Atari 7800

[MarioMania]

Anyone have the System..I have it, Going to buy some Arcade Games for it.I been playing my 2600 Games on it..

Why does some games are hard to get it..like Pitfall..Did Atari did that so no 3 rd Party 2600 games won't fit, What's the deal on it

[Graham Mitchell]

Some 3rd party games fit. I know for a fact the 20th Century Fox carts work, as well as Parker Bros. cartridges. I'm pretty sure that Activision carts work as well. The ones I know that don't work are Imagic carts.

From what I understand, Atari under Ray Kassar felt that Activision (who arguably made the best 2600 games, period) were the scum of the earth and needed to be destroyed. This is because at that time, the concept of "licensing" hadn't really come around, so anybody could make a 2600 game without clearing it with Atari, no matter how terrible it was, and Atari saw essentially no profit when a non-Atari cart was sold because the thrid party manufacturers weren't paying licensing fees. David Crane and some of the other developers for Activision were originally Atari employees who defected when things got rediculous at Atari, which could be another reason for Atari's disdain for Activision.

I don't know whether or not that had anything to do with the compatibility issues of the 7800, because I think that was released and marketed when Jack Tramiel was in power at Atari, but it wouldn't surprise me if it did.

[Kid Ice]

Some 3rd party games fit. I know for a fact the 20th Century Fox carts work, as well as Parker Bros. cartridges. I'm pretty sure that Activision carts work as well. The ones I know that don't work are Imagic carts.

On the 7800? I played Demon Attack on a 7800 today.

[Trebuken]

The 7800 was the second system I collected for (32x was my starter collection). It's really just an extension of the 2600, a mild upgrade. Has some good games and small library of mostly easy to find games. I just need the elusive Tank Command to complete my collectio, and I hope to spend more time playing some of the games I have for it.

Anyone able to suggest some good 7800 games?

What do I need to know about the light gun to use it?

Later,
Trebuken

[Pantechnicon]

There are a few 2600 Activision titles that don't work. Pitfall or Pitfall II work fine. No issues with Imagic either. Some of this has to do with the console revision of your 7800

There's an old hardware FAQ here (http://db.gamefaqs.com/console/a2600/file/atari_2600_5200_7800.txt) that goes into a little more detail about known compatibility problems. Give it a look.

[ubersaurus]

It's the 3rd party cart sizes. A good number of them fit snugly, or oddly, in the 7800. Tigervision carts just plain don't fit. I know a number of my activision carts only work if I put them in at a certain angle.

As for good 7800 games, there's a slew. Robotron is fantastic, if you can find a way to keep two controllers from slip-sliding around. Asteroids, Centipede, Food Fight, Ikari Warriors, Commando, Xevious, Dig Dug, Mario Bros, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr, Rampage, Ms. Pac-Man, and Joust are some of my favorite ports on any console, and I also found Scrapyard Dog, Ballblazer, Hat Trick, and Crossbow to be pretty entertaining as well.

I've been playing a lot of Beef Drop lately, which just came out. Fantastic port of Burgertime.

[digitalpress]

There's an old hardware FAQ here (http://db.gamefaqs.com/console/a2600/file/atari_2600_5200_7800.txt) that goes into a little more detail about known compatibility problems. Give it a look.

Hmm... that link seems to be down, but we've got the FAQ on DP as well:
http://www.digitpress.com/faq/a2600.htm

From personal experience the only 2600 games that consistently don't work are Tigervision carts (unless you snap off the clips, yikes). They're often a tight fit but all Activision games I've ever tried work just fine.

[7th lutz]

The 7800 was the second system I collected for (32x was my starter collection). It's really just an extension of the 2600, a mild upgrade. Has some good games and small library of mostly easy to find games. I just need the elusive Tank Command to complete my collectio, and I hope to spend more time playing some of the games I have for it.

Anyone able to suggest some good 7800 games?

What do I need to know about the light gun to use it?

Later,
Trebuken
Besides the games mentioned, get midnight Mutants also. I think the 7800 version of Q-bert is going to released soon. So be a look out for that one. Also a Mrs. Pac-man hack called Pac Nestor was announced with it being worked on and Pac Nestor could be released in cart form. I think you should go on atariage and check the hack section for the 7800 time to time. It is possible a few months there are no new hacks then a there would be another hack and it could be announced for cartridge.

[6502]

The 7800 is worth it for Food Fight alone. I also loved the Robotron and Ms. Pac-Man ports. Commando wasn't bad either. I just wish the Galaga port had turned out better.

[bangtango]

The 7800 was the second system I collected for (32x was my starter collection). It's really just an extension of the 2600, a mild upgrade. Has some good games and small library of mostly easy to find games. I just need the elusive Tank Command to complete my collectio, and I hope to spend more time playing some of the games I have for it.

Anyone able to suggest some good 7800 games?

What do I need to know about the light gun to use it?

Later,
Trebuken

Out of all the versions of Xevious I ever played, the 7800 had the best one outside of the arcade. A superb port.

Double Dragon is kind of cool on the system, too.

[Trebuken]

I just placed an order for a RF Demodulator. This will allow me to hook up my older systems to my monitor (PVM-2530) without getting them modded. I'll get the 7800 up and runnig with a little Xevious as soon as my purchase arrives.

Thanks,
Trebuken

[idrougge]

I just placed an order for a RF Demodulator. This will allow me to hook up my older systems to my monitor (PVM-2530) without getting them modded.

But the picture will still be RF-quality...

[Trebuken]

I just placed an order for a RF Demodulator. This will allow me to hook up my older systems to my monitor (PVM-2530) without getting them modded.

But the picture will still be RF-quality...

Yeah, but there's no RGB mod and a composite/S-Video with simulated stereo is planned (Old School Gamer) for some time down the road.

Later,
Trebuken

[Trebuken]

I just placed an order for a RF Demodulator. This will allow me to hook up my older systems to my monitor (PVM-2530) without getting them modded.

But the picture will still be RF-quality...

Yeah, but there's no RGB mod and a composite/S-Video with simulated stereo is planned (Old School Gamer) for some time down the road.

Later,
Trebuken

[vintagegamecrazy]

Double Dragon is kind of cool on the system, too

Actually Double Dragon Sucked on the 7800, collectors only game IMO. Activision didn't care with that port.


Play Water Ski, that's a great game!

[j_factor]

I got a 7800 just for Food Fight. Awesome game.

[Nature Boy]

The 7800 (and 5200) were harder for me to find but find them I did!

I have the Cuttle Cart 2 for the 7800 which I couldn't possibly love any more. There's nothing like being able to play anything you want on the real hardware :)

[Kroogah]

GET FOOD FIGHT as others have mentioned. This drove me to buy a 7800.

But I stuck with it because it has the best ports of GALAGA, MS. PAC-MAN, JOUST, CENTIPEDE, ROBOTRON 2084, and XEVIOUS I've ever played.

The 7800 is my favorite classic system. (though the only thing holding Colecovision back is those crummy standard controllers)

[Trebuken]

The 7800 (and 5200) were harder for me to find but find them I did!

I have the Cuttle Cart 2 for the 7800 which I couldn't possibly love any more. There's nothing like being able to play anything you want on the real hardware :)

Wish those Cuttle Carts were more common, and less expensive...

Later,
Trebuken

[7th lutz]

Wish those Cuttle Carts were more common, and less expensive...

Later,
Trebuken
The problem is those Carts were first made in 2003 or 2004. When they first came out they were more expenesive then they are now. You got a 7800 way late for a Curtle Cart. If you were an atariage member, you would've got a discount, something atariage members took advantage, when it happened last year. There were 2 different times that curtle cart 2 was made from the time they first came out till now.

I agree the Curtle Cart 2 was too expensive and I didn't get. What happened was the the cost of making Curtle Cart 2.

[MarioMania]

I found a 7800 with the Exp. Port at the Value Center at $15..what the diffents again..

[7th lutz]

I found a 7800 with the Exp. Port at the Value Center at $15..what the diffents again..
I think you found a 1984 model. To my understanding, this model has an easier time to fit 3rd party cartridges in and have them work.

The other difference was The exp. port with the 7800 was made for a Laser disc add-on for having games like dragon's lair and the later 7800 system's didn't have this due to the add-on nver came out. There are the two differences.

[Nature Boy]

Wish those Cuttle Carts were more common, and less expensive...

The price was definitely steep (I preordered the CC2, so I paid full 'launch' price if you will :) ) but worth it in my opinion.

It wasn't money that went to a big corporation, it was to someone who is expanding my hobby in ways I enjoy, and supporting that is important if you want it to continue.

And as I said, the hardware is amazing. The OS itself has even seen some updating after release, so that I can now have submenu's on my CC2. It's great being able to scroll through games by publisher, year, or however I feel like sorting them :)

[Aswald]

Anyone have the System..I have it, Going to buy some Arcade Games for it.I been playing my 2600 Games on it..

Why does some games are hard to get it..like Pitfall..Did Atari did that so no 3 rd Party 2600 games won't fit, What's the deal on it


Yeah, I own one. Had it since 1988.

This console has been described as a neglected child which entered the race limping. Cause: a fatal condition known as "Tramielitis," which is usually terminal.

Even so, there are some good arcade-to-home translations for it: Joust*, Robotron: 2084, Xevious, Food Fight, Dig Dug, Hat Trick, Millipede, Centipede, Pole Position 2, Crossbow, Ikari Warriors, and the arcade-style, Zaxxon-like Desert Falcon.


* This was the reason I purchased it. However, had the Atarisoft CV version been completed and released, I never would've gotten a 7800.

[Dr. Morbis]

But I stuck with it because it has the best ports of GALAGA, MS. PAC-MAN, JOUST, CENTIPEDE, ROBOTRON 2084, and XEVIOUS I've ever played.
You're waaaaay off on Galaga, and Tengen's Ms. Pac-Man for NES gives the 7800 version a run for its money, but I certainly agree with all the rest. And add Commando too; I like it over the NES version.

[Chuplayer]

Some 3rd party games fit. I know for a fact the 20th Century Fox carts work, as well as Parker Bros. cartridges. I'm pretty sure that Activision carts work as well. The ones I know that don't work are Imagic carts.

On the 7800? I played Demon Attack on a 7800 today.

I can also confirm that. I didn't play it today, but I played that so much on my 7800 when I was younger it's a wonder the cart still works!

Can't say the same for Space Jockey, though :/

[Mitch]

I just placed an order for a RF Demodulator. This will allow me to hook up my older systems to my monitor (PVM-2530) without getting them modded.

But the picture will still be RF-quality...

Yeah, but there's no RGB mod and a composite/S-Video with simulated stereo is planned (Old School Gamer) for some time down the road.

Later,
Trebuken

Hmm, my RGB 7800 looks real nice hooked up to my Atari SC1435 monitor. :D

Mitch