Why change from 6 switch to 4 switch?

[godzillajoe]

What was the reasoning behind Atari going from the 6 switch to the 4 switch VCS with the difficulties on the back?

 

Technical reasons? Cheaper to produce?

 

Other?

Edited July 24, 2007 by godzillajoe

[+HatNJ]

My guess is cheaper to produce moving the bigger toggle difficulty switches to the rear with a couple little plastic ones had to be cheaper also probably same reason they stopped the more robust Heavy Sixer to go with a lighter less materials Light sixer.

 

Not fact but just an opinion

[Ghost Soldier]

I agree with hat on being cheaper to produce.

Edited July 24, 2007 by Ghost Soldier

[mos6507]

If you open up the original six-switch you'll see that it actually has two boards, one flat in the case and one for the console switches running diagonally. The 4-switch has a single PCB mounted diagonally serving both roles with the difficulties in the rear. Eliminating the outermost switches allowed them to make this single board narrower.

[Brian R.]

It's all about the Benjamins.