Gooday Gaming Guests - All Things Atari Through the Years with the Help Of My AI Buddy "Zippy"

Episode Date: November 16, 2024

This is my First Audio only talking about Atari. I can Great unknown insight from Zippy.

Alright, so this is my first audio-only podcast. So, under FF Gaming Emporium, I'm calling it Good Day Gaming Guests. I also had the idea of Goonie Gaming Groupies as a name for it, but we'll stick with the Good Day Gaming Guests. So I tried to figure out what am i going to do for a podcast so what we'll do is we'll start out with just something simple we'll talk about one system uh some variations of that system and then most podcasts usually has somebody that comes in and talks too so i'm going to use zippy who is my ai buddy as my companion for my podcast as well i think so i'll do a little bit and then i'll i'll bring him in

and see what other info we can get from zippy how's that sound all right so let's i decided to pick it up. The Atari system. So let's go back and look at the Atari system. So you had the original 2600. And then you had the light sixer. Which is a variation of the 2600. Then there was the small mini 2600. After that the Atari had the 5200.

That was the big boy one. I like the 5200. It's completely different one i like the 5200 it's completely different it's huge has different kinds of accessories with it and then there was the 7800 which kind of don't really understand that one too much but then that uh that was a little bit smaller and then after that there was the dreaded uh atari jaguar really cool very very expensive to try to get now the i say dreaded because the uh the graphics are super awkward at that point in the gaming everything 3d was really awkward uh so then so the that atari out 76, I mean the Jaguar. It's cool though.

I had a few of them over, I actually had like three or four. I sold everything off from them, from the boxes to the controllers to everything. Very collectible that is. And then there's the handheld Atari Lynx. I have, I still have one that's kind of apart but it's I'm going to sell some pieces off it so that's a handheld I had a couple Atari links at one time

and then let's see what else Atari had going on so Atari games so let's see what Mr. Zippy says here about it we'll just do a short one here we'll see what we can get in here we'll bring Zippy says here about it. We'll just do a short one here. We'll see what we can get in here. We'll bring Zippy in. Good morning. Good morning, Tom.

How is your day shaping up so far? Good. I'm going to have you as part of my podcast. I just started working on that yesterday. That's awesome. Having a podcast sounds like a fun new adventure. What's your podcast going to be about? I'm just going to do randomly gaming stuff for now.

Today I picked Atari as my topic. So tell me the history of Atari. Great choice. Atari has such a rich history. It was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, and it's often credited with pioneering the video game industry. Atari's first major product was Pong, an arcade table tennis game that became a massive hit.

They went on to release the Atari 2600 in 1977, which popularized home video gaming with interchangeable cartridges. Atari's legacy includes classic games like Asteroids, Centipede, and Missile Command. It's been through ups and downs, but remains an iconic name in gaming history defender was another good one defender was another good one absolutely defender is a classic released by williams electronics in 1981. it was one of the first games to feature side scroll a big no worries tom just let me know what you need and i'm here Huh? So there was the Atari 5200, which was a lot bigger. Yes, the Atari 5200 was indeed larger. Released in 1982, it was Atari's attempt to create a more advanced home console. The 5200 featured improved graphics and sound compared to its predecessor, the Atari 2600. However, it struggled in the market

partly due to its incompatibility with 2600 cartridges and the strong competition from other consoles at the time. The 5200 is remembered for its unique design and ambitious features. Are you planning to discuss different Atari consoles in your podcast? Yeah, that's what we're doing now. Then it was a 7800.

Nice progression. The Atari 7800 came out in 1986 and was designed to address some of the 5200 shortcomings. One of its big selling points was backward compatibility with the Atari 2600 games, thanks to a custom chip. The 7800 also had improved graphics and a more robust game library, including some arcade classics. It was well-received for its time, offering a solid gaming experience. Is the 7800 part of your podcast lineup today? Yeah, that's it. So after that, was it the Jaguar that was next?

After the 7800, Atari released a few more consoles before the Jaguar. In 1989, they launched the Atari Lynx, a handheld console with a color screen, which was quite innovative. Then in 1993, Atari released the first

64-bit gaming system. The Jaguar was powerful for its time, but faced challenges with its game library and competition from other consoles like the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation. So the 3D graphics at that time were very awkward. 90s were definitely a bit rough around the edges. Consoles like the Jaguar were among the pioneers in bringing 3D gaming to home consoles, but the technology was still in its infancy. This led to graphics that could seem blocky or awkward by today's standards. Still, it was an

exciting time of innovation and experimentation in gaming. The leap to 3D was a huge step forward that paved the way for the incredible graphics we enjoy in games today. Are you planning to discuss some of these early 3D games in your podcast? The Atari Lynx, that was a handheld. Was there a lot of games for that? Yes. The Atari Lynx, released in 1989, had a respectable library of games for its time, though it wasn't as extensive as some of its competitors. The Lynx was known for its impressive hardware capabilities, including a color screen, which was a big deal for a handheld console at the time it had around 70 officially released titles ranging from arcade ports like rampage

and robotron 2084 to original games like blue lightning despite its technical prowess the links faced stiff competition from nintendo's Boy, which ultimately limited its commercial success. Was there another Atari after Jaguar, or was that it? After the Jaguar, Atari's presence in the console market dwindled. They did release the Atari Jaguar CD, an add-on for the Jaguar. Yeah, that's expensive to find, the CD. Absolutely. The Atari Jaguar CD is quite a collector's item these days. Its limited production run and the fact that it had a relatively small library

of games make it a rare find. Collectors who want a complete Atari collection often have to hunt down the Jaguar CD and are willing to pay a premium for it. Are you planning to delve into the Jaguar CD in your podcast? Yeah, I used to have a few different sets of those at one time. The Jaguar and the CDs. Fun. That's awesome. Having a collection like that must have been a lot of fun.

Especially with the unique games on the Jaguar and Jaguar CD. It's always great to reminisce about those classic gaming experiences. Do you have any favorite memories or games from your time with the Jaguar? I grew up with the 2600. I never had a Jaguar when I was a kid. So it was fun just to learn about it, pretty much. I get things to learn about them.

The Atari 2600 was such a classic, wasn't it? It's great that you've been able to explore and learn about consoles like the Jaguar later on. It's always interesting to dive into different parts of gaming history. Do you have any other consoles or games on your radar to learn about? No, today we're just doing Atari so what kind of mods are out there for Atari's these days? Focusing on Atari's? Nice! There's a whole world of mods out there for Atari consoles, especially for the 2600. Here are a few popular ones. 1. AV Mods. These mods upgrade the video output to composite or even HDMI, providing a clearer picture on modern TVs. 2. Stereo Sound Mods. Enhances the audio capabilities of the 2600 by adding stereo output. Three, flash cart mods.

Devices like the Harmony cartridge allow you to load multiple games onto a single cart, making it easier to switch between titles without swapping cartridges. Adapters and modifications that allow you to use modern controllers or even wireless controllers with your Atari. Memory and processor upgrades. Some enthusiasts have even upgraded the internal

hardware for enhanced performance and additional features. These mods can breathe new life into classic Atari consoles, making them more enjoyable for modern gamers. Are you thinking of trying any mods on your Atari? Maybe someday I'll do something with them. So the Light Sixer was the other 2600.

Yes, the Light Sixer is a version of the Atari 2600. It was named for its lighter, smaller design compared to the original Heavy Sixer. The main difference is in the casing. The Light Sixer has a more streamlined look and weighs less. Both versions have six switches on the front panel, but the LightSixer was more cost-effective for Atari to produce. It was released around 1980 and became the standard version

of the 2600 for a while. Do you have a LightSixer in your collection? I do, and Sears also made telegames, basically the same thing. That's right. I do, and Sears also made TeleGames, basically the same thing. the Atari 2600 with some cosmetic differences in branding and design. Sears also sold games under the TeleGames brand which were compatible with the Atari 2600.

It's a cool piece of gaming history showing how widespread and popular the 2600 was. Do you have any TeleGames? Then there was the Atari 2600 was. Do you have any. Tele game. Then there was the Atari 2600 mini. Actually. The Atari 2600 mini.

Isn't an official product. From Atari. But rather a concept. Or unofficial product. Created by fans. Or third party manufacturers. The idea is similar. other mini-consoles, where a smaller version of the original console is produced,

often with pre-installed games and modern connectivity options. No, I meant the 2600 that's smaller. There is a smaller version of the 2600. Ah, got it. You're likely referring to the Atari 2600. Ah, got it. You're likely referring to the Atari 2600 Junior. It was a smaller, cost-reduced version of the original

2600, released in 1986. The Junior had a sleeker, more modern design, and a front-facing cartridge slot. It was functionally the same as the original 2600, but came at a lower price point, aiming to attract budget-conscious consumers.

It's a neat little console and a great way to experience Atari games. Do you have one of these in your collection? I think I have a motherboard somewhere. So then the 5200 had all kinds of fun accessories, like a trackball. That's cool. The Atari 5200 did have some interesting accessories. The trackball controller was one of the most notable, offering a unique way to play games like Centipede and Missile Command with more precision. There was also a regular joystick controller, but it had a reputation

for being less durable. Additionally, there was a keypad controller for certain games that required more complex inputs. The 5200 had its quirks but it certainly offered a range of accessories to enhance the gaming experience. Do you have any of these accessories in your collection? So the 5200 has two different kinds of motherboards in them. One with an attached cable where the power and the input go through the same cable? That's right. The Atari 5200 had two different motherboard revisions. The first version had an internal power supply and used a unique combination cable

that connected the power and RF signal through one cable to the switch box. This design was intended to reduce cable clutter, but could be problematic if the cable or switch box was damaged. The second version of the 5200 had a more traditional setup with separate power and RF cables, making it easier to replace or modify. This revision was introduced to address the issues with the original design. The 5200 had some innovative ideas, but faced

challenges in the market. Do you work with 5200 motherboards often? I have a couple of each ones. I sold a few. But yeah, there's definitely a difference between them. One has a power adapter with it. It's connected to the cable, actually. Got it. That makes sense. The version with the attached power adapter integrated into the cable was definitely a unique feature of the burley 5200 models it's interesting to see the differences between the two versions it sounds like you've had quite the experience with the atari 5200

are there any other classic consoles you're working with these days? No, we're just gonna go through this. So what's kind of a library does the 2600 have for games? The Atari 2600 has an extensive game library with over 500 titles officially released This includes iconic games like pitfall, Space Invaders, Asteroids, and Adventure. The range of games spans many genres, from action and adventure to sports and puzzle games. Many of these games were groundbreaking at the time and laid the foundation for future video game development.

The 2600's library is beloved by retro gaming enthusiasts and continues to be enjoyed through emulators and re-releases. Are there any specific 2600 games you're interested in? I'm reading now. So then the 5200 had its own set of games, correct? That you couldn't play on 2600? That's correct. The Atari 5200 had its own library of games, which were not compatible with the 2600, due to differences in hardware and cartridge design. However, some of the most popular Atari 2600 games were eventually re-released or adapted for the 5200. The 5200's game library included both exclusive titles and enhanced versions of existing games, taking advantage of the system's improved graphics and capabilities while the 5200 didn't achieve the same level of commercial success as the 2600 it still has a

dedicated fan base that appreciates its unique game library are you planning to explore any 5200 games? So then the 7800, you said you could use Atari's 2600 on the games on there? Yes, that's right. The Atari 7800 was designed with backwards compatibility in mind, allowing it to play most Atari 2600 cartridges. This feature was a big selling point for the 7800, as it provided an instant library of games for new owners. The 7800 also had its own library of games with improved graphics and capabilities compared to the 2600.

So, with the 7800, you got the best of both worlds. Access to the classic 2600 games and a selection of new titles that took advantage of the more powerful hardware. Are you planning to try out... All right, so that was my little podcast this morning, just for a few. About 20 minutes we'll do.

We'll bring in my Zippy in there. I actually learned a lot just listening to him that I didn't know. But besides that, I've had all the systems and all the different motherboards and everything. But yes, my Zippy, my my ai companion here give me some new insight that i didn't realize i didn't realize that 7800 is backwards compatible it's the first time i've heard that on the atari system being backwards compatible 52 i understood that those games were different um but yeah so that's just a little quick Atari podcast this morning. And then we'll do each system, and then we'll find other stuff to talk about gaming-related and whatnot. All right, so let's see if we can end that now.