Clint Thompson

I'm still determined to pick up an XEGS but transported this brand new 130XE and (XEGS Joypad 😉 ) from 1987 right here into the future!

 

I'm still determined to pick up an XEGS but transported this brand new 130XE and (XEGS Joypad 😉 ) from 1987 right here into the future!

 

I'm still determined to pick up an XEGS but transported this brand new 130XE and (XEGS Joypad 😉 ) from 1987 right here into the future!

 

Oh my God.... there is so much awesome in this for so many reasons, what a great treasure for you to still have but also generously share with everyone else!
Reading through the pages just naturally brings a smile to your face. Love the drawn consoles and headers of the games for each game. Appreciate the price list inclusion at the end. Super bad ass for just 11 years old man! You had it in you at an early age and it shows.
As a side note (does this make it a PS?), Fatal Run was originally targeted for the Atari Lynx? Or is that what Road Blasters turned into? *maybe no relation*
Another side side note (PPS) I used to have a loose copy of Fatal Run on the 7800 and just looking on eBay, only one copy appears (PAL) with a crunchy box for $199.
Crazy

This an amazing piece of YOUR history.  Something to be said about those kids who worked in the summer cutting grass, painting houses, and washing cars just to get a little cash in order to get a game here and there.  I love being able to look back and remember what back breaking job i did in order to gat a game.  This is a cool reminder of who you were back then and what you’re doing now.  Thanks for sharing this Justin. 

I’d like to share something very special with you guys. This is an Atari Strategy Guide I began writing in 6th Grade. It's all true. Atari I/O started on paper! 
I was 11 years old when I made this. If you flip through the pages of the Strategy Guide and squint hard enough, you’ll recognize similarities with our Atari I/O Blog posts, particularly the game reviews that I do with BTB.
I thought you guys might think this is cool to see. I’ve been talking with @btbfilms76, @Atari Creep and @Gianna about my days collecting Atari games in the early '90s, how some of the most interesting stuff in my collection are documents from Atari, and what it was like trying to do all this before the internet. My conversations with them inspired me to share this as a PDF for all of you to enjoy. It’s more of a sentimental curiosity than anything really useful, but if you read closely you’ll find a helpful tip or two in there.
It's also a bit of an artifact from a pre-internet Justin who way back then was just as fascinated and enthralled with the World of Atari as I am today. This little Strategy Guide was absolutely the beginning of what would become my Atari website and would evolve in time to become Atari I/O. It really did start on paper.
I scanned the original documents and compiled them in a PDF file as a digital recreation of the real thing. I also added a Table of Contents to help you find your way around, and a Preface which you see above.
I didn't get very far with the guide, but the games covered include these 7800 titles:
FATAL RUN JINKS ACE OF ACES SCRAPYARD DOG CENTIPEDE The Strategy Guide also contains 2600/7800 cartridge price lists and customer service ordering forms from Atari Corp. from 1993.
If you manage to make out my sloppy 6th Grade handwriting, you'll notice that I get some details wrong. I began writing this Strategy Guide before the internet was available to me. Digging up historical info on Atari, we had to get resourceful. Whatever I knew I learned from my own experience of piecing together historical details from Atari catalogs and game boxes, checking out books from the school library, talking with @Video 61 for hours at a time, or calling Atari directly and speaking with Geraldine at the front desk. "Hi, is Jack there?"
In a way it’s sad that Jack Tramiel’s Atari didn’t give us nice things like expansive Strategy Guides, big beautiful fold-out maps, a magazine as cool as Nintendo Power, or the type of immersive games that would’ve created a huge demand for things like this. Little 6th Grade me took it upon myself to make this, because what else was I supposed to do? I was still excited about Atari, I wanted to share Atari with as many people as I could. I don’t know who I was writing this for at the time, friends I guess, but apparently I was writing it for you guys. It just had to sit in a time capsule first.
⬇️ The PDF is attached below. ⬇️ I hope you guys enjoy this glimpse into the beginning of Atari I/O!
 

 
Atari 7800 6th Grade Strategy Guide.pdf

@Clint Thompson I think you may really enjoy this! When I was in 6th Grade I created my own 2600 & 7800 Strategy Guide. This was not long after the events discussed above. The Strategy Guide was the earliest incarnation of what would eventually become this website. I found my Strategy Guide last year, recreated it as a PDF, and made it available for download. I included the original Atari price lists and ordering forms in the back. I started a thread about it and included the downloadable PDF which you can check out here:
 
 

Wait... it's not! 😄I guess I just don't remember now exactly the details of Pole Position 2 on the 7800 other than it not being very... well.... cutting edge for a new(er) game console.
I absolutely love the pictures of your price lists. I remember them exactly as that (sadly they were flooded when we had a mainline pipe explode on our street and flood the house we were living in) and while I didn't question it then, do question now why they made a point to send it in an envelope labeled as Atari Computer. Guessing its just what they had lying around to reply with? They were definitely cheap but on the other hand, they did respond! Not a single mention about the Atari Falcon either!?
I don't remember hearing any stories about anyone writing Nintendo or Sega and receiving a response. Maybe they did? But being non-domestic companies (and I don't mean Nintendo Power magazine or other publications responding on behalf of Nintendo or Sega) I'm not sure. Surely they had HQs in the U.S. but to what extent, I don't know.
Wrote Atari a few times and maybe the fact that they actually responded really set the connection on a deeper level. Wish I still had the one from Sam though. The Lynx catalog he sent had a bunch of markered out games that were no longer available and an updated price list to go with it with blowout pricing.
I called Atari constantly but it was only the automated line with a voice message response until near the end around late 95 when they actually started having someone answer the phones. I'm guessing you called the non 1-800 number though and their actual office numbers instead to actually get through to someone.

Just before Christmas of 1993, I had somehow discovered that Atari was releasing a new 64-bit game system. It wasn't long after that I started seeing ads in the local Venture papers that we received in the mail, if memory serves correctly. I'll never forget the price being $249. I cut it out and gave it to my mom, hoping (but knowing better from an affordability standpoint) that I would receive a Jaguar for Christmas. During this time I had acquired most of the Atari game consoles and a massive 600+ 2600/7800 cart collection. So, you could say I was pretty hardcore into Atari and it was only a fitting path forward to get the Jaguar. Grass cutting money and thrift shops and flea markets were a goldmine to me!
Weeks had passed and realizing just how absurdly expensive it was, I started coming up with alternative present idea options for my parents. One being a Sega Game Gear. I think they had specials running for $99 for a system at the time. Was never really a Sega kid and never owned a Genesis (friends owned them and we played Splatterhouse and Golden Axe on it often) but outside of that, I was willing to venture (ha) into different gaming territories. Interestingly at this point in my life, I wasn't even aware of an Atari Lynx existing. Imagine being so sheltered and not even knowing the handheld existed. Somehow, I lived under a rock.
With the Sega Game Gear as an option and more realistically, I was asking for some PC Gamer Magazines, I handed over an alternative list to my mother for consideration. She immediately grew kind of irate with me. I felt bad because maybe I just asking for too much but at the time was only trying to give more affordable idea options, even down to just a couple of PC gaming magazines.
Later I would realize as to why she was seemingly upset at me. That's because she had already purchased the Jaguar for me as a gift and here I was, asking for something completely different as if I had changed my mind. The slim long box under the tree sounded exactly what I was expecting when shaking it around, a few PC gamer magazines. Ripping it open to be delighted with some fresh reading material, my jaw dropped with excitement once I realized my parents had managed to actually buy me an Atari Jaguar for Christmas.
One of, if not, the best Christmas presents I've ever had in my entire life for so many reasons. It was also during this gift when I was subjected to Atari's Lynx marketing and advertisement inclusions of the handheld that I would soon lust after. The same inclusion that had a picture of Sonic running on an Atari Lynx that left me asking how Atari could legally get away with that but still amused. I really would like to know the story behind that one. Was it one of those dirty marketing tactics from the higher ups to try and lure the attention of ignorant kids and thinking that just because we're young, we wouldn't know better? or even parents wouldn't know better?

Wait... it's not! 😄I guess I just don't remember now exactly the details of Pole Position 2 on the 7800 other than it not being very... well.... cutting edge for a new(er) game console.
I absolutely love the pictures of your price lists. I remember them exactly as that (sadly they were flooded when we had a mainline pipe explode on our street and flood the house we were living in) and while I didn't question it then, do question now why they made a point to send it in an envelope labeled as Atari Computer. Guessing its just what they had lying around to reply with? They were definitely cheap but on the other hand, they did respond! Not a single mention about the Atari Falcon either!?
I don't remember hearing any stories about anyone writing Nintendo or Sega and receiving a response. Maybe they did? But being non-domestic companies (and I don't mean Nintendo Power magazine or other publications responding on behalf of Nintendo or Sega) I'm not sure. Surely they had HQs in the U.S. but to what extent, I don't know.
Wrote Atari a few times and maybe the fact that they actually responded really set the connection on a deeper level. Wish I still had the one from Sam though. The Lynx catalog he sent had a bunch of markered out games that were no longer available and an updated price list to go with it with blowout pricing.
I called Atari constantly but it was only the automated line with a voice message response until near the end around late 95 when they actually started having someone answer the phones. I'm guessing you called the non 1-800 number though and their actual office numbers instead to actually get through to someone.

Just before Christmas of 1993, I had somehow discovered that Atari was releasing a new 64-bit game system. It wasn't long after that I started seeing ads in the local Venture papers that we received in the mail, if memory serves correctly. I'll never forget the price being $249. I cut it out and gave it to my mom, hoping (but knowing better from an affordability standpoint) that I would receive a Jaguar for Christmas. During this time I had acquired most of the Atari game consoles and a massive 600+ 2600/7800 cart collection. So, you could say I was pretty hardcore into Atari and it was only a fitting path forward to get the Jaguar. Grass cutting money and thrift shops and flea markets were a goldmine to me!
Weeks had passed and realizing just how absurdly expensive it was, I started coming up with alternative present idea options for my parents. One being a Sega Game Gear. I think they had specials running for $99 for a system at the time. Was never really a Sega kid and never owned a Genesis (friends owned them and we played Splatterhouse and Golden Axe on it often) but outside of that, I was willing to venture (ha) into different gaming territories. Interestingly at this point in my life, I wasn't even aware of an Atari Lynx existing. Imagine being so sheltered and not even knowing the handheld existed. Somehow, I lived under a rock.
With the Sega Game Gear as an option and more realistically, I was asking for some PC Gamer Magazines, I handed over an alternative list to my mother for consideration. She immediately grew kind of irate with me. I felt bad because maybe I just asking for too much but at the time was only trying to give more affordable idea options, even down to just a couple of PC gaming magazines.
Later I would realize as to why she was seemingly upset at me. That's because she had already purchased the Jaguar for me as a gift and here I was, asking for something completely different as if I had changed my mind. The slim long box under the tree sounded exactly what I was expecting when shaking it around, a few PC gamer magazines. Ripping it open to be delighted with some fresh reading material, my jaw dropped with excitement once I realized my parents had managed to actually buy me an Atari Jaguar for Christmas.
One of, if not, the best Christmas presents I've ever had in my entire life for so many reasons. It was also during this gift when I was subjected to Atari's Lynx marketing and advertisement inclusions of the handheld that I would soon lust after. The same inclusion that had a picture of Sonic running on an Atari Lynx that left me asking how Atari could legally get away with that but still amused. I really would like to know the story behind that one. Was it one of those dirty marketing tactics from the higher ups to try and lure the attention of ignorant kids and thinking that just because we're young, we wouldn't know better? or even parents wouldn't know better?

For FLAG CAPTURE:
"Use the Forrest, Luke."
For FUN WITH NUMBERS:
Albert Einstein's greatest challenge wasn't creating the Theory of Relativity; it was teaching 1st grade math.

I just realized a theory after seeing the timelines of when most of us remember getting an Atari.  If everyone got one in 1982-83 then why was their a crash? If all those systems sold right before the crash started wouldn't the company have had made money? Not lost it? 
I know...the crash started because of a flood of poor quality video games.  It became a monkey see, monkey do industry with wannabe programmers tried up against seasoned professionals and ruined the whole thing.  But, financially, our families and friends were buying the machines and games.  That money should have boosted the industry, not destroy it.
Just a thought.

One other memory just happened last year. A coworker knew I collected Atari stuff and said he inherited a storage space. Inside he found an old Sears TeleGames Light Sixer System. It was just the console only, so he brought it to me and I took it home. After a major cleaning and I mean a major cleaning, replacing the video cable that was falling apart, and checking the board carefully, I plugged it in, put in Video Pinball and turned it on. I played Video Pinball for a while after that. I ended up buying it from him and it is now part of my collection. It just showed me how hardy these systems were back then. I would put my money on any newer system being in that condition and never working again. These older systems were built like tanks.

It's good to have you back @Clint Thompson 

I have an XEGS around here somewhere that had been spray painted black.  I'll have to find it and post a pic.  It looks pretty cool that way.

And I think you are on to something with that gamepad connection.  Unmistakable resemblance. 

I've been down the 8-Bit XE/XEGS rabbit hole lately. Not sure why really but it landed me here (it's been a while!)
Sadly the video is gone so I'm missing a bit of context as to what this is all really about but seeing that the Atari Mirai casing is most like the SuperXE Game Console is fascinating to me. Personally...and quite honestly, I've always found the pastel colored buttons to be hideous. Outside of that, I owned an XEGS once when I was a teenager. Had a dream about this game machine and tons of carts at a thrift store, went a few days later and sure enough there was this most bizarre XE game console with about a dozen carts for all of $20. Of course I bought it.
Not sure why I got rid of it but looking back now after researching it all again, some newly discovered (non-closed minded) things about it are starting to stand out.
1. You have to truly appreciate that Atari got the composite video output right on this one! I still can't believe it wasn't offered out of the box on the Jaguar in 1993 but was included on a repackaged Atari XE system in 1987.
2. 99% of most 8bit Atari computer games at the time didn't need a keyboard. This was a nice consolized version of a great computer. One that I couldn't love though because the pastel Easter egg color buttons just screamed wonk to me. However.... I've got a solution for that now... and now I want an XEGS again.

3. Something seems amiss. It's 1986.... Atari releases the 7800 in the U.S. and includes the Pro-Line joysticks. They would later release the XEGS and Euro or PAL version of the 7800 in 1987. The same year they included the supposedly coined CX78 joypads for the inclusion with the 7800. Sure, many claim it was in response to the NES but.... why only the PAL version and not in the U.S.?
Which brings me to another very seemingly non-coincidental design choice.... that the XEGS was supposed to include or use the XE joypads. From a design standpoint, it makes 100% sense:

So here you have the triangled XE system in the left corner... and XE text on the top right. I was thinking, wait a minute. That looks STRIKINGLY SIMILAR to something else....
Well... well... well... what else has a sharp triangle cut corner and big bold buttons? The CX78 *ahem* Atari XEGS Joypad:

Even the backside of the CX78 joypad shares the top lines of the XEGS....

So are those red buttons supposed to be pastel and ugly colored too or is red the way to go? Either way, I now feel like that the XEGS joypads were ditched in favor of being released with the 7800 in a too little, too late attempt. Though why not include it with the XEGS in the first place if that actually were the case? The CX78 joypads certainly flows more with the design aesthetics of the XEGS than the 7800, just as the Jaguar joypads flowed more with the lines of the unreleased Panther than it does with the Jaguar (since they actually were Panther joypads repurposed for the Jaguar after all). We have data design disks that confirm that, stating Panther controller drawings and sure enough, it's the Jaguar joypad.
Does anyone have the Atari 7800 action set poster or a picture of it handy? I did a quick google search but came up empty handed.
Tell me the CX78 isn't a repurposed XEGS joypad. Change my mind.

I've been down the 8-Bit XE/XEGS rabbit hole lately. Not sure why really but it landed me here (it's been a while!)
Sadly the video is gone so I'm missing a bit of context as to what this is all really about but seeing that the Atari Mirai casing is most like the SuperXE Game Console is fascinating to me. Personally...and quite honestly, I've always found the pastel colored buttons to be hideous. Outside of that, I owned an XEGS once when I was a teenager. Had a dream about this game machine and tons of carts at a thrift store, went a few days later and sure enough there was this most bizarre XE game console with about a dozen carts for all of $20. Of course I bought it.
Not sure why I got rid of it but looking back now after researching it all again, some newly discovered (non-closed minded) things about it are starting to stand out.
1. You have to truly appreciate that Atari got the composite video output right on this one! I still can't believe it wasn't offered out of the box on the Jaguar in 1993 but was included on a repackaged Atari XE system in 1987.
2. 99% of most 8bit Atari computer games at the time didn't need a keyboard. This was a nice consolized version of a great computer. One that I couldn't love though because the pastel Easter egg color buttons just screamed wonk to me. However.... I've got a solution for that now... and now I want an XEGS again.

3. Something seems amiss. It's 1986.... Atari releases the 7800 in the U.S. and includes the Pro-Line joysticks. They would later release the XEGS and Euro or PAL version of the 7800 in 1987. The same year they included the supposedly coined CX78 joypads for the inclusion with the 7800. Sure, many claim it was in response to the NES but.... why only the PAL version and not in the U.S.?
Which brings me to another very seemingly non-coincidental design choice.... that the XEGS was supposed to include or use the XE joypads. From a design standpoint, it makes 100% sense:

So here you have the triangled XE system in the left corner... and XE text on the top right. I was thinking, wait a minute. That looks STRIKINGLY SIMILAR to something else....
Well... well... well... what else has a sharp triangle cut corner and big bold buttons? The CX78 *ahem* Atari XEGS Joypad:

Even the backside of the CX78 joypad shares the top lines of the XEGS....

So are those red buttons supposed to be pastel and ugly colored too or is red the way to go? Either way, I now feel like that the XEGS joypads were ditched in favor of being released with the 7800 in a too little, too late attempt. Though why not include it with the XEGS in the first place if that actually were the case? The CX78 joypads certainly flows more with the design aesthetics of the XEGS than the 7800, just as the Jaguar joypads flowed more with the lines of the unreleased Panther than it does with the Jaguar (since they actually were Panther joypads repurposed for the Jaguar after all). We have data design disks that confirm that, stating Panther controller drawings and sure enough, it's the Jaguar joypad.
Does anyone have the Atari 7800 action set poster or a picture of it handy? I did a quick google search but came up empty handed.
Tell me the CX78 isn't a repurposed XEGS joypad. Change my mind.

Thank you for the heads up.  There are so many games I'd like to try.  I'll keep my eyes open this week.
 

Awesome 🙂
I hear more are incoming in the next week so keep the eyes peeled! I still haven't picked up one myself!

Oh hey!  Never too late; so good to see you here! 
I love the Jaguar a lot more than I thought I would.  I'm having fun with what I have so far and I'm really hoping to get a GameDrive if they become available again. 
 

A'bit late to the congratulations party but... congratulations! 😄
How are you getting on with it?!

A'bit late to the congratulations party but... congratulations! 😄
How are you getting on with it?!

I remember the interviews with Sam Tramiel talking about the Jaguar getting into TRU but I never saw it myself. My parents purchased my Jaguar at a local Venture before they went out of business and Venture is also where I picked up my Lynx about a year later. Had it not been for the Jaguar, I wouldn't have even known about the Lynx and if memory serves correctly, in 1994 the Lynx was selling bundled with 4-games for either $99 or $129 new. I thought it was an awesome deal and actually played it quite a lot, despite not having very many games for it.

Thanks go to John Hardie for scanning this in. Confirmation that work was done on this and not just a case mockup!