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History of video games/Platforms/Atari 7800

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  • An Atari 7800 ProSystem with controller.
    An Atari 7800 ProSystem with controller.

History

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Development

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The system was initially known as the Atari 3600,[1] with some prototype consoles bearing this marking.[2]

Launch

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Atari 7800 logotype.

The Atari 7800 was announced in 1984, mothballed despite being ready for launch for two years following losses Atari sustained during the crash of 1983, and launched in 1986.[3] The system cost $140 on launch.[4]

Legacy

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The Atari 7800 was discontinued in 1992.[5][6] 3.77 million Atari 7800 consoles were sold, with its peak sales year being 1988.[7]

The system is well regarded for it's clean yet techie design aesthetic.[8]

The Atari 7800 was meant to be followed by the Atari Panther, though was instead followed by the Atari Jaguar.

Games

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The Atari 7800 is backwards compatible with the Atari 2600.[5]

Technology

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Compute

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The Atari 7800 uses an 8-bit Atari "Sally" (MOS 6502c) CPU clocked at 1.79 megahertz.[9]

The 7800 has 4 kilobytes of RAM.[9]

The Atari 7800 used a "Tia Maria" chip for graphics.[10] This chip allowed for the 7800 to display nearly 100 sprites.[11]

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Console

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    An Atari 7800
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    An Atari 7800
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    An Atari 7800
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    An Atari 7800
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    European Atari 7800
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    European Atari 7800
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    European Atari 7800
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    European Atari 7800

Controller

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    The 7800 controller with thumbstick installed.
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    The 7800 controller without the thumbstick.
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    The controller had two buttons, 1 and 2.
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    The cable enters the controller on the top right side.
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    The back of the controller, with triangular textured area.
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    Controller connector.

Console Internals

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    Atari 7800 motherboard.
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    Atari 7800 motherboard.
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    Atari 7800 motherboard.
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    Atari 7800 motherboard.
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    Atari 7800 motherboard.
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    Atari 7800 motherboard.
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    Atari 7800 motherboard.
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    Atari 7800 motherboard.
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    A PAL motherboard.
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    A PAL motherboard.
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    A PAL motherboard.
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    A PAL motherboard.
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    A PAL motherboard featuring the official RGB mod for the French market used standoffs to securely separate it from the motherboard.
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    A PAL motherboard featuring the official RGB mod for the French market.

Notes

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There are a number of popular sayings as to why the 7800 is named as such, including being (2600*3) or (2600+5200).[12]

External Resources

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Wikipedia has related information at Atari 7800

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Atari 7800

References

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  1. ↑ "Atari 7800 (1986-1992)" (in en). History of Console Gaming. 11 October 2016. https://hiscoga.wordpress.com/atari-7800-1986-1992/. 
  2. ↑ "Consolevariations - Atari 3600 (Atari 7800) Prototype Console" (in en). Consolevariations. https://consolevariations.com/variation/prototype/atari-3600-atari-7800-prototype. 
  3. ↑ Rignall, Jaz (30 April 2016). "Steve Golson Interview: The Story of Ms. Pac-Man, the Atari 7800, and the Hyperdrive" (in en). USgamer. https://www.usgamer.net/articles/steve-golson-interview-the-story-of-ms-pac-man-the-atari-7800-and-the-hyperdrive/page-2. Retrieved 28 October 2020. 
  4. ↑ "Atari 7800 - Game Console - Computing History". www.computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  5. ↑ a b "CVGA Disassembled Third Generation (1983-1990) · Online Exhibits". apps.lib.umich.edu. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Atari 7800 ProSystem (1987 - 1992)". Museum of Obsolete Media. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Atari 7800 Sales Figures (1986 - 1990)" (in en). www.gamasutra.com. https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MattMatthews/20090526/84050/Atari_7800_Sales_Figures_1986__1990.php. Retrieved 28 October 2020. 
  8. ↑ "Lance Barr Interview". nintendojo ~ a site to see. 13 February 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060213124455/http://www.nintendojo.com/interviews/view_item.php?1130801472. 
  9. ↑ a b "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "An Atari Graphics Chip, Ready For You To Build". Hackaday. 10 November 2019. https://hackaday.com/2019/11/10/an-atari-graphics-chip-ready-for-you-to-build/. Retrieved 28 October 2020. 
  11. ↑ "The Atari 7800 Pro System - The Atari Museum". www.atarimuseum.com. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  12. ↑ "Silly question, but any idea what the name means? 7800?". AtariAge Forums. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
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