Atari5200

Atari 5200

the mother text

Generation: 2
Console
81 Spiele

Versionen

Initial version Erscheinungsdatum: May 24, 1984 The release of the 5200 Supersystem in 1982 represented Atari's attempt to replace their outdated 2600 model and pull ahead of rival, high-quality platforms like Intellivison. By 1982, Atari game programmers realized that they were severely limited by the capabilities of the 2600 system. The designers incorporated technology into the 5200 (called "Pam" in developmental stages) which they had just developed for their own 8-bit 400 and 800 series personal computer systems. The 5200 is basically a game console version of their home computer, substituting a controller in place of a keyboard. The Intellivision system had raised the stakes in the gaming industry with its 16-position controller. Atari's own 2600 offered only 8 positions. In hopes of obliterating the competition, Atari designer, Craig Asher helped engineer the "analog" controller. It gives players full, 360° control of the action on-screen. The 5200 controller contains two other features which made Atari's unique to any other system built by 1982: First, It offers speed variability. When a joystick is held in a single direction long enough, a player can increase his or her rate of on-screen movement. Second, it contains an easy-access PAUSE button, enabling players to easily freeze their games indefinitely. This immediately became a normal feature on most every subsequent system controller. Unfortunately there turned out to be a major drawback to this groundbreaking technology. The analog controllers never caught on with consumers because they are "non-centering," meaning they do not feature a neutral position. There is no way to come to an immediate stop. This factor will tend to inflict a high level of frustration on any 5200 player who tackles a game which requires precision stopping and starting movements like Frogger or Pac-Man. The controllers were also apparently not made with durability in mind and are quite easily broken. When Atari released the 5200 it was incompatible with 2600 cartridges. Consumers who had loaded up on games for the 2600 were understandably reluctant to invest in an entirely new platform. Its initial retail price of $330 didn't cause units to fly off of the shelves either. The 5200 also improved on the 2600 in its switch box. The 2600 system requires players to walk behind the television and change the setting on the box setting from TV to GAME. The 5200 automatically switches to GAME after the power is turned on. Also, when changing cartridges, the 5200 shifts to a black screen instead of the annoying, white noisy static players get between games with the 2600. When the platform was launched in 1982, Atari chose not to support it with any "must have" new titles. Instead they decided to re-release improved versions of former best seller for the 2600 like Space Invaders or Galaxian. Later, they did offer more sought-after titles like Joust, Space Dungeon and Ms. Pac-Man, but by that time the gaming market was on the verge of collapse. In 1983, between: Atari (with the 5200 and 2600), ColecoVision and Intellivision, the VCS (Video Computer System) market was stuck in a glut due to an oversaturation of product. Consumers were also demanding that their computers perform more functions than just play games. At that point the Commodore 64 and Atari 800XL home computers had just been released. Even after a slow start, 1983 sales for the 5200 plummeted. Warner Communications (Atari's former parent company) reported second quarter losses of $283.4 million. By the end of the year, Atari had posted losses of $536 million. They ended production of the 5200 in 1984.

Spiele

Cross Stinger

2023
0
0 / 5
1. Oktober 2025

Stinger is a tank-shooter with several enemies, levels, power-ups and items to pick.

Final Legacy

1984
0
0 / 5
15. Januar 2025

This is a battle on three fronts. You are the captain of the ship Legacy. Your ultimate goal is to destroy the Warmongers' missile bases but you must also protect your cities.…

Frogger II: ThreeeDeep!

1984
0
0 / 5
20. Oktober 2026

In Frogger II, you need to guide your frog to safety in three different locations. Starting out underwater, reach the top of the pond while avoiding dangerous alligators and fish…

Gremlins

1984
0
0 / 5
25. Februar 2026

The top-down adaption of the 1984 film, "Gremlins" for the 5200, Commodore 64, and Apple II. Players have to capture all of the Mogwai. A different release of the same name using…

Haunted House II 3D

2002
0
0 / 5
21. Januar 2024

A homebrew "sequel" to Haunted House originally for the Atari 5200 by Mean Hamster. You enter a mansion with thirty or sixty rooms, depending of your selection. You are…

Hellowoon: Das Geheimnis des Zauberstabs

1987
0
0 / 5
13. Dezember 2022

Hopman

2023
0
0 / 5
28. September 2025

Impetus

2020
0
0 / 5
13. Januar 2025

A vertically scrolling shooter developed by Inofuto for a variety of systems.

James Bond 007

1983
0
0 / 5
25. Juni 2026

When it comes to fast-paced action and intrigue, nobody does it better than Bond. James Bond. But you can try when you reenact scenes from four great James Bond movie classics.…

Jr. Pac-Man

1983
0
0 / 5
29. Juli 2026

The gameplay of Jr. Pac-Man is similar to that of its predecessors: The player controls the titular Jr. Pac-Man and scores points by eating all of the dots in the maze. Four…

K-Razy Shoot-Out

1981
0
0 / 5
3. April 2025

K-Razy Shoot-Out is a clone of the arcade game Berzerk developed by K-Byte, a division of Kay Enterprises, and released for the Atari 8-bit family in 1981. The game was written by…

Kaboom!

1981
0
0 / 5
18. Oktober 2026

Kaboom! is an unauthorized adaptation of the 1978 Atari coin-op Avalanche. The gameplay of both games is fundamentally the same, but Kaboom! was re-themed to be about a mad bomber…

Kangaroo

1982
0
0 / 5
11. Juni 2026

Kangaroo is arcade game that was released in 1982. It was manufactured by Sun Electronics and distributed by Atari. The gameplay and plot of Kangaroo resemble that of Donkey Kong.…

Keystone Kapers

1983
0
0 / 5
10. August 2026

Flash! Harry Hooligan, notorious con-artist, thief and all around-not-a-nice-person, has escaped!! He is now at large and in the vicinity of Southwick‘s Emporium. At this moment,…

Klax

1990
0
0 / 5
3. April 2026

Klax is a 1989 computer puzzle game designed by Dave Akers and Mark Stephen Pierce. The object is to line up colored blocks into rows of similar colors to make them disappear, to…

Koffi Yellow Copter

2003
0
0 / 5
7. Februar 2024

In this game, players must rescue little animals and douse fires.

Looney Tunes Hotel

0
0 / 5
31. Mai 2026

Looney Tunes Hotel was a nearly completed video game that was going to be released for the Atari 5200. Players were to play on a set of hotels, but Atari never got to finishing…

Meebzork

0
0 / 5
17. Januar 2024

An unfinished prototype game that was originally planned as a shooter but the last available version ends up being more an action/adventure game. There is an early build available…

Megamania

1982
0
0 / 5
2. August 2026

In Megamania, the gameplay resembles that of Space Invaders. Rather than being aliens or spaceships, however, the enemies in this game are various objects such as hamburgers, bow…

Meteorites

1983
0
0 / 5
13. Dezember 2022

Meteorites is an arcade action game featuring gameplay similar to Asteroids. You control a spaceship surrounded by numerous asteroids; your goal is to destroy them! Each time you…

Microgammon SB

2018
0
0 / 5
31. Juli 2026

Microgammon SB originally started out as an Apple IIe game. According to programmer Steve Baker, he had originally developed the game for the Apple when he decided to port it to…

Miner 2049er

1982
0
0 / 5
4. Juni 2026

"Bounty Bob" is mining a radioactive mine in the year 2049. Help him "claim" all of the various stations (multiple screens). Avoid contact with the deadly mutant organisms by…

Montezuma's Revenge featuring Panama Joe

1984
0
0 / 5
10. Februar 2026

PANAMA JOE, That’s what they call him ‘round these parts; though no one knows his real name or where he comes from. But one thing’s for sure, PANAMA JOE’s a daredevil from the…