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Info for a2600


====== Atari 2600 Video Computer System (1977) ======


===== Features =====

* Resolution: 160 x 260 (horz.) at 60.00 Hz
* CPU: MOS 6507 1.19 MHz
* Graphics Clock: 1.19 MHz
* Bits: 8
* ROM: 4k max
* RAM: 128 bytes, in VLSI
* Video Display Processor: Stella
* Sprites: 32
* Colors: 256 (static)
* Sound Processor: Two Channel Square or Noise (TIA)
* Cartridge ROM: 2k up to 64k



===== Usage =====





Currently, MESS supports the following Atari 2600 versions:

* a2600 [Atari 2600 (NTSC)]
* a2600p [Atari 2600 (PAL)]

both of them require a "cartridge" (cart) to run, either in .a26 or .bin format. You can start the emulation with

mess a2600 -cart "C:\pathtogame\gamename.a26"

Some games may require an additional tape to work, this can be added using the "cassette" (cass) device which expects a tape in either .wav or .a26 format.

== Controls ==

Original Atari 2600 has six switches on its top: Power (On / Off), TV signal (B/W or Color), Difficulty for each player (called A and B), Select, and Reset. Except for the power switch, games sometimes assign other functions to these switches. On later models the difficulty switches were miniaturized and moved to the back of the unit.

Atari 2600 games can be controlled either through joysticks or paddle, the latter being much more precise. Both kinds of controller have a single button on its left.

Some cartridge requires the 12-keys keyboard controller (or the kid's controller) which has the following layout:

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

* 0 #

Among these games, A Game of Concentration (Hunt & Score, Memory Match), Alpha Beam with Ernie, BASIC Programming, Big Bird's Egg Catch, Brain Games, Codebreaker, Cookie Monster Munch, Grover's Music Maker (prototype), MagiCard, Oscar's Trash Race, Star Raiders.

Sentinel and Shooting Arcade (prototype) use a lightgun, while Indy 500 and Stell-A-Sketch use a driving controller.



===== Known Issues =====

* Good compatibility (few games are even more accurate than in Stella, e.g. Solaris and its space warp)
* Support for almost any kind of controller (lightgun support is missing): joystick, paddle, keypad, booster grip and driving controller
* Support for Starpath Supercharger and Kid Vid Voice Module
* You can select between joysticks or paddles in the "Input Devices" menu, accessible by pressing TAB



===== History and Trivia =====

The Atari Video Computer System (VCS) was released in 1977 at a suggested retail price of $299, which dropped quickly as sales soared; about 340,000 systems were sold the first year alone. Joe Decuir, Steve Mayer and Ron Milner designed the VCS. The Atari VCS was developed under the project codename "Stella". The VCS later became known, both commonly and officially as the Atari 2600 (from the model number CX2600). It is rumored that the number 2600 was chosen because 2600 cycles was a prominent long distance access tone, and that one of the developers had created devices that would trick pay phones into granting long
distance access as a hobby.

The 2600 became hugely popular and millions of its cartridge were sold. It was produced until Jan 1st, 1992, when Atari Corporation officially retired it.

The Atari 2600 success was so huge that still today, after more than 25 years from its appearance,
many hobbyists produce and sell new games for the console!

== Versions of Atari 2600 ==

Many versions of Atari 2600 were released:

* Atari VCS CX2600: Original model. Woodgrain and black plastic enclosure. Light and heavy weighted plastic. Six silver switches across the upper front panel. Bundled accessories included two CX40 joysticks, one CX30 paddle controller, AC adapter, TV switch and a CX2601 Combat game cart.

* Sears Tele-Games Video Arcade I: Same as above except external cosmetic differences (the "difficulty" switches are labeled "skill level", the switch panel is silver instead of black, and the woodgrain pattern is different.)

* Atari VCS 2600A: Revised model. Externally it is nearly identical to the original, except there are four silver switches across the upper front panel instead of six. The difficulty switches were moved to the rear of the unit. Internally, the motherboard is a simplified one-piece design.

* Sears Tele-Games Video Arcade I(A): Same as above except for external cosmetic differences.

* Atari VCS 2600A (black): Second revised model. Externally it is nearly identical to the 2600A, except the enclosure has a more modern looking "black out" treatment. The areas of woodgrain on the original models are now simply black plastic. Internally, the motherboard is a slight revision of the 2600A.

* Sears Tele-Games Video Arcade II: Entirely new model of the 2600 designed exclusively for Sears. Black wedge-shaped enclosure, with push button switches and LEDs on top panel. Essentially an Atari 7800 shell. Four joystick connectors on lower front panel with rocker switch. Internally very different from other 2600 models, but still uses the same basic chipset. Bundled accessories include two combination joystick/paddle controllers, AC adapter, TV switch and a Space Invaders game cart.

* Atari 2800: same as Sears Tele-Games Video Arcade II but with Atari label. Released only in Japan. Very rare.

* Atari 2600 "Jr.": Third revised model. It is slightly larger than a VHS video tape case. Some versions have "Jr" stamped onto the bottom sticker. Large black buttons. Power and b/w switches slide, while Reset and Game Select are push buttons. Jet black with large metallic silver strip running lengthwise across the front with "Atari 2600" on it. Marketed as the "Under 50 bux, the fun is back!" machine. Bundled accessories include one joystick, AC adapter, TV switch box, and RCA connecting cable. Box is designed as a carrying case with handle and a white section which reads: "This Atari 2600 belongs to:". No bundled cart. The unit came in either a maroon or silver box.

* Atari 2600 "Jr.": same as above except silver plate has a larger rainbow strip without an embossed border.

== Miscellaneous notes ==

All 6 switch Ataris had a large shield casing. There were at least two 6-switch versions:

* (6-1) The original. The entire bottom half of the console was made of quarter inch thick plastic (~6mm)! Combined with the thick aluminum RF casing, this is the heaviest 2600 ever made. Also, this 2600 has no 2/3 channel select switch. There is a channel select hole in the case and it's marked Channel A/B, but there's no switch inside on the PCB. These consoles came with "01 combat". (1977 models only)

* (6-2) The lighter 2600. No armor plating. Bottom half of console is made of thin plastic, like the 4 switch models. Channel switch now present. Thick RF shield still present. Plain ol' "combat" included.

The were also minor variations on 4 front switch, woodgrain panel models. On some, the difficulty switches are marked "Expert/Novice" (or was it "Advanced/Beginner"?) and others are marked only as "A/B".

Many Atari 2600 clones exists. Probably the most famous is the Gemini, an inexpensive clone 2600 made by Coleco. It sports an all black, box-shaped enclosure with six small slide switches (say that fast) on top of front panel. On the back panel, there is an RF modulator port and a power adapter port. Two joystick ports and difficult switches live on the front panel. Bundled bits include two dual-joystick/paddle controllers, a 9volt/500ma DC adapter, an RF cable, a TV switch and Donkey Kong and Mouse Trap carts.

== Never released hardware ==

Finally, quite a bit of 2600 hardware was announced but never released. Some examples:

* 2600 keyboard by Atari, called the Graduate or My First Computer. It was designed by Peripheral Visions Inc.
* 2600 voice command system
* a headband controller, Mindlink
* Atari 2500 (http://www.atari-history.com/videogames/2500.html)
* Atari 2700 - Remote control joystick/paddles, touch sensitive console buttons.
* Amiga Power Module for 2600. Similar to the Supercharger, it had dialup capability (to play against others). Also, some 3D games were planned for it as well.

//(info about 2600 versions, clones and unreleased hardware from Zube's "Atari 2600/7800 FAQ")//



===== Links =====

* Atari Age -- http://www.atariage.com/2600/history.html
* Atari Historical Society -- http://www.atari-history.com/a2600.html
* Atari Museum -- http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/consoles/2600menu/2600menu.htm
* Atari2600.com -- http://www.atari2600.com/
* Dan B's Atari 2600 Tech Page -- http://www.atarihq.com/danb/a2600.shtml



===== Other Emulators =====

* Stella -- http://stella.sourceforge.net/
* PCAE -- http://www.classicgaming.com/pcae/ (PC Atari Emulator)
* z26 -- http://www.whimsey.com/z26/
* x26 -- http://www.wintersolace.com/ (z26 front-end)
* StellaX -- http://www.emuunlim.com/stellax/
* no$2k6 -- http://nocash.emubase.de/2k6.htm




Generated on Sun Jul 19 10:17:28 2009