This page documents my Atari collection. There are also some
helpful items, such as game controller schematics and pinouts.
KEY: (b)=Boxed (i)=Instructions (o)=Overlays (w)=Shrinkwrapped
(5200)(400)(800XL)(XEGS)(7800)(Jaguar)(Lynx)(Links)(Tech)
I never bought this system when it came out (blame that on the
rigors of real life!), but from what I have learned, the 5200
is pretty much a 400 sans keyboard. I remember discussing the
'new' Atari with my friends, thinking that we'd have to buy all
new carts (sound familiar?) The one I have now was discovered
gathering dust in the back of a pawn shop. The controller is
pretty well shot, but the system itself runs great.
The 5200 Trak-Ball Controller
Having gotten into work very early, I left early enough to fit in a round of thrifting. I decided to stop in at one place that never has anything, and hadn't visited in awhile. I looked around, finding the usual nothing. But, then, sitting atop a portable fireplace was this controller... in its box, and with two brand spanking new 5200 controllers! Its a good thing traffic was awful, as I went in more to escape the madness than to look for goodies.
The Wico 5200 Command Control
Today was a decent day for 5200 stuff. I found two games (Defender and SW:ROTJ:DSB) packaged together for .95, a working controller and this item. It has a black top and a red bottom. The face has a keypad exactly like a touch tone phone, and three blue buttons along the left side for Start, Pause and Reset. There are also slots above and below the keypad to hold overlays. I have heard about these in RGVC, but had never even seen on until now. Not bad for .95!
My 5200 Games (22)
Berserk...................... Atari.............[ 5221]
Centipede.................... Atari.............[ 5215]
Countermeasure............... Atari.............[ 5210]
Defender..................... Atari.............[ 5218]
Frogger...................... Parker Bros.......[ 9530] bi
Galaxian..................... Atari.............[ 5206] bio
Kaboom!...................... Activision........[FZ-001-04]
Kangaroo..................... Atari.............[ 5229]
Missile Command.............. Atari.............[ 5202]
Ms Pac-Man................... Atari.............[ 5243]
Pac-Man...................... Atari.............[ 5208] io
Pole Position................ Atari.............[ 5217] bi
Q*bert....................... Parker Brothers...[ ]
Qix.......................... Atari.............[ 5212]
RealSports Tennis............ Atari.............[ 5214]
River Raid................... Activision........[FZ-002-04]
Soccer....................... Atari.............[ 5213]
Space Invaders............... Atari.............[ 5204] bio
Space Shuttle................ Activision........[ F-012-04]
Star Raiders................. Atari.............[ 5205] o
Star Wars: ROTJ: DSB......... Parker Bros.......[ ]
Super Breakout............... Atari.............[ 5203]
This computer is my baby. I bought it at 'Toys-R-Us' for $269.00,
along with the AtariBasic Cart, the 410 Recorder, and the 'Teach
Yourself AtariBasic' book. I spent three days straight going
step by step through that book. When I emerged from my room, I
had written my first game, 'Mummy'. It was a simple side scroller
with 'Andy the Archaeologist', who ran through pyramids jumping
over pits, jumping over cobras, and shooting mummies. I studied
programs from the magazines, drooling over every new routine.
My mom really loved to play Space Invaders, and it was not
uncommon to find her parked in front of the 400 when I got home.
Today, she's a Mario freak... =P My game was Jumbo Jet. I spent
hour after hour terrorizing all those first class passengers...
hehehe. When I bought it, I got to play with the only Vectrex
I have ever seen. I remember wishing I could afford it.
The 410 Program Recorder
One of the main accessories for the 400 was the program recorder.
Many of us 'poorer folk' used these, as disk drives were
very expensive. These beasts were finicky at best, and it was
common practice to save programs on three or four separate tapes,
just to make sure one would take. They were also slower than slow, but to me, the budding programmer, it was the greatest thing since sliced bread!
The 1025 Printer
Got this peripheral recently, and after a thorough clean-up (boy, was it filthy!), I hooked it up and... BINGO! it worked great. Even the ribbon had a little life in it (after it got past the exposed, dried out area.) It is slow compared to most printers, especially today's. It only prints in one direction, having to carriage return and line feed for each line. It did, however, allow me to test some serial cables.. =). Now, all I need is a working disk drive!
The second incarnation of the 800. This one has only one cart
slot, and comes with Atari BASIC built in. It also sports a new
case design, which was carried over to all the redone accessories.
A nice looking little machine.
I found this one hiding in a box at the bottom of a clearance
shelf in a computer resale store. Everyone had just passed by it
because the box was closed and not labelled. I, being the
persistant bastard that I am, went over all the shelves again, and looked in the box. Inside sat the 800XL, power supply, tons of software, and the original documentation... and the flap was
marked 'Used Atari 800XL... $9.95'. Needless to say, I dragged it
up to the counter while all the others were poking and sniffing
and asking where I found it... they were not too happy to learn
they'd brushed over it only minutes before... hehe
Now this computer brought a smile to my face when I got it. I couldn't help but be amused by the pastel colors of the large buttons, and the strange shapes which make it up. The manual calls it 'The ATARI XE game system is made for you, the serious game player.' It comes with Missile Command built in as well as BASIC. The light gun which comes with it looks cool, and the traditional Atari joystick is molded in the same gray plastic. The games have the classic Atari feel, and all the classics are represented in its cart selection. I first thought its was an 130XE, but was corrected by a knowledgeable visitor (thanx!)
This was the first item I found in the first big thrift store
find I made. I had just found this place, and was wading through
the ton of stuffed toys when I spotted this Virtual Boy box. It
was ratty, but marked only $2.95. I figured I'd grab it, as it
may have had some carts, etc. Well, to my delight, it wasn't a
VB, but this baby. It came complete with power supply, two
joysticks and all the cables. But, also, lurking at the bottom
of this box were six (6) Atari 2600 carts! They all were in
perfect condition, looking like the day they were bought. I have
finally found a couple of carts for this system at Trader's
Village...
My Atari 7800 Games
Asteroids.................... Atari...............[ CX7802]
Choplifter!.................. Atari...............[ CX7821]
Galaga....................... Atari...............[ CX7805] b
Karateka..................... Atari...............[ CX7822]
Ms Pac-Man................... Atari...............[ CX7807]
One on One Basketball........ Atari...............[ CX7824]
Pole Position II............. Atari...............[ CX7808]
Robotron 2084................ Atari...............[ CX7809] bi
I know, I know. Its not all that ancient. But, it is an Atari. I
wish that this system had gotten better designers. The controllers
are hard to use, tiring your hand after playing just a short time.
I did enjoy Aliens vs Predator, and Power Drive Rally (but I wish
it had bigger tracks!) I have the JagLink, but since it only
works with Doom I haven't used it yet. I see the Jag as a decent
system that missed its full potential.
My Jaguar Games (14)
Alien vs Predator.......... Atari
Brutal Sports Football..... Telegames
Checkered Flag............. Atari
Club Drive................. Atari
Doom....................... Id Software
Iron Soldier............... Atari
Kasumi Ninja............... Atari
Power Drive Rally.......... Atari
Raiden..................... Atari
Rayman..................... Ubi Soft
Super Burnout.............. Atari
Syndicate.................. Ocean
Theme Park................. Ocean
Wolfenstein 3D............. Id Software