History of video games/Platforms/Atari 7800
-
An Atari 7800 ProSystem with controller.
History
[edit | edit source]Development
[edit | edit source]The system was initially known as the Atari 3600,[1] with some prototype consoles bearing this marking.[2]
Launch
[edit | edit source]
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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]The Atari 7800 is backwards compatible with the Atari 2600.[5]
Technology
[edit | edit source]Compute
[edit | edit source]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]
Gallery
[edit | edit source]Console
[edit | edit source]-
An Atari 7800 -
An Atari 7800 -
An Atari 7800 -
An Atari 7800 -
European Atari 7800 -
European Atari 7800 -
European Atari 7800 -
European Atari 7800
Controller
[edit | edit source]-
The 7800 controller with thumbstick installed. -
The 7800 controller without the thumbstick. -
The controller had two buttons, 1 and 2. -
The cable enters the controller on the top right side. -
The back of the controller, with triangular textured area. -
Controller connector.
Console Internals
[edit | edit source]-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Atari 7800 motherboard. -
Atari 7800 motherboard. -
Atari 7800 motherboard. -
Atari 7800 motherboard. -
Atari 7800 motherboard. -
Atari 7800 motherboard. -
Atari 7800 motherboard. -
Atari 7800 motherboard. -
A PAL motherboard. -
A PAL motherboard. -
A PAL motherboard. -
A PAL motherboard. -
A PAL motherboard featuring the official RGB mod for the French market used standoffs to securely separate it from the motherboard. -
A PAL motherboard featuring the official RGB mod for the French market.
Notes
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Atari 7800 (1986-1992)" (in en). History of Console Gaming. 11 October 2016. https://hiscoga.wordpress.com/atari-7800-1986-1992/.
- ↑ "Consolevariations - Atari 3600 (Atari 7800) Prototype Console" (in en). Consolevariations. https://consolevariations.com/variation/prototype/atari-3600-atari-7800-prototype.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Atari 7800 - Game Console - Computing History". www.computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ↑ a b "CVGA Disassembled Third Generation (1983-1990) · Online Exhibits". apps.lib.umich.edu. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ↑ "Atari 7800 ProSystem (1987 - 1992)". Museum of Obsolete Media. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ a b "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "The Atari 7800 Pro System - The Atari Museum". www.atarimuseum.com. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ↑ "Silly question, but any idea what the name means? 7800?". AtariAge Forums. Retrieved 14 January 2022.