Atari 2600+

[TiggerTrigger]

Anyone own one or tested one? I'm trying to come up with a gift for DH. If I'm understanding it correctly, it will play vintage Atari 2600 and 7800 games. Of course, our respective collections of games are long gone, but wondering how well it works. It gets decent reviews, but with corded joysticks and paddles (like the original) I'm not sure how much we'll really reach for it. Of course, I could buy a longer HDMI cable and use an extension cord for the USB/power brick (I know I'd need to supply the brick). Still, I wonder if people still reach for theirs after the novelty has worn off.

I already have an NES Classic and while I never got around to getting a longer HDMI cable to make it distance friendly (we're stuck pulling a chair up to a really large tv), the lure of playing classic Super Mario, Metroid and Zelda quickly wore off. DH also hasn't touched his PlayStation and Xbox in ages. He says there's so much good content on our streaming services that he hasn't felt compelled to play games. That right there is probably my answer, but I still like the idea of an adult kid on Christmas getting a toy.

 

[BrianL]

Anyone own one or tested one? I'm trying to come up with a gift for DH. If I'm understanding it correctly, it will play vintage Atari 2600 and 7800 games. Of course, our respective collections of games are long gone, but wondering how well it works. It gets decent reviews, but with corded joysticks and paddles (like the original) I'm not sure how much we'll really reach for it. Of course, I could buy a longer HDMI cable and use an extension cord for the USB/power brick (I know I'd need to supply the brick). Still, I wonder if people still reach for theirs after the novelty has worn off.

I already have an NES Classic and while I never got around to getting a longer HDMI cable to make it distance friendly (we're stuck pulling a chair up to a really large tv), the lure of playing classic Super Mario, Metroid and Zelda quickly wore off. DH also hasn't touched his PlayStation and Xbox in ages. He says there's so much good content on our streaming services that he hasn't felt compelled to play games. That right there is probably my answer, but I still like the idea of an adult kid on Christmas getting a toy.

If you don't have cartridge based games, I would opt for an Atari GameStation Pro from My Arcade instead. Everything is digital and controllers are wireless. It is easy to add new roms too if you know how, even for other consoles, but it has 200+ games loaded already. Atari is selling new cartidge based games and some multi carts with like 10 games, but unless you really want to collect things like that, the Pro is easier for the casual fan,

That said, I've been eyeing a 2600+ but I have a closet full of cartridges.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Cleaning out DM's house to put on the market and we found the 2600 from our childhood. That seems like a massive "yea!", but they had moved after we went away to college and the system is incomplete. I have the system, most of the cartidges, and I managed to find the Indy 500 steering paddles. That's it - no joysticks, no power supply, no Pong paddles. Yes, you can get them through Amazon, but they are questionable quality and, all tolled, more expensive than just buying a new 2600+. Keeping it, but questioning whether I should.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Cleaning out DM's house to put on the market and we found the 2600 from our childhood. That seems like a massive "yea!", but they had moved after we went away to college and the system is incomplete. I have the system, most of the cartidges, and I managed to find the Indy 500 steering paddles. That's it - no joysticks, no power supply, no Pong paddles. Yes, you can get them through Amazon, but they are questionable quality and, all tolled, more expensive than just buying a new 2600+. Keeping it, but questioning whether I should.

I watched a review (CNET maybe?) and he did a little bit of comparison using the old system vs. just going with the 2600+. The two biggest issues he had was finding a compatible tv and getting some of the pieces that would work to connect the vintage model. I read a few Amazon reviews from people who had been playing their old system and I guess the display is blurred due to old tech and new tech trying to work together. It sounds like there's something in the 2600+ that can talk to the old tech and yield a clear picture. I haven't gone digging for it for sale just yet, but the guy in the review said Atari is selling paddles and they come with four of the paddle games. I believe Super Breakout was one of the games.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

If you don't have cartridge based games, I would opt for an Atari GameStation Pro from My Arcade instead. Everything is digital and controllers are wireless. It is easy to add new roms too if you know how, even for other consoles, but it has 200+ games loaded already. Atari is selling new cartidge based games and some multi carts with like 10 games, but unless you really want to collect things like that, the Pro is easier for the casual fan,

That said, I've been eyeing a 2600+ but I have a closet full of cartridges.

It's also about half the price and wireless is definitely a pro. Still, there's something about that nostalgia factor and having to use a physical cartridge. Thanks for sharing this. I'm now holding one in my Walmart cart. It's easier to justify it with the price.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I watched a review (CNET maybe?) and he did a little bit of comparison using the old system vs. just going with the 2600+. The two biggest issues he had was finding a compatible tv and getting some of the pieces that would work to connect the vintage model. I read a few Amazon reviews from people who had been playing their old system and I guess the display is blurred due to old tech and new tech trying to work together. It sounds like there's something in the 2600+ that can talk to the old tech and yield a clear picture. I haven't gone digging for it for sale just yet, but the guy in the review said Atari is selling paddles and they come with four of the paddle games. I believe Super Breakout was one of the games.

The old system connected through the antenna connection - all the new game systems connect through the HDMI. I am a cord-cutter so I do watch my TV OTA, but then there is the need to tune to a certain channel like you used to have to - OTA doesn't quite work the same way. Maybe I could get it to work if I route it through my VCR first (yes, I still have one of those too and it works fine).

Not 100% sure I have the connection cable either.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Perhaps a Sega Genesis Mini?

 

[TiggerTrigger]

The old system connected through the antenna connection - all the new game systems connect through the HDMI. I am a cord-cutter so I do watch my TV OTA, but then there is the need to tune to a certain channel like you used to have to - OTA doesn't quite work the same way. Maybe I could get it to work if I route it through my VCR first (yes, I still have one of those too and it works fine).

Not 100% sure I have the connection cable either.

About 7 years ago, I purchased an antenna as part of our storm related provisions thinking we might be able to just shift to streaming for movies and shows, but I could never get anything but a handful of local Korean, Vietnamese and Spanish channels. We had a VCR in our old house, but a Schoolhouse Rock VHS tape got jammed in there and I just decided to give up on it when we moved in 2017. Someone recently expressed shock that I still own a standalone DVD player. We use YouTube TV to stream our "cable" so I'm not even sure what our TVs can do without USB and HDMI connections. But hey...if you can make it work, more power to you!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Perhaps a Sega Genesis Mini?

I don't think DH ever had one. I believe he was in college when the first console came out and was more into computer games by the time subsequent consoles were released. I had some exposure since my younger brother had the second version that came out in the early 90s. I remember playing one of the Sonics and one of the versions of Contra. There was also some game with jewels. But yea...while it's a good suggestion, it won't hit him the same way.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Yup - I have a DVD/stereo too - still works great. I was going t buy a soundbar for my TV, but when I investigated what audio connection cables I would need I realized I could just wire-in the stereo - WAY better than the soundbar would have been! That was a game-changer when I was watching Mando.

I know, some day my kids are going to inherit an amazing museum of outdated tech - but I'm cool with that.

 

[Sheryl2059]

Unless you want the technical info behind it, these old games... which were designed to work with old TV's... will look blocky compared to what you remember. NES/SNES Mario will look a little like something out of Minecraft. Modern software has different methods to try and overcome this limitation, to a point, but it will still look different than what you remember. Just something to keep in mind.

Games and the different technologies used since the first video game is interesting history. If you are just chilling I would look it up. For example the first stand-alone arcade game was introduced near Stanford and didnt actually use computer chips. They were too expensive. Well, its interesting if you play video games. Especially if you are old enough to have played the first Asteroids and Space Invaders. Guess I dated myself.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Unless you want the technical info behind it, these old games... which were designed to work with old TV's... will look blocky compared to what you remember. NES/SNES Mario will look a little like something out of Minecraft. Modern software has different methods to try and overcome this limitation, to a point, but it will still look different than what you remember. Just something to keep in mind.

Games and the different technologies used since the first video game is interesting history. If you are just chilling I would look it up. For example the first stand-alone arcade game was introduced near Stanford and didnt actually use computer chips. They were too expensive. Well, its interesting if you play video games. Especially if you are old enough to have played the first Asteroids and Space Invaders. Guess I dated myself.

From what I understand, the new Atari system compensates for the old programming to help give you the clearest image possible when using vintage game cartridges. The games still possess the original blocky look, but I think that’s what most of us looking at these kinds of systems want. We had Atari Asteroids and Space Invaders (among others) so I was hoping to recreate some of that. The games on the mini NES I bought seem spot on to the original games.

I ended up buying the My Arcade system @BrianL recommended. We only had about 20-25 games for our original Atari and I think they were donated over 30 years ago. I think we’re also more likely to play if it’s cordless. So it seemed like the best choice.

 

[Sheryl2059]

An example: The images are zoomed in but this is the difference on a tv/crt vs an lcd. The left side is what the game/console sent to the TV, and LCD today. The right is the final product the TV displayed. Certainly a significant color shift and the human eye compensates for the scan lines. There are also the usual mosaic effects. Such things arent important when its all about the fun factor. Its kinda like CD vs Vinyl. In any case pardon the techie talk.

An additional thing to watch out for. When using wireless bluetooth controllers there is usually a very slight lag between your actions and what happens on screen. Common of course but when it comes to console/arcade I found it highly annoying such as the coordinated Mario or Sonic jumps needed to clear levels or street fighter combo attacks.

All of that aside... enjoy the games.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

An example: The images are zoomed in but this is the difference on a tv/crt vs an lcd. The left side is what the game/console sent to the TV, and LCD today. The right is the final product the TV displayed. Certainly a significant color shift and the human eye compensates for the scan lines. There are also the usual mosaic effects. Such things arent important when its all about the fun factor. Its kinda like CD vs Vinyl. In any case pardon the techie talk.

An additional thing to watch out for. When using wireless bluetooth controllers there is usually a very slight lag between your actions and what happens on screen. Common of course but when it comes to console/arcade I found it highly annoying such as the coordinated Mario or Sonic jumps needed to clear levels or street fighter combo attacks.

All of that aside... enjoy the games.

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I've heard that there can be a bit of a lag between the wireless joysticks and the actual game. The ones I have for my mini NES are wired, so they seem to perform as expected, but I suspect the noted lag can even happen with more modern systems. My husband often blamed the internet for lagging when playing games on his Xbox. While this might also be the case, I hadn't considered that it could also be the wireless controllers.

We're supposed to decorate the inside of the house for the holidays tonight, but this making me want to sit down with Mario! Thanks for the insight!

 

[hertamaniac]

Still, I wonder if people still reach for theirs after the novelty has worn off.

I had the Intellevision game selection on a single disc for my Xbox. I used it a few times, but other than Astrosmash, it pretty much went unused.

Interestingly, I donated my Xbox 360 and games to our local Goodwill the other day (all functional and re-formatted the HD). The worker took my box and said aloud, "Wow". I wanted to give a child something albeit many years outdated by today's standards.

 

[Sheryl2059]

Just thought but for a gaming present the idea for a 2600... or any of the others... depends on how much of a retro gamer he is. Or if it would simply be a fun toy to use now and then.

IMO a better present you might want to look into is a 'fight stick'. They arent exactly cheap, if you want to get a good one, but will work with with pretty much anything that can use a USB gamepad. PC's. Xbox/Playstation. Also your NES classic. I have one for my retro stuff and its pretty fun to use.

edit: There are still always games that are much more suited to hand held controllers with multiple joysticks for the thumbs and four finger buttons all at once. Something like this would be a good compliment to controllers but not a replacement.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I had the Intellevision game selection on a single disc for my Xbox. I used it a few times, but other than Astrosmash, it pretty much went unused.

Interestingly, I donated my Xbox 360 and games to our local Goodwill the other day (all functional and re-formatted the HD). The worker took my box and said aloud, "Wow". I wanted to give a child something albeit many years outdated by today's standards.

That's another reason why I opted for the cheaper system. It won't feel like as much of a waste if it collects dust after the novelty wears off.

We had a similar experience when we donated our original Playstation. While it's horribly outdated, I really enjoyed a number of the games. Part of me wishes I kept it.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Just thought but for a gaming present the idea for a 2600... or any of the others... depends on how much of a retro gamer he is. Or if it would simply be a fun toy to use now and then.

IMO a better present you might want to look into is a 'fight stick'. They arent exactly cheap, if you want to get a good one, but will work with with pretty much anything that can use a USB gamepad. PC's. Xbox/Playstation. Also your NES classic. I have one for my retro stuff and its pretty fun to use.

edit: There are still always games that are much more suited to hand held controllers with multiple joysticks for the thumbs and four finger buttons all at once. Something like this would be a good compliment to controllers but not a replacement.

Wow! I've heard about things like this but never actually looked into them. That looks really cool, but I'm not sure if it would be money wisely spent in this case. If he's still actively reaching for this gift by his birthday (spring) I might look into one for a birthday gift. Thanks for the idea. I might even want it for me if I find myself getting back into playing.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have seen those, they look really cool. DH still has like the original along with a box full of games, but no simple or feasible way of hooking it up.

I grabbed one of those "Flashback" ones on sale a few years ago. It looks like a smaller version of the original. I think it's really cute as a decoration for my 80's kid retro-corner, but don't think any of us have really used it for anything besides decoration.

 

[Sheryl2059]

Original 2600? NES/SNES?