Atari 5200 dilemma please help

[futuramaguy42]

I bought 4 Atari 5200 games at a yard sale awhile ago but have never found the console, I looked it up on ebay and they range from 40- 100 dollars. I don't know if I should even bother, I heard it was a bad console. The games I got were Soccer, Pop Eye, Fogger, and Defender. So, should I look for a 5200 or just sell the games and buy something else?

[shallowgamer]

In my opinion, the 5200 is a giant headache.

I was in the EXACT same situation. Found a boatload of games at goodwill, then went out to find the console.

The biggest problem you're going to have is the controllers. If the seller doesn't specifically list the controllers as "rebuilt", don't bother. They're going to crap out on you, if they even work at all.

I even had a "rebuilt" controller go out on me, for what it's worth.

BUT, if you're willing to deal with flaky hardware, you'll have fun with your system. It's a beast size-wise; I wonder if Atari felt that a large footprint would make it seem like you were getting your money's worth.

Come to think of it, the 7800 controllers suck ass too. And the 2600 sticks were nothing to write home about.. seeing a trend here... how was the Jaguar Pad?

[Hatta]

Yeah, I'd pass unless you can get one cheap locally. I bought one in a big lot of stuff, with 3 pairs of controllers. Not one of them works. I'd hang onto the games though, you never know what you're going to find at a thrift store or whatever.

The AVGN's review (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/17031.html) is right on the money.

The 5200 isn't entirely without merit though. It's at least of interest for those non-centering analog joysticks. Pretty innovative for 1982. The 5200 trackball is also analog, unlike the digital trackballs released for the 2600 and 7800. So if you're into Centipede, it's a good choice. Underneath, the 5200 is essentially an Atari 800 computer. So the Star Raiders port is much, much better than the 2600 port, I'm sure the same goes for other games as well.

[vash23n]

hehe i love the jaguar and i see what they were going for with the controller, rather than having to rely on hitting a button multiple times, just have multiple buttons - kind of ahead of their time, but thankfully may-buttoned controllers evolved in a different direction. the jaguar controller seems pretty solid when you hold it, a little big, but so are my hands (you know what they say about a guy with big hands... big gloves). the buttons are a lesser quality than the overall controller. sometimes when you are pressing the buttons, they feel like they are going to get stuck under the plastic of the controller (if that makes any sense).

what the hell were we talking about? oh yeah... i heard that if you can get good enough controllers, the 5200 is actually a pretty great system... the games were fun and more advanced and the graphics were well ahead of the 2600... i have never played the system so i dont know if this is just a rumor... easy system to collect all games for though. i would get one, im sure there are people who sell rebuilt controllers so you dont have to worry about the system coming with one.

[futuramaguy42]

If I ever got a 5200 or 7800 I would probably just use my Sega Genisis controllers.

[Hatta]

The 5200's controller port isn't compatible with the genesis/2600.

[futuramaguy42]

The 5200's controller port isn't compatible with the genesis/2600.

Oh, that was only the 7800, though it was both.

[MrPopo]

how was the Jaguar Pad?

Asstastic. Uncomfortable to hold, and it had the keypad style of extra buttons (that were hard to hit) that harkened back to the Intellivision days.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

You can find all 5600 games on the 2600 and 7800. Get a 7800

[shallowgamer]

The 5200's controller port isn't compatible with the genesis/2600.

Oh, that was only the 7800, though it was both.

I didn't mean to squash your dreams here. There was a 3rd party joystick by Wico (sp?) that is highly desirable for the 5200.