The Video Game Console Library - Atari XE Game System (XEGS)

	Atari XE Game System (XEGS)
	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 Corp.	Atari Corp.	Nov-87	North America	$199 USD	XEGS	Approx. 30 (unique package)	NA
Ratings	Reviews	Pictures\Media	Specs\Manuals	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

Reviews

Atari XEGS

DW FACTS
- by Dark Watcher

It was the 1980's, and the Atari 7800 release fails to attract attention in a market dominated by the Nintendo N.E.S. So the folks at Atari came to a decision to market another system. Oddly enough it was a step back in time.

Atari introduced the XE Game System in 1987. The XEGS was merely a console remake of their 8-bit Atari 65XE computer. For $199 you got the console, a standard joystick, a light gun, and a pack in game called Bug Hunt (light gun game).

The marketing strategy was to take advantage of the back stock of Atari computer cartridges (10 years worth). Some Atari 5200 games were also remade since the architecture was quite similar.

Even though it looks like a console, the XEGS is a true 8-bit Atari computer system. It offered the convenience of a detachable keyboard, compatibility with any standard Atari 8-bit computer peripherals, while offering 64K RAM. When no cartridge was inserted it would also start up with a built-in version of Missile Command.

Of course the XEGS could not compete with the likes of newer systems and Atari pulled it from production after a short time.

Atari XEGS

FACT: The XEGS was basically an Atari 5200 with computer capabilities. The internal architecture is nearly identical. However the XEGS had a lot more RAM, and oddly enough the Atari 5200 carts were not compatible.

HANDS ON REVIEW

Coming soon...

Pictures & Media

Various picture\media for this console. Click pictures to enlarge.

1987 Atari XEGS - Front

1987 Atari XEGS - Top

1987 Atari XEGS - Back

Additional pictures of the Atari XE Game System and Peripherals

Specs & Manuals

For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.

Processor Type	Processor Speed	Other Processor Information	RAM \ Video RAM
Atari 6502c (8 bit custom design)	1.79 MHz	Pokey (sound chip), Antic (graphics), GTIA (video), Freddy (Memory Management)	64 Kb \ None
Screen Resolution	Color Palette	Polygons \ Sprites	Audio
320 x 192	256, 16 on-screen	8 Sprites	4 channels. 3.5 octaves
Media Format	Media Capacity	Games Released	Other Supported Formats
Cartridge	8 KB	Approx. 30 (uniquely packaged)	Atari 8-bit, some Atari 5200 games
Internal Storage	External \ Removable Storage	Game Controllers	Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
None	None (optional tape drive sold separately)	Joystick, Keyboard, Light Gun (all included)	See Other Ports
Controller Ports	Network Ports	Other Ports	Audio \ Video
Two (2)	None	SIO peripheral port (tape, disk, printer, modem)	RF, Composite
Power Supply - External	Other Outputs	Other Details \ Notes
Input: 120V, 60 Hz Output: DC 5V, 17W, 1A	None	The game Missile Command was built into the system along with BASIC. Bug Hunt and Flight Simulator II came packaged with the system.
Manuals
Not available. Can you help us out? You will receive full credit in addition to keeping the history of video gaming alive for all! Please contact me.

Games & Emulation

Games, media format, emulators and screen shots for titles released on this system.

Atari XEGS Game Cartridge - Battlezone Software for the Atari XE Game System (XEGS) was distributed on ROM cartridges that were identical in size to those utilized on their existing line of XE computers. The cartridges featured a dark royal blue background with the XEGS logo and title graphic.

Though only 30 titles were released in distinctive XE Game System packaging (pictured below), the standalone XEGS is fully compatible with all XE cartridge based software. The keyboard interface provides access to BASIC which enables the use of XE compatible peripherals. One of these optional devices, the 1050 Disk Drive, provides full access to the Atari 8-bit library that as releases on 5 1/4 floppy disks.

Due to the unique packaging, software for the XEGS is pricey compared to standard XE titles. It is difficult to justify spending the extra coin for these when the actual game is exactly the same. That being said, a complete XEGS library does look rather impressive in anyone's Room of Doom.

Atari XE Game System (XEGS) Game Boxes

Atari XE Game System (XEGS) Game Screenshots

Ace of Aces

Airball

Archon

Ballblazer

Barnyard Blaster

Battlezone

Blue Max

Bug Hunt

Choplifter

Crime Buster

Crossbow

Crystal Castles

Dark Chambers

David's Midnight Magic

Desert Falcon

Donkey Kong

Eastern Front 1941

Fight Night

Flight Simulator II

Food Fight

Gato

Hardball!

Into the Eagles Nest

Karateka

Lode Runner

Mario Bros.

Missile Command

Necromancer

One-on-One

Rescue on Fractalus

Star Raiders 2

Summer Games

Thunderfox

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. Since the XEGS is a remake of the Atari 800 computer, this emulator works nicely. It has a Windows based GUI, and should be usable by most PC systems

Models

Additional authorized releases for this console.

The Atari XE Game System (XEGS) was packaged in two varieties. Both included the CX-40 joystick, but the deluxe model also included the keyboard, light gun and two additional games (Flight Simulator II and Bug Hunt). The consoles themselves were identical Pictures of some of the various packaging, courtesy of Mr. Atari.

Clones

Non-licensed releases (clones).

No clones were released for this system.

Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.

Name	Website	Description
Atari HQ	http://www.atarihq.com/atcomp/xegs.html	Really good Atari XEGS page
Atari Mania!	http://www.atarimania.com	Excellent resource for all Atari systems

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Page last updated 15-Jan-2012

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