bad systems

[Skatepunk60]

What do you think the worst system atari made was i think it was the 5200 i mean all they did was take 2600 games and try to modify them but really didnt do a very good job (berzerk) ANYONE WITH ME?

[Tempest]

Blasphemy! The 5200 is my favorite system because most of the arcade games are dead on. I think the 7800 is the worst system (but I love it anyway).

 

Tempest

[liquid_sky]

Hmmm, tough call... The 5200s controllers drove me crazy, but the arcade conversions were great. The 7800s sound killed it I think, but they also had good arcade conversions, and Ninja Golf

 

So hmmm, I can't choose so umm yeah Atari didn't make it but the Turbo-Graphix16 really blew hard

[Raccoon Lad]

There's no such thing as a Bad system, there's just a lot of unpopular ones.

[King Asmo]

The TG-16 was a great system.. for the first year it was out, it had much better games than the Genesis, and the SNES hadn't been released yet. The controllers were kind of lousy, tho.

 

There are bad systems, tho. Anyone ever played an Emerson Arcadia/Leisurevision?

 

Mike

[+-^CrossBow^-]

I wouldn't say any of the Atari systems could be considered more worse than others. But I do agree that several of their consoles weren't build very well or lacked some common sense in the design.

 

For instance:

 

2600 VCS -

6 switch is well built but the Vader and Jr Models are incredibly cheap feeling.

 

5200 SuperSystem -

It looks nice and built well, but HUGE!!! Then the controllers...well, we don't need to go there. Also the fact that it was just a repackaged 400/800 computer inside doesn't help.

 

7800 Pro System -

The original 84 model boards are built just as well as the 5200 but the controllers aren't confortable to everyone. Also the fact that the later models are more cheaply built is just another victim of the Atari Corp. era. The use of the same sound as the 2600 didn't help...but I can see why it was done. I feel better sound would have been possible had more support gone into it with more games using their own sound chips in the cart pcb.

 

Jaguar -

I can't say anything about this console since I haven't played nor owned one personally. But I hear they are built fairly well and seem very durable. I also hear the controllers are some of the best.

 

As for the computer line I also have never owned any of Atari's computer line. But I here that perhaps the worst of that lot would have been the 400 with the membrane keyboard.

 

If you want to talk about the worst designed console...I would say the NES from my experience is horrible. Actually only the contact section for the cart insert is the real problem. Plus it does seem a tad on the bulky side.

 

So there you have it...none of the consoles really shine or dull above the rest. They just all had their pros and cons. It could also be said that if some of the consoles had better support then perhaps even the shortcomings from them could have been made up for in new controllers or add ons.

[Tempest]

I think what systems you like or dislike all depends on your classic gaming style. I find that people who like certain Atari systems have certain traits.

 

Hey, that sounds like a good idea for an Atari story...

 

Tempest

[liquid_sky]

Not the Emerson Arcadia.. Ugggghhhh that one was bad.. horribly bad.. worse than that name that we don't say around here. So was the RCA whatever it was that bit the dust in 3 weeks.. I always wished the NeoGeo was cheaper, I loved the arcade ones but $650 + pricetag was way too much back then, even now. And I always wanted a Jaguar too, and a Lynx. The horrors of being broke I tell ya... Oh yeah, Asmo - I checked on those cables, they were just standard not the Saturn kind

[King Asmo]

I've traded off my leisurevisions because I just can't stand them.. been getting some really rare 2600 stuff in return, so I'm thrilled.

 

No worries about the cable.. I'm sure I can find one locally.. just have to keep searching.

 

Mike

[DDCecil]

I had an Arcadia 2001 a few years back, I had never heard of this system, then some guy on the internet offered me $75 for it and about 7 complete games, and I took it...

[Tempest]

Watch it now. Your talking to the Arcadia 2001 (and clones) ultimate defender! I've been an advicate for this system since I discovered it two years ago. Along with Ward Shrake I've been uncovering and trying to document all the games for it (including the one and only Funky Fish). I need three games to complete my collection (THE END and to Japanese only games).

 

It's a pretty neat little system with lots of mystery to it. Tons of clones and games only released in strange far away places. The games range from horrid to awesome, but even moreso than the 2600's library. It has alot of sleeper arcade hits that I love (THE END, Red Clash, Pleadies, Jungler, Jump Bug, etc.) I actually got the system in the first place so I could play Spiders (I loved that game in the arcades).

 

If you have any extra stuff you want to get rid of let me know. Value really depends on the company and title, most of the commons are only worth $5 boxed. But there are some rare ones that can fetch a pretty penny.

http://www.msu.edu/user/reicher6/arcadia.htm

 

Long Live Arcadia!!!!

 

Tempest

[videotwit]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Raccoon Lad:

There's no such thing as a Bad system, there's just a lot of unpopular ones.

---

 

I disagree ...

 

... Game.com ...

 

... Yuk.

[Alex]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tempest:

Along with Ward Shrake I've been uncovering and trying to document all the games for it (including the one and only Funky Fish). I need three games to complete

---

 

Yo Tempest,

 

You've seen our UA section, right?

 

I know who has Funky Fish and Pleiades for the 2600 but I can't get him to take any screen shots (not to mention dump the ROM). He says he plans to sell them, so maybe the next owner will have more time to accomodate my wishes.

[Tempest]

Really? I've been trying to figure out who actually owns them for a long time (there's bearly any mention of the roms being found much less who owns them). When he decides to sell them kindly point him my way...

 

Funny thing about Funky Fish is that we didn't think it was even released for the Arcadia much less the 2600. I found a copy for the Tunix system which was released in New Zealand of all places. I think Ian has it for the Leonardo system (an Italian Arcadia clone), but I haven't been able to get a straight answer out of him (maybe at the CGE).

 

BTW, has anyone been able to figure out who UA was? That's one mystery we've never been able to figure out, and it's bugging the hell out of me!

 

Tempest

 

[ 07-18-2001: Message edited by: Tempest ]

[Skatepunk60]

DONT GET ME WRONG I LOVE THE 5200 BUT THE CONTROLLERS, I LIKE PAC MAN BUT TRY PLAYING IT WITH THE NONCENTERING CONTROLLERS AND IT WAS HUUUUGGE THATS WHY I SOLD MINE THAT AND I NEEDED THE MONEY

[atari70s]

WEll Im gonna go on record on saying i love all of there units. and yet with the 5200 is just a oversized painin the butt version of the XL 8 bit unit. serious. it was the same like the 400 form the late 79 and early 80 systems even the 1983 800 system . the only difference i see is the controlers that are known to die lock up and no respond correctly. but the only positive i see for the 5200 besides being an atari unit was the 5200 adapter that stiulll didnt always let you play all the 2600 games and if done incorrectly coudl short out the converter and the unit. ( happened to my friend ) maybe of all the atari this was teh biggest BUG INFECTED unit not the most hated one. and the 8 bit line that was the same game play used the compatable controlers. ( a plus . only thing they did right was teh converter on the controlers so you can use a 2600 controler.

[Skatepunk60]

ohh now i wish i had my 5200 and that converter and pac man ohh well thats the way the cookie crumbles

[atari70s]

yea i wanted a 5200 converter because i got the manual for it (yet oddly enough no unit ) how odd is that maybe i acn get one rather cheap .

[Nateo]

I think twit is right. The Game.com had next to no good games. In fact, I can only think of three games that were released for that system (Duke Nukem, Lights Out, and Williams Arcade Classics). I also thought the Virtual Boy was a bad system.

[Rhindle The Red]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nateo:

I think twit is right. The Game.com had next to no good games. In fact, I can only think of three games that were released for that system (Duke Nukem, Lights Out, and Williams Arcade Classics). I also thought the Virtual Boy was a bad system.

---

 

Oh, I'll disagree about those two.

 

I have a Game.com and every game made for it except WOF2:

1. Batman & Robin - sucks

2. Centipede - pretty good (Atari branded)

3. Duke Nukem 3D - not really 3D, but fun

4. Fighters Megamix - awful

5. Frogger - excellent

6. Henry - fun

7. Indy 500 - awful

8. Internet Cartridge - mainly useless

9. Jeopardy! - ok

10. Lights Out - good puzzle game

11. Lost World: Jurassic Park - bad

12. Monopoly - good

13. Mortal Kombat Trilogy - awful

14. Quiz Wiz: Cyber Trivia - ok

15. Resident Evil 2 - not scary at all, but fun

16. Scrabble - excellent

17. Sonic Jam - awful

18. Tiger Casino - ok

19. Tiger Web - mainly useless
20. Wheel of Fortune - good

21. Wheel of Fortune 2 - ?
22. Williams Arcade Classics - awful

 

Of course, I have one with a light, so the issue of how hard the screen is to see is lessened.

 

As for the VB: Speak not ill of Gunpei Yokoi's Red Wonder!

 

VB Wario Land is one of the best Wario games, Mario Clash is a unique and fun Mario platformer, Mario's Tennis is a blast, Panic Bomber is a quality puzzle game and the import Space Squash is a riot.

 

Seriously, though, I like those games (and a lot of the other VB titles). I wouldn't give up the opportunity to play them for anything. I know a lot of people had a problem with the VB (visibility, the red screen, etc.), but I always liked it.

[Tempest]

Ok, now I have a question. How do you confortably veiw the VB? The little stand it comes with is way too short. I can't find a desk that's the right height for it or a chair that will go down low enough. I'd love to play with it some more (what I played of Wario ladn was cool) but I can't play all hunched over like that.

 

I'm fairly tall (6'2"). I'm guessing it was designed for shorter people.

 

Tempest

[Rhindle The Red]

Well, short of mounting it to your head, there's little you can do if you can't find a comfortable place to play. That's really the key. Find somewhere where you can sit with your head parallel to the machine (or at a slight angle, as the viewer is adjustable).

 

And it was probably designed for the size of a typical Japanese person. So, take that as you will.

[Rhindle The Red]

Here's another idea from, of all people, Lee R. Krueger.

 

Virtual Boy Lamp-o-Tron

[Ze_ro]

Wow, I'm impressed that people actually tried stuff like this with the Virtual Boy... I had figured this console had fallen into the Dark Side of classic game collecting (The Dark Side being the closet where things get dusty from not being used).

 

As for badly designed systems, I'd have to say the NES design is very poor, and causes many people to believe the system itself is dead (I got mine for $2 as-is... it works... barely). I'd also have to say that the Intellivision controller is rather badly designed too. And while I mention the INTV... what's with controllers that use a coiled cord? This does nothing but force you to sit closer to the system! Many people have claimed the ColecoVision to have bad controllers too, though I disagree (except for the stupid coiled cord once again ).

 

As for the Jaguar, I think the controllers for it are one of the best controllers I've ever used... it fits perfectly in my (rather large) hands, and never has a shortage of buttons. Too bad it uses a weird connector :

 

--Zero

[h.e.r.o]

Ze_r0, why do you think the NES design is poor?

 

Not an attack, I'm just curious to hear your reasons.