Actual Shipment Arrivals in '84?

[A2600]

Reading over the www.atar7800.com website I stumbled over a part that stated that retailers did recieve shipments of 7800 in 1984!! Was this ultimatedly true??

 

Here is the quote:

 

The Atari 7800 ProSystem was dead on arrival at the toy stores. "We only received one shipment of the 7800 in 1984 and that was it! We didn't get anything for nearly 2 years after that from Atari as far as the 7800 was concerned." says Lance Ringquist of Video 61.

 

Was it possible that some 7800 shipments got out the door in '84?

[Tempest]

Was it possible that some 7800 shipments got out the door in '84?

 

I've heard that yes a few did. Not sure if it was a rumor or not.

 

Tempest

[Trip_Cannon]

Test markets?

[Shaggy the Atarian]

It was probably something that happened along the lines with Gremlins for the 5200. I bet that the first 7800's were already being shipped and nothing could be done about it, but to prevent any further shipments Jack-o T. proclaims that video games suck and that computers are the only thing Atari will work on.

 

...at least for two years.

[MegaManFan]

I was under the impression some of the 84 units that didn't ship were re-stickered and sent out a few years later when 7800 got re-announced, and that some people have the boxes with those stickers. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[birdie3]

I am not totally sure why this is important or if it is just for interest's sake, however, I know that I have a 1984 model 7800 with the interface slot in the side. I am pretty sure it has a '84 serial number on it too. Is this a 7800 that was sold later on like in '87 or something? Either way, the 7800 still remains obscure and under appreciated to this day.

[SS]

I was under the impression some of the 84 units that didn't ship were re-stickered and sent out a few years later when 7800 got re-announced, and that some people have the boxes with those stickers.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Conversely, I always assumed that those weird 1984-style 7800 game boxes were actually released in 1984.

[Joey Kay]

I remember reading quite a few years ago (online) that the first shipment made it to some stores before the brakes were put on.

 

I don't know if that's true, but it certainly would be plausible given the release date was scheduled for July 15th, 1984 (IIRC) and I doubt Tramiel would have stopped any shipments of goods to retailers already scheduled. They needed all the cash flow they could get.

 

Cheers!

 

Joey

[tyranthraxus]

Also didn't Atari give a 7800 to one of the Swordquest winners in 1984?

I swear I remember reading about one of the guys and as part of his

buyout they gave him a 7800. And wasn't one of the reasons the 84

shipment was cancelled was because Jack wanted to renegotiate some

of the contract with GCC?

[Pete Perpetua]

My box for the 7800 has 3 silver stickers on it.