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 | + | 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 | + | 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 [[:Category:Atari 2600 Games|Atari 2600 Games]].'' | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | These are the Atari 2600 games that are important to me: | |
| − | + | <gallery> | |
| − | + | Adventure - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Adventure]]'' | |
| − | + | Centipede - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Centipede]]'' | |
| − | + | Combat - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Combat]]'' | |
| − | + | Crystal Castles - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Crystal Castles]]'' | |
| − | + | Defender - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Defender]]'' | |
| − | + | Enduro - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Enduro]]'' | |
| − | + | Frogger - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Frogger]]'' | |
| + | Jungle Hunt - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Jungle Hunt]]'' | ||
| + | Megamania - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Megamania]]'' | ||
| + | Millipede - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Millipede]]'' | ||
| + | Missile Command - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Missile Command]]'' | ||
| + | Ms. Pac-Man - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Ms. Pac-Man]]'' | ||
| + | Outlaw - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Outlaw (Atari 2600)|Outlaw]]'' | ||
| + | Pitfall! - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Pitfall!]]'' | ||
| + | Pole Position - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Pole Position]]'' | ||
| + | Spider Fighter - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Spider Fighter]]'' | ||
| + | Vanguard - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Vanguard]]'' | ||
| + | Yars' Revenge - 2600 - USA.jpg|''[[Yars' Revenge]]'' | ||
| + | </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=== | ||
| Line 31: | Line 48: | ||
* 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== | ||
| + | ===Books=== | ||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Racing the Beam - Hardcover - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|''[[Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System]]'' | ||
| + | Player's Strategy Guide, The - To Atari VCS Home Video Games - Paperback - USA.pdf|The Player's Strategy Guide - To Atari VCS Home Video Games. | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Videos=== | ||
| + | * [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. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | * [[List of winnable Atari 2600 games]] | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
| − | + | {{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600}} | |
| + | {{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. | ||
| − | [[Category: Platforms]] | + | [[Category: Video Game Platforms]] |
Revision as of 12:10, 7 February 2020
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
The Player's Strategy Guide - To Atari VCS Home Video Games.
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.
