#### Back to index | # Info for a7800

#### Atari 7800 ProSystem

Known Issues:
The Reset key "R" and Select key "S" are hard-mapped to the same location as the default
Player 2 up and fire two, respectively. You will need to remap these manually to avoid
control conflicts in some games.
Most games work fine, but a few have graphic and playability issues. See a7800.crc for a
full compatibility list.

History and Trivia:
Originally developed in 1984 as the Atari 3600, the Atari 7800 Prosystem was released to the
US market in 1986, in an attempt to compete in a revitalized home videogame market. The 7800
was actually designed by Gencomp as part of a lawsuit settlement (Gencomp had been sued for
releasing a speedup chipset for Atari coinop Missile Command).
The 7800 was compatible with pre-existing Atari 2600 game program cartridges, without the need
for expansion modules or turning switches, but was also designed to use enhanced 7800-only
cartridges such as the pack-in "Pole Position 2". (n.b., only the 7800-specific cartridges are
currently supported in MESS.) Many peripherals, including a computer/keyboard and high score
saving cartridge were planned but never released.
Unfortunately for Atari, the system did poorly in the late 1980's market dominated by Nintendo.
www.atari-history.com has this interesting anecdote: "In the summer of 1984 the first 5,000
Atari 7800's had just been built in the new El Paso assembly plant. The production line
manager, Brad Saville was eager to meet with Jack Tramiel to show him the new flagship Atari
video game console. The meeting ended abruptly as Jack Tramiel was quoted "Get your pollution
out of here! We make computers now and we don't want your garbage." The line manager was fired
2 days later. About 8-9 months later the line manager received a phone call from Atari asking
him as to the whereabouts of the die molds for the Atari 7800. The ex-line manager responded
that he did in fact know where they were and for $50/hour for about 200 to 300 hours of his
time he would remember where they were and find them. The Atari Corp. representative who
called was infuriated and informed the former production line manager that Atari's lawyers
would be in contact with him. He never heard from Atari again."

Generated on Tue Jul 15 11:11:04 2003