Atari XEGS or 7800?

[OldSchoolGamer]

One will eventually be my next goal, the 7800 has 2600 compatibiliy and I could use that as I've no other means to play those, but the XEGS console seems to have interesting titles too............
What are your suggestions/opinions?

[PingvinBlueJeans]

If you're just getting into Atari and don't currently have means to play 2600 titles, then I suggest you grab the 7800. You'll find an abundance of great 2600 and 7800 titles at very cheap prices.

You really should pick up the XEGS at some point though...the Atari 8-bit computers were some of the finest gaming machines ever produced.

[ssjlance]

I got my Atari 7800 with 42 games for $10. One of my favorite finds. Definitely a great system, but I've heard the games on the XEGS are superior to either 2600/7800. Don't know for sure, as it's only what I've heard.

[Pantechnicon]

I've got both, and I say go after the 7800 for the cross-compatibility with the 2600 as well as the unique 7800 titles you can get. XEGS offers little in the way of unique titles that aren't/weren't available on the 800 series computers or even the 5200. Put another way: the 7800 is a unique library whereas the XEGS was yet another way Atari opted to skin the 8-bit cat.

[boatofcar]

I'd say get the 7800 first. It's a lot easier to find 2600/7800 carts than XEGS carts, although the blue box XE games are pretty freakin awesome.

[aus_e]

XE's never had the range to compete against the other 8 bit computers of the day.
I remember going to the australian launch, atari had invited me, good excuse for a drink, but they never really made it to the stores in australia...

[tom]

7800 for 2600 compatibility, but XEGS also has a cartridge catalogue of almost 500 titles, get both. Or get an XE/fdd and you can add the disk software base to the list (~5000 titles)

[swlovinist]

go with the 7800. Easier on the budget, and you can also get the system modded for S-video out.

[BydoEmpire]

I bought my 7800 around '87, and didn't get an XEGS until about a year or two ago. Of the two, I've enjoy the XE more. There's just so much great software - Star Raiders, Necromancer, Load Runner, Blue Max, etc. The games are a little harder to find, but they're still pretty cheap. The 7800 definitely has some solid games (on top of 2600 compatibility), but I think the XEGS offers more. I would get the XEGS and then get a 7800 or 2600 later, but you can't go wrong with either.

[treismac]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfIMy-ebZRk

Well... what do the resident Atariphiles of Digital Press think four years later?

I just grabbed another 7800 PLUS a power connector (my other 7800 had no power), controllers, and Ms. Pac-Man for $35, and I plan on nabbing some arcade ports and probably Karateka and Ninja Golf plus the European controller in the near future. Predictably, this recent purchase has reawakened my old itch for owning an Atari 800 computer with its old arcade ports, which lead me to this old thread. So, port vs. port (Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac-Man, Dig Dug, etc.) how do the two systems stack up?

[Greg2600]

7800 for sure. XEGS and its games are too expensive in comparison.

[MachineGex]

I have extra systems for both if you are interested. The 7800 has about 10 games as well.

[Steve W]

I plan on nabbing some arcade ports and probably Karateka

Errrr... I'd reconsider that if I were you. Just poke around for some reviews and you'll see why.

I personally loved the 7800 and had an Atari 130XE to play XEGS games on, and the 7800 has a far more accessible library. Atari 8-bit computer games, at least in my particular area, are insanely difficult to come across in the wild, whereas I know stores spread across the Dallas/Fort Worth area where I can pick up 7800 carts. On the incredibly rare occasion that I find Atari 8-bit carts, they're usually early common titles and hardly ever third-party or XEGS era releases. It's such a shame since I've always wanted to develop my XEGS collection since it has some interesting titles in the lineup.

[Atarileaf]

The XEGS isn't as well built as an 800XL for example. I understand why people prefer it - composite out built in and it does look like a console (If Easter made a game system, this is what it would look like) but the 800XL is a solid system that plays almost all 8-bit carts and I think is a better choice and may be cheaper and easier to find than an XEGS. As to the games being superior, many do have greater depth outside of the arcade ports, but remember, technically its an Atari 5200 internally so there's really no leap in technology between the XEGS or 7800.

Both are great systems and I own and love them both. If you're just starting, yes go with the 7800 first. Most games are dirt common and cheap and the library is small and easy to collect for. Common 8-bit carts are easy to come by too and it has a very solid library as well.

[OldSchoolGamer]

I have extra systems for both if you are interested. The 7800 has about 10 games as well.


I have since obtained a 7800 thanks. Between upcoming Christmas, the fact that I am in debt and have been unemployed for too long even though I would still love an XE system I must resist your offer at this time. Thanks anyway.

[Collector_Gaming]

I still need to get myself a 8 bit computer. I have a cart i scored awhile back at a goodwill with no way to test it :( (along with the 5200 which I have a good number of carts for from a bundle deal i made awhile back.. and the dream cast which i now have a game for... and the colecovision *DAMNIT! NEED MOAR CONSOLES!*)

[treismac]

Errrr... I'd reconsider that [purchasing Karateka] if I were you. Just poke around for some reviews and you'll see why.

Wow. I picked up the game in a lot and, uhhhm, yeah. Unless there is a trick to playing the game, Karateka is very, very broken. With that said, its color label is one of the most stunning in my burgeoning black and white labeled lineup of 7800 games. Thanks for the warning, though. :)

I need to grab the Famicom version of Karateka, which actually is playable from what I've experienced via emulator.

[Steve W]

Also avoid Impossible Mission. It's actually a good game, but they screwed up the programming, so some of the items you have to search for are unreachable behind items that can't be searched. It's un-winnable. Allegedly, once they discovered their error, there was supposedly a late production run with fixed code, although nobody seems to have a copy. The European version is supposed to be the corrected one.

The late releases are the most interesting for the 7800. My favorite is Midnight Mutants, which is like an isometric version of the game Adventure with some lightweight RPG elements thrown in. Ninja Golf is a side scroller set on a golf course (watch out for the sharks in the water traps), and Alien Brigade is an Operation Wolf-type game. Basketbrawl is (at least from my point of view) is pretty fun.

[Atarileaf]

Also avoid Impossible Mission. It's actually a good game, but they screwed up the programming, so some of the items you have to search for are unreachable behind items that can't be searched. It's un-winnable.

So the games name is strangely appropriate ;)