History Platform / Atari7800

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Circus}} Super Circus Atari Age'' (homebrew)

* ''[[VideoGame/Berzerk Frenzy]]'' (homebrew)

Creator/{{Atari}}'s next attempt to follow up the [[UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}} 2600]] in the true [[EightBitEra 8-bit era]]. Unlike the [[UsefulNotes/{{Atari 5200}} 5200]], the 7800 is fully compatible with the 2600, because it ''is'' a 2600, with a 6502 instead of the 2600's chopped-down 6507, a new graphics chip in addition to the 2600's TIA, and 4K of extra RAM. Atari had great plans for this system, the High Score Cart, the 7800 computer add on, and the 7800 trakball were planned but those add ons were killed.

{{Atari}}'s next attempt to follow up the [[UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}} 2600]] in the true [[EightBitEra 8-bit era]]. Unlike the [[UsefulNotes/{{Atari 5200}} 5200]], the 7800 is fully compatible with the 2600, because it ''is'' a 2600, with a 6502 instead of the 2600's chopped-down 6507, a new graphics chip in addition to the 2600's TIA, and 4K of extra RAM. Atari had great plans for this system, the High Score Cart, the 7800 computer add on, and the 7800 trakball were planned but those add ons were killed.

* ''Ballblazer'' (notable for it's procedurally-generated jazz title screen BGM, achieved using a POKEY chip on the cartridge).

* ''Ballblazer'' (notable for it's procedural-generated jazz title screen BGM, achieved using a POKEY chip on the cartridge).

* ''Ballblazer''

The system was roughly on par with the UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem in terms of graphics and overall processing power (sound processing on the other hand was greatly inferior to its competitors, at least unless an optional POKEY sound processor was included in the game cartridge), but somewhat unfairly gained a reputation as being much less powerful than the NES, largely due to the number of lazily done ports from its two predecessors.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/atari7800_1928.jpg]]

Released for one month in 1984, then left to sit in warehouses when Warner sold Atari to ex-Commodore president Jack Tramiel. Jack was uninterested in consoles, and after TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, consoles looked dead anyway.

* ''Choplifter''

* ''Ms. VideoGame/{{Pac-Man}}''

Homebrew development was stalled due to lack of a special programming key. After the program that made that key was found, that opened the 7800 homebrew efforts.

The system was roughly on par with the NES in terms of graphics and overall processing power (sound processing on the other hand was greatly inferior to its competitors, at least unless an optional POKEY sound processor was included in the game cartridge), but somewhat unfairly gained a reputation as being much less powerful than the NES, largely due to the number of lazily done ports from its two predecessors.

Re-released in 1986 after the UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem revived the console market. Though it never made a dent in the NES' dominance, it did turn a profit, thanks to low development costs and the huge 2600 library. The 7800 sold just under 5 million units in its lifetime, which might not sound impressive now, but was still enough to make it the fourth-best selling console of all time (behind only the NES, the [[UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem Master System]] and Atari's own 2600) as of the end of TheEighties. The fact that it managed this feat despite a middling game library and a lack of much support from Atari proved that there was still an appetite for Atari's consoles; unfortunately, the company's [[UsefulNotes/AtariLynx following]] [[UsefulNotes/AtariJaguar efforts]] wasted the chance to get back on their feet.

* [[GraphicsProcessingUnit GPU]]: Atari MARIA (7800 mode) or TIA (2600 mode)

* StarpathSupercharger

{{Atari}}'s next attempt to follow up the [[{{Atari 2600}} 2600]] in the true [[EightBitEra 8-bit era]]. Unlike the [[UsefulNotes/{{Atari 5200}} 5200]], the 7800 is fully compatible with the 2600, because it ''is'' a 2600, with a 6502 instead of the 2600's chopped-down 6507, a new graphics chip in addition to the 2600's TIA, and 4K of extra RAM. Atari had great plans for this system, the High Score Cart, the 7800 computer add on, and the 7800 trakball were planned but those add ons were killed.

Re-released in 1986 after the NintendoEntertainmentSystem revived the console market. Though it never made a dent in the NES' dominance, it did turn a profit, thanks to low development costs and the huge 2600 library. The 7800 sold just under 5 million units in its lifetime, which might not sound impressive now, but was still enough to make it the fourth-best selling console of all time (behind only the NES, the [[SegaMasterSystem Master System]] and Atari's own 2600) as of the end of TheEighties. The fact that it managed this feat despite a middling game library and a lack of much support from Atari proved that there was still an appetite for Atari's consoles; unfortunately, the company's [[AtariLynx following]] [[AtariJaguar efforts]] wasted the chance to get back on their feet.