Atari 7800

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The Atari 7800 ProSystem, or simply the Atari 7800, is a video game console re-released by Atari Corporation in January 1986. The original release had occurred two years earlier under Atari Inc. The 7800 had originally been designed to replace Atari Inc.'s Atari 5200 in 1984, but was temporarily shelved due to the sale of the company after the video game crash.

In January 1986, the 7800 was again released and would compete that year with the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Master System. It had simple digital joysticks; it was almost fully backward-compatible with the Atari 2600; and it was considered affordable at a price of US$140.

Physically it continues in the same style as the Atari 2600 Jr, and has only an RF out for connecting to a TV, there are two controller ports, and expansion port, cartridge slot.

The machine had much improved graphics capabilities over its predecessors, but used the same soundchip as the 2600.

The software library was not extensive and contained updated versions of such Atari classics such as Ms Pacman, Food Fight and Pole Position, as well as home micro classics like Rescue on Fractalus and Ballblazer.

The machine could not compete in sales terms with Nintendo and Sega in the US, but still sold well in its own right. In the UK it was sold for many years in Toys'r'Us and Argos at around the £80 mark.

Manufacturer: Atari
Date: 1986

Atari 7800 Manuals:

Item Manufacturer Date
Four Quick Steps Control Data Corporation Unknown
3400 Computer System Scope/Compass Control Data Corporation Nov 1964
Cybernet Services Control Data Corporation 16 Feb 1976
Cybernet Services Microprocessor Support Software Control Data Corporation 16 Feb 1976
Zilog Z80-R10 Relocating Assembler and Linker Users Manual Zilog 1978
Control Data 6676-B/C/E/F TTY Multiplexer Control Data Corporation 22 Jul 1980
Fortran Extended Version 4 Reference Manual CDC 15 Jan 1981
Apple Macintosh HyperCard Users Guide Apple 1988

Other Systems Related To Atari 7800:

Item Manufacturer Date
Atari 800 with Programmer Kit Atari Inc 1st January 1979
Atari 400 with Aftermarket Keyboard Atari November 1979
Atari 800 Atari November 1979
Atari 400 Atari November 1979
Centipede Arcade Cabinet Atari 1980
Atari 1200XL Atari 1982
Atari 800XL Atari 1983
Atari 600XL Atari June 1983
Atari 520 STFM Atari 1985
Atari 65XE Atari 1985
Atari 520ST (boxed) + External hard drive + software Atari 1985
Atari 520 STM Atari 1st January 1985
Atari 1040 STE Atari 1986
Atari 520 STM Atari 12th September 1986
Atari Mega ST 2 Atari 1987
Atari ST Mega 1040 Tower Power Atari 1988
Atari 1040STFM Atari 1989
Atari 1040STFM (David Arnold) Atari 1989
Atari 520 STE Atari 1989
Atari 1040STF Atari 1989
Atari Portfolio Atari 1989
Atari Stacy 2 Atari 9th December 1989
Atari Mega 4 Atari 1990
Atari TT030 Atari 1990
Atari Falcon Atari 1990
Atari Mega/STE Atari 1991

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH15473. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

 
Atari 7800

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