- Home games console developed by Atari and released in Europe in 1978.
- One of the first popular home consoles, selling 30 million units worldwide.
- Top titles include Pac-Man, Pitfall!, Asteroids, Missile Command, and Combat.
- Widely credited with introducing home video games to the mass market.
- Used ROM cartridge games and featured support for third-party developers.
Atari 2600. view larger
( https://images-eu.ssl-images-.com/images/G/02/uk-videogames/2014/ConsoleComp/us/Atari2600_Console_lg._V326504675_.jpg )
Have you played Atari today?
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Launched in Europe in 1978, the original Atari was one of the
most popular home video game consoles of its time. Originally
known simply as the Atari VCS (Video Computer System), the
console became known as the 2600 after the release of its
successor, the Atari 5200. Having sold around 30 million units
worldwide, the 2600 brought the thrills of arcade gaming into the
living room, and was one of the first – and best – machines to do
so.
Initially bundled with Combat, the Atari 2600 hit North American
stores in September 1977, competing directly with the Fairchild
Channel F (then known as the Video Entertainment System).
Adopting a similar approach to the Fairchild console, the Atari
VCS popularised the use of ROM cartridges with game code, where
previously all games were hard-coded into their machines. This
maximised development rtunities.
The Atari dominated the market in the early 1980s, with key game
licenses helping to push sales massively, and by 1982 had sold
over 10 million units worldwide. With its vast library of games
and simple yet engaging mechanics, the Atari 2600 set the stage
for the future development and growth of home video gaming, and
inspired a generation of future developers and fanatics.
Games that defined a generation
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The Atari 2600 was the ship home console to house some of the
most defining titles in video game history. Top-selling releases
include Pitfall! by third-party developer Activision, Sega's
hugely well received Missile Command, and of course the truly
legendary Pac-Man. Space shooters such as Asteroids and Space
Invaders played a huge part in attracting the masses to the
medium, and genres were even born of the console in the form of
titles like Adventure, one of the first games identified as
'action-adventure'. Sports games, too, saw a grand birth on the
Atari in the form of the RealSports series, and there were even
some video game tie-ins with popular media franchises, including
Star Wars, James Bond, and Spider-Man.
Atari joystick. view larger
( https://images-eu.ssl-images-.com/images/G/02/uk-videogames/2014/ConsoleComp/us/Atari2600_Joystick_lg._V326504004_.jpg )
Controllers
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Making the arcade experience of gameplay as authentic as
possible, Atari released their console with joystick controllers.
Paddle controllers were also popular, and a range of third-party
components were also produced for the console.
Black Atari. view larger
( https://images-eu.ssl-images-.com/images/G/02/uk-videogames/2014/ConsoleComp/us/Atari2600_DarthVader_lg._V326504007_.jpg )
Redesigns
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Riding on the popularity of the original console, the Atari 2600
was redesigned a number of times – variations included the 1982
black "Darth Vader" model, six-switch versions, and the Atari
2600 Jr., a slimline version of the machine.
Pac-Man. Missile Command. Pitfall! Space Invaders.