Atari2008
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Posts posted by Atari2008
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I'd have to concur with the Colecovision. It was only around for maybe 2 years or so but in that short time had made a splash. Who knows what it could've accomplished had it lived longer. I also think the 5200, with some nice alternative controllers and the release of the Jr. could've gone some interesting places as well. It was a very powerful machine.
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When I first got my 7800 when I was a little kid, I didn't mind the ProLine Joysticks at all. But as an adult, after I recently got the system repaired, those things had my hands in pain in no time. I quickly ordered the JoyPads, and while they're leagues better in terms of comfort they still leave some to be desired. I have a big issue with the D-pad which to me seems a bit stiff and causes some strain on my thumbs and I don't find it as accurate as other D-Pads I've used like the NES, SNES, and Genesis. One of the most comfortable Atari controllers I've used are the 5200 sticks, I just wish they didn't break down so easily.
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I have a 4-switch woodgrain (from '77 I believe) and a 7800 (from '88 I think) and I alternate between these two when I want to play 2600 games. Mostly because of space reasons, if not I'd hook them both up. And I feel like some of the magic disappears from 2600 games when I play them on the 7800. The colors don't seem as bright and vibrant, and for me that's enough to take away from the experience. It may sound weird but I get more fun out of my 2600 games and enjoy the experience overall when I play them on the 2600. Anyone else experience this or is it just me?
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The NES library is enormous.
I would argue that this is to the NES' detriment.
Too much shovelware.
You'd rather a library of only 20 good games and the rest is so-so to bad over a library with a 100+ good games with the rest being crap? I know it takes more effort to sort through the crap in the NES catalog but in the end I think there's just more games worth playing than the 7800.
Agreed, a larger library means more time sifting but in the end you get more options of good games. That's the problem I'm having with the 7800 right now is that there are very few games that I like and the remainder just seem dull or bad. The NES like the 2600 sure has its fair share of duds since people wanted to cash in on the console's popularity but it also has so many more good games to choose from.
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7800.
in Atari 7800
Well owning and playing both I have to say I think the NES is FAR superior to the 7800. I like the 7800 but the NES games look better for the most part, definitely sound better, the controllers are better and the library of games is one of the best ever. The 7800 as it is is a nice system but I don't think it really competes on the same level as the NES.Having owned both systems I agree. This is not a knock against the 7800, I think it's a decent system and had Atari been in a better position in terms of management and financially, it could've had a much better library. It wouldn't have toppled the NES but would've had a much stronger library than it does today. Also I think it speaks to when the 7800 was designed and what Atari had in mind. At the time the competition was the Colecovision and that's what the 7800 was meant to compete against. Atari should've designed a completely new system to face up to the NES, the 7800 was definitely not up to the task. Even Atari ended up switching gears and releasing the XE Game System to see if that could take on the NES, which spoke to their lack of confidence in the 7800.
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I know you said that you're not interested in consoles after the 16 bit era (pretty much the same here..), but you could get a Jaguar. It is Atari after all
You know the thought did cross my mind.
I used to own a Jag when it was on its last hind legs since I was an Atari fan, and thought it was cool that Atari had a "new" system on the market.I think I may have solved my boredom for now, I've started rotating my Atari systems and that's been helping. At some point I'll probably add another console, and the variety should keep me coming back for more. Right now I'm finding Dig Dug on the 7800 pretty addicting...
cool
Glad to hear it!Yep, I'm just learning to be more patient with my 7800 and keep an open mind toward it. I think my view of it has been tarred by its poor performance in the marketplace, especially when facing the NES. But I've realized I have a few gems for it...gonna play Joust next.
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I know you said that you're not interested in consoles after the 16 bit era (pretty much the same here..), but you could get a Jaguar. It is Atari after all
You know the thought did cross my mind.
I used to own a Jag when it was on its last hind legs since I was an Atari fan, and thought it was cool that Atari had a "new" system on the market.I think I may have solved my boredom for now, I've started rotating my Atari systems and that's been helping. At some point I'll probably add another console, and the variety should keep me coming back for more. Right now I'm finding Dig Dug on the 7800 pretty addicting...
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I think I'm going to try a few things. Definitely going to look into participating in one of the high score clubs, I think the competition will keep me focused.
Probably going to put away the 2600, keep the 7800 handy just because I did get games for it recently, and keep my 5200 hooked up since it's the latest Atari system I've acquired and it feels "newest" to me so I'll focus in on that one for now.
I'm not really interested in consoles beyond the 16-bit era, at least not right now, so now PS1 for me. Since I just got a 5200 I don't want to get another console right now (I like to space out my console purchases) but I'll look into Intellivision, NES, SNES, and Atari 8-bits through emulation to see what they all have to offer.
Thank you everyone for your input, I think I'm also learning that a certain degree of patience and perspective is required to play classic games since they're a completely different animal from new ones.
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Nice article! I recently purchased a 5200 (2-port) so this is good info. Glad to know that there are extension cables for the controllers, was getting a lil tired of lugging the 5200 back and forth from my entertainment center so I dont have to play right in front of the tv.
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Yeah,watching old classic game commercials form the 80's is always a blast!!!!!!!.I've got 4 cd's packed with commercials that i got from YouTube.Who ever said you had to actually play or buy games to be into classic gaming?One can enjoy the nostalgiac component of it without buying or playing also.
I've always wanted to burn those YouTube commercials on a CD....I didn't know you could do that.
I liked the 5200 commercials bashing the Colecovision, they were funny, especially with all the surprised people..."you mean it can't?" Not to mention Atari bashing the 2600 version of Pac-Man playing on a CV expansion module. LOL
Yep,just download firefox mozilla browser,and its fast video download add-on,and you're all set.You'll also need a player like Applian flv player that will play youtubes flv files,you can download that too.
Thanks! I'll try that when I get home.
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Want to not be bored? My Dig Dug 7800 high score is 163,760. Bring it on pansy.Please note, I only called you a pansy to make you want to beat me, so you wouldn't be bored.
I'll wipe the floor with you punk.
I shall fire up my under-utilized 7800 this evening...good choice too, I like that game. -
Yeah,watching old classic game commercials form the 80's is always a blast!!!!!!!.I've got 4 cd's packed with commercials that i got from YouTube.Who ever said you had to actually play or buy games to be into classic gaming?One can enjoy the nostalgiac component of it without buying or playing also.
I've always wanted to burn those YouTube commercials on a CD....I didn't know you could do that.
I liked the 5200 commercials bashing the Colecovision, they were funny, especially with all the surprised people..."you mean it can't?" Not to mention Atari bashing the 2600 version of Pac-Man playing on a CV expansion module. LOL
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Recently, I've grown bored with my Atari systems. I'll hook one up play a game for a few minutes, get bored try another one and another one...basically the pattern repeats until 30 minutes later I give up and move on to something else. I'm wondering if I'm losing my appreciation for classic games. I'll give a little background to put it in some sort of perspective.I've had a 2600 since I was little (it was my sister's and I inherited it), and although I grew up on NES/SNES/Genesis, I had it hooked up and was excited when I was able to get games for it. Then I got a 7800 cuz I learned it could play both and remember being blown away by it (an appreciation I've never been able to regain for the 7800). Then when I was in high school, I lost my interest in video games altogether. Fast forward to college, and I got interested in the 2600 again, particularly the homebrews. That got me interested in getting another classic system -- the Colecovision. Which I played fairly regularly for a year and a half then sold when I stopped using it. The lead to my second break from games.
A few months ago I decided to dust off the 2600 and enjoyed it a bit. Then I got my 7800 fixed (for quite a pretty penny) only to find out that I really dont like it, no matter how good the games are. I even got a bunch of 7800 games for my birthday and only play them for a few minutes each before getting bored. I recently got a 5200, after having my curiosity piqued by it and played the one game I got for it fairly regularly for a few weeks. But now I'm bored too...
I'm wondering is it time for a break? I feel like I could keep getting games, playing for a few minutes, then moving on to the next one...I never quite get immersed in one game. Am I just approaching it the wrong way?
I have the exact same problem.I think for me,its that im getting older and like collecting and reading about classic gaming more that i do playing them.
I think that nails it for me too.
As for SNES, oh yeah, go for it, SNES is one of my all time favorite systems, you can't go wrong with a SNES, if you never really tried one, then I suggest you buy one before the end of the day tomorrow.
I find that as well, that I enjoy going online and researching classic games more so than I do playing them. One good example is the 5200. I spent weeks researching it, watching old commercials, even reading the scanned copies of Atari Age magazine that are on this site. I was psyched, and I got the system, although still impressed by it I don't nearly spend as much time playing it than I do reading about it.
That's a strong endorsement there for the SNES.
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One 2600 game that held my attention for a bit, was that recently discovered Cabbage Patch Kids prototype. I liked the graphics, background music, and variety of screens.
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Yea, I'll play Atari 2600 games for maybe 10 minutes and then get bored and move on to another one. One game that held my attention for a while when I was younger was Pitfall II until I beat it. But that game seemed large for a 2600 game and had enough variety and challenge to keep me occupied. On the 7800 side, the only game that held my attention for a bit was Scrapyard Dog till I realized it was basically the same 3 levels over and over just with increased difficulty. When I had a CV, Spy Hunter and Escape from Mindmaster were two games I played for extended periods.
I've never considered the Intellivision at all, so I'm going to have to do some research on that one, but revisiting the 16-bit era sounds like a good idea, I wonder if maybe a Super NES (since I never really explored it at the time since I jumped on the Genesis bandwagon in that console war) would do the trick. Come to think of it an NES might be good too, since when I was younger I only had a handful of games too, so there's plenty left to explore. And from what I remember those games tended to have large worlds...
The high score club might be good too since it would give me more of a sense of purpose instead of just playing for 5 minutes and then picking up another game...wouldn't want to completely give up on the classic systems.
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Recently, I've grown bored with my Atari systems. I'll hook one up play a game for a few minutes, get bored try another one and another one...basically the pattern repeats until 30 minutes later I give up and move on to something else. I'm wondering if I'm losing my appreciation for classic games. I'll give a little background to put it in some sort of perspective.
I've had a 2600 since I was little (it was my sister's and I inherited it), and although I grew up on NES/SNES/Genesis, I had it hooked up and was excited when I was able to get games for it. Then I got a 7800 cuz I learned it could play both and remember being blown away by it (an appreciation I've never been able to regain for the 7800). Then when I was in high school, I lost my interest in video games altogether. Fast forward to college, and I got interested in the 2600 again, particularly the homebrews. That got me interested in getting another classic system -- the Colecovision. Which I played fairly regularly for a year and a half then sold when I stopped using it. The lead to my second break from games.
A few months ago I decided to dust off the 2600 and enjoyed it a bit. Then I got my 7800 fixed (for quite a pretty penny) only to find out that I really dont like it, no matter how good the games are. I even got a bunch of 7800 games for my birthday and only play them for a few minutes each before getting bored. I recently got a 5200, after having my curiosity piqued by it and played the one game I got for it fairly regularly for a few weeks. But now I'm bored too...
I'm wondering is it time for a break? I feel like I could keep getting games, playing for a few minutes, then moving on to the next one...I never quite get immersed in one game. Am I just approaching it the wrong way?
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So let's flip this the other way. You have a Colecovision version of - say Alien Brigade, Midnight Mutants or Sirius? Commando? Scrapyard Dog? Basketbrawl? Plutos? Tower Toppler?
Have to agree there, I'm not much of a 7800 fan but I'm pretty confident there's no way any of those above mentioned games could be done on a CV or 5200 for that matter.
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I agree that Atari should have stuck with the 5200 a bit longer and have waited till it was time for the 7800 (and a much more powerful one at that). Having recently acquired a 5200, I can see how it was a bigger leap from the 2600, than the 7800 was from the 5200. But I guess that Atari saw the 5200 as a failure and wanted a fresh start with the 7800, and I can see that perspective as well. I mean it seems like Atari wasn't in a very good place in 83/84, so they were probably looking for the next hit like the 2600, and it seems that the 5200 wasn't delivering. I still think that the solution should've been to stick with the 5200 rather than switch gears but oh well.
Also, I'm wondering, since Atari was still supporting the 2600 and the 2600 still had some awesome titles at the time, how many Atari gamers just stuck with the 2600 as opposed to upgrade? Also, I'm thinking it didn't help that the 2600/5200 shared many games in common. I think more unique titles that displayed the 5200's capabilities would've helped.
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I have started making my own from scratch by using the one that was homemade that I got awhile back. Not too hard but it is time consuming. I'll update with pics when I get one finished. Who knows, I might get good at it and sell a few here on Atariage at an affordable price. They do work good with the mini pushbutton switches instead of the flex circuits.
Hey, if you start selling put me on a list.
I'm looking for an affordable alternative, don't really feel like spending a ton on controllers. -
Are the rebuilt controllers from 4Jays good too?
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I've found Atari products to be quite durable, particularly the 2600. I've had the same 4-switch that my dad bought for my sister back in 78 (I think) and it works perfectly, not to mention that through the years it hasn't been stored in the best places....it spent quite a few years in a shed in the yard where it was exposed to extreme temperatures and when I dug it out...worked perfectly. Joysticks, I haven't had for as long mainly because those would always get lost in storage, but I've had the stock 2600 joysticks and never had one fail or break on me.
The 7800 didn't fare as well under the same circumstances but it still feels solid, I feel that if I had stored it properly and given it normal use that it wouldn't have died on me. The 7800 stock joysticks however have survived since the late 90s and work great (I just hate using them so I use the joypads).
I'm very new to the 5200 so I won't comment as much. The console itself seems pretty sturdy and well-built although it came with a non-working joysticks but we know how that goes already.
Overall I say Atari products are very durable and reliable. -
This is a great topic!
I'm definitely going to echo the following games:
Spy Hunter
Donkey Kong Arcade (yes all screens, animations, BETTER sound)
Defender
Frogger (I've seen a rom when it was in the development phase, but not sure if it's been completed)
My arcade addition is:
Popeye
Among non-arcade game, I'd like to see a port of:
BC's Quest for Tires
One of my disappointments with the 7800 is that since it wasn't released until '86, it missed out on a lot of cool early 80s games like Popeye, Pac-Man (until now), Frogger, etc. Given it's graphics capabilities I'd like to see what it could do on these games, although in terms of audio I'm not so sure...
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I'm definitely going to just send it in to Best for a gold upgrade, they sound like a good long-term solution. Not to mention that I've never opened up a controller, and having me break something in the process of repairing it will only make matters worse, LOL. Besides I still have 1 working controller...so I'll be good until I can save up for a Best upgrade.
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That makes sense given that mine don't exactly self center but if I let go of the joystick it makes this slow crawl back to the Center enough that when I let go, the character on the screen stops moving. So it centers enough to spare me the issues that people have when they let go of the stick and it flops to one side and the character just keeps moving. I got lucky in the sense that both joysticks somewhat self center.
Now being that they're not designed to do this, have you had the experience in which the rubber boot wears out enough that it then stops "self-centering" completely?
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7800 vs.....
in Atari 7800
Posted · Edited by Atari2008
I agree, for me that's the reason I keep coming back to the 2600. Although the 7800 is graphically superior and capable of more advanced gameplay, the game library leaves a lot to be desired. Whereas the 2600 had a lot more games that are just plain fun to play. So I'll take basic graphics and sounds any day over a crappy game.