Wow! What an amazing specimen of a 5200! That thing is beautiful. And even though there weren’t a whole of of cartridges included, they were all top notch games. That’s a definite win! Great video showcasing this gem of Atari history. Hope you get to enjoy it for years to come.
Of all the 2 dozen or so consoles I own from the 1972 Odyssey to X Box Series S, the Atari 5200 is my favorite of them all. The games are super close to their arcade ports and the console design is a 1982 time capsule. Playing this machine is like taking a time machine back to 1982,1983. Good luck with your new unit. If you have any questions or issues, the Atariage Forum is an awesome resource.
Awwsome video Jon. I had a 5200 briefly and it was a tank for sure. The games i had were very fun. Gremlins was fun and so was berserk. Keep up the good work.
Nice. Thanks to the 80's Cloak & Dagger movie featuring E.T.'s Henry Thomas and the Atari 5200, I kind of wanted one. Of course, I later learned that the 5200 did not in fact have a perfect arcade port of the Cloak & Dagger arcade game. That, and also later learning that the machine was based on the few-years-old by then Atari 8-bit computers, I was more than happy that our family got a Colecovision instead (our upgrade from the 2600). Atari fan that you are, I am happy to see your joy in this purchase.
While not as prominent, Atari had a placement in another 80s kids movie too- D.A.R.Y.L. where the titular character (played by the same boy who was the young Bastian Balthazar Bux in the Neverending Story) kills it on Pole Position on an Atari 8-bit computer.
Thing is those joysticks weren't bad in concept, there's some arcade ports on the 5200 that are really fun to play with analog control when they work properly. I'm more bothered by Atari's choice of narrow squishy rubber caps for the fire buttons, it hinders responsiveness when you're in the moment and have to shoot in rapid succession. I still like them a lot more than the Intellivision controllers though.
I have owned my Atari 5200 SuperSystem since I bought it back in 1983. It is one of my five favorite Atari home video game consoles. I like my Atari 2600 VCS, my Atari 5200 SuperSystem, my Atari 7800 ProSystem, my Atari 800 (8-Bit) Computer and my Atari 800XL (8-Bit) Computer.
Good deal I would say! I had a 5200 and it was the least played Atari system I ever had. Loved the 2600, and the later smaller version of the 2600, the 7800 I also played with a lot in comparison to the 5200. Still nice to have one in your collection. A track ball and other peripherals would enhance it. I never had those on any of the Atari systems, other than the stick holder and red topper.
Congratulations on getting the 5200. Good video as well. It's a good console over all. The controller storage door on the console is very easy to break, so take care with that. The RF switch, is only for the 4 controller unit, if you get the 2 controller model, you don't need that switch as power and RF are separated. That's the model I have. I would also keep an eye out for an extra controller as at some point, you will be repairing one, so always good to have an extra on hand. Enjoy the 5200 and have fun.
What an amazing find. And the controllers work. I love the 5200. Im telling you get the dreadnaught factor. Hero is good. Space shuttle is awesome too for a simulator of that time. Take care of that system. I think it was a gem.
@@GenXGrownUp Unfortunately, yes! I even adore the "futuristic" (for 1982) controllers, as well. Best Electronics (San Jose, CA, if I recall?) used to sell the rebuild kits with gold contact upgrades for those controllers. Love my 2 port version (upgraded to s-video by a friend), but still hope to someday find a 4-port version as well, like I had when I was 11 years old👍
There are a few good third party controllers. Also you can get the original controllers from a company called best electronic’s they replace the inside with gold plating and are supposed to be much better.
Wow this brings back memories. i worked for an Electronics shop back in the middle 80s. We were and authorized Atari Service repair shop. I repaired a lot of Atari 2600s and 5200s consoles plus the occasional 400 and 800 computers. I remember Atari had a recall on 5200 controllers and I replaced quite a few flex boards under warranty. We had test cartridges which are probably extremely rare now. Good times!
Congrats on that find! Glad it's working. I got one from a video store that went out of business in the 90s, at a trek con of all places. It works, too. But, I had no clue about the stowage compartment until I saw this video! Now I know where the controllers are. LOL Thanks for sharing this. :)
AND if they'd had the foresight to not keep demanding that their old systems stay on the shelves as they released new systems. AND if they'd marketed the new systems properly. AND if their new systems weren't just repackagings of their computer line.
Glad to see you got a well-working 5200 and controllers that also function well. Cleaning and maintaining the CX52 sticks is important and not too heard to learn how. Especially since those sticks are like 40 years old now. But I have to clean my Genesis carts all the time to get them to load, so cleaning isn't a 5200-only thing.
Congrats on your pickup. One of the first things you should think about doing is getting the system modified so that you can ditch the wonky TV box, which was only used that way on the 4 port systems. 2 port systems did not have that plug in system. The good thing about the 4 port is that you can play 4 player games and that you do not need to modify the BIOS chip if you want to play Pitfall, Mountain King and K-razy Shoot-out. The Atari 5200 is my favorite system of all time. Pick yourself up a trak-ball when you can. The 5200 trak-ball, being analog, is the best home experience you can get for playing Centipede, Millipede and Missile Command. Depending on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go, there are a lot of options for using other controllers on the Atari 5200. Poke around Atariage in the forums and you will see just how many. There's also a flashcart available, some really amazing homebrews for the system, and a lot of the better 8-bit computer games have been converted to play on a 5200 and are available to download. Since the system was relatively short-lived, there are also a lot of complete and nearly complete prototypes like Super Pac-man and Blaster that are excellent. Blaster was actually designed on an 8-bit computer for the arcade. You can also pretty easily modify a stock controller to use a paddle for games like Super Breakout or find someone to do it for you.
FREE FALLING!!! CONGRATS! That is one heck of a good find. With all the 5200 horror stories and consoles that fail over time that is a FANTASTIC FIND! Just WOW! Cheers
Talk about nostalgic!! I remember i had the 2nd generation. Because the rf switch was different from that one. I had half of those games. Thanks for the wonderful video brother.
My grandparents owned a 5200, and I did get to play that. Unfortunately I don't know what happened to it and the games. I don't recall the controllers having overlays apart from Star Raiders, and I certainly did not know about that box you need in order to use the 5200. Now that I know about it when I look for one in the future that I'll keep my eyes open and make sure that is included. If not, then I'll have to look for that in order to play it on my TV. Also I never heard of Flarp until now so I'll be using that to clean dust and gunk like you did on my consoles. Thanks for an awesome video!
We just got a 5200 today. Mine was a 4 port in decent shape. It fired right up but the controllers needed to be cleaned up to work properly. Playing Robotron 2048 and Space Dungeon with the dual controllers is awesome!
I bought my 5200 as it wasn't known to work or not a few years back on Ebay. It is the 2 port edition and worked great! I actually have a adapter to let me use a sega Genesis controller on mine which make things for the most part alot easier. Congrats!!!
Finally got around to watching this, that is a great deal indeed for the console and those carts + controller inserts. I’m very intrigued by both the 5200 and 7800 (due to improved graphics and the more refined console designs) as most of my experience was with the 2600 back in the day.
You need after market controllers since the stock ones will soon fail. While you are at it, try to get your hands on the trackball controller. I also recommend getting your hands on a copy of Space Dungeon. It uses double joysticks which makes a unique gaming experience.
All good advice and noted. I know Space Dungeon well - played on my Atari 8-bit and never more fun than when we could play co-op: one moving & one shooting!
My area that's a $60 dollar "untested" deal. At $180, if console doesn''t work? Controllers don't work? You can easily spend $100 or more getting it going. Even if I sold Montezuma revenge, that's a lot to go through to maybe break even. Love what you do. Keep up the good work.
Montezuma's Revenge was what made it worth gambling. Between that, the switch box, and the other software, I could've made back my investment and tried again later. 😀 Thanks for watching, possum.
Years ago I picked up a 5200 in a box. No not original box. But the console, loose games, manuals and such looked like new. We had one problem. 4 port needing a switch box. Well I looked around the store and no luck. Asked people who worked at the store. No dice at all. Finally after all these years. A big lot showed up on e-pay. Got it in, fired it up. Works just fine except the horrible joysticks needed to be cleaned. I had to look this up. Paid under $20.00 for the 5200 in 2010.
love this channel. I went back a few years ago ang got a 5200, it's not in the greatest shape but the controller and system work perfect, would like to buy another one in great shape, have a decent library for it now, always loved this system. awesome vid
So I never had a 5200 and now seeing you play pac-man and Popeye makes me very happy that you scored such a well taken care of system. Hope you have many fun hours my friend!
My co-worker just sold me his working 2 port Atari 5200, w/(4) 5200 controllers, 5200 trackball, 2600 adapter, 2 Atari 2600 joysticks, (18) 5200 games & (1) 2600 game for $200. I got a great deal.
I’ve had a lot of consoles in my life. Most can be easily enjoyed again through backwards compatibility or mini-consoles or other means. But there’s two I regret getting rid of and wish I had back. One is the Sega Saturn. The other is the Atari 5200. It was my second console ever (Intellivision was my first), and I loved it, and I miss it. You got yourself a hell of a score. So jealous.
Brought back a lot of memories. Many hours of centipede and kangaroo. Our biggest issue growing up with the 5200 was the controllers. I got really good in the mid 80s playing moon patrol with half broken controls.
Great to see it works! I cringed when you spun it around on its face. Glossy black plastic tends the scrape easily. Maybe use Flarp on the switch that switches between the console and the TV. Until this video I didn't know the 5200 was actually called the Super System when I mention the new "Super" Atari Nolan Bushnell and team designed in 1978. That completed system, like I said, would probably have been in stereo (maybe with RCA outputs to a stereo?) and surely have had different/better controllers. Maybe separate controllers like Atari Video Computer System. And the system probably would've been smaller not having a compartment for the controllers. Maybe would've looked more like the original Atari system. Two of my friends had the 5200. My next door neighbor had Popeye and Pole Position. I loved playing both. Although I hated the "notchy" joysticks/controllers. And my friend who lived near our neighborhood pool had Centipede with the roller controller. I never played it the way you are in the video. Looks more difficult and not as fun. Super Breakout as the pack in game was a bad decision. Seeing you play it without the paddles like the original Atari had seems bizaar and can't be fun. Also, I think I remember the controllers joysticks being able to turn or twist. Are you able to do that? I'm not sure what game that would be used for though. Also, I didn't like the keypads on the cortrollers because they were hard to press and I think I tried a game with the overlay cards and I didn't like it. Maybe because they were too stiff and you couldn't press the buttons underneath very well. So I never used them again. Great to see you've got a fully working system! Have fun! Just think this could've been a better, possibly stereo system, that would've come out in 1978 if Nolan Bushnell could've gotten his way with Ray Kassar!
I quite like the 5200. I have the second gen version with a separate power supply. I spent a lot more on it than $180, though! I still prefer the 7800 though.
I'm amazed that the controllers worked. I was under the impression that the controllers went bad with time even if they were hermetically sealed and never used. I know mine would stop working after a period of time no matter how many times I scrubbed the contacts clean with a pencil eraser.
Brought back memories I got one when it came out. I loved that system. There was this weird game called Miner 2049er that I'd always play. And of course Qbert was fun. I had alot of games too. That's so cool.
As a former 5200 owner am impressed with the fact that the controllers actually work lol those things were terrible....i must went through i don't know how many of them i went through
Regarding the editing style: You get props for not doing that one thing most content creators tend to do: Messing up the script, speaking something factually incorrect, not noticing until the take is done... and then being lazy and slapping in a "I meant ___" subtitle. That always bugs me. It's like, they're not 10 feet away from the camera and can't just quickly re-do the line? I never knew the 5200 Centipede sounded so close to the arcade! If they'd just tweaked a couple of the sounds (like the notes of the crawling spider), it literally could have been perfect. Gonna mod it for DVI out? I _think_ that's the best no-latency mod you can get for 5200. That's where I'd probably go if I had the cash and wherewithal to collect classic systems.
Thanks for the kind words, though I must admit I have used this crutch in the past. In our defense, it's not always as easy as jumping back in front of a camera. Often I'm editing hours or even days after the video was shot, and it's not trivial to replicate the environment for a one- or two-word pickup. (Lighting, camera position, setup, clothing, etc.)
The 5200 was my very first system. I was excited to find games so cheap for it. Bins at the front of the store and everything... The term "dead system" wasn't a thing yet.. Lol.. I have all these games except Montezuma
@@GenXGrownUp I just love how clean its Lines are and the black wedge shape just so beautifully minimalistic. It makes me think of the monolith from 2001. I had one with the track ball, which is one of highest quality add ones ever made. It’s not reviewed enough. The controllers and the tendency to break and poor included game were it’s weaknesses.
@@Dmarcoot Maybe you can educate me. I thought the trackball was an add-on peripheral, but you suggest it's a whole other console model? Or maybe it's both?
You're fortunate everything works in that 5200. A lot have something busted. If you ever find a second, whether or not it works, I recommend keeping it around for parts.
I love my 5200 and if you ever get s chance to buy a game called Space Dungeon , definitely get it as it's not only a great Arcade port , but it uses two controllers for game play. Probably the best game for the 5200 .
I know Space Dungeon well - great recommendation! I used to play it on my Atari 8-bit computer, and it was a blast to play two-player cooperatively -- one person navigate and the other shoot!
NOBODY is more surprised than me that it worked. The only guarantee in life is that “untested” literally means “tested and failed but if I say that it wont sell so I’ll play dumb and call it ‘untested’ hoping you’ll take a gamble I know you’ll lose”. A+
The only time I had ever seen an Atari 5200 was in the movie 'Cloak & Dagger' (1984) starring Henry Thomas ('E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial') and Dabney Coleman ('9 to 5', 'WarGames', etc.). :)
I got my atari 5200 as well and i am very happy with it,i also got wild to think about that sega & nintendo games appeared on this console as well in wich i do own as well, but i really hate that storage compartment door as it could flip open if you don’t becareful,even if i tape it together that tape will eventually wear off,my door actually broke because of this,i don’t know why atari tout that it was a good idea to waste sooo much plastic just to add in a controller storage compartment,maybe they recieved complains about familys about controllers laying around the floor and so maybe atari tout to do the same thing like mattel & coleco to put a storage compartment for it’s controllers, Also i still found it sad that atari cancled their 5200 junior,they just should,ve go that route instead rather then going for the 7800. Or release that atari 5200 junior in 1984 while still releasing the atari 7800 in 1986 just in case.
The 5200 is pretty much the Canyonaro of consoles. It's big for big sake. There's a lot of air inside the case. The Jr 5200, while compact, would not have made any sense, since the 5200 didn't sell well. I think Atari made the best business choice to maintain physical compatibility with 2600 games when they released the 7800 (no adapter required); however, releasing the 7800 so late was a poor business choice, given the the base Nintendo managed to build so quickly.
You should contact Jesse hardesty with ivory tower collections. He upgraded mine to HD, replaced the caps and fixed the controllers for a very affordable price
If I was you I would save the controllers and find some 3rd party ones. Because it might shock you but just pushing those stick to their full range slowly damages them. They were well designed with short lives in mind. Atari primarily a hardware company was trying to create new avenues of income. Selling more controllers, but the tech at the time was not predictable enough and many units failed far too early.
My favorite game from your collection is Montezuma's Revenge. However, I must say that the other games are equally amazing, whether played on the Atari 5200 or the Atari 8-bit computers, as they are identical. Oh, and keep that Kitty stamp, it's part of this game cartridge history now. Besides, you risk ruining the manual cover by trying to remove it.
That original switch box with the power going into it is why you have distortion in your picture. Such a bad idea. The later 2 port models fixed this issue.
@@GenXGrownUp someday I will have a Atari 800 computer. I had one when I was 12 but when I had to move my dad threw it out, along with all the games I had.
You'd be surprised (or maybe not) that so many commenters already are focused on how amazing it is to have a pair of good-condition, working 5200 sticks! 😀
You're the second viewer to recommned that game for the 5200. 😀 I've played it on my Atari 8-bit, and agree -- it's great! I can imagine it was actually quite nice to play with the 5200 joystick considering the control scheme.
Dreadnought Factor was also on the Intellivision, I have it in my collection. It is a good game, I think it was only released on those 2 consoles, although I could be wrong.
I still have my original 5200. Sadly, 20+ years ago I tried it and cannot get the start buttons to register. The contacts seem to have degraded. I don’t know what to do. All of my games are in their original boxes. Including Space Dungeon which came with a special adapter.
For the love of God be careful with those joysticks. I have heard of those things breaking by themselves. The membrane behind the keypad can just disintegrate on you. This is one of the reasons why I have never picked up an Atari 5200. Addendum- I started gaming back in 1986 on the Nes and Master System. So I don't really have a connection to anything Atari until the Jaguar of which I have two.
0:58 I hate when people have everything to test if something works, yet try to sell full price with the note "untested." If they did any research, they would see systems shown working actually sell at the market rate.
Thanks!
You're very welcome, TorontoJon. Your generosity is much appreciated! 🥰
Wow! What an amazing specimen of a 5200! That thing is beautiful. And even though there weren’t a whole of of cartridges included, they were all top notch games. That’s a definite win! Great video showcasing this gem of Atari history. Hope you get to enjoy it for years to come.
“Mom!! I’m going over to Jon’s house to play Atari!”😉
I'll be there
Mom got Sunny D!
@@GenXGrownUpSunny D!!!
Get home when you see the street lights on!
@@cpurvis73 The good old days.
Of all the 2 dozen or so consoles I own from the 1972 Odyssey to X Box Series S, the Atari 5200 is my favorite of them all. The games are super close to their arcade ports and the console design is a 1982 time capsule. Playing this machine is like taking a time machine back to 1982,1983.
Good luck with your new unit. If you have any questions or issues, the Atariage Forum is an awesome resource.
Some of the games are too wide specially pac man
Scored a hell of a great deal. Games and manuals. You just dont see manuals with games that often anymore, or at all. Glad the 5200 works.
Awwsome video Jon. I had a 5200 briefly and it was a tank for sure. The games i had were very fun. Gremlins was fun and so was berserk.
Keep up the good work.
Nice. Thanks to the 80's Cloak & Dagger movie featuring E.T.'s Henry Thomas and the Atari 5200, I kind of wanted one. Of course, I later learned that the 5200 did not in fact have a perfect arcade port of the Cloak & Dagger arcade game. That, and also later learning that the machine was based on the few-years-old by then Atari 8-bit computers, I was more than happy that our family got a Colecovision instead (our upgrade from the 2600). Atari fan that you are, I am happy to see your joy in this purchase.
Nice. Now I've gotta add "rewatch Cloak & Dagger" to my to-do list! 😉
🤣
While not as prominent, Atari had a placement in another 80s kids movie too- D.A.R.Y.L. where the titular character (played by the same boy who was the young Bastian Balthazar Bux in the Neverending Story) kills it on Pole Position on an Atari 8-bit computer.
Thing is those joysticks weren't bad in concept, there's some arcade ports on the 5200 that are really fun to play with analog control when they work properly. I'm more bothered by Atari's choice of narrow squishy rubber caps for the fire buttons, it hinders responsiveness when you're in the moment and have to shoot in rapid succession. I still like them a lot more than the Intellivision controllers though.
So sorry to hear you are unemployed currently. Keep up the good work, things will turn around for you! I’ve been there many times, brother.
Thanks for the well-wishes. It's been over a year, and I'm no longer calling myself unemployed - but rather, unsustainably self-employed. 😉
Great video Jon! Really glad it worked out for you and keep up the awesome work :-)
I have owned my Atari 5200 SuperSystem since I bought it back in 1983. It is one of my five favorite Atari home video game consoles. I like my Atari 2600 VCS, my Atari 5200 SuperSystem, my Atari 7800 ProSystem, my Atari 800 (8-Bit) Computer and my Atari 800XL (8-Bit) Computer.
I love everything about this comment, and every Atari product listed therin. 😀
Good deal I would say! I had a 5200 and it was the least played Atari system I ever had. Loved the 2600, and the later smaller version of the 2600, the 7800 I also played with a lot in comparison to the 5200. Still nice to have one in your collection. A track ball and other peripherals would enhance it. I never had those on any of the Atari systems, other than the stick holder and red topper.
Hahaha! That combo stick base/ball top! I must've owned a half dozen of those over the course of my time using Atari joysticks!
Congratulations on getting the 5200. Good video as well. It's a good console over all. The controller storage door on the console is very easy to break, so take care with that. The RF switch, is only for the 4 controller unit, if you get the 2 controller model, you don't need that switch as power and RF are separated. That's the model I have. I would also keep an eye out for an extra controller as at some point, you will be repairing one, so always good to have an extra on hand. Enjoy the 5200 and have fun.
What an amazing find. And the controllers work. I love the 5200. Im telling you get the dreadnaught factor. Hero is good. Space shuttle is awesome too for a simulator of that time. Take care of that system. I think it was a gem.
Congrats Jon! Finally, a POSITIVE video about one of my favorite systems of all time!:)
Thanks, Greg. I've had a few viewers say that - do people usually just dog on the 5200?
@@GenXGrownUp Unfortunately, yes! I even adore the "futuristic" (for 1982) controllers, as well. Best Electronics (San Jose, CA, if I recall?) used to sell the rebuild kits with gold contact upgrades for those controllers. Love my 2 port version (upgraded to s-video by a friend), but still hope to someday find a 4-port version as well, like I had when I was 11 years old👍
Love videos where people talk positively about the 5200. It wasn’t as bad as some people say.
Ok so what did you do after the controllers broke the system was useless after that wasn't it. it was for me and my cousin I know that
I don't know about that. I have 10 controllers for the 5200 and none of them work.
There are a few good third party controllers. Also you can get the original controllers from a company called best electronic’s they replace the inside with gold plating and are supposed to be much better.
Wow this brings back memories. i worked for an Electronics shop back in the middle 80s. We were and authorized Atari Service repair shop. I repaired a lot of Atari 2600s and 5200s consoles plus the occasional 400 and 800 computers. I remember Atari had a recall on 5200 controllers and I replaced quite a few flex boards under warranty. We had test cartridges which are probably extremely rare now. Good times!
Congrats on that find! Glad it's working. I got one from a video store that went out of business in the 90s, at a trek con of all places. It works, too. But, I had no clue about the stowage compartment until I saw this video! Now I know where the controllers are. LOL Thanks for sharing this. :)
Imagine if they designed a top notch controller when this came out, its story might have been different.
not really the system was too expensive.
AND if they'd had the foresight to not keep demanding that their old systems stay on the shelves as they released new systems. AND if they'd marketed the new systems properly. AND if their new systems weren't just repackagings of their computer line.
@@speedgriffon2504 the main rason 5200 didn't sell is price also the crash. It wadnt't bater than ccoleco but cost significantly more
Beautifulsystem
Glad to see you got a well-working 5200 and controllers that also function well. Cleaning and maintaining the CX52 sticks is important and not too heard to learn how. Especially since those sticks are like 40 years old now. But I have to clean my Genesis carts all the time to get them to load, so cleaning isn't a 5200-only thing.
Congrats on your pickup. One of the first things you should think about doing is getting the system modified so that you can ditch the wonky TV box, which was only used that way on the 4 port systems. 2 port systems did not have that plug in system. The good thing about the 4 port is that you can play 4 player games and that you do not need to modify the BIOS chip if you want to play Pitfall, Mountain King and K-razy Shoot-out.
The Atari 5200 is my favorite system of all time. Pick yourself up a trak-ball when you can. The 5200 trak-ball, being analog, is the best home experience you can get for playing Centipede, Millipede and Missile Command.
Depending on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go, there are a lot of options for using other controllers on the Atari 5200. Poke around Atariage in the forums and you will see just how many. There's also a flashcart available, some really amazing homebrews for the system, and a lot of the better 8-bit computer games have been converted to play on a 5200 and are available to download.
Since the system was relatively short-lived, there are also a lot of complete and nearly complete prototypes like Super Pac-man and Blaster that are excellent. Blaster was actually designed on an 8-bit computer for the arcade.
You can also pretty easily modify a stock controller to use a paddle for games like Super Breakout or find someone to do it for you.
FREE FALLING!!!
CONGRATS! That is one heck of a good find. With all the 5200 horror stories and consoles that fail over time that is a FANTASTIC FIND! Just WOW!
Cheers
Talk about nostalgic!! I remember i had the 2nd generation. Because the rf switch was different from that one. I had half of those games. Thanks for the wonderful video brother.
Nostalgia is a wonderful drug in small doses. 😉 Thank you for watching.
My grandparents owned a 5200, and I did get to play that. Unfortunately I don't know what happened to it and the games. I don't recall the controllers having overlays apart from Star Raiders, and I certainly did not know about that box you need in order to use the 5200. Now that I know about it when I look for one in the future that I'll keep my eyes open and make sure that is included. If not, then I'll have to look for that in order to play it on my TV. Also I never heard of Flarp until now so I'll be using that to clean dust and gunk like you did on my consoles. Thanks for an awesome video!
Thanks for watching!
We just got a 5200 today. Mine was a 4 port in decent shape. It fired right up but the controllers needed to be cleaned up to work properly. Playing Robotron 2048 and Space Dungeon with the dual controllers is awesome!
What a find. You scored big time on this purchase. Keep it up Gen X
I bought my 5200 as it wasn't known to work or not a few years back on Ebay. It is the 2 port edition and worked great! I actually have a adapter to let me use a sega Genesis controller on mine which make things for the most part alot easier. Congrats!!!
So cool! I am very happy for you that your Atari is running well!
Thank you!
Finally got around to watching this, that is a great deal indeed for the console and those carts + controller inserts. I’m very intrigued by both the 5200 and 7800 (due to improved graphics and the more refined console designs) as most of my experience was with the 2600 back in the day.
Same here. I'm enjoying getting to know what consoles were up to while I was focused on computers.
So many ‘GenX feels’💗here with that A5200 😱♾️ great vid 📺 Jon 👍🏼
You need after market controllers since the stock ones will soon fail. While you are at it, try to get your hands on the trackball controller. I also recommend getting your hands on a copy of Space Dungeon. It uses double joysticks which makes a unique gaming experience.
All good advice and noted. I know Space Dungeon well - played on my Atari 8-bit and never more fun than when we could play co-op: one moving & one shooting!
My area that's a $60 dollar "untested" deal. At $180, if console doesn''t work? Controllers don't work? You can easily spend $100 or more getting it going. Even if I sold Montezuma revenge, that's a lot to go through to maybe break even. Love what you do. Keep up the good work.
Montezuma's Revenge was what made it worth gambling. Between that, the switch box, and the other software, I could've made back my investment and tried again later. 😀 Thanks for watching, possum.
Your right John. The 5200 was the first video game console to come with a dedicated pause button.
Years ago I picked up a 5200 in a box. No not original box. But the console, loose games, manuals and such looked like new. We had one problem. 4 port needing a switch box. Well I looked around the store and no luck. Asked people who worked at the store. No dice at all. Finally after all these years. A big lot showed up on e-pay. Got it in, fired it up. Works just fine except the horrible joysticks needed to be cleaned. I had to look this up. Paid under $20.00 for the 5200 in 2010.
love this channel. I went back a few years ago ang got a 5200, it's not in the greatest shape but the controller and system work perfect, would like to buy another one in great shape, have a decent library for it now, always loved this system. awesome vid
Thanks for watching and for the kind words, Stephen!
Another GenX grown up here. Keep kicking ass my man
Thank you, Joe! 😀
So I never had a 5200 and now seeing you play pac-man and Popeye makes me very happy that you scored such a well taken care of system. Hope you have many fun hours my friend!
Thanks so much, Kalvin!
My co-worker just sold me his working 2 port Atari 5200, w/(4) 5200 controllers, 5200 trackball, 2600 adapter, 2 Atari 2600 joysticks, (18) 5200 games & (1) 2600 game for $200. I got a great deal.
Fantastic!
Amazing that the joysticks actually worked!
I’ve had a lot of consoles in my life. Most can be easily enjoyed again through backwards compatibility or mini-consoles or other means. But there’s two I regret getting rid of and wish I had back. One is the Sega Saturn. The other is the Atari 5200. It was my second console ever (Intellivision was my first), and I loved it, and I miss it. You got yourself a hell of a score. So jealous.
I'm really happy to have been able to give this great specimen a good home. Just keep your eyes peeled, Jed - they're out there! 😀
Thanks!
You're very welcome, Tin foil sack. Thanks for watching and for your generosity!
Brought back a lot of memories. Many hours of centipede and kangaroo. Our biggest issue growing up with the 5200 was the controllers. I got really good in the mid 80s playing moon patrol with half broken controls.
Were they broken because you broke them, or is "broken" just how you describe these wonky 5200 joysticks? 😜
@@GenXGrownUp The buttons just broke over time, was a big issue with 5200
The irony of the PacMan manual having a chomp out of the bottom… so cool..
I didn't catch that at the time, but you're right. How appropriate!
Great to see it works! I cringed when you spun it around on its face. Glossy black plastic tends the scrape easily. Maybe use Flarp on the switch that switches between the console and the TV.
Until this video I didn't know the 5200 was actually called the Super System when I mention the new "Super" Atari Nolan Bushnell and team designed in 1978. That completed system, like I said, would probably have been in stereo (maybe with RCA outputs to a stereo?) and surely have had different/better controllers. Maybe separate controllers like Atari Video Computer System. And the system probably would've been smaller not having a compartment for the controllers. Maybe would've looked more like the original Atari system.
Two of my friends had the 5200. My next door neighbor had Popeye and Pole Position. I loved playing both. Although I hated the "notchy" joysticks/controllers. And my friend who lived near our neighborhood pool had Centipede with the roller controller. I never played it the way you are in the video. Looks more difficult and not as fun.
Super Breakout as the pack in game was a bad decision. Seeing you play it without the paddles like the original Atari had seems bizaar and can't be fun.
Also, I think I remember the controllers joysticks being able to turn or twist. Are you able to do that? I'm not sure what game that would be used for though.
Also, I didn't like the keypads on the cortrollers because they were hard to press and I think I tried a game with the overlay cards and I didn't like it. Maybe because they were too stiff and you couldn't press the buttons underneath very well. So I never used them again.
Great to see you've got a fully working system! Have fun! Just think this could've been a better, possibly stereo system, that would've come out in 1978 if Nolan Bushnell could've gotten his way with Ray Kassar!
Thanks for watching, Tom. Yeah, I should've had a cloth down under it before spinning - I winced during the edit, too! 😁
Fantastic video! That’s a beautiful system!
Thanks, Manny!
I quite like the 5200. I have the second gen version with a separate power supply. I spent a lot more on it than $180, though! I still prefer the 7800 though.
It's too bad that the 2-port model has some incompatible games. No Pitfall!
I'm amazed that the controllers worked. I was under the impression that the controllers went bad with time even if they were hermetically sealed and never used. I know mine would stop working after a period of time no matter how many times I scrubbed the contacts clean with a pencil eraser.
Thank you for the great content!
Thanks for watching, for your kind words, and your generosity, Manny!
Brought back memories I got one when it came out. I loved that system. There was this weird game called Miner 2049er that I'd always play. And of course Qbert was fun. I had alot of games too. That's so cool.
Miner 2049'er is one of my Atari 8-bit favorites. Programmed by Bill Hogue who founded Big Five Software!
As a former 5200 owner am impressed with the fact that the controllers actually work lol those things were terrible....i must went through i don't know how many of them i went through
Regarding the editing style: You get props for not doing that one thing most content creators tend to do: Messing up the script, speaking something factually incorrect, not noticing until the take is done... and then being lazy and slapping in a "I meant ___" subtitle. That always bugs me. It's like, they're not 10 feet away from the camera and can't just quickly re-do the line?
I never knew the 5200 Centipede sounded so close to the arcade! If they'd just tweaked a couple of the sounds (like the notes of the crawling spider), it literally could have been perfect.
Gonna mod it for DVI out? I _think_ that's the best no-latency mod you can get for 5200. That's where I'd probably go if I had the cash and wherewithal to collect classic systems.
Thanks for the kind words, though I must admit I have used this crutch in the past. In our defense, it's not always as easy as jumping back in front of a camera. Often I'm editing hours or even days after the video was shot, and it's not trivial to replicate the environment for a one- or two-word pickup. (Lighting, camera position, setup, clothing, etc.)
Great video thanks 😉
1990 big lots sold a lot Atari games 7800 etc I bought a bunch and never even opened them, 30 years later and I still have those dang games .
Nice!
The 5200 was my very first system. I was excited to find games so cheap for it. Bins at the front of the store and everything... The term "dead system" wasn't a thing yet.. Lol.. I have all these games except Montezuma
That will always be the most modern looking console to me
It's a beast. On its edge, I think it would even tower over a modern PS5! 😁
@@GenXGrownUp I just love how clean its Lines are and the black wedge shape just so beautifully minimalistic. It makes me think of the monolith from 2001. I had one with the track ball, which is one of highest quality add ones ever made. It’s not reviewed enough. The controllers and the tendency to break and poor included game were it’s weaknesses.
@@Dmarcoot Maybe you can educate me. I thought the trackball was an add-on peripheral, but you suggest it's a whole other console model? Or maybe it's both?
@@GenXGrownUp you were right, it’s an add on it’s just really well built
You're fortunate everything works in that 5200. A lot have something busted. If you ever find a second, whether or not it works, I recommend keeping it around for parts.
Good call. Keep an eye out as an organ donor. 🫁
Awesome pick up!
I love my 5200 and if you ever get s chance to buy a game called Space Dungeon , definitely get it as it's not only a great Arcade port , but it uses two controllers for game play. Probably the best game for the 5200 .
I know Space Dungeon well - great recommendation! I used to play it on my Atari 8-bit computer, and it was a blast to play two-player cooperatively -- one person navigate and the other shoot!
Lucky you. Remind me to come over and 'borrow' that 5200.
I'll make a note. 😉
Lol
My favorite system, Space Dungeon rocks!
NOBODY is more surprised than me that it worked. The only guarantee in life is that “untested” literally means “tested and failed but if I say that it wont sell so I’ll play dumb and call it ‘untested’ hoping you’ll take a gamble I know you’ll lose”. A+
The 5200 centipede is fantastic. Do yourself a favor and try to find a trackball
No problem: Now that I have a great base unit, peripherals for it are now on my radar!
The only time I had ever seen an Atari 5200 was in the movie 'Cloak & Dagger' (1984) starring Henry Thomas ('E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial') and Dabney Coleman ('9 to 5', 'WarGames', etc.). :)
Somebody else mentioned the film, and I had to go add it to my Rewatch List! 😀
I got my atari 5200 as well and i am very happy with it,i also got wild to think about that sega & nintendo games appeared on this console as well in wich i do own as well, but i really hate that storage compartment door as it could flip open if you don’t becareful,even if i tape it together that tape will eventually wear off,my door actually broke because of this,i don’t know why atari tout that it was a good idea to waste sooo much plastic just to add in a controller storage compartment,maybe they recieved complains about familys about controllers laying around the floor and so maybe atari tout to do the same thing like mattel & coleco to put a storage compartment for it’s controllers,
Also i still found it sad that atari cancled their 5200 junior,they just should,ve go that route instead rather then going for the 7800.
Or release that atari 5200 junior in 1984 while still releasing the atari 7800 in 1986 just in case.
The 5200 is pretty much the Canyonaro of consoles. It's big for big sake. There's a lot of air inside the case. The Jr 5200, while compact, would not have made any sense, since the 5200 didn't sell well. I think Atari made the best business choice to maintain physical compatibility with 2600 games when they released the 7800 (no adapter required); however, releasing the 7800 so late was a poor business choice, given the the base Nintendo managed to build so quickly.
Really great vid!
You're very welcome, Dial Up Chronicles. Thanks for watching and for your kindness.
This thing arrived cleaner than DK Oldies products!
You should contact Jesse hardesty with ivory tower collections. He upgraded mine to HD, replaced the caps and fixed the controllers for a very affordable price
I just have to wonder if it is refurbished, because WOW! That 5200 is in stellar condition!
Great video !!
Thanks for watching! 😁
If you have a 4-port 5200 but no wonky switchbox, you can mod it to have a standard separate power input and video/RF output.
What a great pick up, lucky!!
I credit my wife. She sent me a link to FBMP (not to this listing), but it got be browsing, and this popped up. 😀
Wow great gamble... I always assumed 'untested' would mean 'it doesn't work'.
There's some good chunky Atari 8-bit noise in CBS games like Wizard of Wor.
Did you do the Montezuma's Revenge for NES kickstarter? Really slick collectors edition!
No! I didn't know that was a thing. 😱
@@GenXGrownUp The original creator ran it. He did a great job.
So, you have stumbled upon a new genre of TH-cam videos! When can we expect to see your new “ASMR Cleaning” channel?? 😂😎👍🏻
I'll try to accentuate my cleanup routine in the future to help you get to sleep at night. 😴
If I was you I would save the controllers and find some 3rd party ones. Because it might shock you but just pushing those stick to their full range slowly damages them. They were well designed with short lives in mind. Atari primarily a hardware company was trying to create new avenues of income. Selling more controllers, but the tech at the time was not predictable enough and many units failed far too early.
I haven't yet explored the third-party options. What do you recommend?
I own three of these! But my favorite Atari system was the jaguar
Wow, those controllers were in mint condition! Those buttons on the side did not last long.
That's what I hear. I'm am braced for the inevitable!
very nice i had one way back when the one thing that was bad is the hand controller if you drop it it will break [super fragile]
My favorite game from your collection is Montezuma's Revenge. However, I must say that the other games are equally amazing, whether played on the Atari 5200 or the Atari 8-bit computers, as they are identical. Oh, and keep that Kitty stamp, it's part of this game cartridge history now. Besides, you risk ruining the manual cover by trying to remove it.
I hadn't thought of the Hello Kitty stamp being part of this game's history. Good thought.
I would get adaptors to use 2600 joysticks on the 5200. There is No Way I could play games requiring twitch timing with that controller.
That original switch box with the power going into it is why you have distortion in your picture. Such a bad idea. The later 2 port models fixed this issue.
Montezumas revenge, like choplifter, was ported to almost everything.
It was. The original was programmed on the Atari 800 - which is effectively the same as this 5200 version. 😀
@@GenXGrownUp someday I will have a Atari 800 computer. I had one when I was 12 but when I had to move my dad threw it out, along with all the games I had.
A working 5200 controller? You should play the lottery today!
You'd be surprised (or maybe not) that so many commenters already are focused on how amazing it is to have a pair of good-condition, working 5200 sticks! 😀
Montezumas Revenge was the best game for me in that time.
For qbert i think you have to hold the fire button down and then move the joystick to get qbert to move.
I recommend The Dreadnought Factor from Activision. It's an excellent game that unfortunately was never ported to any other system.
You're the second viewer to recommned that game for the 5200. 😀 I've played it on my Atari 8-bit, and agree -- it's great! I can imagine it was actually quite nice to play with the 5200 joystick considering the control scheme.
Dreadnought Factor was also on the Intellivision, I have it in my collection.
It is a good game, I think it was only released on those 2 consoles, although I could be wrong.
You need Wizard of Wor, Pitfall, Hero and Pengo. Beware though Wor only works with the second joystick port.
You'd better bet that now that I have the beauty, I'm on the lookout for 5200 carts in the wild! 😀
Those joysticks are bound to fail at some point and expensive to repair.
One of the biggest issues with the 5200
I still have my original 5200. Sadly, 20+ years ago I tried it and cannot get the start buttons to register. The contacts seem to have degraded. I don’t know what to do.
All of my games are in their original boxes. Including Space Dungeon which came with a special adapter.
I just ordered the gold contact fix kit from Best Electronics.
WOW you are brave and possibly a glutton for punishment.
Atari 7800 is amazing too
Dude...any chance you could post a link to where you got the yellow cleaning goop from?
Sure. No problem: amz.run/6f8T
You could likely also find it at your local retailer.
On the 5200 front, mine does not have that funky adaptor box..I have an RF out and a power supply, just like a 2600..
You must have the later model with just two controller ports, then. I think that's when they also integrated that box into the console.
@@GenXGrownUp yes! Confirmed
The controllers for the 5200 weren’t the best and are prone to breakage. Having a functional set with the unit is a nice bonus.
For the love of God be careful with those joysticks. I have heard of those things breaking by themselves. The membrane behind the keypad can just disintegrate on you. This is one of the reasons why I have never picked up an Atari 5200.
Addendum- I started gaming back in 1986 on the Nes and Master System. So I don't really have a connection to anything Atari until the Jaguar of which I have two.
By contrast, I have very little exposure to the Jaguar as it came out when I was in my home computer phase.
What kind of witches magic did you use to get a working controller?
Hahaha! No dark arts involved. I feel like I was just the beneficiary of the last owner(s) who took remarkable care of the whole system.
@@GenXGrownUp But even good care should not matter. most of these controllers were already broken out of box or by 1985
0:58 I hate when people have everything to test if something works, yet try to sell full price with the note "untested." If they did any research, they would see systems shown working actually sell at the market rate.
From the dozens of 5200 controllers I had all the ones made in Mexico worked the best.
7:28 was there ever a 3rd party fix for the video/power supply nonsense? Maybe someone made separates?
I know the revision with two controller ports eliminated it entirely. Not sure yet about a workaround.