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The Atari 2600

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 1 person)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #1784 in Games, #79030 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

The Gaming System That Started It All

 

The original Atari 2600 Video Computer System that started the home video game revolution.

The Atari 2600, released in October, 1977, was the first successful video game console to use plug-in cartridges instead of having one or more games built in. Originally known as the Atari Video Computer System - the machine's name was changed to "Atari 2600" (from the unit's Atari part number, CX2600) in 1982, after the release of the more advanced Atari 5200. It was wildly successful, and during the 1980s, "Atari" was a synonym for this model in mainstream media. The 2600 was typically bundled with two joystick controllers, a conjoined pair of paddle controllers, and a cartridge game.

The Original Atari Commerical 

Check out the original Atari 2600 commerical. If you are old enough, you will remember the theme - "Have you played Atari today?"

Also take note how the game was marketed as fun for the whole family. Even Grandma likes a good game of Space Invaders.

Atari 2600 Commercial 2

Classic Videogame Commercials - Atari 2600 [2] by VinĂ­cios Duarte [Brazil]

Runtime: 0:28
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Another Atari 2600 Commercial 

This is another Atari 2600 commerical. What makes this interesting is that you can get an idea of how game cartridges and accessories were available for the console. It is mind boggling!

Atari 2600 Commercial - Give Me Everything

I'd like an Atari 2600 system please and everything that goes with it.

Runtime: 0:29
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Play Your Favorite Atari 2600 New Hardware 

Atari 2600 Classics 10-in-1 TV Games

Amazon Price: (as of 10/07/2008)

Atari Flashback 2.0

Amazon Price: $44.97 (as of 10/07/2008)

Other Informative Sites About The Atari 2600 

More sites to check out for further information about the Atari 2600.
AtariAge - Atari 2600 Rarity Guide Search
AtariAge - News, message boards, rarity guides, game database, manuals, pictures, articles, links, and much more.

How To Beat Home Videogames 

Early series on how to play video games. This segment covered how to play the game Pitfall. This was a title released by Activision.

How To Beat Home Video Games (Pitfall Segment)

This is a preview clip from "How To Beat Home Video Games", a short-lived video game strategy series focusing on Atari 2600 games. This particular segment focuses on Pitfall (for the Atari 2600). Originally released in 1982.

Runtime: 2:51
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Pictures Related To The Atari 2600 

Atari 2600 by See El Photo

The Atari 2600 Game Console.

Atari 2600 Logo by James UK

The Atari logo.

Atari 2600 Manual by SemperNovus

The Atari 2600 manual.

Atari 2600 cartridges by Tom Spaulding

Stacks of Atari 2600 cartridges.

Atari 2600 Joystick by Brian.O'Blivion

The original Atari 2600 Joystick.

Atari 2600 by jbs

The original packaging from the store.

Atari 2600 by tomservo

Finding your Atari at the swap meet or garage sale.

Pitfall Atari 2600 by pacifisticuffs

Screen shot of Pitfall as played on the Atari.

Haunted_house_atari_2600 by moadib856

Haunted house on the Atari.

DSC06464 by reptile house

A Chopper Command cartridge.

Top Ten Games On The Atari 2600 

Below are the top ten games I remember playing on the Atari 2600.

Note: There were over 500 games released for the Atari over the ten years it was in production!
  1. Defender
  2. Pacman
  3. Asteroids
  4. Frogger
  5. Centipede
  6. Berzerk
  7. Battlezone
  8. Missile Command
  9. Space Invaders
  10. Stargate

Do You Remeber The Atari 2600? 

Tell me about your gaming experiences on the Atari 2600? Also, let me know if you have come up with a creative mods or hacks. Would love to hear about them.

WCAuctions

Nice Lens, I like the Old School Commercials

LOL

Brandon

Posted April 28, 2008

coachbriany

I love the Activision games. MegaMania was the best, then boxing, and stampede.

Kaboom was a blast.

I have two consoles I have picked up over the years as well as numerous games.

I need some new paddles.

Posted January 12, 2008

Charles

I remember playing COMBAT, the original game that came with the console at the time I got mine. There was this strange flaw in it that I used to my advantage. You could run the tank into the corner and it would come out in another part of the screen. Had loads of fun with that game.

Posted June 21, 2007

fefe

I remember the Atari 2600 as being fun when I was a kid in the 80s, but I didn't have as much fun as those people in the first commercial. :) I remember getting a Nintendo and then don't know what happened to the Atari after that. Now I have one of those little Ataris with built in games.

Posted November 25, 2006

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