Atari 2600 VCS

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gehenna

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#291853 9-Dec-2021 08:36

This mint condition piece of history made its way into my possession yesterday after I won it on Trade Me over the weekend. I never had one of these as a kid, my first console was the Grandstand (which I recently found and bought too), and then the original Sega Master System.

Anyone have one of these when they came out?

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#2829236 9-Dec-2021 09:38

Nice! You're very lucky to have such a mint piece of kit. Has it been modded for the display output, or are you going to be tuning it in via RF?

I never owned a 2600, but had a friend who had one of the later (non-wood-grain) models, and that was one of my earliest memories of gaming. I vaguely recall a decathalon game, and nearly breaking my wrist waggling the joystick to make the character run. I enjoyed Hero's Quest too, I think it was called.

Many years later I was very fortunate to get an Atari 7800 as a gift for Christmas when it was in the bargain bin. This would have been around 1991, I think, so it was well past its prime but I managed to pick up a few second-hand cartridges to play. It came with a joypad rather than a joystick. I still have it, and it still works. When I get a chance, I'm planning to mod it from RF to composite so I can more easily plug it in to show my kids what gaming was like back in the 70s/80s.

But an even earlier console I used was the Orbit Gimini 8600 console. I think it was based on the Zilog Z80 or Z81 chip, and had really primitive graphics (think Pong). But I loved that console. I generally consider that to be my computing "ground zero" moment.

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#2829257 9-Dec-2021 10:14

Oh, I had this console new, the two games which I found were great was Defender and the Tank game. I like how the switches were really switches! (a nice clunk when you flicked them)

Also Space invaders if I recall was also quite good to play!

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#2829277 9-Dec-2021 10:39

Wow, nice score :D #jealous

I had the modern release of the 2600, loved that thing :D Then got an Amiga and the 2600 got thrown into a cupboard never to be seen again. (Wonder if it still at my folks, must do some digging)

XPD / Gavin

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jen1001

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#2829298 9-Dec-2021 10:55

My grandpa in the States had one and we spent lots of time playing with it when I was a kid, unfortunately I'm pretty sure it was sold as part of his estate when he passed away.

I bought on eBay in the early 2000s, it's at my parents in France somewhere in their garage along with my Master System (dad only could only find my Super Nintendo and GameBoy Colour). Planning on looking for it at my next visit whenever the borders open lol

afe66

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#2829306 9-Dec-2021 11:01

We got one when my dad flew back from uk and burying my grandmother. Quite the status thing in early 80's nz.

Ive still got it in its original box which is on top of the cupboard next to where I am sitting now.

Next to my Acorn Electron with plus 3 expansion 3/5" drive and a Slogger ROM board also in original boxes...

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#2829319 9-Dec-2021 11:32

THinking about it, old friend's brother had the original release, and last I saw it (25 yrs ago), it was still in original box under their TV.... wonder if I need to visit :D

XPD / Gavin

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afe66

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#2829747 10-Dec-2021 07:09

What sort of electronic thingy do I need to get to connect to a modern TV via hdmi ??

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#2829764 10-Dec-2021 08:27

Something that converts from RF to HDMI.....

https://atariage.com/forums/topic/318510-getting-my-2600-to-work-on-hdmi-tv/

XPD / Gavin

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Lizard1977

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#2829767 10-Dec-2021 08:32

I haven't looked into an HDMI conversion (though I have done that for my Amiga 500), but a composite upgrade should be relatively simple and cheap:

https://www.techexpress.co.nz/collections/gaming/products/atari-2600-atari-7800-and-sinclair-zx81-composite-av-video-mod-pcb

Behodar

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#2829772 10-Dec-2021 08:42

My aunt had one of them when I was a kid. My preferred game was Pole Position. I don't remember much else!

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#2829775 10-Dec-2021 08:45

Behodar:

My aunt had one of them when I was a kid. My preferred game was Pole Position. I don't remember much else!

To the best of my knowledge there was no relationship between the game and the TV show of the same name, but every time I think of that game I think of the show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQXqHNHPLHI

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#2829783 10-Dec-2021 09:02

Loved Pitfall 2, could finish that game easily, but enjoyed exploring every area :D

Dark Chambers was fun as well (lightweight Gauntlet clone)

XPD / Gavin

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gehenna

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#2829805 10-Dec-2021 09:41

I think I came just a bit too late to gaming to experience any of these. I remember my Master System and games like Wonderboy which are far advanced from these Atari ones. But I also remember playing the school Amstrad and games like Jet Set Willy, so maybe I was on the cusp :)

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#2829807 10-Dec-2021 09:45

xpd:

Loved Pitfall 2, could finish that game easily, but enjoyed exploring every area :D

We had Pitfall 2 at home on C64. I wasn't very good at it, although I place some of that blame on the cheap joystick :P

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#2854360 20-Jan-2022 19:34

We had one as kids somewhere around the late 70's/early 80's. We had Pacman, Asteroids, Air-Sea Battle, Threshold (by Tigervision) and I think Space Invaders.

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