Thread: If Atari were to make a 2600-friendly console....

Okay. So the Atari 2600 series was clunky, had little processing power, and had primitive graphics, but it was one of the first popular consoles and it made video gaming at home possible.

I never owned a real 2600 console, but Coleco made a clone called Gemini that ran Coleco games as well as Atari 2600 games.

This is more of a what-if query than something realistic, but if a company were to make a console that played new games and had a retro capability to also play 2600 games, would it be something you'd get? (Assuming you had 2600 cartridges, that is.)

Probably not. I actually did own a CX2600 back in the day. I also had one of the earliest computer game consoles -- it was a large black box with two paddles made by Phillips, and you could only play one game on it, Pong. There's a picture of it here.

The Atari was pretty advanced compared to this

Do we really want to take that many steps backwards though? I mean, come on, do you remember some of those games? I remember playing Atari Football way back when and thinking, "I'd have more fun on my electric football field!" Space Invaders was okay, but I found it strange you couldn't get a score past 99,999. What idiot forgot to make the score 6-figures?! Same with Asteroids too, I think. The Atari 2600 was great for its time, and we loved the games. But let's face it, we're older and wiser now.

Originally Posted by scribesunlimited

Do we really want to take that many steps backwards though? I mean, come on, do you remember some of those games? I remember playing Atari Football way back when and thinking, "I'd have more fun on my electric football field!" Space Invaders was okay, but I found it strange you couldn't get a score past 99,999. What idiot forgot to make the score 6-figures?! Same with Asteroids too, I think. The Atari 2600 was great for its time, and we loved the games. But let's face it, we're older and wiser now.

I know such a device would be too retro for some, and I'm sure I would tire of the primitive graphics after maybe a week or so, but I don't know...it might be fun to see if I could get past Wave 12 of Star Wars: The Arcade Game.

Originally Posted by alexfardreamer@aol.com

I know such a device would be too retro for some, and I'm sure I would tire of the primitive graphics after maybe a week or so, but I don't know...it might be fun to see if I could get past Wave 12 of Star Wars: The Arcade Game.

Well, whatever you do, don't challenge a good player at Pac-man. In the two-player version, players take turns to play. It's not fun to see someone reach level 30 before you even get a chance to start.

Originally Posted by Tommy

Well, whatever you do, don't challenge a good player at Pac-man. In the two-player version, players take turns to play. It's not fun to see someone reach level 30 before you even get a chance to start.

I never really was a Pac-man guy. I could play maybe 5 or 6 screens but then I'd get chomped. Although I liked the "Pacman Fever" song by Buckner and Garcia. Ah, memories.

Originally Posted by scribesunlimited

I never really was a Pac-man guy. I could play maybe 5 or 6 screens but then I'd get chomped. Although I liked the "Pacman Fever" song by Buckner and Garcia. Ah, memories.

Ha, I still remember that song too. It's not really reminiscent of the game though. The game is less.. electronic. It goes on forever, and ever, and ever. It's a game people play for hours at, it's not a "fever" type game. I couldn't get past the first few screens either.

I don't know if I would, but my parents definitely would. My dad still has a bunch of those old games somewhere. I have played some of them on the computer and it reminds you that they aren't exactly what we remember them to be. They were awesome back in the day, cause it was all we had, but now? Nah, the are a let down. I'll keep the memories instead, thanks.

Originally Posted by alexfardreamer@aol.com

Okay. So the Atari 2600 series was clunky, had little processing power, and had primitive graphics, but it was one of the first popular consoles and it made video gaming at home possible.

I never owned a real 2600 console, but Coleco made a clone called Gemini that ran Coleco games as well as Atari 2600 games.

This is more of a what-if query than something realistic, but if a company were to make a console that played new games and had a retro capability to also play 2600 games, would it be something you'd get? (Assuming you had 2600 cartridges, that is.)

I will be one of those who will buy that type of console. I just want to try if the old cartridges that I have still works.