Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
After Hours

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

By Mark W. Kaelin April 8, 2008, 6:49 AM PDT

Image
1
of 18

100_Atari2600_dino.jpg
100_Atari2600_dino.jpg
Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

An icon of console gaming

An icon of console gaming

Video games are a multi-million dollar business these days. But this booming industry owes much of its current success to a simple little console first sold in October 1977 called the Atari 2600 Video Computer System. By today’s standards, Atari games are not much to look at, but their simple game play is still addictive, especially when nostalgia for this dinosaur gaming console kicks in.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Original box

Original box

The box for our eBay purchased unit is a little worse for wear.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Lots of stuff

Lots of stuff

There a a number of parts in the box, but something is missing.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Woodgrain

Woodgrain

Wood grain trim — perfect for the modern living room.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Symmetry

Symmetry

More binary symmetry – there are left and right switches.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Digging a hole

Digging a hole

Place your favorite game cartridge into the system and start playing.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

What a rip off

What a rip off

One problem with buying stuff off eBay is that you can’t always guarantee the quality of what you receive. In this case we did not get a power adapter. And I was really looking forward to Space Invaders.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Controllers

Controllers

Most of the controllers are here. Two paddles, but only one joystick is in the box.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Tennis anyone?

Tennis anyone?

The paddles indicate a preference for tennis type games.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Famous

Famous

The basic Atari joystick is the quintessential icon of the video console.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

This cartridge alone has 112 games. Apparently, Space Invaders is one of them.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

David Crane

David Crane

There is some nostalgia to consider. At one time, game developers were often just one guy or gal and made a point of claiming responsibility for their games.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Boxing

Boxing

Except for the fact that you use a fancy controller, I bet this boxing game looks pretty similar to Wii Boxing.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Documentation

Documentation

Hey look an owner’s manual — that this definitely a throwback to a different era.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Illustrated instructions

Illustrated instructions

Well if I had a power adapter, I would at least be able to hook it up to a television using these handy illustrated instructions.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

I remember

I remember

I used to have about five of these things laying around in the junk drawer.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Only if

Only if

If we had a power adapter, I would have taken photos of the Atari in action and they would have looked something like this.

Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

Bigger is better

Bigger is better

Only the images would be on this big LCD.

Bill Detwiler is going to borrow the proper power adapter for the Atari 2600 and we will show some real images of the Atari working soon (I hope). Of course then we are going to perform a Cracking Open on it to see what is inside.

  • After Hours
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System

    Your email has been sent

Share: Dinosaur Sighting: The Atari 2600 Video Computer System
Image of Mark W. Kaelin
By Mark W. Kaelin
Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the information technology industry, gadgets, finance, accounting, and tech-life for more than 25 years. Most recently, he has been a regular contributor to BreakingModern.com, aNewDomain.net,
  • Account Information

    Contact Mark W. Kaelin

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Mark W.'s content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Guidelines for building security policies

    PURPOSE These guidelines from TechRepublic Premium will help you define the necessary ingredients of a security policy and assist in its proper construction. They’re designed to work hand in hand with the subjective knowledge you have of your company, environment and employees. Using this information, your business can establish new policies or elaborate on those ...

    Published:  March 23, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 24, 2023, 1:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring kit: Artificial intelligence architect

    PURPOSE Recruiting an Artificial Intelligence Architect with the right combination of technical expertise and experience will require a comprehensive screening process. This Hiring Kit from TechRepublic Premium provides an adjustable framework your business can use to find, recruit and ultimately hire the right person for the job. From the hiring kit: DETERMINING FACTORS, DESIRABLE PERSONALITY ...

    Published:  March 23, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 24, 2023, 1:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring kit: Autonomous systems engineer

    PURPOSE Hiring the right Autonomous Systems Engineer requires a specific and precise recruitment process, supported by a thorough understanding of the project requirements. This Hiring Kit from TechRepublic Premium provides an adjustable framework your business can use to find, recruit and ultimately hire the right person for the job. From the hiring kit: DETERMINING FACTORS, ...

    Published:  March 23, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 24, 2023, 3:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Hiring kit: Application support engineer

    PURPOSE This Hiring Kit: Application Support Engineer from TechRepublic Premium provides an adjustable framework your business can use to find, recruit and ultimately hire the right person for the job. From the hiring kit: DETERMINING FACTORS, DESIRABLE PERSONALITY TRAITS AND SKILLSETS The skillset of successful Application Support Engineers is marked by balancing the technical expertise ...

    Published:  March 23, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 24, 2023, 5:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice