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. It is powered by a [[MOS 6502]] microprocessor. | + | The '''Atari 2600''', originally called the '''Video Computer System''', is a second generation [[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 1985. 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 1985. 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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Yars' Revenge - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Yars' Revenge]]'' | Yars' Revenge - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Yars' Revenge]]'' | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Hardware== | ||
+ | * [[Atari 2600 Driving Controller]] | ||
+ | * [[Atari 2600 Joystick]] | ||
+ | * [[Atari 2600 Keyboard Controller]] | ||
+ | * [[Atari 2600 Paddle Controllers]] | ||
==Review== | ==Review== | ||
===Good=== | ===Good=== | ||
− | |||
* Compared to its competitors, this platform had the best game library of the day. | * Compared to its competitors, this platform had the best game library of the day. | ||
− | * For a system designed to be able to play Pong | + | * The joysticks were very solid and could take a lot of abuse, many of them are still working today. Atari also used the standard 9-pin D-connector rather than invent a proprietary plug which was nice for 3rd party designers. |
+ | * For a system designed to be able to play ''Pong'' and not much else, it did amazingly well. | ||
===Bad=== | ===Bad=== | ||
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* The system's audio capabilities are very primitive. | * The system's audio capabilities are very primitive. | ||
* The controller ports are stupidly placed on the back on the console. | * The controller ports are stupidly placed on the back on the console. | ||
− | |||
− | ==Ugly== | + | ===Ugly=== |
* Nothing. | * Nothing. | ||
==Media== | ==Media== | ||
+ | ===Books=== | ||
+ | <gallery> | ||
+ | Racing the Beam - Hardcover - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''[[Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System]]'' | ||
+ | </gallery> | ||
+ | |||
===Videos=== | ===Videos=== | ||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLoJ5jcccPU youtube.com/watch?v=YLoJ5jcccPU] - Atari developers. | * [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. | * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7roWLrbwao youtube.com/watch?v=W7roWLrbwao] - Computerphile. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==See Also== | ||
+ | * [[List of winnable Atari 2600 games]] | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600}} | {{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600}} | ||
{{Link|MobyGames|https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/atari-2600/list-games}} | {{Link|MobyGames|https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/atari-2600/list-games}} | ||
+ | {{Link|VGMPF|2=http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Atari_2600}} | ||
* [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. |
Revision as of 17:39, 4 November 2019
The Atari 2600, originally called the Video Computer System, is a second generation 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 1985. 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.
Contents
Games
- See all Atari 2600 Games.
These are the Atari 2600 games that are important to me:
Hardware
- Atari 2600 Driving Controller
- Atari 2600 Joystick
- Atari 2600 Keyboard Controller
- Atari 2600 Paddle Controllers
Review
Good
- Compared to its competitors, this platform had the best game library of the day.
- The joysticks were very solid and could take a lot of abuse, many of them are still working today. Atari also used the standard 9-pin D-connector rather than invent a proprietary plug which was nice for 3rd party designers.
- 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.
Ugly
- Nothing.
Media
Books
Videos
- youtube.com/watch?v=YLoJ5jcccPU - Atari developers.
- youtube.com/watch?v=W7roWLrbwao - Computerphile.
See Also
Links
- qotile.net/minidig - Decompiled Atari 2600 game source code.