Thinking about getting back into Atari

[Dire 51]

Maybe it's just the result of a wave of nostalgia recently, but I've been thinking about picking up an Atari 7800 sometime in the near future, along with a nice selection of games. I used to have a sizeable 2600 and 7800 collection until six years ago, when I had no choice but to sell it all (long story).

After going through an old list of what I used to own for both systems, I've come up with a list of what I'd like back, based mostly on nostalgia, but also what would still hold my attention these days. However, I know nothing of what the state of Atari collecting is like these days. I'm sure a fair portion of these games are dirt common, but others I'm not so sure. I don't want to use eBay as a way to gauge prices either. Anyone care to help me out here with what the scene is like these days, at least as far as where I'll run into trouble? Any info would be much appreciated.

BTW, I'll be looking strictly for loose carts, as I'll be buying to play, not collect.

2600

Atari:

Adventure
Asteroids
Berzerk
Crystal Castles
Defender
Dig Dug
Haunted House
Jr. Pac-Man
Jungle Hunt
Kangaroo
Krull
Missile Command
Moon Patrol
Ms. Pac-Man
Phoenix
Snoopy and the Red Baron
Space Invaders
Stargate
Superman
Vanguard
Video Pinball
Yar's Revenge

Activision:

Barnstorming
Ghostbusters
H.E.R.O.
Megamania
Pitfall!
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns
Pressure Cooker
Seaquest
Stampede

Imagic:

Cosmic Ark
Fathom
Laser Gates
Riddle of the Sphinx

Parker Bros.:

Frogger
Montezuma's Revenge
Popeye
Q*Bert
Sky Skipper
Spider-Man
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Death Star Battle
Tutankham

U.S. Games:

Commando Raid
Space Jockey

Epyx:

California Games

Coleco:

Carnival

M Network:

Frogs and Flies
Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man

Xonox:

Ghost Manor

Data Age:

Journey: Escape

CBS Electronics:

Mountain King

Games by Apollo:

Shark Attack

20th Century Fox:

Turmoil

7800

Atari:

Desert Falcon
Robotron: 2084
Food Fight
F-18 Hornet
Ace Of Aces

[Pantechnicon]

pm sent.

[Dire 51]

Thanks! :)

[Vectorman0]

Ghostbusters
H.E.R.O.
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns
Laser Gates
Montezuma's Revenge
Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man
Ghost Manor


These are the only games I would really value at above $5 each, some of these being more expensive that others. Everything else you should be able to get pretty dirt cheap. The Atari market is dead.

[Steve W]

Sky Skipper
Ewwwww... you actually want to play Sky Skipper? What kind of head injury did you sustain that makes you find any enjoyment in that game? The programmer for the game only got the job because nobody else at Parker Bros. could stomach playing the arcade game...

Get a Starpath Supercharger and track down the audio files for the games. Completely worth it, especially when you compare their version of Frogger to the Parker Bros. version.

[chrisbid]

no dragonfire on the list?

[Dire 51]

These are the only games I would really value at above $5 each, some of these being more expensive that others. Everything else you should be able to get pretty dirt cheap. The Atari market is dead.
This sounds good for me then. :D


Ewwwww... you actually want to play Sky Skipper? What kind of head injury did you sustain that makes you find any enjoyment in that game? The programmer for the game only got the job because nobody else at Parker Bros. could stomach playing the arcade game...

Get a Starpath Supercharger and track down the audio files for the games. Completely worth it, especially when you compare their version of Frogger to the Parker Bros. version.
I actually had fun playing it when I was a kid. That's all I can say, really.


no dragonfire on the list?
Never played it.

[Windancer]

Thats awesome! Hope you get all your lookin for the Atari's rock I sometimes think about going back to the Jag myself just havent jumped back in yet. The PCEngine has been keeping me busy

[Steve W]

I actually had fun playing it when I was a kid. That's all I can say, really.
That must be it. I never had the chance to play it back when it was new (and I don't ever remember seeing the original arcade cab) so I only played it as an adult. I think the older I get, I become more dismissive of games that don't grab my interest right away. Probably something to do with our society and our shrinking attention spans.

It's a shame you don't live around the Dallas area. I could give you a big ol' list of stores to hit, most likely you would have your list filled fairly quick. In the past few years we've exploded with places to get Atari games. It's awesome!

[Dire 51]

Thats awesome! Hope you get all your lookin for the Atari's rock I sometimes think about going back to the Jag myself just havent jumped back in yet. The PCEngine has been keeping me busy
Thanks... and you've just reminded me of another console I want to get back at some point. :D I'd love to get another Duo.


That must be it. I never had the chance to play it back when it was new (and I don't ever remember seeing the original arcade cab) so I only played it as an adult. I think the older I get, I become more dismissive of games that don't grab my interest right away. Probably something to do with our society and our shrinking attention spans.
I've noticed that myself with some games I've ended up trying out years after they were released. Not all, but there have definitely been a few.


It's a shame you don't live around the Dallas area. I could give you a big ol' list of stores to hit, most likely you would have your list filled fairly quick. In the past few years we've exploded with places to get Atari games. It's awesome!
That would awesome. Too bad that's not the case up here in Southeastern Connecticut, at least not that I know of. Anyone from this area that knows otherwise?

[swlovinist]

I dont know if it is still for sale, but over on atariage the Harmony cart will help satisfy you gaming needs for the 2600(original releases). One cart that takes up zero room that can be used to play 2600 games on an actual system. I have one and they are totally awsome. It is great for people that just want to play the games. As for a collector myself, it is nice to be able to play rare 2600 games without having to worry about tampering with a rare cart.

[Dire 51]

That's not a bad idea, but part of my desire to get back into Atari is because of the nostalgia - not just for the games, but the actual carts, manuals and so forth. Still, I'll keep it in mind, because it does sound nice to have.

[MachineGex]

I dont know if it is still for sale, but over on atariage the Harmony cart will help satisfy you gaming needs for the 2600(original releases). One cart that takes up zero room that can be used to play 2600 games on an actual system. I have one and they are totally awsome. It is great for people that just want to play the games. As for a collector myself, it is nice to be able to play rare 2600 games without having to worry about tampering with a rare cart.

I have the Harmony cart and have been playing more Atari in the last month than ever. Love this product, must buy for any ATARI fan!

[Johnny Pow!]

BTW, I'll be looking strictly for loose carts, as I'll be buying to play, not collect.
That right there makes you my kind of collector. The true value of a game for me is in the enjoyment of playing it.

[Dire 51]

The true value of a game for me is in the enjoyment of playing it.
I couldn't agree more. And sharing my favorite classics with my kids is another plus.

[whoisKeel]

Try Craigslist. I picked up my first Atari a year to two ago. I think I paid something like $30 for the Atari and 20-30 games. Then I picked up another lot of 30 or 40 for about the same price, with a few overlaps. You should end up with extra joysticks and paddles (get good paddles!) too. The Craigslist way you won't have to pay shipping, and I bet you can find a lot or two and get at least half those games you listed. (Most of those are common, though I'm no Atari expert)

[Steve W]

I have the Harmony cart and have been playing more Atari in the last month than ever. Love this product, must buy for any ATARI fan!
I should look into getting one of these. I've got a bunch of ROMs from unreleased and abandoned games that I can play in emulation easily, but there's just no comparison to playing them on the original console. For example, Ixion by Sega. (http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/ixion/ixion.htm) I played it at a classic game convention, loved it but was saddened that Atari Age couldn't legally reproduce it, and someone got in contact with me and sold me a repro. Totally worth it. But there's a lot more games out there and I just can't afford to buy reproductions of all the ones I'd like. If the Harmony cart isn't too crazy expensive, I might go for that instead.

[Dire 51]

Try Craigslist. I picked up my first Atari a year to two ago. I think I paid something like $30 for the Atari and 20-30 games. Then I picked up another lot of 30 or 40 for about the same price, with a few overlaps. You should end up with extra joysticks and paddles (get good paddles!) too. The Craigslist way you won't have to pay shipping, and I bet you can find a lot or two and get at least half those games you listed. (Most of those are common, though I'm no Atari expert)
Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Snoopy and the red baron will cost about $15 or so, not too bad though because it's a pretty cool game.

[Dire 51]

I think that's cheaper than what I paid for it originally, so that works for me.