Playstation Switch and XBox are setting the bar in gaming these days, but will anyone ever get teary-eyed at the thought of these machines as they get older? It’s more the consoles of the 1970s and 1980s that are nostalgically revered (and yes: glorified) for all time. Intellivision, Collecovision – and of course the Atari 2600, the “Titanic” among the video game boxes.
Lego has now released a building set for the Atari 2600 (which was called the Atari VCS until 1982). 2532 parts, one minifigure, retail price 239.99 euros. The game console, three plug-in modules, i.e. three games (including a mini cabinet), the CX40 joystick and an 80s children’s room, which is located in the console and can be folded out, are to be recreated.
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The set is eight centimeters high, 33 centimeters wide and 22 centimeters deep, so it is quite close to the dimensions of the original. The legendary design, a housing made of grooved black plastic designed by Frederick Thompson, is reproduced by Lego with relatively few, but larger individual parts. Anyone who equipped their living room with thick stereo systems in the late seventies was enthusiastic about the aesthetics of the block: an imitation wood paneling with silver switches that matched the hi-fi bench. The joystick was designed by Kevin McKinsey, who was inspired by the slot machine game “Tank”.
As with almost all sets for adults, the reduced, functional appearance of the Lego variant is wonderful to assemble, a memory-lane-like experience, but also makes you a little sad, because at the latest when the kit is completed, the appeal of the kit wears off as soon as the there is a part in the display case that could gradually get lost. Since the Lego model has similar dimensions to the console, you quickly end up thinking of a direct comparison – and you can’t play video games with Lego. The insatiable longing for the joystick appears particularly dramatic. Everyone has tried to push the rubber stick in at the top out of anger or joy, and, honestly, everyone has chewed on it at least once. Doesn’t taste good here!
The selection of the three games to be recreated is interesting, it would have been even more interesting to be able to understand the selection of the three games. Maybe there were problems getting licenses for certain classics for the replica? “Asteroids” is a must-have, also included. Of course, one can argue about the value of “Centipede” and “Adventure” (role-playing games were so en vogue at the time that a meaningless title was enough to create buzz). Of course, royal games would also have been possible: “Space Invaders”, “Defender” or the tragically failed, therefore all the more “cult” game adaptations of “ET” or “Raiders of the lost Ark”, or “Phoenix”, because it belongs to the different colored game series belonged to the one with the silver stickers. And of course “Pac-Man” would have been mandatory, right?
But those are just minor things, not real complaints. You can’t accuse a set of appearing puristic if the template was already designed puristically. The part looks one to one, so it’s a great implementation. The three games are also supplied with mini sets that can be draped around the plug-in modules, i.e. a spaceship that shoots at asteroids (Asteroids), a castle (“Adventure”) and a centipede with mushrooms (“Centipede”). The highlight is the fold-out 1980s children’s room complete with poster, telephone and ghetto blaster, which shows the set builder the real reason why he gets the kit in the first place. The boy there in front of the screen was you.
raffle
We are giving away a LEGO Atari 2600 set. Simply fill out the form and enter “Atari” as the answer. Closing date: September 10, 2022. Legal recourse is final.
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