The Atari 2600 Is Back, Backward Compatible, And It’s Got Wood


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The Atari 2600–the console that shook the world in the late 70s and early 80s–is back. Atari, in partnership with PLAION, has today unveiled a “modern-day, faithful recreation” of the console that both dominated the North American market and led to the video game crash of 1983.

The remake, which takes its visual inspiration from the four-switch CX2600-A model from 1980, will launch worldwide on November 17 and is now available to pre-order for $129.99 (€119.99 / £99.99).

Purists are thoroughly catered to, thanks to the inclusion of the Atari 2600+’s CX40+, “recreated with the same size and layout as the original 2600 Joystick Controller for that added touch of nostalgia.”

Much like its predecessor, it’s got wood–that natural panel is as authentic as it gets. To further push the spirit of the original Atari 2600, it’s also backward compatible with both 2600 and 7800 games...

The Atari 2600+ and controller on a reflective surface.

source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattgardner1/2023/08/22/the-atari-2600-is-back-backward-compatible-and-its-got-wood/?sh=554600ae5255

Ah the memories of a sore thumb after hours of playing.....

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On 22/08/2023 at 10:57, primortal said:

Ah the memories of a sore thumb after hours of playing.....

Regrettably, yes..

Wonder if they include the "paddle" Similar to this:

Atari 2600 Controller Variations - The Database for all console colors ...

wow, all that buildup just to announce they're manufacturing the 2600 again but with current hardware/designs

this isn't going to attract anyone outside of the nostalgic enthusiast space and I don't think that space is as big as Atari is hoping.

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On 22/08/2023 at 12:13, Brandon H said:

wow, all that buildup just to announce they're manufacturing the 2600 again but with current hardware/designs

this isn't going to attract anyone outside of the nostalgic enthusiast space and I don't think that space is as big as Atari is hoping.

Its not very big, but they do spend A LOT of money.

On 22/08/2023 at 11:21, Xenon said:

Its not very big, but they do spend A LOT of money.

yes but also depends on the type of enthusiast. many would prefer to have the original hardware anyway over a recreation like this if they can help it.

On 22/08/2023 at 09:13, Brandon H said:

wow, all that buildup just to announce they're manufacturing the 2600 again but with current hardware/designs

this isn't going to attract anyone outside of the nostalgic enthusiast space and I don't think that space is as big as Atari is hoping.

100% agree with this statement. They're going for the GenX-ers that want to relive their youth, the old heads

I would totally get this. I have  ~100 games from the 2600. I actually have some 7600 games, but I can't play them, as I don't have that system.

This is like my whole childhood. (in a box)

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On 22/08/2023 at 19:19, adam7288 said:

I had a 2600 when I was 4 and my friends had nes. 2600 sucked. The games do not hold up.

You're comparing 8bit to 16bit.. and no doubt more space..

On 22/08/2023 at 12:03, Mindovermaster said:

Regrettably, yes..

Wonder if they include the "paddle" Similar to this:

 

That would be nice, saw the image of the paddle and out of nowhere Warlords immediately popped into mind, even after 40something years.  Miss beating my brothers on that one.

On 22/08/2023 at 20:01, Max Norris said:

That would be nice, saw the image of the paddle and out of nowhere Warlords immediately popped into mind, even after 40something years.  Miss beating my brothers on that one.

I liked Warlords, too. I wasn't the best at it, but was addicting..

On 22/08/2023 at 20:34, Mindovermaster said:

You're comparing 8bit to 16bit.. and no doubt more space..

NES was an 8-bit  CPU also, NES had a 6502, 2600 had a 6507? 6507 was a stripped down version of the 6502 which only had 13 address lines instead of 16 the data bus on both was 8 bit, but the 6507 addressed way less address space so it could only address 8KB of memory i think it was unlike the NES which had the full 16-bit address space a whole 64KB

On 22/08/2023 at 20:34, Mindovermaster said:

You're comparing 8bit to 16bit.. and no doubt more space..

Regardless of bits and tech, the games, sucked. They are not fun. They were barely fun when I would play them back in the day. It was all my household had so we were forced to play. Even at that age, I knew that it was not good.

On 22/08/2023 at 21:40, neufuse said:

NES was an 8-bit  CPU also, NES had a 6502, 2600 had a 6507? 6507 was a stripped down version of the 6502 which only had 13 address lines instead of 16 the data bus on both was 8 bit, but the 6507 addressed way less address space so it could only address 8KB of memory i think it was unlike the NES which had the full 16-bit address space a whole 64KB

I thought NES was 16bit.. /shrug Thanks for clearing that up.

On 22/08/2023 at 21:59, adam7288 said:

Regardless of bits and tech, the games, sucked. They are not fun. They were barely fun when I would play them back in the day. It was all my household had so we were forced to play. Even at that age, I knew that it was not good.

Define "fun". I remember playing the Atari for hours and hours a day. There's a LOT of choices. E.T. wasn't that fun, I agree, but there are some excellent names in there.

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It will be more interesting to young generation to have the atari 2600 games but in a remastered design... it may not attract the old folks that like the original games but a remastered atari 2600 games with 2023 graphics detail will be very insteresting.

  • 2 weeks later...

Not to be outdone, but Atari just announced a 50th Anniversary upright.

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Atari has partnered with the arcade reproduction specialists at Arcade1Up on this 50th Anniversary Deluxe Arcade Machine, exclusively available at Atari.com. Packed with the games that defined Atari’s history, this machine celebrates Atari’s semi-centennial anniversary with a curated arcade collection. Includes 14 arcade classics and 50 Atari 2600 games — the largest selection of game titles to be released on an Arcade1Up Deluxe machine yet!

https://atari.com/products/arcade1up-atari-50th-anniversary-deluxe-arcade-machine

It's cheaper than I thought and it looks like it's delivered in a flat-pack.

On 05/09/2023 at 14:50, primortal said:

Not to be outdone, but Atari just announced a 50th Anniversary upright.

https://atari.com/products/arcade1up-atari-50th-anniversary-deluxe-arcade-machine

It's cheaper than I thought and it looks like it's delivered in a flat-pack.

too much money for an arcade system... I pass 😆

  • 2 months later...

This is a "great idea" that I don't think too many people will buy

I had one back in the 80s. The original OG game cheat for centipede...just keep firing in the middle and it creates a wall  anyone remember that? 😄 

On 05/09/2023 at 15:53, macoman said:

too much money for an arcade system... I pass 😆

With shipping $570

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On 05/09/2023 at 14:50, primortal said:

Not to be outdone, but Atari just announced a 50th Anniversary upright.

https://atari.com/products/arcade1up-atari-50th-anniversary-deluxe-arcade-machine

It's cheaper than I thought and it looks like it's delivered in a flat-pack.

doesn't even come with E.T. so it's not worth it, that's classic Atari History there

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