The Atari 5200: An Insider‘s Retrospective on the Rise and Fall of Atari‘s "Other" Console

As a gaming enthusiast, you‘re likely familiar with Atari‘s seminal 2600 console which pioneered the home video game industry in the late 70s/early 80s. And if you‘re a real gaming history buff, you may have even heard tales of their infamous, ill-fated follow-up – the Atari 5200. Consider this your insider‘s retrospective on the 5200‘s brief, turbulent history.

How Did We Get Here?

To understand the 5200, we must first cover some important history and context. Atari conquered living rooms worldwide with the 2600, selling over 30 million units by the early 80s. They looked to continue that domination with a cutting-edge successor console codenamed "Super System" during development from 1979-1981.

However, the success of their 400/800 computer line led Atari to adapt Super System into those PC models instead. With old rival Mattel launching the Intellivision console in 1980, pressure mounted on Atari to respond with new gaming hardware – enter the 5200.

Atari essentially dusted off the aging Super System design to rush the 5200 to market by 1982. This fateful decision bore rotten fruit. But just how far did the once-mighty Atari fall with their "other" console? Let‘s analyze the 5200‘s specs and capabilities compared to both past Atari systems and the early ‘80s console competition…

Technical Specifications

Console	CPU	Clock Speed	RAM	Release Year
Atari 5200	MOS 6502C custom	1.79 MHz	16 KB	1982
Atari 2600	MOS 6507	1.19 MHz	128 bytes	1977
Intellivision	General Instrument CP1610	1.6 MHz	192 bytes	1980
ColecoVision	Zilog Z80	3.58 MHz	1 KB	1982

Despite its infamous legacy today, the 5200 impressed technologically upon its 1982 launch. The 1.79 MHz 6502C processor and 16KB RAM trumped not only Atari‘s own 2600 released 5 years earlier, but surpassed specs from prominent rivals like Mattel‘s Intellivision.

Custom graphics and sound chips carried over from the cutting-edge 400/800 computer line provided the 5200 benchmarks rivaling top-of-the-line personal computers of the early 80s. Atari seemed poised to dominate a new console generation – on paper.

Of course, technical excellence only matters if properly executed. And as we‘ll see, fatal flaws in design and internal management would spell the 5200‘s swift demise…

Where Atari Went Wrong

With its next-generation hardware, you may wonder how Atari failed so spectacularly with the 5200. As an industry expert, I identify three key blunders:

1. The Infamous Non-Centering Joystick

Atari tried modeling the 5200 controller after Mattel‘s Intellivision, itself inspired by early 80s remote controls. However, they opted for a cheap plastic build and odd sidewinder joystick. Dubbed the "Controller of Pain" by gamers, its major flaw was failing to auto-center when released from a direction. This caused constant in-game veering issues and torpedoes maneuverability.

2. No Backwards Compatibility

Bafflingly, Atari opted to exclude 2600 compatibility from the 5200. This alienated owners now unable to access that games library without buying a previous-gen console. Rivals like ColecoVision smartly focused expansion modules to drive value. Not until 1983 did Atari correct this via a compatibility cartridge – but by then irreparable damage was done.

3. Inter-Company Division Politics

Atari‘s computer and console divisions viewed each other as rivals rather than collaborators. They deliberately restricted game conversions between platforms to undermine each other. This resulted in the 5200 launching in 1982 with a mere handful of titles – literally only one new game alongside 2600 rehashes! With such a starved software library, the 5200 couldn‘t showcase its power.

These misguided decisions culminated in an awkward launch and terrible early adoption…

Launch Woes Plague the 5200

I vividly remember the excitement in 1982 as the 5200 prepared to hit shelves – only to be quickly replaced by unrelenting disappointment.

Beyond the functional issues, fans balked at the sky-high $269 launch price – over $880 today! Yet the value simply wasn‘t there between the crummy controller and nearly non-existent bespoke game library. Packaged-in launch title Super Breakout was just a boring 2600 rehash, failing to demonstrate 5200 capabilities.

Attending the Consumer Electronics Show industry conference in early 1983, gaming journalists similarly slammed the 5200 as a "heartbreaker" and "too little, too late" challenger. By mid-1983, sales had utterly cratered alongside what little initial consumer goodwill remained. Those launch reflections perfectly presaged Atari‘s fall from grace as the video game market plunged into crisis…

The Crash of 1983

I‘m sure you know all about the legendary crash which shook the entire industry just one year after the calamitous 5200 launch. As a financial analyst, I correlate Atari‘s blundering to a loss of consumer faith which first catalyzed and enabled the 1983 market implosion.

By 1984, with gaming interest and sales decimated, Atari had no choice but to discontinue the 5200 and lick their wounds. Barely shifting over 1 million units, the failed console marked a dark turning point toward Atari‘s slow decline through the late 80s and Nintendo‘s eventual rise to monopolize living rooms.

So in retrospect, it‘s no wonder collectors today view 5200 hardware and artifacts almost like crime scene relics recalling the gaming industry‘s worst ever crisis! For the truly devoted, let‘s examine how to score this retro treasure…

Hunting the 5200 Today

As a tech enthusiast, part of me remains perversely fascinated by monumental failures like the 5200 – compelling me to secure one for my personal collection a few years back.

Surviving 5200 consoles demand healthy resale prices, generally $50-150 depending on condition, but sometimes reaching $500+ for the rare initial 4-port launch model. Game cartridges typically retail $10-40, less for common titles. Compared to 2600 games still selling for $10-15, it‘s clear which console won out long-term!

Beware "bargain" listed units with damaged hardware/untested functionality. And as always, vet seller feedback closely – there‘s lots of faulty/reproduction retro tech being peddled to unwitting buyers out there.

Let my retrospective serve as a historical deep-dive on the 5200‘s disastrous yet fascinating legacy. Gaming today owes much to industry pioneers like Atari – including how NOT to develop a console! Given the relatively tiny production numbers, grab a working 5200 while you still can. This one‘s definitely destined to remain a coveted collector‘s item.