Released at a Bad Time,
Or Just a Bad Console?
Released in 1986, the Atari 7800 addressed all the problems its predecessor had – but still failed miserably in the console market for Atari. Was it really that bad of a system?
Why So Horrid?
The system was first developed in 1984, and was the first for Atari to be designed by an outside company, and all were excited about it – it was the first console they were going to release after the video game crash. After Atari switched owners, however, anything to do with video games was taken away, and that included the 7800. Instead, Atari shifted focus to their home computer line.
The console was reintroduced in 1986 when people realized the success of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), and realized the video game market wasn’t dead at all. In fact, it was alive and kicking!
Sadly, at the time, the market was taken up – Nintendo had nearly 90% of it, and what was left was eaten by the Sega Master System. There was very little room for a console that was unsure of itself, and a few years old.
Most have speculated what would have happened if the 7800 was released when planned – nearly two years earlier? Would it have been more popular, or more of a flop than it was? Although we’ll never know, it’s fun to consider.
Where, Oh Where, Are The Games?
Sadly, very few games were made for this console – and most were available on other Atari consoles! Virtually no third party support was recruited for the 7800, although in their defense, most were locked in binding, exclusive contracts with Nintendo.
When the games that were on the 7800 were compared to those of other consoles at the time, like the NES, they looked like a half-hearted attempt at making a console (By all means, it was).
The one – and only – good thing about games you can look at is that the 7800 offered outstanding two player versions of games like Centipede and Asteroids.
Also, the cartridges were printed in a dull grey and black, leaving most people bored and unexcited about the game they just bought.
The graphics look less vibrant, and much less sharp, then those found on the NES, and although the console was affordable, people saw that you got exactly what you paid for, and nothing more – which meant bad graphics, and bad audio.
Control Me
The controller for the 7800 was awkward to hold, but simplistic in design. It featured a single joystick, and a large orange button on each side – it was first proposed as a special controller for the Atari 2600.
However, it’s very uncomfortable to use, and if you wish to play for an extended period of time, your hand is surely going to cramp, or at the very least burn. Luckily, it supports 2600 controllers, and the majority of the games work fine.
The console itself it lightweight, but extremely durable – it ages quite well, and doesn’t break very easily. It’s constructed with black plastic and silver trim, and sports a sleek, streamlined look.
The front has three simple buttons, a power light, two controller ports, and a pair of difficulty switches – that have given people great difficulty, considering they are awkwardly placed under the front. Also, the cartridge port is extremely narrow, and can’t accommodate several third party 2600 cartridges.
The coolest thing about this console was the backwards compatibility. It was the first console to sport the feature, as it could play Atari 2600 games, and clearly, the trend caught on.
Overall
There were serous mistakes made by Atari with this console – including the fact that the design was two years old. The console should have been released much, much sooner, because when it was eventually unveiled to the public, they simply didn’t care. Nearly the entire market was taken by Nintendo, and there was no room left for the Atari’s pathetic attempt at video game success.
If you’re going to collect a console, don’t go with this one – choose something with better graphics, better audio, and a wider library of games. It’s just not worth the money you would spend on it.
