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  • My first game console, the Ingersoll XK-600B PLUS: migration complete!

My first game console, the Ingersoll XK-600B PLUS: migration complete!

I take a look at the first console I owned, and share some news about how things are growing behind the scenes at RetroGamerBase.

Hi, and welcome to the Sunday edition of RetroGamerBase.

As I write this, I’m tucking into a sausage bagel and ruminating on an interesting week of retro gaming. After watching me dip into the Atari 50 collection on the Nintendo Switch earlier this week, my 7 year old expressed an interest in playing another retro title, the Turrican Flashback collection. So, happy for her to give it a go, I said yes - on the condition that she make judicious use of the rewind feature.

How did she do? Not bad for a first attempt, and it put me in mind of my first go on the game on the C64 back in 1990. Hopefully she’s going to give it another try, and maybe I’ll be able to report back in more detail…

Right, let’s get on with things.

Regular visitors to the website might have noticed some changes this week. There is more on that below, along with a look at my first game console, a hand-me-down from my uncle that gave me way too much entertainment before I had even heard of a Commodore 64.

And, in a change to the usual weekend newsletter format, there is no latest news in this edition (hurrah!).

Table of Contents

Bringing Gaming Retro and RetroGamerBase into one place

Those of you with long memories may recall some of what I’m about to share; any newer subscribers may not.

12 months ago, things were great with RetroGamerBase (or as it was, GamingRetro.co.uk). But then Google’s algorithm changes struck, and every step I took to minimise the impact had little or no effect.

So, here we are, in newsletter form. But this was always only the first step to rebuilding the site on a more stable foundation. I’m happy to share that the newsletter is now accompanied by the vast archive of articles from the “before time.” This means news, articles, and reviews dating back to January 2020.

With this in place, a couple of things to note. First, the search tool isn’t great - from what I can see, the old articles haven’t been fully indexed, so please be patient with those.

Second, the site is based around the newsletter, and this will continue in its bi-weekly form. There may even be a third edition, depending on a few things.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, this site will remain ad-free. We may use sponsorships and (affiliate) links from time to time, but you will not see anybanner ads, pop-up advertising, or any of the interrupting elements you regularly see in other locations.

You can support RetroGamerBase by sharing it with friends who might sign up to the newsletter, and clicking any links you deem interesting. It all helps to build a presence online, which helps us to welcome more retro gamers into the fold.

One of the things I noticed with the site in its old form, and running a team of writers, was that most people who want to play old games want it to be simple. This isn’t a publication for hardcore emulator fans, or retro gear collectors, although they will find something useful to read.

Instead, it’s geared primarily towards people like my best friend at school, who is interested in revisiting classic Amiga games without the hassle of plugging in his old machine or messing around with UAE. For these people, Evercades and mini consoles, releases on Nintendo Switch and PS4, and similar systems are the gateway to retro gaming.

I want RetroGamerBase to be their companion.

It’s 100 days until your next retro gaming gift day

With all that in mind, Christmas is just 100 days away, which means retro gaming fans have a lot to think about. New retro console, or game collection? Full-sized replica cabinet, or some retro merch?

A few years ago, my friends (including the one mentioned above) were amazed to see mini Amigas on supermarket shelves. So, what could be the big surprise for those not heavilky into retro gaming in the run up to Christmas 2024?

These are my predictions:

All offer the right combination of intrigue and nostalgia. If you don’t already have these on your list, or have a friend you want to entice into retro gaming, start with these three systems.

My first game console: the Ingersoll XK-600B

Ingersoll XK-600B console

Mulling on my memories of my classic 8-bit systems recently led me to dig out this, the Binatone TV Master-like Ingersoll XK-600B. A monochrome paddle-controlled system with a light-gun, this device hails from 1977. system with a light-gun, this device hails from 1977.

I got the console in roughly 1982, passed on from my uncle, and I consider it the daddy of my collection.

From what I can recall, I have never played the two light gun games as the gun broke at some point before I got it. As you can see in the photo, the paddle on the right is held together with electrician’s tape. Pretty sure that repair was by me when some earlier black tape came off.

The last time I remember switching this on was in the 1990s. I seem to recall opening it up to see what was inside, only to be greeted with a brown circuit board with a few resistors and chips. These run the six games, which are all pretty similar. I wouldn’t offer a review score, but they’re entertaining enough to keep you busy on a wet Sunday morning, particularly in two-player mode.

The paddles

Attached to the Ingersoll XK-600B are two paddles, with a trio of buttons. These are designed to alter the speed and angle of the ball as it leaves the “bat.”

Using the paddles wasn’t too difficult; I think one of these has better resisitance than the other. More of a problem are the buttons, which feel as though they’re pushing blister switches.

Also on each paddle is a reset button. I can attest that not only is it poorly placed in relation to the paddle’s control wheel, it is a really stupid idea to give two players the ability to reset a game they might be losing, on a whim.

Binatone TV Master or Coleco Telstar Ranger?

Further research into this system reveals the Binatone TV Master was one of many such monochrome and colour systems issued in the mid-1970s.

The Ingersoll XK-600B features four paddle games:

  • hockey

  • solo

  • tennis

  • squash

Along with the light gun games:

  • Target 1

  • Target 2

Of interest, while Wikipedia doesn’t list any of the Ingersoll range of consoles, it does describe the Coleco Telstar Ranger:

  • hockey

  • handball (a solo game)

  • tennis

  • jai alai (a precursor to squash)

  • target (a light gun game)

  • skeet (another light gun game)

The Coleco Telstar Ranger is described as running on an AY-3-8500 “Ball & Paddle” chip from General Instrument, which seems to have a few similarities to what is inside the Ingersoll console.

Atari 2600 power supply

An original Atari 2600 PSU or – in my case – 6x AA (or “penlight” as we called them then) batteries power the Ingersoll XK-600B console. The battery slot cover is long-since lost, and most of the time taped over with an old Christmas card.

Sadly, I can’t check if the console works at the moment, as we don’t have a suitable TV! The TV out cable is the traditional coaxial type, and none of our current TVs accept this connector.

This was my only game machine for 2 years until the C64 arrived. I guess the reason I kept it for so long is that I had a lot of fun with it – and who else would want a 90 year old game console in the 1990s…?

(Originally published March 10th, 2024)

Retro gaming video of the week

Games That Weren’t has shared a video of Stargate, an AtariSoft title that seems to have gone through multiple iterations before release. This version was thought lost.

Game Over

Thank you for reading, and for sharing. We’ve gained more new subscribers this week, and that’s mostly thanks to shares.

Please forward to your friends, or post the link on social media, so we can reach as many members of the retro community as possible.

Until next time, take it easy…

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