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Atari 8-bit computer systems and 5200 (Atari800)

Background

Atari 8-bit computer systems (400, 800, 600 XL, 800XL, 130XE) and 5200 game console emulator.

The Atari800 core has been authored by

  • Petr Stehlik

The Atari800 core is licensed under

A summary of the licenses behind RetroArch and its cores can be found here.

Extensions

Content that can be loaded by the Atari800 core have the following file extensions:

  • .xfd
  • .atr
  • .atx
  • .cdm
  • .cas
  • .bin
  • .a52
  • .xex
  • .zip

Databases

RetroArch database(s) that are associated with the Atari800 core:

BIOS

Required or optional firmware files go in RetroArch's system directory.

Filename Description md5sum
5200.rom 5200 BIOS - Required 281f20ea4320404ec820fb7ec0693b38
ATARIXL.ROM Atari XL/XE OS BIOS - Required 06daac977823773a3eea3422fd26a703
ATARIBAS.ROM BASIC interpreter BIOS - Required 0bac0c6a50104045d902df4503a4c30b
ATARIOSA.ROM Atari 400/800 PAL BIOS - Required eb1f32f5d9f382db1bbfb8d7f9cb343a
ATARIOSB.ROM BIOS for Atari 400/800 NTSC - Required a3e8d617c95d08031fe1b20d541434b2

Features

Feature Supported
Restart ✕
Screenshots ✔
Saves -
States -
Rewind ✕
Netplay ✕
Core Options ✔
RetroAchievements ✕
RetroArch Cheats ✕
Native Cheats -
Controls ✔
Remapping ✔
Multi-Mouse ✕
Rumble ✕
Sensors ✕
Camera ✕
Location ✕
Subsystem ✕
Softpatching ✕
Disk Control ✕
Username ✕
Crop Overscan (in RetroArch's Video settings) ✕

Directories

The Atari800 core's directory name is 'Atari800'

Atari800 config settings are saved/loaded to and from .atari800.cfg in RetroArch's home directory (where RetroArch.exe is in Windows).

  • .atari800.cfg (Config)

RetroArch.exe directory

  • .atari800.cfg (config)
  • .atari000.wav in exe directory (startup noise?)
  • .atari000.pcx in exe directory (screenshot)

Core provided aspect ratio

Atari800's core provided aspect ratio is 4/3.

Usage

Make sure you have the appropriate system files in RetroArch's system directory. Then, load a content file.

The Atari800 core should boot to the 'Atari Computer - Memo Pad' screen.

The Atari800 core will generate a '.atari800.cfg' config file in RetroArch's home directory and will add the required BIOS files it detects in the system directory to the config file.

Now you can manually select what Atari system you want to emulate through the 'Atari System' core option.

Finally, you can load any content files compatible with the system chosen through RetroArch's Load Content menu.

Attention

You can set per-game core option settings by creating a game-options file through RetroArch's Core Options menu.

Alternatively, you can manually configure how the Atari800 will look for and handle BIOS files.

While the Atari800 core is running, you can press F1 to get into the internal emulator menu. There - emulator configuration, system rom settings.

From there, You can go to the 'Emulator Configuration' section and then the System ROM settings section to configure BIOS options. (Press Enter to confirm menu selections and press Escape to go back a menu)

Then press Escape a few times to go back to the 'Emulator Configuration' section and select Save Configuration File or alternatively change Save configuration file on exit from no to yes

Then you can exit the emulator by pressing F9 and then try the game again or press Shift+F5 to reboot the game.

Core options

The Atari800 core has the following option(s) that can be tweaked from the core options menu. The default setting is bolded. Settings with (Restart) means that core has to be closed for the new setting to be applied on next launch.

  • Atari System (400/800 (OS B)/800XL (64K)/130XE (128K)/5200)

Choose what Atari System to emulate.

  • Video Standard (NTSC/PAL)

Awaiting description.

  • Internal BASIC (hold OPTION on boot) (Off/On)

Awaiting description.

  • SIO Acceleration (Off/On)

Awaiting description.

  • Boot from Cassette (Off/On)

Awaiting description.

  • Hi-Res Artifacting (Off/On)

Awaiting description.

  • Autodetect A5200 CartType (Off/On)

Awaiting description.

  • Joy hack A5200 for robotron (Off/On)

Awaiting description.

  • Internal resolution (336x240/320x240/384x240/384x272/384x288/400x300)

Awaiting description.

  • Retroarch Keyboard type (poll/callback)

Awaiting description.

Controllers

Device types

The Atari800 core supports the following device type(s) in the controls menu, bolded device types are the default for the specified user(s):

User 1 - 2 device types

  • None - Input disabled.
  • RetroPad - Joypad - Don't use this, switch to ATARI Joystick for joypad usage.
  • ATARI Joystick - Joypad
  • ATARI Keyboard - Keyboard - For keyboard usage

Controller tables

Joypad and analog device type table

User 1 Remap descriptors RetroPad Inputs ATARI Joystick
B KEY RETURN
Y VKBD ON/OFF
Select CONSOL_SELECT
Start CONSOL_START
Up Up
Down Down
Left Left
Right Right
A FIRE1/KEY RETURN IN GUI
X FIRE2/KEY ESCAPE IN GUI
L CONSOLE_OPTION
R TOGGLE_UI
L2 KEY SPACE
R2 KEY ESCAPE
L3
R3

Keyboard device type table

User # input descriptors ATARI Keyboard
N/A Keyboard Numpad 2 Down
N/A Keyboard Numpad 4 Left
N/A Keyboard Numpad 6 Right
N/A Keyboard Numpad 8 Up
N/A Keyboard Up Up
N/A Keyboard Down Down
N/A Keyboard Right Right
N/A Keyboard Left Left
N/A Keyboard F1 Built in UI
N/A Keyboard F2 Option key
N/A Keyboard F3 Select key
N/A Keyboard F4 Start key
N/A Keyboard F5 Reset key
N/A Keyboard F6 Help key (XL/XE only)
N/A Keyboard F7 Break key
N/A Keyboard F8 Enter monitor
N/A Keyboard F9 Exit emulator
N/A Keyboard F10 Save screenshot
N/A Keyboard Right Control Fire
N/A Keyboard Shift + F5 Reboot
N/A Keyboard Shift + F10 Save interlaced screenshot
N/A Keyboard Alt + R Run Atari program
N/A Keyboard Alt + D Disk management
N/A Keyboard Alt + C Cartridge management
N/A Keyboard Alt + Y Select system
N/A Keyboard Alt + O Sound settings
N/A Keyboard Alt + W Sound recording start/stop
N/A Keyboard Alt + S Save state file
N/A Keyboard Alt + L Load state file
N/A Keyboard Alt + A About the emulator
Last update: 2024-04-19