jjm (11/29/82)
I bought an ATARI 5200 "SUPERSYSTEM" this weekend. It is available in several major stores in New Jersey - best price I found was at TOYS R US in Woodbridge - $199.97 (includes console, two controllers, power supply, antenna/game switch box, and SUPER BREAKOUT cartridge. Physical design is very nice - console includes covered storage bin for the controllers. Switch box supplies signal and power connections between the console + TV. Power supply seems sturdier than before, with longer cord. Switch box switches from antenna to game when console is powered up. Controllers are true proportional joysticks - a major improvement! Controllers contain game select, reset, start, and pause buttons - the only console switch is ON/OFF power switch. Game play of SUPER BREAKOUT is OK. I'm surprised that they include a game that so poorly demonstrates the abilities of the new system. MISSILE COMMAND (my only other cartridge) is EXCELLENT! Trakball will be available soon, but with a real joystick it is not necessary. Overall impression: I'm glad I bought it, and I intend to buy the 2600 converter when it comes out so I can play my old ATARI games...
rjf (03/08/83)
I've had an Atari 5200 now since Christmas, and basically have been
very pleased with its performance. The graphics are very good and the
games available have been good and seem to be getting even better.
I've played the Intellivision and Colecovision units and feel that it is
definitely better than the Intellivision. It is as good as the
Colecovision unit, although there currently is a better selection of games
for the Colecovision. My main gripes consist of the following:
1) Need more selection in games available.
2) Joystick contollers should be self-centering.
3) Where is the Trak-ball controller they promised?
4) Where is the 2600 adapter that Colecovision ALREADY has?
All but (2) above should change eventually, the question is when. Of
the currently available game cartridges, this is how I rate them:
Missle Command very good
Space Invaders don't have, why bother?
Super Breakout okay, nothing great
Star Raiders excellent
Centipede good, but really needs Trak-Ball
Countermeasure very good, different
Pac-Man good, but can get boring
Galaxian very good, but can get boring
More and different cartridges are needed. I'm hoping that other game
makers will jump on the 5200 bandwagon, just like they did with the 2600.
The above are the cartridges that I know about, if you disagree with my
ratings or know of any other cartridges out or rumors of any to be put
out, let me know. I'm looking forward to Qix and others in the near
future.
Bob Fabrizio
...!decvax!mcnc!rlgvax!rjf
...!seismo!rlgvax!rjf??? (03/09/83)
Bob... thanks for the review. Here in Denver it is hard to find some of the cartridges that are available elsewhere. I can't seem to find Centipede, Pac-Man or Defender anywhere! In response to your four gripes, here are some comments: 1) "Need more selection in games available." - Because the 5200 isn't a widespread product (yet), smaller software companies may not be able to afford to produce cartridges for it. Those with foresight should be ready, though. I predict that Activision and Imagic will produce software for the 5200 after there is a larger base of 5200 units. We may see software from companies that are already producing Atari 400/800 cartridges before the 2600 vendors, since conversion to the 5200 is minimal. 2) "Joystick controllers should be self-centering." - This is a matter of preference. The game being played should also be considered. For instance, I think Missle Command plays much better without self-centering. For most games, I prefer the non-centering joystick. As the system catches on, joystick alternatives should pop up. 3) "Where is the Trak-ball controller they promised?" 4) "Where is the 2600 adapter that Colecovision ALREADY has?" - Atari is famous for teasing us gamers that are drooling at the thought of more software and more hardware! I usually add 1 to 3 months to any announcement for new Atari software, and 3 to 9 months to any announcement for new hardware. Things are even worse now, since the 5200 is just getting out. Us 5200 owners will just have to suffer until Atari gets into full production and until the 5200 "proves" itself. Intellivision and Colecovision may have beaten Atari to the punch with voice synthesis, 2600 adapters and software, but in the long run the 5200 will be more popular. The Intellivision and Colecovision controllers are awful (flames to /dev/null), and only because of expense. The game units are not as solid as the 5200, either. What I would like to see is an optional RGB output so graphics could be as crystal clear as a real arcade. I hear that it is simple to tap into the RGB signal with simple modification to any video game. Converting a standard TV to accept RGB input is another story, although kits are available for this purpose. Ray Davis ABI Denver CC 31y31 (303)451-3991 decvax!harpo!druxy!rbd