Atari XEGS?

[Baseley09]

Yoz! Can this system play 2600/7800 games?

That is all, thank you.

Jean Bazelle de Portsmouth III

[[nothing]]

I might be wrong on this, but from what I can remember, although it was out at around the same time as the 7800, it isn't compatable with any previous Atari carts.

A weird decision by Atari for sure and another nails in it's coffin. Still, they probably saved a few quid by forgetting to market the machine at all.

[chaoticjelly]

No it cant, the cartridges are much smaller than 2600/7800 games, they wouldn't even physically fit in, its more of a computer-cum-console, in the same vein as a Commodore 64GS..

[anagrama]

Isn't it a consolised Atari 800? Or am I getting confused?
If so, then the architecture is similar to the 5200, but isn't compatible with that either :/

[Rebelli0n]

Isn't it a consolised Atari 800? Or am I getting confused?
If so, then the architecture is similar to the 5200, but isn't compatible with that either :/

Yep thats exactly right. It's a consolised Atari 800XL/65XE, although it came with an external keyboard and is compatible with almost all Atari 8bit hardware like the tape deck or disc drive. So it's still a computer really.

It's compatible with most if not all Atari 8bit computer carts, but none of the other atari consoles, despite the 5200 being pretty much the same architecture, as you say.

Mainly a cynical and lazy attempt to cash in on the success of the NES by repackaging the aging hardware.