Atari 2600
The cartridge console that made home gaming big
- 1977Released
- 2ndGeneration
- AtariDeveloper
Atari 2600 Specifications
- Processor
- MOS Technology 6507
- Processor Speed
- 1.19 MHz
- RAM
- 128 Bytes
- GPU
- Television Interface Adapter (TIA)
- Resolution
- 160 x 192 pixels
- Maximum Colors
- 128
- Playfield Resolution
- 40 x 192 pixels
- Player Sprites
- 8 x 192 pixels
- Ball and Missile Sprites
- 1 x 192 pixels
Overview
The Atari 2600 was released by Atari in September 1977 as the Atari Video Computer System (VCS), and was renamed the Atari 2600 in 1982. It is widely credited with popularising microprocessor-based hardware and games stored on ROM cartridges.
The console launched with nine games, including Combat, Air-Sea Battle and Video Olympics, Atari’s collection of Pong-style games. Over its long life it built up a huge library from Atari and third-party publishers, with games such as Breakout, Space Invaders, Pitfall! and Pac-Man that are still well known today.
The Atari 2600 was usually bundled with two joysticks, a pair of paddle controllers and a game cartridge: Combat at first, and later Pac-Man. Thanks to its large library and low price, the console kept selling well into the late 1980s and was not discontinued until 1992. It sold around 30 million units, and its best-selling game was Pac-Man, at about 7 million copies.
Original hardware is becoming harder to find, so many people now use emulators to play Atari 2600 games.
Key Features
ROM Cartridges
Popularised games stored on interchangeable ROM cartridges.
Joysticks and Paddles
Usually bundled with two joysticks and a pair of paddle controllers.
Huge Library
Built a huge library from Atari and third-party publishers.
Long Lifespan
Kept selling into the late 1980s and was made until 1992.
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Atari 2600 Emulators
Which one to pick
Known forVery accurate emulation, including bank-switching schemes, CRT TV effects and a full debugger that is the standard tool for 2600 homebrew.
Known forAn Atari 7800 emulator built on .NET that also emulates the Atari 2600.
Known forRegarded in its time as a very high quality 2600 emulator, but harder to set up than most.
Known forAn early emulator known for its fast, hand-optimised assembly core, full collision checking and built-in debugger.
In short
Stella is the one to pick on Windows, macOS or Linux: it is very accurate, actively maintained and has a full debugger for homebrew. EMU7800 also plays 2600 games on Windows and Android. z26 and PC Atari Emulator are no longer developed and are kept here as an archive.
