From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!npoiv!hou5f!ariel!houti!hogpc!houxq!houxb!???
Newsgroups: net.games.video
Title: Re: Atari 5200 Review
Article-I.D.: houxb.222
Posted: Wed Mar  9 15:47:43 1983
Received: Fri Mar 11 06:00:30 1983

Bob... thanks for the review.  Here in Denver it is hard to find
some of the cartridges that are available elsewhere.  I can't 
seem to find Centipede, Pac-Man or Defender anywhere!

In response to your four gripes, here are some comments:

1) "Need more selection in games available."
	- Because the 5200 isn't a widespread product (yet), smaller
	  software companies may not be able to afford to produce
	  cartridges for it.  Those with foresight should be ready,
	  though.  I predict that Activision and Imagic will produce
	  software for the 5200 after there is a larger base of 5200
	  units.  We may see software from companies that are already
	  producing Atari 400/800 cartridges before the 2600 vendors,
	  since conversion to the 5200 is minimal.

2) "Joystick controllers should be self-centering."
	- This is a matter of preference.  The game being played
	  should also be considered.  For instance, I think Missle
	  Command plays much better without self-centering.  For
	  most games, I prefer the non-centering joystick.  As the
	  system catches on, joystick alternatives should pop up.

3) "Where is the Trak-ball controller they promised?"
4) "Where is the 2600 adapter that Colecovision ALREADY has?"
	- Atari is famous for teasing us gamers that are drooling
	  at the thought of more software and more hardware!  I
	  usually add 1 to 3 months to any announcement for new
	  Atari software, and 3 to 9 months to any announcement
	  for new hardware.  Things are even worse now, since the
	  5200 is just getting out.

Us 5200 owners will just have to suffer until Atari gets into full
production and until the 5200 "proves" itself.  Intellivision and
Colecovision may have beaten Atari to the punch with voice synthesis,
2600 adapters and software, but in the long run the 5200 will be more
popular.  The Intellivision and Colecovision controllers are awful
(flames to /dev/null), and only because of expense.  The game units
are not as solid as the 5200, either.  What I would like to see is
an optional RGB output so graphics could be as crystal clear as a 
real arcade.  I hear that it is simple to tap into the RGB signal
with simple modification to any video game.  Converting a standard
TV to accept RGB input is another story, although kits are available
for this purpose.

Ray Davis   ABI Denver CC   31y31   (303)451-3991   decvax!harpo!druxy!rbd