Atari 2600 for $25

[Haemolacria]

Is it true that the Atari 2600 system itself costs about $25 dollars ? And the games only 1-2 bucks ? I read that somewhere

[coolgamer512]

I'm not so sure. I saw once that a NES cost $40 at GameCrazy like 2 years ago. I found one there.

[icutoo]

I bought a brand new 2600 about 6 years ago at Big Lots for about $15. They didn't have any games though. I found some games at a flea market for cheap though.

[martyg]

It all depends on a lot of variables:

- Boxed consoles typically cost more, especially if the box is in good condition.

- Which model of the 2600. The harder to find "heavy sixer" '77 model and the lesser seen (compared to the other releases) black "darth vader" model, as well as the store promo models will go for more than the '78 six switch, '80 4 switch and the 2600 Jr.

- What games are included, and how many? A handfull of commons won't do much for the price, but when you're talking 20+ or some medium to harder to find games, that can also raise the price.

- What peripherals, controllers, etc.? Originally heavy sixer joysticks will immediately raise the price. Harder to find peripherals and accessories will as well.

I'd say that the person who was giving $25 as a cost was either a) Not really up on the actual pricing and collecting, or b) Just trying to give a very general price for some odd reason.

Where did you read it? I'm not surprised about half of the claims I read out there, like when the Antique Roadshow guys (antique appraiser show on PBS) said a Pac-Man cartridge is worth in the $5 to $10 range. The cartridge was actually given away with the 2600 at one time, its just as common and easy to find as Combat. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find someone to give it away to let alone even charge a buck. I always joke that when you walk in to a thrift store, there's several things you'll always find in the casettes/tapes area where they normally put video game cartridges: 2600 Combat, 2600 Pac-Man, and Genesis sports games. Usually more than one as well.

[ZLeoM18]

When I bought my 2600 on Ebay, it was about $70. The games that I usually buy are $3-$10. :alien:

[chronodev]

$25 sounds pretty close to the price of a loose Atari 2600 system. But having the box and manuals increases the price by a lot. Furthermore, if it's in a new condition the price raises exponentially, up to even a few hundreds of dollars for one in "New in Box" condition.

As for games, most games you will encounter are worth only 1-2 bucks. For these games, the precense of the box and manuals usually will increase it by a few bucks more, not that much. However, there are a few rare games that could be worth hundreds (and even thousands) of dollars. These are not games that you would usually find in the open in thrift shops and flea markets however (Though there is always a chance!)