History Platform / Atari7800

Atari made sure not to repeat the mistakes they made with the 5200. Unlike its predecessor, the 7800 is fully compatible with the library and accessories of the 2600 right out of the box, 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. The 5200 controller was a malfunction-prone abomination, so the 7800 went back to basics and sported nothing but a simple joystick with two buttons. All games designed for the 7800 had to be approved by Atari due to the system's lockout mechanism, ensuring there was no glut of third-party UsefulNotes/{{shovelware}} to plague the system like with the 2600. Atari had great plans for this system, the High Score Cart, the 7800 computer add on, and the 7800 trackball were planned but those addons were killed.

During UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfVideoGames, Atari was king. Their 2600 system ruled the TV room as the console of choice and the company was a household name. But then a reckoning came, as the failure of the [[UsefulNotes/Atari5200 5200]] and the fallout from UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983 left Atari a shell of its former self. Though they were down, they were not out (yet), and came back into [[[[UsefulNotes/The8bitEraOfConsoleVideoGames a new market of 8-bit games]] with a new system: the '''Atari 7800'''.

Atari made sure not to repeat the mistakes they made with the 5200. Unlike its predecessor, the 7800 is fully compatible with the library and accessories of the 2600 right out of the box, 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. The 5200 controller was a malfunction-prone abomination, so the 7800 went back to basics and sported nothing but a simple joystick with two buttons. All games for the 7800 had to be approved by Atari due to the system's lockout mechanism, ensuring there was no glut of third-party {{shovelware}} that plagued the 2600. Atari had great plans for this system, the High Score Cart, the 7800 computer add on, and the 7800 trackball were planned but those addons were killed.

Atari made sure not to repeat the mistakes they made with the 5200. Unlike its predecessor, the 7800 is fully compatible with the library and accessories of the 2600 right out of the box, 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. The 5200 controller was a malfunction-prone abomination, so the 7800 went back to basics and sported nothing but a simple joystick with two buttons. Atari had great plans for this system, the High Score Cart, the 7800 computer add on, and the 7800 trackball were planned but those addons were killed.

Creator/{{Atari}}'s next attempt to follow up the [[UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}} 2600]] in the true [[UsefulNotes/The8bitEraOfConsoleVideoGames 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 trackball were planned but those add ons were killed.

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 [[UsefulNotes/Atari8BitComputers 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.

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. It's relatively easy to collect for the platform, as the library is so small and few of the games are really rare.

While Nintendo were abusing their position as king of the mountain to hoard third-party support for the NES, Atari managed to still get some decent support of their own for the 7800. Nintendo had an exclusivity requirement for third-party developers, but some NES games were not made by the arcade manufacturers they originated from. The arcade manufacturers were not behold to Nintendo's agreements as a result, so Atari could go straight to them to get licensing deals for games. This led to the 7800 getting ports of 7 NES games: ''VideoGame/{{Commando}}'', ''VideoGame/DoubleDragon'', ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'', ''VideoGame/KungFuMaster'', ''VideoGame/MarioBros'' (ironically enough), ''VideoGame/{{Rampage}}'', and ''VideoGame/{{Xenophobe}}''.

While Nintendo were abusing their position as king of the mountain to hoard third-party support for the NES, Atari managed to still get some decent support of their own for the 7800. Nintendo had an exclusivity requirement for third-party developers, but some NES games were not made by the arcade manufacturers they originated from. The arcade manufacturers were not behold to Nintendo's agreements as a result, so Atari could go straight to them to get licensing deals for games. This led to the 7800 getting ports of 7 NES games: ''VideoGame/{{Commando}}'', ''VideoGame/DoubleDragon'', ''VideoGame/IkariWarriors'', ''VideoGame/KungFuMaster'', ''VideoGame/MarioBros'' (ironically), ''VideoGame/{{Rampage}}'', and ''VideoGame/{{Xenophobe}}''.

The 7800 was discontinued in 1991. It 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 its time (behind only the NES, the UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem 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.

While Nintendo were abusing their position as king of the mountain to hoard third-party support for the NES, Atari managed to still get some decent support of their own for the 7800. A loophole in Nintendo's agreements for certain games meant Atari could go straight to arcade manufacturers to get licensing deals for games. This led to the 7800 getting ports of 7 NES games, ironically enough including ''VideoGame/MarioBros''

While Nintendo were abusing their position as king of the mountain to hoard third-party support for the NES, Atari managed to still get some decent support of their own for the 7800. A loophole in Nintendo's agreements for certain games meant Atari could go straight to arcade manufacturers to get licensing deals for games. This led to the 7800 getting porta of 7 NES games, ironically enough including ''VideoGame/MarioBros''

Re-released in January 1986 after Tramiel relented and paid and someone was found to head the new video game division, by which time the NES revived the console market from UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983. 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 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.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_XG-1_light_gun XG-1 light gun]] (also compatible with the [[UsefulNotes/Atari8BitComputers XEGS]] and 2600, though only one compatible game, ''Sentinel'', was released on the 2600)

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1200px_atari_7800_wcontrol_pad_l.png]]

Creator/{{Atari}}'s next attempt to follow up the [[UsefulNotes/{{Atari 2600}} 2600]] in the true [[UsefulNotes/The8bitEraOfConsoleVideoGames 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.

* ''B*nq'' (a hombrew port of ''VideoGame/QBert'')

* Sound: TIA (optional POKEY on cartridges. Actually any custom chip that outputs analog audio is accepted, an indie game called VideoGame/RikkiAndVikki uses an [=ARM7TDMI=] core the developers called the ''[=BupChip=]'' for music)

* Sound: TIA (optional POKEY on cartridges. Actually any custom chip that outputs analog audio is accepted, an indie game called Rikki and Vikki uses an [=ARM7TDMI=] core the developers called the ''[=BupChip=]'' for music)

* Sound: TIA (optional POKEY on cartridges. Actually any custom chip that outputs a stereo channel is accepted, an indie game called Rikki and Vikki uses an [=ARM7TDMI=] core the developers called the ''[=BupChip=]'' for music)

* Sound: TIA (optional POKEY on cartridges. Actually any custom chip that outputs a stereo channel is accepted, an indie game called Rikki and Vikki uses an ARM7TDMI core for music)

* Sound: TIA (optional POKEY on cartridges)

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

Re-released in 1986 after the NES 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 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.

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 UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, consoles looked dead anyway.