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. | + | 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]] | ||
+ | * [[Centipede]] | ||
* [[Combat]] | * [[Combat]] | ||
+ | * [[Crystal Castles]] | ||
* [[Defender]] | * [[Defender]] | ||
+ | * [[Enduro]] | ||
* [[Frogger]] | * [[Frogger]] | ||
+ | * [[Jungle Hunt]] | ||
* [[Megamania]] | * [[Megamania]] | ||
+ | * [[Millipede]] | ||
* [[Missile Command]] | * [[Missile Command]] | ||
+ | * [[Ms. Pac-Man]] | ||
+ | * [[Outlaw]] | ||
* [[Pitfall!]] | * [[Pitfall!]] | ||
+ | * [[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. | ||
+ | * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLoJ5jcccPU youtube.com/watch?v=YLoJ5jcccPU] - Atari developers. | ||
+ | * [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
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:
- Adventure
- Centipede
- Combat
- Crystal Castles
- Defender
- Enduro
- Frogger
- Jungle Hunt
- Megamania
- Millipede
- Missile Command
- Ms. Pac-Man
- Outlaw
- Pitfall!
- Pole Position
- Spider Fighter
- Vanguard
- Yars' Revenge
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
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600 - Wikipedia.
- qotile.net/minidig - Decompiled Atari 2600 game source code.
- youtube.com/watch?v=YLoJ5jcccPU - Atari developers.
- youtube.com/watch?v=W7roWLrbwao - Computerphile.