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