sloth-machine

I always just thought Beamrider was as close as we could get.

"Go Play Outside" is not considered retro yet, it's high def with too much detail. Wait a few centuries for it to be considered.

Jungle Hunt has been getting a lot of play for me lately. Perhaps it's the warm weather.

Ah, yeah, that's a good point. I guess they were trying to distinguish the 2600 on store shelves other the silver box era with 7800's blue text and the 2600's red text.

Old Atari consoles are incredibly reliable. Old NES consoles were not...those connector pins... Get a 7800 (2600 and 7800 compatibility).

Atari always had amazing graphic design from Nolan's ownership all through the Tramiels. The 2600's (VCS) early boxes and arcade cab art are timeless and right up there with all the great classic rock album covers. Atari choose a slick rainbow color coded box frame mixed with amazing art, establishing firm brand recognition. They kept the tradition alive in the 80s updating their aging platform with a modern and subtle silver label with red text and a rainbow band. Plus the new name (2600), making the console seem fresh again. Now what the hell happened in the late 80s? I know Atari went through hell and the console was dead and on it's last legs but the brick red w/ white text just made the 2600 seem like it should be categorized next to encyclopedia software. It was ugly and dated. And this isn't me looking back, I had these same thoughts as a kid, "Jeez, that maroon looks awful."

I forgot to mention 2 of the best scrolling space shooters for the 2600. Stargate & Vanguard (most people don't understand that you have to wait to shoot the Gond to build up points).

Crystal Castles, isometric 3D on the 2600. Oddly I prefer this port to the arcade. Also, Gravitar, a damn good & underrated arcade port.