Atari800 vs kat5200
Atari800
atari800.github.iokat5200
jillybunch.comSide by side
| Figure | Atari800 | kat5200 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Atari Emulators | 8.1 (#4) | 7.5 (#13) |
| Downloads | Source code and binary packages are available from GitHub releases, and Linux packages are also available through Debian and Fedora instructions. | The downloads page lists Windows installer and portable builds, a macOS disk image, a Linux Flatpak, an Android/TV APK, and a source zip for version 1.0.0. |
| Purpose | Atari800 emulates Atari 8-bit computer systems and the Atari 5200 game console. | kat5200 emulates the Atari 5200 and Atari 800/XL/XE computers so users can play games from those systems on a personal computer. |
| Support | The project directs questions, bug reports and discussions to its user mailing list and invites bug reports or pull requests through GitHub Issues. | The maker asks users to report bugs or suggestions through the issues list or by email, as described in an older release note. |
Plans
In their own words
Atari800
Atari800 emulates Atari 8-bit computer systems and the Atari 5200 game console. It supports cycle-exact emulation of the 6502 processor and the NMI, POKEY, ANTIC and GTIA components. The emulator handles ATR, XFD, DCM, ATR.GZ and XFD.GZ disk images, with up to eight emulated drives. It can load Atari executable files and BASIC programs, emulate cassette tapes, and save files to the host computer through the H: device. Users can connect real joysticks or emulate paddles, light pens, light guns, mice and trackballs. Atari800 can save screen snapshots as PCX or PNG and write sound output to WAV files. It runs on Linux, Windows, macOS and Android; source and binary packages are available through GitHub releases, with Linux package instructions for Debian and Fedora. The project describes Atari800 as freely distributable, with source under GPL version 2. Its release notes describe NetSIO and FujiNet support for network SIO over UDP. Atari800 is written in C, and a BIOS is required.
kat5200
kat5200 is a free emulator for playing games from Atari 5200 and Atari 8-bit computer systems on a personal computer. It supports Atari 5200, Atari 400, Atari 800, Atari 800 XL and Atari 800 XE systems, with builds listed for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. The emulator does not include game ROM images or BIOS files, so users must obtain and configure them separately. Controls can use a game controller, keyboard or mouse, and multiple input entries can be assigned to an emulated function. Users can save different input profiles and assign them to games in the Launcher. The Simulate Analog option can help when a game expects controller-axis positions but the player uses a keyboard or digital controller. Initial setup offers ROM-directory scanning and options for trackball, paddle and two-stick games. Version 1.0.0 uses TOML configuration and adds per-ROM profiles. The Android version is provided as an APK, not through the Play Store, and must be sideloaded.