Draft:THE400 Mini

The Atari 400 mini          is dedicated Linux-based console emulating the Atari 8bit family of microcomputers built by Atari from 1979 including the namesake Atari 400 as well as the Atari 800, 800XL, 130XE and the Atari 5200 Home video game console, which before never had a PAL or SECAM release but only a release in the NTSC format.

The device is built under license from Atari Interactive, Inc. by the UK based company Retro Games Ltd and distributed by Plaion (previously known as Koch Media) which already worked with Retro Games Ltd to distribute the THEC64 Mini April 2018, THEC64 a full size replica December 2019, and full size replica of the VIC-20 in October 2020.

Hardware
The device runs on AllWinner H3 CPU, with RAM of 256MB; FLASH: 128MB


 * Playlist file format is to be used for multiple disk programs .m3u save as a plain text file format.

Known issues
Since the launch worldwide launch date of the 28th of March 2024, Due to an error in the initial firmware version 1.0.0 one game had an error meaning that the game M.U.L.E. has missing graphics a correct version was made available for download on the retro games support website : https://retrogames.biz/support/the400-mini/mule/ and was recommend to be used until an updated firmware was released.

Bundled Accessories
The device also came bundled with the THECXSTICK a modernised version of the Atari CX-40 joystick with seven additional function buttons.

The console also offers rewind functionality through specific button+joystick movement combinations.

A beige-brown usb-c type cable to power the unit and matching HDMI beige-brow cable came with the device.

Built-in Software
The systems interface offers the choice of language on first time boot and through on screen menu, with the choice of English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Polish.

Also the system has some built in screen display options, to change the aspect ratio from 4:3 to Pixel Perfect and the possibility to enable a CRT effect to simulate scan lines a classic CRT screen.

Two additional games : Super Breakout and Castle Crisis can be accessed via the built-in menu carrousel when plugging in the Atari VCS paddle controller or any analogue controller as an a secondary controller before turning on the device, as demonstrated in a YouTube video and referenced in the internal credits of the device.