Atari 5200 Guy

$20 a year is better than $15 for one month. I could live with that. And I still have and play AC on GameCube and AC City Folk on Wii. My wife and I love both games. I know my wife would love the old NES and SNES games...especially if Mario games are in there. I thought of the Lite because I was thinking one for each where as with the Pro we could only get one. And I would want something portable. I think I'm ready for a change. I just don't see the value in XBOX any more. The free games with gold have not been all that great. For the past few months the 360 game has been an original Xbox game I already have. And XBOX One doesn't have but maybe a dozen games that we actually like. And if I lose gold I lose the XBOne games. If you are going to give me a game I should have the right to play it. I'm tired of their high costs and Indian giving. I like the machines but don't like their politics any more. So, $20 a year is very cheap comparing. And even if it was a Lite for now I'd be very happy. At least Switch has Terraria with no strings attached. That's one of our favorites.

Hi guys! I have this really neat 3DS but it has an issue. It needs a charging port replaced but there were a few variations. This one had two pins which I found but all of them had a plastic piece present as well. I just want to know which one to get. If someone here with a similar model can tell me, or post a pic of, what their 3DS port looks like I'd be most appreciated and grateful. I got to play it for a week or two and loved it! I miss my little buddy. One of those pins bent when I tried to connect the power supply to it. The pin broke when I tried to gently bend it back.

I'm looking for games that are more family oriented. I like my Borderlands and Sniper Elite games, and I'm a huge For a fan, but most of the games XBOX is getting I have tried and don't care for. And I love Pokemon games. So, for me, the Switch Lite just seems like the best bet. But I'd want to get one for my wife and me so we can play games together. Do you have to pay for an online service through Nintendo to play Switch games online?

I don't have a switch 😢 but we do have a 3DS I have to replace the power port on before I can use it again. It was working for a little while. I miss it already. It was given to us and I found a new power cord for it for $5. One pin on the port just snapped so I don't use it until I can fix it. I'm hoping to get a Switch Lite someday.. I don't like the looks of the new Xbox or ps5. Besides Nintendo seems to be getting games I'm more interested in.

I like Macs, especially the Mac Mini. They are swell computers. But I grew up along side the IBM way of things.

My first car was a '79 Monte Carlo with T-Tops. 305 V-8. Had cruise control. Loved it. The picture is the closest I could find but the car in the image doesn't have T-Tops. My car also had dual exhaust with 12" glass packs. I loved that car! The 305 gave out and got replaced with a 350 out of a '84 I-ROC which I mounted a Edelbrock 600 cfm 4 barrel carb on top. Engine was sweet but waaay too much power for me to handle. I traded the car to my mother for her '84 Cadillac Cimmeron with manual 5-speed. Stupidest thing I ever did. Everything on my Monte worked and it was very clean. I miss it.

Sort of sad to see some Commodore stuff still in there. I had a PET and the school I went to in first grade their first computers were all PETs and one CBM just like those in the video. That building has a lost of history.

I was never a fan of Jeopardy. I never could get into it. But I don't see the show being the same without the only host it has ever known. Alex MADE Jeopardy what it was. I know attempts might be made to fill his shoes but no one ever will completely. That would like Wheel of Fortune without Pat and Vanna.

Here you go! These are the pinball games I remember most. But I was under the impression Silver all came after Epic Pinball on PC. Wiki says otherwise. Nova table was my favorite.

I have a PC pinball game that I've never opened made by the same people that made Ruiner Pinball. I also forgot to mention the Epic MegaGames' pinball games. I had the Android table and bought the Silverball pack that came out later. I loved those pinball games and I believe they also made one for PlayStation but I forget the name of it. There were some on Saturn but I don't remembers if I played those.

I upgraded my 386 just to play Doom when it first came out.

Video pinball? Gee...where do I start? Pin*Not on the NES was a personal favorite but I could have done without all the extras. I have a few tables for Pinball Arcade on my tablet including Bride of Pin*Bot, my favorite, and Pin*Bot. For the OG XBOX I have the Gottleb Hall of Fame and for the 360 I have the Williams Hall of Fame. IMHO I prefer the Williams collection over the other but both are good and offer a large variety of tables to enjoy.

Well, hello neighbor! I'm from AR as well and moved to MO 11 years ago. Welcome to Atari I/O! I think you will love it here. A lot of very friendly people.

I was sitting in front of my 5200 trying to play Space Invaders but my poor controller is just almost too far gone. All the buttons work fine, just the joystick is worn. While playing the game a few thoughts came to me. Of all times, right? I want you to see something though before I continue. That's a happy 5200 right there. It still works and it is always ready to give me its time when I'm ready to sit in front of it. It talks to me. "Why don't people like me? What's wrong with me?" I don't really know, pal. I've always enjoyed you. "Do people not like my games?" I don't think that's it because almost every game made for you was a hit arcade game. "Am I Ugly?" I think you are one of the most attractive machines ever made. I don't think it's that. "Then why?" Well it's your controllers you were given. For most people they didn't work. For me, though, I like them because they are a part of you. "Why was I made with a handicap? Did I do something wrong?" You did nothing wrong. It's just how you are made. That's all. "At least you like me." You're alright, pal. And now you, the readers, know where my thought process is. It has taken me a very long time to come up with theories that will help other 5200 owners find some appreciation and enjoyment from the system. I also hope that this post will also give a bit more understanding of what to expect from the system. And, for the first time, people are finally going to see just how passionate I am toward the 5200 which, in my eyes and heart, was the best machine to come from Atari under the WB umbrella. Theory One - The Machine The 5200 was released during the early 1980's. That's 40 years ago. 1970's was about woodgrain. Everything was woodgrain. Wall panels, floors, all kinds of various electronics. By the 1980's that woodgrain was phased out in favor of silver and chrome...and piano black. Think about it. Then modern TV sets mixed woodgrain with silver accents, some TV shows had iconic vehicles decked out in black and chrome or silver including Knight Rider's K.I.T.T., A-Team's van, and Airwolf's helicopter. It made sense to make a machine that kept the same concept. Truth be told the 5200's design most likely was inspired by those shows or something else. But the 5200 has the beginnings of the 1980's style all over it from its huge size to its heat vents...it is a product of 80's design and culture. Theory Two - The Controllers I believe this is the system's biggest issue. For many many years I never understood how come others had issues where I did not. Fact: my 5200 got played every single day and not once did my controller fail. Not once. It was mentioned to me a long time ago that using it everyday most likely kept it from having issues. At seven years old I took very good care of my beloved 5200. I spent many hours learning the controls before I would learn the games. And I think the theory that I'm about to throw out there is where one common issue comes from. I highly believe most of those that had issues had invested in the 2600 prior to owning a 5200. The 2600 was a very durable system with controllers that could withstand some rough usage where the 5200 was a more delicate system with controllers that simply were not made to be used that rough. See where I'm going with this? Previous 2600 owners who decided to invest in the 5200 possibly tried to treat it the same way causing very early wear and tear. It simply could not withstand that kind of use. But the 5200 does have a title that seems to go unnoticed... analog controls. The analog controllers that became standard starting with PlayStation and N64 actually owe their roots all the way back to the 5200 because it was the first console to put analog controls in the forefront of gaming. So those with modern game consoles with analog controls should thank the 5200 for starting it. You might not have them otherwise. Theory Three - Generations and Time Confused yet? Well...let's start with time. You see, technology has improved over time and it continues to try to improve still. Technically the 5200 was advanced for its time and technology was there for it to introduce new things. Analog controls being one of them but what were the others you ask? The controller's buttons and flex circuits. You see both of those tech advancements were new and the 5200 got them. The buttons had a carbon dot on the underside of them that, when pressed, completed a circuit on the flex circuit sitting right behind them. This new technology had never been used before in video game technology and the only other console to use a flex circuit was the INTV released just prior to the 5200. So what happened? Time and age. You see the longer some electronics sit before being used again the more harm that is done to them. In some cases it doesn't matter how much or little something is used. With the 5200 the constant use, like I did, helped the controllers maintain a good working experience but, at the same time, was also wearing off the carbon on those buttons to the point there was nothing there to complete the circuit. Where does age come in? Age figures in because over time a machine simply reaches the point it can no longer perform the job it was designed to do. They can either be fixed with some simple routine maintenance or they can't. With the 5200, however, it is sort of a random thing because if you use it too much you can wear out the controllers but if you don't use it very often the controllers can ruin themselves. It makes no sense at all does it? But that is a theory I've noticed from reading or hearing other 5200 owners talk about their issues which brings us to generations. How does generations fit in? Well as technology advanced so did the generations of game consoles. Along with every new generation of game consoles new generations of humans were born. It is probably safe to say that any generation of humans that got into gaming most likely started with the game console that was available with that generation. Some had a NES as their first console, others probably started out with PlayStation or N64. Those generations that hate the 5200 are most likely a later generation that had no clue about the 5200. They either learned about them somewhere, discovered them in their parents' closet, attic, or basement, found one at a yard sale or something, get it home only to find out the thing works but the controllers don't work. And with the 5200 nothing in the game can be done without a working controller and third party options are horrible when compared to the 2600. So as generations of humans and consoles moved on the 5200 was left to collect dust, rust, and to ruin. Did any of that seem to make sense? I really hope so because the 5200 does have a lot to offer. Now let's find the positive things the 5200 has to offer...starting with its controller. The 5200 does offer all game and system controls in your hand meaning no more having to lean over a system to flip switches to change game setting like the 2600 did. A pause button was even included on those controls and is pretty much the first console to offer this feature. When they work well those analog controls can give a gamer precision movement that can improve their skills for better scores while narrowly avoiding losing a precious life. The 5200's game library is made up of the arcade games that were hits and eventually became classics. Some are spot on, some not so much but the library tells the tale of what arcade games were most popular of the time of their release. Only a handful of games are original non-arcade games. Only 69 official games were made for the 5200 which should make it easy to get a decent collection of games. The 5200's design has allowed it to fit in with modern technology designs. It is huge, yes, but it still fits well with designs that came after it. And for me that click sound of the cartridge being pushed into the machine and the click sound of the power button then to see that colorful Atari logo on the screen is just magical. What to expect when getting a 5200 is to, first off, expect the controllers to be in poor or non working condition no matter what others say. "It worked when I put it away.". Yea...if it has been months since it was last used those controllers will need to be used a bit to get them back to a somewhat decent working condition. Then you may have to clean them. As long as the machine works there is still a chance that something can be done to fix the controllers. Never attempt to take those controllers apart without first doing research somewhere on how to do it. One false move can become a huge mistake and take away any chances of that controller working again. That controller has a lot of parts that all have to work together in a very small space and it does not take much to completely destroy some of those parts. I'm not saying not to nor am I trying to scare anyone away from doing so...I'm simply asking that anyone thinking about doing so to please see how it is done first so you will have knowledge on how it is done properly. The 5200 is a remarkable system and can offer an amazing amount of enjoyment, and I can't express this enough, as long as it is cared for, never treated like it is a 2600, and used often. Learn the system first by getting use to the controllers before you attempt to learn the games. Seriously, just play around with some games without being serious to get the feeling of those controllers on a per game basis. If you can master that, then master your games, you will get one heck of a gaming experience from the 5200. And that is what you can expect.

Seriously, though, if you can't find something to watch in my house then something is wrong. Top shelf is all DVDs, VHS takes up the rest. And there are more behind all those movies. In a small closet is a tall wood shelf where all the Disney movies sit, away from sunlight. All VHS tapes were either given to us or found at secondhand stores for $1 or less. They invade my game storage lol.

LOOK HDN! I have your favorite movie. 😂

I made the jump when DVD came out. I bought an RCA DVD player for $320. With it came a coupon good for five DVDs from WB. So I went back to the store and grabbed five DVDs. While nice I learned later just how fragile those discs really were. Now that they are cheap the quality is missing. I don't know how many cheap movies I would go through and hear the disc moving around inside the package. While I know I will never find modern movies on VHS there are enough titles on VHS that I would be satisfied for the rest of my life and I wouldn't have to worry about scratches. You can toss a tape and it will be fine. VHS is a lot more kid-friendly than DVDs. I have a feeling the movies will outlast the machines when it comes to VHS. In some ways I wish VHS was still around.

My Jurassic Park and ET were that way. I've opened and watched ET but only opened the end of Jurassic. It has yet to be violated by a machine 😁

I've got to find a multi card reader so I can use my camera again. Any who, here's part of our VHS collection. The cheap VHS tapes have made it easy for me to finally see movies I haven't seen before without breaking the bank. I don't care about extra features, I just want to watch a movie. I had never seen Ransom (Mel Gibson) or The Terminal (Tom Hanks) until I picked them up at Goodwill. Both were really good movies. The Terminal became one of my favorites.

Yes. My wife and I still have and regularly use VHS. I have had no bad experiences with VHS other than playing a tape so much they wear out. I also don't mind having to rewind tapes. I'm use to that. But I only use the VCR to rewind my tapes because when VCRs and VHS was in its prime my family members on my dad's side recorded tons of shows off cable TV. By the time VHS phased out my grandmother had over 400 tapes and my aunt had almost 700, each with at least three or more movies and other programs on them. All of them had commercials cut out of them. They also invested in some prerecorded tapes but not as much. We all invested in those tape rewinders but overtime those started pulling the tape off the take up reel when the tape reached the end. I fixed the tapes but suggested leaving the rewinding to the VCR. I mean the machines have circuits that protect the tape. A VCR should never tug on a tape when it reaches the end. That's what the clear leaders are for. Today we still use them. I still have them because of the Disney movies. I have too many movies on VHS that is hard to find on other formats. The quality got better as technology advanced for the machines and TVs. My JVC looks really good paired up with a late model flat tube CRT TV. Those lines are from the camera, not the VCR...but the quality is there.

To be quite honest...I like XBOX. I have original XBOX, two 360 models, and a XBOX One. They are nice to have but just look at everything you have to have just to use them. Both the 360 and One rely on the internet. Xbox One can't even be setup without the internet. Any digital games bought, using either machine, will either not play or revert back to demo mode if they can't contact XBOX Live to verify ownership. I understand why to a point but its also a headache. With an Atari or older machine that has no internet abilities its a whole lot easier. Simply plug and play. If you own a copy of a game title you can play it, if not then you can't. And that's saying a lot from me because I do like Xbox, especially the original Xbox, but I don't like the added monthly expense that comes with them just to use them.

I have to admit that when the 1997 Titanic came out I was very excited...but only for my interest in the ship. If the film was spot on accurate then the ship details they recreated showed just how massive and beautiful the Titanic really was. I would have enjoyed the movie more if Hollywood would have kept the love story out of it. I do feel that part of the story took away from Titanic's story. It was called Titanic after all, not Romeo and Juliette. I believe the Internet Archive has some Titanic stuff including early movies. I think.

Man. You remind me of myself when I was 16, except I had moved on to the NES, SMS and 7800. You have a very impressive collection for your age (no pun intended). Even 16 year old me would have been wowed by your collection. I'm 46, have an impressive collection myself, but am amazed at how a 16 year old is that into the old Atari stuff. And into vinyl, too? You mention being able to talk us older gen folk that lived through it. You do realize that you are also living through it? Even if it is used stuff, the ambition and passion is there. You are really no different than the rest of us who did get to experience it.

Well...the board I had tried was an AMD board, 128 MB of RAM, 20 GB HDD, and I used the built in video but Windows 98 did not like the SATA drives (couldn't see the hard drive or optical drive) so I couldn't access format.com or Windows setup and Windows 7 I think laughed at the RAM size. I have no XP install disks. So...I'll have to try something else.