Atari's 2800 Story - How They Failed To Conquer Japan (Again)

[@MoreFunMakingIt]

Brilliant stuff. So nice to learn all about these Atari machines from someone that actually knows what they're talking about!

[@ctrlaltrees]

Thanks for the kind comment! Glad you enjoyed 😁

[@dave4shmups]

Excellent video!

[@MotownBatman]

The 2700 Resembled the Atari 5200, the System was scrapped because the 5200 was a Bust & the RF signal for the Wireless Controllers kept screwing with the Rise of Garage Door Openers...... the 2800 had the new Shell for the Atari 7800 Prototype that was Supposed to release in '84 as a quick replacement for the 5200 but was a bomb. but when Jack Tremill shelved it during the US Videogame crash they used the shell for the 2800 It would have been sweet to see my 7800 rocking the 4 controller ports

[@retrorobireland]

yeah its the spit of my 7800

[@10MARC]

Nice that you found an actual console! It's a nice looking machine

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

Fascinating stuff, Mr Rees. Never knew about this one.

[@dustinramsey1198]

I am so happy to see this channel growing so much! Absolutely wonderful videos, thanks so much for taking the time to make them.

[@RetrogradeScene]

Great stuff! I love the documentary style video.

[@ctrlaltrees]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Definitely looking to make more of these in future 😁

[@captainbuggernut9565]

I had a 2600 back in 82. Hours of racing games fun with a joystick out of a sci fi film.

[@13Cubed]

Great video! Just curious, but what video editing software do you use to produce this content? Guessing Premiere Pro on PC, but figured I would ask.

[@ArthLud]

A great video as usual!

[@Trusteft]

"in true atari fashion, went bust. " I laughed. Cool video man!

[@markusjuenemann]

Great stuff!

[@garypinkett6275]

Awesome video. Thank you.

[@ctrlaltrees]

Glad you enjoyed it! I put a huge amount of work into it 😁

[@_Thrackerzod]

Maybe it's just me but I winced when I saw you drilling a hole in the case, being as rare as it is.

[@bobbus_74]

Great stuff Rees. I think most of what I know about the 2800 I've learned from you. I really enjoyed this one, right up until you threw Circus Atari in the bin! I love that game. You just need to get used to the twitchy paddles. It does take around 40 years though 😁

[@ctrlaltrees]

Haha, it's not so bad. I literally played it for the first time when I was making this video and didn't realise you could flip the seesaw by pressing the button until much later than I'd like to admit 🤣

[@thepthepthep]

8:22 Actually, the Sears Video Arcade II came out months before the 2800 in the fall of 1982

[@PixelPipes]

The 5200 may have had terrible non-centering joysticks, but at least it supported the CineFX engine. Wait, I think I'm getting mixed up. (great video btw! packs more of an informational punch than its runtime would suggest)

[@thereallantesh]

I find it really interesting that Sears chose to embrace the new case design of the 2800 for the U.S. market, and Atari themselves didn't. I saw a Sears Video Arcade II for the first time recently at a local used game store. I wonder how sales would have gone here in the U.S. if Atari had put their own version out.

[@cyberyogicowindler2448]

Atari should have used this paddle+joystick combination in all later VCS2600 and 8-bit computers. Paddles could have improved many later games (Wall Defender, driving games) those were made joystick-only. It also could have permitted directional shooting games (but the "endless" Indy 500 paddle controller may have been a better concept for this).

[@markmyers8775]

I had a Sears Video Arcade II back in the day. My dad originally thought about taking back the original Sears woodgrain 4 switcher we'd had for a couple months and getting a Atari 5200 in exchange at the local Sears that had a liberal return policy. He decided to get this instead and I was grateful for the decision. It's a great system.

[@bpfurtado]

Awesome history lesson.

[@ridiculous_gaming]

I think the 2800 looks super cool and would love one in my collection.

[@vendidendi4249]

Is the Atari 2800 games backwards compatible to Atari 2600+ and soon Atari 7800+?

[@MechaFenris]

I like the 2800's design... (I had a heavy sixer that I sold to buy an Atari 1050 disk drive... no, the sale wasn't enough to get the drive, but it helped. I would've liked to have that VCS back, though.)

[@3vi1J]

As I recall, the prototype 2700's controllers wouldn't pass FCC guidelines... and with the added costs Atari decided it just wasn't worth pursuing. I agree about Circus Atari: "GET IN THE BIN, CIRCUS ATARI!"

[@jinchoung]

wow, cool controller

[@legendsflashback]

Remember wireless 🎮 in 1982

[@jh5124]

Also Japan seems very nationalistic. They won't buy from companies usually that aren't Japanese.

[@josephfrye7342]

And failed in South Korean Atari sucked

[@tuff_lover]

I legit forgot they called it 2800 in Japan for some reason, not 2600.