Observations from a Gaming Session

[classicgamingguy]

After playing a few sessions of several games (Phoenix, Demon Attack, Berzerk), I noticed something that I usually don't do with modern games: I was totally absorbed in each session and swearing or cheering as I got smashed or pulled off a particularly cool avoidance maneuver!

 

Granted, the scores weren't high (but will get better), but it was....weird. I don't think I've been "in the zone" for at least a few years. Has anyone else experienced that during a particularly intense Atari 2600 gaming session? Demon attack REALLY had me going for about 10 minutes. The waves with the enemy's shots that move as they move really had me swearing...

 

It was another awesome experience as I opened my boxed Phoenix and slipped the cartridge in the 2600's slot. Wow...brought me back to the 1980's again. What is it about the 2600 that brings these feelings back as strongly, if not more so, as when I was a kid playing these games for the first time?

 

On a side note: My Phoenix cartridge went in VERY tightly...anyone explain WHY the cart is so tight for the slot? I have a light 6'er woody...not sure if this is normal or just my cart that might have been made a little screwed up.

 

-Steve

[monzamess]

On a side note: My Phoenix cartridge went in VERY tightly...anyone explain WHY the cart is so tight for the slot?

 

Well it WAS a virgin...

[shadowdoggie]

 

On a side note: My Phoenix cartridge went in VERY tightly...anyone explain WHY the cart is so tight for the slot? I have a light 6'er woody...not sure if this is normal or just my cart that might have been made a little screwed up.

 

-Steve

 

My money says that if you look at your cartridge, the copyright date is 1988, or possibly 1987 depending on how 'tight' it felt in the light sixer. My 1982 Phoenix slides in smoothly. The 1987 version scrapes a little bit. The case of the 1988 version is slightly larger and takes some effort to squeeze in there, and you'll likely wear down the label eventually. You wouldn't have this problem with an Atari Jr. or the Vader system, although the 1988 version is a 'little' tight in the Vader.

Edited May 7, 2010 by shadowdoggie

[Skylark68]

On a side note: My Phoenix cartridge went in VERY tightly...anyone explain WHY the cart is so tight for the slot?

 

Well it WAS a virgin...

 

I know you just didn't go there....

 

The Atari 2600 is capable of bringing back a host of memories for me. It was my No. 1 pastime back in the day. The '80s, especially the early '80s, were a tremendous time to grow up.

[classicgamingguy]

Bingo.

 

The copyright on the box is 1988, hence it's difficult "fit". I would need to obtain an earlier version to compensate for the tightness, correct? Hmm...that could provoke some interesting responses, too...

 

Thanks for the heads up on that. I suppose that's another loose cart I'll need to get for my system so I don't ruin the label on my boxed copy. The label condition on the boxed version is pristine...I love Phoenix, but won't risk the copy becoming damaged from my gaming lust.

 

-Steve

[james82]

demon attack is in the top 5 games on atari imo,even now days it's a great game to play

[classicgamingguy]

It's one of my favorite games for the 2600. Imagic seemed to be on the "cutting edge" of gaming back in the day, which is why I have to collect ALL the Imagic game titles...complete in their original boxes, of course.

 

My collection is small right now. 8 boxed games and 19 loose games, so I have a long way to go before my collection is sizable. Space, however, is at a premium, so I have to keep it down (for now).

 

Well, I do have a special place in my heart for Phoenix. That one rates right up there for favorites.

 

-Steve

Edited May 11, 2010 by classicgamingguy

[Player 3]

Albeit, I never owned an Atari console or grew up back then, playing those games now somehow....it feels.....awesome. I feel immersed in the arcade gameplay rather than playing a part in a story (like now).

 

 

[boxes of sawdust]

I had a similiar experience to the one in the first post while playing Kaboom for several hours a couple days ago...then my girlfriend annihilated my high score and the swearing really began! BTW this is my first post on here, I love this website!

[classicgamingguy]

Welcome, boxes!

 

Kaboom was never my "strong point" in gaming. Reflexes, hand-eye coordination...it's over rated! I just am too old these days to follow that mad bomber for more than a few screens. He whips me every time.

[Fr0st]

Solar Fox is a game I can really get hooked on. You just keep trying to better your score and I can really lose an hour on it.

 

I think Joust too, although I can't get anywhere near as good a score as I used to as a kid.

[Difficulty A]

Yeah, the Imagic games were killer. I just recently acquired a copy of Demon Attack and will be getting some of the other titles. Imagic's labels are totally sweet, with that metallic silver finish. The cartridges' structural design is also awesome; very ergonomic and well designed.

[SpendTooMuchOnAtari]

I really like Imagic as well, Cosmic Ark has always been a favorite of mine.

[classicgamingguy]

Demon Attack impresses me. The music speed increases and rises in pitch as you get down to the last few birds...er, demons. Has your blood pressure raise accordingly and makes it that much more fun to play..the frenetic pace..ah, what a game.

[+Cafeman]

I've been having the same experience this past week. I got the homebrews Ladybug 2600 and Pac-man Collection 7800, so I hooked up my 7800 and dug out all my 7800 and many mnay 2600 titles. Been having a blast all over again.

 

This time, I guess I've been most impressed by playing these classics again:

 

Reactor (really a lot of fun, more than I'd have thought. I used to enjoy it, but I though it wouldn't hold up. It does).

Stampede (never gets old, never lasts too long either)

Enduro (my #2 favorite 2600 game)

River Raid (my #1 favorite 2600 game)

Phoenix (really well done! Although it does get repetitive & doesn't seem to get any harder as you plow through the levels. Love the variety)

Demon Attack (this and Reactor have the same bum-bum-bum background sounds, similar to space Invaders I guess, to elevate the stress level. Anyway, this is a great 2600 shooter too).

 

Also played Riddle of the Sphinx, I have never read the instructions and still don't have much of a clue how to beat the game! Also played E.T.! It isn't all that bad.... but 2600 Pac-man still stinks, Ms Pac-Man is much better, and Jr. Pac-Man is also great and very challenging.

[classicgamingguy]

I guess I don't mind redundancy in some of my 2600 titles too much. I never last long enough for it to get boring, anyway! Usually by the later waves, I start doing "dumb" mistakes and can't keep my edge to really rack up the higher scores on games like Space Invaders, Asteroids, Demon Attack, Phoenix, and Missile Command.

 

I think my reflexes start dropping off exponentially as the waves go by. Berzerk is another title I keep hitting "reset" on over and over again. It's just a great game. The game manual? Pure genius! I love the illustrations and cross-sections of the robots. Excellent classic gaming stuff.

[+Cafeman]

Picked up 15 new Atari 2600 games at Groovy , Southside Carson St. Pittsburgh.

 

Empire Strikes Back - still fun. My 10-yr old son played a round and said it was fun. Yes, I've played it many times in the past, but its been a while.

 

Got MouseTrap too. After playing Ladybug, this is a bit shallow, but similar eh? I wonder though, why couldn't they have at least changed the colors each maze to give some variety?

 

Got Maze Craze which I've never owned. I actually thought this was going to be the 2 player game where you go down the screen in a maze and can get trapped by the scrolling screen - what game is that? But this one was fun for a while as a 2-player.

 

Also picked up Sky Skipper, which I never heard of before and Lock n Chase, Kangaroo, Atlantis, Cosmic Ark, and Pitfall which believe it or not I haven't owned since 1982 (but I have played via compilations and emulation many times over the years).

 

Just sharing. Games I'm most hooked on recently that I get "in the zone with" : Lady Bug (190k is my best) and Stampede (about 1600 points is my best), and Enduro (got to 7th day today; I've done better in the past, like 10th day).

Edited May 15, 2010 by Cafeman

[Pioneer4x4]

Picked up 15 new Atari 2600 games at Groovy , Southside Carson St. Pittsburgh.

I didn't know of that place, maybe I'll stop in, did you leave anything? What prices did they want?

[+Cafeman]

I paid $2.00 per cart! I've bought stuff there for years - 2600, 7800, and 5200 games, also bought my 7800 and XE Systems there. They are mostly an old toys and collectibles kind of place.

 

DId I leave anything? Yep, I bought 15 and there are probably 50 more still there, including doubles of the ones I bought. I saw a boxed Intellivision for sale there too (don't know how much money the owner (she) was charging.)

[+Cafeman]

I just checked again, here are the other 2600 games i picked up: Wizard of Wor; Journey Escape; Berzerk; and Trick Shot. FYI.

[Pioneer4x4]

All sounds like decent games for $2! Maybe I'll run down there tomorrow. The kicker is I'm at work now in Oakland!

[classicgamingguy]

Berzerk is one of my favorites. I have it boxed AND loose. Pure gaming bliss. I had a major Atari 2600 session tonight, and broke out the paddles that came with my system. Not one jitter anywhere as I enjoyed Breakout, Warlords, Circus Atari, and Kaboom! Oh yeah..Night Driver, too. That was fun, and I haven't played THAT game in a long, long time.

[Pioneer4x4]

I just checked again, here are the other 2600 games i picked up: Wizard of Wor; Journey Escape; Berzerk; and Trick Shot. FYI.

I went there yesterday, thanks for the tip. I got 8 games I didn't have

Sears Arcade Golf

Sears Basketball

Sears Codebreaker

Atari Dark Chambers

Sears Football

Sears Slots

US Games Sneak'n Peek

Sears Tank-Plus

 

Plus a 6 game selector unit

manuals for video checkers, sprint master, and Sears haunted house

 

Plus an intellivoice with boxed B-17 and Space Spartans

 

 

For $32

[+Cafeman]

Good score. The owner is probably happy all this Atari/gaming stuff is moving.

Edited May 16, 2010 by Cafeman

[Pioneer4x4]

Good score. The owner is probably happy all this Atari/gaming stuff is moving.

Yep, I was happy, he was happy, my wife was not. All is still normal!