Make sure you have a file called /opt/retropie/configs/atari5200/retroarch-core-options.cfg with this in it: See "Advanced Config" for solutions to problems booting 5200 games. Considering that the 7800 was developed several years after the 5200, it should be no surprise that the components were finally inexpensive enough to make a console with the 5200's power at the 2600's price. Both emulators mimic this analog controls using a mouse, and this may not work well in either core. Some BASIC software requires OS A and Rev. While the five BIOS files listed above will deal with 99% of the software you likely want to run, both versions of the emulator support many alternate versions, some of which permit loading software that would otherwise crash or run in graphically distorted form. Alternatively, you can use the emulator's internal menu. Atari's management … There is supposed to be a header on the cart that tells the machine how to interpret it, but lots of cart dumps don't have the header. The vast majority of the time, you will want Rev. NTSC filters do not work in this emulator. Adjust these values by editing the config file. Either a screen will open up with a bunch of different cartridge options, or the game will crash. The Atari 5200 was also developed around the same time (maybe about a year earlier), but its actual technology was from about 1978 or 1979, as the hardware is basically just an Atari 400 computer. Be sure to test after making your choice; if it doesn't work, just try another one. There are three different versions of BASIC. (Info drawn from Peter Dell's Atari ROM Checker website). A handy list gathered by forum members is here: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/16556/cartridge-type-code-list-for-atari-5200-games. Treats the second analog stick on a modern controller as joystick 2. As a rule of thumb, you'll find that most games are either mode 1 or GTIA. High resolution graphics mode on Atari 8-bits was a one-color, two luminance mode. See Advanced Config for more. Atari 5200 vs. 7800 - which to buy? These emulators emulate the Atari 8 bit family: 400, 800, 1200XL, 600XL, 800XL, 130XE, XEGS and the Atari 5200. A screen will open up with a bunch of different cartridge options. You will be asked which cart type to use. A screen will open up with a bunch of different cartridge options. Place all the BIOS files in. This is a verified working .atari800.cfg file. The emulator, though, has the facility to create carts, and this can add the missing header back in. C, Atari BASIC from 800XL and all Atari XE/XEGS, also sold on cartridge, PCXFormer hack ROM, based on LINBUG version; a bugfixed NTSC OS B for 400/800, Original (not Rev. Be sure to have a backup of all your 5200 roms, of course. In both emulators, the atari.cfg file is shared between Atari computers and the 5200. You will then get a warning telling you that it needs a real Atari/OS. Alternatively you can configure them manually: Then press escape a few times to go back to the "Emulator Settings" and select Save Configuration File or alternatively change Save configuration file on exit from no to yes. C. There are two possible BIOSes for the Atari 5200. While the Atari800 core is running, you can press F1 to get into the internal emulator menu. In addition, custom BIOSes can also be loaded; in fact, the default recommendation for an OS B BIOS is actually a hacked version from the PCXFormer emulator. There are 5 main BIOS needed for the Atari800 emulator: See Advanced Config below for other alternate BIOSes which may be required to run certain software. Now you can manually select what Atari system you want to emulate through the 'Atari System' core option. See Setting Core Options. In regards to Mario Bros., it does seem that the 400/800 and 7800 versions were developed by Atari Corp. while the 2600/5200 (*1) versions were developed by Atari, Inc. Note that any option settable in the RGUI will override the atari.cfg config file. This is a literal "artifact," a graphical glitch, caused by the way the chroma circuits in the original hardware worked. This one of the more tricky emulators to get set up as it requires a multiplicity of BIOS files and configurations depending on what systems you want to utilise but it seems to run Atari 5200 games pretty well. Enables alternate resolutions. Retroarch will default to "Old artifacts." The following table gives the other BIOS checksums accepted by the emulators. The Atari800 core should boot to the 'Atari Computer - Memo Pad' screen. From there, You can go to the 'Emulator Configuration' section and then the System ROM Settings section to configure BIOS options. Note that most software actually runs in 320x192 and the rest is overscan. Often when you boot an Atari 5200 game, it gets stuck at the Atari logo, or just crashes, or it asks you to specify a cart type. Go through the entire 5200 library (it's not that big!) Analog stick implementation for several Atari 5200 games is broken (Gorf, Missile Command, etc). Then you'll never see this menu again. If you are using lr-atari800, there is a runcommand-onstart script that will. Settings with (Restart) means that core has to be closed for the new setting to be applied on next launch. In lr-atari800, the core options likewise apply to both by default. Atari released a series of 8 bit computers (400, 800, 1200XL, 600XL, 800XL, 130XE, XEGS) and a video game console known as the Atari 5200 from 1979 to 1992. Once you have your ROMS and your BIOS files where they belong there is one more step of configuration needed where you tell the emulator where to look for your BIOS files. Most games you will find for the Atari are machine language, and require that BASIC be disabled. This can be one of the more tricky emulators to get set up as they require a multiplicity of BIOS files and configurations depending on what systems you want to utilise but it seems to run Atari 5200 games pretty well. If it keeps failing you either have the wrong BIOS, your ROM isn't compatible, or you chose the wrong cartridge option. You will then get a warning telling you that it needs a real Atari/OS. No other choices will render correctly, but you can use the F1 menu to switch between four different versions of artifacts which will give different colors. These machines had less advanced hardware than the new Atari technology, but sold for much higher prices with associated higher profit margins. Navigate to either the Atari 800 or Atari 5200 system on emulationstation and choose a game. You will then get a warning telling you that it needs a real Atari OS. If you didn't load anything, you ended up instead in a self-test mode. Speeds up emulation during file loading. There's a bunch of kinds, and they all have to do with how much memory was embedded in the cart, and how many chips that memory was using, and what order the banks were in, etc. The easiest option is to just select "Find ROM images in a directory" then navigate into the BIOS directory and press the space bar. Alternatively, you can manually configure how the Atari800 will look for and handle BIOS files.