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.
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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>
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==Hardware==
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* [[Atari 2600 Driving Controller]]
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* [[Atari 2600 Joystick]]
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* [[Atari 2600 Keyboard Controller]]
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* [[Atari 2600 Paddle Controllers]]
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
 
===Good===
 
===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.
 
* 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.
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* 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.
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* 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.
* The joystick's cover could easily be pulled off, and required unscrewing the base to put it back on again.
 
  
==Ugly==
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===Ugly===
 
* Nothing.
 
* Nothing.
  
 
==Media==
 
==Media==
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===Books===
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<gallery>
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Racing the Beam - Hardcover - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''[[Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System]]''
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</gallery>
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===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.
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 +
==See Also==
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* [[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}}
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{{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

A wood panel 4-switch model.

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.

Games

See all Atari 2600 Games.

These are the Atari 2600 games that are important to me:

Hardware

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

See Also

Links

Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-MobyGames.png  Link-VGMPF.png