atari 5200 is better than the colecovision. speed, gameplay, and sound is better on the 5200.
Better is a relative term. The Atari 5200 has some pretty miserable controllers, probably among the worst ever designed. The ColecoVision's are no picnic either, but they're easier to replace/swap out if one were so motivated. Both systems have their strengths and weaknesses, though, and that includes game libraries. Even today, both systems have robust homebrew support, though I'd say that the ColecoVision has been pushed much farther in that area. Even though the ColecoVision has "better" homebrews, the Atari 5200 has the advantage of being the equivalent of a 16K Atari 400, so conversions from the Atari 8-bit computer library are fairly trivial. It was always an interesting battle between the two systems and remains so to this day if one chooses to unnecessarily pick sides (it's easy enough to enjoy both for their own merits). Personally, I prefer the ColecoVision for a variety of reasons, but there's nothing wrong with preferring the Atari 5200...
*************************** Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
atari 5200 is better than the colecovision. speed, gameplay, and sound is better on the 5200.
Better is a relative term. The Atari 5200 has some pretty miserable controllers, probably among the worst ever designed. The ColecoVision's are no picnic either, but they're easier to replace/swap out if one were so motivated. Both systems have their strengths and weaknesses, though, and that includes game libraries. Even today, both systems have robust homebrew support, though I'd say that the ColecoVision has been pushed much farther in that area. Even though the ColecoVision has "better" homebrews, the Atari 5200 has the advantage of being the equivalent of a 16K Atari 400, so conversions from the Atari 8-bit computer library are fairly trivial. It was always an interesting battle between the two systems and remains so to this day if one chooses to unnecessarily pick sides (it's easy enough to enjoy both for their own merits). Personally, I prefer the ColecoVision for a variety of reasons, but there's nothing wrong with preferring the Atari 5200...
***************************
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.