Back

Facts for Kids

The Atari ST is a series of personal computers that gained popularity in the mid-1980s, recognized for its advanced features, particularly in multimedia and music production.

Overview

Community And Fanbase

History Of The Atari ST

Notable Software Titles

Technical Specifications

Cultural Impact And Legacy

Emulation And Preservation

Comparison With Other Computers

Game Development On The Atari ST

main image

Inside this Article

Apple Macintosh

United States

Technology

Community

Computer

Software

Did you know?

๐Ÿ’พ The Atari ST was introduced in 1985 and was known for its color graphics and MIDI capabilities.

๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ It featured a 68000 CPU, allowing it to run at 8 MHz.

๐ŸŽฎ The Atari ST was popular among musicians due to its built-in MIDI ports.

๐Ÿ“บ The original Atari ST had a low-res black and white screen, but later models supported color.

๐Ÿ—ƒ๏ธ It came with Atari's own graphical user interface called GEM (Graphical Environment Manager).

๐Ÿ‘พ The Atari ST's floppy disk storage format was 3.5 inches, which became a standard in the industry.

๐ŸŽจ The computer supported a variety of software, including games, productivity applications, and graphics editors.

๐Ÿ”Š The ST line included models such as the 520ST, 1040ST, and the Mega ST.

๐Ÿ–จ๏ธ The Atari ST was one of the first personal computers to support desktop publishing.

๐Ÿ“Š The ST series was discontinued in the early 1990s, but it still retains a loyal fanbase today.

Introduction

The Atari ST is a personal computer that was super popular in the 1980s and early 1990s! ๐ŸŽฎ

It came out in 1985 and was made by a company called Atari, famous for video games and consoles. The Atari ST was special because it had a color screen and a cool mouse to help people control it! ๐Ÿ–ฑ

๏ธ It was mainly used for gaming, music, and art design, making it a favorite for many creative folks. Did you know that โ€œSTโ€ stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two"? This means it had a 16-bit processor! ๐Ÿค“

Read Less

Community And Fanbase

The Atari ST has a passionate fanbase that still loves this computer! ๐ŸŒŸ

Online forums and communities celebrate the ST, share games, and discuss tips and tricks. Fans often create new software and even new games for the Atari ST today! There are also websites dedicated to preserving the history and software of the ST, allowing new generations to enjoy its legacy. Some fans even organize events and gatherings to play games together! The community keeps the spirit of the Atari ST alive! ๐ŸŽˆ

Read Less

History Of The Atari St

Atari started working on the ST in the early 1980s and released it in France first! ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท In the United States, it launched in 1986. The company wanted to make a computer that was easy to use and affordable. The Atari ST was one of the first personal computers to include a built-in MIDI port ๐ŸŽน, which helped musicians connect instruments! Famous musician Jean-Michel Jarre showcased the Atari STโ€™s music abilities in concerts. Over the years, Atari released several models, like the Atari STE and Atari TT, with even more features! ๐ŸŽ‰

Read Less

Notable Software Titles

Many great programs were made for the Atari ST! One famous game was "Dungeon Master" ๐Ÿฐ, a fantasy adventure that many people loved. There was also "Medway Boys," a unique educational game. For artists, "Deluxe Paint" ๐ŸŽจ was a great drawing tool. Musicians enjoyed "Cubase," a music composing program that made creating songs fun! Another fun piece of software was "NeoDesk," which allowed users to customize their desktops. With so much creative software available, the Atari ST was more than just a gaming machine! ๐ŸŽถ

Read Less

Technical Specifications

The Atari ST had some impressive technical features for its time! It came with a Motorola 68000 processor, which helped it run programs smoothly. ๐Ÿ–ฅ

๏ธ The computer initially had 512 KB of RAM, but users could upgrade it to 4 MB! It also had a floppy disk drive๐Ÿ“€ to save and load games and programs. Its color display could show 16 colors at once but could show up to 256 when in low-resolution mode. It was known for its desktop environment called "GEM," which was friendly and easy to use! ๐Ÿ’ป

Read Less

Cultural Impact And Legacy

The Atari ST played a big role in shaping computer culture! Many musicians, artists, and game developers found their start with this computer. ๐ŸŽ‰

It was a favorite at schools and home, encouraging creativity in kids and adults alike. The ST was known for its open design, which made it easier for companies to create new software. ๐ŸŽˆ

Even after it was discontinued, the Atari STโ€™s influence lived on through retro gaming and emulation, reminding us how important this computer was in the journey of technology! ๐Ÿ’ป

Read Less

Emulation And Preservation

Emulation means using modern computers to run old games and programs, and this is essential for preserving the Atari ST. ๐ŸŒ

There are special programs, like โ€œHatari,โ€ that let people play Atari ST games on computers today. This way, you can enjoy classics without needing the original hardware! Communities also work to keep original software and support the Atari ST to ensure itโ€™s never forgotten. Thanks to emulation, kids today can learn about and enjoy the fun world of the Atari ST! ๐ŸŽฎ๐Ÿ’–
Read Less

Comparison With Other Computers

The Atari ST was in competition with other computers like the Commodore Amiga and Apple Macintosh ๐Ÿ. While the Amiga had amazing graphics, the ST was often praised for its music capabilities! Both computers had colorful displays, but the ST was cheaper and easier to use. The Macintosh had a more advanced graphical interface, but it also cost more. Each computer had its strengths, and fans loved them for different reasons! The competition helped push all of these computers to improve and create better software and games! ๐Ÿš€

Read Less

Game Development On The Atari St

Developing games on the Atari ST was an exciting adventure! Many developers liked how easy it was to create software. Companies like "Atari Games" and "Gremlin Graphics" made fun games for it. ๐ŸŽฎ

The language used for programming was often โ€œC,โ€ which helped make games run faster, but some developers also used โ€œAssemblyโ€ for super cool effects! The Atari ST was known for its music and graphics abilities, making it a favorite for game designers. Some games even had amazing soundtracks thanks to the MIDI capabilities! ๐ŸŽต

Read Less

Atari St Quiz

Q1
Question 1 of 10
Next

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DIY.org?

What kinds of activities for kids are on DIY.org?

What are DIY.org courses for kids?

How do kids use DIY.org?

Are DIY.org activities safe for kids?

What ages is DIY.org best for?

How are courses different from activities?

Can parents track their childโ€™s progress?

Why choose DIY.org over other activity or course sites?