Atari 7800

home video game console

The Atari 7800 is a 8-bit video game console. It was competing with the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Master System. It was Atari's third-to-last attempt to create another video game system that would be a successor to the Atari 2600. It was a short-lived success.

Atari 7800 System
ManufacturerAtari, Inc., Atari Corporation
TypeVideo game console
GenerationThird generation
Release dateMay 21, 1984 (1984-05-21) (announcement)[1]
US June 1984 (1984-06) (original release)
US January 1986 (1986-01) (re-release)
EU 1987 (1987)
Introductory priceUS$140
DiscontinuedJanuary 1, 1992
Units sold3.77 million (North America)[2]
MediaROM cartridge
CPUAtari SALLY 6502 ("6502C") clocked at 1.19-1.79MHz,
Memory4KB RAM, 4KB BIOS ROM, 48KB Cartridge ROM Space
Display160×240, 320×240 (160×288/320×288 if PAL), 25 on-screen colours out of possible 256
Backward
compatibility
Atari 2600
PredecessorAtari 5200
SuccessorAtari XEGS

The Atari 7800 is backwards compatible with Atari 2600 games, but not Atari 5200 games. The Atari 7800 is also compatible with Atari 2600 controllers, such as the Atari Paddle controller and the Atari Joystick controller.

References

change
  1. "Atari Video Game Unit Introduced".
  2. Matthew, Matt (May 26, 2009). Atari 7800 Sales Figures (1986 - 1990), Gamasutra.