M.U.L.E was our favorite game for the Atari 800. Fantastic game for up to 4 players. I still have my Atari 800 and my copy of M.U.L.E.

I’m always excited for your Atari computer content! Crossing my fingers for a series of Atari computer history videos from you!

I think it’s very cool how there are mini retro computers like the amiga 500 and commodore 64 and now Atari 400! It introduces these old computers to a whole new generation! And also being nostalgia to people that owned the original computers in the 80s

I found an Atari 400 at goodwill back in the 90s. i forgot how much i bought for it. i still have it today

Omg, Zombies is the same as C64 Realm of Impossibility. I loved that game!

My uncle had an Atari 800 back in the early '80s -- actually I think he bought it for himself for Christmas of '79. He had this game for it -- not sure if it would've run on the original Atari 400 or not, but I guarantee it'd run on your 400 Mini there, if you put it in 800-mode. Anyway, you were in a spaceship -- first-person PoV from inside the cockpit looking out at space all around you. You had to hyperspace-jump to different sectors and shoot at (and hopefully blow up) the enemy space ships in each sector, to try take over the whole galaxy. You had to defend your star-bases, too, or else you lost points if you let enemy ships destroy them. I think it was called Star Commander or Star Raider or something like that. You should definitely try to find a copy -- guarantee you'd enjoy it. Heck, I might buy one of these just to play that game, if I can find a copy of it. LOL! EDIT: Star Raiders. That's the name. I was close. Not a bad memory considering I was 10, 11, 12 years old when I played it. EDIT2: Oh, the 400 Mini comes with Star Raiders II -- I didn't know there was a sequel. Neat! Anyone know if it was any good?

Wow, your full size 400 is super clean, looks great!

Encounter was written by Paul Woakes, who went on to create one of the most important bits of software on the Commodore 64 called "Novaload". He also wrote "Mercenary" which still is a massive classic on the c64.

My first computer was a 400. Star raiders still gives me flash backs. I would play until I fell asleep. I can still hear it to this day. Amazing stuff for its time

Great stuff! My first computer was an Atari 400, and hearing the sounds of certain games in your video reminded me of me vividly of the many hours I poured into that little machine gaming, learning BASIC, writing music, etc. Good times indeed! By the way, I accessorized my 400 with an external keyboard. It was called the Sidewriter, and greatly facilitated typing on the 400. Thanks! I’m a longtime fan of your channel.

Great review. Also, loving your work moonlight over at the Time Rift Arcade channel! Thank you 🙏

Seems like a pretty neat toy that easily fits inside your TV cabinet and will be good fun when you break it out for old Atari fans.

The Time Rift Arcade vids have been great! But please (continue to) promote that channel more on here, David. A few weeks/months ago I remembered Time Rift was supposed to be a thing (as mentioned in the end of one of your videos earlier this year, I believe), but I couldn't remember what the new channel was called. I'm happy to report that I was able to figure it out by digging through this year's videos, but I'm sure there's a bunch of your fans who are missing out. Anyways as always thank you for another great video!

Ballblazer is the best test for it. Make sure it is the NTSC version

Fun review. Always happy to see more content from you.

Ah, so you were one of the enemies, haha! I grew up on Atari, and you could say that an Atari 400 that a friend got for Christmas back in 1979 (IIRC) is what started me down the Computer Science path. While my friend was solely interested in the games, I became fascinated with HOW the games worked under the hood. I was able to get myself an 800XL not long after release after a season of mowing lawns, and that’s how I became enamored with programming. To this day, I still have a copy of the Atari BASIC book, not to mention the very famous Atari Bible, “Your Atari Computer”. Atari stopped painting the joysticks around the time that the black variant of the 2600 was released (the “Vader” model, if you will). Aside from matching that console’s aesthetic, it was actually a cost-cutting move (the trim around the control panel of earlier 2600 models also used to have that same orange trim around it). Glad to see that the retro versions of this iconic controller brought back the Orange paint!

This is a very cool machine. I didnt get to play with these when they were still in production. Wouldnt mind getting my hands on one to check it out.

In high school my best friend bought a VIC-20 and we were excited because we wanted to run programs from the PETs we had in the computer lab. Unfortunately, the low ram and inferior display meant that most didn't work. Over the summer he returned the VIC-20 and got an Atari 800. By coincidence, I got the 800 as well. This set off some great game piracy. Didn't know about the C64 until later. I often wonder what it would be been like if we both stayed with Commodore.

Thanks for the great content David. I’m loving the new channel as well. I love all things Atari!

When I heard the announcement for this, I snarked that people might think THE 400 is a prequel to THE A500 even though they're based on different lines, but from what I learned about the history of Atari and Commodore computers on this channel, that actually isn't wrong.

My dad had an Atari 800 back a long time ago, I'll think about getting this for either his Birthday or Christmas and see how he enjoys it!

Videos like this bring me back to my childhood, especially friday nights. My friends mom would take us out for 33 cent tacos, then to the video store. We would get a Nintendo game and a movie. Get back to his house, swim for a bit ,watch the movie, play Nintendo and then play around on his Amiga 500 and laugh all night. I feel bad that kids really have nothing to do these days and yes I myself have a ps5 and play online with new friends, but it was nothing like the 80s and early 90s.

You are definitely a part of the nostalgic story that all of us who were able to experience this time carry in our hearts and minds. Thank you for investing so much time and effort. Many greetings from Europe/Germany

I've definitely been enjoying the restoration videos! Keep up the good work!

I had an atari 800. I learned to program BASIC on it in 1983 when I was in 5th grade. In 7th grade I spent the summer dialing up BBS's on my 300 baud modem. Takes me backl

The arcade restorations are beyond radical! Amazing work to you and the team!!!

man, seeing the 400 takes me back to when my pops was teaching me basic. They keyboard was absolute trash, but I loved the damn thing to be able to play games and code them all in one unit.

Thanks for the review Dave!

It would have been pretty cool and a differentiator from the other mini systems if they had squeezed a cheap membrane keyboard in there.

The membrane keyboard brings back a lot of memories, most of them very frustrating!! However, I did love playing Star raider on a friend's 800!!

When I was a teenager, a good friend of mine had an Atari800xl, while I was in the C64 team. The 2 machines were on par about gaming. Next we followed different routes, he has an ST and I had an Amiga, obviously

In 1993 and 1994 (when I was 14/15/16) me and my friends (oh, God, talk about the social rejects!) hung around outside a room with some kind-of social work techers (who, honestly, were among three of the nicest people you'd ever meet, teachers or otherwise). In that room, just because they had nowhere else to go, was the last three working Apple IIe computers. And we used to play on them. Mainly because there was this awesome game "Prince Of Persia". Many, many lunchtimes were spent playing (what we didn't know was) the original version of that game on the machine it was written for.

Zombies is basically Realm of Impossibility on the C64, a game that I to this day love and which in two-player mode is especially fun! There is also the catchy intro tune on the C64 version that I remember. Great times.

That "zombies" game was called "Realm of Impossibility" on the C64. It's pretty much a multi level maze game where you gotta grab certain Items before you solve each maze. The crosses only purpose is to block the enemies from chasing you. I used to play the heck out of that game!

In the 80s Eastern Europe was all Atari, and I mean Atari65xe, 130XE, XEGS, or 800. Best games were Monty (version of Montezuma's revenge), River Raid, International Karate, Zybex, Karateka, Ninja, Panther, Draconus, Ninja Commando, Boulder Dash. And of course, a masterpiece from Poland, Robbo

Here's the thing about Atari Computer Software: Many of the very BEST Atari games came at the end of its lifespan. I particularly remember 1983/4 being EXCELLENT between Master of the Lamps, Rescue on Fractalus, Koronis Rift, Alternate Reality, BallBlazer,, Pitfall II, and many, MANY more. The C64 was a literal open book, whereas Atari was close-lipped about their custom architecture. Towards the middle of its life, Atari finally opened up, but, much like T.I.'s 99/4a, it was MUCH too late. The amazing thing to think about is that the 400/800 was designed back in 1979, and was STILL competing w/the C64, years later. Commodore KILLED Atari with on-point advertising, better software and documentation, and pricing. After all, the 400/800 was using an MOS (Commodore) chip at it's heart!

Thanks for the vid! Waiting to get out of the hospital before I try my Atari 400. Looking forward to it!

Thanks for the cool video Dave, really impressed with this mini Atari 😮

We loved M.U.L.E. on our Atari 800XL

Great job with the arcade cabinet restorations on the other channel! Love em!

I swear the intro music for Henry’s house is literally Rule Britannia

Man the part where you showed the included games reminded me so much of the old "the best 8 bit gaming machine" video

Interesting. My first computer was the Atari 800 XL, Then I bought the 130 XE and upgraded the ram in it. These hold some fond memories for me. I learned how to program in basic on the 800 XL I think. Played a lot of games on them both. I ended up trading them off to a friend for something that I don't even remember. I with I'd of kept them. Been trying to get them back over the past few years.

commenting to vouch for the restoration of the arcade machines (the other channel) - I like the additional dimensions of things to deal with and very much like seeing the restoring of the cabinets to their original arcade glory and splendor.

Thank you for mentioning Stellar 7 I have been trying to remember that game for the past few months and it was driving me crazy!

Let's go. Always a treat these uploads.

The original 400 didn't come with any games either. You had to buy them one at a time with your allowance.

A nice quick video showing everything

I had entered the pre-order for the 400 mini, but canceled it a week later as I was getting a bad vibe. After seeing the problems as reported on AtariAge, I'm glad I did.... I still have my original 800 I bought new in 1983 with the help of a Home Improvement loan :) I am also one of the guys that assembled a working Atari 1450XLwith the modem and Speech Chip. Thank you for all the videos you have produced, I enjoy watching the 8-bit PC reviews / repairs. I'm also the proud owner of the X16 Dev Board #0069 :) Also have 2 C64c's and a C128...

I am stoked to visit Time Rift during VCF SW! WOOOOOO

Really appreciate the time rift arcade channel.

Thanks for taking a look at this. The stock/out of the box software seems average at best, but it's great to know you can load up whatever you want with a USB stick. I may eventually get one of these!

good video....and David takes the best pics ....and doesn't hesitate to show one...when ever he can......

If you still have your TheC64 you should be able to put it in Vic 20 pal mode which should allow you to play Prince of Persia

C64 RULES! Loved that PC. Had it through all of high-school. Love your show... so much nostalgia. I got the C64 Maxi for my youngest after hearing about it on your show!

As always, thank you for making a video !

Thanks for the Saturday upload!

And, as always, Thanks for Making, David.

Loved my Atari 400!!! Now I want this!!!

Nothing like a new 8-Bit Guy upload as soon as I open UKposts

Great review! I had encounter on the 800XL and played it a lot. Master of the Lamps! I forgot about that game! Also good fun :)

I actually watched one of your videos on the arcade restoration channel nice content.

keep up the hard work that goes into the videos

The only tragedy here is that they didn’t make the 4 control keys work on the 400 itself. Being able to open the door and see the giant metal bay would have been awesome too. There’s 1000 ways to play old atari games and I think the only point of this is to feed into the nostalgia. Thanks for the review!

I still have my Atari 400 in a box in the closet with all my games. I should hook it up. Sadly the disk drive and tape drive both died long ago. I modded mine up to 48k of memory. It's weird they included Star Raiders 2 but not the original. Star Raiders was the game for the 400/800 back in the day. It actually came with mine.

Really would love to see you do a history series on Atari 8-bit computers like you did for the Commodore line. That would fantastic. Thanks for reviewing this product!

The mention of Miner2049er brings back memories as I had it on the ColecoVision as a kid. Miner2049er and Gateway to Apshi stand out as favorites.

One day someone will make an acorn mini. Hey a man can dream!!!!

8bit guy, you da man bruddah!

Good video! I got one of these Atari Mini's and I like it! I grew up on Atari computers, my first one, was the Atari 130xe system! Nice!

Henry's House was one of my favs in the Commodore64! was something different from the typical platformer. Nice vid!

I spent the first day with my 400 mini confused about input until discovering the extra control buttons on the joystick. Fun times.

Had an 800xl and tons of fun with it too. Love the aesthetic of the 800 and 1200xl.

7:48 What are you saying David! The 130XE shares little in common with the 7800. The graphics systems are completely different from each other!

Love the large amount of usb ports. I did pull out the xe the other day to check the weather with the fujinet. I have been going down the rabbit hole of the Vic 20. I will be using it for a project in the fall so its getting lots of attention from me. That being said I would love to see this Artri as a Maxi as will as the Amiga one.

8:45 - I did the same thing with the tone matching puzzles in Impossible Mission… except I used a crayon.

Time for retro technology in 8 Bit Guy on UKposts 👍

I miss my Necromancer.

I still have an Atari 800 and 800XL that I picked up from a second-hand store many years ago, as well as most of my software for it. This Atari mini was tempting for its compatibility with new I/O hardware, so I’m glad you reviewed it. One thing that may be a deal breaker for me is the fake keyboard; the main issue I have with Atari emulators like Colleen is they don’t support some of the Atari-specific keys like Break which lets you interrupt BASIC programs or the Atari logo key (/|\) which switched characters to or from inverse video, and control characters don’t type out graphics characters like they should.

I didn't even know this was a thing

The only game I played from their game list for this system is Missile Command, and that's only because it was included with the XEGS. The games I played were pretty esoteric though, it was mostly just stuff out of the $5 bargain bin at target, and things in Compute! magazine in source code form. I probably would have ended up with a C64 if it wasn't for my parents finding someone selling a 130XE when I was a kid, along with a whole heap of random floppies and software for it, a monitor, printer, a couple indus floppy drives, a tape drive, a stack of Compute! magazine and random books, all for $100... He was getting into the Atari ST and needed some cash...

I was an Atari loyalist and it always seemed like their 8-bit computers never quite got the level of commercial success they deserved. The Atari 800 was about 90% of the way to being a Commodore 64, but in 1979--kind of an amazing achievement. (In *some* ways they were better than the 64--the disk interface was much faster, and the BASIC, while it was less sophisticated as a BASIC, did a far better job of exposing the system's graphics and sound capabilities, which was fantastic for people learning programming.) But it seemed like they were just a little too slow to move with the times after the initial release, and a lot of ambitious projects got announced and never shipped. The game on the platform that I got most addicted to was probably their port of Defender, which was brilliant, but doubtless not included here because it's a Williams license (now part of "Midway", owned by Warner I think). The port of Missile Command is closer to the arcade version than the 2600's except that it still has only the one missile base. That Asteroids port is actually quite different from the 2600 port but not in a way that makes it much better; I think that was one of Atari's earliest 400/800 games, and it shows. The game selection here is kind of odd. I understand the relative lack of non-Atari arcade ports (like their terrific ports of Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, far superior to the 2600 versions), but including Star Raiders II but not Star Raiders seems like a crime. The original Star Raiders was a monumental game, arguably the birth of the whole space-combat-sim genre, the games like Wing Commander and X-Wing. Star Raiders II was a largely unrelated game (though there was an unreleased Star Raiders II that really was more of a sequel to Star Raiders--it resurfaced recently).

Had me at the mention of Mule. I have the updated version on my wishlist on steam. It’s said releasing soon for awhile now.

Always a pleasure to see another video David. It's not to my taste, but it has tons of potentially addictive games. I have the C64 and Amiga consoles by Retro Games UK. A GREAT COMPANY.

I can't believe you didn't demo Star Raiders. Best game for the Atari 400/800. Back in 1980 I worked at a computer store. We hooked up an Atari 800 to a video projector and stereo. When we fired it up and the guys from the shops on both sides of our store came over to see what was going on.

Thanks, David. Now I had to go and order one. Haven't had a 400 since 1983.

Atari 800 was my first console/computer... I still have it. I still think it's a beautifully designed machine. Nothing triggers the nostalgia like the little squeak it makes when I open the cartridge door. lol

Also I discovered Wavy Navy from this and it’s pretty cool.

Nice but i'm hyped for the next episode of the commodore history series.

Great Video!

I had an Atari 400 back in the day and remember entering a huge basic program for pacman which was awesome after i fixed my many mistakes. Oh how i miss peeks and pokes!

Genuinely impressed by that controller. I'd like to try giving it to someone and challenging them to find all the hidden buttons 😂

I didn’t own an Atari 8-bit but I found it nice in the 80’s. I have an Atari 2600 and several STF, STE and one Mega STE 😊

This is a great video, and I'm pleasantly surprised to see that Prince of Persia works fine. I had read other reports on that one. I also agree that USB support is the main attraction for me, in addition to having MULE and Seven Cities of Gold included among the 26(28) games. But then we discovered that MULE is glitchy and Seven Cities won't allow us to create new worlds (only exploring the original Western Hemisphere from the original disk). And there are also issues with the joystick, although the fact that you had no problems is very comforting news. I think if you want to play Atari 8-bit computer games, this is probably going to be the cheapest option, as buying and upgrading the vintage computers is getting very expensive. I do hope the few problems with the 400 Mini will be resolved (if they could include paddle and 5200 analog controller support, that would be great), but this does deliver as promised, which is to play the vast software library of this computer lineup, from the 1970s to today's indie scene. Hey, 4-player MULE! That has to count for something, right?

I'm really enjoying the arcade restoration channel.

Zombies is Realm of Impossibility for the C64, a real gem (the C64 version at least). One of the first 2p collaborative game, great menu music and enjoyable gameplay trying to get to the end of the dungeons to get the scroll or crown and return -alive. Crosses stopped the bad guys snd scrolls gave you 3 spells -confuse, freeze and fear if I remember correctly. Great one!

I taught myself 6502 assembly language on an Atari 400 in 1983. It’s an excellent machine. I still have it, as well as a few cartridge games like PacMan and Missile Command. The graphics seem far superior than those in most of the included games that you showed.

The relevant fun fact about ATARI 8-Bit computers in relation to modern technology: Its SIO interface used to connect various devices in a chained way including a direct power supply from the main computer was the predecessor of the modern USB interface. Another fun fact: Some engineers from the ATARI 8-Bit developed the Commodore Amiga while C64 engineers went on developing the ATARI ST.

I played a lot of Elektra Glide. In hindsight it's quite a shallow game as the main point was to get to the end before the time ran out by avoiding obstacles. It was a cool concept. No actual racing involved, though. I also had Henry's House on tape but don't think I ever played it more than once.

Ahh, Henry's House, one of my favorite games on the C64. So full of charm.