16 replies to this topic

[tantone56]

hey guys
Ive had my atari 2600 for about two months now and im thinking of expanding my collection to the 5200. Is there anything I should know before getting this system?

[Mindfield]

Yes. Make lots of room; the 5200 is BIG. :-)

Okay, but seriously, some pros and cons of the 5200:

PRO:

- Good graphics, good sound, thanks to the same video and sound chips (Antic and Pokey) used in the 8-bit Atari, which is unlike the 7800, which, because of its 2600 compatibility, chose to use the 2600's sound chip.
- Cool design with built-in storage for the controllers
- Lots of great titles available

CON:
- The worst analog joysticks Atari ever designed. They're fragile, and they are not self-centering, which can be unbelievably frustrating.
- If you get a 4-port model, be aware that it uses a funky switchbox that plugs into the RF port on the 5200. The switchbox itself contains connections for both power and RF output to TV, and power is sent down through the RF cable to the 5200. Lose or break the switchbox, and they can be difficult to locate again. You can build one if you're electronically inclined, but it's still a pain in the butt.

To further complicate matters, the 4-port 5200 is compatible with the 2600 adapter, while the 2-port 5200 is not.

[tantone56]

wow the cons sucked maybe I should consider the 7800

[JB]

Mindfield said:

Yes.  Make lots of room; the 5200 is BIG.  :-)

Yes.
Huge.
Monstrous.
Gargantuan.
One might even call it less than petite.

Quote

CON:
- The worst analog joysticks Atari ever designed.  They're fragile, and they are not self-centering, which can be unbelievably frustrating.

Can being the operative word.
I actually tend to hold them in such a way that I automatically guide them back to center in most games.

Quote

To further complicate matters, the 4-port 5200 is compatible with the 2600 adapter, while the 2-port 5200 is not.

Other way around.
MOST 4-port systems CAN'T use the 2600 adapater(there is a modification that can be made to enable them to, and a small run was factory-modded).
All 2-port models CAN.


But you can't play 4-player Super Breakout on a 2-port.

[tantone56]

wow Im really really confused now.So in the end whats the best 5200 the 4 port or 2 port...I want the one thats easy to connect to the tv. Also would anyone on this site be intrested in selling me one

[JB]

tantone56 said:

wow Im really really confused now.So in the end whats the best 5200 the 4 port or 2 port...I want the one thats easy to connect to the tv. Also would anyone on this site be intrested in selling me one

Assuming it's complete, I prefer the 4-port.

Auto-switchboxes rule.

Long-term, the 2-port is probably easier to maintain, since a dead switchbox doesn't kill the system.

I view the VCS adapter as a non-issue.
...
The 2-port also doesn't run 3 5200 games. I think Pitfall was one of them.

[Mindfield]

I think it was the later 2-port models that didn't run Pitfall, while the first run of 5200s did -- or something like that. Yeah, the 2600 adapter isn't much of an issue, though it's a bit of a neat piece of hardware history, even if it did make the monster system even more unweildy. :-)

5200 hardware is a bit of a mess, and though the 4-port model is nice due to the fact that it has the 4 ports, the 2-port model is more "standardized" in that it has a real power socket standard RF port on the unit, making it less likely that you'll end up with a large slab of useless plastic if the 4-port's power/switchbox dies on you.

Better yet, get both. Use the 2-port for every day use, and lug out the 4-port for games that make use of 4 player action.

[JB]

Mindfield said:

I think it was the later 2-port models that didn't run Pitfall, while the first run of 5200s did -- or something like that.    Yeah, the 2600 adapter isn't much of an issue, though it's a bit of a neat piece of hardware history, even if it did make the monster system even more unweildy. :-)

5200 hardware is a bit of a mess, and though the 4-port model is nice due to the fact that it has the 4 ports, the 2-port model is more "standardized" in that it has a real power socket standard RF port on the unit, making it less likely that you'll end up with a large slab of useless plastic if the 4-port's power/switchbox dies on you.

Better yet, get both.  Use the 2-port for every day use, and lug out the 4-port for games that make use of 4 player action.  

I say use the 4-port untill the switchbox dies. Auto-switchboxes are great devices.
Besides, if you use the 2-port it's harder to laugh at the people talking about how the N64 and Dreamcast introduced the revolutionary new feature if built-in 4-player support.

[Mindfield]

JB said:

Mindfield said:

I think it was the later 2-port models that didn't run Pitfall, while the first run of 5200s did -- or something like that.    Yeah, the 2600 adapter isn't much of an issue, though it's a bit of a neat piece of hardware history, even if it did make the monster system even more unweildy. :-)

5200 hardware is a bit of a mess, and though the 4-port model is nice due to the fact that it has the 4 ports, the 2-port model is more "standardized" in that it has a real power socket standard RF port on the unit, making it less likely that you'll end up with a large slab of useless plastic if the 4-port's power/switchbox dies on you.

Better yet, get both.  Use the 2-port for every day use, and lug out the 4-port for games that make use of 4 player action.  

I say use the 4-port untill the switchbox dies. Auto-switchboxes are great devices.
Besides, if you use the 2-port it's harder to laugh at the people talking about how the N64 and Dreamcast introduced the revolutionary new feature if built-in 4-player support.

Feh. Even ignoring the 5200, simultaneous 4-player support has been around since Genesis and SNES via multi-tap devices. Better yet, the Jaguar could use a TeamTap to connect 4 players, then network 4 machines together, each with their own TeamTap to get 16 simultaneous players at once. Beat that! :-)

[tantone56]

ive ben talking to cpu wiz and he said that he can probally sell me a 4 port

[Brad2600]

Too bad I gave the last one I had to Ataridude.

I can still acquire a boxed 4 port around here at a flea market for $50. It would probably cost more than it's worth just to get ahold of it for someone though.

[JB]

Mindfield said:

JB said:

Mindfield said:

I think it was the later 2-port models that didn't run Pitfall, while the first run of 5200s did -- or something like that.    Yeah, the 2600 adapter isn't much of an issue, though it's a bit of a neat piece of hardware history, even if it did make the monster system even more unweildy. :-)

5200 hardware is a bit of a mess, and though the 4-port model is nice due to the fact that it has the 4 ports, the 2-port model is more "standardized" in that it has a real power socket standard RF port on the unit, making it less likely that you'll end up with a large slab of useless plastic if the 4-port's power/switchbox dies on you.

Better yet, get both.  Use the 2-port for every day use, and lug out the 4-port for games that make use of 4 player action.  

I say use the 4-port untill the switchbox dies. Auto-switchboxes are great devices.
Besides, if you use the 2-port it's harder to laugh at the people talking about how the N64 and Dreamcast introduced the revolutionary new feature if built-in 4-player support.

Feh. Even ignoring the 5200, simultaneous 4-player support has been around since Genesis and SNES via multi-tap devices. Better yet, the Jaguar could use a TeamTap to connect 4 players, then network 4 machines together, each with their own TeamTap to get 16 simultaneous players at once. Beat that! :-)

I said built-in.
...
Though I HAVE seen people "forget" the existence of the 4 Score, Satellite, MultiTap, TurboTap, TeamTap, et cetera in favor of hyping the N64 or Dreamcast's "revolutionary new" 4-player capability.

[Ze_ro]

tantone56 said:

Ive had my atari 2600 for about two months now and im thinking of expanding my collection to the 5200. Is there anything I should know before getting this system?

I hate to say it, but the 5200 really isn't all that great. it's more advanced than the 2600, but most of the games really aren't that much better, and the controllers really suck.

If this is your first steps beyond the 2600, you might want to consider something with a larger and more robust library of games than the 5200. Perhaps a NES, a ColecoVision, or an Intellivision.

--Zero

[Brad2600]

Well in my opinion, the 5200 was the system I looked to once I decided to expand my collection.

And the games are not as bad as one would think. If you're into good arcade ports, the 5200 has some of those.

I'm not as interested in the Colecovision as I am in the 5200.

[tantone56]

The main reason I want to get into the 5200 is because I want the more arcade like feeling. Plus I love Q*bert and I hear its really good on the 5200. By the way thanks for the flea market offer but im going to see how the current deal pans out.

[Brad2600]

Q-Bert on the 5200 isn't bad at all.

If the controllers mean that much to you, try searching for a Wico or try gettting the Redemption 5200 PC to 5200 controller adaptor. I dunno.

I recommend it though dude. 5200 boxed and loose games are not hard to find on EBay as well. Unless you're looking for something really rare.

[tantone56]

thats cool. I love my atari 2600 I play it all the time but I always had my eye on that 5200 and I think im ready to step up and get it. Who knows maybe in a few months Ill be trying to buy a 7800. As of now Im definatly going to get the system.