7800 backward compatibility with 5200?

[tz101]

Could it have been done? Why did Atari not try to appease the 5200 user base when they released 7800?

 

Maybe a plug-in adapter ala the 2600 to 5200 cart?

[+Mitch]

I would assume that the expense might be an issue. That 5200 and 7800 also shared quite a few titles in their libraries. Atari most likely wanted new 7800 owners to repurchase the games.

 

 

Mitch

[Underball]

Also the architecture of the two was different enough that creating said adaptor would be like replicating an entire 5200 and placing it atop a 7800, which would be extremely cost prohibitive.

[Metal Ghost]

Also the architecture of the two was different enough that creating said adaptor would be like replicating an entire 5200 and placing it atop a 7800, which would be extremely cost prohibitive.

 

 

Well, and there was the originally intended plan to release a 7800 adapter for the 5200 (which I think would have been done in just the manner Underball mentions, only in reverse). That would have appeased the 5200 base and at least helped prevent them from being too bitter about their console being abandoned after 2 years.

 

I don't really think an adapter was also necessary going the other way, since presumably 5200 game development would have stopped, and as was already mentioned many 5200 titles were or were probably planned to be available as 7800 stand alone titles anyway.

[Rex Dart]

The fact that a lot of 5200 games are 2600 ports, and therefore already playable on the 7800 probably contributed.

[PAC MAN FEVER]

that would be pretty cool though there are some great atari 5200 games out there

[Rex Dart]

Yup yup. Luckily, it's easy enough to get a 5200 now.

[kool kitty89]

Totally impractical from a cost perspective... the 7800's intention was to be extremely cost effective and 2600 compatible, to displace the 5200. There was an intended 7800 adapter for the 5200 planned, but not the other way around.