godzillajoe Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 Behind the cartridge port of the 5200 you can flip open some kinda storage bay. It that what it's meant for or to accommodate some planned add-on? I thought maybe it was to store the controllers but they don't seem to fit in there. Or at least I'm not gonna try to jam one in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 Yes, it's a storage area for the controllers. Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FujiSkunk Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 Yes, it's a storage area for the controllers. Atari expected you to wrap the cords very tightly around the joystick itself for them to fit in there. Needless to say, nobody around here considers that a wise idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian R. Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I don't think you were meant to wrap the cords around the controllers. I dont have it in front of me now, but I remember there being notches for the cords on the sides. But yes, it's for controller storage. Part of the idea of reducing clutter, such as with the single cord and the power supply plugging into the switchbox instead of the console. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godzillajoe Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 Hmmm...I did notice the notch for the cord so I figured it WAS for the controllers but I still don't think I'll be shoving them in there. At $40 each or whatever I paid from Best, they're staying on top of the system where they live just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory DG Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 LOL... That reminds me... My wife was the one who bought me a 5200 for Christmas a few years back. She got it off of Ebay and when it arrived, she couldn't find the controllers. So she emailed the seller asking where the controllers were. The seller responded, "Look in the secret compartment." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jboypacman Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I always thought it was for the controllers too.Never used the compartment for anything so am going to have to re-check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian R. Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I never put controllers in those bins anyway. Which begs the question... So, what do YOU put in your 5200 "secret compartment"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breakpack Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I never put controllers in those bins anyway. Which begs the question... So, what do YOU put in your 5200 "secret compartment"? The controllers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRetroGamer Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 That was the trend in early video games to have the console also act as a controller holder. The 5200, the Colecovision, Intellivision, even the Channel F all had storage of some kind for the controllers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian R. Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 Could you imagine how much bigger the XBox would have been if it had included a storage bay for its original controllers??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Rose Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I never put controllers in those bins anyway. Which begs the question... So, what do YOU put in your 5200 "secret compartment"? I keep it open and "display" about eight or so cartridges in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbanes Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 The compartment is definitely made for the controllers. As other people mentioned, the cords are supposed to be plugged in and threaded through the notches. Obviously, Atari expected you to keep the system hooked up rather than put it in storage. One bit that no one has mentioned is that the controllers are supposed to slot in upside-down with the stick centered over the nubs at the bottom of the compartment. If the stick is positioned right, the hemi-spherical grove in the top of the stick should fit cleanly on top of the nub. That keeps the controller stick straight while in storage. It's not the worst design, but it is annoying. If you're in a hurry, you might accidently place the controller wrong, resulting in the stick being held to the side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phuzaxeman Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 i had my pet hamster live in it when i was a kid... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbalion Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 (edited) I tried storing my controllers in that compartment, but with my clumsiness I am bound to fumble and damage one of the cords. With the $35 invested in a rebuilt controller, I do not want to chance that. I now store the controllers in the box with my 4 port 5200. Edited October 27, 2006 by simbalion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zonie Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 I never put controllers in those bins anyway. Which begs the question... So, what do YOU put in your 5200 "secret compartment"? Desert Dust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zonie Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 Could you imagine how much bigger the XBox would have been if it had included a storage bay for its original controllers??? Trunk of my mom's '79 buick comes to mind... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nems Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 Which begs the question... So, what do YOU put in your 5200 "secret compartment"? I keep a Q-Tip in there. I use it sometimes to wedge in the cartridge slot when I'm trying to get an Activision cart to make good contact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godzillajoe Posted October 27, 2006 Author Share Posted October 27, 2006 Beer and a sandwich for those marathon sessions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 I keep the controllers in there! Hello, I have been for 20+ years. I thought everyone did that Ok so if you dont keep your controllers in there, what pray tell do you keep in your Colecovision controller slots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbanes Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 (edited) Ok so if you dont keep your controllers in there, what pray tell do you keep in your Colecovision controller slots? I thought that was the cupholder? Sure, the shape is a little square, but technology was a lot more primitive in those days. It's only within the last 10 years that we've had these cool motorized holders in our computers. Edited October 27, 2006 by jbanes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FujiSkunk Posted October 27, 2006 Share Posted October 27, 2006 I don't think you were meant to wrap the cords around the controllers. I dont have it in front of me now, but I remember there being notches for the cords on the sides. I stand corrected. I guess I've never noticed the slots. I'm used the ColecoVision and Intellivision where the cords can be hidden along with the controllers, so I figured the 5200's compartment was meant for the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zwackery Posted October 28, 2006 Share Posted October 28, 2006 I keep two busted 5200 controllers in the storage compartment - it makes the weight of the console even more impressive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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