Atari Dreams

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My grandmother never threw catalogs out, she let them sit until the new one came in.

So I can remember spending the better part of a year staring at this image, plotting as to how I would make the Atari 2600 mine.

I had to get my first job but it was so worth it and it changed Christmas forever.For more Fashion Mockery and 70's toy love visit us at Plaid Stallions.com


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[HardyGirl]

Ha! I've got every game on this ad except for Home Run and Casino. I've told this story before, but when I was a Jr. in Hi School, I lived w/ my dad, his girlfriend and 4 other kids (2 of which were my half brother and sister), and money was TIGHT! Us kids got together and told my dad and his girlfriend that we agreed to have a group present that year, an Atari 2600. But since money was so tight, it couldn't be a new one, it had to be used. We combed thru the Pennysaver, (a local classifieds magazine that came in the mail every week), and found one that came w/ 8 games for $150. So we had Combat, Air Sea Battle, Asteroids, Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Missile Command, Video Olympics, and Night Driver. We were happy campers! We used to play for cake, (the loser had to make the winner a cake). I won a few of those. Later on, we saved our money and added to the collection, w/ Bowling (for my dad), Demons to Diamonds and E.T. We also had a lending system w/ the local neighborhood kids.

[Earth 2 Chris]

This is the exact version we had, with the the two joysticks, two paddles and Combat. I had no idea this was so expensive back then! My parents spoiled us as kid, but this had to bust the budget for them. Now I know why Dad worked so much overtime back then!

What year was this from, Brian?

Chris

[Werewolf]

I had no idea this was so expensive back then!

Yeah, those old game consoles were pricey when they launched. The 2600 launch price was $199 in the US. The more powerful Intellivision was even more when it launched.

[cjefferys]

My sister and I had to bug our parents a few Christmases before we finally got one. And the funny thing is, my father got hooked on it and played it more than we did!

Not only was the system expensive, but the games too. Ouch, $46.99 for Space Invaders? That was a lot of cash back then for one game. It's funny how prices for video games haven't gone up too much in the last thirty plus years compared to other things.

[Earth 2 Chris]

This ad just reminded me we had Circus Atari! I had totally forgotten that! I can remember the sound it made when you crashed your head into the floating blocks above the teeter-totters!

Chris

[huedell]

Shoot, I woulda guessed $230 retail, tops!

Well, I don't wanna linger on how spoiled *I* was... but, like Chris, I have to acknowledge the hard work my parents put in, just to create joy for my bro & I.... beautiful times w/that game console... just MAGIC!

[acrovader]

What year is this ad? I plugged $289.99 into a inflation calculator for the year 1981 and it came out to be $769.97 for 2016 money. Yikes! Hell, you can buy a Playstation 4 for $299 today!

[Ninersphan1]

Being that is says Hudson Bay in the add I'm assuming it's Canadian Dollars, but not sure if that makes it better or worse.