PAL 7800 differences

[swlovinist]

I was just wondering the differences in packaging and cosmetics of both boxes and carts when dealing with atari 7800. Can the US 7800 play 7800 PAL carts? Is the PAL version of 7800 games look different? Any info would be greatly appreicated, as I am trying to pursue a 7800 collection and am only a mere 10 carts away

[fergojisan]

I bought a PAL version of one of the Absolute games on eBay. Its packaging reminds me of the Disney videos packaging; it opens like a book and the cart fits inside its little plastic house. And if you take out the inlay card, the instructions are printed on the back. It's a lot nicer than the huuuuge US boxes that don't fit in with the Atari and Activision games. :angry:

Good luck with the collection! Do you need Mean 18 too? LOL

[swlovinist]

Yes I need Mean 18 and Tank Command. I got real lucky about 6 years ago and scored a boxed 7800 with about 40 games boxed for $50.00. I am just going after some of the harder ones now. I even have the boxed Sentinnel and signed Klax carts released a couple years back. Give me 6 months and I will have another complete set. At this point in my collecting, I am just happy to add anything and still hold onto what I have!

[tom]

I'm four titles off the complete 7800 collection: F14, Title Match Wrestling, Tank Command, Klax.
Whilst I have a UK source for F14 and Wrestling (Telegames UK), but lack of funds at the moment, Tank Command and Klax are USA-only games and a pig to come by (Got a US source, but he doesn't want to ship to Europe).

My other USA-only purchases were Asteroids, Robotron 2084, Touchdown Football, Wintergames, RS:Baseball, Rampage, Water Ski.
Asteroids is built in European machines, therefore the cart was never released here in Europe. The others mentioned didn't make it to Europe, Baseball and Football were irrelevant anyway to the European market.
Anyway, none of the USA carts I have work in the PAL console, and I believe it is the same vica-versa.

Telegames UK is a good place for 7800 carts, but he is expensive (Mean 18 is 24 pounds ($43) & shipping.

Anyway, check out my 7800 carts for box comparising on:

http://videogamecollectors.com/gallery/album1-for-Tom?page=2

[Mayhem]

I've got a complete collection here. Well every title at least. Most of them are PAL, I've got all of the Atari official releases in PAL. I've got most of the third party stuff in PAL where it was available, apart from I think Pete Rose Baseball and one of the air combat games; I have those NTSC instead.

Anything not released in PAL I own in NTSC naturally.

Over the years I've tried many NTSC 7800 games in my PAL 7800 and there tends to be three outcomes:

1) Plays fine, maybe the odd graphics glitch
2) Plays, but major graphics glitching
3) Crashes/locks up on boot or shortly after

Seeing as I own a CC2, I could do a thorough test of all games on both PAL and NTSC 7800s (as I own both) if I had the time.

Okay actually technically I don't have a complete set now I think about it. I don't have an Asteroids cart LOL

Maybe I'll get one...

When I move and unpack all my 7800 stuff (it's currently in the loft) I'll be able to figure out what I still want PAL wise.

Fergojisan talking about the PAL Absolute game, is refering to the HES release of it (that's the same HES in Australia that released lots of 2600 games). They did license Activision titles for sale on the C64, and so seems likely they got 7800 ones at some point too. All HES own releases come in the plastic snapcase with inlay sleeve, having the instructions on the back of the sleeve.

[Mitch]

To follow up on what Mayhem said, he is totally correct about the NTSC carts on a PAL 7800 console.

Unfortunately, because the NTSC 7800 has a BIOS software lockout, you can't play any PAL 7800 games on an NTSC 7800 unless you mod your 7800 to use one of the alternate BIOS versions. After you do that then Mayhem's comments apply to the NTSC console as well.

Incidentally, I have a complete 7800 collection for both NTSC and PAL. :D

As far as cosmetic differences go, there are no differences on the Atari brand carts, manuals, and boxes. There are a few ways to tell the difference though, the majority of the PAL carts have a small "P" sticker on the back of the cart. Also, alot of the shrinkwrapped PAL games have a French manual inside the shrinkwrap on the back of the box. I've also seen some German manuals which would obviously be PAL. :)
The HES/SALU releases are not cosmetically the same as their Activision/Absolute conterparts

Hope that helps.

Mitch