It sold millions of copies worldwide from the late 1970s to the early 1990s: the popular Atari 2600 games console made history with it. Now the manufacturer is reviving them.
The Atari Video System, or Atari VCS for short, was one of the manufacturer’s first game consoles. It came onto the market in the USA in 1977, and at the end of the 1970s the device was also available in what was then West Germany, the Federal Republic. Atari later renamed the game console the Atari 2600. Today she conveys nostalgia and nerd alarm and there is a special announcement for fans. Because Atari is launching a new edition of its legendary 2600 game console and bringing it back onto the market.
Atari 2600 comes back as a Plus version
The modern and completely renewed version of the game console is called the Atari 2600+. The device is to be produced almost in the original design, albeit 20 percent smaller. This is announced by the publisher Plaion, who will be marketing the console in this country from November 17th.
A controller (CX40+), which is based on the original 2600 joystick CX40, is included for a price of 120 euros. It also has a serial port (DB9) so it could also be connected to an original 2600 from the 1970s and 1980s.
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Old cartridges with games are compatible
Conversely, the new Atari 2600+ can also read games from “historical” plug-in modules (cartridges) that were once produced for the 2600 and the successor console 7800. The 2600+ also comes with a cartridge with ten games. These include, for example, titles such as “Adventure”, “Missile Command” or “Yars’ Revenge”.
The manufacturer has carefully modernized the interior and the interfaces so that operation on modern televisions including widescreen display is possible via HDMI, for example. And there is also a new processor. Power is supplied via a USB-C port.
Wheel controllers and other classic games
The CX30+ paddle controller is available as an accessory in a pack of two. This joystick variant with a rotating wheel, for example for sports games, also goes back to the original CX30. It costs 35 euros in a bundle with a four-game cartridge. Other plug-in modules with games such as “Berzerk Enhanced Edition” or “Mr. Run and Jump” should be available for 30 euros each.
With material from the dpa