I had a 5200 when it was first released for Christmas. I'm just going to point out that after some time the controller joystick would fail and come out of the corresponding tracks inside. I remember after the first time this happened I finally pulled it apart and was able after countless hours to line everything back up to get a working controller again. Well guess what after that it would fail repeatedly no matter how good I was able to dissassemble and reassemble the controller. Buying a new controller helped a bit but it was expensive for a kid like me. Eventually no matter how many controllers I had every controller would suffer the same fate. I finally gave up on the system and sold it to a friend who bought new controllers but of course they reported the same issues. I don't even think these controllers are worth the time or money to repair and you are far better off looking for a compatible controller that would be better but those are not so common on the 5200.
THANK YOU -- I fixed the start button on my controller thanks to this video. Very thorough with how the controller is assembled and reassembled, especially putting back together where the top 3 buttons are. Perfectly done.
Great video! Definitely a pain point for the system is the controllers. I have used a 3rd party controller with a built-in y-cable, Atari Age Redemption adapters for the controllers to get around that, but if the start button on the stock controller doesn't work, your hosed. 😆 I do enjoy the system and with a flash cart you can get all kinds of great ports, conversations and homebrews on the system.
I am (was?) A big fan of 5200 games, but the controllers have defeated me. I've cleaned them a bunch of times and even replaced the contacts, but now I use an adapter and Genesis pads usually.
Leave it to Old Atari to produce an "advanced" video game system but cheap out on the controllers, using flimsy ribbon circuits, mushy rubber buttons, and a non-centering plastic joystick. Does anyone know if there's at least a hack to add springs or something for stick centering?
Yes, and in the case of both Frogger and Q*bert for this console, you had to press the fire button while moving the joystick to get your character moving. That, I believe, was Parker Brothers' way of getting around the non-self-centering joystick movement.
Thanks for watching. Have you played a 5200?
I had a 5200 when it was first released for Christmas. I'm just going to point out that after some time the controller joystick would fail and come out of the corresponding tracks inside. I remember after the first time this happened I finally pulled it apart and was able after countless hours to line everything back up to get a working controller again. Well guess what after that it would fail repeatedly no matter how good I was able to dissassemble and reassemble the controller. Buying a new controller helped a bit but it was expensive for a kid like me. Eventually no matter how many controllers I had every controller would suffer the same fate. I finally gave up on the system and sold it to a friend who bought new controllers but of course they reported the same issues. I don't even think these controllers are worth the time or money to repair and you are far better off looking for a compatible controller that would be better but those are not so common on the 5200.
THANK YOU -- I fixed the start button on my controller thanks to this video. Very thorough with how the controller is assembled and reassembled, especially putting back together where the top 3 buttons are. Perfectly done.
It is very interesting how these controllers are made and how it all connects together to make it work.
Great video Greg! I recently read that the 5200 port of Robotron 2084 works really well with the non-centering joystick on the 5200 controller.
There was a device you could mount the sticks into if I remember correctly.
@@GregsGameRoom Yeah, I’ve read about that-it was a joystick coupler.
Great video! Definitely a pain point for the system is the controllers. I have used a 3rd party controller with a built-in y-cable, Atari Age Redemption adapters for the controllers to get around that, but if the start button on the stock controller doesn't work, your hosed. 😆
I do enjoy the system and with a flash cart you can get all kinds of great ports, conversations and homebrews on the system.
Gonna have to show how smooth as butter the trak-ball is sometime.
@@GregsGameRoom Definitely! That is a beast of a trak-ball too. Atari definitely went in big on the 5200.
The G2 voltage on your CRT seems too high as I see horizontal retrace lines.
It’ll probably pop at any moment
Thanks for another great video and I hope all is well with you my friend. Have a great day.
Thanks for checking it out
@@GregsGameRoom my pleasure and have a great day.
I am (was?) A big fan of 5200 games, but the controllers have defeated me. I've cleaned them a bunch of times and even replaced the contacts, but now I use an adapter and Genesis pads usually.
Assembling it upside-down could be easier for you. I've fixed over a hundred of these puppies.
Leave it to Old Atari to produce an "advanced" video game system but cheap out on the controllers, using flimsy ribbon circuits, mushy rubber buttons, and a non-centering plastic joystick. Does anyone know if there's at least a hack to add springs or something for stick centering?
Never liked those controllers..
Interestingly enough they were created in response to the IntelliVision controller (according to Jerry Jessop.)
Yes, and in the case of both Frogger and Q*bert for this console, you had to press the fire button while moving the joystick to get your character moving. That, I believe, was Parker Brothers' way of getting around the non-self-centering joystick movement.
The controllers typically lasted about a month or two for me. What hot garbage.