenges of a couple of cart having pokey chips installed.

I haven't decided if I should video the progress or just document with some photos, let me know what you'd like to see?

Cheers
Mark


  ebay2.jpg (Size: 441.83 KB / Downloads: 1) ]]>
Over the coming weeks I will be modifying the console to allow me to use on a modern TV, look at what repairs, if any are needed and look for a multi cart that addresses the pokey challenges of a couple of cart having pokey chips installed.

I haven't decided if I should video the progress or just document with some photos, let me know what you'd like to see?

Cheers
Mark


  ebay2.jpg (Size: 441.83 KB / Downloads: 1) ]]>