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The Atari 2600 is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977 as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS), it popularized microprocessor -based hardware and games stored on swappable ROM cartridges, a format first used with the Fairchild Channel F in 1976.
After Warner Brother sold Atari’s home division to former Commodore CEO Jack Tramiel in 1984, Atari would go on with the release of both the Atari 7800 and a lower-cost version of the 2600, called the Atari 2600 Jr. While the 2800 was certainly an option, the 2800 was not as cheap to produce so Tramiel opted for the most cost-effective ...
- Atari Consoles
- Atari Handhelds
- Atari Computers
- Canceled Atari Hardware
Atari Pong
Most of us have grown up playing Pong in the arcades, but only a few people owned the Atari Pong. The Atari’s journey began with the pong, a table tennis simulator that blew us away when it was first released. To this day, it stands as the first commercially successful video game. Its success influenced other companies to copy the formula. Hence, an array of clones have emerged, like Coleco and the Commodore. Actually, what made Pong a great deal is the fact that it allowed players to hook up...
Atari Video Pinball series
Manufactured, marketed, and released by Atari back in 1977, the Video Pinball brand is a series of single-player dedicated home video game consoles launched around the same period as the Atari 2600 and the Atari Stunt Cycle. Looking back, the origins of this console are a delight to explore nowadays. Before Pong came into existence, the developer and designer behind the Pong, Harold Leebecame burnt out from his work designing arcade game boards. As a result, he left Atari. Shortly after his d...
Atari’s Stunt Cycle’s Home Console
After a humble debut in the arcades back in 1976, Atari would follow up with two dedicated console versions a year later. The first version branded Stunt Cycle plays four games: the original game and three variants titled Enduro, DragRace, and Motocross. Based on the AY-3-8760 chip by the now-defunct General Instrument, the games could be played using the Handlebar grips installed on the chip. Players were able to wheelie, whip, and even jump up to 32 onscreen buses, which was pretty impressi...
The handheld version of Touch Me
First introduced as an arcade game in 1974, Touch Me was eventually adapted into a handheld version in 1978. This handheld release marked one of Atari’s strongest entries into the handheld market and is considered one of the earliest attempts to be released in the gaming industry. This orange handheld was tiny, featuring four colorful buttons: blue, yellow, red, and green. Four additional buttons were included along with a turn ON/Off slot in case you want to call it a day. For those interest...
Atari Lynx
Lynx was Atari’s answer to Nintendo’s Gameboy, TurboExpress, and Sega’s Game Gear handhelds. And as always, Atari never disappoints, making sure it always surprises the world with something new. Lynx was a technological step forward as it was the first handheld with an LCD color display compared to the original Game Boy. Thanks to its advanced graphics at the time and the ambidextrous design, Lynx managed to sell very well, boasting over 3 million units sold according to the Wikipedia page.
Atari Lynx II
Following the moderate success of the Atari Lynx, the company introduced the Atari Lynx II to the market in July 1991, only to discontinue it a year later. This upgraded iteration of the console boasted several enhancements, notably a redesign that made it slightly smaller and more symmetrical, optimizing comfort for handheld use. The screen was also brighter, and Atari incorporated a new feature that allowed players to turn off the screen using a blacklight button, conserving energy during b...
Atari 400
The Atari 400 is a home computer that is part of the 8-bit family series. The look of this thing may deceive you, but at the time, it managed to sell 4 million units between 1979 and 1992 alongside the more powerful Atari 800. These systems not only were a technical marvel when they came out, but they also helped make home computers go mainstream. The Atari 400 cost 550 US Dollars back then. As of right now, the cost of a brand new one is 1960$ among retro collectors.
Atari 800
A slightly powerful home computer in comparison with the Atari 400 and is also part of the 8-bit family series of consoles. Both the Atari 400 and 800 were released in November 1979 and came packed with plug-and-play peripherals using the Atari SIO serial bus. Unlike, the Atari 400 which could fit up to 16kb of DRAM, the Atari 800 allowed easy RAM upgrades up to 48KB. Thanks to its advanced capabilities it made gaming a whole lot more popular.
Atari 1200XL
The Atari 1200XL was first presented at the Winter CES on January 6-9, 1983, and it shipped in February of the year for the consumer. This computer which is part of the 8-bit family, boasted 64kb of RAM, a re-designed keyboard (featuring four function keys and a help key), and a redesigned cable port layout. Originally announced at a retail price of 1000$, with no available units in Europe, the price was ultimately changed to 899$. The 1200XL was ultimately discontinued a few months after its...
Atari Game Brain
An unreleased home video game console that was intended to be released back in June 1978 by Atari. Unfortunately, the system is capable of running only 10 games converted from previous Atari dedicated consoles. Games such as Pong, Stunt Cycle, Super Pong, Ultra Pong, and more. The system was canceled around 1978 since it wasn’t meant to be a big seller for Atari. Similar to the Atari 2600, Game Brain would have featured a ROM Cartridge. However, the system didn’t include a set of controllers...
Atari Cosmos
Yet another unreleased piece of hardware by Atari that was intended to be released somewhat between 1978 to 1981. Sadly, that didn’t happen. Similar to the Atari Game Brain, it would have come included with 9 games. Including Asteroids, Road Runner, Superman, Dodge ’em, Sea Battle, and more. Work on the Atari Cosmos was initiated back in 1978 by Atari Inc. engineers Roger Hector, Allan Alcorn, and Harry Jenkins. As a tabletop handheld electronic system, it would have benefited from the hologr...
Atari 2700
The Atari 2700 — or known as the Atari Remote Control VCS — is a prototype home console that was sadly not launched. The latter was intended to be one of the follow-ups to the commercially successful Atari 2600. The system would have included several new interesting features such as wireless controllers featuring an amalgamation of a joystick and paddle that would work via radio signals, touch-sensitive switches, and a wedge-shaped case. Surprisingly, the Atari 2700 was fully compatible with...
The Atari 2800 had several new and unique features over the original Atari 2600/2600A systems. The Atari 2800 had (4) four controller ports instead of the standard (2) two on the Atari 2600's. The unit also came with a new type of all-in-one controllers designed by John Amber which sat in the users palm quite comfortably.
May 7, 2002 · The first "CoJag" game is eventually released as Area 51. Atari Corp. releases Tempest 2000 for the Jaguar. The game quickly becomes a best seller, and eventually reaches total sales of over 350,000 copies. Atari Corp. stops supporting the Lynx. (September) Atari Corp. announces plans to release a modem for the Jaguar. It is never released.
The Atari 2800 was the Japanese version of the Atari 2600. It was released in 1983, and was the first Japan specific release of a 2600 console, though the 2600 was distributed before by companies like Epoch. The Atari 2800 was released a short time after the Family Computer from Ninento (Famicom) but it did not do well in the Japanese market.
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Who made the Atari 2800 VCS?
The 2800 was Atari's entry into the Japanese home videogame sweepstakes. Although various companies like Epoch had imported and distributed the 2600 in Japan, it was never officially supported nor was it heavily promoted. Essentially a re-styled 2600, the 2800 made its debut in the Spring of 1983. Although it's not known why Atari decided to ...
