Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Atari 5200

The Atari 5200 SuperSystem, commonly known as the Atari 5200, is a third-generation home video game console developed and released by Atari, Inc. in November 1982 exclusively in North America as the direct successor to the bestselling Atari 2600, featuring advanced hardware derived from Atari's 8-bit home computers to deliver enhanced graphics and gameplay capabilities. Designed to compete with contemporaries like the Mattel Intellivision and ColecoVision, the Atari 5200 launched at an initial retail price of $269 USD and included innovative peripherals such as non-centering analog joysticks with 360-degree movement, a numeric keypad controller with a pioneering pause button, and support for up to four players via its original model's four ports (later revised to two in a 1983 update). Its core hardware comprised a custom 8-bit Motorola 6502C processor running at 1.79 MHz, 16 KB of RAM, a display resolution of 320x192 pixels from a 256-color palette (with up to 16 colors on screen simultaneously), and four-channel audio output, all powered by ROM cartridges with a 32 KB capacity—nearly double that of the Atari 2600. The console's software library totaled 69 officially released titles, many of which were ports from Atari's 400/800 computer lineup, emphasizing high-quality arcade-style games such as Pac-Man, Centipede, and Space Shuttle, which showcased the system's superior visuals and controls despite some compatibility limitations with prior Atari hardware. Although praised for its technical prowess and ease of game development, the Atari 5200's commercial run was curtailed by the 1983 video game crash, resulting in production ending in 1984 after modest sales of approximately 1 million units; a compatibility adapter for Atari 2600 games was introduced late in its lifecycle to bolster its library, but it failed to reverse the system's declining fortunes. Today, it is remembered as a pivotal yet short-lived entry in Atari's console history, influencing subsequent designs with features like analog controls and multiplayer support.

Development and launch

Background and development

Following the monumental success of the , which sold millions of units and established as the dominant force in the home video game market, the company sought to capitalize on its arcade triumphs—such as Asteroids and Battlezone—to advance into the burgeoning second-generation console era of the early 1980s. This period saw intense competition from systems like Mattel's , with its superior graphics and sound capabilities, prompting Atari to develop a next-generation console that could deliver arcade-quality experiences at home while leveraging the company's growing expertise in custom hardware. The strategy emphasized enhanced visuals and audio to differentiate from the 2600's limitations, aiming to retain market leadership amid rising consumer demand for more sophisticated gaming. Key engineering efforts were led by figures such as , the lead designer of the custom chips that powered 's 8-bit family, including the ANTIC display processor and GTIA graphics chip, which enabled advanced playfield scrolling, multicolored sprites, and smooth animations essential for the new console's ambitions. executive Manny Gerard, a Warner Communications vice president overseeing the division, advocated for integrating the console with the broader 8-bit ecosystem to streamline and maximize resource sharing between home computers and gaming hardware. Under CEO and president Michael J. Moone, the project incorporated elements inspired by the Atari 400 and 800 computers, prioritizing compatibility to ease game porting from arcade and computer platforms. Development began in 1978 under the codename "Pamela"—named after an executive secretary—and initially envisioned as a standalone advanced video system, but it evolved into the Atari 8-bit computer line prototypes before being repurposed as a by 1981 to address market gaps. The focus on allowed for expandable features like four-player support and analog controls, bridging the gap between dedicated consoles and versatile computers to appeal to both casual gamers and hobbyists. Prototypes emphasized high-fidelity graphics with up to 256 colors and 16 on-screen sprites, drawing directly from the 8-bit architecture to reduce development costs and accelerate title production. The project faced significant hurdles stemming from internal turmoil after Warner Communications acquired in , including clashes between management factions that delayed and fostered siloed divisions between and computer teams. Budget constraints, exacerbated by escalating R&D expenses for multiple product lines, led to abbreviated prototype testing phases, resulting in design compromises such as non-centering joysticks that plagued early reliability. These issues, compounded by the broader industry's volatility, underscored the challenges of scaling Atari's ambitious vision amid corporate oversight and financial pressures.

Release and marketing

The Atari 5200 SuperSystem was released in North America in November 1982 as Atari's next-generation home video game console, succeeding the Atari 2600 amid increasing competition from systems like the Intellivision and ColecoVision. It launched at an introductory price of $269, which included the console, two non-centering joystick controllers, and a bundled copy of the arcade-style game Super Breakout. By spring 1983, Atari reduced the price to $199 in an effort to improve sales amid sluggish demand. Marketing efforts focused on the system's superior graphics and sound capabilities, touting it as delivering an authentic arcade experience at home through ports of hits like Pac-Man, Asteroids, and Space Invaders. Television advertisements emphasized the innovative joystick design and multi-player support, while print and retail promotions highlighted its position as a premium upgrade over the 2600. Distribution occurred through major U.S. retailers such as , which featured the console in its catalogs and stores, alongside other department and electronics outlets. Production ramped up at Atari's facility to meet initial demand. A European rollout was planned for , including adaptations for PAL broadcast standards and voltage differences, but the project was ultimately cancelled due to the console's underwhelming North American performance.

Hardware

Technical specifications

The Atari 5200 is powered by a custom 6502C operating at 1.79 MHz, which handles general computation and program execution. This CPU works in conjunction with three custom chips: the ANTIC display processor, responsible for generating the playfield graphics and managing display lists for flexible screen modes; the GTIA chip, which processes color and handling, including player-missile graphics for up to four 8-bit or eight 2-bit sprites; and the chip for audio synthesis. These components form the core of the system's architecture, derived from the Atari 8-bit computer family but optimized for console use without a . The system includes 16 KB of for both program and video , with no additional beyond a 2 KB for self-test diagnostics and game booting; this is shared across CPU operations and graphics buffering via ANTIC's display list approach. can be expanded through external peripherals connected via the system's expansion port, though such add-ons were limited during the console's lifespan. The video supports resolutions such as 320×192 pixels in four colors or 160×192 pixels in 16 colors, drawn from a palette of 256 total colors, with hardware support for and mixing between playfield and sprites to enable smooth gameplay visuals. Audio is generated by the 4-channel chip, capable of producing square waves, noise, and distortion effects for polyphonic sound, often used for music, effects, and even simple in games. For connectivity, the console features four 15-pin D-sub ports for controllers (reduced to two in the revision), an for cartridges supporting up to 32 KB per game, and an for and audio output to standard televisions. The unit requires an external DC power supply rated at approximately 11.5 V and 1.95 A, converting input to power the internal +5 V, ±5 V, and ±12 V rails for logic, analog, and RF components. The physical build consists of a chassis with woodgrain accents, measuring 13 × 15 × 4.25 inches, designed for horizontal placement with integrated controller storage in the original four-port model.

Controllers and input devices

The Atari 5200's primary controllers are the CX52 , which feature an capable of 360-degree movement controlled by two 500K-ohm potentiometers for the X and Y axes, allowing for proportional input rather than on/off directions. The lacks a self-centering spring mechanism, instead relying on a rubber for and , which can lead to imprecise control over time as the potentiometers wear. Each controller also includes a 12-button membrane keypad numbered 0-9 with additional Start, Pause, and buttons, flanked by two independent fire buttons positioned on the left and right sides for ergonomic access during . In 1983, Atari released the CX53 Trak-Ball as an optional peripheral, providing an alternative with an optical sensor that tracks the rotation of a large ball for precise, 360-degree cursor control in supported titles such as . The Trak-Ball features two fire buttons and connects via the console's 15-pin controller port, offering superior accuracy for arcade-style games compared to the standard joystick's . Unlike the , the Trak-Ball's design emphasizes rapid, flick-based movements, mimicking hardware, and is powered by the console. The controllers use standard 9-pin male (DE-9) connectors, with the and linking separately to the console's two front ports; for four-player games, the unit includes a pass-through port that allows daisy-chaining a second to the same console port, enabling simultaneous multiplayer without additional hardware. Power for the standard s is supplied directly through these connectors from the console, drawing from its internal 11.5V supply. Ergonomically, the CX52 joystick has a substantial base weighing approximately 1.5 pounds to provide stability during use, but the non-self-centering stick often results in "drift" where the input does not reliably return to neutral, exacerbated by potentiometer degradation. The membrane keypad employs carbon dot contacts that are prone to failure after 1-2 years of regular use due to wear on the conductive pads, leading to unresponsive buttons; this issue affects a significant portion of surviving units, with repair involving replacement of the flex circuit or cleaning the contacts. Atari developed unreleased prototypes for alternative controllers, including a compact joypad design intended for easier handling, but these never reached production due to the console's short lifecycle. In response to the original joystick's limitations, third-party modifications emerged, such as self-centering kits that add spring-loaded mechanisms to the potentiometers for improved return-to-center functionality, often distributed by retro hardware specialists like Best Electronics.

Compatibility and differences from other Atari systems

The Atari 5200 shared its core architecture with the of computers, including the CPU running at 1.79 MHz, the ANTIC video processor for display list generation and scrolling, the GTIA for handling sprites and color, and the sound chip for audio generation. This commonality facilitated the porting of software between the platforms, as developers could leverage similar custom chips and programming techniques, though direct was absent due to differences in cartridge interfacing and system initialization. In comparison to the Atari 2600, the 5200 represented a significant upgrade in video capabilities, employing ANTIC and GTIA to support hardware sprites, smooth scrolling playfields, and multicolored graphics, in contrast to the 2600's simpler TIA chip, which relied on software tricks for such effects and offered limited color palette and resolution options. The 5200 also featured 16 KB of RAM dedicated to system and video use, dwarfing the 2600's mere 128 bytes of RAM, which constrained game complexity on the earlier console. Cartridges from the 2600 were not natively supported on the 5200 owing to incompatible slot designs and power requirements, though an official adapter released in mid-1983 addressed this by providing cartridge passthrough, an integrated RF switch for TV output, and compatibility with the 5200's video system. Relative to the Atari 8-bit computers such as the and models, the 5200 omitted key peripherals like a for text input and the SIO for disk drives and other expansions, positioning it strictly as a rather than a system. Its operating system was a simplified focused on self-diagnostics and game booting, lacking the full-featured OS of the 8-bit line that supported and peripherals. The 5200 included four dedicated controller s to accommodate multiplayer setups, compared to the two s on 8-bit computers, but this console-oriented design contributed to a higher without the expandability of the computer family. These hardware divergences resulted in the 5200's inability to run 8-bit or XE series software natively, as and I/O addressing varied—particularly the absence of the chip for standard handling and differences in pinouts—necessitating separate development tools and recompilation for 5200 cartridges. While later revisions for the 5200 improved stability and title selection, no official software bridged the gap to 8-bit .

Software library

Built-in BIOS and games

The Atari 5200's built-in consists of a 2 KB ROM chip that serves as the console's onboard , handling core system operations. Developed by engineers in 1981 ahead of the system's 1982 launch, the initializes hardware components upon power-on, displays the characteristic Atari rainbow logo, and transfers control to the inserted game . It also services interrupts and maintains RAM copies of hardware registers to ensure stable performance during , including support for four-player mode switching across the console's controller ports. The is non-upgradable by users and lacks advanced features like persistent settings or save states, reflecting the system's focus on cartridge-based software. User interaction with the is minimal and occurs primarily during the startup sequence, where the appears briefly before loading. There is no integrated prompt or diagnostic menu in the standard ; if no is present, the idles after the without additional prompts or functionality. This basic design contrasts with the more comprehensive 10 KB in related 8-bit computers, which includes self-test modes and other utilities not implemented on the 5200. Limitations such as the absence of built-in or options emphasize the console's reliance on external cartridges for all interactive content. The does not include pre-loaded games or a selection menu, as all titles require insertion to run. Instead, supplied a separate Diagnostic (part number FD100144) for service and testing purposes, which performs checks on , , video output, sound, and controller ports using connectors. This enables hardware diagnostics and basic test patterns to verify system integrity but does not feature playable games. It was designed for technicians and includes an auto-power-on mechanism via a shorted pin for convenience during repairs. Minor BIOS revisions appeared in 1983 with the introduction of the two-port console model, addressing compatibility issues with the four-port version and improving overall stability. These updates, such as adjusted interrupt handling, were distributed exclusively through service centers and installed via chip replacement, with no over-the-air or user-accessible options. The revisions ensured better support for peripherals like joysticks, though advanced input devices like the relied primarily on game-specific code rather than modifications. No or hidden diagnostics are documented in the standard , though prototype test cartridges like Pete's Test Cart provided additional calibration tools for developers and service use.

Cartridge-based games

The Atari 5200's commercial cartridge library comprised approximately 69 licensed games released primarily between 1982 and 1984. These titles included numerous ports of popular games, such as (1982), which drew significant criticism for its inaccurate adaptation, sluggish controls, and failure to capture the original's essence despite the console's capabilities, and (1983), a more faithful conversion featuring digging mechanics and enemy pursuits. Atari's first-party development efforts focused on around 13 core titles optimized for the system's hardware, emphasizing smooth graphics and responsive gameplay within the 32 KB ROM window. Notable examples include Asteroids (1982), a vector-style asteroid shooter with inertia-based movement, and Missile Command (1982), a defensive strategy game involving missile interception—both leveraging the console's color capabilities and sound effects. Genres were dominated by action shooters, such as Centipede and Defender, alongside sports simulations from the RealSports series, including RealSports Baseball and RealSports Tennis, which introduced competitive multiplayer elements. Third-party publishers expanded the library with innovative ports and originals, often fitting within average cartridge sizes of 16-32 KB to balance cost and performance. Activision contributed standout titles like Pitfall! (1982), an adventurous where players navigate jungles to collect treasures while avoiding hazards, and Beamrider (1983), a involving beam navigation through space grids to destroy drones. Other developers, such as with Gyruss and with Donkey Kong, added variety through arcade adaptations that highlighted the 5200's analog controls. The release timeline began with 13 launch titles in late 1982, including , , and , coinciding with the console's U.S. debut. Output peaked in 1983, with over 40 new games entering the market amid growing competition, before the North American video game crash curtailed further development. Cartridges were standardized with end-loading designs and vibrant, illustrated labels depicting gameplay scenes; international variants, such as European PAL-optimized releases like (1983), adjusted colors and timings for 50 Hz displays to ensure compatibility. Some first-party cartridges overlapped with built-in BIOS demos, such as enhanced versions of Asteroids.

Third-party development and homebrew

Atari provided developer kits for the 5200, leveraging the shared hardware architecture with its 8-bit computer line, including assemblers such as MAC/65 for 6502 programming and cross-compilers to facilitate code transfer from host systems. These tools enabled programmers to optimize for the system's custom chips, with official documentation detailing ANTIC register configurations for advanced graphics modes like multicolored playfields and sprites. Such resources were essential for creating efficient software, though access was primarily granted to approved partners during the console's active production years. Third-party development peaked in 1983–1984, as publishers like Activision and Imagic expanded the 5200's library beyond Atari's offerings with titles such as Pitfall! and River Raid. However, Atari's stringent approval process, which required submission of source code and prototypes for compatibility testing, posed significant challenges, often delaying releases and limiting output to a handful of games per publisher amid the looming video game crash. The homebrew scene revived interest in the 5200 from the 1990s onward, driven by online communities like AtariAge forums, where enthusiasts shared 6502 assembly code and prototypes starting around 1995. Modern tools, such as Atari Dev Studio—a extension supporting 6502-based development for Atari 8-bit compatible systems—have streamlined workflows for creating new games, including graphics editing and emulation integration. A representative example is the 2005 port of , which adapted mechanics to the 5200's hardware while fixing original port limitations like ghost animations. Preservation efforts have focused on ROM dumping projects using hardware like EPROM programmers or specialized devices to archive cartridge data, ensuring rare titles remain accessible despite aging media. Flash carts, such as the Atarimax Ultimate SD Multicart, support loading homebrew and dumped directly on original hardware, with up to 1024 KB storage and onboard processing for seamless testing. The 5200 homebrew community remains small yet dedicated, centered on AtariAge discussions and events like the Retro Gaming (PRGE), where developers showcase prototypes annually. Ongoing FPGA recreations, including platform's 5200 core, allow cycle-accurate hardware simulation for development and play, extending the system's viability without major new releases as of 2025.

Reception and commercial performance

Initial critical reception

Upon its release in late 1982, the Atari 5200 garnered positive attention for its technical advancements over the , particularly in graphics and sound. Reviewers praised the system's high-resolution visuals, vibrant colors, and detailed sprites, which provided a more immersive experience in titles like and . The sound quality was also highlighted as excellent, effectively enhancing gameplay despite some deviations from originals, such as the absence of 's signature "wocka-wocka-wocka" eating noise—though intermission tunes faithfully replicated music. In Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games (Spring 1983), David H. Ahl described the console as Atari's most advanced offering to date, positioning it as a direct competitor to systems like the and , with its game library spanning sports, space battles, and ports that were "fun and family-oriented" with detailed instructions and variable difficulty levels. Specific games received acclaim for their fidelity to arcade counterparts. The Pac-Man port was lauded as a "superb rendition," capturing nearly all original features including two intermissions, eight starting levels, and identical scoring (e.g., an extra life at 10,000 points), making it one of the best home versions available at the time. Similarly, (bundled with the system) was appreciated for its four variants, such as Progressive and Double modes, while Soccer impressed with realistic field perspectives and flexible play options for one or two players. These elements contributed to the system's reputation for delivering arcade-quality entertainment at home, with Ahl noting the overall addictiveness of titles like and Preppie. However, criticisms focused on hardware flaws that undermined its appeal. The non-centering analog was a frequent point of contention, described as uncomfortable, prone to fatigue after , and limited to about 30 degrees of movement with imprecise positioning—some units were outright faulty, prompting promises of replacements from . The lack of with cartridges was another major drawback, as the system's design prevented easy integration, forcing owners to maintain separate libraries and setups. In comparative analyses, such as a 1983 magazine feature, the Atari 5200 was deemed superior to the 2600 in visuals and audio but fell short against the in certain arcade ports; for instance, 's was favored for its graphical detail, while the 5200 excelled in sound-heavy titles like and original games such as Asteroids with its smooth scrolling. The 's design issues were echoed here as a persistent reliability concern.

Sales figures and market analysis

The Atari 5200 achieved sales of approximately 1 million units worldwide by 1984. These figures represented a modest performance compared to the 2600's 30 million units, reflecting the console's struggle to capture significant amid intensifying . The system was outpaced by rivals like the , which sold over 2 million units. Key market factors contributed to the 5200's limited success, including its high launch price of $269, which positioned it unfavorably against the more affordable at $175. The 1983 video game crash further eroded viability, exacerbated by Atari's internal challenges following its 1982 loss in the lawsuit against , which opened the market to third-party developers and flooded it with low-quality titles. Inventory surpluses from overproduction led to approximately $536 million in losses for Atari in 1983 as part of broader financial impacts during the price wars and market downturn. In the United States, initial sales were bolstered by holiday season bundles in late 1982, driving early adoption among consumers seeking advanced graphics over the aging 2600. Regional performance varied, with weaker uptake in due to the delayed and ultimately canceled PAL version launch, limiting international expansion. Following discontinuation in mid-1984, remaining stock was liquidated at steep discounts by the newly formed , with sales continuing sporadically into the late 1980s; no official revival or re-release has occurred as of 2025.

Legacy

Cultural significance and popular culture

The Atari 5200 stands as a symbol of Atari's ambitious push in the early to advance gaming beyond the , incorporating computer-like features such as 320x192 resolution, 16 colors, and analog controls to compete with rivals like the and . This console reflected Atari's vision for more sophisticated arcade-style experiences at home, though its short lifespan of just 18 months underscored the risks of rapid innovation during the intensifying console wars. Detailed accounts in Steven L. Kent's The Ultimate highlight how the 5200's development, rooted in Atari's 400/800 computer hardware since 1977, aimed to capture a maturing market but ultimately contributed to the company's financial strain. The console's cultural footprint extends to media portrayals of the era's gaming boom and bust, often invoked in discussions of the 1983 crash that saw industry revenue plummet from $3.2 billion to $100 million. It appears in films like (1983), where characters reference its launch as a symbol of contemporary family entertainment, and Cloak & Dagger (1984), featuring a fictional 5200 game central to the plot. These depictions, alongside broader narratives in documentaries such as 's episode on the system, emphasize the 5200's role in the transitional period before the crash, with its approximately 1 million units sold forming part of the overproduction narrative that fueled market saturation. In retro gaming culture, the Atari 5200 holds significant collectible appeal, with complete-in-box consoles typically fetching $200 to $500 on secondary markets in 2025, driven by for its woodgrain aesthetic and limited of 69 titles. Its design, an early analog model with 360-degree movement but no self-centering mechanism, influenced subsequent controller evolution by highlighting the need for reliable , as later systems like the addressed these shortcomings. The 5200 contributed to the broader shift in home gaming toward high-fidelity arcade ports, such as improved versions of and , which showcased potential for console-arcade parity and inspired competitive multiplayer traditions seen in titles like the homebrew Castle Crisis—a -inspired game emphasizing paddle-based battles. This legacy endures in 1980s nostalgia, with artifacts including 1982 press releases preserved at National Museum of Play, underscoring the console's innovative audio experiments. As of 2025, no major pop culture revivals have emerged, though its story remains a in gaming histories.

Modern emulation and preservation

Modern efforts to emulate the Atari 5200 have relied heavily on software solutions that accurately replicate the console's . The Atari800 emulator, originally developed in the 1990s, provides robust support for the Atari 5200 in dedicated mode, simulating its 6502C processor, 16 KB RAM, and custom chipset across multiple platforms including Windows, , and macOS. This open-source project has seen continuous updates, maintaining compatibility with the full library of 69 commercial cartridges while incorporating features like synchronized sound and debugger tools. For broader arcade and console , MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) integrates Atari 5200 support through its subsystem, achieving high cycle-accurate by 2025 that handles bank-switching ROMs and controller inputs with minimal discrepancies from original behavior. While excels at , community forks and extensions have occasionally adapted its framework for 5200 compatibility, though Atari800 and MAME remain the primary choices for precision. Hardware recreations using field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) offer near-perfect replication of the 's analog controllers and video output without software interpretation. FPGA platform features an open-source core, ported from earlier designs, which emulates the console's sound chip, ANTIC display processor, and joystick interfaces at the gate level, supporting both and PAL variants. Available via repositories, this core integrates with MiSTer's DE10-Nano board and allows loading of ROM images directly onto SD cards, enabling authentic gameplay with original peripherals or modern USB adapters. Similar FPGA projects, inspired by Analogue's hardware clones, have emerged in open-source communities, providing scalable recreations that extend to homebrew titles without relying on aging original components. Preservation initiatives have focused on archiving software and to prevent loss of the Atari 5200's limited . The hosts multiple ROM collections, including verified sets from No-Intro that encompass all known commercial releases as of 2025, ensuring public access for research and personal backups when users own the originals. has digitized and scanned instruction manuals for nearly every title, such as Pac-Man and Space Dungeon, making high-resolution PDFs freely available to aid restoration and emulation setup. In the , community-driven dumping efforts have achieved complete coverage of the 69 official , using tools like cartridge readers to extract ROM data and verify against originals, with results shared through preservation archives to combat hardware degradation. Flash cartridges facilitate integration of modern homebrew games onto original Atari 5200 hardware, bridging preservation with ongoing development. The AtariMax Ultimate SD Multicart, featuring a 50 MIPS onboard CPU and 1 MB SRAM, supports loading up to hundreds of ROMs—including third-party and homebrew titles—via SD card, with an on-screen menu for navigation and compatibility for bank-switched formats like those in Bounty Bob Strikes Back. This device emulates cartridge detection and allows seamless playback of contemporary creations, such as entries from annual homebrew contests, without modifying the console. Despite these advancements, challenges persist in Atari 5200 and preservation. Legal restrictions on distributing images, even for out-of-print games, remain a barrier, as downloading without owning the physical constitutes in most jurisdictions, though emulators themselves are legal. The community, centered on forums like AtariAge, remains active with events such as the 2025 10-Liner Contest producing new titles, but it operates in a niche space without official support from , which has prioritized modern re-releases like the 2600+ over legacy systems as of 2025.

References

  1. [1]
    Atari 5200 SuperSystem - Video Game Console Library
    Console, Developer, Atari. Release Date, 1982-Nov, Region(s), North America. Initial Price, $299 USD, Games Released, 69. History & Reviews; Models & Clones ...
  2. [2]
    Atari 5200 - AtariAge
    In 1982, Atari introduced the Atari 5200 to the gaming public. The originally planned sequel to the 5200 was a system called the 3200, but development was ...
  3. [3]
    A History of Gaming Platforms: Atari 8-Bit Computers
    The four controller ports would not be repeated on another Atari system until 1982's Atari 5200 SuperSystem, which was a video game console based on the Atari ...Missing: timeline - | Show results with:timeline -
  4. [4]
    Atari 5200 Supersystem | The Dot Eaters
    The Atari 5200 Supersystem had been conceived way back in 1978 as a next-wave videogame unit but was subsequently converted into Atari's 400/800 computer line.<|control11|><|separator|>
  5. [5]
    The Great Market Crash - Atari Compendium
    But with Warner, Bushnell also found an enemy with Warner Executive VP Manny Gerard. Gerard had a major issue with the amount of money Atari spent on R&D, and ...
  6. [6]
    The Atari Timeline - Rob Landley
    May 7, 2002 · This page is my attempt to assemble a complete history of Atari (collectively referring to Atari Inc., Atari Corp., and Atari Games) in one easy ...
  7. [7]
    Atari 5200 - AtariAge
    In 1982, Atari introduced the Atari 5200 to the gaming public. The originally planned sequel to the 5200 was a system called the 3200, but development was ...
  8. [8]
    Atari 5200 - Game Console - The Centre for Computing History
    The Atari 5200 SuperSystem, commonly known as the Atari 5200, is a video game console that was introduced in November 1982 by Atari Inc.
  9. [9]
    Atari's Roller-Coaster Ride - CHM Revolution
    Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney founded Atari in June 1972. Five months later, Atari's first product, Pong, changed gaming forever.Missing: timeline - | Show results with:timeline -
  10. [10]
    Console Launch Prices - History of Video Game Consoles Guide - IGN
    1977: Atari 2600 - $199 1982: ColecoVision - $175 1982: Atari 5200 - $269 1985: Nintendo Entertainment System - $199
  11. [11]
    Atari 5200 game release dates
    1982 OCTOBER: The Atari 5200 was scheduled to hit store shelves "by October" with 10 cartridges on shelves by Christmas.Missing: 12 | Show results with:12
  12. [12]
    Why the Atari 5200 failed - The Silicon Underground
    Jul 16, 2019 · The Atari 5200's technology ... The key people behind the design of the Atari 2600, including Jay Miner, had left for other companies long before ...
  13. [13]
    It plays arcade! TV Commercial for the Atari 5200 SuperSystem (1982)
    Apr 27, 2023 · A dramatic TV commercial for the Atari 5200 SuperSystem. You can read, watch, listen and play the history of the 5200, sequel to the famous ...Missing: campaigns | Show results with:campaigns
  14. [14]
    Atari 5200 SuperSystem (Commercial, 1982) - YouTube
    Sep 14, 2013 · Here's a commercial for the Atari 5200 SuperSystem - the descendant of the Atari 2600. "Adapter coming soon." This aired on local Chicago TV ...Missing: campaigns | Show results with:campaigns
  15. [15]
    https://www.mobygames.com/company/4930/sears-roebuck-and-co
  16. [16]
    The History of Games in Sunnyvale | The Digital Game Museum
    ... Atari later had both corporate offices and manufacturing in Sunnyvale. Most Atari equipment was produced in various locations in Asia, but the Pong consoles ...Missing: 5200 facility 400000 units
  17. [17]
    Atari 5200 Model Differences - ConsoleMods Wiki
    Sep 22, 2025 · In mid-1983, Atari released a cost-reduced 5200 console which only features two controller ports and has an added power jack, eliminating the ...
  18. [18]
    Dan B's Atari 5200 Page
    Processor: 6502 (note: This is Atari's custom 6502 which can be halted to allow other devices to control the bus) ; Speed: 1.78Mhz ; RAM: 16K ; ROM: built in 2K ...
  19. [19]
    5200 Power Supply Voltage - AtariAge Forums
    Aug 17, 2017 · I need to ask what DC voltage is typical on an original Atari-branded 5200 power supply. Yes, I know it is either 9.3 or 11.5 VDC.Power Requirements of a 5200? - AtariAge Forumsis there one available with transverse plug blades??? - Atari 5200More results from forums.atariage.com
  20. [20]
    Atari 5200 - Retro Isle
    $$200.00 30-day returns: Worldwide Dimensions: 13" x 15" x 4.25" Weight: - Ports: 1 cartridge slot, 2 joystick/paddle ports, RF out. CPU: MOS 6502C @ 1.79 MHz. Usable RAM: 16K Built ...Missing: physical | Show results with:physical
  21. [21]
    5200 dimensions - Atari 5200 - AtariAge Forums
    Jun 26, 2005 · It's 13" x 15", and 4.25" tall. Sounds small when I actually look at the measurements, but it just has that "big" look.Atari Game Box Dimensions & Specs.Atari 5200 still the largest console?More results from forums.atariage.com
  22. [22]
    Homemade Atari 5200 Analog Controller - Dr. Scott M. Baker
    Aug 3, 2018 · The Atari 5200 stock joystick uses a 500K potentiometer, and the commonly-available thumbsticks of 2018 use 10K pots. That's a 50x difference.
  23. [23]
    [PDF] Atari 5200 Field Service Manual Rev 3
    The game controller supplied with the Model 5200 is composed of an analog joystick, a. 12-key Keypad, two separate Fire Buttons on each side, and three Select ...
  24. [24]
    https://www.atarihq.com/5200/sticks52.html
  25. [25]
    https://pocketmags.com/us/retro-gamer-magazine/issue-256/articles/trak-ball-controller
  26. [26]
    [PDF] Atari 5200 Trak-Ball controller
    The ATARI 5200TM TRAK-BALL™M brings home the high performance of its arcade counter- part. With 360 degrees of movement added to precise control and tremendous ...
  27. [27]
    How to easily fix your stock 5200 controller - AtariAge Forums
    Sep 16, 2007 · The 5200 sticks (generally) fail for two reasons: bad carbon dots and/or a bad flex circuit. Usually, it's both. The above tools will fix the dot problem ...
  28. [28]
    [PDF] ATARI 5200™ - Owner's Manual
    Using the 5200 Controllers. The ATARI 5200 includes two. 5200 controllers. These new con- trollers allow you to move the play pieces in any direction on the ...
  29. [29]
    Rebuilding the Atari 5200 CX52 Joystick
    Apr 13, 2025 · The Basic construction of the Atari CX52 Joystick housings are so well designed, that in most cases you can just about rebuild them for just about ever.<|separator|>
  30. [30]
    HOWTO - Repair and Upgrade Atari 5200 CX-52 Controllers With ...
    Jan 19, 2020 · Some people say that the Atari 5200 had the worst controllers of all time. But they can actually be massively improved by upgrading to gold ...
  31. [31]
    Atari 5200 One Of A Kind/Prototype? - AtariAge Forums
    Sep 19, 2019 · The power jack appears to somehow be mounted on its side, which is odd. That seems to suggest that it was a third-party mod, although I suppose ...New and innovative analog controls mod for the 5200 using Atari ...Self centering hack - Atari 5200 - AtariAge ForumsMore results from forums.atariage.comMissing: joypad unreleased centering
  32. [32]
    The Atari 5200: A huge misstep - by Paul Lefebvre
    Jun 3, 2024 · Specifications · 6502 CPU · 16K RAM · ANTIC & GTIA video processors · POKEY sound chip · 256 colors · Up to 5 sprites · 320x200 maximum resolution, ...
  33. [33]
    Why did the Atari 5200 forsake compatibility with 400/800 game ...
    Aug 30, 2018 · The 5200 shared the chips and architecture of the 400/800, and it appears on the surface that it would have been a trivial matter to have the 5200 support ...<|separator|>
  34. [34]
    Atari 5200 Hardware and Accessories - AtariAge
    It has the advantage of having four joystick ports built-in to the system and it's compatible with all 5200 games, but it requires a proprietary switchbox that ...
  35. [35]
    VCS Cartridge Adaptor Modification - ConsoleMods Wiki
    Sep 12, 2025 · During the middle of 1983, Atari released a long-awaited Atari 2600 adapter ... Atari 5200. Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our ...
  36. [36]
    Atari 5200 FAQ -- Logic Board IC Chip Functions
    This is a 2K ROM chip that holds the character set and the BIOS software. The BIOS initializes the system and to service interrupts. A9,10,11 4052. Keypad ...
  37. [37]
    Differences Between The 5200 And Atari 8-Bit Computers
    The BIOS ROM of the 5200 is only 2K instead of 10K. Virtually none of the computer's BIOS functions are implemented on the 5200. The 5200 does not have a ...
  38. [38]
    AtariAge - Atari 5200 FAQ
    ATARI 5200 SUPERSYSTEM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Version 3.3 April 09, 2001 Maintained by Keita Iida Assisted by John Hardie Send ...
  39. [39]
    Diagnostic Cart Version 1.1 - AtariProtos.com
    SALT stands for Stand ALone Test and PAM was the code name for the Atari 5200. Port Test - Tests the joystick ports. This test requires a loopback serial board ...
  40. [40]
    Atari 5200 - 4 Port BIOS Chip (for 2 Port Consoles) (See Note)
    4-day delivery 30-day returnsThis product includes a 4-Port 24-pin BIOS EPROM for the Atari 5200 Supersystem. The BIOS included with 2-port model Atari 5200 units breaks compatibility ...
  41. [41]
    Atari 5200 Pam Salt 1.1 Question - AtariAge Forums
    Feb 10, 2022 · I opened the cart to confirm that it is indeed a test cartridge, diagnostic V1.1, which has been documented on the Atariproto website. The ...controller calibration with Pete's Test Cartridge - Atari 52005200 diagnostic cart help - AtariAge ForumsMore results from forums.atariage.com
  42. [42]
    All 69 Atari 5200 games - Every game (US/EU/JP) - YouTube
    Jan 31, 2019 · Check out all 69 Atari 5200 games in one video. This is a list of all 69 officially released games for the Atari 5200 Super System, ...
  43. [43]
    Pac-Man, Electronic Games Magazine, And The Exact Moment Atari ...
    Apr 5, 2017 · Game reviewers had been as shocked by the terrible quality of Pac-Man as the game players. In the review for Defender in the November '82 issue, ...
  44. [44]
    Atari 5200 Catalogs - AtariAge
    While many of the titles were produced for several systems, this catalog only contains four 2600 titles and six 5200 titles. Graphically this catalog bears ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  45. [45]
    Atari 8bit bank switching - Atari 5200 / 8-bit Programming
    Aug 4, 2007 · This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000 and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 16 banks, 8 KB each.Larger than 32K cartridges? - Atari 5200 - AtariAge ForumsCartridge Memory Capacity. Anyone know? - AtariAge ForumsMore results from forums.atariage.com
  46. [46]
    Beamrider (1983) - MobyGames
    Publishers. Activision, Inc. Pony, Inc. Firebird Software · Microsoft ... Atari 5200 added by RKL. Xbox 360, Windows added by Alaka. Atari 8-bit added ...
  47. [47]
    List of all Atari 5200 games - MobyGames
    87 video games were released on Atari 5200 from 1982 through 2025. They were developed by 101 people from 55 publishers and developers.
  48. [48]
    What were the 5200's launch titles? - Atari 5200 - AtariAge Forums
    May 10, 2003 · Atari 5200. U.S. launch: November 1982. Galaxian · Pac-Man · Space Invaders · Super Breakout. Like 2. Quote. Link to comment. https://forums.
  49. [49]
    [PDF] The Atari Assembler - AtariMania
    Since the 6502 microprocessor handles blocks of data in 8-bit sizes, some provision must be made for the situation which results when a sum is larger than.
  50. [50]
    Assembly...Learning to Program the Atari 8 bits - AtariAge Forums
    Mar 21, 2017 · I learned 6502 using Atari Roots. It was a good start but really just gets you to the basics. You'll also want to have on hand Mapping the Atari ...Best practice on a programming environment for Atari 8-bit?6502 teacher - Atari 5200 / 8-bit Programming - AtariAge ForumsMore results from forums.atariage.comMissing: kit | Show results with:kit
  51. [51]
    List of Atari 5200 Games : Activision, page 1,
    River Raid · Activision · 1983 · USA · Shoot'em Up! - Vertical Scrolling · Space Shuttle · Activision · 1983 · USA · Simulation - Space · Zenji · Activision ...
  52. [52]
    A History of WCI Games / Atari / Atari Games / Atari Holdings
    iv-v) (Wade Tuma remained Atari (Consumer) director of electrical engineering; consultant Jay Miner remained "Colleen"/"Candy" project chief engineer.).
  53. [53]
    Atari 5200 - AtariAge Forums
    The Atari 5200 was Atari's second cartridge-based game console. Based on the Atari 8-bit computer line and labeled the "SuperSystem".Missing: 1990s Dev Studio Pac- Man Plus
  54. [54]
    chunkypixel/atari-dev-studio: Homebrew game creation for ... - GitHub
    Welcome to Atari Dev Studio for designing homebrew games for the Atari 8-bit systems (Atari 2600 and 7800). Atari Dev Studio is a one-stop-shop for any ...
  55. [55]
    5200: Pac-Man Plus Version .1 (Hey Breakpack!) :D - AtariAge Forums
    Apr 10, 2005 · I am publicly releasing my first version of PacMan Plus for the 5200. The following things were done to match the arcade version of Pac Man Plus.Atari 5200 Game Opinion Summaries - Unpopular or no, I like this ...Patterns in 5200 Pac-Man? - AtariAge ForumsMore results from forums.atariage.comMissing: homebrew 1990s Dev Studio port
  56. [56]
    dumping 5200 carts - Atari 5200 - AtariAge Forums
    Dec 21, 2009 · Most people use the Atarimax USB flash cart for development. If you want to dump a cart you probably need to do it manually with an EPROM programmer.How do I dump Atari 2600 and 5200 ROMs from cartridges?Flashcart and Multicart List - All systems - Page 90 - AtariAge ForumsMore results from forums.atariage.comMissing: preservation Phoenix
  57. [57]
    Atarimax Ultimate SD Multicart for Atari 5200
    The Ultimate SD is the most advanced cartridge ever produced for the Atari 5200 and includes a 50 MIPS onboard CPU, advanced upgradable hardware logic, 1024KB ...Missing: Phoenix | Show results with:Phoenix
  58. [58]
    Homebrew Discussion - AtariAge Forums
    Here you can talk about homebrew games that don't have their own forums allocated (which will be most of them).Atari Dev Studio for Homebrew... · ZeroPage Homebrew Twitch... · Amoeba Jump
  59. [59]
    Atari 5200 Question - MiSTer FPGA Forum
    Jun 9, 2022 · I'm wondering if anyone knows a way to configure the ATari 5200 core to best work with the dual stick games (Space Dungeon and Robotron)?
  60. [60]
    [PDF] Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games 01 spring83
    ARCADE GAMES is an all-new, field-tested manual filled with savvy advice and sound tips on how to get the most from all those quarters!
  61. [61]
    https://nerdist.com/article/comparing-sales-of-video-gaming-consoles/
  62. [62]
    Comparing the Sales of Every Video Game Console - Nerdist
    Dec 22, 2020 · The comparison begins with the Atari 5200, which its maker brought to market in 1982. That console sold one million units, which, while ...
  63. [63]
    Second generation of video games | Video Game Sales Wiki - Fandom
    Release year, Sales, Ref. Atari 5200, Console ... Of that total, about 900,000 were sold this year, compared with 800,000 units by Atari and 300,000 by Mattel.
  64. [64]
    Game Console Launch Prices Adjusted for Inflation (1975-2024)
    Nov 3, 2024 · Which Console Had the Most Expensive Launch Price? ; Intellivision, 1980, $299 ; Atari 5200, 1982, $269 ; ColecoVision, 1982, $175 ; NES, 1985, $199 ...
  65. [65]
    The History Of Activision - Game Developer
    Jul 29, 2007 · With Atari's VCS dead in the water and its successor, the 5200 a non-starter, Activision put most of its efforts into computer titles. High ...
  66. [66]
    ATARI VIDEO GAME UNIT INTRODUCED - The New York Times
    May 22, 1984 · ... Atari. The company, based in Sunnyvale, Calif., lost more than $500 million in the price war that devastated the home computer and video ...Missing: write- | Show results with:write-
  67. [67]
    5200 Sales 86-90 - AtariAge Forums
    May 28, 2009 · As limited as distribution may have been, some stores must have been carrying them. There were a few '86 releases (Gremlins, Rescue on Fractalus ...
  68. [68]
    Schadenfreude Fridays: The Atari 5200, the Console that Never ...
    Apr 17, 2015 · The Atari 5200 was supposed to be the next step forward for an early video game giant. Instead, the company tried to pretend it never existed, even after ...
  69. [69]
    Excavating the Video-Game Industry's Past | The New Yorker
    Apr 29, 2014 · As Ray Kassar, then Atari's C.E.O., recounts in Steven Kent's “The Ultimate History of Video Games,” Warner's C.E.O., Steve Ross, insisted ...
  70. [70]
    Atari 5200 (Director's Cut) - Console Wars of the Past - YouTube
    Sep 25, 2011 · This is the director's cut version of the NewGenGamers.com's series that helps bring to life the look and feel of classic systems through ...
  71. [71]
    "The Angry Video Game Nerd" Atari 5200 (TV Episode 2007) - IMDb
    Rating 8.1/10 (324) Atari 5200: Directed by James Rolfe. With James Rolfe. The Nerd shows clips of various games to the Atari 2600 and expresses how it defines the term classic ...Missing: documentaries | Show results with:documentaries
  72. [72]
    Atari 5200 System Prices Atari 5200 | Compare Loose, CIB & New ...
    Free delivery 14-day returnsAtari 5200 Console Bundle With Games 100% COMPLETE, Cover Included. Original [eBay], $249.99, Report It. 2025-05-16. Time Warp shows photos of completed sales ...
  73. [73]
    Atari 5200 Type-2 Self Centering Joystick
    Gone was the rubber hood which wore away within hours with a newer thicker rubber design and added were spring loaded potentiometers. While videogaming ...
  74. [74]
    Atari 5200: Castle Crisis [Bryan Edewaard/Atari Age] (Homebrew)
    Feb 6, 2014 · Atari 5200 Super System review of the video game "Castle Crisis" by Atari Age. This is a "Warlords" clone homebrew game that was released in ...
  75. [75]
    Rethinking the Sound of Early Video Games - Strong Museum
    Sep 21, 2025 · More telling still is a 1980s press release for Atari's 5200 console, which trumpets two “revolutionary features”: a Trak-Ball controller and a ...Missing: cultural home nostalgia revivals
  76. [76]
    Atari800
    Atari800 is the emulator of Atari 8-bit computer systems and 5200 game console for Unix, Linux, Amiga, MS-DOS, Atari TT/Falcon, MS-Windows, MS WinCE, Sega ...
  77. [77]
    Let's Talk Atari 5200 Emulation - LaunchBox Community Forums
    Jan 17, 2017 · You have to press f1 to get to the Atari800 options (if it brings up the retroarch options just press f1 again) from the atari800 options go to ...How to Play Atari 5200 Games on Your Computer (Kat5200) - NoobsAtari 5200 and RetroArch 1.74 - Page 2 - TroubleshootingMore results from forums.launchbox-app.comMissing: size functionality sequence diagnostics
  78. [78]
    MiSTer-devel/Atari800_MiSTer: Atari 800XL/65XE/130XE for MiSTer
    Atari 5200 and Atari 800/800XL/65XE/130XE for MiSTer Platform. This is the port of Atari 800XL core by Mark Watson.Atari 5200 And Atari... · Usage Notes · Pbi Bios
  79. [79]
    Console Cores - MiSTer FPGA Documentation
    Here is a list of the console cores that are in the MiSTer Github Repository. ... Atari 5200 SuperSystem ./Atari5200. Atari7800, Atari 7800 ProSystem. Atari 2600 ...
  80. [80]
    [No-Intro] Atari - 5200 (20250406-021055) - Internet Archive
    Aug 10, 2020 · This item does not appear to have any files that can be experienced on Archive.org. Please download files in this item to interact with them on ...
  81. [81]
    Atari 5200 Manuals - AtariAge
    At present we do not yet have scans of many 2600 manuals online, as it takes some time to scan, crop and resize the large number (hundreds!) of manuals ...Missing: preservation | Show results with:preservation
  82. [82]
    Atari 5200 SuperSystem ROM set - Internet Archive
    Mar 21, 2022 · Total sales of the 5200 were reportedly in excess of 1 million units, far short of its predecessor's sales of over 30 million. Hardware. The ...Missing: article | Show results with:article
  83. [83]
    Is Downloading Retro Video Game ROMs Ever Legal? - How-To Geek
    Downloading ROMs you don't own is illegal. A fair use argument exists if you own the game, but sharing ROMs is illegal. Emulators are legal.
  84. [84]
    Basic 10-liner comp 2025 - Atari 5200 / 8-bit Programming
    Jan 26, 2025 · 10 liner competition has been announced. February, 1st to April, 5th 2025 www.x.com/Basic10L BASIC 10Liner Contest 2025 by BASIC 10Liner.Missing: issues | Show results with:issues