diff --git a/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/2600/Atari2600.Core.cs b/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/2600/Atari2600.Core.cs
index adf307eaa1..f9527c215c 100644
--- a/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/2600/Atari2600.Core.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/2600/Atari2600.Core.cs
@@ -323,6 +323,12 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Atari.Atari2600
 					Rom.HashSHA1(),
 					Rom.HashMD5(),
 					_mapper.GetType());
+
+
+            // as it turns out, the stack pointer cannot be set to 0 for some games as they do not initilize it themselves. 
+            // some documentation seems to indicate it should beset to FD, but currently there is no documentation of the 6532 
+            // executing a reset sequence at power on, but it's needed so let's hard code it for now
+            Cpu.S = 0xFD;
 		}
 
 		private bool _pal;
@@ -345,7 +351,12 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Atari.Atari2600
 
 			M6532 = new M6532(this);
 			Cpu.PC = (ushort)(ReadMemory(0x1FFC) + (ReadMemory(0x1FFD) << 8)); // set the initial PC
-		}
+
+            // as it turns out, the stack pointer cannot be set to 0 for some games as they do not initilize it themselves. 
+            // some documentation seems to indicate it should beset to FD, but currently there is no documentation of the 6532 
+            // executing a reset sequence at power on, but it's needed so let's hard code it for now
+            Cpu.S = 0xFD;
+        }
 
 		public void FrameAdvance(bool render, bool rendersound)
 		{
diff --git a/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/2600/M6532.cs b/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/2600/M6532.cs
index 92849ef9a9..5f5155a5f3 100644
--- a/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/2600/M6532.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.Emulation.Cores/Consoles/Atari/2600/M6532.cs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Atari.Atari2600
 
 		public byte DDRa = 0x00;
 		public byte DDRb = 0x00;
+        public byte outputA = 0x00;
 
 		public TimerData Timer;
 
@@ -35,9 +36,13 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Atari.Atari2600
 			{
 				// Read Output reg A
 				// Combine readings from player 1 and player 2
-				var temp = (byte)(_core.ReadControls1(peek) & 0xF0 | ((_core.ReadControls2(peek) >> 4) & 0x0F));
-				temp = (byte)(temp & ~DDRa);
-				return temp;
+                // actually depends on setting in SWCHCNTA (aka DDRa)
+
+                var temp = (byte)(_core.ReadControls1(peek) & 0xF0 | ((_core.ReadControls2(peek) >> 4) & 0x0F));
+                temp = (byte)(temp & ~DDRa);
+                temp = (byte)(temp + (outputA & DDRa));
+                return temp;
+				
 			}
 			
 			if (registerAddr == 0x01)
@@ -150,7 +155,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Atari.Atari2600
 
 					if (registerAddr == 0x00)
 					{
-						// Write Output reg A
+                        // Write Output reg A
+                        outputA = value;
 					}
 					else if (registerAddr == 0x01)
 					{
@@ -159,7 +165,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Atari.Atari2600
 					}
 					else if (registerAddr == 0x02)
 					{
-						// Write Output reg B
+                        // Write Output reg B
+                        // But is read only
 					}
 					else if (registerAddr == 0x03)
 					{
@@ -175,7 +182,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Cores.Atari.Atari2600
 			ser.BeginSection("M6532");
 			ser.Sync("ddra", ref DDRa);
 			ser.Sync("ddrb", ref DDRb);
-			Timer.SyncState(ser);
+            ser.Sync("OutputA", ref outputA);
+            Timer.SyncState(ser);
 			ser.EndSection();
 		}