GENERAL SOFTWARE INFO, TIDBITS, CHEATS AND EASTER EGGS

Age : 45 Joined : 08 Mar 2008 Posts : 1850

Adventure
A box for this game was shown in a flyer for the "Video
System X."

A.E.
Licensed from Broderbund. Similar to the Atari 8-bit computer
version except that the time required to draw the backgrounds
is painstakingly long. Only a precious few are known to exist.

Asteroids
Recently discovered! The first Atari 5200 catalog
(Part #CO18270 Rev.1) shows a picture of the box as well as a
game description and screenshot. This game supports up to 4
players in head-to-head or cooperative play. After attempting
to play it, you realize what we’ve all suspected for some time:
The game is unplayable with the standard 5200 controller. Some
interesting notes - This cart was found with an actual
production label and a prototype 5200 Asteroids controller.
Only one is known to exist, and was demonstrated for the first
time at the World of Atari '98 show in Las Vegas. For more
info on this game, check out
Atari Gaming Headquarters.

Astrochase
Licensed from First Star Software. Designed by Fernando
Herrera, founder of First Star Software. An interesting note
on the origin of this company - Atari had a program called the
Atari Program Exchange (APX) which published user-written
software for their 8-bit line of computers. The submission that
was judged best by Atari each year was awarded the Atari Star
award. Fernando Herrera wrote a program called "My First
Alphabet" which was selected as the first-ever winner of the
Atari Star Award; hence the name: First Star Software.

Ballblazer
Designed and programmed by David Levine, Peter Langston, David
Riordan, and Garry Hare. Contributions and support by Charlie
Kellner, Gary Winnick, and David Fox. According to sources at
Atari, the working title for this game was "Topsy Turvy". One
of only two Atari released games that came in a white box
(Rescue on Fractalus was the other) instead of the standard
issue grey and blue box. This game is also one of the few Atari
titles that has no name on the cartridge label. Also one of the
first games musically scored by a recognized musician, Pat
Methany.

Bar Room Baseball
This version of RealSports Baseball has been modified and was
intended for use in an arcade cabinet. The inclusion of a
timer limited gameplay to 3 minutes per credit. Arcade cabinets
with 5200 systems inside were sold in Mexico and other Latin
American countries.

Battlezone
This version resorted to colorful backgrounds instead of the
arcade vector graphics. Has a 2 joystick option and most
likely would have been packaged with a controller holder like
Robotron and Space Dungeon.

Beamrider
Designed by Dave Rolfe. 5200 adaptation by Action Graphics.
Reaching sector 14 with 40,000 points or more got you a
Beamriders patch if you sent Activision picture proof and $1.
This and several other 5200 titles from Activision were later
packaged in 2600 boxes with stickers on them.

Behind Jaggi Lines
Working title for Rescue on Fractalus, Behind Jaggi Lines was
recently discovered and demonstrated for the first time at
World of Atari '98 in Las Vegas. An exact duplicate of Rescue
except for the different title on the title screen.

Battlezone
Very early, and very rough.

Berzerk
The first console game that had built-in voice synthesis without
the need of additional hardware, 5200 Berzerk is a marvelous
translation of the coin-op original. Highly recommended,
particularly if you like to be taunted by Evil Otto with phrases
like "Chicken, fight like a robot!"

An interesting glitch exists that allows a player to make Evil
Otto (that's the official name of "Mr. Happy") go the opposite
direction from where you are on the screen, but this works only
on the left exit. Position your character until he's just about
to exit the maze (that is, the next joystick movement to the
left will make him leave the maze). Evil Otto will start to
bounce towards the right instead of coming after you. If you
stand at the exit long enough, Evil Otto will wrap around to the
left side of the screen. Whether he kills you when he touches
you is uncertain; the wrap-around scenario has not been tested
as of yet. This glitch is extremely useful, especially when you
want to finish off the robots and Evil Otto comes in sooner than
you anticipate. It takes practice to precisely position your
character to make Evil Otto go the other way, but you'll get it
right with practice.

Another tip that can help in mastering the game has to do with
your character's neck. Or should I say lack thereof? The open
space below his head can be useful when facing robots straight
to your left or right. If you position the character just
right, the robot's lasers will go right through without killing
him It's very tough to master, especially on higher levels when
the lasers are traveling at the same speed that yours do.

And last but not least, it's easier to avoid Evil Otto by going
to the left or right exits than using the top or bottom ones.
This is due to how Evil Otto bounces when he chances you. Of
course, there will be times that the top or bottom exits will be
your best retreat.

Black Belt
Similar to Karateka, Black Belt was to be Atari’s entry into
the karate genre. Impressive graphics, with several different
rooms. No collision detection and slow movement/gameplay keep
this one from being complete. This title probably evolved from
a title in the rumor mill called "Martial Arts".
For more info on this game - including screenshots - check out
Atari Gaming Headquarters.

Boogie Demo Cart
It's difficult to tell if this one is anything more than
someone at Atari "screwing around" or if there was an eventual
purpose to this title. Not really a game, this music demo plays
a repeating “Boogie” tune. Only a precious few are known to
exist.

Bounty Bob Strikes Back
Designed and programmed by Bill Hogue, founder of Big 5
Software. Graphics designed by Curtis Mikolyski. A sequel
that's better than the original? You bet! A follow-up to Miner
2049'er that could be the most enjoyable game ever made. The
box for this game is extremely hard to come by, as is the full
color poster that was packed in.

To transport to another screen, grab the item mentioned below,
then press and hold the number (also stated below) then press
start. You will warp to the level mentioned.

1. Bob's Morning Flower pot / 1 / start = level 4
Calisthenics
2. Utility Hoist Aliens / paint roller / 3 / start = level 22
3. The Suction Tubes Goblet / 4 / start = level 15
5. Jumping 101 Coffee Pot / 8 / start = level 18
10. The Gravity Lift Pitch Fork / 5 / start = level 14
16. Adv. Suction Tubes Tube 1 to left/ pie / 9 / start = level 19

26. The End......
"Congratulations, you are an expert! For getting this far, you
may start the game at any level you desire by setting special
codes 1-25 in the Game Adjustment Screen and then pressing
START."

At the game adjustment screen, enter one of the following
special codes and press * for a few secret messages:

5 6 49 69 100 213 666 782 818 2049 6861

Centipede (released version)
Atari 5200 version designed by Frank Hausman and Sean W.
Hennessy. One of the many games that is trak-ball compatible.
Named the best game (covering all systems), best 5200 game and
best graphics in a 5200 game in the first annual Videogame
Illustrated "Vista Awards."

Centipede, ("Killer hard version")
Recently discovered, this particular prototype is similar to the
released version of the same game, with the exception being that
it's HARD! (as if the released version was a walk in the park to
begin with). The Centipedes slide down the screen at a frantic
pace, and the spiders have even better AI along with faster
movement. Definitely an in-house "pet" project and never
intended for release.

Choplifter!
Based on the Broderbund computer game designed by Dan Gorlin.
The copyright on the back of the box has a printing error -
©1982 Dan Gorling. I'm sure Mr. Gorlin was thrilled. One of
the last games released for the 5200.

Cloak and Dagger
Announced by Atari but never released. In the movie of the same
name, the kid from ET can be seen holding a 5200 Cloak & Dagger
cartridge (most likely just a mock-up). For further details
surrounding the Cloak and Dagger mystery, see Section 2.6 of
this FAQ.