The Ultimate Home Gaming System

[Meule]

There weren't any Nintendos or Segas around then, so how could they be better?
Sure, looking back now they were, but when Atari was the newest crave those games rocked and they were cool

[Werewolf]

what crap video games sucked until the nintendo and sega came out

A little Atari history from a life long gamer.

The Atari 2600 was one heck of a game system in its day. It had an amazing library of games which included nearly all the popular arcade titles of the time. Ms Pacman was particularly good. It also had the longest shelf life of any game system in history. The 2600 sold for 14 years. 14 years! Take that PS2!

Not to mention how well that thing was made. Some 30 years later now, Atari 2600s are still working and being played. As much as I love the 360 and PS3, I don't see them still working in 30 years.

I can't really think of a more beloved game console than the Atari 2600. Its games are still being played to this day on original Atari systems, new hardware like the Atari Flashback 2 (which I highly recommend), Jakks plug N Play controllers and being ported to new games systems in compilations like the Atari Anthology for the PS2, XBOX and PC.

[generic]

In all seriousness, I've played some of the current video games and even though the graphics are mind blowing, I really don't enjoy most of those games at all. I don't like 1st person shooter games and it seems like most games today are 1st person. They're also too complicated for me. By the time they got to the Super Nintendo, it was just too much to remember with all the buttons. I'm not as excited about graphics and complexity as the actual game play and for me the Atari 2600 and original Nintendo are just the right speed. Everyone has their own preferences - more power to them - but I just prefer the older games to the new ones.

[generic]

The 2600 sold for 14 years. 14 years! Take that PS2!

Wow! I didn't realize that, but now that you mention it, that sounds about right.

Not to mention how well that thing was made. Some 30 years later now, Atari 2600s are still working and being played. As much as I love the 360 and PS3, I don't see them still working in 30 years.

I've played my Atari 2600 more in the last 10 years than any other game system (and there have been others around here besides that one too, I just enjoy the 2600 most).

[Werewolf]

The Oddyssey got much better in the later years. My buddy had it after it had transformed into pretty much a small CPU with a keyboard built into it. There was a game called "Quest for the Rings" that was awesome and rivaled the fantasy-style games that Atari had out at the time (i.e. Adventure).

You are thinking of the Odysessy 2 which was actually pretty good. I think its most popular game was its Pacman clone KC Munchkin.

[HardyGirl]

Each to his own, but for me it's all about the Atari 2600! Who else would dare to give you games like "Lost Luggage" or "Porky's"? And who could ever forget "Name This Game" where you, the player, can send in suggestions for a name for the game! Now THAT's excitement with a personal touch! You can keep your fancy, high-tech sega system as long as I can have my 2600 games!
http://i620.photobucket.com/albums/t...AtariGames.jpg

OMG! I have almost all the games in that photo. I have 180 games for my Atari 2600, (that's here in my room), and 40 for my Intellivision II (in the garage). I don't really play w/ them that much anymore, and since I now have a toyroom (I didn't in my studio apartment), the kids don't even ask about the video games. There's too much cool vintage stuff to do!

[HardyGirl]

I remember Bob McAllister demonstrating it on Wonderama one Sunday morning. By did I bug my mother about it for the next month. Her response was "I heard it would ruin your TV set because the bright white dots would "burn into the screen" lol.

Yeah, that was the problem w/ the Telstar. All those TVs that were in the electronics dept. at your local department stores eventually sold really cheap b/c of "ghosting". When they were left on the game mode all day to demonstrate the games, they ruined those TVs. We had an old Trinitron in my classroom that my Telstar was hooked up to, and I told my kids we could only do it in 1/2 hour intervals.

[kryptosmaster]

Man, now I think I might just bust out the Atari 2600 from the garage for this weekend.

Rich

[Werewolf]

Man, now I think I might just bust out the Atari 2600 from the garage for this weekend.

Rich

If you have a working Atari 2600 PLEASE don't store it in a garage. Clean up that bad boy and give it a place of honor in your game center.

[Werewolf]

The Atari 2600 was such a fascinating game console. It wasn't the first game console, that of course goes to the Magnavox and then there were Atari's own Pong consoles, but I consider it the first true modern game console.

Most people think revisions like various Playstation "slim" updates are a new idea. Not so, the Atari 2600 had loads of revisions. There's the launch model heavy sixers (nicknamed so because it had six switches on the front and was very heavy. This model was made in California), the standard sixers, the later 4 switch model, the all black "Darth Vader" model without the fake wood panelling and the small Atari Jr. Then there are the 2600 clones like the Coleco Gemini and the Sears Telegames which came in both heavy sixer and 4 switch versions.

Too much info? I could go on and on. Yes, well, nevermind.

[HardyGirl]

The Atari 2600 was such a fascinating game console. It wasn't the first game console, that of course goes to the Magnavox and then there were Atari's own Pong consoles, but I consider it the first true modern game console.

Most people think revisions like various Playstation "slim" updates are a new idea. Not so, the Atari 2600 had loads of revisions. There's the launch model heavy sixers (nicknamed so because it had six switches on the front and was very heavy. This model was made in California), the standard sixers, the later 4 switch model, the all black "Darth Vader" model without the fake wood panelling and the small Atari Jr. Then there are the 2600 clones like the Coleco Gemini and the Sears Telegames which came in both heavy sixer and 4 switch versions.

Too much info? I could go on and on. Yes, well, nevermind.

I've had the 4 switch wood grain, and now I have the black sleek version, I got back in '87. It's so funny that the wood grain version, was mostly a cabinet, and at the top was a circuit board w/ the switches and a lot of empty space. Hence the sleeker model.

[kryptosmaster]

The Atari 2600 was such a fascinating game console. It wasn't the first game console, that of course goes to the Magnavox and then there were Atari's own Pong consoles, but I consider it the first true modern game console.

Most people think revisions like various Playstation "slim" updates are a new idea. Not so, the Atari 2600 had loads of revisions. There's the launch model heavy sixers (nicknamed so because it had six switches on the front and was very heavy. This model was made in California), the standard sixers, the later 4 switch model, the all black "Darth Vader" model without the fake wood panelling and the small Atari Jr. Then there are the 2600 clones like the Coleco Gemini and the Sears Telegames which came in both heavy sixer and 4 switch versions.

Too much info? I could go on and on. Yes, well, nevermind.

The Sears one I had was called Sears Video Arcade (I'm pretty sure but going on memory) and it LOOKED a lot like the 5200 console (all black, sleek design) but had push buttons with red LED lights that told you what was on.
Came in a big "suitcase" box and I'm pretty sure mine came with a bonus Space Invaders game. Man I wish i still had it.
I'll have to look it up online later. Maybe I can find another one just like mine to show you.
Rich

[Werewolf]

I've had the 4 switch wood grain, and now I have the black sleek version, I got back in '87.

Awesome! That's a heck of a nice model. Very cool looking. First version to be officially referred to as the 2600 too.

I currently have the 7800. Got it new when it first came out. Had a choice between the NES and 7800 for my Birthday. Went with the 7800 because I'd always had Ataris. It's nice because it plays both 7800 and 2600 games and is compatible with the 2600 contollers and paddles too.

[ScottA]

Atari ruled at my house.

[Werewolf]

The Sears one I had was called Sears Video Arcade (I'm pretty sure but going on memory) and it LOOKED a lot like the 5200 console (all black, sleek design) but had push buttons with red LED lights that told you what was on.
Came in a big "suitcase" box and I'm pretty sure mine came with a bonus Space Invaders game. Man I wish i still had it.
I'll have to look it up online later. Maybe I can find another one just like mine to show you.
Rich

I know exactly what you are talking about. It's the Sears Video Arcade 2. All black and buttons instead of switches. It was molded to look like the 7800 but was based on the 2600 hardware.

http://www.atariage.com/2600/systems...deoArcade2.jpg