Atari User Issue 24 is out now!

We're celebrating our 2nd anniversary with a bumper issue that includes the latest news on Atari's Chapter 11 woes, latest homebrew news, reviews, more ST coin-op conversion and much more including:

How to install a 576K RamDisk with battery backup for your Atari 130XE

Installing the Atari emulator Colleen on your Android device and the Amazon Kindle Fire HD

A look at Q*Bert on the different Atari Platforms

Show Report from Revival

More Atari history

CLOAD - a look at the world of turbo loaders for the Atari XL/XE

Interview with the DarkLord, sysop of the famous DarkForce Atari BBS

Plus more...

With this issue, every reader gets a FREE fully licensed and custom written version of RealDOS for the Atari XL/XE , courtesy of Stephen Carden and ILS.

To subscribe to Atari User or to purchase the latest issue, visit the Atari User website .

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Posted in: 8-bit,atari,atari bankruptcy,atari st,atari user,editorial,features,news,nolan bushnell

Bill Hogue talks to Atari User

We're proud to announce that Bill Hogue from Big Five Software will be stopping by Atari User towers for an exclusive interview!

We'll be finding out all about Miner 2049er, Big Five and how Bill went from his bedroom to becoming responsible for a million dollar sales success and one of the most licensed videogames of our time.

We'll also be trying to find out where Bounty Bob is, and what he is up to now!

Issue 19 of Atari User will be out soon.

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Posted in: 5200,8-bit,atari,atari user,big five software,bill hogue,editorial,features,news

Atari Megafile 30

The Atari Megafile hard disk series was released to accompany the Atari ST range, styled particularly to match the Mega ST range. These beasts use MFM hard drives the size of doorstops. Still, if you want to avoid disk swapping and amaze your mates then an Atari Megafile is the way to go. We've reviewed the Megafile 30 in issue 17 of Atari User.

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Posted in: atari,atari st,featured,features,magazine,st

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Here at Atari User Towers we're getting ready to hit the town dressed as zombies, witches and evil nurses.

We haven't forgotten our dear readers though which is why you'll find in the latest issue of Atari User (spookily issue 13) a Halloween special feature dedicated to the scariest and evilest games you can play on your Atari - from the Atari 2600 to the Atari Jaguar.

Trick or treat anyone?

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Posted in: features,magazine

Atari User Issue 12 is out!

Atari User Issue 12 is here!

Yes, we're celebrating our first anniversary with this monster issue that includes a feature on arcade smash hit Xeonophobe, an interview with 8-bit games developer Stephen Goss, plus an in-depth look at Nolan Bushnell after he left Atari. A great read if you want to find out about Catalyst Technologies, Androbot, Axlon, Pizza Time Theatre and Etrak.

We look at the best and worst football games for the Atari ST, examine the Atari Cosmos 3D handheld, look at Namco arcade titles converted to the Atari ST plus have loads of reviews for the 2600, 7800, Lynx, Jaguar, ST and Atari 8-bit.

For more details, check out the Atari User Website .

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Posted in: androbot,atari,axlon,etrak,features,magazine,news

Atari User Issue 12 Preview

A quick preview of Atari User Issue 12, the cover has just been finished and we're polishing off the mag to get it ready for publication.

This issue includes a look at Nolan Bushnell's rise and fall after Atari and his involvement in companies such as Androbot, Axlon and Sente Technologies. We also have a great interview with Stephen Goss, formerly of Harlequin - some fantastic big franchise games almost made it to the Atari 8-bit.

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Posted in: androbot,axlon,features,magazine

Inside Atari UK

In Issue 11 of Atari User Magazine we take a look at Atari UK, the role they played in rolling out Atari dealer and service networks across Europe and the games they released for the Atari 8-bit. We'll be looking at the titles Atari UK produced for the Atari ST in a later issue.

Some great titles were released by Atari, albeit a little too late to really help the 8-bit format, and if you want the low down then Issue 11 will be right up your street.

We'll also be bringing you some background history on other 8-bit games, that didn't make it to release. You'll be surprised at what was planned and what could have been for the Atari XL/XE.

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Posted in: 8-bit,features,magazine

Going Football Crazy on the Atari ST

Last issue we looked at some of the best and worst football (soccer) games released for the Atari 8-bit. In issue 12 we'll be doing the same but this time focusing on the Atari ST, a platform for which there are more football games than you can shake a stick at.

In the meantime we'll be playing Sensible Soccer and seeing how many goals we can get past San Marino!

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Posted in: features,magazine,st

The Atari 1200XL

The Atari 1200XL first appeared at the Winter CES in January 1983. Representing a major leap forward from Atari's original 400 and 800 computer lines, the 1200XL was 64K and featured the new stylish XL series design that would be carried across Atari's XL range of computers and peripherals.

The 1200XL came with a revised OS (operating system) and several enhancements, however its closed box design (as opposed to the Atari 800) proved unpopular with existing Atari 8-bit owners however the machine did sell quite well considering the very short period it was on sale for.

With Atari hemorrhaging money, then CEO James Morgan was on a mission to drive down costs. After being on sale for just a few months, the 1200XL was quietly dropped in favour of the new 16K Atari 600XL and the new 64K Atari 800XL.

Today the Atari 1200XL is considered one of the most collectable machines from the Atari 8-bit line, it was the last model to be produced before Atari began looking at cutting costs at every corner. In issue 9 of Atari User Magazine we took a detailed look at this stylish beauty - a fantastic machine that never got the chance to shine.

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Posted in: 8-bit,atari,features,magazine

Space War!

In issue 11 of Atari User we look at Space War!,  one of the earliest known digital computer games and how it influenced many games that followed including Computer Space and the various versions of the game that were released for the different Atari platforms including the Atari 2600 and the Atari Jaguar.

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Posted in: features,magazine

Chris Hutt's Space Harrier Interview

Check out Chris Hutt's exclusive interview with Atari User in Issue 11. Chris sheds light on the Space Harrier project and the difficulties he faced in bringing the game to the Atari 8-bit. If you missed out on our review of Space Harrier then check out issue 10 for a look at what we believe to be one of the greatest Atari XL/XE games of all time.

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Posted in: 8-bit,features,magazine,space harrier

Sheddy Visits Atari User Towers

Sheddy, the author of the amazing Atari 8-bit port of Space Harrier, has visited Atari User Towers to speak about the game and the challenges of bringing it to the Atari XL/XE.

His interview will be appearing in issue 11 of Atari User Magazine.

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Posted in: 8-bit,features,space harrier

Ted Dabney Interview

Ted Dabney was one of the original founders of Atari, back in 1972, and we were honored to be able to interview him for Atari User magazine. You can read all about how Atari started and the contribution Ted made to getting the ball rolling in Atari User Issue 5 which details Atari's rapid rise and the events leading up to Nolan Bushnell's decision to sell the company to Warner Communications.

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Posted in: atari,features,magazine,ted dabney

The Atari 5200 "Super System"

 

The Atari 5200, what should have been the replacement for the aging Atari 2600. Built using the same technology as the Atari 400/800, the 5200 was designed to keep Atari ahead in the console war.  Sadly, the Atari 5200 was killed off and replaced by the 7800. Due to problems within Atari and the subsequent offloading by Warner Communications to Jack Tramiel, the 7800 took its time to hit the stores and Atari lost out on the console market - although they continued to sell the 2600 right up until the end.

The Atari 5200 has a great games library. Its analog controllers are either loved or hated by retro gamers but sure do make for a fantastic game of Star Raiders! You can check out our review of the Atari 5200 in Issue 1 of Atari User Magazine.

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Posted in: 5200,atari,features

Want to see what the Atari Lynx missed out on?

 

The Atari Lynx benefited from a great games library but, sadly, many great games never made it to the Lynx for whatever reason and some are still out there, possibly completed, just waiting for someone to uncover the prototype. Check out Kieren's excellent "Lost Atari Lynx Games" series, appearing from Issue 2 in Atari User, to read all about the games that never made it and what might be out there.

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Posted in: features,lynx,magazine

ATARI LYNX EATS BOY'S LUNCH

 

The Atari Lynx was a cutting edge colour handheld that couldn't be beaten when it came to its sheer power. Sadly it couldn't compete against the much cheaper and inferior Nintendo Game Boy and had another competitor in the guise of Sega's Game Gear.

In some countries the Game Gear failed to knock the Lynx into the number three sales position and in Atari User issues 9 & 10 we've been comparing the two colour handhelds and looking at how the most popular games of the time stack up on each console.

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Posted in: features,lynx,magazine

Rob Fulop talks to Atari User

We're proud and honored to have been able to interview Atari 2600 programming legend Rob Fulop in issue 10 of Atari User magazine.

Rob wrote several best selling Atari 2600 titles including Night Driver, Demon Attack, Cosmic Ark and Fathom. As well as talking about his time at Atari and then Imagic, Rob also sheds light on what he's been up to since.

A true game writing pioneer, we're extremely grateful to Rob for taking the time out of his busy schedule to talk to us.

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Posted in: 2600,features,magazine,news