Atari 7800 - Third Generation Console
Overview
In 1986, Atari released the Atari 7800, three years after it was designed. With the video game crash of 1983/84, Atari cancelled plans for the 7800. Had it been released in 1984, it would have become a great success.
However, compared to the Nintendo NES and the Sega Master System, the Atari 7800 was outdated, and despite its compatibility to the 2600, the Atari 7800 was cancelled in 1989. Gamers wanted the latest and greatest. There was no retro gaming market back in the 1980s.
Date Range: 1986 - 1992
Release Price: US $140
The third generation comes on the heel of the video game crash of 1983/84. There are several reason given for the crash:
- Over production of video games
- Commodore's 8-bit computer war
Atari survived the video game crash, however, despite having developed the Atari 7800 in 1983, it's release was delayed until 1986. Instead of being on top of the market and capitalising from their success with the Atari 2600, Atari continued to lose market share as the 7800 was a lesser device compared to the competition.
New game types to this generation include the side scrolling game format. It is also note worthy that many of the games being developed for the major game consoles were also developed for the popular 8-bit computers of the time.
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