Atari 2600 -- Engadget

Students create CRT emulator, hope to recapture that analog gaming vibe of yesteryear

by Ross Miller posted May 4th 2009 at 6:15AM

The retro gaming insurgence seems as strong as vinyl these days, but you don't see as many people looking for a CRT monitor to complete the set. More likely, they're playing a HD remake or the original title on a digital screen in more detail than the developers ever anticipated or intended. A group of Georgia Tech students are looking to change all that by modifying open-source Atari 2600 VCS emulator Stella to give players that good ole fashion analog vibe. As highlighted by associate professor Ian Bogost, key attributes such as color bleed, "burned" afterimage, RF-engendered signal noise, and texture created by the phosphor glow have been imitated here in recreating the effect. Hit up the gallery below for pictorial examples while we wait anxiously for video and / or the mod itself to rear its blurry head.

Gallery: Students create CRT emulator, hope to recapture that analog gaming vibe of yesteryear

Ben Heck crams Xbox 360 controller into Atari 2600 joystick

by Donald Melanson posted Jan 9th 2009 at 4:52PM

As we've seen, a little Atari 2600 is a sure way to liven almost anything -- cakes, candles, landfills -- and it looks like the Xbox 360 is no exception, as none other than Ben Heck has proved with his new so-called 3600 controller. As you might expect, Ben didn't exactly take the expected route to wind up at this creation, instead opting to use the guts of a Guitar Hero 3 controller, which he somehow managed to squeeze into the base of everyone's favorite one-button controller (even leaving room for a guide button and ring of light on the underside). Be sure to hit up the link below for a must-see video of the controller in action and, of course, plenty more pics.

[Via Xbox-Scene]

Atari 2600 stuffed into Game Gear, Sega Nomad seen casting envious glances

by Darren Murph posted Nov 30th 2008 at 5:32PM

Oh sure, there's bound to be some protrusion when shoving a retro console into a gaming handheld, but inelegant styling was a way of life for Sega back in the mid-90s. Modder Chris Koopa has achieved the impossible by stuffing an Atari 2600 (or the important parts, anyway) along with 40 games into a hacked up Game Gear and enabling it to operate for nearly a full workday with just five AA batteries. And yeah, there's totally a 2600 cartridge slot to allow for playback of original titles. You know you're oddly interested in seeing more, so tap the read link for a few shots from the rear / side.

[Via technabob]

Atari Hero mod lets you rock out with ET

by Tim Stevens posted Sep 29th 2008 at 9:17AM

Those of us old enough to remember crap games like E.T. and Sssnake have every right to be thrilled by the relative quality of modern gems like Guitar Hero. We're guessing modder Conner Flynn over at SlipperyBrick feels that way too, melding the old with the new by inserting an Atari 2600 console into the body of a faux-Gibson from Guitar Hero. This meant adding two controllers to the body (an eight-way joystick plus a paddle-style controller for Breakout), wiring up the green button on the neck, and adding a small screen where the strum bar would normally reside. It's a layout that makes this axe best suited for play Jeff Healey-style, and with a pocketful of AA batteries you can game your Angel Eyes out wherever you like. No, it's not the most ergonomic portable 2600 we've ever seen, or most practical, but is certainly is the most badass.

[Via technabob]

Super Genintari project is finished and ready to make you envious

by Donald Melanson posted Apr 14th 2008 at 4:12PM

DIY game consoles are hardly the rare occurrence they once were, but this so-called Super Genintari project (previously known as Leviticus) is definitely a step above most, and more than enough to make us a little green with envy. As you may be able to discern from the project's name, this behemoth of a console brings the Atari 2600, NES, SNES and Genesis together at long last, with each system available at the push of a clickety-clackety button and ample controller ports provided for each. What's more, while there's quite the mess coming out of the front of the console with all the controllers attached, the rig does at least neatly connect to a TV with a single AV cable. Be sure to head on over past the break to check out a video of it action, and hit up the link below for the fully story and plenty of pictures.

[Thanks, Jenn]

Continue reading Super Genintari project is finished and ready to make you envious

The Multari: Atari 2600 gets elegantly shoved in a handheld

by Darren Murph posted Apr 10th 2008 at 10:51AM

We already knew what Marshall was capable of when we caught wind of his masterfully assembled portable Nintendo 64, but the modder extraordinaire has really outdone himself this time. As the name implies, The Multari is a portable Atari 2600 with 32 games built right in. The chassis itself was crafted from vacuum-formed styrene plastic, and aside from the colorful buttons and iconic D-pad, there's also a 5-inch display and what appears to be a set of speakers. Mmm, retro never looked so good. Peek the video after the break (right after you grab your drool cup).

Continue reading The Multari: Atari 2600 gets elegantly shoved in a handheld

The Atari 2600 cake, mascarpone cartridges sold separately

by Joshua Topolsky posted Feb 24th 2008 at 7:18PM

What can you really say about this? It's simply the most delicious looking 8-bit console we've ever laid eyes on. Now, if someone could just whip up an Xbox 360 hot-fudge sundae or Genesis-brûlée. Hey -- maybe for our next birthday?

[Via technabob]

Atari 2600 enters Strong National Museum of Play's Hall of Fame

by Joshua Topolsky posted Nov 12th 2007 at 9:34AM

We know that the Atari 2600 doesn't really need more accolades, but it's always nice to see the system get propers from the man upstairs. In this particular case, the man upstairs happens to be the Strong National Museum of Play's Toy Hall of Fame (that's a mouthful). To date, the museum has only added 38 toys to its list, so Atari's old pixel pusher joins the ranks of luminaries such as G.I. Joe, Barbie, the Slinky, Hula Hoops, and the Kite. In addition to being the newest entry, the console also has the distinction of being the most recently invented toy in the Hall of Fame, though we understand that claim was nearly edged out by Silly Putty. Congratulations, 2600, you've come a long way.

[Via Next Generation]

Happy 30th birthday, Atari 2600!

by Evan Blass posted Oct 1st 2007 at 12:33AM

See that Wii or Xbox sitting under your TV? The PSP or DS tucked away in your messenger bag? That copy of Pac-man on your cellphone which cost five bucks and expires next month? Each of them owe a debt of gratitude to the granddaddy of all videogame consoles, the Atari 2600, which ushered in an era of unprecedented television usage, and which turns 30 years old this month. That's right, the first 2600 units rolled off the assembly line in October of 1977, delighting both children and kids at heart with games like Pitfall and Pole Position, and helping distract the nation after the untimely death of the King, the tragic crash of Lynyrd Skynyrd's plane, and Pele's retirement. So here's to you, dear 2600: Atari may only be a shadow of its former self today, but you've lived on in our fond memories, in retro Flashback products, and last but not least, in tricked-out mods from the great Ben Heckendorn.

Ben Heck's NEStari is twice the fun

by Paul Miller posted Aug 23rd 2007 at 5:32PM

You just can't put this guy down. Just when you think he's had his full share of soldering injuries and heatsink frustration, Benjamin Heckendorn goes and builds the NEStari, a flavorful combination of NES and Atari 2600 in a convenient, portable package. The story is half the fun, but short of it is Ben had a NES-on-a-chip lying around and a spare Atari Flashback 2 chip, but only a single 3.5-inch LCD, so he decided to make a nice, fat portable that can load both NES and Atari cartridges. Sure, the DS lite kids may laugh, but you can always bludgeon them with this monstrosity, while playing gaming classics that far surpass the Pokemons of today. Well, at least Ben can. He's not going to be making any more of these, since the hack wasn't exactly easy to pull off. Hit up the read link for the step-by-step and even some video of the NEStari in action -- if you can get it to load.

Atari 2600 controller candleholder

by Peter Rojas posted May 15th 2007 at 10:01PM

Looking for a way to crank up those romantic evenings with your significant other, yet still want to remind them that gaming is your true love? This old school Atari 2600 controller candleholder from Mixko should do the trick. At least until someone starts selling a Miyamoto candle.

[Via Joystiq]

Ben Heck's latest: Atari VCSp Revision 7

by Paul Miller posted Dec 22nd 2006 at 1:29PM

What does Ben Heckendorn do when he's not modding up consoles for Engadget? Why, mod up consoles on his own dang time, of course. His latest is another Atari 2600 portable, this time aping the DS lite almost too well -- Nintendo just looks bad now. Sure, the processor requirements of the 2600 aren't substantial, but that cartridge sure is. Unfortunately, after inital tests, it seems touch screen input is a no go. Read on for some more pics, including a straight up DS comparison shot.

Continue reading Ben Heck's latest: Atari VCSp Revision 7