My Atari 5200 setup and recommendations

[+swlovinist]

I recently did an Atari 5200 Gamer's guide with some easy recommendations. I know that there are many more games i could have discussed, but wanted to keep it more casual in the video. I love gaming on the 5200 and will have a nice setup in my new expansion to my home. Hats off to all the 5200 fans out there.

 

 

[+DamonicFury]

Nice video! Very good introduction to the console.

 

One thing though: that Wico Y-cable won't let you use a 2600 controller with the 5200. It is instead used by Wico's own analog 5200 joystick... my personal favorite 5200 controller solution for most non-trackball games.

[+sramirez2008]

Great video John! Excellent of you to show the controller holder and not only mention Robotron 2084, but also Space Dungeon (my favorite 5200 game). Every 5200 collection deserves Space Dungeon.

 

BTW, AA Member oldjd also provides custom dust covers for the 5200 and many other consoles. I have purchased several and highly recommend them. http://atariage.com/forums/topic/202924-custom-dust-covers-for-classic-consolesupdated-62517/?p=2601066

 

AA member atariguy1021 also makes a 5200 Master Play Clone with Paddle Mode. I have one and can confirm that this is a quality product and highly recommend it too. http://atariage.com/forums/topic/244698-atari-5200-masterplay-clone-with-paddle-mode/?p=3422657

 

Thanks again for showing the 5200 some love. Sometimes I feel that people only hear all the negativity surrounding the controllers and may get turned off to this console, before giving it a chance. The big sexy is great, especially when paired with a trak-ball.

[bohoki]

oh man that hideous blue adapter must have been made by a demented maniac

[HawkMines]

Good video, though no Gyruss mention is dissapointing. I have to agree that the best games for the system are the Trak-Ball games, and Gyruss. Best version of Gyruss.

[edladdin]

Nice video! Very well done. You've inspired me to see if I can make some headway with Miner 2049'er, which I got in a lot, tested, then sort of forgot about it. So far I can only get to level 4.

 

I appreciate your giving props to the idea of using the CX-53 Trak-Ball for Space Invaders. IMHO, that is THE way to play that game, and the same goes for Galaxian. Love being able to whip and dart across the surface like a single-axis version of Centipede. Parker Brothers missed a big opportunity by not programming Gyruss to respond to the Trak-Ball as well.

[+Ryan Witmer]

Galaxian is probably my only "trak-ball required" game. It's just so much better.

 

Centipede, Missile Command, and Millipede are also close, but I can tolerate those with the stick.

 

I can't think of anything else I use it for, I actually prefer Space Invaders and Super Breakout with the stick. Some people say the ball is good for Pole Position, but in my experience it's awful.

[Lynxpro]

Nice video! Very well done. You've inspired me to see if I can make some headway with Miner 2049'er, which I got in a lot, tested, then sort of forgot about it. So far I can only get to level 4.

 

I appreciate your giving props to the idea of using the CX-53 Trak-Ball for Space Invaders. IMHO, that is THE way to play that game, and the same goes for Galaxian. Love being able to whip and dart across the surface like a single-axis version of Centipede. Parker Brothers missed a big opportunity by not programming Gyruss to respond to the Trak-Ball as well.

 

 

Remember, the commercially released version of Gyruss is an A8 port. There's another version a different programmer made specifically for the 5200 that wasn't commercially released. Internal Parker Bros. politics in action.

 

Maybe someone could hack Trak-Ball support in for both the existing 5200 and A8 versions...

[bikeguychicago]

A mandatory Trak-Ball game is Tempest.

[edladdin]

 

 

Remember, the commercially released version of Gyruss is an A8 port. There's another version a different programmer made specifically for the 5200 that wasn't commercially released. Internal Parker Bros. politics in action.

 

Maybe someone could hack Trak-Ball support in for both the existing 5200 and A8 versions...

 

Yes please!

[mykgerard]

Thanks for doing a positive video on the 5200. I find the dismissive 5200 videos on youtube annoying. I can never play just one game of Robotron.. lol.. I finally got a second bohoki adapter so I'm looking forward to trying a bunch of my games with a digital pad. If it was a perfect world the 5200 version of centipede would have a cooperative version like the 7800. That is something I've missed out on since my 7800 died (playing with my 9 year old daughter).

Edited August 28, 2017 by mykgerard