ATARI 7800 EMULATOR AND GAMES

Me and Mr 8bitbaz were having a little discussion yesterday about the 7800 and I said I'd send him a copy of the emulator to give it a try. Thought I'd share it with the rest of you fellow Atarians as well. Also included are images of the complete commerically available PAL and NTSC games library for this very underrated machine.

Share & Enjoy!

 

Brilliant - many thanks for sharing and I shall give it a whirl later, Al.

Excellent stuff - try before you buy as it were as I'm tempted to go for that one locally at £75 - I just need to sell something first such as an Oric or a kidney...

 

This is most appreciated @nysavant , while I prefer using a 7800 emulator on my Dreamcast (for the controller), I am sure this .zip file contains some games I don't have, that I can transfer to CD and play on my DC 7800 emulator. Thanks!

 

I've spent some time today playing about with a 7800 emulator on the PSP handheld. A lot of the PAL images didn't seem quite right, but NTSC worked perfectly so I now have a 'handheld 7800'

 

Hey, Al.
I finally got round to giving this a whirl... only 3 years later - quite good for me
Mate, I have no sound for some reason.
Must be summat in the settings - will read the darn destructions... some time soon (try to look at em within 3 yrs this time!!!)
Deffo gravitating towards either a GSP or a real 7800 - think the former makes most sense, really.
Cheers, Al.

 

Took your time Andy lol.
7800 is a great machine. Best versions of Asteroids and Centipede anywhere

 

I picked up a 7800 last year with one 7800 pad. I did a composite mod on it so it doesn’t need to use the RF anymore. Though the only game I have for it is Ballblazer apart from the in built Asteroids. There was talk of a 7800 game drive on AA but I’m not sure what is happening with that. I keep meaning to pick up some more games for it but other stuff keeps getting in the way.
Is this the emulator that the 2600+ uses?

I agree with Al on the Asteroids comment, it really is very good and my favourite version, though I do have a soft spot for minesweeper on the Vectrex

 

Hi Richie

The composite mod is just about essential I would say, RF output is really poor on the 7800.
I think the 2600+ uses the same emulator.

I have been keeping my eyes open for an original 7800 at a reasonable price but haven't found anything yet that has the required composite mod.

And the 7800 GameDrive is now available. It comes with a built in RGB connection as well which is pretty cool and they also have an adaptor that lets you use a Megadrive controller with the console. Can't remember the price off hand, but think it works out nearer £200 by the time you add both drive and adaptor together.

p..s Vectrex in a class of its own with those awesome vector graphics!

 

Cheers for the heads-up on essential upgrades/mods/purchases for the 7800 system, fellas.

IMHO, unless you are absolutely committed in terms of time and effort and devotion to this console, it could turn out to be an expensive dust gatherer (even if you get hold of a knock down basic system with a pad or game or two for £50... others I've seen are without PSUs etc and what with the RF upgrade and game cart to follow, yep, you're gonna be spending another £200 as you point out, Al)... and I know what I'm like so I'm probably not going to go now for a 7800 and instead purchase the system you have Al, the GSP, as it gives much more flexibility and value for money.

Must get that 7800 emulator working though later as it looks a neat piece of software - must read the destructions (for once!)

 

The GSP is a great alternative Andy, especially with the price of some of the harder to obtain 7800 titles. The Trebor rom collection gives you everything you need in the one place. I still want a 7800 though, because it would like nice next to my other Atari stuff lol. Also got my eyes on a VCS 800 and a Sega Saturn at some point then I think I am all set with a complete original hardware collection. Everything else I'm happy to emulate. In fact I've just downloaded the latest BigP Jaguar emulator as well

 

Fair dos, Al - you like to have the real McCoy hardware and display it, enjoy it, play it etc but I've found in the past that what I thought I might like to have retro micros-wise... just ends up being unloved and I never have enough time to play em all so some lovely systems...ie. Atari 800 and 1200XL have come, been admired - for sure - but then gone again as that special chemistry (yep, just like with our exes) just aint there and it always comes down to those first loves - the machines we had back in the day - being the deepest and most cherished loves which stay as they have the most meaning in our lives.

I saw a lovely 7800 the other day for £50 with 9 carts and a controller but no PSU... I was tempted, but I've now let it go and will get a GSP real soon. A replacement PSU alone was gonna cost me anything between £20-30 so forget that.


Just £50 - available over at:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1371988156744752/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp:c7d2eebb-0a49-40fe-86ac-a6446c133ee2

Looks like 8 of the carts are for the 7800: Ace of Aces, Ballblazer, Skiing, Kareteka, Xevious, Joust, Desert Falcon, Food Fight... bloody good value for the games alone, guys?


I'm not too sure what a VCS800 is (I know, I should stop being a lazy get and look it up!) but I certainly know about Sega Saturns and I know a couple of you guys on here (Matt, Robofruit, Manu?) also enjoy to play this system. If I see any bargains around I'll let you know, mate.

 

I saw that one earlier Andy. Always wary when no PSU is included though. But yes pretty good value for the games. If it was local I'd go and pick it up just for them maybe.

The VCS 800 is the retro looking PC in a 2600 style case (Matt has one). I just like the look of it and fancy it as a Steam and Atari Vault gaming system, and of course something to tinker with.

As for original hardware, I've got to have my 800XL and ST (or two) but happy to use Amiga and C64/Vic under the mini/full size consoles. Also have my tank like 800 which I just think is an awesome piece of physical engineering

 

The only problems with real hardware are parts / repairs and space. It's ok if you have a mansion like Lord Andy, but us ordinary folk sometimes must live in a flat, and flats these days are NOT spacey (nor are new houses to be fair, we were looking at a place back then and the front room was smaller than my bog (really)).

My man cave is the bedroom and even with most of the consoles simply stacked up (ie not setup) it takes just under half of the room. My desk has my C64 and Atari800XL on one side and my mini PC, broadband box and PS5 on the other side, there's hardly any arm room on the desk. Thankfully the new PC gave me a good chunk back but then had the PS5 added.

I love the real hardware but it has it's woes...

PS, badly wanted a Vectrex back in the day but it never happened and now the prices are just silly..Emulation wins again...How do you like the BigPemu Al, even on my old PC it was like a rocket and the emulation is stunning, Rich has done a stonking job, just hope his cancer is on the mend..

 

True Paul. I'm lucky enough to have a second bedroom that doubles as my man cave / office. It's filled with all sorts of retro bits these days, but if I had to use the living room I'd need to restrict myself to what would fit on a desk so probably the PC and 800Xl.

 

Aye, I'm damn bloody lucky to have a back bedroom and man cave/80s garage bar where I can go and immerse mesen in the good ol retro years experience.

Al's got a wee retro office there, Richie I think has a little space as part of his kitchen (if memory serves me right) and Matt has his very well customised/designed retro den and living space. Meanwhile Klyde / Manu has a lock-up garage ...but like you Paul, the rest of his flat is very much taken up as living space for him, his missus and his lad so I appreciate we've not all got the extra we'd like.

If you don't have much room then of course for the real hardware there just aint gonna be the room but I hope you guys get some space you can also call your very own in the future, fellas.

 

Spill Andy, did Bev let you use the family credit card on a GSP?

 

Man or Mouse?

 

Squeak up Mr Barr!

 

My credit card needs paying (£4k) so unless Bev has a spare ton for me, I'm afraid I'm ratting on it, for now, lads.

 

4K, christ, those dial a pull off lines are dear...

 

Damnit. Sitting in Gregg's having a coffee and I browsing eBay when I bought an original 7800 'by accident'. Oops lol

 

Accident....Involuntary Ebay buys, could be serious...See a Vet quick..

 

I'm very accident prone today, just purchased a Gameboy game from CEX as well and I still haven't been to my pals retro warehouse yet....

 

This climate change is causing all sorts of problems, ebay impulse buys, sun in Scotland, and Andy becoming a mouse..

 

It's so sunny in Scotland I'm going for a walk along the beach after I have lunch

You'll be glad to hear I'm not ignoring my second home though. Just booked up for two holidays down Scarborough way in 2024