Early Atari Memories....

[KG Kaiju]

How many forum members remember the days when Atari was a gaming console and not a developer? What were your favorite games? Did you know some "cheats" to aid you in beating the game?

I remember (back when I was almost 9) *page ripples as memory comes into view* my grandmother buying an Atari for my brother and I. Now the Atari system always seemed to come with 1 game (Combat) but sometimes came with 2 (I forget the other title). I remember the hours of enjoyment as I played games like Combat, Chopper Command, Ice Hockey, Pitfall, Asteroids, Space Invaders, Centipede, etc. To encourage fans to attain higher scores and become more proficient, some of the games (by Intellivision) offered rewards to players that could document their high score with a photograph of the TV screen. These rewards came in the form of patches that you could sew onto your clothing (jackets).

One of my favorite games was Chopper Command. I remember playing that game for hours and hours. Back then, none of the games had a save option so you had to play them through to the end or you lost your progress. I was actually able to defeat the game and had a picture taken of the screen so I could get my patch. Unfortunately, the photo had so much glare from the TV screen that the score was unreadable. Fortunately, I was able to locate the patch on ebay and finally achieved my goal, albeit over 20 years late. :p Another game I :heart:d to play was Pitfall. Though I never did defeat that game, it was my favorite. Combat was my favorite 2 player game though I also played against my brother with Ice Hockey (2 on 2 hockey).

As far as cheats go, here are some of the nasty things I came up with to give me the edge: When I played against the computer in Combat, I pressed the fire button while holding the game reset switch. This caused the tank shell to fly through the maze walls and would strike the opposing tank if you released the switch at the right time. I also did this to my brother when his back was turned. LOL :haha: Another game I loved to cheat on was Ice Hockey. When I wasn't playing against my brother, I used one controller and placed a book on top of the other one so that the fire button was engaged at all times. This would caused the my teammate to constantly swing the hockey stick in a sweeping motion while I controlled the goalie. When the puck was dropped, 50% of the time it went straight toward my teammate who would automatically bank it into the net. :haha: Because of this, I never lost to the computer. ;)

If you have some memories that you would like to relate, I would be happy to hear them. :up: :cool:

BTW, I still have my Atari systems and will post pics of the games as well if anyone is interested in seeing what they looked like or just wants "take a walk down memory lane". :D :D :D

[Shaggyy]

My earliest Atari memories include so many games it hard to talk about them all, but here are the most memorable ones:

Laser Blast - as a three year old, I thought it was fun. Hasn't aged well. But it was the first game I recall playing on the 2600.

Pitfall 2 - amazing title for the 2600 that was doing platform games before Super Mario Bros. I played this all the time and I still do today. I love the music in this game.

Asteroids - it would be years before I'd get a chance to play the original arcade version and the 2600 did very well. I remember playing this one so much that I reset the score board three times - I then got a little bored and let myself die. :P

Zaxxon - again, I had no idea there was an arcade version of this (which I now own) and it was tough but it had some classic charm to it that made it fun. I remember playing this late one night while at a sleep over, I must have been 8 or so.

Time Pilot - I played this a lot as a kid, trying to get past the year 2000. Once I did, it went back to 1910! Here I was expecting something big but it was still fun anyways.

Frontline - My parents preferred that I play this game to Doom :p I loevd it though - getting the tank and blowing the crap out of anyone that dared show their face on screen. I'd have point competitions with my friends all the time

Skydiver - Man this game is addicting with two players. Even my friends enjoy this one until today - I have yet to beat my friends score of 88 points. Tons of fun an memories.

Circus Atari - kind of the same as Skydiver. A friend and I would always compete with each other to get the highest score. One of the best Atari games there was.

Warlords - simply the best classic multiplayer game ever. I can still get adults into this game today. 4 player Breakout = gaming heaven.

Combat - it's hard NOT to have memories with this game. So many variations but it's not good with only one player.

River Raid - awesome shmup classic. Still is great fun today and I played it for hours as a kid.

I have played Chopper Command, but I played that for the first time last year. Very fun game. I have yet to try Ice Hockey.

[KG Kaiju]

Thanks for sharing your memories, Shaggyy. It is good to know that there are other gamers on this forum that have had the privilege of playing the Atari 2600. :D :D :D

[Shaggyy]

Thanks for sharing your memories, Shaggyy. It is good to know that there are other gamers on this forum that have had the privilege of playing the Atari 2600. :D :D :D

:)

Yeah I've always been a huge Atari fan and it's all thanks to the 2600. I'll never get tired of it.

[EMZayas]

:)

Yeah I've always been a huge Atari fan and it's all thanks to the 2600. I'll never get tired of it.

I also have a Atari 2600 (all black version). Out of all my game systems (PS2, Xbox, 360, Odyssey, etc.) Atari 2600 is my number one favorite. My top three favorite games are: Galaxian, BattleZone, and Warlords. I do like Pac-Man a little bit. Dig-Dug is also a lot of fun, too.:noob:

I wish more people would post on this board, because this system is what made Atari big.

[VCSuser1977]

Oh yes I remember the old days. My favorite games were, Asteroids, Pitfall 2 The Lost Caverns, Raider of the Lost Ark, Adventure, H.E.R.O.and on and on......

By the way, Activision was the company that gave out the patches. I still have mine, though their in the shed.

I remember fighting over who would play next with my sister. Combat was the funnest thing in the world to play with your sibblings, to settle fights. LOL

I still have my original 2600, and 7800. Plus all the carts. Now my son is playing them, and love them.

It is great to relive those years with him. Too bad Atari won't come out with a flashback system with a cart. port. Though you can hack it to have one.

[stvd]

Me and my brother got ours for xmas in 1980 I think.
Combat & Defender :)

[atariman]

Now the Atari system always seemed to come with 1 game (Combat) but sometimes came with 2 (I forget the other title).

I would venture to guess that it was Pacman (at least, that's the additional 'free game' that came with my family's vader)

[Shaggyy]

Usually it would be stores that would offer that 2 games deal. I remember that vividly when my parents took me to Kay-Bee Toys to get a 2600 jr. There wasn't a pack-in game with the system itself, but they let me choose any 2 games from the shelf. I took Asteroids and something else.
I can't remember what it is, but I know I skipped over Pac-Man Jr. which i regretted for sometime afterwards as Asteroids (and probably the other game I got) are as common as rocks and Pac-Man Jr. was a little tougher to find until eBay came along.

[Sweetums]

even though I was not around when it came out I still have some really fond memories.

My Dad used to set it up for us to play and Me my Mum and sister would vers each other at super breakout and circus atari...when we played circus atari my sister would always call out Bob when one of the clowns went up and then call out Charlie when the other went up. So funny. Bob, Charlie, Bob, Charlie, Bob, SPLAT!

Also My older Brother used to get really high scores on river raid (at least we thought they were hight scores then) and we used to sit and watch in amazement because if you played two player we would be out by then anyway.

Also with Kaboom, ah, what a great game. Just siting there staring at the tv in a trance of concentration with your tongue in one side of your cheek. haha

I used to play Combat only when forced because I could never win.

and then there's sea quest. Me and My little brother still have a competition on to see who can get the highest score. He's winning on 320,000 unfortunately, I'm only up to 280,000. (but I don't know how those scores rate compared to others on here).

[TwinChargers]

I remember playing Atari well into the 90's, because thats all I had. I loved playing California Games. The BMX level was the greatest, my dad and I had pretty much every screen for that level memorized. Going over to my grandparents where they had Phoenix and Tapper, those were great games too. Unfortunately, Atari lovers have had to move on to other new systems, but if Atari was still making consoles, I'd probably be the first in line to get one. Too many memories to even mention about the 2600.

[--Electro--]

Greetings all,

(singing: Misty water-colored memories, of the way we were...)

Let's see, let's see, fave games and cheats, huh? ok

Space Invaders: Only cheat I ever knew of. Early on, found out how to get double shots. Press "Reset" and "Power" at the same time, and after starting, you will be able to fire two shots in succession before having to wait for one of them to disappear. I have been able to roll the score about three times with this move. That's 30K+. Only side effect is you can only play the first one-player game on the cart.

Faves:

Pitfall, as some mentioned.
River Raid
Defender, I remember having to go to a friend's house cause he owned it and i didnt. Fun Times.

Video Pinball - fun *trying* to cheat while avoiding the dreaded "Tilt" (Hint: Hold down the fire button while _slightly_ moving the joystick while ball is in play; NEVER move it up, immediate tilt)

With same friend, loved playing Raiders of the Lost Ark. Definitely a team game. One of you controls Indy, the other controls his inventory.

Sky Diver: great competition game

My Dad, rest his soul, loved playing Venture. I picked up a copy recently, in his memory.

I got Donkey Kong Jr off eBay thinking i remembered liking it.., turns out it was the NES Classics version i preferred.

Tutankham - HIGHLY Recommended. If you have not played this title, Please do. Very enjoyable, fascinating gameplay/graphics, (for its time)

Missile Command/Asteroids: What better arcade ports are there? I'm guessing none.

BLUEPRINT: _The_ reason for my retro revival. Hazy memories south of two decades ago find me finding a chip in a box somewhere, that looks like an Atari game. A child pondering, 'What is this game, and how do i play it, with no cartridge around it?' A coupla bits of stiff paper keeping the slot open later, and I find a game difficult but addicting. Hard to beat, so you find yourself trying, Over and Over again, to do better next time. You collect pieces of a weapon, _in order_, from different houses, avoiding the bomb laden houses, put those pieces together, and then fire this weapon at the monster trying to kidnap your girlfriend. All while fighting the clock.
More difficult than growing up normal in a Jackson household. Picked this up with a system from Ebay a few years ago. Been collecting games and systems since.

Maze Craze: When it starts, makes you think you put it in wrong. That's just the program randomizing the maze selection. I have YET to find an opponent who can beat me. I have some inherent, intuitive gift for this game. Looking for a smack-down? You play this game with me....lol

Now, some people miss the lack of a save feature with the 2600. Me, the thing I really miss? A "PAUSE" button. If you have to visit the bathroom during a game, you're screwed.

Regards,
--Electro--
aka The Other David

[ColecoVisionist]

My first system was a ColecoVision, though many of my friends had a 2600. My early faves were Breakout, Dodge'em, and Combat.