My Love Hate Relationship with the 5200

[wiseguyusa]

I am on my 2nd one now, when I sold the 1st one I swore that I would never have another one.

 

Then I found a working 5200 CIB with the 2600 adapter and a dozen carts for $75, and I got sucked back in.

 

The controllers are a dead horse issue, they have their defenders, and I have nothing for love for the purists the refurbish them, but most of us agree that they suck.

 

But controllers aside, the switch box is a piece of junk and the power supplies aren't much better.

It seems that this system was just built to die.

 

I love my new 5200 so much, now that it is tested, It is back in it's box and on display, unlikely to return to service.

 

For me the 8bit computers are sooo much better, I really don't understand why anyone would rather play the 5200.

 

OK, Countermeasure was cool AF, but the rest of the games were nearly identical to their XL/XE counterparts.

There are a few 5200 games that didn't make it to the computers, but the 8bit library is much larger, just with games.

 

The cartoons in Pac Man just don't justify the additional headaches to me.

 

I'm not system bashing, I just want to understand what makes the purists prefer the 5200 to the 8 bit computer line.

Edited March 16, 2017 by wiseguyusa

[+Darrin9999]

I agree! I just got refurbished gold dot controllers from best electronics, hoping they would be better. No still suck! Can`t stand those controllers. Some nice games on the system, only if it was`nt for those damn controllers!! :mad:

[bohoki]

pooters vs consoles are apples and oranges

 

the 5200 had 2 fire buttons sadly most of the games that would utilize a fire and jump and up

 

panama joe would have been so great if he would have thrown a knife

[+-^CrossBow^-]

I honestly don't mind the 5200 controllers much. As you know Wiseguy, I refurbish them locally for the retro game store around the corner from me and for systems that I refurbished and gave away in OVGE events past. If they are properly calibrated with a properly calibrated 5200 console, then they should be excellent for use for several years before the controllers needs to be refurbed again. The controllers I refurbed seem to last about 3 - 4 years depending on use before needing to be refurbished again. Star Raiders, Rescue on Fractalus, Dreadnaught Factor...etc. and the Atarimax Ultimate SD is the reason I keep my 5200 ready to go at a moments notice!

 

As for the switchbox, that is easily remedied with a power modification that is simple enough to do. And I still have all of my original 5200 power supplies in working shape with a brand new in the box at the ready..just in case. So far I haven't needed to use any of my spares.

[+DamonicFury]

Long time enthusiast of the Atari computer line here. Played games on those systems through much of the 80's, utterly ignoring the NES. And yet, I've been playing with the 5200 much more in recent years. Why?

 

It's certainly not for love of the stock 5200 controllers to be sure. I feel the same you do about them, wiseguyusa. But there are replacements available that largely resolve the issue (the Wico sticks being the best all-around solution IMHO.)

 

I think much of why I've preferred the 5200 lately is both the style of the 5200 and the sheer convenience of the console vs the computer. The 5200 is a big beautiful shiny beast with the nicest looking cartridges ever produced (again IMHO) As for the convenience... it's largely a matter of ditching the disk drives. I have a fairly large 8-bit computer cart collection, but most of those games have been ported to the 5200 at one time or another. That leaves most of the admittedly far larger 8-bit library on those old floppy disks. And they just seem so very fragile these days. Every time I load a game on one, I wonder if this will be the time the disk or the drive crap out for good. No such worries on the 5200.

 

There are admittedly some stone cold classics on the computers that haven't been ported yet, and I certainly do plug in a 800 or 800XL from time to time to re-experience those. But the majority of the time, I've been sticking with the reliable and stylish 5200. (No problems with the switchbox here for me. Did have one power supply die after dropping it, but have had no issues since that was replaced.)

[+save2600]

pooters vs consoles are apples and oranges

 

 

Until they're based on the same hardware as each other.

 

Same as Amiga/CD32/CDTV, but at least with the Amiga CD32, you can use its excellent multi-buttoned gamepad on every Amiga computer. Don't think I've ever heard anybody wish they could use CX52's with their A8's.

 

That said and generally speaking, I'd rather play the 5200 using a mint/working pair of CX52's than the 3rd party stuff available. Guess I'm a "purist" that way as I don't see the point otherwise. May as well just game on an A8 using your favorite stick of choice.

[+sramirez2008]

Never owned any of the Atari computers, so I can't compare. Yes, the controllers are an issue, but so far my refurbished Best Elec. controllers are holding up just fine. I love the Big Sexy. Add in the Trak-Ball controller with games like Tempest and Xari Arena and your in for some real fun! I have an AtariMax too, and am thankful for all of the 8-Bit conversions. My favorite original title is the 5200 exclusive, Space Dungeon.

[bohoki]

 

Until they're based on the same hardware as each other.

 

Same as Amiga/CD32/CDTV, but at least with the Amiga CD32, you can use its excellent multi-buttoned gamepad on every Amiga computer. Don't think I've ever heard anybody wish they could use CX52's with their A8's.

 

That said and generally speaking, I'd rather play the 5200 using a mint/working pair of CX52's than the 3rd party stuff available. Guess I'm a "purist" that way as I don't see the point otherwise. May as well just game on an A8 using your favorite stick of choice.

i like using my gravis gamepad that came with commander keen

[+Gemintronic]

I use mine for Adventure II and that's about it. Until another BASIC compiler comes out <cough> Mr SQL <cough> I can't get excited about it. Too many other [ more ] awesome Atari systems.

[Everett1954]

Never had a problem with my 5200. It is a two port with a LHE Composite/S-Video A/V mod. Adding the Atarimax SD cart lets me instantly load original, lots of conversions and home-brews quickly without a disk drive.

 

The Trac Ball makes for some great gaming.

 

I have two Best refurbished controllers and one i refurbished myself using best part. All work great no problem. Two of my favorite games, Necromancer and Rainbow Walker were converted to 5200 by wrathchild and are one my AtariMax for instant loading.

 

I have no problem with my CX52 controllers but as others have said there are a few alternatives if you want something different.

[FOX2600]

The Trac Ball makes for some great gaming.

 

That could've been it own console