Atari 2600 Questions

[RASK1904]

Today I found a 2600 for 9 bucks. Yeeeeah! Luckily I picked up the 2 pieces you need to hook it to a modern T.V. a while back and I've been pickn up games eventhough I didn't have the system. So I have some pretty cool games. I have Frankenstein's Monster, Kool-Aid Man and some other uncommons about 50 total. With some common classics.But I have two questions...

1. In Porky's in the Basement/swamp area with the polevalt, the game doesn't have the bricks I need to build the latter or I can't see them? Does anyone know what to do?

2. Is the Atari 800 better? I saw some videos on you tube and it looks awsome. I just thought the systems went in order. 800, 2600, 5200, 7800, and of coures thee old 10400. :P

Thanx RASK1904

[tom]

Hi,
in answer to your questions:
1: try logging on to AtariAge.com for some hints on Porky's, you can also read the manual on the game at AA.
2: You have to seperate the computers and consoles, with the computers being more powerful most of the time.

Atari 800 is a computer, released first in 1979, there are: Atari 400, 800, 1200, 600XL, 800XL, 130XE, XE-GS. The computer cartridges do not work in the consoles.

The others are consoles: The VCS 2600 came first in 1977, the 5200 in 1982, and the 7800 in 1984/1987. Only the 7800 is compatible with the 2600 out of the box, the 5200 is compatible with the 2600 via an adapter. The 5200 resembles an Atari 800, but the carts are not interchangeable.

3: The Atari ST 520/1040 is a 16/32 bit computer.

4: And don't forget the excellent Lynx handheld, and the not-so-good Jaguar console.

Check out my Room of Doom for pictures on all machines

.

[Sniderman]

1. In Porky's in the Basement/swamp area with the polevalt, the game doesn't have the bricks I need to build the latter or I can't see them? Does anyone know what to do?

Porky's manual at AA

2. Is the Atari 800 better? I saw some videos on you tube and it looks awsome. I just thought the systems went in order. 800, 2600, 5200, 7800, and of coures thee old 10400. :P

Wow. You're horribly confused. You're mixing up the videogame consoles (2600, 5200, 7800) with their home computer lines (All of them). The numbers weren't issued consecutively.

And I don't know what the hell the 10400 is, unless you're just making a joke.

[k8track]

Don't listen to Sniderman. He's wrong. The Atari 2600 is better than the Atari 800. Exactly 3.25 times better, as a matter of fact. Do the math!

[RASK1904]

Thanx....but I have already read the manuals, I even looked for youtube videos and they explain it real easy in the manuals. Also there is only Atari 800XL videos, witch look very nice. But when I play there are no bricks in the swamp area to biuld a ladder. Unless they ate invisible or there is a way to make them apear. I was kinda wondering if someone had first hand experience with this game. With the instructions it kind seem like everyone is just repeating the same exact info. Probably whats in the actual manual.

Also I did not know that Atari had a computer line. Well I knew about it I just put all the numbers together. Ya learn something new everyday.

Thanx RASK1904

[Pantechnicon]

2. Is the Atari 800 better? I saw some videos on you tube and it looks awsome.

From a hardware standpoint, yes, the 800 line in all its varied incarnations, is a better system than the 2600. However, the 2600 has lots of great titles in and of itself, so I wouldn't ditch the system strictly in favor of the 800 line.

But the 800 games are definitely worth looking into. The thing to understand is that the titles for the Atari 400, 800, 1200, 600XL, 800XL, 130XE, XE-GS (thanks to tom for that list), and the 5200 console are all essentially the same thing. What that means is you can pick up any one of these systems and use it as a basis for exploring the 800 title line.

Personally, I'd recommend the 5200, but owning one is a labor of love since the controllers are prone to malfunction unless you're willing to invest in a refurb kit. So if you want something with a little more reliability and interchangeability (it will accept a 2600 joystick control), I'd try and hunt down an XE-GS, which will accept 400/800 carts as well as its own. It also has composite A/V built right in, making it a little easier to use with newer video sources.

Sorry to ramble. I guess there aren't enough 800 fans out there anymore, so I have to encourage new ones whenever I can