The most veteran players surely remember the legendary Atari 2600 console, a machine that is part of millions of users, who enjoyed their games in their earliest childhood and youth. Atari pioneered arcade games, home video game consoles, and home computers in its early years. It is mainly responsible for the existence of arcade gaming cabinets and the average person’s proliferation of love for video gaming.
The Atari 2600 was first released in 1977 and it is one of the world’s most iconic consumer brands of all time, both for its features and for its catalog of video games. Some of its famous games are Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Missile Command, and many more.
Did you know that atari in Japanese means to hit, or to strike?
On the 22 of August, Atari announced the Atari 2600+, a modern-day faithful recreation of the iconic, pioneering console that first appeared in 1980. On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Atari has teamed up with PLAION to give us a big surprise: a recreation of the Atari 2600 with modern features.
Here is what to expect:
- Launch date: 17th November, 2023.
- Price: $129.99 (119.99€).
- The Atari is a bit smaller than the original console.
- Supports HDMI output and USB power.
- Supports different screen resolutions.
- Supports both 2600 and later 7800 game cartridges.
- Will come out with the original joystick and paddle controllers design from 1977. The original joystick controller, called CX40+, will be sold separately (along with a 4-in-1 multigame cartridge).
- The 2600+ is backward compatible with nearly all 2600 and 7800 Atari cartridge games.
- Will come with a 10-in-1 cartridge with classical games, like: Adventure, Combat, Dodge ‘Em, Haunted House, Maze Craze, Missile Command, RealSports Volleyball, Surround, Video Pinball, and Yars’ Revenge.
Facts About Atari
- Founding Year: Atari, Inc. was founded by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney on June 27, 1972, in Sunnyvale, California.
- Pioneering Arcade Games: Atari is credited with pioneering the arcade game industry with the release of games like “Pong” in 1972, which became the first commercially successful arcade video game.
- Home Video Game Console: In 1977, Atari released the Atari 2600 (originally known as the Atari Video Computer System or VCS), which is often considered the first successful home video game console. It became immensely popular and helped establish the home video game industry.
- E.T. Video Game Debacle: Atari is infamous for the 1982 video game adaptation of the movie “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” The game’s rushed development and poor quality contributed to the video game industry crash of 1983.
- Atari’s Iconic Logo: The company’s logo, often referred to as the “Fuji” logo, is one of the most recognizable symbols in the gaming industry. It features a stylized representation of Mount Fuji.
- Breakout and Steve Jobs: Atari’s game “Breakout” was designed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. Jobs was paid a bonus by Atari for reducing the number of logic chips needed in the game.
- Atari in Movies: Atari and its games have been featured prominently in various movies, including “Blade Runner,” “WarGames,” and “Pixels.”
- Bankruptcy and Rebirth: Atari faced financial difficulties in the early 1980s and went through various ownership changes and bankruptcies. The brand still exists today, primarily as a video game and licensing company.
- Classic Games: Atari is known for classic video games like “Asteroids,” “Centipede,” “Missile Command,” and “Space Invaders,” which were immensely popular in arcades during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Atari’s Influence: Atari played a significant role in shaping the gaming industry and pop culture. Many game developers who started at Atari later became influential figures in the video game world.
So start digging through those old cardboard boxes to find your old games and prepare yourself for the arrival of the Atari 2600+!
