DanthWader Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Serial lurker here... I've been collecting 2600 for some time now. But I'm at the point where buying games is stale... nothing but $50+ games I need on ebay. So Im very interested in starting to collect 7800. I've never owned one but I understand the serials staring with A1 OR A2 are the ones to get. Anything else I should be looking out for? I'm frugal, but the rarer and cheaper I can get the better. dropping hundreds ATM isn't an option. Besides specific serials or models would anything else that would indicate early production runs etc? Oh, and games... I need a good top 10 to start with. Cheaper the better. But games usually come as the deals do. I'm really excited to start this collection process. But I need a clean system first. Thanks so much in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mephitblue Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 The 7800 is a great system. I have an AT serial # one with the expansion port and haven't had issues with any 2600 carts I tried to put in it. That includes some odd shaped ones like Imagic and Parker Bros. My understanding is that quality went down as the later generations came out, so staying away from an A3 serial may be a good thing. I'm sure others can give much better info on serial #s. As for ones to start out with, I suggest Joust, Centipede, Food Fight, are must owns. The Frenzy homebrew sold on Atari Age is really good. Most of the arcade ports for the system are really solid. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanthWader Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share Posted September 12, 2017 Thanks for this info. I'm still doing more digging in this forum. Are AT serials the only ones with the expansion port? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinks Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Welcome...enjoy. buy the cheap games in lots of 20 or whatever. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atarifever Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Welcome...enjoy. buy the cheap games in lots of 20 or whatever. Solid advice... which I have never taken because I went for boxed and sealed as much as possible.. It's real easy to get boxed and sealed 7800 games (especially the good arcade prots like Ms PacMan, Joust, and Dig Dug), and to get them pretty cheap. The problem is, once you start seeing them all lined up, settling for loose games becomes an issue as a collector. I say grab lots like Jinks says, and go for arcade ports to ensure you only get the best games. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sramirez2008 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Are AT serials the only ones with the expansion port? No. I have an A1 S/N with the expansion port. The attached thread contains a brief explanation of S/N's and a listing of S/N's for the AA community. Its maintained by AA member toymailman. http://atariage.com/forums/topic/177987-7800-serial-number-list-updated-06302017/page-1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inky Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Also, keep an eye on the Marketplace and 7800 forums here on Atariage. From time to time special one of a kind carts will pop up. Maybe a little more expensive, but some of these are compilations that could be cheaper in the long run. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanthWader Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share Posted September 12, 2017 No. I have an A1 S/N with the expansion port. The attached thread contains a brief explanation of S/N's and a listing of S/N's for the AA community. Its maintained by AA member toymailman. http://atariage.com/forums/topic/177987-7800-serial-number-list-updated-06302017/page-1 A1 74 5825114.jpg SN.jpg This^ thanks so much.This young grasshoper has much to learn. So how important is the expansion port? Should I not settle on other 7800 variants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sramirez2008 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 (edited) The port itself is not important, as to my knowledge, there aren't any peripherals that take advantage of it. However, it does appear that the expansion port units play some games that have been known to not play on other 7800 units. There are separate threads concerning this issue. For instance, Robot Tank has an issue playing on some units, but I can confirm that my expansion port model, plays that game. Here's one thread that talks about the games: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/74897-which-2600-games-dont-work-on-a-7800/ **BTW, there aren't that many games that get affected by the units. Most of the 2600/7800 games play just fine. I love my 7800's (with or without expansion port). Edited September 12, 2017 by sramirez2008 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 The 7800 is a great system. I have an AT serial # one with the expansion port and haven't had issues with any 2600 carts I tried to put in it. That includes some odd shaped ones like Imagic and Parker Bros. My understanding is that quality went down as the later generations came out, so staying away from an A3 serial may be a good thing. I'm sure others can give much better info on serial #s. As for ones to start out with, I suggest Joust, Centipede, Food Fight, are must owns. The Frenzy homebrew sold on Atari Age is really good. Most of the arcade ports for the system are really solid. Regardless of which model 7800 you have, most Tigervision carts won't fit properly due to the pegs on the side designed to open the dust slot on the original 2600 not retracting into the cart when inserted. As such, there ins't enough physical clearance on the cart slot (Installed closer to the main pcb vs 2600), to allow the PCB on the cart to fully seat into the cart slot itself. This is the main reason I had and used my 7800 Hi-Score cart was as a cart extender to play those few Tigervision carts. Miner2049er comes to mind. On that one, since it isn't as rare as some of the other Tigervision games, I used some nail clippers and trimmed back about 1/4" or so of the pegs on the cart. Anyway, I own two 7800 units one with the expansion port and one without and they both play the trouble Activision games with out issue. I've had several others through my hands for repair and have yet to actually encounter one that doesn't work with those Activision carts. I don't think it is as systemic as made to believe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanthWader Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share Posted September 12, 2017 Regardless of which model 7800 you have, most Tigervision carts won't fit properly due to the pegs on the side designed to open the dust slot on the original 2600 not retracting into the cart when inserted. As such, there ins't enough physical clearance on the cart slot (Installed closer to the main pcb vs 2600), to allow the PCB on the cart to fully seat into the cart slot itself. This is the main reason I had and used my 7800 Hi-Score cart was as a cart extender to play those few Tigervision carts. Miner2049er comes to mind. On that one, since it isn't as rare as some of the other Tigervision games, I used some nail clippers and trimmed back about 1/4" or so of the pegs on the cart. Anyway, I own two 7800 units one with the expansion port and one without and they both play the trouble Activision games with out issue. I've had several others through my hands for repair and have yet to actually encounter one that doesn't work with those Activision carts. I don't think it is as systemic as made to believe. Thanks for the feedback, yes ive been "scared" of the versions that don't work with some 2600 games. I'm sure it's not warranted, besides I've stayes away from tiger vision because of the prices. But I've always tried to get games on ebay because it's slim pickins here in oklahoma. But now ebay hates me and I'll need a bank loan to get a HERO cart :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Thanks for the feedback, yes ive been "scared" of the versions that don't work with some 2600 games. I'm sure it's not warranted, besides I've stayes away from tiger vision because of the prices. But I've always tried to get games on ebay because it's slim pickins here in oklahoma. But now ebay hates me and I'll need a bank loan to get a HERO cart :/ Where about in Oklahoma? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinks Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 The 4 2600 games that may not work?? Who cares!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanthWader Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 Where about in Oklahoma? Good ol OKC, NW OKC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanthWader Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 The 4 2600 games that may not work?? Who cares!! Normally I would, but the 2600 is my true love so compatability is important as I will replace my heavy sixer in my entertainment center with a 7800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinks Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Normally I would, but the 2600 is my true love so compatability is important as I will replace my heavy sixer in my entertainment center with a 7800.Keep both..I used to like the VSC but I see the 7800 as a SVCS. With the same sound etc. The 2600 games graphics are a little to lame for me today. Exception fall down, juno first etc homebrews are really cool and the dk 2600 someone was working on.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Good ol OKC, NW OKC. The Ivory Tower is located in T-Town... good to have you among us here at AA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanthWader Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share Posted September 13, 2017 The Ivory Tower is located in T-Town... good to have you among us here at AA. Good ol TTOWN, not familiar with ivory tower. But what I do know is yall have more atari stuff on CL that I'm jelious of! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Our CL listings are way over priced!!! Need to come to ThrillHouse Games and visit for some very reasonably priced Atari games. If there is anything you are looking for I might even have a spare or two. Especially 2600 stuff... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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