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The Video Game Console Library - Atari 5200 SuperSystem

Atari 5200 logo Atari 5200 SuperSystem Atari 5200 logo

  DW FACTS by Dark Watcher
Page content, development and design by Marriott_Guy
Developer Manufacturer Release Date Country(s) Initial Price Model Number Game Releases Overall Rating
Atari Inc. Atari Inc. Nov-82 North America $299 USD CX5200 74 (commercial) NA
Ratings Reviews Pictures\Video Specs Games\Emulation Models Clones Links
Ratings
Consoles are rated based upon the available technology at the time of its release.  Ratings based upon a 10 point scale (10 being excellent\very rare).
Console Design (appearance, functionality) N\A
Console Durability (sturdy or frail and fragile) N\A
Controllers (design, response, feel, use) N\A
Graphics (graphical capability and presentation) N\A
Audio (sound, music, speech, effects) N\A
Media (game media format, design, durability) N\A
Packaging (appeal, durability of packaging) N\A
Game Library (quality, quantity of game library) N\A
Innovations (technological industrial strides) N\A
Gamer Value (good investment for the gamer?) N\A
Collector Value (good collector investment?) N\A
Games Rarity (general availability of games) N\A
Console Rarity (general availability of a system) N\A
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Reviews

  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 he "Great Videogame Crash of 1984" 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.


  HANDS ON REVIEW
 

Coming soon...
 

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Pictures & Video

Various picture\video media for this console.  Click pictures to enlarge.
Atari 5200 TV Commercial
Video courtesy of figment1988.		 Atari 5200 Magazine Advertisement

 Atari 5200 Magazine Advertisement (picture credit unknown)
 Atari 5200 User Review
Video courtesy of wikkidperson.
Atari 5200 (4 port) - Front

 Atari 5200 (4 port) - Front
 Atari 5200 - CGE Display

 Atari 5200 - CGE Display (picture credit to Trojan Dan)
 Atari 5200 (4 port) - Back

 Atari 5200 (4 port) - Back
Atari 5100 Proto - Picture 1

 Atari 5100 Proto - Picture 1 (picture credits to The Atari Museum)

Picture courtesy of Atari History Museum.		 Atari 5100 Proto - Picture 2

 Atari 5100 Proto - Picture 2 (picture credits to The Atari Museum)

Picture courtesy of Atari History Museum.		 Atari 5100 Proto - Picture 3

 Atari 5100 Proto - Picture 3 (picture credits to The Atari Museum)

Picture courtesy of Atari History Museum.
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Specs

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 Four (4) chips run the system - CPU, 'Pokey' (audio), 'Antic' (GPU) and 'GTIA' (video signal generator) 16 KB

Screen Resolution

Color Palette

Polygons \ Sprites

 Audio
320 x 192 256 (16 on screen) N\A 4 Channel

Media Format

Media Capacity

Games Released

Other Supported Formats
Cartridge  32 KB (max?) 74 (commercial) Atari 2600 (with optional
VCS converter)

Internal Storage

External \ Removable Storage

Game Controllers

Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
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

Audio \ Video
Four (4) - Two (2) on the 2nd version None None RF Connection (via proprietary switchbox on the 4-port version)

Power Supply

Other Outputs

 Other Details \ Notes
120 V AC 60Hz 38VA None The 2-port version comes with a standard RF switch as well as power supply.
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Games & Emulation

Game screen shots and\or videos released for this system.  Click pictures to enlarge.
Atari 5200 - Optional Trackball

 Atari 5200 - Optional Trackball

Picture credits unknown.		 Atari 5200 - Sample Game Packaging

 Atari 5200 - Sample Game Packaging (picture credits to Robert Hernadez)

Picture courtesy of Robert Hernadez.		 Atari 5200 - Atari VCS Converter

Atari 5200 - Atari VCS Converter

Picture credits unknown.
Atari 5200 - Centipede Commercial
Video courtesy of dailybeating.		 Atari 5200 - Controller


 Atari 5200 - Controller

 		 Atari 5200 - Mario Bros. Commercial
Video courtesy of nahu090yt.
Atari 5200 - Pole Position Game Footage
Video courtesy of Umma6umma.		 Atari 5200 - Berzerk Game Footage
Video courtesy of Umma6umma.		 Atari 5200 - Popeye Game Footage
Video courtesy of Umma6umma.
Third Party Emulators
Program Website Description

M.E.S.S.

http://www.mess.org//

 Multi-Emulator Super System is a DOS based emulator capable of running many systems including this one. It has a Windows based GUI, and should be usable by most PC systems.
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Models

Additional authorized releases for this console.  Click pictures to enlarge.

Atari 5200 - 4 Port Model

Atari 5200 - 4 Port Model
Atari 5200 - 2 Port Model

 Atari 5200 - 2 Port Model
Spectravision Hotel Video System Console
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Clones

Non-licensed releases (clones).  Click pictures to enlarge.
No clones were released for this system.
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Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.
Name Website Description
The Atari Times http://www.ataritimes.com/system.php?System=5200 System and game reviews for this classic system
AtariAge http://www.atariage.com/5200/archives/hardware.htmll Atari 5200 information and game rarity guide
The Atari History Museum http://www.atarimuseum.com/ Excellent information and pictures!!
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