Atari 2600 (ATARI 2600) Roms

Atari 2600 ROMs

Atari 2600 is one of the parents of modern video games. The home console was created by Atari, Inc. and came out in the fall of 1977. The hardware was based on a microprocessor, while games were stored on cartridges.

The platform came with a couple of joysticks, paddle controllers and a cartridge. Originally, Atari included Combat as the default game, but it was later replaced by Pac-Man. Originally, the console was known as the Atari Video Computer System. The Atari 2600 name was given in the fall of 1982.

Back in the day, Atari was synonymous with arcade video games. It was one of the most respected names in the industry. There were quite a few home systems developed prior to Atari 2600, but none of them managed to get any popularity.

The Atari VCS was released after the company was sold to Warner Communications. It came with 2KB cartridges and low resolution games. Adapting a few classic games for the console turned it into a world renowned success.

With time, games became much more diversified and varied, mainly because of the graphics. Just years after its original release, Atari 2600 was the most prolific gaming system in the USA. It did have some competition, but nothing could come close to it.

Two games ruined it though, mainly because of poor management. Pac-Man became a top seller, yet it was too poorly designed for Atari 2600. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released just in time for the holiday season. It didn't work, though.

Both games failed to consolidate Atari 2600’s position. By 1983, it was facing a free fall from the charts. After being sold, Atari 2600 quickly lost its popularity. The company tried to release a few other similar platforms, but nothing worked. At that time, the whole industry seemed to go down.

However, Nintendo managed to put everything back on track later on. By that time, Atari 2600 had already lost the battle. The production was officially ceased at the beginning of 1992. Over its lifespan, Atari 2600 was sold in about 30 million units, so it was massive for its time.

During its first years on the market, Atari tried to release the 2600 model in more variants, only to turn it into a keyboard home computer. A few revisions were made to the initial product, mainly about convenience. For example, in 1980, the switches made it to the back of the console.

Small changes helped the console become more popular, but not by much.

Apart from Pac-Man, other games that contributed to Atari 2600’s success include Pitfall!, Space Invaders, River Raid, Adventure, Asteroids, Yars’ Revenge, Frogger or Joust, among others. Most of these games were released throughout the 1980s.

It may look like many of these games are long gone, but they’re not. Whether you’re nostalgic about those times or you’re ready to experience the beginning of the video gaming industry, there are ROMs you can download and enjoy the Atari 2600 experience on more modern machines by emulating games.