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Atari 5200 SuperSystem
Type |
Console |
Developer |
Atari |
Release Date |
1982-Nov |
Region(s) |
North America |
Initial Price |
$299 USD |
Games Released |
69 |
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DW FACTS
by Dark Watcher |
The Atari 5200 was established in 1982 to compete with Intellivision and to become the successor of the Atari 2600. The Atari
5200 was a modified version of the Atari 400/800 which was the most powerful 8-bit home computer system of its era. The graphics
were a step above the older competition and went toe to toe with their newest competitor the ColecoVision.
The 5200 enjoyed moderate success, but never reached the overall success of its predecessor the Atari 2600. Resources which
should have been allocated for 5200 game development went instead to the 2600 (a system which was on its last legs and already
saturated with software from Atari and its third party publishers). In addition, the fact that the 5200 was not compatible with
the 2600 put off many 2600 owners who had accumulated a substantial library of games for the system. A VCS adapter which allowed
2600 games to be played on the 5200 was later released, but the Videogame Crash of 1983 prevented any hopes of it being making
further sales. The Atari 5200 would soon become history with the rest of the home videogame consoles of that time.
FACT: The Atari 5200 cartridges were nearly twice the size of those for the 2600 and were basically designed in this
fashion to make the consumer think they were getting a "bigger and better" game. The Atari 5200 was also the first videogame
console to utilize a "Pause" button on the controller. |
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MODELS
Officially licensed releases |
The Atari 5200 was released in two base models. The Four Port version, in addition to supporting two extra controllers, featured
a proprietary Power/AV switchbox. This was kind of nice since the unit sensed when the game unit was turned on and switched the
TV automatically to the game console (and vice versa when turned off). The bad thing is that this switch is not easily replaced
and the Four Port will not function without it (unless it is modded). |
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Atari 5200 SuperSystem - 4 Port Tech Pictures |
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Courtesy of Charles Lee |
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Atari 5100 Prototype |
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Courtesy of the Atari History Museum |
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CLONES
Non-licensed hardware releases |
Spectradyne, one of the first providers of PPV content in hotels, installed this system
in select establishments. The Spectravision 5200 Hotel Video System featured a four cartridge slot inside the machine. A
dial on the front of the casing was used to switch between games and other PPV events (movies, hotel info, etc.). For more information and pictures, please check out the excellent article on this unique item at
The Atari History Museum. |
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CONSOLE RATINGS
by Marriott_Guy |
Consoles are rated based upon the available technology at the time of its release. A 10 point scale is utilized, with 10 being
excellent. |
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CRITERIA |
RATING |
NOTES & COMMENTS |
Console Design |
04 |
The Atari 5200 is a beast,
primarily due to the storage compartment located in the aft of the console. I happen to like the aerodynamic look of
the system, but that wide footprint makes placement troublesome in gaming racks. |
Console Durability |
05 |
I have the original 4 port
version, which requires the proprietary Power \ AV switchbox. I have not any issues with it, but many people have
reported having issues with this switch control. |
Controllers |
02 |
This might be the worst
game controller ever invented. The 5200 joystick is very fragile and lacks the self-centering mechanics found in
similar devices. The numeric keypad (rarely used) mirrors this same cheap construction. |
Graphics |
07 |
Games feature large,
colorful graphics that are nearly identical to their arcade counterpart. The 5200 also performs well when screen
activity heightens with minimal slowdown detected. |
Audio |
08 |
Excellent sound effects for
most games, featuring digitized voice synthesis for many titles. |
Media |
07 |
Atari 5200 cartridges are
quite a bit wider that those utilized in its predecessor. The thick, hard plastic casing is extremely durable. |
Gamer Value |
04 |
The game library primarily
consists of upgraded versions of previously released titles or arcade ports. Though most of the games are excellent
conversions, there is very little that you have not experienced on other systems. |
Collector Value |
05 |
The Atari 5200 is a solid
system and widely available for a reasonable price. While the funky switchbox is a pain with the original
4-Port version, this model is more desirable due to its lower production run. |
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FORMAT, PACKAGING & GENERAL INFO
Interesting facts on software for this system |
Software for the Atari 5200 was distributed on ROM cartridges, which were quite a big larger compared to the shell casing utilized
for its predecessor, the Atari 2600.
Atari packaged their games in large, cardboard boxes that are rather fragile and prone to accidental crushing. First party
offerings utilized the same silver background that appeared on games late in the 2600 lifespan, with blue lettering utilized for
the system graphics.
Third party software did not follow Atari's standards when it came to game packaging. Though the base cardboard box is quite
similar, the graphics and presentation varied greatly. Developers often created a unique cover art that highlighted their
own brand in addition to the actual game.
The launch titles for the Atari 5200 included Galaxian, Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Super Breakout. Though these games are
all classics, this was considered to be a rather weak lineup since all were ports of existing Atari 2600 games. |
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applemctom's Games that
Defined Compiliation |
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Atari 5200 Game Boxes (First Party)
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SCREENSHOTS
Captured in-game images |
Astro Chase
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Battlezone
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Berzerk
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Bounty Bob Strikes Back
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Centipede
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Congo Bongo
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Defender
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Final Legacy
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Frogger II: Threedeep
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Gorf
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Gremlines
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H.E.R.O.
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Jungle Hunt
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Kangaroo
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Last Starfighter
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Millipede
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Missile Command
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Montezuma's Revenge
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Moon Patrol
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Pac-Man
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Pitfall II: Lost Caverns
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Pole Position
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Popeye
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Realsports Baseball
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Realsports Basketball
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Realsports Football
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Realsports Soccer
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Realsports Tennis
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Rescue on Fractalus
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River Raid
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Space Shuttle
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Star Wars: The Arcade Game
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Stargate
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Super Cobra
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Tempest
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Track and Field
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Vanguard
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Wizard of Wor
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Zaxxon
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EMULATION
First and third party system emulators |
MESS
MESS (Multi-Emulator Super System) is a DOS based emulator capable of running many
systems including this one. It has a Windows based GUI
and is extremely user friendly.
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SPECS & MANUALS
For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love. |
Processor Type |
Processor
Speed |
Other
Processor Information |
RAM \ Video RAM |
8-bit Custom Motorola 6502C |
1.79 MHz |
'Pokey' (audio), 'Antic'
(GPU) and 'GTIA' (video signal generator) |
16 KB |
Screen Resolution
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Color Palette
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Polygons \ Sprites
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Audio |
320 x 192 |
256 (16 on screen) |
N\A |
4 Channel |
Media Format
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Media Capacity
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Games Released
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Other Supported Formats
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Cartridge |
32 KB |
69 |
Atari 2600 (with optional
VCS converter) |
Internal Storage
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External \ Removable Storage
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Game Controllers
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Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
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32 KB ROM (2 KB for system BIOS) |
None |
Joystick w\ Built-in Keypad |
Trackball, VCS adaptor, various
third party controllers |
Controller Ports |
Network Ports |
Other Ports
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Audio \ Video
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Four (4) - Two (2) on the 2nd version |
None |
None |
RF (via proprietary switchbox on the 4-port
version) |
Power Supply - External
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Other Outputs
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Other Details \ Notes
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Input: AC 120V, 50\60
Output: DC 11.5V, 1.95A |
None |
The 2-port version comes with a standard RF switch as well as power supply. |
Manuals |
Atari 5200 (2 Port) Owners Manual
(PDF) - 1.91 MB
Atari 5200 (4 Port) Owners Manual (PDF) - 3.85 MB |
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OTHER
MEDIA
Peripherals, Promotions, Commercials, Brochures, Etc. |
Atari 5200 Television Commercials |
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WEB RESOURCES
Highly recommended websites for this system |
The Atari Times
System and game reviews for this classic system |
AtariAge
Atari 5200 information and game rarity guide
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The Atari History Museum
Excellent information and pictures!! |
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