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<span style{{Emulation|[[emulation:Atari 2600 emulators|Atari 2600 emulators]]}}{{Infobox console|Manufacturer = [[Atari]]|Generation ="color[[:rgbCategory:Second_generation|Second generation]]|Release date = September 11, 1977 (0,0,0NA);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.1875px;">The <br /span>1978 (EU)|Media type = ROM cartridge, tape|Input controller = joystick, paddles, driving controller, track-ball, keypad|Predecessor = [[Atari Pong consoles]]|Successor = [[Atari 5200]]}}The '''Atari 2600'''<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.1875px;"> is a </span>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_console is a video game console]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.1875px;"> released released in September 1977 by </span>by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari,_Inc |Atari, Inc.]]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.1875px;">. It is credited with popularizing the use of </span>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microprocessor of microprocessor]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.1875px;">-based hardware and </span>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROM_cartridge and ROM cartridges]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.1875px;"> containing containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor </span>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dedicated_console microprocessor dedicated]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.1875px;"> hardware hardware with all games built in. The first game console to use this format was the </span>the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Channel_F Fairchild Channel F]<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.1875px;">]; however, the Atari 2600 receives credit for making the plug-in concept popular among the game-playing public.</span> It did make by far the biggest impact of any console released during the golden age. In fact, to much of the general public, it made the word “Atari” synonymous with the word “video game” (at least until Nintendo assumed the throne in the mid to late 1980s). Imbued with a mere 128 bytes of RAM, the Atari 2600 was originally designed to play Pong variations, simplistic action games, crude racing simulations, rudimentary educational titles, and the like. However, with the release of Space Invaders in 1980, the system skyrocketed in sales and became a mainstay of arcade conversions. In 1980, after a limited marketing test in 1979, Mattel released its [[Intellivision]] system nationwide, setting the stage for the first true console war. Bolstered by a scries of commercials starring spokesman George Plimpton, the lntellivision had superior graphics and sounds and more power under the hood. Nevertheless, the Atari 2600 maintained a dominant following, thanks to its plethora of popular arcade titles and its propensity for fast-action games that were easy to pick up and play. By 1983, however, due in part to competition from other systems (like the [[ColecoVision]] and the [[Atari 5200]]) and a multitude of inferior titles cranked out by certain third-party companies, the shine began to wear off the aging console. By 1984, the Atari 2600 was all but dead, a victim of the fabled great video game crash. 

IC's*CPUThe unit came with two stiff but solid joysticks and a pair of finely tuned paddle controllers. Both types of controllers had but a single fire button, forcing programmers to make creative use of the joystick (and at times the console itself ) for more elaborate games. The console contained the following switches: MOS Technology 6507 - 8bitcolor/b/w, reset, select, difficulty level (novice and expert for each player), and, of course, 1on/off.19MHz

*TIA 1A During its high- Television Interface Adaptor Model 1A point, the 2600 saw more than its share of peripherals and add-ons, including countless third-party joysticks, a touch pad (Videofor Star Raiders), Audioa trackball, Input Portsa joypad players could stand on (for Mogul Maniac), a Kid’s Controller (for Sesame Street titles), a driving controller (for Indy 500), a keyboard controller, and more.

===CPU and Memorymemory===*'''CPU''': MOS 6507, 8bit, 1.19MHz (cutdown 6502 with only 8K address space)*'''RAM''': 128 bytes (additional 128 or 256 bytes in some cartridges)*'''VRAM''': none (picture controlled by I/O ports only)*'''ROM''': external game cartridge (usually 2KB or 4KB, or banked 2x4KB) ===Video===*'''Output''': line-by-line (registers must be updated each scanline)*'''Resolution''': 160x192 pixels (NTSC 60Hz), 160x228 pixels (PAL 50Hz)*'''Playfield''': 40 dots horizontal resolution (rows of 4 pixels per dot)*'''Colors''': 4 colors at once (one color per object)*'''Palette''': 128 colors (NTSC), 104 colors (PAL), 8 colors (SECAM)*'''Sprites''': 2 sprites of 8pix width, 3 sprites of 1pix width ===Input/output ports, audio, timer===*'''I/O''': two 8bit I/O ports, six 1bit input ports*'''Timer''': one 8bit timer (with prescaler; 1,8,64,1024 machine cycles)*'''Audio''': two sound channels (with frequency, volume, noise control) ===Console switches===*'''Switches''': color/mono switch (PAL/NTSC only), and two difficulty switches*'''Buttons''': select button, reset button (or switches in older consoles)*'''Hardware''': power switch, TV channel select switch (not software controlled) ===Connectors===*'''Slot''': one 24 pin cartridge slot (with 4K address bus)*'''Controls''': two 9 pin joystick ports (also used for paddles, keyboards)*'''TV''': one Cinch socket (video/audio TV signal)*'''Power''': 9V DC, 500mA (internally converted to 5V DC) ==Atari 2800==The '''Atari 2800''' is the Japanese version of the Atari 2600, released in October 1983. It never captured a large market in Japan because it was released a short time after the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Nintendo Famicom]], which became the dominant console in the Japanese video game market of the time. Codenamed "Cindy", the Atari 2800 had four controller ports instead of the standard two on the Atari 2600's. The controllers are an all-in one design using a combination of an 8-direction digital joystick and a 270-degree paddle.

*CPU: MOS 6507The 2800's case design departed from the standard 2600 format, 8bit, 1using a wedge shape with non-protruding switches.19MHz (cutdown 6502 with only 8K address space)*RAMThe Atari 2800's case style was used as the basis for the [http: 128 Bytes (additional 128 or 256 bytes in some cartridges)*VRAM: None (Picture controlled by I/O Ports only)*ROM: External Game Cartridge (usually 2KB or 4KB, or banked 2x4KB)/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_7800 Atari 7800]'s case style

*Output: Line-by-line (Registers must be updated each scanline)*Resolution: 160x192 pixels (NTSC 60Hz), 160x228 pixels (PAL 50Hz)*Playfield: 40 dots horizontal resolution (rows Sears liked the design of 4 pixels per dot)*Colors: 4 colors at once (one color per object)*Palette: 128 colors (NTSC)the Atari 2800 so much, 104 colors (PAL)they opted to sell a version under their Tele-Games label. It was released in the US in 1983 as the Sears Video Arcade II, 8 colors (SECAM)*Sprites: and was packaged with 2 sprites of 8pix width, 3 sprites of 1pix widthcontrollers and Space Invaders.

Input/Output Ports==Atari 2600 Jr.==[[File:Atari-2600-Jr-Console.jpg|thumb|230px|Atari 2600 Jr.]]In 1985, Audioa new version of the 2600 was released (although it had been planned for release two years earlier). The new redesigned version of the 2600, Timerunofficially referred to as the 2600 Jr., featured a smaller cost-reduced form factor with a modernized [[Atari 7800]]-like appearance. The redesigned 2600 was advertised as a budget gaming system (under $50) that had the ability to run a large collection of classic games. With its introduction came a resurgence in software development both from Atari Corp. and from a few third parties (including Activision, Absolute Entertainment, Froggo, Epyx, and Exus). The Atari 2600 continued to sell in the USA and Europe until 1991, and in Asia until the early 1990s.

*I/O: Two 8bit I/O ports, six 1bit Input ports==Hardware==*Timer: One 8bit Timer (with prescaler; 1,8,64,1024 machine cycles)*Audio''Main article: Two sound channels (with Frequency, Volume, Noise control)[[Atari 2600 Hardware]].''

*Switches: Color/Mono Switch (PAL/NTSC only)==Games==Former Atari employees founded the earliest example of the third-party game publisher. Alan Miller, designer of early launch titles like ''Surround'' and two Difficulty Switches*Buttons: Select Button''Basketball'', left with fellow designers Bob Whitehead, Larry Kaplan, Reset Button (or Switches and David Crane to form Activision in older consoles)*Hardware: Power Switch1979 with the help of music lawyer Jim Levy. Atari unsuccessfully pursued legal action for a while to keep Activision from publishing games on ther platform. Another publisher, Imagic, TV Channel Select Switch (not software controlled)was founded by Atari and Mattel Electronics alumni the following year.

*Slot[[Category: One 24 pin Cartridge Slot (with 4K address bus)Console]]*Controls[[Category: Two 9 pin Joystick ports (also used for Paddles, Keyboards)*TV: One Cinch Socket (Video/Audio TV Signal)*Power: 9V DC, 500mA (internally converted to 5V DC)Second generation]]