• Tag Archives Atari XEGS

  • Atari XEGS

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    This was one of the last entries in the line of 8-bit computers by Atari & was designed to look more like a videogame system to compete with the Nintendo Entertainment System. The light gun produced for for the XE, the XG-1, is also the only light gun compatible with the Atari 7800 or 2600.

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/172930798919/digitalpress-an-atari-xe-video-game-system-was

    The whole turn a video game system into a computer or turn a computer into a video game system failed every time it was tried. It was tried a lot. I still think the idea was sound enough in the 8-bit era, it’s just that the execution was always poor.

    In 1982 the Atari 5200 was released. It was essentially an Atari 400 in disguise without keyboard or other computer peripherals. It made for a powerful video game system in 1982 terrible unreliable controllers, a high price, and lack of innovative software limited its appeal.

    In 1983 it was the Coleco Adam. At its heart it was a ColecoVision video game system. It could have made a great computer and hopes were high when it was announced. However, poor decisions like powering the system through the printer and using a custom stringy tape format for data storage in addition to a high failure rate doomed this system before it ever had a chance.

    In 1990 Commodore released the Commodore 64GS in Europe. It was just a Commodore 64 in game system clothing. However, 1990 was way, way too late for this idea to work. Anybody that wanted a Commodore 64 already had one anyway. Had they done this around the time the NES was release maybe it could have been a contender.

    Commodore tried again in 1991 with the CDTV. This was really a multimedia appliance that a game system strictly speaking but internally it was an Amiga 500. The whole multimedia appliance thing never really worked out for anybody until the PS3. It wasn’t advertised as such but with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Blue-Ray support and other online services it basically accomplishes what systems like the CDTV and Philips CD-i set out to do years before.

    Not daunted by its failures, Commodore would try one more time with the Amiga CD32. This was a CD-based game system designed around the Amiga 1200. The CD32 was released initially in Europe then in Canada and a U.S. release was planned shortly thereafter. Because of money Commodore owed on a patent and their bankruptcy, an official U.S. release never happened. The CD32 probably had the most potential out of all the systems mentioned here. It was the first fully 32-bit game system and sold very well in Europe to the point where Commodore could not keep up with demand. Because of Commodore’s bankruptcy we’ll never know how well it could have done.

    Pictured above we have Atari’s final attempt at a game system based on a computer, the Atari XEGS. It was released in 1987 and was basically an Atari 65XE internally. It was compatible with cartridge based games previously released for the Atari 8-bit line of computers so at least that part was done right. While it was a reasonably capable game system for its time, Atari’s marketing strategy was abysmal.

    First of all, Atari was also marketing the Atari 7800 system at the same time. The Atari 7800, except for its sound capabilities, was superior to the XEGS. For that matter, Atari was still also marketing the Atari 2600. No doubt this division of effort did not help matters and multiple incompatible machines probably confused many potential customers.

    Then there was the same problem Atari had with every system newer than the Atari 2600. Lack of innovative software. Atari always relied too much on re-releasing classics from the good old days instead of developing new innovative games. Because Nintendo had a virtual monopoly on third part support due to its restrictive licensing agreements, that meant you didn’t have much to choose from on Atari systems, including the XEGS.

    Having said all that, the XEGS actually had a successful launch. All 100,000 systems that were produced for the Christmas season launch were sold. Atari just couldn’t follow through with desirable software.

    Technical specs of the XEGS include:

    CPU: 6502C @ 1.78 MHz
    Memory: 64K
    Graphics: GTIA and ANTIC custom chips, 384×240 resolution, 256 colors
    Sound: POKEY custom chip, 4 voices
    Plus two joystick ports, optional keyboard, disk drive and light gun.





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  • Antic (December 1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    antic_vol_4-08_1985-12_shoppers_guide_page_0001

    Source: Antic – December 1985

    Antic was one of two popular magazines in the U.S. dedicated to the Atari 8-bit line of computers (the other being ANALOG). Antic also had some coverage of the Atari ST at various times. The December 1985 issue includes the following:

    Features

    • Video Star Atari – This article covers software and hardware to digitize images from video cameras or other anaglog sources. The emphasis is on Computereyes though other products are mentioned.
    • Behind the Scenes at Lucasfilm – Antic goes behind the scenes at Lucasfilm Games to, among other things, get previews of The Eidolon and Koronis Rift.
    • DiskIO Plus – A type-in utility program that provides keyboard shortcuts for almost all DOS functions and works with most software.
    • 4th Annual Shoppers Guide – A holiday shopping guide for those interested in Atari hardare and software. Products include the Atari 130XE, Atari 800XL, Atari 520ST, Atari 1050 disk drive, Indus GT disk drive, various printers, the Commodore 1702 monitor, Atari 850 interface module (mostly for printers), Atari 1030 modem, Ballblazer, Rescue on Fractalus, M.U.L.E., Spy vs. Spy, Great Cross Country Road Race, F-15 Strike Eagle, Wiztype, Halley Patrol, Homepak, BBS Construction Set, BASIC XE, Mac/65 Assembler Editor, Paper Clip, and much more.
    • Proburner Review – Antic calls this EPROM burner from Thompson Electronics the best one on the market.
    • Antic Catalog Goes to U.K. – Antic makes the magazine and their catalog of softare available to U.K. users.

    ST Section

    • 1st Annual ST Shoppers Guide – Another holiday shopping guide, this one specific to the Atari ST. Items listed include the Atari CD-ROM drive, SF354 Single-side disk drive, SF314 Double-sided disk drive, the SM124 Monochrome Monitor, the SC1224 RGB Color Monitor, 4xForth Programming Language, Easy-Draw, VIP Professional, Chat (terminal program), A Mind Forever Voyaging, and much more.
    • 4XForth Review – A review of this FORTH programming language implementation for the Atari ST.
    • Introducing 520ST Assembly Language – Primarily this means 68000 assembly language. I never programmed much in assembly but I did do a little 68000 assembly in college.
    • ST Logo Exploration – Logo was the only programming language initially included with the Atari ST. This type-in program and tutorial hepls you to map memory.

    Departments

    • BBS Crashbuster – This type-in program helps to prevent BBS crashes by stripping out non-standard ATASCII characters from input strings. In other words, it prevents users from crashing your BBS with bad input.
    • Build Your Own EPROM Burner – Parts list and instructions for buildin an EPROM burner for $30.
    • Box-In – In this type-in strategy/arcade game, you must move boxes around to trap the monster before he gets you.
    • I/O Board – Letters from readers about Atari 800 problems, BBS lists, Trip Hawkins and Atari, Blue Max and the 130XE, Print Shop, and more.
    • Help – Help with downloading large files with ProTerm, Supra contact info, and a correction for ST Sound, a previous type-in program for the Atari ST.
    • Antic Online – Not on the web but on Compuserve.

    …and more!


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  • Antic (March 1987)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    antic_vol_5-11_1987-03_inside_atari_corp_page_0001

    Source: Antic Vol 5-11 1987-03

    ANALOG and Antic were the two most popular magazines that covered Atari 8-bit computers. While ANALOG stuck to being mostly 8-bit exclusive throughout its life, Antic moved to covering both the Atari ST and the 8-bit line when the ST was introduced.

    The March 1987 issue includes:

    Features

    • Word Searcher – This type-in program solves word search puzzles for you. All you have to do is type in the letter grid and the words you are looking for.
    • Rainbow Screen Customizer – A routine to make variable colored backgrounds in your own programs.
    • Today’s Victorious Atari Corp. – Praising the release of the Atari ST and XE line of computers, this article paints a rosy picture of Atari’s future. This did not age well.
    • Dvorak Keyboard – This type-in program changes the layout of your keyboard from the standard QWERTY layout to the supposedly faster to type on Dvorak keyboard. It may indeed be faster but I can’t imagine learning a new keyboard layout after learning to type on a QWERTY keyboard. I can type fast enough. To give you an idea how much better it is though, supposedly the fingers of someone who types for a living will move 16 miles a day on a QWERTY keyboard as opposed to only a mile with the Dvorak layout.
    • Page 6 Grab-Bag: Part I – A set of machine language routines that you can use from your BASIC programs to handle joysticks and the keyboard.
    • Wage/Hour Paymaster – A type-in program to help you keep track of your hourly wage totals by week or by year.
    • Multi-Autorun – A type-in program that allows you to load multiple programs at start-up.

    Deparments

    • Editorial – All about ANTIC On-Line, an online version of ANTIC available via CompuServe.
    • I/O Board – Letters from readers this month include topics such as using Atari computers at an MDA telethon, sharing a hard drive between an Atari ST and Atari 8-bit, a correction to Budget dB, obtaining the Atari Developers Kit, the Microline 1025 printer, hints for Ultima IV, Atari 1020 Plotter pens, and more.
    • New Products – New products mentioned this month include Video Vegas, a casino sim; Math Blaster!, Word Attack!, and Spell It! educational software; Guderian, a World War II sim; Stocks and Bonds, an investment game; Warship, a World War II ship combat sim, and more.
    • Game of the Month: Vectron – The play mechanics of this type-in game remind be a bit of Combat for the Atari 2600…at least the game modes in which your shots bounce off of the walls.
    • Starting Out; New Owners Column – This month, learn how to use the various graphics modes of your Atari 8-bit.
    • Product Reviews – Products reviewed this month include the Seikosha SP-1000A printer; Kyan Pascal programming language; Leader Board, the classic golf game; and Vestor, an online investment database subscription service.
    • Users Group of the Month: TACE – TACE is the Temple Area Computer Enthusiasts users group located in central Texas. It has ~400 members approximately most of which are Atari users. They have a BBS that runs on a one-megabyte Atari 520ST with a 20MB hard drive and MichTron BBS Software.
    • Tech Tips – This month, pin-out diagrams for all of the Atari 8-bit ports and connectors are provided.

    ST Resource

    • Using INP and OUT – Learning how to use the INP and OUT commands by creating a terminal program in ST BASIC .
    • ST Puzzler – A type-in program that generates random jigsaw puzzles.
    • ST Reviews – Items reviewed include ST Pool and 8-Ball, two pool games; Timekeeper, a real-time battery backed-up clock; Mean 18, a golf game from Accolade; and MIDI Magic, software that sends MIDI music from disk out the MIDI port of the Atari ST.
    • BASIC Alert – How to create alert boxes in ST BASIC.
    • Starglider – A detailed review of this space combat simulator.
    • Hippo Sound Digitizer – A detailed review of this sound digitizer for the Atari ST.
    • ST New Products – New products listed for the Atari ST this month include: Animator ST, animation software for the ST; Thunder!, an alternative spell-checker for the hearing impaired; NEC CP6 and CP7, 80 and 136 column printers; Dr. T’s Music Software, including the Keyboard Controlled Sequencer, MIDI Recording Studio and The Copyist; Fleet Street Editor, a desktop publishing package; Typesetter Elite; Laserimage 2000, a $3,495 laser printer; LDW BASIC Compiler Version 1.1; and more.

    …and more!


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