RickR

A view of my attic, where most of my stuff is kept.  This is shelf #1 of 2.  Someday, I'd like to be able to keep this stuff out for use, but no room at the present time. 
 
 

Time for part 2:  Centipede
 
8-bit Version

 
The 8-bit version of Centipede isn't very good.  Choppy animation, centipede segments that are mostly square, and a lack of colors make this a pretty lazy port.  Also, the game is way too easy.  The spider doesn't have that killer instinct from the arcade, making him really easy to avoid. 
 
 
5200 Version

 
The 5200 version of Centipede is excellent.  Smooth animation, colorful and distinct centipede segments, and multi-colored mushrooms make this a MUCH better looking port.  The spider here wiggles a lot and totally has the killer instinct.  Avoiding him is challenging.  The game gets fast quickly and is a blast to play.  Things are a little bigger on the screen, but that doesn't seem to impact the fun factor at all.
 
Why they did it
This one was a no-brainer.  The 8-bit version of Centipede is poor.  Re-doing it was a wise choice by Atari.  I don't see any sign of using the old code here...5200 Centipede was written from the ground up.  Excellent choice by Atari here. 
 
 

I think we all know that the Atari 5200 is based on the same hardware as the Atari 8-bit computers.  And in many cases, Atari just ported existing games from the 8-bit to the 5200 with only minor changes.
 
But I can think of three games that Atari actually re-wrote -- started from scratch -- for the 5200.  I thought it might be fun to do some comparisons of these games.  The idea came to me while I was playing 5200 Space Invaders last night, so I'll start with that game.
 
8-bit Version

The 8-bit version of Space Invaders is just ok.  It plays well, with good speed and controls, but it just doesn't feel like Space Invaders.  The aliens don't look like the arcade version at all, there are no shields, and the aliens emerge from a lame looking space-ship/rocket on the left side of the screen.  For each wave cleared, the rocket lowers a notch and new aliens emerge.  The ground under your ship isn't quite flat, although that has no impact on your movement.
 

 
 
5200 Version

The 5200 version is very good.  Good controls and speed.  The shields are here and the aliens look better, making it feel more like the arcade version.  Strangely, like in the 8-bit version, the aliens emerge from the left side of the screen, although there is no rocket.  Best feature:  the aliens change every 2nd wave!  And there are some pretty wild designs.  Spinning/rotating/shrinking aliens!  I counted 4 different sets, but there may be more than that. 
 
Judging by your ship, the ground color, the information at the bottom of the screen, and the left-emerging aliens, it is obvious the programmer heavily referenced the 8-bit version in creating this version.  
 

 
 
Why they did it.
I think the 8-bit version is pretty lackluster and gets boring pretty quickly.  Atari spent some time and came up with a version that is much more fun and will hold your interest a little longer.  I know I kept playing to see all the different types of aliens!  Very nicely done and a great choice by Atari.
 
Coming soon, the other two games that I know of....

Time for part 2:  Centipede
 
8-bit Version

 
The 8-bit version of Centipede isn't very good.  Choppy animation, centipede segments that are mostly square, and a lack of colors make this a pretty lazy port.  Also, the game is way too easy.  The spider doesn't have that killer instinct from the arcade, making him really easy to avoid. 
 
 
5200 Version

 
The 5200 version of Centipede is excellent.  Smooth animation, colorful and distinct centipede segments, and multi-colored mushrooms make this a MUCH better looking port.  The spider here wiggles a lot and totally has the killer instinct.  Avoiding him is challenging.  The game gets fast quickly and is a blast to play.  Things are a little bigger on the screen, but that doesn't seem to impact the fun factor at all.
 
Why they did it
This one was a no-brainer.  The 8-bit version of Centipede is poor.  Re-doing it was a wise choice by Atari.  I don't see any sign of using the old code here...5200 Centipede was written from the ground up.  Excellent choice by Atari here. 
 
 

I think we all know that the Atari 5200 is based on the same hardware as the Atari 8-bit computers.  And in many cases, Atari just ported existing games from the 8-bit to the 5200 with only minor changes.
 
But I can think of three games that Atari actually re-wrote -- started from scratch -- for the 5200.  I thought it might be fun to do some comparisons of these games.  The idea came to me while I was playing 5200 Space Invaders last night, so I'll start with that game.
 
8-bit Version

The 8-bit version of Space Invaders is just ok.  It plays well, with good speed and controls, but it just doesn't feel like Space Invaders.  The aliens don't look like the arcade version at all, there are no shields, and the aliens emerge from a lame looking space-ship/rocket on the left side of the screen.  For each wave cleared, the rocket lowers a notch and new aliens emerge.  The ground under your ship isn't quite flat, although that has no impact on your movement.
 

 
 
5200 Version

The 5200 version is very good.  Good controls and speed.  The shields are here and the aliens look better, making it feel more like the arcade version.  Strangely, like in the 8-bit version, the aliens emerge from the left side of the screen, although there is no rocket.  Best feature:  the aliens change every 2nd wave!  And there are some pretty wild designs.  Spinning/rotating/shrinking aliens!  I counted 4 different sets, but there may be more than that. 
 
Judging by your ship, the ground color, the information at the bottom of the screen, and the left-emerging aliens, it is obvious the programmer heavily referenced the 8-bit version in creating this version.  
 

 
 
Why they did it.
I think the 8-bit version is pretty lackluster and gets boring pretty quickly.  Atari spent some time and came up with a version that is much more fun and will hold your interest a little longer.  I know I kept playing to see all the different types of aliens!  Very nicely done and a great choice by Atari.
 
Coming soon, the other two games that I know of....

In a weird sense, you could argue that actually the 5200 was the last true Atari system, since the 7800 was made by GCC, the lynx by EPYX and the Jag was after the Tramiels cleaned house.   

It would be cool if they did a Luke or Anakin split with Vader

My wife found this for me at a garage sale.  It's pretty cool -- depending on which window you look into, you see a Vader or Yoda head.  It's dated 1998, made by "Tenyo". 
 
Apologies for the blurry video.  I have no idea what I'm doing in that media.
 

My wife found this for me at a garage sale.  It's pretty cool -- depending on which window you look into, you see a Vader or Yoda head.  It's dated 1998, made by "Tenyo". 
 
Apologies for the blurry video.  I have no idea what I'm doing in that media.
 

My wife found this for me at a garage sale.  It's pretty cool -- depending on which window you look into, you see a Vader or Yoda head.  It's dated 1998, made by "Tenyo". 
 
Apologies for the blurry video.  I have no idea what I'm doing in that media.
 

My wife found this for me at a garage sale.  It's pretty cool -- depending on which window you look into, you see a Vader or Yoda head.  It's dated 1998, made by "Tenyo". 
 
Apologies for the blurry video.  I have no idea what I'm doing in that media.
 

Here is my list of what i have to trade. Some labels are in bad shape do if there is anything you want i can take a pic for you
 
Atari 2600
Sky jinks (x1)
Ice hockey (x2)
Tennis (x3)
Target fun (x2)
Race (x3)
Football picture label (x1)
Football text label (x2)
Bowling picture label (x3)
Bowling text label (x1)
Real sport baseball (x2)
Real sport football (x1)
Super challenge baseball (x2)
Super challenge football (x2)
 
Intellivision
NFL football (x1)
Boxing (x1)
Major League baseball (x1)
 
NES
Tetris (x1)

I tried the auto 3 pointer, but I can't get the hang of it.  Maybe make it 50% of the time.  Still got beat by computer.  Sigh.

I love Double Dribble too. 
 
At the time, it was a revolutionary basketball game, compared to the choices we had prior (especially if you only had a 2600 like I did). The dunking cut scene was mind-blowing!

The computer is easy to beat, if you can find the sweet spot where you'll never miss a three-pointer. 

That's the spirit of this great group. It's a good feeling to share with a fellow gamer that is going to play and enjoy it.

That's the spirit of this great group. It's a good feeling to share with a fellow gamer that is going to play and enjoy it.

WOW!  Three Easter eggs in one game!

That's the spirit of this great group. It's a good feeling to share with a fellow gamer that is going to play and enjoy it.

That's the spirit of this great group. It's a good feeling to share with a fellow gamer that is going to play and enjoy it.

Cool. Im glad you like it. The jr has a crack in one of the corners sadly.
 
And a couple of those games are from the junk box. I checked with a couple of the other members and they were cool with it.
 
All the other spare games I have are already in your collection!

Cool. Im glad you like it. The jr has a crack in one of the corners sadly.
 
And a couple of those games are from the junk box. I checked with a couple of the other members and they were cool with it.
 
All the other spare games I have are already in your collection!

That's the spirit of this great group. It's a good feeling to share with a fellow gamer that is going to play and enjoy it.

It works great! I've tried all my games in it. For some reason, Canyon Bomber won't play, but everything else works great!

I'm happy you got RS Volleyball!
I don't care for most of the RS titles, but VB is great!

WOW!  Three Easter eggs in one game!