15 replies to this topic

[SlowCoder]

I'm considering getting a 7800 as my next console. I have never seen one 1st hand, so it's a bit of a mystery to me.

- How popular was the 7800? I'm guessing much less so than the 2600. This would lend to my 2nd question ...
- What average price should I expect to pay for a working, good cosmetic condition, 7800 with 2 controllers?
- What would be recommendations for a few good games? I guess a top 10 might be a good place to start.
- When considering a purchase, is there anything special I need to consider? Common functionality problems, etc.?

Thanks.

[nonner242]

SlowCoder, on Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:29 PM, said:

I'm considering getting a 7800 as my next console. I have never seen one 1st hand, so it's a bit of a mystery to me.

- How popular was the 7800? I'm guessing much less so than the 2600. This would lend to my 2nd question ...
- What average price should I expect to pay for a working, good cosmetic condition, 7800 with 2 controllers?
- What would be recommendations for a few good games? I guess a top 10 might be a good place to start.
- When considering a purchase, is there anything special I need to consider? Common functionality problems, etc.?

Thanks.

I love my 7800!

Couldnt tell you what a price is, been away for awhile. My guess $25-35ish in good condition and 2 decent controllers and cables.

Games:(non-homebrew)
Mario Bros
Asteroids
Food fight
Ninja Golf
Midnight Mutants
Joust
Robotron 2084
Xevious
Double Dragon
Dig Dug
That a good mix you'd enjoy.

Look for one with expan port on side. Bonus! If not no real big deal.

Its a great system, lots of good homebrew...and more comin!

[toiletunes]

The 7800 power supply is unique, but a new replacement can be purchased from atariguide.com

[Austin]

7800 systems are not too expensive. I paid just a little over $40 for mine last year, CIB on eBay. I know others have paid slightly more as well as slightly less. You shouldn't have to pay much at all for a decent boxed one if you keep your eye out.

Games-wise, what attracts me to the 7800 is it's large library of quality arcade conversions that can all be had extremely cheap: The Donkey Kongs, Dig Dug, Asteroids, Centipede, Ms. Pac-Man, Xevious, Food Fight, Mario Bros., etc. etc. It has some other unique titles like Midnight Mutants, Ninja Golf and Scrapyard Dog, but I keep it around mainly for the nice arcade conversions.

[Trekker_1138]

I bought mine bare off Craigslist for $15. Then I bought a ps, video, and controller for $15 off of a fellow AA'er. Great system. You may want to score some Sega Master System controllers for it, though. And don't forget, it will play most 2600 games, so you can get the 2600 classics (Berzerk, Combat, Yar's Revenge, etc.).

[SlowCoder]

Well, that kind of pricing isn't too bad. I was expecting closer to $100 for a system with some games. Can't complain there!

Yeah, I was aware it plays 2600 games. I've got 4 2600 consoles though, so that's not really a big consideration. I just have this little blank hole on the shelf in the closet that needs a storage box that says "Atari 7800". And maybe a little something to drive the wife a little crazier.

[DracIsBack]

SlowCoder, on Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:29 PM, said:

- How popular was the 7800? I'm guessing much less so than the 2600. This would lend to my 2nd question ...

Atari only had one market dominating system and that was the 2600. The 5200 did ok against its primary competitors, but was not the dominator that the 2600 was. The 7800 trailed the NES, but still sold almost 4 million units in the US (according to Atari internal sales figures that Curt found) but sold more than the Lynx, XE game system and Jaguar that followed it by a substantial margin.

Quote

- What would be recommendations for a few good games? I guess a top 10 might be a good place to start.

It's a bit subjective, but I'll tell you what I liked:


Xevious
Food Fight
Ball Blazer
Midnight Mutants
Commando
Scrapyard Dog
Ikari Warriors
Alien Brigade
Double Dragon (though I think it should have been MUCH better than it was)
Plutos (unreleased but variants are around)
robotron 2084
Xenophobe
Tower Toppler
Basketbrawl
Joust
Ms Pac Man



Plus lots of the homebrews.

Personally, I'd avoid like the plague:
- Karateka, Fight Night, Real Sports Baseball, Touchdown Football, Tomcat, Title Match Pro Wrestling

Quote

Common functionality problems, etc.?

Biggest issue I've seen is that the power supply is proprietary and can break easily. The joysticks don't hold up well to abuse either.

[SlowCoder]

I've heard there is an expansion slot on some 7800 models. What hardware was made to work with this slot? Is it worth looking for?

Is it hard to find good power supplies and controllers?

Edited by SlowCoder, Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:58 AM.

[DracIsBack]

SlowCoder, on Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:56 AM, said:

What hardware was made to work with this slot? Is it worth looking for?

None. :-) Atari was sold before anythng happened and the Tramiels killed all related initiatives and the port.

Quote

Is it hard to find good power supplies and controllers?

Ebay and plenty of Atari dealers out there.

[SlowCoder]

Ok, so no concern for the expansion port, unless someone cool was to come up with something nifty in the future.

And no concern about finding working power supplies and controllers.

Good deal!

[SlowCoder]

I posted a "wanted" thread for a 7800 here ... http://www.atariage....800-with-games/

[Rex Dart]

Tip: Forget about the standard 7800 controllers (the Pro-Line sticks). IF you find one that works, it sucks anyways.

[SlowCoder]

Rex Dart, on Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:52 PM, said:

Tip: Forget about the standard 7800 controllers (the Pro-Line sticks). IF you find one that works, it sucks anyways.

Ok. Recommendations?

[Underball]

SlowCoder, on Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:08 PM, said:

Rex Dart, on Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:52 PM, said:

Tip: Forget about the standard 7800 controllers (the Pro-Line sticks). IF you find one that works, it sucks anyways.

Ok. Recommendations?

My recommendation: Don't listen people who tell you the standard 7800 prolines suck. For two reasons:

1. They really aren't that bad, in fact they're pretty good. But people love to be overly dramatical about this subject.

2. All of the 7800's two button games require genuine 7800 controllers, or the ability to modify another controller with two buttons to work properly with the 7800. You can get teh 7800 euro pads, but they are more expensive, harder to find, and just as sucky as the Proline sticks in a different way.

[dwane413]

SlowCoder, on Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:08 PM, said:

Ok. Recommendations?

Some people use Nintendo NES controllers that have been converted. I haven't tried these myself.

[Rik]

Underball, on Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:20 PM, said:

SlowCoder, on Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:08 PM, said:

Rex Dart, on Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:52 PM, said:

Tip: Forget about the standard 7800 controllers (the Pro-Line sticks). IF you find one that works, it sucks anyways.

Ok. Recommendations?

My recommendation: Don't listen people who tell you the standard 7800 prolines suck. For two reasons:

1. They really aren't that bad, in fact they're pretty good. But people love to be overly dramatical about this subject.

2. All of the 7800's two button games require genuine 7800 controllers, or the ability to modify another controller with two buttons to work properly with the 7800. You can get teh 7800 euro pads, but they are more expensive, harder to find, and just as sucky as the Proline sticks in a different way.

YES!Good Point!Midnight Mutants will NOT work with 3rd party sticks, you just get a black screen.Was using another 2 button controller, I thought the game was bad, but then switched back to the Pro-line and voila! back to playing MM!!