- Thr original Atari 7800 Video Game Console (System)
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The Atari 7800 is a video game console released by Atari in June 1986 (a test market release occurred two years earlier). The 7800 was designed to replace the unsuccessful Atari 5200, and re-establish Atari's market supremacy against Nintendo and Sega. With this system, Atari addressed all the shortcomings of the Atari 5200: it had simple digital joysticks; it was almost fully backward-compatible with the Atari 2600; and it was affordable (it was originally priced at US$140).
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Atari 7800 great system, that never got a fair chance,
By
= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: Atari 7800 System - Video Game Console
the Atari 7800, was a great system that Atari produced in the mid 80s.
However, the powers that be(actually, new management that sucked) scrapped the 7800 and kept it on ice for years due to the famous video game crash of 1983-1984. when the Nintendo Nes came out and revitalised the gaming industry Atari took notice, and revamped the 7800 to compete with Nintendo, and Sega which revealed their newly produced Sega Master System. The big 3 had a fight on their hands....it didnt last though... sega, did well but not enough..then the 7800 didnt sell all that well either. I for one have all these systems still and enjoy them all. But the Atari 7800 was special. The 7800 was the first system to offer backwards compatibility with the HUGE atari 2600 catalog..a 5200 adaptor was produced but never released (its a shame) this was a big plus for me in getting a 7800. they also produced a keyboard that was later scrapped. they kept this idea for the ill fated atari Xe system that came in the late 80s.. the 7800 boasted good graphics and sound, that rivaled the master system, as well as early NES titles. the european version had joypad controllers which are far better than the hand aching joystick controllers that came with the us versions. The 7800 had great ports of arcade classics such as Donkey Kong, Ms Pac-man, Joust, and my favorite Galaga ..as well as some originals such as scrapyard dog)ataris take on the mario series) its a gaming system, that fell victim to poor marketing, but if you got one you know that it was great. its pretty easy to get these days, if your a collector..pick one up you'll be glad you did. Have YOU played Atari today?
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What the Hey?,
By Bradley Headstone "Sean ARES Hirsch" (New York) - See all my reviews
= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: Atari 7800 System - Video Game Console
It feels a tad strange to be writing this review now. But I suppose stranger things have happened. I actually felt that this was a pretty good system. Turning the clock (WAY BACK), the Atari 2600 was the system everyone had for a while. In the mid 80s, people were starting to lean towards computers, and Atari wasn't so sure the video game market was still viable. To make a long story short, the Atari 5200 had some success, but the 2600 proved to be the better seller. When Nintendo came along, Nintendo and Atari were suppose to be partners, but to make another long story short, Nintendo wasn't quite honest with Atari, and negotiations broke down. Nintendo decided to go on their own, and they took over the market almost overnight. The Atari 7800 was a great system, but by the time it had come out, Nintendo had already taken over. To be sure, the 7800 did help offer Atari a brief but significant resurrection, but it was just too late.
All of that said, to this day, I still think the Atari 7800 was a great system that would have done better if it had established itself before Nintendo. Its strongest element was probably improved arcade classics such as 'Double Dragon,' 'Crossbow,' and 'Pole Position.' Another great thing about the Atari 7800 was that it was for the most part backwards compatible with Atari 2600 games. (Imagic did not seem to work in it.) I also feel if the 7800 had been around longer, the games would have improved. To this day, I still feel it was a sad day when the 7800 went out of production. Perhaps one day, this system will be re released. (Stranger things have happened.) To this day, I still dig out my 7800 now and then. Overall, it was a great system that didn't get the recognition it deserved.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The root of video gaming,
By
= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: Atari 7800 System - Video Game Console
The 7800 Atari Prosystem marked the advent of gaming quality. Marketing inattentivness killed this still unique computer based toy. Dual processing made this system compatible with ALL first generation cartridge based home games as well as the limited choices in this third generation genre. Computer pros will recognize the iconic nature of its design.
Some games are great some are not. Buy a few at a time as long as some have recognizeable titles. Avoid the 2600 Pac-Man.
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