I was able to get the original 2600 paddles to work, I used the left controller to select Super Breakout under paddle games and removed the controller then plugged the paddles into the left port and they worked. I did update the firmware to the latest version and I only have the X version not the deluxe.
I want one that looks like this but with SD card. And with a 6th switch, even if it's non-functional! Looks weird with 5 instead of 4 or 6 switches. I will buy if they fix those two things in a gold or XI. Get with the program, AtGames!
I think the Flashback train stops here. Because now it seems we’re moving backwards. It seems like everything they’re capable of has been done. And it’s been a neat ride and fun to collect. But I’m not sure how this one will sell...
Why do you want them to all of a sudden get with the program? They never have before, and this is the best design yet! However, I do agree with you. That sixth nonfunctional switch should have been a no-brainer. Then again, I always thought that they should have designed this right from their very first model. AtGames was ahead of the curve on the mini console war but have dropped the ball at every opportunity.
I’m trying to collect em all even though there’s no real point to it lol. But I enjoy farting around with plug n plays. The 4 came with some really nice posters & stuff. Super Cobra 🐍 is really fun! Hadn’t seen it for a minute. It’s a good looking and playable game and there were many on the VCS that weren’t.
I love your review style and how you approach every single one of these units with an open mind, and give them a thorough evaluation. It's a shame this seems to be a less functional iteration of the series, since I do think it looks great. Do you ever open these units up? I wonder how it differs from the other internally... any chance the board has an SD card slot or a way to interface with the software even though there's no way to access it via the case?
Thanks EC! And on opening these up, GenX Jon said the same thing! I may have to do a teardown vid and see. Y’all may be onto something. There’s probably some way to mod this thing. May be above my pay grade but we’ll see!
My paddles are cherry 🍒. So it can’t be those and if it was the input, the controller wouldn’t work at all. The paddle responds like it’s on crack. It recognizes it but it’s unusable. I’m gonna research the situation further.
Glad I got the 9 gold with the sd slot now. Trumps the few added games to this set. As an original gamer, I am a bit nostalgic for the console flashback design and the plug-in controllers, but maybe a future setup will combine the best of both.
These really need a cart slot. I do like the wired controllers because I can use them in my other real Atari systems as back-ups. Strategy X is a cool title to have on the system.
Now I know 9 deluxe is better. I just went to the firmware portal at ATGames firmware portal page and downloaded the instructions to do so. The unit has to be taken apart, several steps have to be followed using several download files to make it happen. You also need an OTG Adapter for the job which you have to find and the last thing the instructions say is the following "If all goes well, you should be able to upgrade your Atari Flashback X console via USB drive in the future. Enjoy!"
Yeah, I just don’t know that I wanna do all that. The X is a step back from the 9 which calls its very existence into question. I just bought it to look nice with the rest of my minis.
It will definitely kill it for most anyone who modded a 9. There’s just not a step up here aside from cosmetics. I’ve had fun reviewing these and I’m still glad to own it from a collector perspective but I 120% didn’t need this thing
Thanks for this man! I was looking forward to this system until I watched your video... no SD card WTF??? I remember hearing that this might have a USB slot but I guess they dropped that idea. The only thing this has going for it is the throwback design... and its too bad really as they completely missed an opportunity to put an SD card slot where the cartridge would go! :-)
BMC! Yeah the 9 is still the best buy here. And FYI, this X unit also doesn’t jive with my elgato, same way the 9 didn’t. It doesn’t pick up any game sound. So for streaming, it’s less viable than my Flashback 4! Gotta be the emulator. The c64 mini and Retron have similar problems.
Yeah for modding and for a lower price, the 9 is your best bet for sure. There are vids on the 9 on my channel as well for game footage and how to add ROMs.
Exactly. Bob Barker yo. When the price drops, it would be more justifiable. But I wish we weren’t talking that right out of the gate. This thing needed to bake a lil longer.
Good job i agree no HDMI cord either i think they paid more to construct the console i hear it has slide switches like the the VCS so with that said they cut costs on other things to even things out im looking to try out the Real Sports Basketball its an unreleased game from the 80's that they could not get to control properly.
Ah, good eye. Yeah I don’t know if the earlier non gold editions included an HDMI cable. But I didn’t even notice the lack of one here. The switches are just fine but not more important than paddle function and the SD slot. Seems like the wrong things were prioritized here and I’m honestly surprised at that. From comments alone on these videos Ive made, it’s very obvious what a FB10 needed to be. It would’ve been well worth a wait to make sure people could make sense of purchasing one of these.
Wow!! it looks like a real 2600 why did they negate the SD card slot!?! I would have bought it it would be so nice if they make a version exactly like this but allow us to stick SD cards in the cartridge port.
Yeah, I don’t understand it. Now modding this thing requires disassembly, purchase of a Y cable and a whole other rigamaroll. Which seems to me redundant since the 9 model does everything this does and is already modded. So nutty!
Gotta luv it when ppl post questions that you’ve answered in the video they’re (supposedly) watching 😄 The Consoles Design is it’s most appealing attribute. The Box has a nice look too but ehh. Not worth the MSRP to me. Who knows though, I may eventually find one - Later Mur ☝🏿
Yeah, turns out you can mod it with a Y cable and disassembly, then hooking up to a PC and scrambling it’s brains BUT, the 9 model is already modded and obviously easier to do if the toolbox doesn’t need to come out. So this is truly for display only. It didn’t solve the paddle issue and my capture card still detects no sound from it so it’s a lateral move if not a step back.
Emceemur umm, yeah 🤔 I’m good on that Frankenstein hack. So many ways to play Atari Games. Thanks though, Now I know I’ll definitely see one in the wild or on clearance ✌🏿
Yeah, someone will figure out what to do with this thing eventually and that may change the game. Until then, this may be a tough sell to anyone with a loaded 9 or a Retron.
Thank you for the review!!! If anything, I was hoping they would resolve the paddle issue. Even on the older flashback models, there was a lag in the response. I bought the 8 because I loved Kaboom and had fond memories of that game as a youngster. But they are all unplayable on the flashbacks. Someone said that replacing the potentiometers with 10K potentiometers would allow them to work on the 9 (I am assuming the X as well), but I am afraid that they will respond the same way as the previous flashbacks. And I agree, without the SD slot, I think it was a step backwards.
Thank you for watching the review! Share it with a fellow Atari-ite friend. Yeah it’s a lot of different issues here. The paddle issue still exists and while the Pong Blast had a great paddle for itself, Kaboom wasn’t on it! It makes me think the issues simply won’t be resolved.
Initially I didn't like the no SD card feature. That said the cool appearance of this changed my mind, so I got a 110 game regular one, (not deluxe). I gotta say I ❤ it! Hey, I still got my Flashback 9 w/SD card.😉
That’s where I’m at with it. It looks boss with my other minis and while that’s not really worth the price of admission, that also is a matter of opinion. And yes, we have 9’s so it’s all good.
Thanks for making a video. I've been waiting for awhile to see it. Have a FB9 Gold. Only considering because it was a mini. Wish they had Wireless controllers and paddles.
Even if those factors + an SD slot made it $100, at least then it would have more going for it than the 8 & 9. It’s technically not better than its predecessors and I’m not sure why it was even released. Especially when these drop annually!
my theory on the paddles is, they’re just not gonna be compatible with that emulator. The issue is two Flashbacks deep now. So I’m thinking this may be the end of the line as far as what can be done with these.
I picked up one of these today marked down to $20 at my local dollar store because I just couldn't resist. I was torn for weeks between the true to its roots look of this version and the added functionality via SD card slot and wireless controllers of the Flashback 9 Gold...but then I watched a review and tutorial on how to add games via OTG and now I'm friggin stoked I got this one. As of right now it can be done just look up how to add games to Flashback X
$20 is a great deal. I bought the Atari 50 version, but I'm not happy with the gold switches. i do wish these had wireless like the 9 gold had though...
And it’s not an issue that they have an answer for I’m afraid. The Pong Blast with paddle controllers is only $5 at Walmart now, so there’s that. But the X model probably shouldn’t have launched without a fix for this problem. Thanks for watching!
I like the fact that it looks like the original Atari console. One change I would make is to add a real cartridge slot rather than the fake one. I would have also kept the SD slot. I love my flashback 9 because I added hundreds of roms, but I think the current model should offer more. I remember when I bought the flashback 9, I wanted to put roms on it, which is how I found your channel.
Yeah, the Retron 77 had a cartridge slot but had a lot of cartridge compatibility issues. It’s strange to me how all of these gadgets end up with such kooky problems. Seems they’d be easily corrected.
Every time I have seen an Atari Flashback, they were usually placed on end of aisle special displays, up by the registers, or at dollar stores. That gives me the impression that they're more marketed towards spur of the moment impulse buyers, not people who already own one. I don't think the lack of sd card support is going to hurt the impulse buying market. Personally, while I don't care for minis, I do like how this one better replicates the look of the real 2600. If only about 10 more particular games were added in their original Atari format, the lack of a sd card slot would be a non-issue for me. A few of those games being Donkey Kong, Defender, Atlantis, Phoenix, and Pac-Man.
I feel ya. The look is definitely a selling point, albeit the only one imo. And holy crap, how awesome is Phoenix? I have some special episodes on Phoenix coming soon!
This is the first model I haven’t seen in any retail store whatsoever. I just learned of it after theee months. Where is it? Nowhere to be found except online at inflated prices. Not even on their web site.
@Emceemur, I’m only seeing the standard model there at that price, not the Deluxe. There is a listing for the Deluxe on the site for about $68, but it’s from a third party seller with a bad track record.
My mistake, you’re right. And the deluxe one as well as the Blasts are no longer listed on the Sams site. This is ridiculous. Can’t sell out of an empty wagon. Is there a Sams in your area?
You can update the firmware but you have to take it apart. Go t at Games website they show how to do it. Would be a lot easier with a sd card. I like it though. I bought mine at family dollar for $40. That's $15 dollars cheaper than any other retailer. Its not the deluxe edition but its still cool.
I may modify the X when I get time but meanwhile, my 9 is already loaded with games so it would be a duplication in a way. It’s nice to know it can be done I guess.
It’s so peculiar how different retailers get different editions. I mean, why even offer a $10 less unit with less games? It just seems like weird marketing to me. I think the Flashback 8/9 had 4 different versions in all. Is there really a call for that? Kinda wacky. Thanks for watching this!
I’m amazed how under the radar this thing was released. I’ve only known about it a couple days, which is over three months after you made this video. I’m also surprised this came with a $50 price tag. They aren’t abundantly available compared to previous models and to reliably find one for under $75 now doesn’t seem possible. This would seem to be the “gold” edition. The non-Deluxe model doesn’t have the additional ten games, but that one is more available at retail outlets. Easthetics aside, I think the only reason to get this is someone like me who stayed away from all the previous Flashback models. If it weren’t for the design, I wouldn’t consider it at all. It *is* an AtGames product, after all. But... no SD slot (not really needed for expansion if hacked), less games and wired controllers would feel like a downgrade to everyone else. For me, as a starting point, I don’t have an issue with it. First time viewer here (none of my regular console reviewers ever so much as mentioned this) and I enjoyed the video.
Great to have you aboard! Thanks for watching this. Yeah the AtGames distribution is wackadoo. These were an online Sams Club deal at first (why?!) and I happened to see this one on the shelf at my Sams. Now they’re on Walmarts site. You can hack this thing by busting into it and cabling it up to your laptop but the 9 model was so much easier to do and it’s done. So I really just put this on the shelf for now. It does look great with my other minis.
I know I'm late on this but I just got my Atari flashback X today at Menards, of all places. Go figure huh? I'm looking forward to playing burger time. I still think they should figure out a way to have Atari pac man and ET it's been said that ET is playable if a person reads the instructions.....Who knew? 🤷
Menards, eh? Never shopped there before. I need to check out their website. These Flashbacks are actually getting super hard to find! PacMan is a licensing issue, as is all Bandai Namco stuff. The ET property probably is too. Yknow, I had two buddies growing up that had ET and we played a good bit of it. I never heard people rip on it back then. I have fun memories from that one lol
@@Emceemur hello and thank you for your return message. Yeah I never actually owned the ET game I just thought many people got them as Christmas gifts. I didn't realize (young?) People were allowed to say they weren't happy with their Christmas gift. Many of those cartridges were returned,or so I've heard. I just like the irony of a crash 🤔 and ET being buried 🤔in New Mexico of all places 🤣 have a great day. Oh btw I live here in da U.P. of Michigan and we have a lot of Menards also in Wisconsin too
I would assume the recent problem with Namco and Atgames over the royalty rights over Ms. Pac-man is the reason you don't see any of their games included.
Probably so. And I don’t get why Bandai Namco even let em do a Namco unit in the first place. 2 of em now but then they wanna sue? Maybe they stepped a line but at least work with em. It’s just peculiar to me.
They'll bring out another one with SD, just you wait! Pity they didn't have that one extra button for 6 switches and a hole where the cart goes (good spot for the SD card though!). Still pretty nice that they finally look like a real atari (why it took so long I'll never know). What I want though is driving controller support, as Indy 500 is THE best 2 player game on the console, but only with driving controllers.
I still have an original driving paddle in mint condition. Someone just commented that ROMs can be added via USB but Im gonna have to get more info. Thanks for watching this and I hope you are subscribed and stickin around!
Nice unboxing! Yeah with the previous one that you reviewed, this one for me is useless... I prefer wireless controllers and the reason why I would get a Mini console would be to add roms on it to expend the game library! But you're right on the aesthetic front: it looks nice! Great video and keep up the good work!
@Brian London I don't have the previous one... I was saying that I prefer playing with wireless controllers in general... a couple horror stories with cables and consoles falling down back in the day!
Yeah, unfortunately I just don’t have a real use for this one, other than bringing some real flavor to the look of my mini row. Lol but I couldn’t leave it there. I honestly got excited about it.
@@Emceemur Actually they haven't announced it, however you can still easily mod it to support external usb drives armchairarcade.com/perspectives/2019/10/21/atari-flashback-x-2019-upgrade-to-support-external-usb-drives/?fbclid=IwAR0PADBptExTVxybnigUL2XyIZKmMbnQ2A1rgG9pow57lfkAb13_EZB6Mm8
I think I saw another RU-vidr review this new unit and he said you could add new games through micro USB hub in the back of the console. You download the specific firmware through atgames on their flashback zone page. Hope that helps!
Yeah that was made public shortly after I reviewed this. Where Im at with it is, my 9 model already has all the games on SD. And I don’t plan to sell it. So I feel zero urgency to go under the knife with this X unit. I may do it eventually though. Just for farts and figs. Thanks for watching this, dude!
Sorry I'm so late Murr lol, but I just got the standard version of this unit for my 21st birthday (110 games rather than 120, but I do have some of these bonus games through dongle units so 😎), and I've been messing around with the joystick a little and this has given me a question: I'm not a 2600 nerd like you are (no offense purely praise 😆) and I was wondering, have the joysticks on the controllers always been this tight and stiff? I guess going into this I was expecting them to be a little more loose...
Tighter, actually! Like a tree trunk in some concrete. You get used to it. But there’s a lot of fun to be had on these things, whether you’re adding ROMs to it or just playing it stock. They’re cool and very convenient!
I just picked up the 8 Gold deluxe before knowing anything about these, I would have picked up the 10 soley just for the reason you state, the looks, but otherwise very happen with the 8 and having the wireless controllers and being able to be on the couch is a huge plus. but i think i pick up this for the bedroom.
No doubt! They got a decent look going for it if they did anything at all. There’s definitely value in the shelf candy aspect. Thanks for watching this!
That’s a question with a really weird answer. This is a deluxe model but it’s all that seems to be out. So I have no regular model to look at to see what it excludes. And while this Deluxe actually still has 10 less than the Gold 9 model, it has the 4 games I showed that the 9 still didn’t.
It can. But the main issue here is, who wants to boof with all that? When the 9 is half the cost and more easily modded? I saw that that could be done but I’m probably not gonna open this thing up anytime soon.
A poster over at Atari Age said that Freeway and Pitfall II: Lost Caverns could be hidden on the regular 110 or maybe this Deluxe 120 game version, are they there somewhere?!
cdn.direct2drive.com/afz/AtariFlashbackXGamelist.pdf That’s the game list, although I don’t know which ten were bonuses because I don’t have the regular edition.
konami's Pooyan on there ? marine wars originally by omori ... like battle cross ? maybe konami bough the license ? Strategy X is just another tank game ... just un-successful carts ... maybe wait for gold
The hack on this one requires some surgery. But with a hacked out 9 model, I’m not sure it’s worth the trouble. This is virtually the same machine. And if they do a Gold unit, there are still Gold 9’s out there on sale. I would probably still go with that. Thanks for watching!
It was $49.99, which was $20 less than the Gold 9 model. But that 9 had the SD slot, 10 more games and wireless controllers. So... yeah. No word on a Gold version of this yet...
I've got and Iike my Flashback 9, better than this X. For me, the appearance doesn't matter, removing the X from my consideration. I appreciate the info you shared, in video, you influenced my decision. I ❤ the SD Card feature of 9, which, I learned about from another of your videos, THANKS!
You bet, Jay! I don’t want to talk people out of this thing, I think it’s still collectible in a sense. But they had to know that removing the SD card slot was gonna go over like a turd in a punchbowl, regardless of the reason for said omission. I appreciate u watching these, dude!
shelf appeal yes sd card no biggie as long as you can hack it some other way but we are talking about at games the 9 gold was my fav so maybe they will do something different if the 10 x gold is made
Its clearly a collectors item... For intensive 2600 plays we have stella for Multiple platforms. I bought it for 25€ and i'm not interested in modding it
Yeah, Its literally just shelf candy for me. My 9 is modded so I’ll leave this one alone. Thanks for watching this and I hope you’ll subscribe and stick around!
Great review! Btw, AtariAge has some mods already listed, for example... to add ext USB support for possible roms: atariage.com/forums/topic/297008-atari-flashback-9-vs-9-deluxe-vs-atari-flashback-x/page/2/ I'm picking up my X today, to add to my collection of Atari FB's and my Atari 7800 :D
Sigh, no SD card is a huge bummer. If I were to buy any of these it would be that it looks more like a VCS and has a mini/classic vibe but not being able to expand it I might have to pass. Well, unless I get it for a wicked cheap price. LOL Great first look bro.
Found this bud! armchairarcade.com/perspectives/2019/10/21/atari-flashback-x-2019-upgrade-to-support-external-usb-drives/?fbclid=IwAR20vN0XgQdufdJRed_QBEjq2O1ErDDt55YK9a98keCt0Er91LjmqZYz4PA
A quick google search later, and yes, there is a hack. So, you can add games to this thing, AND it looks way better than the Flashback 9. I think I'm sold!
You can, but of course not as easily. And while it wouldn’t be brain surgery, it’d be surgery nonetheless. My 9 is already done so I just don’t care to mess with this one. But yes, If you haven’t bought one yet then the appearance is definitely a factor in making your decision.
Like my thumbnail as in what you clicked on for the video wasn’t detailed enough? Or my thumbnail as in my obvious failure as a hand model which led to me turning to RU-vid gaming for a career path?
The case redesign sucks ass! Ugly squashed 2600. AtGames needs to stop rehashing this 2600 shit! Move on and make a Atari 400/800/XL/XE Flashback with a SD card slot right off the bat so we can play Rescue On Fractalus and Koronis Rift!
Now you’re talking!! And why not a 5200 & 7800?? We’ve had ten 2600 systems now and the original one that was a 7800 didn’t exactly have great games on it. And it wasn’t an AtGames product then.
