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Atari 7800

The Atari 7800 was released by Atari in 1986 (a test market occurred in June 1984). The 7800 was designed to replace the unsuccessful Atari 5200, and re-establish Atari's market supremacy against Intellivision and Colecovision. With this system, Atari addressed all the shortcomings of the Atari 5200: it had simple digital joysticks; it was almost fully backwards compatible with the Atari 2600; and it was affordable (it was originally priced at $140 USD).

The Atari 7800 was the first game system from Atari which was designed by an outside company (by the General Computer Corporation, future consoles designed outside the company were the Atari Lynx and the Atari Jaguar). The system was designed to be upgraded to a fully-fledged home computer — a keyboard was developed, and the keyboard had an expansion port (which was the SIO port from Atari's 8-bit computer line) for the addition of peripherals like disk drives and printers (this should not be taken to imply that this computer expansion would have allowed the 7800 to run programs designed for Atari's computers, as the two architectures were entirely different).

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GCC had also designed a 'high score cartridge,' a battery-backed RAM cart designed for storing game scores. Atari manufactured none of these accessories, and after the initial production run they also eliminated the expansion port. In 1987, the Atari XEGS was released and it came with a light gun, called the XG-1. The XG-1 was fully compatible with the 7800 and the 2600, and Atari released four games on the 7800 that utilized this peripheral.

The 7800 was test-marketed in southern California in June 1984. One month later, Warner Communications sold Atari to Jack Tramiel, who did not want to build a video game console. He pulled the plug on all projects related to video games and decided to focus on Atari's existing computer line in order to begin development of the new 16-bit computer line (which appeared as the Atari ST). The 7800 was re-introduced in winter 1986 after the success of the Nintendo Entertainment System proved that the video game market was still viable. Unfortunately, by the time the 7800 made it to market, the NES had 90% of the market cornered and the rival Sega Master System had most of what was left.

The Atari 7800's technical superiority is still debated today. The architecture is essentially just an Atari 2600 with a slightly better CPU and an advanced graphics chip (MARIA). While the system could handle far more moving objects on screen (up to 100) than any of its competitors, its audio capabilities were limited due to lack of board space. The designers allowed games (notably ports from the Atari 400/800 computer line) to include a POKEY audio chip in the cartridge. Only two games, Ballblazer and Commando used the POKEY chip. The 7800 was also more difficult to program than other systems available at the time, though this was tempered by the fact that many game programmers at the time were already well versed in the 2600.

The 7800 faced the severe software drought that would become the mark of all Atari consoles sold after the video game crash. Relatively few titles were released by Atari, many of them unpolished and lacking in features, or even games that already were in previous Atari systems. And there was virtually no effort by Atari to recruit third party developers, aside from a few titles from Absolute, Activision, and Froggo.

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Sentinel

Box: 
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£20.00
Manual: 
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£20.00

You're a scientist, and your invention, a pulsating, glowing orb called the Sentinel, absorbs and stores energy from a variety of sources. Now Earth is threatened by deadly aliens and you must use your creation to save the planet. The Sentinel absorbs energy from every power pod or energy capsule you shoot with your Atari light gun. When an energy source is hit, a beam blasts out from the Sentinel, strikes the target with hissing force, and draws energy back into your Sentinel. It's up to you to protect the Sentinel as it glides over the planets.

Title Match Pro Wrestling

Box: 
yes
£30.00
Manual: 
yes
£30.00

Ladies and gentlemen... announcing the most competitive wrestling ever to be played in the Atari 7800 arena. Tonight's the nigh, Title Match is here! State-of-the-Art animation combine with realistic sound effects to give you all the excitement of professional wrestling. Choose from some of the meanest wrestlers in the business to compete one on one or tag team. Either way the action never stops. Make all the pro moves like headlocks, airplane spins, rope dives and body slams. And when you think you're really good, enter the ring against the computer to see who's the Absolute Champion.

Super Skateboardin

Box: 
yes
£30.00
Manual: 
yes
£30.00

Your new after school job is a dream come true! Someone's actually going to pay you to skateboard. Here's the deal- Your Dad's company needs someone to turn off all the machines and lights in their factory at the end of the day. Your job is to cruise the maze of hallways, leaping for light switches and tucking through ventilation tubes to get from floor to floor. Jumping on the assembly lines will increase your speed, but be careful or you'll be flattened like a road pizza. The faster you finish, the more power is saved and the more you get paid.

Atari 7800 Unbranded New RF Lead Loose

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£6.00
Manual: 
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£6.00

An unbranded but brand new RF lead that will substitute the one that came with your console. Connects your machine to the TV - an ideal replacement if the original one that came with your console is lost or faulty. Length is one metre. This item is fully tested and is brand new.

Atari 7800 Joypad Loose

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Box: 
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£20.00
Manual: 
no
£20.00

The Atari 7800 Joypad. This is a replacement for the Joypad that comes with the European 7800 console Very difficult to find separately in the States especially. This item comes unboxed, has been tested and works fine.

Atari 7800 Proline Joystick Loose

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Box: 
no
£12.00
Manual: 
no
£12.00

The Atari 7800 Joystick. The US release of the 7800 came with this Joystick, rather than the Joypad. Consequently, these are difficult to source in Europe, but still fully compatible with any console. This item comes unboxed, has been tested and works fine.

Atari 7800 Controller Extension Cable Loose

Box: 
no
£7.00
Manual: 
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£7.00

The trouble with any console in my opinion is the controllers. Why are the cables always so short? You always have to sit so close to the TV, and if there are a number of you playing it gets even worse! Well here's the solution to your problems - a extension cable. Simply slot in onto the end of you controller and extend its length by 2 metres. This item is unboxed and is brand new.

Atari 7800 AV Modified Console Loose

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Box: 
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£85.00
Manual: 
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£85.00

The Atari 7800 Video Computer System. Offers you an extensive library of games. Arcade classics that bring the arcade experience home. Thrilling action and adventure games that make you part of the action, and exciting sports titles that really put you in the games. Comes with built in Asteroids game. The console has had an AV mod on it to improve the picture quality and allow it to be played on newer TV's. This console comes unboxed with a Joystick, AVs Lead and Power Supply.

Atari 7800 Console Boxed

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Notes: 
Box is a little worn on one side
Box: 
yes
£70.00
Manual: 
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£70.00

The Atari 7800 Video Computer System. Offers you an extensive library of games. Arcade classics that bring the arcade experience home. Thrilling action and adventure games that make you part of the action, and exciting sports titles that really put you in the games. This console comes boxed with a Joypad, Power Supply and instructions. Comes with built in Asteroids game. The console has been tested and works fine.

Mean 18

Box: 
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£10.00
Manual: 
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£10.00

No other golf game delivers the realism and playability of Mean 18 Ultimate Golf. It's the most true-to-life golf simulation game ever! You are at Pebble Beach, but don't be fooled by the beatiful; fairways and breathtaking scenery. Mean 18 will sharpen your golf skills and possibly help your real-life game!

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