UNI64 - u2600+8 "FANTASY"

Fancy something new and unusual? Then you ve come to the right place :-)

The u2600+8 "FANTASY" console has been in development since December 2022 and finished in November 2023, which uses the original chipset of the VCS 2600 console developed by ATARI in 1977, and has been equipped with new features over time.

Features:

- PAL/NTSC Norm switchable with jumpers

- S-Video (optional HDMI output available as bottom board)

- SID I/II sound chip option

- FM YM3812 sound chip option

- Extra RAM/kernel in memory area 0x700-0x7FF

- USB Midi, Keyboard und Maus

- Internet via Ethernet

- SDCard slot for loading roms via the internal menu

- ROM/software transfer via USB possible

- Audio mix or separate audio outputs for SIDs (jack) and FM (jack)

Dimensions: approx. 128x98mm, power consumption at 12V: approx. 250mA

In addition to improved video and audio output (S-Video, HDMI option as a board that can be mounted underneath), the TIA of the 6507 CPU and the 6532 I/O chip were not only provided with new sound chips such as SID I and SID II and FM sounds in the form of a YM3812, but also access to the Internet via an Ethernet socket, USB Midi and an SDCard. An internal menu that appears on the screen immediately after switching on allows not only old game ROMs to be started, but also self-programmed ROMs. Alternatively, it is also possible to transfer and start ROMs directly via USB (good for developing your own VCS 2600 homebrew games).

Online ROM Loader: > Link

Online SDCard Manager: > Link

The firmware automatically recognizes whether a game cartridge has been inserted into the cartridge slot of the u2600+8 and then starts the game from the cartridge.

The software and online functions are constantly being expanded. Soon it will not only be possible to plan online tournaments via your own website and process them digitally and automatically (the new u2600+8 console starts the game automatically at a certain time and also automatically transfers the results digitally to the website), but the usual high scores will also be possible, with the game also transferring the scores fully automatically. Highscore seasons/weekends are also planned.

This means that "automatic" weekend competitions and offline events are finally possible, allowing the old 1977 console to take center stage again.

The u2600+8 and the USB connection also open up new possibilities for those who want to be musically creative, as a USB midi keyboard can now be connected directly to the console. A suitable music composition program is currently being developed. However, resourceful programmers can also create a suitable music program themselves. Access to the individual memory locations for Midi and Ethernet in the memory range 0x700-0x7FF is explained in a separate document.

But that s not all. If you want to know what else will be available in the future, you will find it on the https://uni64.com/net website.

Finally, it should be mentioned that the additional features are optional. If you wish, you can also operate the u2600+8 console without any options, so that it only works with plugged-in game modules.

The following PCB boards are supplied (only the unassembled circuit boards, without components):

- u2600+8 "Fantas" Boards

- Clock Module

- Video Modulator

- Tri-State 6507 CPU Adapter

Note: A TIA chip, CPU 6507 and I/O 6532 chip, which can be taken from old VCS 2600 consoles and used, are required for operation. Currently not all .bin ROM files are supported with the internal ROM Loader, but we are continuously working on supporting as many formats as possible.