Atari 7800

Pocket-Sized Nostalgia: The Super Pocket Atari Edition Review

November 4, 2024 By ausretrogamer

The Super Pocket Atari Edition delivers a pocketful of retro magic, perfect for gaming on the go and giving your thumbs the ultimate blast from the past!

The Super Pocket Atari Edition is a delightful fusion of retro gaming and modern convenience, packing a treasure trove of Atari classics into a handheld system that fits snugly in your pocket. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the golden age of gaming or a newcomer eager to explore the legends of the past, this little handheld promises hours of fun with an impressive lineup of pre-installed games—and even more if you have an Evercade cartridge collection!

Design & Ergonomics:
Right off the bat, you’ll notice how perfectly the Super Pocket sits in your hands. Its compact size doesn’t compromise on comfort. The ergonomic design means you can game for extended periods without feeling strain, even during those intense moments of “Centipede” or “Asteroids.” The buttons and D-pad are highly responsive and pleasantly tactile, offering a satisfying click with each press, whether you’re navigating menus or dodging enemies in “Missile Command.” And speaking of the D-pad, it’s as smooth as butter—giving you that precision control you need for those tricky maneuvers.

The Screen:
Let’s not forget the vibrant, crisp screen! For a device this compact, the Super Pocket Atari Edition’s display is surprisingly sharp, with bright colors that bring the iconic Atari titles to life. Every pixel of those vintage graphics pops with a modern twist, making the classics feel fresh without losing their retro charm. The screen size is just right for handheld gaming, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your favorite Atari adventures without feeling cramped.

Game Library:
Now, let’s talk about the games! The system comes loaded with an excellent selection of classic Atari games. Whether you’re a fan of “Breakout,” “Adventure,” or “Yars’ Revenge,” there’s something here for every retro gaming enthusiast. The sheer variety keeps the experience exciting, and revisiting these iconic titles is like stepping into a time machine that fits in your pocket. But what truly sets the Super Pocket Atari Edition apart is its compatibility with Evercade cartridges. If you’ve got a stash of Evercade games, you can expand your library beyond the pre-installed gems, making this handheld a versatile addition to any gamer’s collection.

Specifications:

Preloaded Games: 50 Atari Classics including Centipede, Asteroids, Missile Command and Pong (plus many, many more!)
USB-C Charging: For fast charging. Cable included
Compatibility: Evercade Compatible with over 60 cartridges with 500+ games
Battery: 4+ hours of battery life
Display: High Quality 2.8” IPS Screen 320×240
Features: Easy Mode activates the lowest difficulty for each game

Final Thoughts:
The Super Pocket Atari Edition is a perfect mix of nostalgia, portability, and playability. Its ergonomic design, excellent button layout, crisp display, and extensive game library make it a must-have for retro gaming fans. Plus, the ability to use Evercade cartridges adds a whole new level of replayability and customization. Whether you’re on the go or just lounging at home, this pocket-sized powerhouse will keep you entertained for hours!

Where to buy:

Price: AU$109.99
Store: PixelCrib

Disclaimer: The Super Pocket Atari Edition console was kindly provided by PixelCrib for this review.

A Classic Is Reborn – The Atari 7800+

August 29, 2024 By ausretrogamer

Play Like It’s 1986!

Just in case you have been away on Mars or off grid somewhere on Earth, you may have missed the news that (the new) Atari are at it again, mining their legacy IP to create a contemporary product that tugs on retro gamers’ hearts!

This time around, it’s the Atari 7800+, which is based (on looks) on the 7800 console that was released in 1986. The beauty about the 7800 was that it could play both original VCS/2600 and native 7800 game cartridges, and thank heavens, the 7800+ will be able to do the same. However, the 7800+ will have an added advantage by being able to play the newer 2600+ and 7800+ carts as well – how cool is that?!

So fetch your old 2600 and 7800 game carts and get them ready for some action!

source: IGN

June is Atari Month!

March 29, 2021 By ausretrogamer

Attention our fellow Atarians (fans of the old Atari),

The month of June is fast approaching and you all know what that means – it’s #AtariMonth!

To celebrate 49 years of Atari, we are asking you to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and get writing about your affinity for this iconic brand.

This is your opportunity to let your writing juices flow! To get you started, check out Matt Lacey’s Atari story from the last time we ran #AtariMonth for Atari’s 42nd anniversary.

Once you are satisfied with your written masterpiece, just submit it to us here. The most entertaining submissions will be immortalised on ausretrogamer.com!

There is no word limit, so go for your life (just keep it clean)! Article submissions are opened from now till June 25 2021. That means you have (almost) 3 months for your submission, so get cracking you awesome Atarians!

New Atari 8-bit Games in AtariAge Store

July 20, 2017 By ausretrogamer

If your Atari 2600, 5200 or 7800 is screaming out for new games, then we have some good news for you!

Go and check out the AtariAge store right now as they have a swag of new games that have just arrived for your trusty Atari 8-bit systems.

Still not convinced? OK then, here is the list of games available to feed your chosen Atari console:

Atari 2600

Anguna: Defeat the Goblin King in this Zelda-like fantasy action-adventure for the 2600.
Assembloids 2600: An addictive, fast-paced reaction game for the whole family and high score fanatics!
Drive!: Escape the crumbling temple with your treasure, driving over the bridge as fast as you can!
The Gizzle Wap: You must remove the Strange Red Tree and defeat the Invicta!
L.E.M.: The L.E.M. never failed in any mission assigned to it. Can you keep its record untarnished?
Panky the Panda: Your brother has been kidnapped by poachers — can you save him in time?
Scramble: How far can you invade our Scramble system?

Atari 5200

Ratcatcher: The city sewer has been overrun by nasty critters, grab some friends and clean it out!

Atari 7800

Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest: Defeat Berthilda again in your quest to find all the Crystals of Life!
Super Circus AtariAge: Big Doings Under The Big Top! How good are your reflexes?
T:ME Salvo: Far into the future, save the Eloi from the evil Morlocks!

There is something for everyone in this lot! It’s a great time to be a retro gamer.

Atari Panther: The Extinct Cat

June 28, 2017 By ausretrogamer

In 1988 Atari Corporation’s Jack Tramiel ordered work to begin on the successor to the Atari 7800 and XEGS. Work quickly begun on the Panther and Jaguar consoles – yes, the Jaguar! The Atari Panther was being developed by Flare Technology (Flare One and Konix Multisystem) and was scheduled for release in 1991, directly competing with Nintendo’s SNES and Sega’s Mega Drive.

The Panther platform was going to be a mash up of the Atari ST and Transputer “Blossom” video card, once again blurring the lines of “is it 16 or 32-bit?”. For the record, the Motorola 68000 CPU was going to run at 16MHz (compared to the Mega Drive’s 8MHz and the SNES’ 12MHz) which was going to be paired with a 32-bit graphics card running at a whopping 32MHz! On paper, Atari was doing their math(s) right!

As the Panther and Jaguar were being developed in parallel, Atari Corp. started favouring the Jaguar as it was progressing quickly and presented far more impressive and superior technology. Atari eventually decided to scrap the Panther and forge ahead with their 64-bit console. The cancellation of the Panther meant that Atari had no hardware presence in the home console market between the discontinuation of the Atari 7800 in 1992 and the launch of their Jaguar in 1993. This gap weakened the Atari brand and likely contributed to the failure of the Jaguar console.

The cancellation of the Panther was poor timing, which in retrospect Atari wishes they had pursued it to market, as it would have given both the SNES and Mega Drive one hell of a fight!

The Atari Panther blueprint!