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Atari 7800
Catalogue information
LastDodo number
1118471
Area
Video games
Title
Atari 7800
Platform
Publisher
Developer
Genre
Year
1986
General name of game / game collection
Number
Number of players off-line
Number of players on-line
Language
Barcode / EAN / UPC
Product code
Dimensions
Details
The Atari 7800 was the successor of the unsuccessful Atari 5200. Unlike the Atari 5200, the Atari 7800 was capable of playing older Atari 2600 games.
The Atari 7800 was to be released in 1984, but because of the take-over of Atari by Tramiel Technology Ltd. Sales only started in 1986.
The Atari 7800 was a 8 bit console and had to compete with the immensely popular Nintendo NES and also with the Sega Master System. Technologically it was on par with the competition and it had better graphics. The special graphic chip (MARIA) however made the programming of games more difficult. Another problem was de sound chip (TIA) which produced a sound quality that was similar to the old 2600.
The main drawback was the lack of new, modern games. Nintendo had an exclusivity contract with most game developers, specifying that games produced for the NES could only be released on other consoles after 2 years.
