Editing Atari 7800 (section)

=== Graphics ===
Graphics are generated by the custom MARIA chip, which uses an approach common in contemporary arcade [[Arcade system board|system boards]]<ref name=guide/> and is  different from other [[Second generation of video game consoles|second]] and [[Third generation of video game consoles|third generation]] consoles. Instead of a limited number of hardware sprites, MARIA treats everything as a sprite described in a series of [[display list]]s. Each display list contains pointers to graphics data and color and positioning information.

MARIA supports a palette of 256 colors and graphics modes which are either 160 pixels wide or 320 pixels wide. While the 320 pixel modes theoretically enable the 7800 to create games at higher resolution than the 256 pixel wide graphics found in the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] and [[Master System]], the processing demands of MARIA result in most games using the 160 pixel mode.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

Each sprite can have from 1 to 12 colors, with 3 colors plus transparency being the most common. In this format, the sprite references one of 8 palettes, where each palette holds 3 colors. The background (visible when not covered by other objects) can also be assigned a color. In total, 25 colors can appear on a [[scan line]].<ref name=3600sg/>

The graphics resolution, color palettes, and background color can be adjusted between scan lines.<ref name=3600sg>{{cite web |title=Atari 3600 Software Guide |url=http://www.atarimuseum.com/ahs_archives/archives/pdf/videogames/7800/3600_software_guide.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207033819/http://www.atarimuseum.com/ahs_archives/archives/pdf/videogames/7800/3600_software_guide.pdf |archive-date=2010-12-07 }}</ref>