Difference between revisions of "Atari 2600"

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[[Image:Atari 2600.jpg|thumb|256x256px|A wood panel 4-switch model.]]
 
[[Image:Atari 2600.jpg|thumb|256x256px|A wood panel 4-switch model.]]
  
The '''''Atari 2600''''', originally called the '''''Video Computer System''''', is a video game console created by [[Atari]] and first released on 1977-09-11.
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The '''''Atari 2600''''', originally called the '''''Video Computer System''''', is a video game console created by [[Atari]] and first released on 1977-09-11. It is powered by a [[MOS 6502]] microprocessor.
  
 
This was the very first home video game console I ever played, somewhere around 1986. My parents bought a used system with a bunch of games, and I played it a lot. Our set included two wireless joysticks, two regular joysticks, two paddle controllers, and one of the 4-switch models (I think the all-black one). A friend of mine in 1988 had a later Atari Jr. model.
 
This was the very first home video game console I ever played, somewhere around 1986. My parents bought a used system with a bunch of games, and I played it a lot. Our set included two wireless joysticks, two regular joysticks, two paddle controllers, and one of the 4-switch models (I think the all-black one). A friend of mine in 1988 had a later Atari Jr. model.
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Of the games I've played on the system, I have particularly enjoyed:
 
Of the games I've played on the system, I have particularly enjoyed:
 
* [[Adventure]]
 
* [[Adventure]]
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* [[Centipede]]
 
* [[Combat]]
 
* [[Combat]]
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* [[Crystal Castles]]
 
* [[Defender]]
 
* [[Defender]]
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* [[Enduro]]
 
* [[Frogger]]
 
* [[Frogger]]
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* [[Jungle Hunt]]
 
* [[Megamania]]
 
* [[Megamania]]
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* [[Millipede]]
 
* [[Missile Command]]
 
* [[Missile Command]]
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* [[Ms. Pac-Man]]
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* [[Outlaw]]
 
* [[Pitfall!]]
 
* [[Pitfall!]]
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* [[Pole Position]]
 
* [[Spider Fighter]]
 
* [[Spider Fighter]]
 
* [[Vanguard]]
 
* [[Vanguard]]
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* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600] - Wikipedia.
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600] - Wikipedia.
 
* [http://www.qotile.net/minidig qotile.net/minidig] - Decompiled Atari 2600 game source code.
 
* [http://www.qotile.net/minidig qotile.net/minidig] - Decompiled Atari 2600 game source code.
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLoJ5jcccPU youtube.com/watch?v=YLoJ5jcccPU] - Atari developers.
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7roWLrbwao youtube.com/watch?v=W7roWLrbwao] - Computerphile.
  
  
 
[[Category: Video Game Platforms]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Platforms]]

Revision as of 10:25, 13 June 2018

A wood panel 4-switch model.

The Atari 2600, originally called the Video Computer System, is a video game console created by Atari and first released on 1977-09-11. It is powered by a MOS 6502 microprocessor.

This was the very first home video game console I ever played, somewhere around 1986. My parents bought a used system with a bunch of games, and I played it a lot. Our set included two wireless joysticks, two regular joysticks, two paddle controllers, and one of the 4-switch models (I think the all-black one). A friend of mine in 1988 had a later Atari Jr. model.

Games

See all Atari 2600 Games.

Of the games I've played on the system, I have particularly enjoyed:

Review

Good

  • The joysticks were very solid and could take a lot of abuse.
  • Compared to its competitors, this platform had the best game library of the day.
  • For a system designed to be able to play Pong, and not much else, it did amazingly well.

Bad

  • Having only one button on the joystick made it pretty much impossible to make a complex game. Several developers tried with only limited success.
  • The vast majority of the games released on the platform are terrible.
  • The system's audio capabilities are very primitive.
  • The controller ports are stupidly placed on the back on the console.
  • The joystick's cover could easily be pulled off, and required unscrewing the base to put it back on again.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Links