9 year anniversary of the original VCSp
Hard to believe it’s been so long… 9 years ago this month I completed my first portable gaming project, the Atari 2600 VCSp.
It was an age before decent digital cameras…
You can read the original story by clicking here. I found some photos of the unit that I don’t believe have been on the site before, you can check them out below.
In other news, I plan to do some site changes to include an easy-to-browse gallery of all my work, more downloadable data and other things. Stay tuned!
A photo describing how the battery door opens. Very informative.
A close-up of the D-pad. It’s from a NES controller, along with the other buttons, and there’s an Atari joystick “ring” graphic around it.
I still use the original ring graphic in new Atari projects, it has never been redrawn in 9 years. Also original is the script “Portable” font. Most of my “favorite” parts drawings were all redone in 2004 during the book writing.
Power switch and screen. The woodgrain is actually real, with a gloss overcoat.
And the famous 9 volt battery. I still tell people now I’m not very good at electronics, but back then I was TERRIBLE :)
Unit from rear. My screw placement wasn’t so hot back then. I think they were size 6 screws, and not even Phillips!
This photo has some good detail for such a crummy image! Back then, I used the still frame feature of my old Sony Digital 8 camera (used to film Lizard of Death) and dumped the 640×480 shots to computer via a serial cable. Old school serial.
I still have that camera and it still works, even after being duct-taped to a jet ski, hit with a trash can lid, roped under a truck and bashed up in luggage on many trips (it gets new scratches every time it flies in checked baggage). Go Sony!
You could plug in an Atari power supply to run the Atari part only - the batteries still power the screen. Sigh.
Hope you’ve all enjoyed this trip down memory lane!
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April 14th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Wow, Has it been that long.
Any chance we can have a Modern Video of this classic in action?
April 14th, 2009 at 11:16 am
congratz Ben, 9 years of doing what you love is better then anything
April 14th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Ben… without talking numbers, are you living a more comfortable life today as you would had you stayed in the graphics design industry?
I’m not trying to be sardonic, or insulting… I’m just curious.
And feel entirely free to include “not having a 9-5 job” in the “more comfortable” bracket.
Just curious. This is really none of my business, so if you’d rather not answer… please… don’t answer.
April 14th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I miss the alt text in your old articles.
April 14th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I love it. It’s what inspired me to start making portables. (and the L64)
April 15th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Awsome trip down memory lane Ben.
Now how about a new podcast :)
April 16th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Interesting that you post this - just today I went through all my YouTube videos of my portables and was reflecting on how far I’ve come in my understanding of electronics and case design.
I want to thank you for writing your book and having the forums on this site - I’ve learned so much from them!
April 17th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Okay. I totally understand things have been busy in the Ben Heck world… but it’s been a month and a half.
Podcast?
April 20th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I always enjoy looking at how your first portable wipes the floor with some forum member’s 4th or 5th :P
May 11th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Blogroll links aint that great :P might be worth changing them? :P