THE400 Mini Atari 8-bit Computer: Great News Even If You Don't Know It!
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- čas přidán 28. 05. 2024
- The Atari 8-bit computer line is finally getting its due in the form of THE400 Mini from Retro Games & PLAION. If you are an Atari 8-bit fan, then you know what this is exciting news. But if you maybe don't have any experience with or exposure to this mid-80s computer line, then allow us to let you know what the hype is all about!
#atari #the400mini #plaion #genxgrownup
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THE400 Mini » amz.run/7hC1
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🟢 C H A P T E R S
00:00 THE400 Mini is Coming
01:15 NOT the Atari 2600!
01:52 The Nuts & Bolts
02:50 THECXSTICK Controller
03:55 Why This is Interesting
05:55 A New Reason to Play - Zábava
The Atari 400 was my first computer, and I am still using my 800XL to this day!
was my 1st as well back in 1982....still have my 130xe
800XL here!
Same here! Christmas 1982 my brother and I got a 400. Still use a 600xl.
For what?
Me too! 😊
I had the Atari 800 and spent so much time with it playing games and learning to program. It was so advanced for the time. Outstanding memories.
Start your USR assembly routines at Page 6! Address 1536! I used to say that all the time and people would stare at me like huh? LOL.
I was president of an Atari User Group on Long Island NY. Our last meeting was some 10 years ago, but a number of us still keep in touch. It helped me get promoted on the job I worked on, and I still use it under emulation. I have a massive collection of disks from sources worldwide...
This is awesome! This was my first computer. I learned to program basic on it. We eventually upgraded to the 800xl. Ironically my brother sent me this computer which has been in my dad's basement. It literally arrived today. So glad to see this.
The 400 was my first computer. Loved that thing and built like a tank!
Or rather an electric typewriter !. I had a non-XL 800 with an appearence not so far from this one, and i hated the design (and still do) !. But besides from the design/color, Atari´s "home computers" (as the product cathegory commonly was called at the time) was awesome !. Just the sounds/music from them make me react "damn, that´s bad !" every time i hear the sound of a C64 in action !.The vivid colors are also much more arcade like than the (sometimes) a little bleak uninspired equivalents on C64.
This! You perfectly explained the best reasons for checking out Atari 8-bit games through The 400 for those who hadn't bothered to set up emulators or even played them. The 400 & 800 were the first home computers made for the consumer market as opposed to the personal computers like the Apple II.
The cartridge games alone were great, but once you add a disk drive...oh boy!
“Oh, boy!” indeed! _Ultima II-IV, Alternate Reality_ (1 & 2; City & Dungeon), _Seven Cities of Gold_ (great game, terrible premise - EA, I believe), _Rescue on Fractalus, Goonies, Pooyan, Bruce Lee, Polynomial Equations_ (only really exciting for 4th-graders having trouble with Algebra, but man, I’d felt like I’d beaten _Dragon’s Lair,_ or something, when I figured out those things... ), _Ghostbusters, Archon, M.U.L.E., Racing Destruction Set(!), Krull, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Alien Garden, Koronos Rift, Montezuma’s Revenge_ (best version, same as 5200 (which _is_ an Atari 8-bit repacked, basically what shoulda been the Atari XLGS (instead of the XEGS), with computer console buttons (Options, Select, Start) slapped onto those _horrible joysticks_ with NumPads, which were the fashion, at the time). There’s also, _Pinball Construction Set_ (and a monster game called _”[XYZ] DEstruction Set_ - which was far better than _Rampage._ Lastly but not leastly, _Gauntlet, Zorro, F-15 Strike Eagle, Age of Adventure, Lords of Conquest, Lode Runner’s Rescue, Shadow World,_ and _Shamus 1 & 2,_ and the list goes on and on and on... Can’t wait to load _Lode Runner_ on an actual Atari-branded computer, in under 20 minutes!*
All that is not to mention the homebrew scene, which is awesome, and game variations/“remasters!” Cheers!
*The OG Lode Runner was only ever distributed on cassette, for the 8-bits... PITA
The 8-bit Atari line had a fantastic bright colour palette and the smoothest sprites (player-missile graphics) It also had a huge stack of original titles with fantastic easy to learn, hard-to-master gameplay - many of which are illustrated in your video.
I'm so tickled to read "player-missile graphics" in a comment on this video. YOU are my people.
Better colors 7800?
@@GenXGrownUpand 5200 mini
The color palette is the main reason why the games have been aging better than the ones on the C64 and even the Atari 7800! Back then I envied the C64 people for the smaller sprites and some games which were never ported over (Impossible Mission, cough...), but nowadays if there is an atari version of a game i always fire it up instead of the c64 version, it simply looks so much better thanks to the colors instead of the brown greyish c64 color palette!
@@werpu12 Bad on Atari 8-bit was only that (unlike C64 or NES) it could not simply set colour attributes per character, which often limited colours in many tilemap based games (e.g. "Gauntlet" was like tinted B/W). But C64 has less overscan which made the picture smaller in most games. Otherwise in vertical scrolling games it could do complex scanline effects far beyond C64.
i got a 400 before high school, my 800xl got me through high school and college. got a 486 cow computer for graduate school, sold the 8 bits, fast basic, assembler etc. After I got married, built the collection back, including xegs, 130 xe an 800 etc
That atari 8 bit computer line was really great. U had an 800 and LOVED it. Not only were the games great, it was an excellent system to code on.
Hell, yeah! I learned BASIC on my Atari 800 and even dabbled a bit with PILOT & Assembly.
Oh man, can we code on the 400 mini? That could be so fun!
Really looking forward to this one. I'm in the UK - the Atari 8-bit line wasn't too popular here but I managed to convince my parents to get me an 800XL (1985 iirc) as one of the major electrical retailers had started to sell them off. It was my second machine after a ZX Spectrum and having access to all these games from US publishers on the Atari was like stepping onto foreign soil. Having said that - my favourite game was probably Mercenary...which was from a British dev lol
The 400 with cassette was my first computer. Saw star raiders playing on a projection tv in a Video Etc store in Chicago ‘burb, and I was blown away. Thank you mom for recognizing it was special and buying it on the spot for me! I could never do much on it due to that painful membrane keyboard-but it opened my eyes to computers, and led to an Apple ][e and later an Amiga 1000. Those were the days! Excited to grab one of these minis.
I still have my 800 and all the peripherals stored away in my closet. Still worked that last time I plugged them in, but that was decades ago. I spent so much free time typing in those programs listed in A.N.A.L.O.G. and Antic magazines. I miss those days.
Star Raiders won me over.. I am a true Atari Fanboi .. I remembered buying the antic magazines and typing in those basic game listings... 400,600xl,800xl, STfm /STe and also I have a Xegs stored away in a safe box...
Great video, Jon. The 8bits are our absolute favorite 8bit gaming platform! Great to meet another A8 head! I have a new big video on 20 awesome games to play on the 400 Mini coming out tonight or tomorrow (based on my work schedule). Boy I hope we can map those other 7 buttons to keyboard commands. It will make the 400Mini the ultimate way to play 8bit and maybe even and other come computer games (Amiga, ST, even DOS?).
My friend from High School bought one in 1984 or so! I always wanted one, but never bought one! Later a friend found an Atari 400 and games in a garage sale. I told him to buy it. He did buy it and I could not figure out the 2 cartridge spot to plug the games in and make it work for his kids! It was high technology in the 1980's!
While I had the C64 as a kid, I was hoping they’d give the Atari 8 bit computers the same treatment. I definitely plan on getting it
You had the c64 as a kid? It came out about 5 years ago, so you're still a teenager? Welcome, you just surprised me there
@@VisiblyJacked I meant the Commodore 64….
The Atari 600 xl was my first computer and I loved it. We upgraded to the 130xe. It gave me my first experience at home with a Computer. I wish I still had all of that. This 400 mini is preordered and I cannot wait to get it
Anybody that says the Atari line is something they’ve never heard of is someone who isn’t really into retro computing. Even if you never had one that’s something everyone should know exists if you’re into this kind of hobby.
Never had and Atari 400 or 800 when I was a kid but always wanted one. Now is my chance and I'm really looking forward to getting one of these
Well I started with a ZX Spectrum, but then switched to the Atari 800 XL and quickly fell in love with the Atari system. I remember meeting my friends in the evening to play some Ballblazer, M.U.L.E., Archon and mindless Decathlon. Great times!
I always wanted the 400 but knew I'd never afford it (dad wasn't submitting to the buy Pete a computer fund 😂) so ended up with the ZX Spectrum too. No complaints though!
Looking forward to this product. My first experiences with computers in the stores in the 70s and 80s were the TRS-80s at Radio Shack, and the Atari 400 and 800 that were set up on an Atari sales kiosk at a local retailer. Of course the Vic-20 and TI-99 came bit later. Always wanted the Atari 800, but the cost was so high! All of my friends and I ended up with C-64s, and no one we knew of had Atari 8 bits. While the C-64 was great in its own right, the Atari machines had the superior color palette and sound capability, So looking forward to going down this particular rabbit hole!
Great video Jon! I'm most excited about the 5200 and XEGS compatability. Always wanted an Atari 400 when I had my VIC20. The design kinda reminded me of the old Sinclair ZX80 which was the coolest thing back in the day. I've Pre-ordered mine already and looking forward to your Atari 8bit game recommendations. Keep up the awesome work!
It’s a big deal for two reasons: Seven Cities of Gokd & 4-player MULE. Add in the ability to load ROMs and you have the ultimate Atari retro setup.
i grew up in the late 70's and 80's. we had a family atari 800 with tons of games and software. ill get a full size atari xegs because the options to emulate drives and attachments like modems and printers
My first computer... the Atari 800. 😍. I gave away the one I had to relatives back in the late 80s. I bought another 800 back in 2001. Love it! I'm excited for the 400 Mini!
I am getting this! BRUCE LEE! This is nostalgia to me. My first computer was an ATARI 400. Let's go!
I am totally surprised at these articles saying they never heard of the Atari 8-bits! That is insane. They were super well know even if they didn't sell as well as Commodore. TV Commercials, Print Ads, Displays in Stores. Well I guess I am not really surprised since most of the people writing these articles were probably not even born yet...
Even though I started with an Atari 2600, we were a Commodore Computer house. Vic-20 to C64, to Amiga. (Of corse Amiga is more or less the spiritual successor to the Atari 8-bits having the same designer). I only knew a couple friends that had an Atari 800XL so I did not use them much. So I am looking forward to this mini.
I didn't know the lineage back then, but I jumped from Atari to Commodore with the Amiga 500, too!
Yes, they were always basically the second best selling 8 bit machines and also the strongest ones until the 16 bit era or a at least until the c64, which is impressive given they were a 1978 design, also they were the biggest competitor to the c64. They have faded into obscurity somewhat though for several reasons, the emulators unlike the really excellent Stella, are somewhat in a bit rotting state and have been for almost a decade with way too complex settings for the average user and that also prevents that those systems have shown up in retro systems very often. Also many of the games rely on some kind of keyboard input which prevents it from easy controls with a standard gamepad. Btw. one of the reasons why I bought a MiSTer fpga, the emulation is so much better than any software emulator out there, and I am not talking about the emulation quality itself, but the ease of use! Kind of a shame, given that even some really obscure systems have very good emulators and a constant maintenance while the once so dominant atari 8 bits with their really awesome games lineup which rivals the c64s and surpasses it in some games quality wise, seems to have been rotting for ages.
I knew very little of Atari 8-bit before this was announced except that it was cross-compatible with Atari 5200 software, but now that this is coming out I'm amassing a list of games that I'm looking forward to playing on this platform...
I was an Atari 8-bit game designer back in the day and I still have my 800XL and my disk drive that still works. And of all of the hundreds of games that I have, I have to say I was most excited to see my favorite, Necromancer, on your video.
Incidentally, I watched a few of your vids and they are really well done. Informative and straight forward. A nice change of pace. You have a new subscriber in me.
Seeing a clip of M.U.L.E brought back a few memories. I'm sure most would remember rainy days in school trying to terraform distant planets while having to put up with a robot that's as stubborn as its namesake.
We bought our first home computer for Christmas 1983 when I was a kid. The whole family did a lot of research trying to decide what to buy. We considered the Atari 400 or 800, and almost went with the TRS-80. But we finally went for the TI99-4/A. 3 years later we upgraded to a C64 with 1541 drive.
Looking forward to this release. Genx guy here. Take care
I have very fond memories of my Atari 800XL. I am looking forward to the Atari 400 mini.
I'll never forget being absolutely insistent with my dad who argued that I should get a computer instead of just the video game system. I was absolutely adamant and absolutely had to have the Atari 5200. Well sometimes parents will teach us lessons by giving us what we want. Just a short time after getting said 5200 I find out that the Atari 800 and 400 essentially had exactly the same games and same graphics as the 5200.
great companies like epyx ..synapse..broderbund datasoft..muse.....the feelings that went along with the atari computers are priceless the cool games programing the books for atari computers..and the feeling growing up in 79 to 84 was the greatest time in my life....
I got an Atari 800 on closeout when the ST was released. I was never interested in games, I just wanted the best computer with high-resolution graphics and really good sound. The TRS-80, Color Computer, Commodore Pet, Vic-20, and Apple ][ just weren't what I was looking for. I just bought games as graphics demos to figure out how they worked.
The Atari Home Computers had the very best graphics and sound of any 8-bit home computer.
When I was buying up peripherals for my 800 I came across a used 1200XL that I bought as a novelty, and then I found an old Atari 400. The Option key looked like someone had put out a cigarette on it and the Cassette interface didn't work, but otherwise, it was just fine.
The keyboard wasn't THAT bad, but I wouldn't have wanted to key in a BASIC program on it. Atari clearly figured the 400 would be used mostly as a game machine. I'm disappointed the keyboard on this mini doesn't work, but I hope it'll run BASIC programs. I always thought "Candy" was cute. I'm really looking forward to this.
Excellent news. I have 40+ carts for the 400 and 800.
I still have 2 working Atari 800 computers.
Those were the years when the home computer explosion happened. I played hours on the 800.
I'm glad to hear these news about Atari 800 mini. I used an Atari XE System actively from 1991 to 2000 (when my father purchased an IBM-compatible PC for the university). I learned to program in it and, in retrospective, I think now that Atari 400/800 architecture (sold from 1979, think about it...), programming model, use of SIO interface (its designer was one of the pioneers of the current USB interface in PC too), way of activating/deactivating ROMs using Select, Start and Option keys, protocols and software were awesome characteristics at that time. The Display List for graphics through ANTIC and use of different graphics and text modes were impressive and so ahead of that time too. Moreover, all that way of thinking about the machine influenced my current way of thinking about how a computer has to work and I'm really happy about that!! Thanks Atari for all the satisfaction and all the knowledge I got from you!!
Sorry, I said "Atari 800 mini", but it is "Atari 400 mini". My brain was thinking about the version 2 with a proper keyboard (maybe, in the next years... 😂)
I'll be getting the 400 Mini. I had the IBM PCjr but never had an Atari 8-bit--although my friend had the Atari1200XL. Looking forward to this one.
The Atari 130xe was my first computer. I remember going to Sears and KMart for accessories. Now I’m an old man working as a Computer Consultant lol. Very excited for this and to see where this goes.
I'd love to see something like The65xl one day, haha. That being said, it's so great to see the Atari 8-bit home computer line getting more attention when it comes to mini retro products.
I'm all kinds of excited for this.
Brother!
The Atari 400 was my first computer. it was awesome and I still have a working one today. it's had it's memory upgraded and has Svideo out on it. I wonder if I should pick up this mini or not becuase I can already do what it does... ha ha
I still have all my original carts too!
This is a fantastic representation of this unrated home computer and was lucky enough to have grown up with the Atari 8-bit line, to the extend I wrote an unofficial Atari Visual History book with over 160 incredible Atari 8 bit games in it, called Atari: a Visual History, so it's a great reference to games on this awesome computer.
Thanks for making this great video on covering this as many felt it was a bizarre choice to bring a mini out on, but once they see what is out on this machine of old and what they are doing on it now? was a very good choice to bring an Atari Mini out.
I love my Atari 800 and box of games, so I'm definitely getting a 400 mini!
Finally some love for the greatest 8 bit machines atari ever released and basically the predecessor to the commodore amiga (same designer). Yes the system had so many great games it was phantastic and held up pretty well until the 16 bit era even against machines which came way later!
Star Raiders on a friends' Atari 400 changed my life! It led to computer science, engineering, and a great career (and a long line of computers), but alas, I never got an Atari 400.
Atari 400 was my first real computer and set me on a career path until today, I was 12 back then when my parents bought the machine for my older brother!
This was my first computer too. We had an Atari 410 cassette drive with it at first ("CLOAD" to load a program), but it was dream getting the Atari 1050 floppy drive later. We had the aftermarket keyboard that replaced the default membrane keyboard. To this day, it beat every gaming platform of the late 1970s and 1980s. Favorite games: Necromancer (Synapse), Blue Max (Broderbund), Bruce Lee (Datasoft), Attack of the Mutant Camels, Star Raiders (Atari), Rescue on Fractalus!/Behind Jaggi Lines! (Lucasfilm), and many others.
Yes! Finally, a mini that has the potential to be amazing! If only the little keyboard could be functional, that would be icing on the cake! Still, since I'll probably never see a 5200 mini, I guess this may be the closest I can get. Pyramid power!!!
“Finally?” You’re suggesting none of the previous minis have been amazing? 😕
I have both big N minis....as well as a 400/800 and about 30 other vintage PCs as well 😀
Sold my Atari 2600 at the peek of Atari and bought an Atari 400. You are exactly right about the keyboard. Later purchased an Atari 800 XL with floppy disk and a 300 baud modem. Fun times.
I can't wait for this. I was actually doing some assembler language on the Atari. We had the original 800, then I updated to an 800 XL, finally I had the 130xe.
I never owned an Atari 8-bit computer but I got to use them in the 8th grade. It was my intro to 8-bit gaming (during lunch recess and after school, of course), and I didn't know the power of 8-bit until I got to play and finish the unreleased prototype to the movie tie-in game for "The Last Starfighter", later finished and released as Star Raiders 2. Oh the memories!
I would be all over an 800XL mini. When I was a teenager, one of my friends had a 600XL and I loved the graphics and sound effects of it, as well as the look of the computer itself.
The 400 mini can play 800xl games too.
I hear ya, I owned a 600XL back in the day, it was a beautifully crafted and looking machine!
If they made this 400 with an option of a 600XL or 800XL, i'd be all over it.
@@JustWasted3HoursHere I was expecting it could, I love the XL style cases though. I have an 65XE, but I don't like that style as much.
@@PJZombieExactly. I love the color scheme and brushed metal details of the XL machines.
John,
I wasn’t aware of the Atari 400, even if I had known about it in the day I still wouldn’t have been interested in it.
But……………..after watching your video on it. I really am intrigued on its value for retro gaming. Now I want to own one to see what it is all about.
I’m a Gen X Over Grown Up. I’m 71 and got introduced to the gaming world in the mid 70s. My two boys were brought up and played Atari and NES games. They started when they were 4 years old……and still play today at the ages of 36;and 40. In fact my youngest is in the video game industry working for Bethesda. He writes, composes and mixes music for most games in the past two years. We didn’t make it this year but will be at the CES next year. Hope you will be there. We would love to visit with you if you have time.
Sorry, I wanted to make this short but got carried away.
Anyway I’ll be waiting for more tinfoil on the 400.
Thanks Jon,
Dan Hulshult
I have an 400 and 800xl. Still Love these original machines
had and LOVED 400/800 Donkey Kong and DK Jr. both games had all 4 levels which was the only system to have this option. It had the levels in the proper US order
I've got an 800XL setup with a virtual drive. It's loads of fun. Maybe I'd pick up an Atari emulator just for the fun of it, but it's nice having the original hardware running.
I need to learn some electrical stuff, as I've learned my 1200XL likely needs to be "recapped."
@@GenXGrownUp it's not actually that hard on a 1200, the Atari boards are quite nice to work on (though there are a lot of resistors) and it's just a handful of axial capacitors that you would need to change
I’ve been looking for a plug and play solution to play Blue Max and Zaxxon for Atari 800.
While I don’t have nostalgia for it, my best friend does. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when I give one to him, provided I can easily side load Blue Max and Zaxxon on this thing.
I didn't have an Atari computer, and didn't even know about them until subscribing to this channel. Definitely interested in learning about the mini!
I had a few Atari 400 computers (bought them on ebay to get the games and accessories) and an 800xl but sold them circa 2008 because I was moving around and had way too much stuff. I have regretted not keeping one of them. I still have some of the cartridges but this "THE400" should fill that empty home in my heart! After all this time, it's still not really that easy to run a 5200 or 800 game with emulation so this should be fun.
If I can play other Atari games on this, I will be beyond thrilled :) Infocom, Epyx, Avalon Hill - I'm all in :D
I had an Atari 1200XL when I was a kid. I llove the Atari 8-bit.
One of the first computers I used was early 80's 5 years old and it was an Atari 400. When I got into 7th grade I got my very own 600XL, loved it, and worked it hard until I graduated in 95, then I got a PC586, internet, and the Atari became more of a game console. However today I still play Star Raiders, and even load in some of the homebrew online and Prince of Persia is AWESOME!
I just love your genuine passion for Atari. I was 30 on the day it was released in Australia. I got mine day one with tape, floppy drive two joysticks. Mine was the 800 and my best friend like yours got the 400. One go on mine and he went back and got the clip on keyboard. We were both in awe of what it could do. I remember the two games I got with it were Caverns of Mars and Moonbase IO on floppy and tape. Tape for the voice. I absolutely love how Atari is not only back but very much alive. I smiled as you mentioned companies like Synapse, Epyx and Brøderbund. So much great stuff for it. This is my favourite channel now. Great job Jon.
My first computer was the 400. People referred to the keyboard as "the peanut-butter proof" keyboard. I learned to program on the 400 and got quite good typing on that keyboard.
Atari 400 was my third computer, but started my love of Atari, still use my 130XE regularly. But will be getting this mini if it’s available here in NZ, hopefully a Maxi and ST follow too..
I missed out on the ST line as I jumped from Atari computers to Amiga in the early '90s, but an ST mini would certainly be a cool way to explore a platform that *I* missed out on!
Its the next best thing for our collections here in Europe since most of us are missing an original series.
This was a calculated release because the Atari homebrew community is the third most vibrant in the 8bit scene (right behind Speccy and hardware wise (upgrades and add-ons) one of the most busy.)
A maxi 800 or 1200xl would be mostly appreciated in Europe.
yep same here 400 was my first, had 3 Atari computers, didn't keep them and have regretted it ever since but I just about lost my you know what when I saw this news, CAN NOT WAIT!
I called it a while back... A 5200/800 system. But I was pushing for a bigger scope product that was a modern 8 bit game dev platform with Pico 8. I was hoping they'd make this product as a Trojan horse for young programmers to play games and then offer them the capability of making their own. Basically how we grew up.
I'll definitely buy it. I wish it looked like the 600XL tho, and that it could function as an Bluetooth keyboard for my PC.
My soon to be step kids love my 2600+ they're going to love this. I have a ton of old systems to put on a rotation in and out of my man cave/office/studio. This will be great.
Definitely interested in seeing that. I never had an Atari computer back in the day so this release of the mini one is intriguing. Definitely like to see what I missed out on and see if it's something I'd like to add to my collection.
I still have my whole 400 setup with an Indus disk drive and a ton of floppy games. I modded my system to use a keyboard from a demo Colecovision computer module by hardwiring a connector into the system. That way I could use either the membrane or a physical keyboard. Made a huge difference when programming etc.
I recently picked up another 400 that I need to go through and see if it works. These were great machines and I will be looking into the new mini.
Oh, Indus GT: the Ferrari of Atari disk drives!
Cool, love all these minis coming out, especially for those of us who never had the Atari computers.
I own an Atari 800. I never got a disk drive for it, and it is currently many miles from where I live.One day I shall bring it and my VCS home. Love the retro computer content! Side note: I owe a lot of my video production career to the next gen 16bit Atari that would have been: The Amiga!
THE 400 was my first computer, too, good times 👍
My uncle had a c64, a 800 and a 400. He would only let me play on the 400, but man i loved it! I want one bad. I plan on buying one as soon as it comes out.
Lived and breathed my Atari 800 in the early 80s. I have 3 Atari 800s in my collection along with an in the box 800XL I bought on clearance as a teenager just to have it. So many great games... and I learned to program on the 800.. The Atari 800 literally changed my life. Very excited the 400 is getting the "mini" treatment. Also looking forward to your video on some of the games for that system, while I played hundreds of games on the 800, I am always pleasantly surprised to learn about great games that never made it on the radar of me and my friends back then. Always enjoy your videos, keep up the good work.
you talked me into pre-ordering this!!!!
The 400 was my family's first console (computer?). Spent many an hour over years playing Star Raiders and Miner 2049er. Miner was also the first video game I actually beat! We got ours in 1983, and I was 10, for reference. :) Nobody that I knew had one. Nobody had ever seen one. Most kids I knew mistook it for some kind of Comodore! It took another 20 years before I found someone else who had played with one. I liked the fact nobody knew about our system. Was kind of exclusive.
I. Am. Buying. One.
I still have my Atari 400 Pac-Man Catridge. 😂🕹
My favorite non-arcade version 🤙
I am unaware of this computer. Back in the day, we went from the 2600, to Intellivision, straight to the C64. There was something about the games on the first computers. Many of the games seem to capture a type of fun that I can't find on modern games. I am looking forward to your game review.
Pre ordered! I have a 130XE and it can rest up a bit now I can use this mini console to play all my 8-Bit favourites. It's a fantastic library.
The Atari 8 bit line were premium products compared to their 8 bit peers (excluding the mighty BBC Micro) They had an Apple like quality to them. Not surprising given that Apple were a competitor at that time. Joystick support was also a great factor considered by Atari. Almost all the 8-bit games support joystick as standard.
Yes, a varied and quality library to be certain (with plenty of stinkers thrown in, of course). In addition to being joystick compatible by default, developers weren't afraid to add extra commands to keyboard buttons to really expand on the game options. I'm thinking here about Spelunker in particular - run & jump platformer, but spacebar for the ghost repellent, F for flare, D (I think) for dynamite - the options were wide open.
The real Atari 400 contained a massive solid cast metal shielding against RFI, while modern crap intentionally cooks our nervous system with pulsed microwaves to infest the room with wifi, bluetooth or mobile radio.
M.U.L.E, Rescue on Fractalus, Alleycat, and Mountain King will be played a ton on this.
I always lusted after the Atari 8 bit computers in the Sears Wish Book, until I ended up with a Sega Master System.
I bought an 800XL and an S-Drive some years ago, and it’s become one of my favorite 8 bit systems.
I know nothing about this, but I can’t wait for your coverage of it.
That's quite a vote of confidence - I hope I can deliver for you!
My Dad bought me a 400, 1050 Disk Drive, Modem and Thermal Printer for my 11th Grade Christmas present. I really wanted it and although the 800 was much nicer, even the 400 was like $1,500 in today's money. I think the Disk Drive alone was like $400 in 1981. Later on I bought a 64K add-on card that could plugged in the back to help me with my Assembly Language programming needs. That thing was like $600 back then! I still have it and show to my co-workers. Yes, I became a programmer and I.T. Server Admin eventually once off-shore took most of the good programming jobs. I may get this one and the 800XL when it comes out as well. Great news! Thanks for the post.
Until about 1983, RAM was the most expensive component of a homecomputer.
Loving these videos! Had an Atari 5200, the 8-bit cousin to the 400 & 800 computers.
Loved the A8 - even started my journalist career as a freelance writer for Atari User! And if I can bung the likes of Alley Cat, Spellbound, and the Space Harrier homebrew on it, I'm all over it like a coat of paint!
Got my pre-order in today with an extra joystick! I still have lots of the original diskettes but I don't have any of the original computer hardware anymore unfortunately. And even if I did, I don't know if a disk drive would even read them anymore. But to be able to put the disk images on a USB stick and play these games again on this mini ... I'm really looking forward to it! Thanks for the great videos Jon!
My first computer was the Atari 600XL. I too currently own an Atari 800XL computer. The 8 bit line of computers will always have a special place in my heart. Thanks for another great video! I am really looking forward to theThe 400 mini.
Both Atari and Commodore gave Apples II line a run for its money. They were easy to use. Straight to the point especially when adding a cartridge. When adding a cassette and or 5 1/4 it could be challenging to an extent. I believe that the 6500 line of chips were being outpaced by 68k of Motorola and Intel 80x line and that really impacted the entire home computer revolution. Theos is great that this is coming out and I hope it showcases the excitement I felt in my early days. It was gaming and computer or the reverse.
I was a Commodore kid and never was exposed to Atari computers. This is something I will consider buying.
That was a nostalgia trip. I still have a 400 & and an 800 in a closet somewhere. I haven't seen some of the games you showed onscreen in decades! I will probably be looking when this unit hits the market.
Thanks Jon for the great news , being an Atari 8 bit player already i know what great content there is to choose from. The one thing i worry about is that a lot of the recent homebrew cracking games which push the Atari 8 bit to the limit are 128k plus which will probably exclude them from this mini package thus exclude new Atari users of so many great games.
Played with both 400 & 800 growing up.
More excited after watching the vid, nice work as ever!
Glad to hear it!
I was the proud owner of an Atari XE. Here's the short list of what I want the most from this:
* Montezuma's Revenge
* Rescue on Fractalus
* Shamus!
* Blue Max
* David Crane's Midnight Magic
* Joust
* Missile Command (XE built-in version with full trackball support)
I can dream, right?
Found your channel through a search. Had 800XL with a Happy 1050, then a 130XE. Have an 800XL again now. Can't wait for this mini. Thanks from another GenX!! (except I haven't really grown up haha). Cheers
Welcome aboard! 😀
I was never aware of it. But I am interested in seeing your video about it
Great video as always, I bought an 800xl back in the early eighties and loved it. I still think about it often so this will definitely be one of my purchases this year. When you showed the mix of games in this video it brought me back, loved Pastfinder, what a fun game.😎🕹
Love hearing that. So many of those cool titles didn't make it past the home computer line and never saw any sort of sequel or re-release, so if you don't go looking for them they just sort of fade into history. I've really been enjoying preparing for my next video highlighting some of my favorites that I want to recommend people try out.
Excited about that we graduated from our Sears system to the 800. Super great system, a reason we never a NES.