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Atari 2600

1977-09-01

The Atari 2600, branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocessor-based hardware and games stored on swappable ROM cartridges, a format first used with the Fairchild Channel F in 1976. The VCS was bundled with two joystick controllers, a conjoined pair of paddle controllers, and a game cartridge - initially Combat and later Pac-Man.

(4.2)

James Taylor

Play Stupid Games, Get Stupid Prizes

283d • Review

Atari 2600

Recently acquired one of these from some family. It is very family friendly and easy to use for young kids. Attention span can be difficult with some of the games, but its still great. 100% recommend everyone play one.

Mason Thibodeau

The Hero of Hogwarts

390d • Review • edited

Atari 2600

My first video game experience was on this console playing this at my uncles. First Atari games I ever played was pong and space invaders.

rescuejoe84

Lost My Marbles

556d • Review • edited

Atari 2600

Grandparent's had one. First gaming system I played. Pitfall, dig dug, tanks, E.T.

Dan Tucker

I'm Not Old, I'm Retro

665d • Review

Atari 2600

I have to rate this in the context of the time and not hindsight (not that I was around then), but interchangeable games? No unit did that. Sure you look back now and it is primitive and ancient, but mind-blowing to have in a home.

theAld3n

Lost My Marbles

666d • Review • edited

Atari 2600

It’s hard to look back on these systems with any amount of love compared to what’s available today.

Brian McGuinness

A little TOO Raph

666d • Review

Atari 2600

I can still hear all the sounds (all 4 of them) from when I was a kid. I played Frogger, Space Invaders, and Spider-Man constantly back in the day. I was 4 years old and here was this weird brown wooden box thing that played games on the TV and I was hooked ever since.
If anyone says these games hold up, they're lying. 99% of them don't. And they're not supposed to. But they were the beginning of this crazy hobby we love so much which is why it's so important.

Dos Andres

Never Sandbag

668d • Review

Atari 2600

Very faint memories of playing Frogger on this. I mean like I was probably 4. So I say average rating for my first introduction to video games.

BitzDad

#1 in the World

731d • Review

Atari 2600

Classic, for sure. But doesn't hold up the way the NES does.

JediJohann

Bowser Main

731d • Review

Atari 2600

Grandpa, tell me about when you were a kid.

Well, our video games were just groups of squares on a screen which maybe resembled something if you squinted hard enough. But it was the coolest thing out there.

Mamba

Mamba Mentality

751d • Review • edited

Atari 2600

Played tomates this system at my uncles house but he only had Pong. Had a lot of fun, but he also had SMB3 on the NES so we didn’t play this much.

Gargada

Dungeon Master

751d • Review

Atari 2600

Hard debate between 3 and 4 stars. If I could do 3.5, I would. The Atari brought gaming home in a big way. It wasn't the first home system, as both the Odyssey and Telstar came before, but the Atari 2600 was possibly the most popular and innovative. It definitely made the idea of a cartridge popular, so popular that it basically never died out.

Jeff Tiberi

Founding Cr3w

751d • Review

Atari 2600

The original bad boy! Atari releases a anthology twice a year easily and they still do well. The idea of playing arcade games at home in the 70s was insane. That is until et came out. This system really needs to be looked at with rose colored shades. It was amazing for the time. But definitely doesn't hold up as a whole today.