Atari 2600 Video Computer System

[MMBBfan327]

Who here has great memories of this wonderful Video Game System?

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

ME!

I love Atari! I STILL have all my stuff and play it faithfully to this day. Folks think i'm nuts...but the system still rocks and is definately a classic.

Nolan sure knew what he was doing !

[captslappy]

Yep ditto. Like I just said in my other post I got a Flashback II with about 40 atari games built in and I love it. I'll take that any day over X-box or playstation. People think I'm crazy but that's the kind of games I like. I'd still love to get a few upright arcade games someday tho more as collectors items. I still haven't found any system or website that has classic Donkey Kong.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Captain...why don't you just break down and buy the REAL thing? Buy a Atari on E-bay and you can grab a original Donkey Kong cartridge pretty cheaply. I have one and it's surreal. Of course, nothing beats the real upright version. Next time you go to Walt Disney World..stay at the All Star Music Resort. They have a awesome retro arcade with many, many "modern" machines that play all the retro classics. Last time i was there this Septemeber, i was playing Ms. Pac Man, Galaxian, Centipede ( RULES!!!), Asteroids, Donkey Kong...and even Qix!

S***!! Qix of all things man!!

Not to mention they also had ancients like Missle Command and others i forget! It was great!!! Mortal Combat was there too...not that i'm into that but i know it's considered a "classic" with today's gaming fans.

[MMBBfan327]

I even bought an Atari 2600 Video Computer System off eBay, and today I bought the original Pac-Man cartridge for $1!!! Say Jenn, did they happen to have Q*Bert? Or Pole Position? Those are my top 2, but I love a WHOLE bunch more!!!! Yeah, Captain--you SHOULD buy Atari off eBay! The prices aren't as bad as you think...;)

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

The original Pac-Man for the Atari 2600 has the honor of being the worst Atari cartridge game ever. It's pretty bad as it was rushed out to make the Christmas sell through in 82'. It's slow and crappy, and the graphics suck. Try to grab the 2600 version of "Ms Pac-Man". This came out a year later and is FAR BETTER graphic-wise and play wise. Trust me on this! You will probably still enjoy Pac Man, but the later version (Ms.) is lightyears better. Even the sound effects are better!

Yes, both Pole Position and Q*Bert were made for the 2600. Q*Bert was put out by Parker Brothers Games ( video division) and the other by Atari itself. Both are fine games, Q*Bert i favor better though. I was never a huge Pole Position fan...at least the Atari version.

There are hundreds of games for the 2600..and another couple hundred that were made by spin off companies trying to cash in on the home game system craze of the early 80's. The best games, play/graphic/sound wise for the 2600 were put out by Activision. Many of the programmers who created games like Kaboom, SeaQuest, and Stampede went on to make names for themselves in later years with Nintendo and PC gaming. Most Activision games are gems. Highlights i have enjoyed are Kaboom, SeaQuest, Meglamania, Dolphin,Grand Prix, and Stampede.

Best Atari games i have played and still find challanging:
Centipede
Joust
Ms. Pac Man
Defender
Space Invaders
E.T.
Dig Dug
Phoenix
many others i can't recall at this late hour!