Yeah, my bad. It does require a 5200 controller attached which is why I wasn't considering it. If anyone's curious to buy, be sure it comes with the Y-cable accessory included, else you've wasted your time (good example - the end of AVGN's video). I don't remember why I passed on bringing up the trackball. Have heard it's great with Centipede, though.
Also, I'm confused. Are you saying that the two port crashes on just regular games and the four port doesn't? If so I'll keep a lookout. I have the Atari Max and nothing has crashed yet, but I do notice that the games on the two port sort of flinch after a while. But they do that on my colecovision too. Maybe this has to do with old cartridges and the higher levels are less used? I don't know. I'll keep my eye on the Atari Max games. I have one for my colecovision too.
@@richardhdent are you using the RF switchbox? or are they modified for composite or s-video? I've a 4port and 2port and both seem stable using the video modification. I had a stock 5200 with the switchbox and it would briefly flake out while playing. also check the power supply. older ones may get flaky. I don't recall the 5200 having capacitors on the motherboard but a failing Capacitor can cause flakiness or visual distortion too.
Since most 5200 games were also released in nearly identical versions for the 8-bit computer line, and the remaining ones that weren't have homebrew conversions as well, I've never seen much point in getting a 5200. And if you really prefer a console, just get an XE Game System and then unplug the keyboard. It has direct video and audio outputs, too, for the best quality.
Someone identified the issue with my second 5200! "Atari was *notorious* for using cheap RAM in the 8-bit computer line. Score values and graphical corruption are a good indicator that something is wrong with the memory." THANKS FOR THE INSIGHT; 'Graham Bell' and 'Wired-Up Retro'.
AtariAge is a treasure trove of info.. Surely you can find out everything you need to know there. 👍 If you're handy, like to tinker and can solder/desolder, I'd completely overhaul that thing - disassemble, inspect, clean and/or replace every known troublesome component - Recap it, RAM, and RGB or s-video mod it. Get an Atarimax flash cart so you can run the diagnostic rom and help troubleshoot further, plus be able to play whatever games you want, all in one place. You could probably have the money and then some if you sold off all those 5200 games. Good luck!
THAT'S why the Atari 8-bits had a RAM test in their BIOS! No other computer did. I thought I was getting a special extra other computer owners missed out on! The cheap bastards! Still, RAM got better as time went on, my 65XE never had a problem.
Atari did not use cheap RAM in the 8-bit computer line, mostly. Sometimes Micron RAM was used but this was the exception. This rumor you've heard is not true. I have seen many of these systems and they usually work well still to this day. Differentiating the 5200 from the 8-bit comptuers. No idea regarding 5200 RAM quality.
And then the Master System, Genesis, and 7800 failed to back that statement up. And the SNES only used its compatibility mode to save 3rd parties money and introduce unwanted slowdown. Granted, a lot of that had more to do with Nintendo's illegal 8-bit monopoly, and the SNES wouldn't have won as convincingly if Sega of Japan hadn't killed the Genesis early. But how many people, besides me, refused to buy a PS3 that wasn't PS2 and PS1 compatible? How many people chose the DSi over Gameboy Advance compatibility? Backwards compatibility didn't help the Vita reach the sales of the PSP....although that was mostly due to Sony's greed, and Sony throwing a tantrum when consumers didn't play along with the overpriced memory sticks. Nintendo, meanwhile, had the ambassador program to apologize for their behavior. My point isn't to downplay backwards compatibility - I love it, personally. But is it really important? Sales don't back that statement up. The only reason it seems more important with this new generation is because AAA games are expensive to develop, and the improvements are subtle. Most people don't care about more accurate reflections and shadows. They'd rather have the improved frame rates and loading times, which backwards compatibility can provide.
@@juststatedtheobvious9633 The Genesis is backwards compatible with Master System games. You just need a Power Base Converter, an adapter for Master System games. If you have a Genesis flash cart, you can just play Master System games with that and no adapter.
@@LocoRodeoBozo My point was that few people bothered with the Master System converter, who weren't already owners. And even then, I'd wonder how many new Master System titles they purchased? It's why I threw it in with the 7800 and Master System, both of which had backwards compatibility. (Although the only SG-1OOO game I ever saw in the states was the flight simulator.) There used to be a dramatic difference between generations. And I used to get odd looks for even playing 2d shmups on my Saturn.
@Nobody comments are not funny you troglodyte That thing they stopped abusing the moment they were sued by Tengen. You know, the one where third parties were "persuaded" not to publish on competing consoles? Good thing they stopped too, as they were also in trouble for price fixing and they'd gotten their butts handed to them that time they tried to get away with stealing code for DK Jr. If they hadn't persuaded the jury that their monopoly was a benevolent one, things would have ended very differently for them.
We need a clone console (Analogue, Im looking at you) that plays 2600, 5200, 7800, Atari XE/8-bit computers, Colecovision, Intellivision, Odyssey 2, Lynx and Jaguar cartridges. A lot of these consoles are getting harder to find in working order and we could really use something that at least plays all the Atari stuff: 2600, 5200, 7800 and the XE/8-bit computer cartridges and include Colecovision and Intellivision too.
You have described the MiSTer. Hardware emulation in FGPA, which is what the Analogue systems do. The hardware isn’t cheap, but the cores are amazing and the timing issues associated with software emulation are avoided.
@@RandallHayter Id just be happy with a 2600 -5200 - 7800 clone console, and realistically, someone might make that, and theres no excuse that Retron 77 didnt have 7800 support. Ive seen the mister before, its definitely a nice piece of kit.
Man this console is just so...interesting, with it's niche' audience and random games, It's like something from another plane of reality. Thanks for taking your time with this historic console Frame, your effort shines through in the video.
We had this when I was a kid. I absolutely loved it. I used to play Star Raiders all the time. The biggest downfall was of course the controllers will eventually quit working. We had 4 controllers originally and over the years whittled down to just one working controller. Back then I thought the controller itself was the coolest thing ever. The first big company game console with a Pause button on the controller! That was big back then!
Your Pacman game's crazy score is because you have the "Special", Billy Mitchell edition. If you had the original box, it would come with a vial of Hot Sauce and a special instruction pamphlet titled, "How to Cheat Pac-Man". It sells for 666.66$, tax included. What a "Hot" deal! Cheers from Canada P.S. Great video, btw. I landed up learning a few things I didn't know! Thumbs up, and a Sub for you! Just don't put any Hotsauce on the SUB. ;)
Lol. That side-by-side with the mini Genesis Classic, then switching to a real Model is hilarious at showing how much of a chonker it is. As for the issues, yeah,the things being fidgety and often breaking been my experience too. In the late 90's I ended up finding a set at a garage sale for decent price with both a 2-port and 4-port console, a pile of regular controllers, games with a couple of duplicates, and a trackball. Last I played with it, only one of the controllers worked fully. The Trackball was partially froze up (wouldn't spin well) at time of purchase and the buttons wouldn't all work. The 2-port console never worked right. The 4-port was working still, though, last I poked at it years ago. Go Atari 8-bit computer instead is my vote.
Duplicates are good. Especially the Activision titles which seem to have problems with their cartridges' contacts not fitting into the 5200 and requiring more fanagaling to work. Cleaning the contacts does no good. I should know, the smell ot all the alcohol used would inebriate anyone without needing to taste a drop.
When I was trying to illustrate the size to someone, I put a Genesis 1 with a SegaCD 2 on top of it. That combination is almost exactly as wide as the 5200. I gather the era believed size implied power. The ColecoVision is mostly wasted space too.
My friend got me a 5200 2 port and I just have an Atarimax cart with an external keypad and use a 2600 flashback controller. I've had a lot of fun so far. I think it was worth it for me. I swapped out my RF cable for a better shielded cable and play on an old Sears CRT with dials. It's great. Mine still has the protective plastic on the metal face plate too, which is cool
I’ve never been a huge gamer. In fact years have gone by when I didn’t play at all. But I’ve always kept a toe in the water, so to speak. So I actually started with pong, eventually got an Atari 2600. From there we got a Coleco vision. I also had a commodore 64. Then I really didn’t play for a while, until I got a PlayStation one. Then eventually, I got a PlayStation 2 . then I didn’t play for a while again, until I got an Xbox 360. And I kept rocking that 360 until just about a year and a half ago when I got an Xbox series S. But I still mostly play old games! And that includes an Atari flashback portable that I recently acquired. And that’s what brought me to your channel. Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy it. Thanks!
I wish Hyperkin released an all in one Retron for all classic consoles such as 2600, 5200, 7800. Intellivision and Colecovision in the same vein as the Retron 5.
You might try picking up a label maker. The result would look nicer, the tape won't degrade over time like masking tape and marker will, and it won't leave a messy residue if your box of games gets too much heat exposure.
I still have my mom's old Atari 5200 2 port, here's my experience: She has 2 controllers, they're all broken. Not due to her own bad, the controllers just deteriate regardless of how you store them 🤷♂️ The console works great when loading games! But with busted controllers, it's not as fun. The 2600 adapter for the 5200 is AMAZING!! It's how I got into the 2600, thank God she had the adapter! MegaMania beats Space Invaders, facts
Thanks for making this video- and I'm grateful for the mini-shoutout to my channel :) The 5200 is definitely an interesting system with some great games! It sounds like you had some unfortunate happenings when it comes to the 5200, but you could try a RAM replacement or maybe replace the entire board inside with a new one (It's possible that Best Electronics still has some). I have a video on my channel about how to do the circuit board replacement. Glad you showed some of the adapters and alternative controllers. There will soon be an amazing controller available from Edladdin which will be able to play the analog games as well as digital games. It may be out in January or February of 2022, so be sure to take a look at that when it's out. Again- once you have a working 5200 and a great controller, it will be one of the best consoles you can own (and the biggest). Oh- and don't forget to get the Trakball!
Plenty of UA-cam videos on it, DO A/V mods to make the picture better and for the most part, they are easy to fix, late 1970's early 1980's electronics, very easy to work on... For the most part they are bullet proof, very dependable hardware over all... I was given a 2600 that was dug up in the back yard, cleaned it up, got all the dirt out, washed the board, let dry out and plugged it in...it worked perfectly... There is always emulation.... if you want to check out early gaming...
I owned a 5200 when I was young. I have fond memories of these games. There were some quality issues with the controllers. Robotron, super breakout, miner 2049er, and Pac-Man were some of our favorites.
So I own a 5200 and it was an odyssey to find. See, I'm a Mr.Do! fan and as a kid I was always trying to find a home port of Do Run Run. It's what made me a collector (there is no home port of Do Run Run it seems). One day while my Mom was working at a record store, someone traded in a copy of Mr.Do!'s Castle for the 5200 which I did not own AND was a game I had never heard of. Well screw it. We bought it, tried to see if we could run it on the VIC-20 or Commodore 64 (the carts are similarly shaped) and then just...desperately look for a 5200 for almost a decade before FINALLY finding one. The controller only kinda sorta worked but GOSH DARNIT I COULD FINALLY PLAY MY COPY OF MR.DO!'S CASTLE! Which is a game I rarely see in 5200 collections. Along the way I found a 2600 version of Mr.Do!'s Castle which is ABYSMAL but I still played the crap out of it due to franchise loyalty. I now own a Mr.Do!'s Castle arcade machine with boards for Mr.Do!, Mr.Do!'s Castle, and Do Run Run (though I have to turn my head sideways for that one). Alas the power supply blew out on it but I keep my Mr.Do! collection in the coin box. One day we'll fix that darn power supply! Either way the 5200 will always have a special place in my mind for being that mysterious system I could almost never find in the wild. Heck both the Gameboy and SNES versions of Mr.Do! were announced and released before I could ever find a 5200. (obviously this was the pre-EBay days)
The games were surprisingly well done on the system. A lot of good arcade ports were available. Sadly, the system itself and its controller were so susceptible to breaking and/or simply not working very well. Every friend I knew who had this system, they had issues with it.
Most games were just ports from the atari 8 bit computer line, which shares the same hardware. I prefer the system however over the 7800, better games and better sound.
Even though I was born in 1987, this and the Intellivision were my first systems that I ever experienced. That’s what my parents had gotten from one of my dad’s coworkers before I was born. Anyway I played both of them, and loved both of them. Sadly, the controllers died and everything ended up getting pitched. I’ve now almost gotten a full set(still need 2 games), and I still love the system but I will admit nostalgia plays a HUGE part into it. Yeah a lot of the games are on other systems, either the Atari 800 or even stuff like the ColecoVision, but I still love it. Also, I’ve never really had issues with my current 2 port system. Some 2 port systems already had 4 port bios’ installed when they were transitioning to them and that’s what I have.
3D printer owner here. Late to the party, but there’s a few reason the Maker Matrix controller shell is designed like that. The most noticeable design, the back half of the shell being completely flat, is bc it’s the easiest way to 3D print objects while not having to worry about surface finish. With it being flat, it prints flat on the printer, getting an even finish thanks to the print bed. If it was curved, you would have to use supports on either the inside or the outside. On the outside, supports will always leave little bumps of plastic all over the surface, chafing up your hands. If supports are on the inside, this isn’t an issue, but the layer lines near the end of the print will be more apparent. Look at the 3D print you showed in the video. The bottom has more uniform layer lines, but the top is less visually appealing. This is also why the edges have a 45 degree angle instead of being curved. And brittleness shouldn’t be an issue as you speculated, unless the shell was printed with very few layers. Even PLA, an easy to use and not very strong filament, can be used to make Glock frames and other things that see extreme stress.
You are MUCH more likely to have four working 5200 joysticks than three friends that want to play the 5200 with you all at the same time. However, not being able to play three games from the library is a non-trivial downside of the 2-port model.
I always enjoy your videos, sorry to hear you had such an issue with the 5200. I don't have any experience with the console myself so I'm not gonna be of much use to you. Still though I wanted to say thanks for making such a well put together, informative, professional video as always.
I love the futuristic look of the console, but it should have been designed more like the XEGS using standard 2600 controllers and Atari 8-bit carts. In fact, that was the original plan for the 8-bit line. One was to be a game system the other a computer. What we ended up with was the 400/800 computers instead and it was because the 2600 was too popular at the time to be replaced yet.
I don't think there's anything to be lost by swapping the RAM out on that 2-port 5200. Atari was *notorious* for using cheap RAM in the 8bit computer line, and score values and graphical corruption are a good indicator that something is wrong with the memory. Speaking of the 8-bit line, if you like the 5200's library at all, I'd just get an Atari 800 XL or 65/130 XE. They take up less space, have composite output, use digital joysticks, and they play all the same games plus a bunch more. Unless the intention is for the 5200 to be a shelf queen (it is a conversation starter, for sure), the computers are a better bet all around.
@@erikkarsies4851 XLs are generally better, they definitely started out that way, but a 2-port 5200 is a cost reduced version of the 5200, and this is Atari we're talking about. I wouldn't put it past them to use cheaper memory to hit a price point on the 5200. Regardless, it's a pretty good place to start if a cleaning doesn't fix the problem.
@@gargonovich ^^this While the stories of the XE and XL are true, the 2port was right at the time of Atari's being sold. It's not too big a leap to believe the ram chip manufacturer had been changed. Opening up both 4- and 2-port models could confirm brand and number of chips to reach the 16KB complement that the 5200 had. If the same brand used by the XE machines is in thr 2-port, then Atari would have switched even before Tramiel purchased it.
@@ShamrockParticle I went and did a bit more poking around. I still think it's bad RAM, but it's not the same as the XEs. Looking at a few boards, it looks like the 4-port 5200s tended to use Motorola memory, while the 2-Port used Mostek memory. Could be a quality difference there, as Mostek was kind of on the ropes by that point after getting smacked around by the Japanese firms. Neither seems to show up in the XE line, though, interestingly. They tend to use one "good" RAM chip, (I've seen Toshiba and my 130XE from '85 has a Mitsubishi chip) and then the rest are Micron Technologies chips, which are the ones that tend to go bad. *EDIT: So, Micron Technologies (MT) was spun off from Mostek, so this could be similarly poor quality RAM.* On the bright side for Framerater, new RAM should be easy to source, and the RAM is socketed on the 2-ports by the look of it. The RAM might even be okay right now, just pop the chips out of the sockets and reseat them, that works surprisingly often.
I lucked up and found my two-port 5200 for $50 on Facebook Marketplace. In the box, with two working controls, and several games in the box! It’s pretty neat, even though the controllers are weird. I like it, and am glad to have it in my collection!
Get an Atari 8 bit computer. The 5200 literally is just a stripped down 400. You also would get the benefit of a machine that has S-Video outputs if you buy a cable. They use standard Atari/Genesis style joystick ports, so stick either of those controllers in there for a much better experience. You'd also get the added bonus of a much larger library since they made games for the computers on floppy and cassette far longer after cartridges fell out of favor. I think you can get an SD card adapter for a reasonable price for one if you don't want to deal with floppies and cassettes for the later games. The Atari 8 bit line was definitely ahead of its time. It was able to actually compete somewhat with later machines like the C64 and the ZX Spectrum, even though it predates the cool but quaint Commodore Vic-20.
The 5200 was forward-thinking, if not flawed. So many problems would be avoided if Atari used gold plated flexcircuits for the joysticks like they had for the trakballs! The 5200 had great versions of Qix and Centipede that blew the 8bit computer counterparts out of the water. But along with revised versions of 8bit and 2600 games, newer arcade titles and platformers were needed. If only Sinistar, Tempest, and other games were finished at the time as well... At least it got Ballblazer and Rescue on Fractalus.
The reason for the A5200's lack of games is that the entire Colecovision/A5200 console generation was aborted due to various factors, including people not being accustomed to having to replace their console for a new model. That's why historians (mistakenly) bunch the A5200 and Colecovision into the same generation as the A2600 and the Intellivision (which makes as much sense as bunching the PS1 with the PS2). They basically consider commercial failure to be synonymous with inexistence. Compare the North American situation to that of Japan, where the SG-1000, MSX1 and Famicom (all of which in 1983 and 1984 had virtually the same game libraries at the Colecovision and A5200) were quite successful. The NES managed to jump ahead of the pack because developers used bigger cartridges from 1985 onward in order to compensate for the Famicom's limits and make their games next-gen. Sega had to create the Master System to compete with the Famicom. So in Japan it's easy to separate what were really two console generations: one was the SG-1000, MSX1 and early Famicom (which correspond to the hardware of the Colecovision and A5200 in North America), and the other was the Famicom and Master System.
I love the 5200, it's my favorite Atari system. Dual stick Robotron and Space Dungeon is awesome, plus there's still people making games that you can buy on Atari Age, and there's also many 8 bit computer conversion as well so the system has more games available to play on actual hardware.
My co-worker just sold me his working 2 port Atari 5200, w/(4) 5200 controllers, 5200 trackball, 2600 adapter, 2 Atari 2600 joysticks, (18) 5200 games & (1) 2600 game for $200. I got a great deal.
Your videos convinced me that I wanted a 3DO, but I can say with little uncertainty that any interest I might've had in the 5200 died with this upload. Guess I'll just stick to emulation lol
The 3DO is an excellent console. I went on a 4 year retro gaming bender and picked up a 3DO during that time (2008-2011) i only stopped because I got most of what I wanted back then coupled with the many, many games I had as a kid that I kept. I remember wanting a 3DO when it first came out but my parents weren't having any of it. I still play Road Rash and Wing Commander 3 at least once a year. You should definitely get one just for those two games alone. :)
@@Sinn0100 I actually own a 3DO now and have loved my time with it. It's honestly up there as one of my favorite consoles of the 5th generation alongside the Sega Saturn. The 3DO's Wolfenstein 3D port and Gex? Both masterpieces that sold the console for me. Definitely looking out for Road Rash as well
@@mangleman25 Gex and Wolfenstein 3D are top shelf. You should also check out Star Control, Return Fire, Cannon Fodder, Immercenary, The Horde, Starblade, Theme Park, and Killing Time as well.
You've earned another subscriber for spending so much money on this episode! All joking aside, watching you experiment with two 5200s was definitely interesting. Thanks to you I'll be sticking to my Atari 800.
My mom owned a 5200 as a kid, and I actually got to play hers. Had an alright time with it; Pac-Man is definitely a good port, despite the awkward controller.
Even though I first played an Atari 5200 back around, I think 1983 or 84 (one of my elder brothers bought one...first played the Odyssey 2 through him as well), I didn't actually buy one myself till maybe six years ago. It is a 4-port model, with two working controllers (!). To be honest, while the non-self-centering control sticks are a little annoying for some games like Super Breakout, I am liking the console. Granted, I also own an Atari 600XL computer that can play most of the Atari 400 library but even though the 5200 is a big, hulking console I like the 15 games I do have for it, like Vanguard, River Raid, Defender, Mountain King, Pitfall II (IMO vastly improved over the first Pitfall), and others. No, the console doesn't need to be in everyone's retro collection any more than the Odyssey 2 (another console I own and love). But if you have a fondness for the unloved, red-headed stepchildren of retro games, the Atari 5200 is an excellent addition to your collection. Just make sure you have room for it on your shelf :)
Always plug in any kind of av or rf wires 1st before you plug in the power adapter. Especially if it looks sketchy. And you executed that awesomely! Great vid.
I don't know about the 5200 itself but I used to have a 400... (Got it from a garage sale for $50 USD with several games) Carts where way smaller probably because most of the power came from the inside of the unit as apposed to being passed through the expansion buss like interface from the carts themselves, but they looked and ran very identical to there 5200 counterparts... And being a computer you could attach a keyboard and external 5 inch floppy drive which around the time I had it was very easy to copy almost any of the games on to... Obviously anything you have today would be MUCH BETTER than one of those but if you're really dead set on the old school experience the 400 in my opinion is the way to go at it will much more reliable hardware...
This is a great overview / intro to the 5200! I had a 5200 as a kid. We got the initial 4 port model and were disappointed that it wouldn't support the 2600 adapter when it came out. My mom made the decision to keep with the 4 port rather than send it in to be modified to the 2 port model since we still had our original Atari VCS. At the time the analog controllers seemed closer to 50/50 as far as ok and not ok for the games. For many games they were fine but for anything that required quick movements they were frustrating to use, with Pac-Man as the classic example. Someone else mentioned the Wico Command Controller sticks and I had a pair of these as well. These were a big improvement as they were more loose and allowed for quick movements better than the stock 5200 controllers. The trim controls on the bottom weren't a big issue for me. You just needed to be careful they didn't get moved during gameplay. My main complaint is that they were light plastic compared to the regular Wico sticks which were solid with metal parts inside. In retrospect it's easy to say that Atari, Intellivision and Colecovision all had questionable controllers but it was a time of experimentation. It took Nintendo and Sega to show the way that gamepads were the future. BTW, the trackball controller was great... styled for left or right handers with a solid feel. I really wanted the hard, clicky buttons from the trackball controller on the regular controllers! The single cable with power and RF signal was an interesting attempt to simplify what was going to the TV. At the time, it was common for the game console to be on the floor, midway between the TV set and where you were playing. Often you would just sit on the floor and play. Rather than have two cords stretched out from the console, Atari tried to simplify with a single long cord. The antenna/game switch box was also automatic when the 5200 turned on, unlike other switch boxes which had a big sliding lever. It seemed more advanced at the time and actually a step or two less than other consoles. It didn't work well in practice, added manufacturing complexity and they corrected with the 2 port model. As for interference, I'm sure there was a lot less RF signals flying around at the time. Our picture was always rock solid.
I grew up with an Atari 2600. I have had a heavy sixer, a light sixer, a four switch woody, a vader, and a Jr. Now? I have a Jr only. I also own the 5200, 7800, and a Jaguar. The 5200 is my least favorite, especially after wanting one so bad for YEARS! Rather than spend the money trying to fix the controllers I have, I simply opt for emulation. Altirra is my emulator of choice on Windows. As I am not a Mac or Linux user, I don't have recommendations over there. Anyway, the ability to use digital on ANY game, or digital even. I have my 5200 in my collection along with a couple dozen games. I have no desire to part with it either. I just rather not bother making it work seeing that it is a four port, and it is a serious pain to get hooked up. I strongly recommend anyone that wants to enjoy the games...get the console and games for your collection, but just emulate to enjoy the titles.
My dad bought me this console for Christmas in 87.played it for about a year until it stopped working from blue screen of death.maybe from dust getting inside the cartridge slot.
I have a 5200 4 port with 2 working controllers it is a great console! My favorite game is centipede and have always wanted the roller ball controller for it but can never find one for a good price.
I have it as well. I have 2 controllers and only 1 of them gives me issue, but cleaning it fixes it briefly. Its like the chip beneath the buttons leaves a black residue that needs to be cleaned before each use. But some reason my other controller just keeps on working fine.
The start button never fails on it though so its useful when combined with my Wico. But I'm glad i got a good working standard because some games play really well on it and I rather use my trigger finger than my thumb
I never owned a 5200, but one of my cousins got one for Christmas and we happened to be gathering at his house for a family get-together on that day. I played all the games he got with the console and I hated it because of the controller. I only recommend the console if you have a good controller option. I DO own an Atari Jaguar however and what I did to fix the open cartridge slot is lay the owner's manual over the top of the console so it's covering the cartridge slot. That actually works believe it or not.
Subbed because of the 19:00 minute mark and how authentic you are admitting you dont know everything and not trying to polish the video results to sound more authoritative.
that memory corruption towards the end is absolutely hilarious to me - pacman suddenly getting over three hundred thousand points was so funny and idk why
Btw the Wico Command Control was a really decent 3rd party 5200 controller. It required a y-cable or number pad module to make it work. It used an analog joystick but it's a very usable one for digital control.
I know this is an older video but I wanted to share what I think most people misunderstand about the 5200 controller. There is one correct way to hold it, and if you don't hold it that way it feels really clunky. Start by gripping the fire bottoms with the thumb and middle finger of your non dominant hand. Then put your dominant thumb on the tip of the joystick. If you let the rest of your fingers fall naturally to support the controller from here, it will make a very big difference. I found my 5200 in my grandmothers attic when we were cleaning her house. It was buried under a pile of rotting clothes but was wrapped in plastic and in immaculate condition. After I got it set up at my house, my uncle, who got it new for Christmas, sat down and taught me his tricks for it. The way he held the controller looked odd at first but once I tried it I knew he had the right idea.
When we used 2600 style joysticks on my VIC20 and C64, we always removed the rubber cover from the stick. Made them much more responsive, if a little uncomfortable (the top of the stick had a kind of sharp edge - easily rectified with a bit of sanding).
The Nerd made it perfectly clear in minutes that the Atari 5200 was a no-go. Almost made the fatal mistake of buying one a few years ago, and darned glad I didn't after seeing this video.
14:40 The most common types of 3D printed plastics are pretty strong as long as they're printed with the right settings regardless of what's behind it. With most slicers (the software that converts the 3D model into a series of CNC commands for the printer) you're going to be getting at least 0.8-1.2mm of solid plastic on a top or bottom layer with the default settings, and breaking that by hand is going to require intent. I suspect the reason has more to do with making it easier to print and eliminating the need to post-process the part. If they wanted to have proper hand grips without making them a separate piece they'd have to use a bunch of support material when printing the bottom part of the shell, and removing that inevitably leaves a lot of rough spots behind that would need to be sanded down. I'm assuming they're probably using PLA for the shell, and that material isn't the most fun to sand. As for how the plastic would feel during play: that's a bit more tricky. I've printed my own face place for my GameShell handheld and that doesn't really feel any worse than the standard part, but in that case I'm not really wrapping my hands around it like I would a controller. I can't imagine your palms rubbing against the layer lines would be all that pleasant, though I can't say I've ever printed a full controller shell before.
I'm curious as to what's on the inside of that shell, especially the bottom. The bottom piece is printed upside down (where your fingers go was touching the build plate). If it's totally hollow, its print orientation would make sense. But if there's some PCB or other internal support, then the print can be reversed (finger part facing away from the build plate), and a more ergonomic design would be easy to print. If they really wanted a premium product, print a top and bottom in PLA and a midsection in TPU. Neither the top nor bottom would require much support, and the midsection can be sandwiched between them.
@@kwc2086 I imagine the PCB would be either mounted to the bottom shell to increase stability and durability, so I imagine that would work. There would be a slight increase in the likelihood of print failures due to the reduced surface area, but I kind of doubt they're producing that many of these given which system we're talking about. Having a TPU grip would be nice, assuming they have an extruder that could manage it at a decent speed. Gotta admit, though, this is making me curious how comfortable of a controller I could make if I were to put this stuff into practice. I do have a spool of NinjaFlex lying around... :P
@@patrickalmquist4762 it's balanced out now but it's saying I made my comment 5 hours ago when I I fact made it long time ago and the video saying its 6 hours old. These stats are barmy
controler replacement idea: ive had a 5200 for years and ive played maybe three times. my controllers have to be eraser cleaned every time i want to play it so i dont bother. someone needs to invent a way to replace the contact sheet with a pcb of actual clickable buttons instead, hardwired in. it should be able to fit into the existing controller housing. it would give you tactile feedback to the buttons as a bonus. i have a few spares i got to test my theory out i just need to get around to doing it.
I liked this a lot! I love obscure, forgotten hardware like this, specifically because you *don't* hear about it often, so seeing it in (mostly) working condition is a treat. While it obviously was a pain for you for completely understandable reasons, I still enjoyed learning about it and in my opinion it was worth it.
I love the 5200, but my best experience is playing it on the PS2, using an emulator. With the PS2 dual analog controller, games like Robotron and Space Dungeon work great.
I don’t think this takes the CD-I’s crown. After all, when it works, the 5200 has some great games. Yes, many are revisions, or arcade downgrades, but they’re fundamentally still fun. The CD-I doesn’t really have that, outside of Hotel Mario (what can I say, I’m a sucker for action puzzle games). Heck, I still felt that moment of terror when I heard the voice of Sinistar.
I just watched your video thank you for the honest review. Of course this is not the experience I want my customers to have. With over 6000 units sold worldwide and many happy customers the keypad breaking is an isolated incident. I’m curious as to why you would mention that instead of just contacting me for a replacement? I had no idea you had an issue with that keypad module and sorry this happened. . I don’t recall you reaching out to me letting me know this. I do source my products in bulk and I also have a warranty so please contact me and I can offer you a full replacement. In the video it seems that you fixed it. But that should not have happened. There might be a bad batch of keypads that I got in my shipment and I will alert the distributor. I appreciate your time and thank you for the great video. Also for future reference it would be good to include information about the person behind the product and not just the product itself. If you would’ve contacted me you would’ve found me to be extremely helpful and offer to make the situation right.
Missile Command and Star Wars Arcade are a dream with the standard controller. A modern self centering thumbstick wouldnt work. Needs the long range motion and for it not to pull to the center. Infact if your rubber boot on the controller is torn so it literally doesnt center it's even better. Or the wico stick with self centering turned off.
the 2600 junior controller i had was pretty good, like there'd be no issue with pacman as crashdive was pretty unforgiving if you could't do fine small movements when that sea monster was walking over you.. as for freezing issues, likely causes jump to memory(as someone pointed out) cpu heat (little heatsink stuck on top should work), dirty connector(s) or the fav failing of consoles more than few years old - capacitors (as i hear, gamegears are super likely to suffer this)
I bought a 4-port from a flea market, missing the little video box. Some plans on the internet and a trip to Radio Shack and I built a substitute. Not a month later, I ran into my grade school friend who I hadn't seen in years, who offered me his two port model and all his games.
My 5200 was bought off ebay not knowing if it would even work but it works great. I was reccomend to a ebay seller that built a box similar to that box you have and has 2 knobs on it for vertical and horizontal adjustments which also allows me to use my sega Genesis controller on. It costed me $89 but im glad i I purchased it. I have the 2 port model 5200.
I saw that AVGN one some time ago. It's as funny as it's contrived. But it's a script and a good one. There are a few 5200 reviews on UA-cam. Framerater's is above average for sure, and the 5200 always needed more love. The more I play it the more I appreciate the analog joysticks giving more precise control values... even if many games just needed the older joystick 0/1 off/on values. But Breakout, Missile Command, Centipede, etc do have a nice smooth/organic feel with the analog joystick... though the trakball is better...
I grew up with the 1st gen game consoles. When the 5200 came out a friend bought one, I'll never forget the first time I got to use it - it was dislike at first sight. The sheer size of this console was just ridiculous and there was no living room environment where it looked like it belonged. It was always in the way, somehow. Even a Channel F could have a few magazines or a storage box stacked on top of it, you couldn't stack anything on a 5200. The 5200 was difficult just to pick up, there was no good place to fit your fingers under it and the edges were smooth slick plastic. If you really want to torture yourself coat your 5200 and the controllers with some Armor-All. The stock controllers of course are horrible. While it was forward-thinking to put the console control buttons on the controller, using sunken membrane buttons behind the stick made then difficult to access. The width and button positions seemed to be carefully measured specifically to induce RSI. And those buttons being stacked right on top of each other made it really easy to hit the wrong one, or both. There was absolutely nothing pleasurable about using the controllers, it's difficult to imagine how they could possibly have been more poorly designed. The games were the same as you could get on the Atari computers, so it was obvious that what you were buying was a crippled computer. Why not just get the real thing? Or if you really wanted a console: the Colecovision. Sure the Colecovision also had awkward controllers, not as bad as the 5200 controllers but if you didn't like them you could just plug in a bog-standard Atari joystick for many games, something which you could NOT do on a 5200. I've read that inside Atari the 5200 team deliberately changed a few internals to prevent competition with the computer division, but what they ended up doing was highlighting just how pointless the 5200 actually was. Games were easy enough to port to the 5200 from the Atari computers, but even so many companies didn't bother. I have to admit that I only played a 5200 console a handful of times back when it was first released. It was the one console which a friend owned that nobody wanted to play after the newness wore off. Have you ever accidentally bitten down on a piece of aluminum foil and hurt your tooth? That's the same feeling the 5200 had.
As someone with a 3d printer, the maker matrix probably has the design it does as it's easy to print. The flat top and bottom are printed against the bed. Then you just build up for the walls. A formed bottom would be difficult with FDM.
The only thing predictable about the 5200, is the fact that it's so unpredictable. I own it because it's a piece of history and it was fun to give as a present and see my sister's face when she found a beer in the top compartment! Oh!, and it also has some great games and looks awesome in my cave! I like to buy all my retro consoles in the original box,(if possible) but I'm not rich :( It took me and my sister 15 years of Garage Sailing, along with 4 a.m. Flee market trips to finally get one I was happy with. Both inside and out ;) Cheers from Canada
Great work and good point! I can’t even find a good 3rd party controller replacement for my 2600. Got the junior controllers, which are my choice. I’m acustom to them from my youth. An i am waiting an Atari FPGA that takes cartridges. Phoenix System did a great job for Intellivision. And i can’t find anything on that Atariman. The Atariman is a project in the dust, which should be made available!!!!
The real reason that the analog stick is weird is that the design that was released was not the intended one. The engineers prototyped it with a mechanism from an RC airplane controller. They intended it to go into production with something similar. The production controller used a rubber boot to cut costs. The engineers reportedly hated the change.
I have a four port Atari 5200 and the vast majority of my game cartridges for it play just fine. I have both the original 5200 controllers and the Retrogameboyz P15 to P9 adapter keypad with my original Atari CX-40 joystick controller, most of the games are fine either way but I was never fully into 5200 RealSports Baseball. I believe that you have to actually use the Velcro on the back of the automatic switch box to keep it in place.
I know nothing about the technical side of the 5200, but judging by what I've seen on UA-cam, it seems like emulation is the way to go if you want to play 5200 games. Still, I'm glad it exists since it gave birth to your Console Library vids, which were what led me to your channel in the first place. :)
The 5200 is a wonderful console and was exciting for the time. If you have Ivory Tower Collections refurb and mod the console, it becomes a really wonderful relic from 40 years ago.
I didn't know anyone else on the planet would have two 5200s in their home. I have two 5200s - one is a 4 port and one is a 2 port. I think we had the 4 port first, and it was purchased by my mother or maybe even grandmother new in the 80s well before I was born. I discovered it tucked away in a box in the closet years and years ago, probably around 2001. My grandma decided she wanted one for her house so she went on this new thing called "eBay" and bought a 2 port one, and a couple years later ended up just giving it to us to get out of her house. I never use the things, they're back in a box somewhere. But it's neat to say that not only have I heard of the 5200, but I have two of the things!
I’m someone who works at a UPS store and you honestly got a deal. Recently had to help a costumer try to ship something to Canada, it wasn’t even in a big box or anything and it was nearly $350 just to ship out
The overlay is still most useful becaus it informs the player what key does what. In fact when it is placed where it was intended to be placed, the player's hand not only covers the overlay and being cited there forces the player to look at the controller instead of the game playing on the screen.
Its 1st game Asteroids "5201" was never released. It had 4 player at the same time co op support and was meant to start out the system with a bang. They never released it do to testing bad with the analog controller. And instead skipped to game 5202 and onwards. All atari games are numbered. For instance Combat is 2601 the first 2600 game. Today 5200 Asteroids can be played someone released the rom. But its recommended to find a digital controller first.
@@chiroquacker2580 Actually, it wasn't a cheap controller at all. It is needlessly complex in some places, and is built more expensive than it really needs to be. Flex circuits were new technology, and not very resistant to wear, and the 5200 uses one for the entire controller(pots and cable excepted). Start and upper fire will almost always be dead because they see by far the most wear. Having a half-dozen broken sticks that I've opened, I can tell you that each one has a different flex circuit revision. And they are all major revisions, with immediately visible differences in PCB materials(one even seems to be constructed out of foil). Atari knew they had an unreliable device, and was firing blindly to try and fix it. I've read the controller design was because Atari at the time prioritized designs that generated more patents. It explains a lot.
I had an Atari 2600, a Colecovision, an Intellivision, and a 5200, all at the same time back then. I probably had less than 10 games for the 5200. The non-centering controller was odd, but in some games it was workable. My favorite games were Pole Position and Popeye. As a game system, it was just a blip in the the progression of performance happening then. I think I only played it for around 6 months. I eventually moved to the Commodore 64 and sold all the game systems that I had. I would think I had a four port, but never used any more than two controllers. I never had any issues playing it or any interference issues.
I own the 5200 I got for Christmas when I was 12 years old. It really is a great system, but the joysticks were so poorly designed that playing the games became a nightmare. The fatal flaw for your system shouldn't be the controller. And it was a major fatal flaw.
I dunno, man. My own experience with the Atari 5200 was positive, but I know I'm in the minority about that. This was, after all, the game system selected by Metal Jesus as the worst in his collection. All the usual complaints about the machine (bad joysticks, huge size, weird AC adapter/RF modulator) hold true, but man, I just like the feel of the games better than I do the ColecoVision. That was made from off the shelf parts, and it shows. My two port 5200 rarely had issues playing games, but it was one of those transitionary machines with the old BIOS included. Maybe the BIOS is at fault for your games freezing up? It's a long shot, I know. I would tend to think that the pins in the cartridge slot need to be cleaned and straightened, so that proper contact can be made with the carts. Also... you forgot to include the Wico Command Control in your list of 5200 joystick alternatives. Best way to play games on the system by far, even if the shaft looks... er, suggestive. Great primary fire button (the second button is very small), fine adjustment for the sensitivity of the stick, and even an option to let the stick auto-center or hang loose from the X and Y axes... Wico thought of everything when they made this controller. You can even get an optional keypad if you want, and it's much more sturdy than the one shown in your video.
I have a 5200 plus its wicked cool trackball controller and I really enjoy it. The controllers are wonky but they were extremely innovative for 1982. The issue is the controller was essentially a prototype that Atari rushed out. The library, despite being mostly ports of arcade/VCS titles, is quality and a noticeable improvement over the VCS versions and even the 7800 versions in terms of sound. I would argue that the 5200 is underrated, and hope Hyperkin or someone else makes peripherals for it so people can fairly judge it.
My local retro game store has had around 15 copies of Pac Man for the 5200, and for the most part they did'int sell. I bought a copy and there's still generally the same amount of copies of Pac Man on the 5200.
I have a Matrix controller. Yes it is a great alternative but....certain games are ruined because the self centering stick is way more sensitive than the original anaolog controller. Games like missle command and centipede are difficult to play with the matrix controller but......those should be played with a ball controller! I own my original 5200 From 1982! It works just fine with the exemption of the original Controllers. I recommend a multi cart and a Pete's diagnostic cart if you have to adjust pokey wich handles the controller analog.
The Wico joystick is great joystick alternative and the actual atari 5200 trackball is nothing short of magic two must haves for this system.
Yeah, my bad. It does require a 5200 controller attached which is why I wasn't considering it. If anyone's curious to buy, be sure it comes with the Y-cable accessory included, else you've wasted your time (good example - the end of AVGN's video).
I don't remember why I passed on bringing up the trackball. Have heard it's great with Centipede, though.
@@FrameRater actually the best combo is the wico attached to the trackball as the keypads on the trackball controllers also seem to work like new.
Also, I'm confused. Are you saying that the two port crashes on just regular games and the four port doesn't? If so I'll keep a lookout. I have the Atari Max and nothing has crashed yet, but I do notice that the games on the two port sort of flinch after a while. But they do that on my colecovision too. Maybe this has to do with old cartridges and the higher levels are less used? I don't know. I'll keep my eye on the Atari Max games. I have one for my colecovision too.
@@richardhdent are you using the RF switchbox? or are they modified for composite or s-video? I've a 4port and 2port and both seem stable using the video modification. I had a stock 5200 with the switchbox and it would briefly flake out while playing.
also check the power supply. older ones may get flaky.
I don't recall the 5200 having capacitors on the motherboard but a failing Capacitor can cause flakiness or visual distortion too.
@@ShamrockParticle so weird. I just pulled the Atari out today. Everything is good. I think my rtf connection was just loose.
I've owned a two-port model for years, and never once considered putting the AC adapter inside the controller storage. You're a genius.
Since most 5200 games were also released in nearly identical versions for the 8-bit computer line, and the remaining ones that weren't have homebrew conversions as well, I've never seen much point in getting a 5200. And if you really prefer a console, just get an XE Game System and then unplug the keyboard. It has direct video and audio outputs, too, for the best quality.
I figured you'd be here. This guy sounds cute.
Hit the nail on the head. I can't even see the 5200 anymore without just wanting to see the 800 and 800XL computers.
you always follow the men
I would like to get the 7800 someday, as I have owned a 5200 the past 30 years and never played it that much.
Why not just get an Atari 800? It not only has the same hardware as the 5200, but it even supports an S-Video and uses Atari 2600 controllers
Someone identified the issue with my second 5200!
"Atari was *notorious* for using cheap RAM in the 8-bit computer line. Score values and graphical corruption are a good indicator that something is wrong with the memory."
THANKS FOR THE INSIGHT; 'Graham Bell' and 'Wired-Up Retro'.
AtariAge is a treasure trove of info.. Surely you can find out everything you need to know there. 👍 If you're handy, like to tinker and can solder/desolder, I'd completely overhaul that thing - disassemble, inspect, clean and/or replace every known troublesome component - Recap it, RAM, and RGB or s-video mod it. Get an Atarimax flash cart so you can run the diagnostic rom and help troubleshoot further, plus be able to play whatever games you want, all in one place. You could probably have the money and then some if you sold off all those 5200 games. Good luck!
THAT'S why the Atari 8-bits had a RAM test in their BIOS! No other computer did. I thought I was getting a special extra other computer owners missed out on! The cheap bastards! Still, RAM got better as time went on, my 65XE never had a problem.
Atari did not use cheap RAM in the 8-bit computer line, mostly. Sometimes Micron RAM was used but this was the exception. This rumor you've heard is not true. I have seen many of these systems and they usually work well still to this day. Differentiating the 5200 from the 8-bit comptuers. No idea regarding 5200 RAM quality.
Also, Centipede for the 5200 with the trackball controller: best arcade experience you can get on a home console to date.
It doesn't even work well though
so true no 5200 review is complete without using it.
No, because a trackball for the PlayStation exists (I have one) and you can play the Atari Arcade classics on it.
@@staringcorgi6475 it did 35 years ago.
@@staringcorgi6475 5200 trackball is amazing. It works great. The best trackball in that era.
Gotta love how this was the first console to show manufacturers why backwards compatibility is important
And then the Master System, Genesis, and 7800 failed to back that statement up. And the SNES only used its compatibility mode to save 3rd parties money and introduce unwanted slowdown.
Granted, a lot of that had more to do with Nintendo's illegal 8-bit monopoly, and the SNES wouldn't have won as convincingly if Sega of Japan hadn't killed the Genesis early.
But how many people, besides me, refused to buy a PS3 that wasn't PS2 and PS1 compatible? How many people chose the DSi over Gameboy Advance compatibility? Backwards compatibility didn't help the Vita reach the sales of the PSP....although that was mostly due to Sony's greed, and Sony throwing a tantrum when consumers didn't play along with the overpriced memory sticks. Nintendo, meanwhile, had the ambassador program to apologize for their behavior.
My point isn't to downplay backwards compatibility - I love it, personally. But is it really important? Sales don't back that statement up. The only reason it seems more important with this new generation is because AAA games are expensive to develop, and the improvements are subtle. Most people don't care about more accurate reflections and shadows. They'd rather have the improved frame rates and loading times, which backwards compatibility can provide.
@@juststatedtheobvious9633 The Genesis is backwards compatible with Master System games. You just need a Power Base Converter, an adapter for Master System games.
If you have a Genesis flash cart, you can just play Master System games with that and no adapter.
@@LocoRodeoBozo
My point was that few people bothered with the Master System converter, who weren't already owners. And even then, I'd wonder how many new Master System titles they purchased?
It's why I threw it in with the 7800 and Master System, both of which had backwards compatibility. (Although the only SG-1OOO game I ever saw in the states was the flight simulator.)
There used to be a dramatic difference between generations. And I used to get odd looks for even playing 2d shmups on my Saturn.
And the 7800 was the first console to show them it's not? 😅
@Nobody comments are not funny you troglodyte
That thing they stopped abusing the moment they were sued by Tengen. You know, the one where third parties were "persuaded" not to publish on competing consoles?
Good thing they stopped too, as they were also in trouble for price fixing and they'd gotten their butts handed to them that time they tried to get away with stealing code for DK Jr.
If they hadn't persuaded the jury that their monopoly was a benevolent one, things would have ended very differently for them.
We need a clone console (Analogue, Im looking at you) that plays 2600, 5200, 7800, Atari XE/8-bit computers, Colecovision, Intellivision, Odyssey 2, Lynx and Jaguar cartridges. A lot of these consoles are getting harder to find in working order and we could really use something that at least plays all the Atari stuff: 2600, 5200, 7800 and the XE/8-bit computer cartridges and include Colecovision and Intellivision too.
Bro you just described a PC
Y'all we got Atari 50
You have described the MiSTer. Hardware emulation in FGPA, which is what the Analogue systems do. The hardware isn’t cheap, but the cores are amazing and the timing issues associated with software emulation are avoided.
@@RandallHayter Id just be happy with a 2600 -5200 - 7800 clone console, and realistically, someone might make that, and theres no excuse that Retron 77 didnt have 7800 support. Ive seen the mister before, its definitely a nice piece of kit.
@HaakonAnderson tell me a pc I can play atari 260o carts on 🤣
My opinion: The Atari 5200 is a system where piracy of its library of 69 games is not only advisable, it's encouraged!
On the basis that you are less likely to burn down your house.
@@JustinC721 No shit... 🤣👍
@@KeonAureii You're joking right?... I actually can't tell... 😅
@@KeonAureii bruh
You're absolutely right, and it's great finally to see a reviewer admit that. Most collectors refuse to see the benefits of emulation.
Man this console is just so...interesting, with it's niche' audience and random games, It's like something from another plane of reality.
Thanks for taking your time with this historic console Frame, your effort shines through in the video.
Only reason it failed the controllers broke really easy. The games were pretty good.
We had this when I was a kid. I absolutely loved it. I used to play Star Raiders all the time. The biggest downfall was of course the controllers will eventually quit working. We had 4 controllers originally and over the years whittled down to just one working controller. Back then I thought the controller itself was the coolest thing ever. The first big company game console with a Pause button on the controller! That was big back then!
Your Pacman game's crazy score is because you have the "Special", Billy Mitchell edition.
If you had the original box, it would come with a vial of Hot Sauce and a special instruction pamphlet titled, "How to Cheat Pac-Man".
It sells for 666.66$, tax included.
What a "Hot" deal!
Cheers from Canada
P.S. Great video, btw. I landed up learning a few things I didn't know!
Thumbs up, and a Sub for you! Just don't put any Hotsauce on the SUB. ;)
Lol. That side-by-side with the mini Genesis Classic, then switching to a real Model is hilarious at showing how much of a chonker it is.
As for the issues, yeah,the things being fidgety and often breaking been my experience too. In the late 90's I ended up finding a set at a garage sale for decent price with both a 2-port and 4-port console, a pile of regular controllers, games with a couple of duplicates, and a trackball. Last I played with it, only one of the controllers worked fully. The Trackball was partially froze up (wouldn't spin well) at time of purchase and the buttons wouldn't all work. The 2-port console never worked right. The 4-port was working still, though, last I poked at it years ago. Go Atari 8-bit computer instead is my vote.
Duplicates are good. Especially the Activision titles which seem to have problems with their cartridges' contacts not fitting into the 5200 and requiring more fanagaling to work. Cleaning the contacts does no good. I should know, the smell ot all the alcohol used would inebriate anyone without needing to taste a drop.
When I was trying to illustrate the size to someone, I put a Genesis 1 with a SegaCD 2 on top of it.
That combination is almost exactly as wide as the 5200.
I gather the era believed size implied power. The ColecoVision is mostly wasted space too.
My friend got me a 5200 2 port and I just have an Atarimax cart with an external keypad and use a 2600 flashback controller. I've had a lot of fun so far. I think it was worth it for me. I swapped out my RF cable for a better shielded cable and play on an old Sears CRT with dials. It's great. Mine still has the protective plastic on the metal face plate too, which is cool
I came here expecting a 5200 video, I ended up pulling up to the after-party instead.
I’ve never been a huge gamer. In fact years have gone by when I didn’t play at all. But I’ve always kept a toe in the water, so to speak. So I actually started with pong, eventually got an Atari 2600. From there we got a Coleco vision. I also had a commodore 64. Then I really didn’t play for a while, until I got a PlayStation one. Then eventually, I got a PlayStation 2 . then I didn’t play for a while again, until I got an Xbox 360. And I kept rocking that 360 until just about a year and a half ago when I got an Xbox series S. But I still mostly play old games! And that includes an Atari flashback portable that I recently acquired. And that’s what brought me to your channel. Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy it. Thanks!
I wish Hyperkin released an all in one Retron for all classic consoles such as 2600, 5200, 7800. Intellivision and Colecovision in the same vein as the Retron 5.
You might try picking up a label maker. The result would look nicer, the tape won't degrade over time like masking tape and marker will, and it won't leave a messy residue if your box of games gets too much heat exposure.
I still have my mom's old Atari 5200 2 port, here's my experience:
She has 2 controllers, they're all broken. Not due to her own bad, the controllers just deteriate regardless of how you store them 🤷♂️
The console works great when loading games! But with busted controllers, it's not as fun.
The 2600 adapter for the 5200 is AMAZING!! It's how I got into the 2600, thank God she had the adapter!
MegaMania beats Space Invaders, facts
Thanks for making this video- and I'm grateful for the mini-shoutout to my channel :) The 5200 is definitely an interesting system with some great games! It sounds like you had some unfortunate happenings when it comes to the 5200, but you could try a RAM replacement or maybe replace the entire board inside with a new one (It's possible that Best Electronics still has some). I have a video on my channel about how to do the circuit board replacement.
Glad you showed some of the adapters and alternative controllers. There will soon be an amazing controller available from Edladdin which will be able to play the analog games as well as digital games. It may be out in January or February of 2022, so be sure to take a look at that when it's out.
Again- once you have a working 5200 and a great controller, it will be one of the best consoles you can own (and the biggest). Oh- and don't forget to get the Trakball!
Always wanted a 5200. It's my one that got away. I still have my 6 switch 2600.
Atari is an untouched mystery for me. I wouldn't know where to begin with hardware issues.
Begin with the 2600. Simple, Reliable, common, well made, games are mostly cheap, and the joysticks are foolproof. An ideal system to collect for.
Plenty of UA-cam videos on it, DO A/V mods to make the picture better and for the most part, they are easy to fix, late 1970's early 1980's electronics, very easy to work on...
For the most part they are bullet proof, very dependable hardware over all... I was given a 2600 that was dug up in the back yard, cleaned it up, got all the dirt out, washed the board, let dry out and plugged it in...it worked perfectly...
There is always emulation.... if you want to check out early gaming...
Excellent video. I still have a working 5200. Purchased in the 80s.
I owned a 5200 when I was young. I have fond memories of these games. There were some quality issues with the controllers. Robotron, super breakout, miner 2049er, and Pac-Man were some of our favorites.
So I own a 5200 and it was an odyssey to find. See, I'm a Mr.Do! fan and as a kid I was always trying to find a home port of Do Run Run. It's what made me a collector (there is no home port of Do Run Run it seems). One day while my Mom was working at a record store, someone traded in a copy of Mr.Do!'s Castle for the 5200 which I did not own AND was a game I had never heard of. Well screw it. We bought it, tried to see if we could run it on the VIC-20 or Commodore 64 (the carts are similarly shaped) and then just...desperately look for a 5200 for almost a decade before FINALLY finding one. The controller only kinda sorta worked but GOSH DARNIT I COULD FINALLY PLAY MY COPY OF MR.DO!'S CASTLE! Which is a game I rarely see in 5200 collections. Along the way I found a 2600 version of Mr.Do!'s Castle which is ABYSMAL but I still played the crap out of it due to franchise loyalty. I now own a Mr.Do!'s Castle arcade machine with boards for Mr.Do!, Mr.Do!'s Castle, and Do Run Run (though I have to turn my head sideways for that one). Alas the power supply blew out on it but I keep my Mr.Do! collection in the coin box. One day we'll fix that darn power supply!
Either way the 5200 will always have a special place in my mind for being that mysterious system I could almost never find in the wild. Heck both the Gameboy and SNES versions of Mr.Do! were announced and released before I could ever find a 5200. (obviously this was the pre-EBay days)
The games were surprisingly well done on the system. A lot of good arcade ports were available. Sadly, the system itself and its controller were so susceptible to breaking and/or simply not working very well. Every friend I knew who had this system, they had issues with it.
Most games were just ports from the atari 8 bit computer line, which shares the same hardware. I prefer the system however over the 7800, better games and better sound.
Even though I was born in 1987, this and the Intellivision were my first systems that I ever experienced. That’s what my parents had gotten from one of my dad’s coworkers before I was born. Anyway I played both of them, and loved both of them. Sadly, the controllers died and everything ended up getting pitched.
I’ve now almost gotten a full set(still need 2 games), and I still love the system but I will admit nostalgia plays a HUGE part into it. Yeah a lot of the games are on other systems, either the Atari 800 or even stuff like the ColecoVision, but I still love it.
Also, I’ve never really had issues with my current 2 port system. Some 2 port systems already had 4 port bios’ installed when they were transitioning to them and that’s what I have.
3D printer owner here. Late to the party, but there’s a few reason the Maker Matrix controller shell is designed like that. The most noticeable design, the back half of the shell being completely flat, is bc it’s the easiest way to 3D print objects while not having to worry about surface finish. With it being flat, it prints flat on the printer, getting an even finish thanks to the print bed. If it was curved, you would have to use supports on either the inside or the outside. On the outside, supports will always leave little bumps of plastic all over the surface, chafing up your hands. If supports are on the inside, this isn’t an issue, but the layer lines near the end of the print will be more apparent. Look at the 3D print you showed in the video. The bottom has more uniform layer lines, but the top is less visually appealing. This is also why the edges have a 45 degree angle instead of being curved.
And brittleness shouldn’t be an issue as you speculated, unless the shell was printed with very few layers. Even PLA, an easy to use and not very strong filament, can be used to make Glock frames and other things that see extreme stress.
You are MUCH more likely to have four working 5200 joysticks than three friends that want to play the 5200 with you all at the same time. However, not being able to play three games from the library is a non-trivial downside of the 2-port model.
I always enjoy your videos, sorry to hear you had such an issue with the 5200. I don't have any experience with the console myself so I'm not gonna be of much use to you. Still though I wanted to say thanks for making such a well put together, informative, professional video as always.
I love the futuristic look of the console, but it should have been designed more like the XEGS using standard 2600 controllers and Atari 8-bit carts. In fact, that was the original plan for the 8-bit line. One was to be a game system the other a computer. What we ended up with was the 400/800 computers instead and it was because the 2600 was too popular at the time to be replaced yet.
Yep. The XEGS was exactly what the 5200 should have been the entire time.
The XEGS I fell was released just too late for Atari
I don't think there's anything to be lost by swapping the RAM out on that 2-port 5200. Atari was *notorious* for using cheap RAM in the 8bit computer line, and score values and graphical corruption are a good indicator that something is wrong with the memory.
Speaking of the 8-bit line, if you like the 5200's library at all, I'd just get an Atari 800 XL or 65/130 XE. They take up less space, have composite output, use digital joysticks, and they play all the same games plus a bunch more. Unless the intention is for the 5200 to be a shelf queen (it is a conversation starter, for sure), the computers are a better bet all around.
He could sell a kidney for an X-Eggs. What other game console has Mentos for buttons?
I know the stories about bad ram in XE's but not about XL's having bad ram ?
@@erikkarsies4851 XLs are generally better, they definitely started out that way, but a 2-port 5200 is a cost reduced version of the 5200, and this is Atari we're talking about. I wouldn't put it past them to use cheaper memory to hit a price point on the 5200.
Regardless, it's a pretty good place to start if a cleaning doesn't fix the problem.
@@gargonovich ^^this
While the stories of the XE and XL are true, the 2port was right at the time of Atari's being sold. It's not too big a leap to believe the ram chip manufacturer had been changed. Opening up both 4- and 2-port models could confirm brand and number of chips to reach the 16KB complement that the 5200 had. If the same brand used by the XE machines is in thr 2-port, then Atari would have switched even before Tramiel purchased it.
@@ShamrockParticle I went and did a bit more poking around. I still think it's bad RAM, but it's not the same as the XEs.
Looking at a few boards, it looks like the 4-port 5200s tended to use Motorola memory, while the 2-Port used Mostek memory. Could be a quality difference there, as Mostek was kind of on the ropes by that point after getting smacked around by the Japanese firms.
Neither seems to show up in the XE line, though, interestingly. They tend to use one "good" RAM chip, (I've seen Toshiba and my 130XE from '85 has a Mitsubishi chip) and then the rest are Micron Technologies chips, which are the ones that tend to go bad.
*EDIT: So, Micron Technologies (MT) was spun off from Mostek, so this could be similarly poor quality RAM.*
On the bright side for Framerater, new RAM should be easy to source, and the RAM is socketed on the 2-ports by the look of it. The RAM might even be okay right now, just pop the chips out of the sockets and reseat them, that works surprisingly often.
I lucked up and found my two-port 5200 for $50 on Facebook Marketplace. In the box, with two working controls, and several games in the box! It’s pretty neat, even though the controllers are weird. I like it, and am glad to have it in my collection!
Get an Atari 8 bit computer. The 5200 literally is just a stripped down 400.
You also would get the benefit of a machine that has S-Video outputs if you buy a cable.
They use standard Atari/Genesis style joystick ports, so stick either of those controllers in there for a much better experience.
You'd also get the added bonus of a much larger library since they made games for the computers on floppy and cassette far longer after cartridges fell out of favor.
I think you can get an SD card adapter for a reasonable price for one if you don't want to deal with floppies and cassettes for the later games.
The Atari 8 bit line was definitely ahead of its time. It was able to actually compete somewhat with later machines like the C64 and the ZX Spectrum, even though it predates the cool but quaint Commodore Vic-20.
The 5200 was forward-thinking, if not flawed. So many problems would be avoided if Atari used gold plated flexcircuits for the joysticks like they had for the trakballs!
The 5200 had great versions of Qix and Centipede that blew the 8bit computer counterparts out of the water.
But along with revised versions of 8bit and 2600 games, newer arcade titles and platformers were needed. If only Sinistar, Tempest, and other games were finished at the time as well...
At least it got Ballblazer and Rescue on Fractalus.
The reason for the A5200's lack of games is that the entire Colecovision/A5200 console generation was aborted due to various factors, including people not being accustomed to having to replace their console for a new model. That's why historians (mistakenly) bunch the A5200 and Colecovision into the same generation as the A2600 and the Intellivision (which makes as much sense as bunching the PS1 with the PS2). They basically consider commercial failure to be synonymous with inexistence.
Compare the North American situation to that of Japan, where the SG-1000, MSX1 and Famicom (all of which in 1983 and 1984 had virtually the same game libraries at the Colecovision and A5200) were quite successful. The NES managed to jump ahead of the pack because developers used bigger cartridges from 1985 onward in order to compensate for the Famicom's limits and make their games next-gen. Sega had to create the Master System to compete with the Famicom. So in Japan it's easy to separate what were really two console generations: one was the SG-1000, MSX1 and early Famicom (which correspond to the hardware of the Colecovision and A5200 in North America), and the other was the Famicom and Master System.
I love the 5200, it's my favorite Atari system. Dual stick Robotron and Space Dungeon is awesome, plus there's still people making games that you can buy on Atari Age, and there's also many 8 bit computer conversion as well so the system has more games available to play on actual hardware.
My co-worker just sold me his working 2 port Atari 5200, w/(4) 5200 controllers, 5200 trackball, 2600 adapter, 2 Atari 2600 joysticks, (18) 5200 games & (1) 2600 game for $200. I got a great deal.
I appreciate your sacrifice for the price plus the points you made are pretty good about the console!
Your videos convinced me that I wanted a 3DO, but I can say with little uncertainty that any interest I might've had in the 5200 died with this upload. Guess I'll just stick to emulation lol
The 3DO is an excellent console. I went on a 4 year retro gaming bender and picked up a 3DO during that time (2008-2011) i only stopped because I got most of what I wanted back then coupled with the many, many games I had as a kid that I kept. I remember wanting a 3DO when it first came out but my parents weren't having any of it. I still play Road Rash and Wing Commander 3 at least once a year. You should definitely get one just for those two games alone. :)
@@Sinn0100 I actually own a 3DO now and have loved my time with it. It's honestly up there as one of my favorite consoles of the 5th generation alongside the Sega Saturn.
The 3DO's Wolfenstein 3D port and Gex? Both masterpieces that sold the console for me. Definitely looking out for Road Rash as well
@@mangleman25
Gex and Wolfenstein 3D are top shelf. You should also check out Star Control, Return Fire, Cannon Fodder, Immercenary, The Horde, Starblade, Theme Park, and Killing Time as well.
I got into buying older consoles and flashcarts with the intention of having the closest to a "true experience" and I can relate.
The way the cable to the rf things fit into the square on the console is really cool to me
You've earned another subscriber for spending so much money on this episode! All joking aside, watching you experiment with two 5200s was definitely interesting. Thanks to you I'll be sticking to my Atari 800.
Good call! Also thanks. 😄
Great video - this is the best review of the Atari 5200 on UA-cam. It's nice to see this console get some attention!
My mom owned a 5200 as a kid, and I actually got to play hers. Had an alright time with it; Pac-Man is definitely a good port, despite the awkward controller.
Even though I first played an Atari 5200 back around, I think 1983 or 84 (one of my elder brothers bought one...first played the Odyssey 2 through him as well), I didn't actually buy one myself till maybe six years ago. It is a 4-port model, with two working controllers (!). To be honest, while the non-self-centering control sticks are a little annoying for some games like Super Breakout, I am liking the console.
Granted, I also own an Atari 600XL computer that can play most of the Atari 400 library but even though the 5200 is a big, hulking console I like the 15 games I do have for it, like Vanguard, River Raid, Defender, Mountain King, Pitfall II (IMO vastly improved over the first Pitfall), and others. No, the console doesn't need to be in everyone's retro collection any more than the Odyssey 2 (another console I own and love). But if you have a fondness for the unloved, red-headed stepchildren of retro games, the Atari 5200 is an excellent addition to your collection.
Just make sure you have room for it on your shelf :)
this is good video about the 5200 I learn so much thank you and I'm also an Atari 2600 kid as well
Always plug in any kind of av or rf wires 1st before you plug in the power adapter. Especially if it looks sketchy. And you executed that awesomely! Great vid.
I loved my 5200. I had years of fun with it.
I don't know about the 5200 itself but I used to have a 400... (Got it from a garage sale for $50 USD with several games)
Carts where way smaller probably because most of the power came from the inside of the unit as apposed to being passed through the expansion buss like interface from the carts themselves, but they looked and ran very identical to there 5200 counterparts...
And being a computer you could attach a keyboard and external 5 inch floppy drive which around the time I had it was very easy to copy almost any of the games on to...
Obviously anything you have today would be MUCH BETTER than one of those but if you're really dead set on the old school experience the 400 in my opinion is the way to go at it will much more reliable hardware...
This is a great overview / intro to the 5200!
I had a 5200 as a kid. We got the initial 4 port model and were disappointed that it wouldn't support the 2600 adapter when it came out. My mom made the decision to keep with the 4 port rather than send it in to be modified to the 2 port model since we still had our original Atari VCS.
At the time the analog controllers seemed closer to 50/50 as far as ok and not ok for the games. For many games they were fine but for anything that required quick movements they were frustrating to use, with Pac-Man as the classic example. Someone else mentioned the Wico Command Controller sticks and I had a pair of these as well. These were a big improvement as they were more loose and allowed for quick movements better than the stock 5200 controllers. The trim controls on the bottom weren't a big issue for me. You just needed to be careful they didn't get moved during gameplay. My main complaint is that they were light plastic compared to the regular Wico sticks which were solid with metal parts inside. In retrospect it's easy to say that Atari, Intellivision and Colecovision all had questionable controllers but it was a time of experimentation. It took Nintendo and Sega to show the way that gamepads were the future. BTW, the trackball controller was great... styled for left or right handers with a solid feel. I really wanted the hard, clicky buttons from the trackball controller on the regular controllers!
The single cable with power and RF signal was an interesting attempt to simplify what was going to the TV. At the time, it was common for the game console to be on the floor, midway between the TV set and where you were playing. Often you would just sit on the floor and play. Rather than have two cords stretched out from the console, Atari tried to simplify with a single long cord. The antenna/game switch box was also automatic when the 5200 turned on, unlike other switch boxes which had a big sliding lever. It seemed more advanced at the time and actually a step or two less than other consoles. It didn't work well in practice, added manufacturing complexity and they corrected with the 2 port model. As for interference, I'm sure there was a lot less RF signals flying around at the time. Our picture was always rock solid.
I grew up with an Atari 2600. I have had a heavy sixer, a light sixer, a four switch woody, a vader, and a Jr. Now? I have a Jr only. I also own the 5200, 7800, and a Jaguar. The 5200 is my least favorite, especially after wanting one so bad for YEARS! Rather than spend the money trying to fix the controllers I have, I simply opt for emulation. Altirra is my emulator of choice on Windows. As I am not a Mac or Linux user, I don't have recommendations over there. Anyway, the ability to use digital on ANY game, or digital even. I have my 5200 in my collection along with a couple dozen games. I have no desire to part with it either. I just rather not bother making it work seeing that it is a four port, and it is a serious pain to get hooked up.
I strongly recommend anyone that wants to enjoy the games...get the console and games for your collection, but just emulate to enjoy the titles.
My dad bought me this console for Christmas in 87.played it for about a year until it stopped working from blue screen of death.maybe from dust getting inside the cartridge slot.
I have a 5200 4 port with 2 working controllers it is a great console! My favorite game is centipede and have always wanted the roller ball controller for it but can never find one for a good price.
I have it as well. I have 2 controllers and only 1 of them gives me issue, but cleaning it fixes it briefly. Its like the chip beneath the buttons leaves a black residue that needs to be cleaned before each use. But some reason my other controller just keeps on working fine.
The start button never fails on it though so its useful when combined with my Wico.
But I'm glad i got a good working standard because some games play really well on it and I rather use my trigger finger than my thumb
Btw dont know if it matters but the controller that's always worked great says USA on the back. The one that craps out often says Taiwan.
I never owned a 5200, but one of my cousins got one for Christmas and we happened to be gathering at his house for a family get-together on that day. I played all the games he got with the console and I hated it because of the controller. I only recommend the console if you have a good controller option. I DO own an Atari Jaguar however and what I did to fix the open cartridge slot is lay the owner's manual over the top of the console so it's covering the cartridge slot. That actually works believe it or not.
Subbed because of the 19:00 minute mark and how authentic you are admitting you dont know everything and not trying to polish the video results to sound more authoritative.
that memory corruption towards the end is absolutely hilarious to me - pacman suddenly getting over three hundred thousand points was so funny and idk why
7:11 lmao you really got me there for a minute, I was genuinely in shock they made a console that gigantic until you revealed the ruse
"I've got so much stuff and hardly any of it gets used."
The retro gamer's 'semper fi'
Btw the Wico Command Control was a really decent 3rd party 5200 controller. It required a y-cable or number pad module to make it work. It used an analog joystick but it's a very usable one for digital control.
I know this is an older video but I wanted to share what I think most people misunderstand about the 5200 controller. There is one correct way to hold it, and if you don't hold it that way it feels really clunky. Start by gripping the fire bottoms with the thumb and middle finger of your non dominant hand. Then put your dominant thumb on the tip of the joystick. If you let the rest of your fingers fall naturally to support the controller from here, it will make a very big difference.
I found my 5200 in my grandmothers attic when we were cleaning her house. It was buried under a pile of rotting clothes but was wrapped in plastic and in immaculate condition. After I got it set up at my house, my uncle, who got it new for Christmas, sat down and taught me his tricks for it. The way he held the controller looked odd at first but once I tried it I knew he had the right idea.
When we used 2600 style joysticks on my VIC20 and C64, we always removed the rubber cover from the stick. Made them much more responsive, if a little uncomfortable (the top of the stick had a kind of sharp edge - easily rectified with a bit of sanding).
FrameRater you know what I miss? The FrameChopper!
The Nerd made it perfectly clear in minutes that the Atari 5200 was a no-go. Almost made the fatal mistake of buying one a few years ago, and darned glad I didn't after seeing this video.
14:40 The most common types of 3D printed plastics are pretty strong as long as they're printed with the right settings regardless of what's behind it. With most slicers (the software that converts the 3D model into a series of CNC commands for the printer) you're going to be getting at least 0.8-1.2mm of solid plastic on a top or bottom layer with the default settings, and breaking that by hand is going to require intent.
I suspect the reason has more to do with making it easier to print and eliminating the need to post-process the part. If they wanted to have proper hand grips without making them a separate piece they'd have to use a bunch of support material when printing the bottom part of the shell, and removing that inevitably leaves a lot of rough spots behind that would need to be sanded down. I'm assuming they're probably using PLA for the shell, and that material isn't the most fun to sand.
As for how the plastic would feel during play: that's a bit more tricky. I've printed my own face place for my GameShell handheld and that doesn't really feel any worse than the standard part, but in that case I'm not really wrapping my hands around it like I would a controller. I can't imagine your palms rubbing against the layer lines would be all that pleasant, though I can't say I've ever printed a full controller shell before.
I'm curious as to what's on the inside of that shell, especially the bottom. The bottom piece is printed upside down (where your fingers go was touching the build plate). If it's totally hollow, its print orientation would make sense. But if there's some PCB or other internal support, then the print can be reversed (finger part facing away from the build plate), and a more ergonomic design would be easy to print.
If they really wanted a premium product, print a top and bottom in PLA and a midsection in TPU. Neither the top nor bottom would require much support, and the midsection can be sandwiched between them.
@@kwc2086 I imagine the PCB would be either mounted to the bottom shell to increase stability and durability, so I imagine that would work. There would be a slight increase in the likelihood of print failures due to the reduced surface area, but I kind of doubt they're producing that many of these given which system we're talking about.
Having a TPU grip would be nice, assuming they have an extruder that could manage it at a decent speed.
Gotta admit, though, this is making me curious how comfortable of a controller I could make if I were to put this stuff into practice. I do have a spool of NinjaFlex lying around... :P
I left a similar comment then read yours. You explained much better than I did
64 views 244 likes. Gotta love you tubes data collection
96 views and 271 likes
@@patrickalmquist4762 it's balanced out now but it's saying I made my comment 5 hours ago when I I fact made it long time ago and the video saying its 6 hours old. These stats are barmy
controler replacement idea:
ive had a 5200 for years and ive played maybe three times. my controllers have to be eraser cleaned every time i want to play it so i dont bother. someone needs to invent a way to replace the contact sheet with a pcb of actual clickable buttons instead, hardwired in. it should be able to fit into the existing controller housing. it would give you tactile feedback to the buttons as a bonus. i have a few spares i got to test my theory out i just need to get around to doing it.
I liked this a lot! I love obscure, forgotten hardware like this, specifically because you *don't* hear about it often, so seeing it in (mostly) working condition is a treat. While it obviously was a pain for you for completely understandable reasons, I still enjoyed learning about it and in my opinion it was worth it.
I love the 5200, but my best experience is playing it on the PS2, using an emulator. With the PS2 dual analog controller, games like Robotron and Space Dungeon work great.
I don’t think this takes the CD-I’s crown. After all, when it works, the 5200 has some great games. Yes, many are revisions, or arcade downgrades, but they’re fundamentally still fun. The CD-I doesn’t really have that, outside of Hotel Mario (what can I say, I’m a sucker for action puzzle games). Heck, I still felt that moment of terror when I heard the voice of Sinistar.
Takes the crown of biggest financial loss in my budget, that's what I'm referring to.
I remember when I got 1st 5200 ,had that same problem. Had to go back to toys r us at the time to replace it. Awsome video.
I just watched your video thank you for the honest review. Of course this is not the experience I want my customers to have. With over 6000 units sold worldwide and many happy customers the keypad breaking is an isolated incident. I’m curious as to why you would mention that instead of just contacting me for a replacement? I had no idea you had an issue with that keypad module and sorry this happened. . I don’t recall you reaching out to me letting me know this. I do source my products in bulk and I also have a warranty so please contact me and I can offer you a full replacement. In the video it seems that you fixed it. But that should not have happened. There might be a bad batch of keypads that I got in my shipment and I will alert the distributor. I appreciate your time and thank you for the great video. Also for future reference it would be good to include information about the person behind the product and not just the product itself. If you would’ve contacted me you would’ve found me to be extremely helpful and offer to make the situation right.
I'm very shy 👀
this 100% seemed kinda shitty to trash a product without giving the customer service a try.
To say I trashed it would be a huge exaggeration. I even recommended the product.
Missile Command and Star Wars Arcade are a dream with the standard controller. A modern self centering thumbstick wouldnt work. Needs the long range motion and for it not to pull to the center. Infact if your rubber boot on the controller is torn so it literally doesnt center it's even better. Or the wico stick with self centering turned off.
the 2600 junior controller i had was pretty good, like there'd be no issue with pacman as crashdive was pretty unforgiving if you could't do fine small movements when that sea monster was walking over you..
as for freezing issues, likely causes jump to memory(as someone pointed out) cpu heat (little heatsink stuck on top should work), dirty connector(s) or the fav failing of consoles more than few years old - capacitors (as i hear, gamegears are super likely to suffer this)
I bought a 4-port from a flea market, missing the little video box. Some plans on the internet and a trip to Radio Shack and I built a substitute. Not a month later, I ran into my grade school friend who I hadn't seen in years, who offered me his two port model and all his games.
My 5200 was bought off ebay not knowing if it would even work but it works great. I was reccomend to a ebay seller that built a box similar to that box you have and has 2 knobs on it for vertical and horizontal adjustments which also allows me to use my sega Genesis controller on. It costed me $89 but im glad i I purchased it. I have the 2 port model 5200.
Hey, try not to feel like this was a waste.
This video is far more comprehensive than the famous AVGN episode.
I saw that AVGN one some time ago. It's as funny as it's contrived. But it's a script and a good one.
There are a few 5200 reviews on UA-cam. Framerater's is above average for sure, and the 5200 always needed more love.
The more I play it the more I appreciate the analog joysticks giving more precise control values... even if many games just needed the older joystick 0/1 off/on values. But Breakout, Missile Command, Centipede, etc do have a nice smooth/organic feel with the analog joystick... though the trakball is better...
Personally I found these games to be Way too dated even for me to play.
I’m more interested in the PS1’s hardware
It's worth it for Space Dungeon alone! Sadly, no other port of the arcade game exists.
I grew up with the 1st gen game consoles. When the 5200 came out a friend bought one, I'll never forget the first time I got to use it - it was dislike at first sight. The sheer size of this console was just ridiculous and there was no living room environment where it looked like it belonged. It was always in the way, somehow. Even a Channel F could have a few magazines or a storage box stacked on top of it, you couldn't stack anything on a 5200. The 5200 was difficult just to pick up, there was no good place to fit your fingers under it and the edges were smooth slick plastic. If you really want to torture yourself coat your 5200 and the controllers with some Armor-All.
The stock controllers of course are horrible. While it was forward-thinking to put the console control buttons on the controller, using sunken membrane buttons behind the stick made then difficult to access. The width and button positions seemed to be carefully measured specifically to induce RSI. And those buttons being stacked right on top of each other made it really easy to hit the wrong one, or both. There was absolutely nothing pleasurable about using the controllers, it's difficult to imagine how they could possibly have been more poorly designed.
The games were the same as you could get on the Atari computers, so it was obvious that what you were buying was a crippled computer. Why not just get the real thing? Or if you really wanted a console: the Colecovision. Sure the Colecovision also had awkward controllers, not as bad as the 5200 controllers but if you didn't like them you could just plug in a bog-standard Atari joystick for many games, something which you could NOT do on a 5200.
I've read that inside Atari the 5200 team deliberately changed a few internals to prevent competition with the computer division, but what they ended up doing was highlighting just how pointless the 5200 actually was. Games were easy enough to port to the 5200 from the Atari computers, but even so many companies didn't bother.
I have to admit that I only played a 5200 console a handful of times back when it was first released. It was the one console which a friend owned that nobody wanted to play after the newness wore off. Have you ever accidentally bitten down on a piece of aluminum foil and hurt your tooth? That's the same feeling the 5200 had.
As someone with a 3d printer, the maker matrix probably has the design it does as it's easy to print. The flat top and bottom are printed against the bed. Then you just build up for the walls. A formed bottom would be difficult with FDM.
The only thing predictable about the 5200, is the fact that it's so unpredictable.
I own it because it's a piece of history and it was fun to give as a present and see my sister's face when she found a beer in the top compartment!
Oh!, and it also has some great games and looks awesome in my cave!
I like to buy all my retro consoles in the original box,(if possible) but I'm not rich :(
It took me and my sister 15 years of Garage Sailing, along with 4 a.m. Flee market trips to finally get one I was happy with. Both inside and out ;)
Cheers from Canada
Great work and good point! I can’t even find a good 3rd party controller replacement for my 2600. Got the junior controllers, which are my choice. I’m acustom to them from my youth. An i am waiting an Atari FPGA that takes cartridges. Phoenix System did a great job for Intellivision. And i can’t find anything on that Atariman. The Atariman is a project in the dust, which should be made available!!!!
The real reason that the analog stick is weird is that the design that was released was not the intended one. The engineers prototyped it with a mechanism from an RC airplane controller. They intended it to go into production with something similar. The production controller used a rubber boot to cut costs. The engineers reportedly hated the change.
The 5200 and the original ps3 are the bully boys of the tv cabinet
I have a four port Atari 5200 and the vast majority of my game cartridges for it play just fine. I have both the original 5200 controllers and the Retrogameboyz P15 to P9 adapter keypad with my original Atari CX-40 joystick controller, most of the games are fine either way but I was never fully into 5200 RealSports Baseball. I believe that you have to actually use the Velcro on the back of the automatic switch box to keep it in place.
I know nothing about the technical side of the 5200, but judging by what I've seen on UA-cam, it seems like emulation is the way to go if you want to play 5200 games.
Still, I'm glad it exists since it gave birth to your Console Library vids, which were what led me to your channel in the first place. :)
The 5200 is a wonderful console and was exciting for the time. If you have Ivory Tower Collections refurb and mod the console, it becomes a really wonderful relic from 40 years ago.
I didn't know anyone else on the planet would have two 5200s in their home. I have two 5200s - one is a 4 port and one is a 2 port. I think we had the 4 port first, and it was purchased by my mother or maybe even grandmother new in the 80s well before I was born. I discovered it tucked away in a box in the closet years and years ago, probably around 2001. My grandma decided she wanted one for her house so she went on this new thing called "eBay" and bought a 2 port one, and a couple years later ended up just giving it to us to get out of her house.
I never use the things, they're back in a box somewhere. But it's neat to say that not only have I heard of the 5200, but I have two of the things!
I’m someone who works at a UPS store and you honestly got a deal. Recently had to help a costumer try to ship something to Canada, it wasn’t even in a big box or anything and it was nearly $350 just to ship out
Yikes
The overlay is still most useful becaus it informs the player what key does what. In fact when it is placed where it was intended to be placed, the player's hand not only covers the overlay and being cited there forces the player to look at the controller instead of the game playing on the screen.
I feel so humbled to see me on such a system
Atari: makes a console with four Controller ports
Also Atari: only has two games supporting four players.
Don't forget the part about letting the accounting department design the joysticks.
Its 1st game Asteroids "5201" was never released. It had 4 player at the same time co op support and was meant to start out the system with a bang.
They never released it do to testing bad with the analog controller. And instead skipped to game 5202 and onwards.
All atari games are numbered. For instance Combat is 2601 the first 2600 game.
Today 5200 Asteroids can be played someone released the rom. But its recommended to find a digital controller first.
@@chiroquacker2580 Actually, it wasn't a cheap controller at all. It is needlessly complex in some places, and is built more expensive than it really needs to be.
Flex circuits were new technology, and not very resistant to wear, and the 5200 uses one for the entire controller(pots and cable excepted). Start and upper fire will almost always be dead because they see by far the most wear.
Having a half-dozen broken sticks that I've opened, I can tell you that each one has a different flex circuit revision. And they are all major revisions, with immediately visible differences in PCB materials(one even seems to be constructed out of foil). Atari knew they had an unreliable device, and was firing blindly to try and fix it.
I've read the controller design was because Atari at the time prioritized designs that generated more patents. It explains a lot.
I've been thinking this for a while: your voice reminds me of Jeff Anderson's. That's a compliment.
You got me with the Genesis Mini for a second lol
I had an Atari 2600, a Colecovision, an Intellivision, and a 5200, all at the same time back then. I probably had less than 10 games for the 5200. The non-centering controller was odd, but in some games it was workable. My favorite games were Pole Position and Popeye. As a game system, it was just a blip in the the progression of performance happening then. I think I only played it for around 6 months. I eventually moved to the Commodore 64 and sold all the game systems that I had. I would think I had a four port, but never used any more than two controllers. I never had any issues playing it or any interference issues.
I own the 5200 I got for Christmas when I was 12 years old. It really is a great system, but the joysticks were so poorly designed that playing the games became a nightmare. The fatal flaw for your system shouldn't be the controller. And it was a major fatal flaw.
23:27 - Beamrider is DEFINITELY better on 2600, I'd argue it's the best version! One of my fav games!
I dunno, man. My own experience with the Atari 5200 was positive, but I know I'm in the minority about that. This was, after all, the game system selected by Metal Jesus as the worst in his collection. All the usual complaints about the machine (bad joysticks, huge size, weird AC adapter/RF modulator) hold true, but man, I just like the feel of the games better than I do the ColecoVision. That was made from off the shelf parts, and it shows.
My two port 5200 rarely had issues playing games, but it was one of those transitionary machines with the old BIOS included. Maybe the BIOS is at fault for your games freezing up? It's a long shot, I know. I would tend to think that the pins in the cartridge slot need to be cleaned and straightened, so that proper contact can be made with the carts.
Also... you forgot to include the Wico Command Control in your list of 5200 joystick alternatives. Best way to play games on the system by far, even if the shaft looks... er, suggestive. Great primary fire button (the second button is very small), fine adjustment for the sensitivity of the stick, and even an option to let the stick auto-center or hang loose from the X and Y axes... Wico thought of everything when they made this controller. You can even get an optional keypad if you want, and it's much more sturdy than the one shown in your video.
I didn't include that because it requires an uncommon peripheral which is usually sold separately. Otherwise it is just a 2600 controller.
Nice comment Jess!
@@wiredupretro Thanks much.
Thank you, thank you for your examination of one of my childhood toys. Please provide tip jar /Amazon links for buying you a Latte. I am thankful !
I have a 5200 plus its wicked cool trackball controller and I really enjoy it. The controllers are wonky but they were extremely innovative for 1982. The issue is the controller was essentially a prototype that Atari rushed out. The library, despite being mostly ports of arcade/VCS titles, is quality and a noticeable improvement over the VCS versions and even the 7800 versions in terms of sound. I would argue that the 5200 is underrated, and hope Hyperkin or someone else makes peripherals for it so people can fairly judge it.
My local retro game store has had around 15 copies of Pac Man for the 5200, and for the most part they did'int sell.
I bought a copy and there's still generally the same amount of copies of Pac Man on the 5200.
I have a Matrix controller. Yes it is a great alternative but....certain games are ruined because the self centering stick is way more sensitive than the original anaolog controller. Games like missle command and centipede are difficult to play with the matrix controller but......those should be played with a ball controller! I own my original 5200 From 1982! It works just fine with the exemption of the original Controllers. I recommend a multi cart and a Pete's diagnostic cart if you have to adjust pokey wich handles the controller analog.