Atari 7800

The Atari 7800 was released by Atari in 1986 (a test market occurred in June 1984). The 7800 was designed to replace the unsuccessful Atari 5200, and re-establish Atari's market supremacy against Intellivision and Colecovision. With this system, Atari addressed all the shortcomings of the Atari 5200: it had simple digital joysticks; it was almost fully backwards compatible with the Atari 2600; and it was affordable (it was originally priced at $140 USD).

The Atari 7800 was the first game system from Atari which was designed by an outside company (by the General Computer Corporation, future consoles designed outside the company were the Atari Lynx and the Atari Jaguar). The system was designed to be upgraded to a fully-fledged home computer — a keyboard was developed, and the keyboard had an expansion port (which was the SIO port from Atari's 8-bit computer line) for the addition of peripherals like disk drives and printers (this should not be taken to imply that this computer expansion would have allowed the 7800 to run programs designed for Atari's computers, as the two architectures were entirely different).

GCC had also designed a 'high score cartridge,' a battery-backed RAM cart designed for storing game scores. Atari manufactured none of these accessories, and after the initial production run they also eliminated the expansion port. In 1987, the Atari XEGS was released and it came with a light gun, called the XG-1. The XG-1 was fully compatible with the 7800 and the 2600, and Atari released four games on the 7800 that utilized this peripheral.

The 7800 was test-marketed in southern California in June 1984. One month later, Warner Communications sold Atari to Jack Tramiel, who did not want to build a video game console. He pulled the plug on all projects related to video games and decided to focus on Atari's existing computer line in order to begin development of the new 16-bit computer line (which appeared as the Atari ST). The 7800 was re-introduced in winter 1986 after the success of the Nintendo Entertainment System proved that the video game market was still viable. Unfortunately, by the time the 7800 made it to market, the NES had 90% of the market cornered and the rival Sega Master System had most of what was left.

The Atari 7800's technical superiority is still debated today. The architecture is essentially just an Atari 2600 with a slightly better CPU and an advanced graphics chip (MARIA). While the system could handle far more moving objects on screen (up to 100) than any of its competitors, its audio capabilities were limited due to lack of board space. The designers allowed games (notably ports from the Atari 400/800 computer line) to include a POKEY audio chip in the cartridge. Only two games, Ballblazer and Commando used the POKEY chip. The 7800 was also more difficult to program than other systems available at the time, though this was tempered by the fact that many game programmers at the time were already well versed in the 2600.

The 7800 faced the severe software drought that would become the mark of all Atari consoles sold after the video game crash. Relatively few titles were released by Atari, many of them unpolished and lacking in features, or even games that already were in previous Atari systems. And there was virtually no effort by Atari to recruit third party developers, aside from a few titles from Absolute, Activision, and Froggo.

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Jinks - Atari 7800 (PAL) You are about to embark on one of the most dangerous missions of your career. As a renowned Star Fleet pilot, you have been selected to command an exploration party in a journey across the galaxy to investigate the mysterious planet JINKS. Box: yes Manual: yes Price: £8	Joust - Atari 7800 (PAL) Saddle up your ostrich. Gather your wits. and hold on tight. Many well-meaning knights have been knocked off their ostriches. So watch out for the Buzzard Riders. they think you're bait! The top flap of the box is missing Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Karateka - Atari 7800 (PAL) The evil warlord Akuma destroyed your village and kidnapped princess Mariko. You alone can rescue the innocent princess from the tyrant's terrible dungeon. Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Mat Mania - Atari 7800 (PAL) Wouldn't you know it, you drew Bruno the Sledge, five time champion and all-around bad guy, as your first opponent in your quest for that elusive Atari Wrestling Federation championship belt. Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Mean 18 - Atari 7800 (PAL) No other golf game delivers the realism and playability of Mean 18 Ultimate Golf. It's the most true-to-life golf simulation game ever! You are at Pebble Beach, but don't be fooled by the beatiful; fairways and breathtaking scenery. Mean 18 will sharpen your golf skills and possibly help your real-life game! Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Meltdown - Atari 7800 (PAL) Terrorist groups from around the world have sabotaged 20 nuclear power plants. Now the reactors are rapidly filling with sparkx and nobody can do anything to stop the inevitable MeltDowns. Box: yes Manual: yes Price: £14
Midnight Mutants - Atari 7800 (PAL) 7800 Arcade adventure like you've never seen before. This game has it all - places like rivers, deep dark forests, creepy caverns, labs, creatures like Vampires, Mutant zombies and menacing bats. Your adventure includes exploring large areas and finding awesome weapons. Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Motor Psycho - Atari 7800 (PAL) it's the ultimate Superbike challenge. four of the fastest, most dangerous tracks, a pack of tough opponents and your 200 MPH + machine. This game is brand new and sealed Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Ms Pac Man - Atari 7800 (PAL) Dots. Energy pills. Fruit. Pretzels. They're all part of Ms Pac Man's fast gobbling diet. She'll even gobble ghosts. But only when they're blue. otherwise the ghosts will get her. And you! Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	One on One Basketball - Atari 7800 (PAL) Play basketball with Larry Bird or Julius 'Dr J' Erving. Choose one All-Star as your opponent. You become the other one. Then jump, shoot, and win. Box: yes Manual: yes Price: £8
Planet Smashers - Atari 7800 (PAL) It's an Alien ambush from a far out galaxy. Alien Planet Smashers are coming to obliterate Planet Earth. You must suit up and head off the invasion. Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Pole Position 2 - Atari 7800 (PAL) Are you good enough to race with the best? Do you have the nerve and skill to be a professional race car driver? Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Sentinel - Atari 7800 (PAL) You're a scientist, and your invention, a pulsating, glowing orb called the Sentinel, absorbs and stores energy from a variety of sources. Now Earth is threatened by deadly aliens and you must use your creation to save the planet. The Sentinel absorbs energy from every power pod or energy capsule you shoot with your Atari light gun. When an energy... Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Super Huey - Atari 7800 (PAL) You have been assigned to the UH-IX, the Defence Department's most advanced experimental helicopter. Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Super Skateboardin - Atari 7800 (PAL) Your new after school job is a dream come true! Someone's actually going to pay you to skateboard. Here's the deal- Your Dad's company needs someone to turn off all the machines and lights in their factory at the end of the day. Your job is to cruise the maze of hallways, leaping for light switches and tucking through ventilation tubes to get from... Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Title Match Pro Wrestling - Atari 7800 (PAL) Ladies and gentlemen... announcing the most competitive wrestling ever to be played in the Atari 7800 arena. Tonight's the nigh, Title Match is here! State-of-the-Art animation combine with realistic sound effects to give you all the excitement of professional wrestling. Choose from some of the meanest wrestlers in the business to compete one on... Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Tower Toppler - Atari 7800 (PAL) A serious problem is blocking attempts to colonize the otherwise life compatible planet Nebulus: it's water is poisonous! The only way to return the water to its harmless, natural form is to destroy the eight enormous towers that maintain a mysterious, lethal hold over all forms of this valuable resource. Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Xenophobe - Atari 7800 (PAL) A vicious band of roving hostile aliens has infested your planet's nine space stations. They are threatening the peace and security of your planet and the entire solar system. It's up to you and the other members of your elite, interplanetary security force to regain control of the space stations. Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Xevious - Atari 7800 (PAL) The aliens have landed! Or have they? These invading barbarians from deep space claim they are the true earth people, and we are the aliens. it's too late to parley. The battle is on! Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!

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Jinks

- Atari 7800 (PAL)

You are about to embark on one of the most dangerous missions of your career. As a renowned Star Fleet pilot, you have been selected to command an exploration party in a journey across the galaxy to investigate the mysterious planet JINKS.

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