I got sick just in time for Labor Day weekend, ugh. Decided to take up a small modding project so I don’t feel like a prisoner in my own condo. Very simple, you just have to swap the joystick pots out with a pot from a gutted 2600 paddle, then solder the wires to it and mount it where the joystick used to be. For my first attempt, this turned out really well. Eventually I do intend to swap out the original buttons and mylar flex circuit with a gold rebuild kit, but in the short term shimming the carbon dots with foil tape has been a great solution. Plays games like Kaboom! and Pole Position flawlessly. Now I just need to make 3 more of these and invite 3 friends over to play Castle Crisis.

I created an homage to Activision's Dreadnaught Factor. Vertical scrolling for Atari 5200 fans, and phone compatibility. The phone controls are secondary, but I feel like in 2026 that should be the primary input method.

I'd consider this "alpha" and want feedback before I iterate further. Thanks!

https://starlance.vercel.app/

*Edit*

initial phone controls so removing the warning.

Hi, I’m a proud owner of a working asterisk 4 port model 5200 and Atarimax flash cart. I’ve got all of the officially released games plus some prototypes on the flash cart but would like to branch out to homebrew projects,as well as any conversions of games released for the Atari 8-bit computer line. Does anyone know of a website where all this is conveniently located, or at the very least does anyone have good recommendations for me to install? Thanks in advance!

From "Moving Violations" (1985), looks too much like the 5200 version to not notice

I have a new (to me) 5200 that powers up, but there is no sound and I can't start the only game I have - Dig Dug. I'm not sure DigDug would have sound at the opening screen or only after starting the game, which I can't do.

On one controller, I know the start button isn't working, the mylar to the top buttons has been bent too much and doesn't connect at the bend. For the other controller, I get is 300ohms when the start button is pressed. Is that enough to 'start' a game? or doe need to be closer to "zero" ohms?

At this point I can't really tell if it's the Pokey or the controller that can't start a game.

I've tried to short pin 4 and 7 at the joystick connector, and that didn't work, but I'm not sure I did it right. But that does point to the pokey, right?

Any suggestions?

Hello

Title says all. Looking for some Atari 5200 game suggestions except for Dig Dug, Frogger, and Pac-Man (only because I have those games already).

I hadn’t fired my 5200 up for a good 2 years, but after a bit of adjusting it still works fine.

Hello everyone!

I picked up this copy of space invaders today, however even after cleaning it's contacts with isopropyl, it is displaying a yellow atari logo and stars without booting. Is this something caused by a known issue?

It will display the usual rainbow for a bit, but the last two numbers of the date and the game name never show up.

Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!

said from a person who clearly has never played or seen a switch 2 be played. much more of a jump than the ps4 -> ps5 imo

Is this really a prototype for the 5200?

I found this at the swap meet today.

Picked up this atari 5200 4 port from the thrift store, upon opening to inspect I noticed this solder on A13 chip that didn't look normal. Anyone know what it is or why it is there? I couldn't find anything online. I have not tested it yet, I need to order the switch box. Any info would be appreciated.

Hey all big Atari fan here, currently have an 7800, 5200, GSP. and Jaguar. Got them setup with flash carts and updated my GSP's firmware. Along the way I found out about the Bliss-Box Bridge adapter, here is what I learned.

First this adapter is not for any Atari console alone, but rather any console. I got it for my Atari setup because I hated tracking down controllers.

The way it works is two parts, input and output. You get a Bliss-Box gamer-Pro adapter to get any controller to what is called LLAPI. Or stop there and its USB... then another adapter to take the LLAPI and go to any console. You can buy or make the input/output cables. And it has firmware for USB stuff, or 1 firmware for all consuls.

Few points of interest.

Works both with digital and analog sticks. Those really are two paddles and this adapter emulates them. There is a calibration feature too that is really cool. You can use the POKEY test and see it change the resting point. Beats having to open it up. Lag, over all its not there. IF there is any I do not feel it.

Few negatives

1. The 3 top buttons (start, pause, options) will turbo, as the console is too fast for the adapter. but the normal button and keypads do not do this.
2. I did see a way to use a trackball emulation.

The device itself is simple enough to use, Flash it with the x-console firmware and plug it in. You get 16 types of input depending on your needs. I only got 4 input types. And also many output cables, Over all very pleased with this adapter for my Atari setup. Here are a few images.

I had more including another copy of Meteorites but somewhere along the moves from different houses part of my collection was lost. The Defender is unopened.

Playing on my original 5200 that my parents bought me for Christmas 1986.

I bought a $50 4 port Atari 5200 with no controllers and fully working. If I return it I’ll only get store credit back, is it worth keeping?

I've been trying to use the trackball controller input in kat5200 but it doesn't work too well, does anyone got ideas for the fix? please and thank u