Atari 2600

From WE Computers Museum
(Redirected from Atari Video Computer System)

This article is about the console released in 1977 as the Atari Video Computer System. For the 2020 console, see Atari VCS.

Atari 2600 logo.png
Atari 2600
Designer Atari
Manufacturer Atari
CPU 1.19 MHz MOS 6507
Graphics 160 x 192 resolution
Memory 128 bytes
Media ROM cartridge
Released Atari VCS / Video Arcade
NA: September 11, 1977
CX2600
EU/NA: 1978
CX2600-A
NA: 1980
Atari 2600
NA: 1982
Brazil: September 1983
Atari 2800 / Video Arcade II
JP: October 1983
NA: 1983
Atari 2600 Jr.
NA: 1986
Added to Museum January 1, 2020
Atari 2600.png

The Atari 2600 was originally known as the Atari Video Computer System and was sold in North America by Sears as Tele-Games Video Arcade.

A remodeled version was sold as the Atari 2800 in Japan. The Japanese model was sold in North America by Sears as the Tele-Games Video Arcade II. This model had a similar form factor to the Atari 7800.

Another remodeled version was released in North America in 1986 as the Atari 2600 Jr.

It was the first cartridge-based home video game console by Atari. It was preceded by Stunt Cycle, which included four variations of the arcade game of the same name. It was succeeded by the Atari 5200.

Legacy

The legacy of the Atari 2600 remains, even after its heyday. Independent, unlicensed games continue to be produced for the system to this day.

The current license holder of the system, Atari, S.A., has capitalized on the system's continuing popularity with the Atari Flashback series.

These are dedicated consoles that contain modern hardware with an emulator to run the included games. They have been released from 2004 to the present.

Atari, S.A. also released several compilations that contained Atari 2600 games, such as Atari Vault and Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration.

Atari 2600 hardware owned by WEC Museum

Title Manufacturer Release Notes
Atari 2600 VCS Atari 1977 WEC Museum owns the system and box.
Atari CX40 joystick Atari 1977 WEC Museum owns three CX40 joysticks.
Atari paddle controllers Atari 1981 WEC Museum owns two Atari paddle controllers.

Physical Atari 2600 games owned by WEC Museum

Title Developer Released Notes
Barnstorming Activision 1982 The WEC Museum owns the cartridge and box.
Spider-Man Parker Brothers 1982 The WEC Museum owns the cartridge, manual, and box.
Star Voyager Imagic 1982 The WEC Museum only owns the cartridge.
Warlords Atari 1980 The WEC Museum owns a cartridge from Atari landfill in New Mexico, manual, Atari catalog, press clippings, area brochure, and certificate of authenticity.

Digital Atari 2600 games owned by WEC Museum

Title Developer Released Notes
3-D Tic-Tac-Toe Atari 1978
Adventure Atari 1979
Adventure II Legacy Engineering 2005
Air Raiders M Network 1982
Air-Sea Battle Atari 1977
Aquaventure Atari 2005
Armor Ambush M Network 1982
Asteroids Atari 1981
Asteroids Deluxe Atari, Legacy Engineering 2005
Astroblast M Network 1982
Atari Video Cube Atari 1982
Backgammon Atari 1979
Basic Math Atari 1977
Basketball Atari 1978
Battlezone Atari 1983
Blackjack Atari 1977
Bowling Atari 1979
Brain Games Atari 1978
Breakout Atari 1978
Canyon Bomber Atari 1978
Casino Atari 1978
Centipede Atari 1982
Championship Soccer Atari 1980
Circus Atari Atari 1980
Code Breaker Atari 1978
Combat Atari 1977
Combat Two Atari 2005
Concentration Atari 1978
Crystal Castles Atari 1983
Dark Cavern M Network 1982
Dark Chambers Atari Corporation 1988
Demons to Diamonds Atari 1982
Desert Falcon Atari 1982
Dodge 'Em Atari 1980
Double Dunk Atari Corporation 1989
Fatal Run Atari Corporation 1989
Flag Capture Atari 1978
Football Atari 1978
Frog Pond Atari 2005
Frogs and Flies M Network 1982
Golf Atari 1980
Gravitar Atari 1983
Hangman Atari 1978
Haunted House Atari 1982
Holey Moley Atari 2019
Homerun Atari 1978
Human Cannonball Atari 1978
International Soccer M Network 1982
Lunar Lander Atari, Legacy Engineering 2005
Maze Craze Atari 1978
Millipede Atari 1984
Miniature Golf Atari 1979
Missile Command Atari 1981
MotoRodeo Axlon 1990
Night Driver Atari 1978
Off the Wall Axlon 1989
Outlaw Atari 1978
Pong Atari, Legacy Engineering 2005
Quadrun Atari 1983
Race Atari 1977
Radar Lock Atari Corporation 1989
Realsports Baseball Atari 1982
Realsports Basketball Atari 2011
Realsports Boxing Atari Corporation 1987
Realsports Football Atari 1982
Realsports Soccer Atari 1983
Realsports Tennis Atari 1982
Realsports Volleyball Atari 1982
Return to Haunted House Legacy Engineering 2005
Saboteur Atari 2005
Save Mary Axlon 2005
Sea Battle M Network 2000
Secret Quest Axlon 1989
Sentinel Atari Corporation 1990
Sky Diver Atari 1978
Slot Machine Atari 1979
Slot Racers Atari 1978
Solaris Atari Corporation 1986
Space Attack M Network 1982
Space Duel Atari, Legacy Engineering 2005
Space War Atari 1978
Sprint Master Atari Corporation 1988
Star Raiders Atari 1982
Star Ship Atari 1977
Star Strike M Network 1982
Steeplechase Atari 1980
Stellar Track Atari 1981
Street Racer Atari 1977
Stunt Cycle Atari 2019
Submarine Commander Atari 1982
Super Baseball Atari Corporation 1988
Super Breakout Atari 1978
Super Challenge Baseball M Network 1982
Super Challenge Football M Network 1982
Super Football Atari Corporation 1988
Surround Atari 1977
Swordfight M Network 2000
SwordQuest: Earthworld Atari 1982
SwordQuest: Fireworld Atari 1983
SwordQuest: Waterworld Atari 1983
Tempest Atari 2012
Video Checkers Atari 1980
Video Chess Atari 1979
Video Olympics Atari 1977
Video Pinball Atari 1980
Warlords Atari 1981
Wizard Atari 2005
Yars' Return Atari, Legacy Engineering 2005
Yars' Revenge Atari 1982