lynx vs. 7800

[christianscott]

i'm not a system specs wizard so i dont know the facts on which console was better at what i'm just talking in terms of feel.

 

so experts speak up, was the lynx roughly a portable 7800?

[AtariDude]

The Lynx was developed after the 7800 so had much more current technology than the 7800. The Lynx could have been a killer system if Atari had done a better job of marketing it and if it was able to get it better support. For a while it was the only portable color video game system but Atari never really stressed that point as its advantage over other systems and once Sega came out with its game gear, Atari was no longer the only color portable.

 

Atari made good products but had problems with marketing itself. With better marketing, history could have taken another path.

[Harry_Dodgson]

No, The Lynx is not a portable 7800 in any way. They have almost nothing in common except the Atari name and poor marketing.

 

feature	Lynx	7800
cpu	4 MHz 65C02	1.8 MHz 6502C (custom)
graphics	16 MHz sprite engine 16 colors/4096 160x102 pixels	7.3 MHz Maria chip linemap engine 24 colors /256 320x192 pixels
sound	1976 tech	1976 tech*2

[AtariKen64]

also neither system was designed directly by atari the 7800 by cge and lynx by epyx. but you can think that if it make you feel better

[bigferret]

The Lynx actually is noticably more powerful than a 7800. All you need to to is compare ports of Robotron or Klax on each system to get an idea of what I mean.

 

The Lynx could support sprite scaling which was used to great effect in several games such as Electrocop. It also could display a lot of color for the time.

 

Not that the 7800 isn't great - but the Lynx is a (technically) better system that was hampered by Atari's DOA marketing campaign and typical poor mismanagement. Shame really, because until the Gameboy Advance, the Lynx was basically the most powerful handheld for more than ten years.

 

Imagine what could have been if Atari had given it the attention it deserved.

[christianscott]

like i said at the top i'm not a system specs expert, i was just thinking of how similar the joust games were on both machines.

 

all love for the lynx aside i'd say that the Nomad and the neogeo pocket beat the lynx long before the GBA came around. maybe also the wonderswan but i've never had the chance to play one of those.

[Harry_Dodgson]

like i said at the top i'm not a system specs expert, i was just thinking of how similar the joust games were on both machines.

 

all love for the lynx aside i'd say that the Nomad and the neogeo pocket beat the lynx long before the GBA came around. maybe also the wonderswan but i've never had the chance to play one of those.

 

Having programmed both the Lynx and the NGPC, I would have to say the Lynx is superior to the NGPC - the comparison has been on my website for years.

It really helps to have 16 color sprites that can be any size you feel like. Sure, the NGPC can put more colors onscreen UNLESS you want to use them for something interesting (like sprites). Yes, the screen is a newer generation, but needs something like the GBA Afterburner so you can see it inside.

[christianscott]

hi harry,

 

how about a link to your website with the comparisons?

 

is it just me, i honestly think the graphics on the NGP look far better than the lynx, although i have only had the chance to play 5 games on it. thats the one area where the lynx wins easily, i've picking lynx games up for under $5 whereas ngp games cost more than the system itself in many cases...and then theres the Nomad.

[Ze_ro]

also neither system was designed directly by atari the 7800 by cge and lynx by epyx. but you can think that if it make you feel better

 

Well, apparently they didn't design the Jaguar either. So, what did Atari actually design other than Pong?

 

--Zero

[AtariKen64]

the 2600? 5200? the computer line?

 

i woudl say the 7800 while not hand made by a native atari employee was guided by them, unlike lynx which was made and then bought,

 

 

if you want to compare other systems dont forget the turbo express which to me beat everythign till the GBA, but it and nomad really arent true "portables" since its based on other technology,

[Harry_Dodgson]

hi harry,

 

how about a link to your website with the comparisons?

 

is it just me, i honestly think the graphics on the NGP look far better than the lynx, although i have only had the chance to play 5 games on it. thats the one area where the lynx wins easily, i've picking lynx games up for under $5 whereas ngp games cost more than the system itself in many cases...and then theres the Nomad.

 

You need a link to find my website? *gasp* www.provide.net/~hdodgson

 

Are any of the 5 games a fighting game? (That is a facetious question since the NGPC games are primarily fighters or Japanese slot machines.) Ever notice how the sprites are usually white, black, and 2 shades of a color? I was pleasantly surprised by all the colors in "Sonic Adventure".

 

Unlike the Lameboy and Advance, the NGPC games tend to use a light colored background so you can actually see the screen. Since the Lynx (and almost all the other ones) are backlit, you can have dark backgrounds.

 

As far as the Nomad and Turbo Express and GP32 and... , I haven't written anything for them so I won't offer any opinions on which is better.