5200 or Colecovision

[Rik]

Diehard Atari fan since 1984, but this time I gotta say...go Coleco. Picked mine up a few months back, havent regretted it. W/ the exception of certain exclusive titles, most 5200 games' graphics are the same as the Atari computer counterparts.

Yes,that would be correct,i read somewhere the 5200 is actually an ATARI 400/800 in new casing.

[Rik]

ColecoVision: Here's 3 good reasons why:

 

 

 

Awesome,do you own these 3 items?The ColecoVision kiosk is absolutely to die for!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited May 29, 2007 by Rik

[JB]

Diehard Atari fan since 1984, but this time I gotta say...go Coleco. Picked mine up a few months back, havent regretted it. W/ the exception of certain exclusive titles, most 5200 games' graphics are the same as the Atari computer counterparts.

Yes,that would be correct,i read somewhere the 5200 is actually an ATARI 400/800 in new casing.

The basic chipset's the same.

The BIOS is different, as is the (in)famous joystick.

I THINK the RAM placed it equivalent to a 400.

 

Arguably, the ColecoVision is just a Master System with less colors, too.

But they're clearly different systems.

[jetset]

I never did and probably never will understand the argument that the 5200 was bad bacause it was a 400 in a bigger casing.

YEAH? So what? That's actually a good thing kids. Back then, for a game system to have the power and capability of a computer was far from bad. Plus you had a much larger team (essentially) of software programmers making games for the system. You only had to decide *which* games to port over.

[doubledown]

ColecoVision: Here's 3 good reasons why:

 

 

 

Awesome,do you own these 3 items?The ColecoVision kiosk is absolutely to die for!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I do.

[jboypacman]

I own both and i enjoy both of them but am going to have to go with the Colecovision on this one.

 

Lots of great games for the Coleco.....Ladybug,Venture,Donkey Kong,Donkey Kong Jr,Zaxxon,Pepper II,Smurf,ect.

 

There a few homebrew titles for it too for sale in the AA store here that you should try out,Good luck on what ever you decide to go with.

[edweird13]

Boy the consoles are expensive on E-bay I had to settle for a untested 5200 . I should be here next week. I will probably get a Colecovision around October or November.

[jboypacman]

Congrats on the 5200 let us know when you get it.

[Lord Helmet]

I had to settle for a untested 5200 .

 

I wish you luck on that one.

 

Usually untested = dead

 

Next time you might try posting in the "wanted" portion of the marketplace

[jetset]

I had to settle for a untested 5200 .

 

I wish you luck on that one.

 

Usually untested = dead

 

Next time you might try posting in the "wanted" portion of the marketplace

 

Yah Lord Helmet s right. Between CPUWIZ, Doubledown, MrRetrogamer, Classics and many other members, all you'd have to do to get a 5200 or CV is post a 'wanted' thread, and you'll get plenty of PM's. And unlike ebay, with AA members here (particularly the ones I mentioned) you'll definetly get a system guaranteed to work, probablly clean enough to eat off.

Although one of them doesn't guarantee against interference caused by living on top of an Indian burial ground .

Other than that your best bet is always here.

[edweird13]

Im pretty sure the system works dont know about the controllers though. Heres the auction number 170115703110

[jetset]

I'd wager youre ok. It *is* quite interesting that he doesn't have the ability to test it properly...then again the seller doesn't seem to deal with videogames much so it is posible hedoesnt have the adapter.

Worst case I think is that the system and games will work fine but the controllers may need repair, but that's almost a given with a 5200.

[Lord Helmet]

If the system works but the controllers are dead, you may have to spend a little more cash getting them to work. Search the 5200 forum for more info on fixing dead 5200 sticks. I'd say about 90% of the ones I have come across are broken in some way, but they have nearly all been salvageable with replacement parts and some elbow grease

[edweird13]

Yeah I had took that into consideration when I bought it. Im a hardware tech at my real job so Im not scared of fixing stuff.

[RickHarrisMaine]

I think the only advantage the 5200 has over the CV is that when the 5200 controllers are set up right and working properly, they are a joy to use. I don't know if you can ever make the stock CV controllers work well though. Something tells me doubledown can, though!

[strattsp]

I think the only advantage the 5200 has over the CV is that when the 5200 controllers are set up right and working properly, they are a joy to use. I don't know if you can ever make the stock CV controllers work well though. Something tells me doubledown can, though!

 

Not to hijack this thread, but I am about 2 steps away from having a bunch of new spring contacts made for the CV controllers. I have already found new switches to replace the side buttons. Is there any interest in new contacts? I know that I have a bunch of controllers laying around with nothing wrong except the broken contact tabs, and it would be nice to actually refurbish them and get them out of my house.

[RickHarrisMaine]

I think the only advantage the 5200 has over the CV is that when the 5200 controllers are set up right and working properly, they are a joy to use. I don't know if you can ever make the stock CV controllers work well though. Something tells me doubledown can, though!

 

Not to hijack this thread, but I am about 2 steps away from having a bunch of new spring contacts made for the CV controllers. I have already found new switches to replace the side buttons. Is there any interest in new contacts? I know that I have a bunch of controllers laying around with nothing wrong except the broken contact tabs, and it would be nice to actually refurbish them and get them out of my house.

 

 

I'd rejoice over a decent set of CV controllers that didn't give me hand cramps after about 15 minutes....how cool would it be for Mario to jump where you want him to jump?

[strattsp]

I'm not talking about designing new controllers, just refurbishing the old ones so that the actually work

[doubledown]

I'm not talking about designing new controllers, just refurbishing the old ones so that the actually work

 

I've always been able to clean the directional and button contacts so that they work fine. You say you are getting new ones made?

[edweird13]

Got the 5200 today. As I thought both controllers are bad. So I will have to rebuild them or buy rebuilt ones

[strattsp]

cleaning them has also worked great for me, except for the ones that are split across the middle when you open them up. you may have to look carefully for the crack, but in my experience, at least 1 maybe 2 out of 10 controllers has fatigue cracking or failure on the thin metal contact.

 

I'm not talking about designing new controllers, just refurbishing the old ones so that the actually work

 

I've always been able to clean the directional and button contacts so that they work fine. You say you are getting new ones made?

[CV Gus]

The ColecoVision. Especially with the controllers.

 

The CV uses a 9-hole plug, so you can use all sorts of controllers, easy to find, for it- try that with a 5200. And those dumb-o controllers are ALWAYS breaking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

About the only thing the 5200 has over the CV is Star Raidres, the CV does'nt have any game like it that's any good, but I never played Blockade Runner so I'm not 100% sure.

[JB]

The ColecoVision. Especially with the controllers.

 

The CV uses a 9-hole plug, so you can use all sorts of controllers, easy to find, for it- try that with a 5200. And those dumb-o controllers are ALWAYS breaking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I REALLY wish Coeclo had used a different pinout for the stupid DB9, just so people would quit acting like it was a standard input.

 

And why would you WANT to use something else on the 5200? It has one of the best handheld controller designs ever.

[Gregory DG]

And why would you WANT to use something else on the 5200? It has one of the best handheld controller designs ever.

Sure, if you like hand cramps after two minutes of play. I don't mind the orientation or even the non-centering stick. But those ckicklet buttons are hard to press!

[jbanes]

But those ckicklet buttons are hard to press!

Not if you clean them. If you get the buttons and the contacts spic and span, they'll operate with only the slightest force. Of course, this is a fairly regular maintainence item, so you might consider alternative contacts (e.g. gold dots) if you don't want to keep up with it. The "poor man's solution" is to use a bit of foil over the carbon dots to make the connection. It's trickier to get to stay in place, but the solution doesn't cost nearly as much.