Atari XE Game System Questions/Compatibility

[DreamTR]

If I obtain an Atari XE Game System (the one that allowed you to play Bug Hunt and came with a Zapper), what games can I play on it? I see that you can play XE games in the blue boxes, but what else will work 100% on my TV? Is there a list of all the XE games that ever came out in the BLUE box?

[icbrkr]

If I obtain an Atari XE Game System (the one that allowed you to play Bug Hunt and came with a Zapper), what games can I play on it? I see that you can play XE games in the blue boxes, but what else will work 100% on my TV? Is there a list of all the XE games that ever came out in the BLUE box?

Except for a few very early titles (I can't remember off the top of my head what they are), all Atari 8 bit computer carts will run on it.

[DreamTR]

Except for a few very early titles (I can't remember off the top of my head what they are), all Atari 8 bit computer carts will run on it.


Can you specify? I'm not up to speed on what kind of Atari 8 bit computer carts there are out there.

400 800 ?

[icbrkr]

everything in the Atari 8 bit line is more or less compatible.

[olliesfollies]

Ah the zapper, I've never had one myself but heard they were pretty fun.
There are different types of carts for the Atari 8 bit, the silver/grey ones that came in the blue box (eg, Fight Night)..these will work on the XL and XE series.

Also, before this, there are ones in silver boxes, these are usually black carts, eg, Missile Command.

To further complicate matters there are carts like Joust, that have a silver label and come in a silver box (small or large), its purely cosmetic.

For the XE, 99% of carts out there will work fine. There are some that were made really early on that will only run on a 400 or 800, but there are very few of these.

I personally recommend Joust, its awesome!
And there's the Last Starfighter proto, that's good as well. I used to have this on disk back in the day (it wasn't an official release).

[y-bot]

Isn't it like Gorf, Wizard of Wor or some other early CBS that only work on the 400/800? There must be a list somewhere.

y-bot

[icbrkr]

There is to a certain extent - the listings in the DP Guide (and online guide, just checked) say if they're not compatible (and you're right, Gorf is one of em):

"Based on the 1981 Midway coin-op. This title only works on the older 400/800 models."

[PingvinBlueJeans]

Is there a list of all the XE games that ever came out in the BLUE box?
http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=122178


I personally recommend Joust, its awesome!
And there's the Last Starfighter proto, that's good as well.
I doubt he's planning on playing many of them (if any).

[boatofcar]

Most of the blue box titles for the XE are actually really good (Mario Bros. in particular is excellent)--it's too bad they were released well into the 16-bit era of computers and forgotten. You can still buy NOS copies of most of them on ebay.