As a person that grew up with these games it is eye opening to me to see someone have a hard time with the ways of these older games. This was fun to watch.
Nice find! Atari's first cartridge system was of course the Atari 2600. Then came the 5200, which wasn't that popular. Atari designed the 7800 to be miles ahead in terms of graphics (although they used the same sound chip as the 2600), but due to various issues, it didn't get released when it was supposed. All the stock sat in a warehouse until after Nintendo revived the video game market with the NES. Atari then dumped it on the market with virtually no third party support and it died a fairly quick death. It's fairly popular with retro game fans though. The 7800 will also play all Atari 2600 games as well. Well, it should, some models of the 7800 have problems with a few games, such as Robot Tank from Activision. Those are the "Pro-Line" controllers, although most people called them Pain-Line controllers because of the hand cramps you get after using them for a little while. Luckily the 7800 can use any Atari 2600 compatible joystick as well. You won't have a second fire button though. Some games, like Xevious can be set to be played with only one button. The power supply gets a lot of flak for using a custom connector. Some people mod the console to accept a more standard power supply. As for the switchbox, that one probably isn't the original. All the video game consoles and many home computers of the era used that same style of switchbox. Those switchboxs are also notorious for causing picture problems as the contacts inside get dirty/oxidized. It wasn't uncommon for people to have to fiddle with the switch, sliding it just a hair, trying to get a better connection. What you can do is buy an adapter that goes from a female RCA connector to a male coax connector, put that on you TV and then plug the cable into that, bypassing the switch completely. The console can also be modded to give it composite (A/V) output, but apparently, it's not a job for the faint of heart. Finally, there's one game for the 7800, Impossible Mission, which is a port of a popular computer game, that they screwed up on. The American version contains a bug that makes the game impossible to complete. The European version is fixed. Frankly, it looks and plays OK, but the sound makes me want to drive ice picks in my ears.
To start Air-Sea Battle, push Reset on the console. To change the game variation, push Select. Games 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, and 27 are all one player games, but you have to use the right controller port. Air-Sea Battle was a launch title for the original Video Computer System (2600) in 1977.
Some game notes: Joust - Arcade port. You have to hit the enemies from above. technically, your lance just needs to be higher than theirs. They will turn into an egg and then you pick it up. If you don't get to it within a certain time limit, it will hatch and you'll have to deal with them again. It they hit you from above, you die. Take too long and a dragon comes out. Galaga - Arcade port. If you leave at least one large alien alive at the top, they will eventually swoop down and lower a tractor beam. If you ship moves into the beam, it will take your ship back to the top of the screen with it. However, if you can shoot the alien when it next dives down with your ship in tow, your ship will be freed, it will join your existing ship, and you'll have double shots until you get hit. If you don't have any extra lives when it taks your ship, it's game over. After every couple of levels, there's a bonus round. Hat Trick - Arcade port. You control both the goalie and the same colored guy on the ice. Krull - Rhymes with "hull", like the hull of a boat. This is an Atari 2600 game, based on a fantasy movie of the same name. The Slayers will always end up taking your bride. You then ride to the Lady of the Web to find out where to go. Jump the moving strands, avoid the spider, and get to the box at the top. One of the paths will be shown with a flashing indicator. Leave the screen via that path to go to the Beast's castle. Don't let the strands push you out via the wrong path, or you'll have to do it all over again. While riding your horse, pull down when you pass the little spiral symbols to pick them up, these are weapons called the Glave. When you get to the fight with the Beast, throw your weapon to break through the wall holding your bride, but don't hit the Beast or you'll lose that weapon. This is why you pick up multiple weapons on the way there. Once you have a hole, throw it in to free your bride. She will give you a flame that you can throw and kill the Beast, then the game starts over. Pole Position II - Arcade port. It says right at the start "Prepare to qualify". You aren't racing yet, that's why there aren't any other cars. Also, your car was in low gear. One on One - You probably were playing a 2-player game. This is a port of an older computer game. Berzerk - Arcade port. Don't touch ANYTHING or you'll die. Shoot the robots and don't get shot. The game is endless. It only ends when you lose all your lives. Another Atari 2600 game. Air Sea Battle - One of the earliest Atari 2600 games. It had lots of game variations, but is really only fun as a two player game. Both players control one cannon, or ship, or plane (depending on game variation) and try to out-score the other guy by shooting things. Asteroids - Arcade port. Push forward to move forward. Pull back to hyperspace to a random location, which is usually instant death if there are a lot of asteroids on the screen. Xevious - Arcade port. Rhymes with "devious".
For Berzerk, avoid the first game since there is no Evil Otto. Some variations, like game two, have an Evil Otto you can kill. For the arcade experience, choose one, like game three, that has an invincible Evil Otto.
Atari had the most boring games and disgusting graphics ... imagine if someone in atari got ahold of a nes and maybe decided to make games that look like nes games .. not this junk grapghics
