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 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. |
Revision as of 22:47, 15 February 2019
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 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:
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.
Media
Videos
- youtube.com/watch?v=YLoJ5jcccPU - Atari developers.
- youtube.com/watch?v=W7roWLrbwao - Computerphile.
Links
- qotile.net/minidig - Decompiled Atari 2600 game source code.