What Atari console should I get?

[j_factor]

I currently play console games for 15 different formats, and none of them are Atari. This is a grave oversight. I feel I should remedy this, but I'm not sure where to start.

Which Atari console should I get first?

[Melf]

A 7800 is good because there are few games in its library and it'll run 2600 carts.

The 5200 has a small library too and has some excellent games.

[j_factor]

5200 can also run 2600 games, with a converter. Then again, so can ColecoVision, if I really want to go that route.

Actually, didn't Telegames make a console that could play Atari 2600, ColecoVision, and SG-1000 games? I should look into that.

[MegaDrive20XX]

I'd say 7800, since you get a good handful of 7800 titles and all the 2600 games you need as well.

Jaguar 2nd, because it's a bit of a challenge to get some of the really good titles these days.

[Drixxel]

I'd recommend the 7800, if not just for the effortless 2600 compatibility and the enormous library that becomes available as a result. Plus, there are some groovy 7800 games.

[mish]

Jaguar, for sure, simply because of Tempest 2000.

[j_factor]

I already own Tempest 2000 on Saturn. :)

[CRV]

Actually, didn't Telegames make a console that could play Atari 2600, ColecoVision, and SG-1000 games? I should look into that.

It only plays SG-1000 and Colecovision games (they have similar hardware). It's called the Telegames Personal Arcade, which was originally Bit Corporation's DINA 2-in-1.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegames_Personal_Arcade

[Russman]

I'd go with 5200 because the arcade ports on that system are well done indeed. You can get alot of arcade games for 2600 for sure, but the improvement in quality for the 5200 versions are well worth the investment.

Or you could consider the Atari 8-bit computer line. The games on that machine are pretty much exactly what the 5200 console had, but the 8-bits computers are easier to maintain, and very ugly(if that matters).