jetset Posted June 5, 2013 Share Posted June 5, 2013 I guess just posting my opinion about a game system just wasn't wise, Who knew all the cry babies would come out of the woodwork. Sorry fellas, I had no idea posting that was going to stir the pot. And again, If you think it was flaming or trolling, you seriously need to lay off the energy drinks. Have a nice day guys. No not at all! It's always a good idea to come to a website and bitch about one of the favorite sons (so to speak) of that website. Especially when it's clear you're talking of something you obviously have no experience with, beyond what you've read! Welcome to Atari Age! Let us know what other Atari stuff you think sucks. We value your opinion greatly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinks Posted June 5, 2013 Share Posted June 5, 2013 The username 'Jinks' should be banned. Such satanic witchcraft is against my religious beliefs. Freedom of religon. And I just put a hex on you so keep your head up.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800 Posted June 5, 2013 Share Posted June 5, 2013 No not at all! It's always a good idea to come to a website and bitch about one of the favorite sons (so to speak) of that website. Especially when it's clear you're talking of something you obviously have no experience with, beyond what you've read! Welcome to Atari Age! Let us know what other Atari stuff you think sucks. We value your opinion greatly! I had the 5200, so... I think I know what I'm talking about. The controllers were a disaster, The console was probably bigger than the 2600, and the release games were lackluster. No point in getting mad at me about it. And your, Favorite son, as you put it wouldn't be very interesting if not for the discussions and objectionable opinions by members such as myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Climber Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 Dude, you kind of suck, lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tep392 Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 This isn't exactly on topic, but since were talking about the 5200. I was listening to a recent All Gen Gamers podcast, and they were talking about best/worst looking systems. A few of them said the 5200 is one of the worst. OMG! I think it is one Big Sexy System. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetset Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 This isn't exactly on topic, but since were talking about the 5200. I was listening to a recent All Gen Gamers podcast, and they were talking about best/worst looking systems. A few of them said the 5200 is one of the worst. OMG! I think it is one Big Sexy System. They're likely the same sort that thought the Gamecube was the best looking or best designed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800 Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 The 5200 is a great looking system. Big, but has an awesome style to it. I'm a sucker for aluminum trim though. The controller looks cool too... LOOKS cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinks Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 They're likely the same sort that thought the Gamecube was the best looking or best designed. gc is pure awesome..snes is fugly same with ps3 and xb 360 both ugly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetset Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 gc is pure awesome..snes is fugly same with ps3 and xb 360 both ugly. The look is something my 5 year old could have come up with. Great system, horribly drab, unimaginative design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Climber Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 The look is something my 5 year old could have come up with. Great system, horribly drab, unimaginative design. lol, yeah, it's definetily not a looker. I've always liked the Panosonic "Q" gamecube though, I believe it was a Japan only release... Has kind of a "sci-fi" look to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetset Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 lol, yeah, it's definetily not a looker. I've always liked the Panosonic "Q" gamecube though, I believe it was a Japan only release... Has kind of a "sci-fi" look to it Yeah that is better (still a dull cube though ) The *retro* sci-fi look though is pretty awesome. Looks like something Elroy Jetson would have played...futuristic in a 60's kind of way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertJets Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 This isn't exactly on topic, but since were talking about the 5200. I was listening to a recent All Gen Gamers podcast, and they were talking about best/worst looking systems. A few of them said the 5200 is one of the worst. OMG! I think it is one Big Sexy System. I find that quite odd, since I think the design language Atari created with the 5200 (and continued with the 2600 Jr and the 7800) still looks modern/current today. It is mostly black with a nice big piece of polished aluminum trim going across the front, not exactly a polarizing design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800 Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 Since many electronic devices in the 80's still had wood grain and/or aluminum trim, I think the design of the 5200, 7800, and the 2600 Jr. was ahead of it's time. Basically all black with a simple surface and shiny aluminum trim. So awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wood_jl Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Wow. Same. Old. Tired. Crap. Did you even own a 5200 back in the 80's? My guess is not. So much wrong with your flame, I'll pick on the most egregious of stale complaints.... Don't know the guy, but if he owned an Atari 400 back in the early 80s (or 1979) then he'd have one done right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoTonah Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 I've always been curious: I believe that the reason that the 5200 was cartridge-incompatible was because of the rivalry between the computer and consumer videogame divisions. But what if they hadn't done that? What if the computer carts worked on the 5200? So the RAM layout is the same, everything is the same... (heck, keep the 5200 sticks the way they were, converting analog to digital signals isn't that weird). Wouldn't that have sold more of the 5200 systems? The library of games would have been a lot larger at launch. Wouldn't that have sold more Atari computers, because the software market would have been stronger? Wouldn't that have been better for consumers? When they were ready to jump from gaming machine to a computer, they wouldn't have to buy their favorite games again? THAT'S what makes me wonder what Atari was thinking. A strong CEO would have brought the divisions together when it made sense to. P.S. I'm a 5200 owner. I'm still amazed that Atari greenlit those joysticks. What the--?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaynz Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 LoTonah, please keep in mind that today - 2013 - after the NES, SNES/GENESIS, PS1/N64, PS2/XBOX, and PS3/X360 generations we've had the advantages of learning a LOT of lessons about design, marking change ups, generational upgrades and all that. Back with the 5200 and 7800? Not so much. What seems obvious to us now was completely unheard of back then. You have to cut them a little slack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZylonBane Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Oh please, people inside Atari hated the 5200 joysticks even before they were released. If memory serves, the main reason they were approved was because their design involved a lot of patentable technology. Just another example of clueless management. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaynz Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Zylon, actually, that type of joystick was a 'development fad' back then, and it wasn't just Atari doing it - TI, Commodore, and Tandy CoCo all had similar sticks. The idea was that they were 'less for kids' and 'more simulational' than reguar arcade-like sticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZylonBane Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Actually, here's the relevant quote from AA's 5200 FAQ, emphasis mine: The 5200 was created at a time when poor marketing and questionable company policy ran rampant within Atari. The 5200 controller was developed by an individual who had NEVER even played a single video game in his life! Response to the controllers from focus groups and clinics were poor, but the marketing arm stubbornly insisted on releasing the system with the "groundbreaking" elements intact. In addition, the controller was partially influenced by corporate policy where hardware designers and engineers were offered bonuses for creating designs that received patents. Not surprisingly, many engineers and designers developed hardware that were innovative for the sake of being "original", with complete disregard for functionality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoTonah Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Gah! Not liking that everyone focused on my one little jab at the controllers instead of pondering my real question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 THAT'S what makes me wonder what Atari was thinking. At the time, Atari wasn't thinking... at least with common sense. Remember the old saying, too many cooks spoil the broth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaynz Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Actually, here's the relevant quote from AA's 5200 FAQ, emphasis mine: Right, but keep in mind what I said. At the time, game consoles were being decried as 'overpriced children's toys' so marketing was desperate to do ANYTHING that could make it sound like these were 'more than toys', or 'educational' or 'for adults', etc. Even though those kinds of sticks were nearly universally hated, marketing types demanded their use and inclusion so they could say "Look, it's for flight simulators and PRECISION controls, not stupid video games games!" This kinda of language was all over the boys and adverts at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaynz Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Gah! Not liking that everyone focused on my one little jab at the controllers instead of pondering my real question. My original point was that Atari was doing most of this FOR THE FIRST TIME and things which seemed more obvious or simple for us now, with 30 years of hindsight, hadn't yet been done and even 'computer gaming' was seen as just another expensive toy fad that was overdue for passing on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZylonBane Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 (edited) My original point was that Atari was doing most of this FOR THE FIRST TIME and things which seemed more obvious or simple for us now, with 30 years of hindsight, hadn't yet been done and even 'computer gaming' was seen as just another expensive toy fad that was overdue for passing on. And my point is that you're wrong, most everybody at the time knew that the 5200 controllers sucked. Analog X/Y joysticks were nothing new-- they'd existed on the Apple II for years prior to the 5200. Edited June 11, 2013 by ZylonBane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetset Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 And my point is that you're wrong, most everybody at the time knew that the 5200 controllers sucked. Analog X/Y joysticks were nothing new-- they'd existed on the Apple II for years prior to the 5200. I gotta ask..not to doubt what you're saying, but where does this information come from? Your quote from the 5200 faq certainly points to early disapproval from "focus groups", but those aren't people *inside* atari necessarily. I can understand people who played the games for ten minutes in a trial not liking them, but like many other controllers out there, you don't always love them from the first time you use them. Seems to me like the Atari employees might have played more than a few times, and by then if they're halfway decent games, probably changed their opinions...Maybe from a quality standpoint, since the firs buttons were known to wear out fast...??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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