REFORGE

1977 / SYSTEM 02

Atari 2600

CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON
Atari 2600 exterior blueprintA console-specific exterior profile for Atari 2600, repeated in the system model when a hardware architecture is available.PROFILE / 1977FRONT REFERENCE
EXTERIOR BLUEPRINT CONSOLE-SPECIFIC PROFILE · SHARED WITH SYSTEM MODEL
RESEARCHRESEARCH PUBLISHED
PRODUCTION FINDINGS174 RECORDED
PUBLIC SOURCE DOCUMENTOPEN THE PUBLIC RESEARCH DOSSIER →
CPUMOS 6507
CLOCK1.19 MHz NTSC
RAM128 bytes RIOT
VIDEOTIA / 160 color clocks
AUDIO2 TIA channels
INPUT2 controller ports + switches
01

SYSTEM MODEL

HOW THE HARDWARE INTERLOCKS

A functional relationship model. Connections are logical and do not replace chip-level schematics.

HARDWARE ARCHITECTURE FUNCTIONAL MAP · CONNECTIONS ARE LOGICAL
Atari 2600 hardware architectureA functional board map connects cartridge bank logic to the 6507 processor, TIA, RIOT 6532, controllers, switches, television video, and audio. The exterior reference repeats the same six-switch housing shown above.CARTRIDGE + BANK LOGICROM WINDOW / HOTSPOTS13-BIT ADDRESS + 8-BIT DATA6507 CPU6502 CORE · 1.19 MHzRIOT 6532128 B RAM · I/O · TIMERTIAVIDEO · AUDIO · INPUTCONTROLLERS + SWITCHESACTIVE-LOW PORT INPUTTELEVISION + AUDIOTIA COLOR CLOCK OUTPUTSIX-SWITCH HOUSINGSHARED EXTERIOR REFERENCECARTRIDGE SLOTWOOD FASCIA · SIX TOGGLES
02

RESEARCH GUIDE

DOCUMENTED HARDWARE

Research chapters explain the hardware. Production records separately show what REFORGE has tested or corrected.

PUBLIC DOSSIER10 CHAPTERS · 45 SUBTOPICSOpen a chapter for its subtopics, or continue into the full dossier.
011. Power-on Through First Rendered Frame3 SUBTOPICS
READ CHAPTER
022. Frame-Loop Anatomy ("Kernel Pattern")6 SUBTOPICS
READ CHAPTER
033. Attract Mode → Gameplay Transition3 SUBTOPICS
READ CHAPTER
044. 6507-Specific Behaviors vs. Textbook 65024 SUBTOPICS
READ CHAPTER
055. TIA Quirks Beyond the Register Table5 SUBTOPICS
READ CHAPTER
066. RIOT 6532 Quirks4 SUBTOPICS
READ CHAPTER
077. Bank-Switching Formats4 SUBTOPICS
READ CHAPTER
088. Asteroids (CX2649, 1981, Atari, F8, 8192 bytes)6 SUBTOPICS
READ CHAPTER
099. Static-Recompilation Hazards (DEEP)6 SUBTOPICS
READ CHAPTER
1010. Recommended Runtime Checklist4 SUBTOPICS
READ CHAPTER
03

VERIFICATION

PARITY BOUNDARIES

A passed boundary applies only to the named claim and evidence row below.

PUBLIC RESULT UNTESTED BOUNDARIES REMAIN VISIBLE
L0BUILDS

A native artifact is produced.

L1LIVES

The requested headless run completes.

L2RENDERS

Fresh visible output is verified.

L3RESPONDS

Scripted input changes title state.

L4MECHANICS

Named game rules pass deterministic checks.

L5ACCEPTED

Corpus, build receipt, and human acceptance gates pass.

SYSTEM / PUBLIC RESULTL0BUILDSL1LIVESL2RENDERSL3RESPONDSL4MECHANICSL5ACCEPTED
Atari 260011-title public aggregate; title boundaries range from L2 to L4PASSEDPASSEDPASSEDIN REVIEWIN REVIEWNOT TESTED
TITLE-LEVEL REVIEW BOUNDARIES

Each title is reported separately. L2 means fresh output is verified, L3 means scripted input changes title state, and L4 means named game rules pass mechanics checks.

TITLERECORDED BOUNDARYNEXT REVIEWFRAMESANALYZER
Pac ManL3 RESPONDSL4 MECHANICS REVIEW1,800OK
CombatL2 RENDERSL3 RESPONDS REVIEW1,800OK
AdventureL4 MECHANICSBOUNDARY RECORDED1,800OK
FroggerL2 RENDERSL3 RESPONDS REVIEW1,800OK
BreakoutL2 RENDERSL3 RESPONDS REVIEW1,800WARN
PitfallL3 RESPONDSL4 MECHANICS REVIEW1,800WARN
Space InvadersL3 RESPONDSL4 MECHANICS REVIEW1,800OK
Missile CommandL3 RESPONDSL4 MECHANICS REVIEW1,800OK
River RaidL4 MECHANICSBOUNDARY RECORDED1,800OK
AsteroidsL2 RENDERSL3 RESPONDS REVIEW0FAIL
Yars RevengeL3 RESPONDSL4 MECHANICS REVIEW1,800OK
04

PUBLIC SOURCES

READ THE DOCUMENTS

The public dossier is the readable source document. External references are linked separately so their scope can be checked directly.

Public research dossierThe readable publication of the working research document. Local paths, raw traces, and personal data are removed.OPEN PUBLIC DOCUMENT →Stella Programmer’s GuideAtari hardware programming guide, 1979www.atarihq.com ↗Atari 2600 field service manualBoard service information and controller schematicsvtda.org ↗TIA hardware schematicsFive scanned engineering sheetswww.atariage.com ↗TIA Hardware NotesAndrew Towers’ chip-behavior noteswww.atarihq.com ↗Atari 2600 specificationsMemory decode, TIA, RIOT, and cartridge behaviorproblemkaputt.de ↗6502 instruction referenceNMOS instruction and addressing behaviorwww.masswerk.at ↗Stella sourceIndependent behavioral reference and debuggergithub.com ↗
05

PRODUCTION LEDGER

FINDINGS