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May 24, 1984 The release of the 5200 Supersystem in 1982 represented Atari's attempt to replace their outdated 2600 model and pull ahead of rival, high-quality platforms like Intellivison.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

5th Gear

1988
0
0 / 5
1. August 2026

You participate in an illegal car race in which you are allowed to use every possible method to win.

Adventure II

2007
0
0 / 5
11. September 2025

Adventure II is a homebrew for the Atari 5200 programmed by Ron Lloyd and Alan Davis, with graphics by Keith Erickson. AtariAge began producing cartridges for the game in 2007.…

AntiAir

2024
0
0 / 5
8. Dezember 2025

To clear the level, you must destroy all the UFOs while avoiding falling bombs and blocks. Blocks cannot be destroyed by your own bullets, but will disappear if hit by an enemy…

Astro Grover

1983
0
0 / 5
14. Juli 2026

Astro Grover (along with Muppet Go-Round and Big Bird’s Hide and Seek) was part of Atari’s planned children’s line of games for the Atari 5200. These titles would have utilized…

B.A.T.

1989
0
0 / 5
8. August 2026

You're actually one of B.A.T. (Bureau of Astral Troubleshooters) sergeants, and a new mission awaits you. Vrangar, a top scientist, and Merigo, a small-time crook, have announced…

Ballblazer

1985
0
0 / 5
19. Oktober 2026

Ballblazer is a 1984 computer game created by Lucasfilm Games (later LucasArts Entertainment). It was originally released for the Atari 8-bit systems, such as the Atari 800 and…

Barroom Baseball

1983
0
0 / 5
21. Januar 2024

Barroom Baseball was a prototype game coded by Atari in 1983 for use within Atari 5200 arcade machines but it was never released. The game itself is essentially RealSports…

Beamrider

1983
0
0 / 5
27. Juli 2026

A web of iridescent blue beams engulfs Earth-Space. You stand watching. Mesmerized at first, you now realize the beams support weapons, frightening creations in different forms.…

Beef Drop

2004
0
0 / 5
15. Februar 2026

Beef Drop is a port of the popular arcade game Burgertime, which Ken Siders first ported to the Atari 5200 and 8-bit computers. This version of Beef Drop beature POKEY sound…

Black Belt

0
0 / 5
17. Januar 2024

This unreleased, unfinished Atari 5200 game is similar to Broderbund's famous game, Karateka. Select your black belt level (difficulty level) and fight your way through eight…

Blaster

1983
0
0 / 5
5. Januar 2026

Blaster developed by Vid Kidz for Williams was released for the arcades and is quite obscure. What is interesting however is that the Atari 5200 version that was not released was…

Blueprint

1982
0
0 / 5
28. April 2026

As in the arcade game of the same name, Blueprint gives you, as J.J., three chances to save the damsel in distress from a menacing creature chasing her across the top of the…

Boogie

1982
0
0 / 5
30. März 2026

Bounty Bob Strikes Back!

1985
0
0 / 5
23. Juli 2026

Bounty Bob returns in this new and exciting follow-up adventure to Miner 2049er. This time around it's even tougher than before and Bob needs your help more than ever to guide him…

Bros

1990
0
0 / 5
3. März 2026

Mario Bros. clone created by KE-SOFT.

Castle Blast

2002
0
0 / 5
13. Dezember 2022

Castle Blast is shoot'em up based on the 5th screen of Atari's 2600 Phoenix where you take on the mothership. Castle Blast is Ronen Habot's first foray into programming the Atari…

Castle Crisis

2004
0
0 / 5
20. Februar 2026

This is a homebrew version of the Atari coin-op game Warlords, designed to look and play as much like the coin-op version as possible. Use your shield to deflect fireballs away…

Chrono Quest

1988
0
0 / 5
19. Februar 2025

This is the first of a new generation of adventure games from Psygnosis. An adventure game in the classic sense. Your quest begins in your fathers chateau circa 1920. There you…

Congo Bongo

1983
0
0 / 5
23. Juli 2026

Congo Bongo is an isometric platform arcade game released by Sega in 1983. The game has come to be seen as Sega's answer to the highly successful Donkey Kong game that was…

Countermeasure

1983
0
0 / 5
3. August 2026

We've just received word that terrorists have seized one of our missile silo complexes and are threatening to blow up Washington, D.C. These lunatics aren't fooling! They've…

Cracky

2023
0
0 / 5
10. Februar 2026

The game is cleared when all the stars are taken. The cracked floor disappears when you pass over it, so you can only pass through it once.

Cross Chase

2021
0
0 / 5
1. Oktober 2025

Chase is somehow similar to Gnome Robots but in real-time game and with several items and power-ups.

Cross Shuriken

2023
0
0 / 5
1. Oktober 2025

Shuriken is somehow inspired by Pac-man and Pengo.