phuzaxeman

XE game system is not really a console but sold around only 100k units. More like an XE with a gun and an updated keyboard. It was also too late releasing in 87 when Sega, NES, and the 7800 using late 70s technology.

If you take away the 2600 sales, the 5200 outsold (1 million in 2 years) the 7800 (3 million sold in 8 years in existence in some states), Jaguar (250k sales in 3 years), and Atari Lynx (3 million in 6 years) in terms of avg units sold per year. The 7800 was around for 8 years in some states and 6 years world wide and sold only 3 million. If the 5200 was such a hated console, it wouldn't have sold that many. The 5200 in 1982 was cutting edge and only the Colecovision could compete in arcade quality games. With that in mind, there are no bad games on the 5200. They are all good, many of them great. The controllers were amazing if you grew up with them. The controller problem is about reliability. 5200 controllers were the most advanced controllers back in the day. They just had bad flex circuitry.

Looks amazing!

So you're asking for Planetary Defense on the trackball and having Missile Command with digital controls all in 1 thread? You said you'd stop with the requests. What happened? You've got some issues.

I have had both Intellivision and 5200 for over 35+ years. River Raid on the 5200 has details like propellers on helicopters spinning, dual rivers splitting apart, better sound effects, analog controls, more realistic mountains, and the ability to have the aircraft move forward on the screen. It's just overall better. Dreadnaught Factor on the 5200 has more details on the ship. For example, the 5200 version you can see the flames coming out of the thrusters. 5200 version also has better sound effects and much smoother scaling. Sound effects are also better on the 5200. I like the angle of the 5200 how you approach the ship from front to end from a birds eye view than the side view of Intellivision. Beamrider is a toss up. Graphically they are so close. It's which controls and sounds you prefer.

Here's we go again with the requests. Why would anyone want to play digital version of Missile Command on the 5200? Analog is a gem and the 80's analog experience can only be found on the 5200.

Ryan, the alpha1 was good. The controls and flow seem good too. I hope to see some arcade sound effects and little music scores plus the car that drives Rob at the beginning sequence. Looking forward to more updates.

When's the release date?

Very happy with your work. Thanks.

Baseball Hereos is on the slow side. If you spend time with it and learn how to play the game, it can be fun. I think it's a solid B in my book.

I think Megamania and Beamrider.

Kaboom and Super Breakout have amazing controls on the analog sticks. It's more precise for me.

The analog controls make all the difference in the world in playability. 5200 River Raid is a gem. It's why in 2022 my 5200 gets more play than my 8bit.

Thank you! Great stuff.

When I play this game using the modern controller, it does not fire. I have no problems firing on the classic controller.

There's no way the 5200 could have lived up to 1987 with a 5 year life span. The 7800 was already in plans to launch. Also, there were stores in the US that were already selling the NES in 1985.

So you're requesting another port and asking the "veteran programmers can step up and make this happen"? Man, classic OCD symptoms.

Ryan, is there anyway to have the cops share the same color uniform but have different color faces like the arcade? Everything looks great btw.

Colecovision hit it big with scoring Donkey Kong as a pack in game. I love Super Breakout. It's still one of my favorites. But not everyone likes it. Putting Galaxian, Defender, or Missile Command as a pack in game would have helped a lot but still would have not saved the 5200. The market was already changing with the NES or Sega around the corner.

I was 30m north east of cleveland. We even had 4 malls to choose from: Richmond, Great Lakes, Mentor, and Tanglewood Mall. None had an Atari 800 in 82. If you think about how many 8bit were sold in its 79-91 existence, Atari didn't sell that many (<3million). 5200 was from 82-84 and outsold (1 million) the 7800, Jaguar, and 8bit avg/per year despite not living up to the 2600 hype.

Our family lived in Houston and Cleveland and had never seen the 800 in 1982. We did see the 800xl in 1984 and that's when we got our first 8bit at Sears.

"It also didn't take any special insight for a player to think, "Why don't I just buy an 800? These are the same games!" I never heard about an Atari computer until 83 when I saw them in magazines. Atari 800 computers were not for sale at Kmart, Sears, and other major stores in 1982. Qix, Centipede, Pacman, and Countermeasure were not exactly the same games. There was no Real sports Baseball on the 800 either the following year. I do get your point with many other games.

Frostbite and Freeway work well! Thanks so much!

Would be cool to see Bowling port to 5200 updated imo if you're looking for a project. Blue Max is another 8bit classic no one talks about. If someone ever makes an official remake of 5200 Cloak and Dagger, it will sell. Matter of fact, people that are not 5200 owners will get the 5200 because of Cloak and Dagger. lol.

You are not converting to an audience of one. The 5200 group is a tight knit cult like group that has a very loyal following. I downloaded Freeway and will try this out when I have some free time. I appreciate your efforts.