Rarity of Consoles

[Zeus]

I just bought a "darth vader" 2600 console at a local shop. I often hear people talking about the different "generations" of the 2600. How common is the "Darth Vader"? Also, wouldn't it be great to have a rarity guide for hardware like we do for the software?

[joeybastard]

I'm guessing here but I think the Vader is the most common 2600. I'm sure someone here knows for sure.

[rolenta]

I'm guessing here but I think the Vader is the most common 2600.  I'm sure someone here knows for sure.

 

Really? That's the only one I DON'T have.

[joeybastard]

I could definetely be wrong. I'm basing it on personal experience of what me and my friends own and what I see for sale in the wild. I'm sure somebody who knows better will answer this thread.

[Happy_Dude]

wouldn't it be great to have a rarity guide for hardware like we do for the software?

What and give sellers a reason to over charge for consoles aswell.

It's bad enough sellers have a reason to hike up cart prices

[Zeus]

This presents a difficult situation. On the one hand determining the rarity of any collectible is essential in determining its worth, yet on the other, one does not want to create too much of a seller's market.

[BTHOTU]

I dont think they are too rare that was the first type i bought. But they work good and look the best IMO

[Atariman]

I have two vader consoles. The one I always thought was the most rare was the 2600 Jr. I haven't had any trouble finding any of the other generations of systems (six switch, woodgrain 4 switch, vader)

[SS]

I'm guessing here but I think the Vader is the most common 2600.  I'm sure someone here knows for sure.

 

 

My bet goes to a 4 switch woodie.

[Xot]

Agreed. Four switch woody is the most common in my experience. I think the Sears consoles are on the rarer side, though.

[Paul Slocum]

I see light sixers and jrs the most. I don't have a vader at all. I think I have 3 light sixers, 1 heavy sixer (sears), 3 jrs (one with Kool Aid Man glitch), and one 4-switch woody.

 

-Paul

[sku_u]

The only home console that I don't come across nearly every time I'm out thrifting is the 6 switch Sunnyvale Edition that does not have the channel select switch on the bottom. I've only come across one of those in my searches and given that someone traded 60 games and a standard six switch for mine, I'd say they are probably in the greatest demand at the very least. As for the Jr., 4 switch woodie, light sixer, and vader, the only thing I come across more often (and pass on usually) are joysticks for the 2600.

[SS]

the only thing I come across more often (and pass on usually) are joysticks for the 2600.

 

 

 

I pick up any and all loose sticks that I run across for a buck or two. I'll need 'em one day.

[joeybastard]

I wonder if the different models wind up being concentrated in different geographic areas? Maybe NY got more Vaders because that's the model that was out when it had the highest sales in that area. Or maybe somewhere else had it's highest sales when the woody 4 switch was the model.

 

Just a theory...

[Big Player]

It's funny, the only model I don't have is a jr. Of course I did see one for sale, but it was just priced too high.

[Joey Kay]

Hmm...

 

With the exception of the original Sunnyvale Heavy 6'ers, it seems to me that this is kind of like trying to figure out what's more rare... a white Ford Taurus or a grey Ford Taurus... they're pretty much all everywhere.

 

Having said that, I think one of the "rare-er" models of the 2600 from my experience in my neck of the woods is the Vader model, although they certainly are not by any means uncommon!

 

Cheers!

 

Joey

[DeV0]

The most common here in aus is the JR, or rainbow edition as i call it.

 

The rest from more to less common are as follows,

 

vader

6 switch woody, light, No heavys here?

4 switch woody.

 

I guess the 32 in 1 cart sold alot of ataris.

[Christophero Sly]

I'd wager that the 4 switch woodies are the most common, and the Sears consoles are the least common.

[BoOchan!]

This is In Order from most Common to Most Rare

 

1. 2600 Jr.

2. 6 Switch Woody

3. Darth Vader

4. 4 Switch Woody

5. Clones

[Zeus]

With regards to them all being the same animal, but a different colour, I disagree. I see the rarity of different consoles as more of a case of different designs for the same type of car. Such as 60's corvettes, versus the stingrays of the 70's and 80's vs. the late models. Even though many of them look alike, they have different designs

[CincYnoTi]

maybe it's still there somewhere on atari2600.com, but i think jerry greiner once said the 4-switch sears model was the rarest of the atari-made consoles. not sure how he came up with that. he probably had 50 of every other console variety, but only 25 of those. i don't know if he considered the tv-switch-less 6-switch as the same as all other 6-switch varieties though.

 

i'm guessing other than the original sixer, there is not enough difference in atari/sears consoles to make any of them sell for more than $10 on ebay (not considering the case of two rabid bidders after the same ebay auction). however, the columbia version of the gemini console very rarely shows up on ebay. perhaps the intellivision/2600 system changer is the only other us-made thing that plays 2600 games which is of similar rarity (not including prototypes or homebrews).

[Godzilla]

AFAIK (and from what I've heard,) the Columbia Home Arcade (mail order only 2600 console (I've got one :-) )) is the rarest u.s. 2600 console. I'd have to guess that the sears Video Arcade II (looks like a 7800 with the same controllers as a Japanese system (paddle & joystick all in one,)) is the next rarest

[SS]

AFAIK (and from what I've heard,) the Columbia Home Arcade (mail order only 2600 console (I've got one :-)  )) is the rarest u.s. 2600 console.

 

 

I had one in my friggin hands, too! And I passed it up! DOH!!!!!!

[Godzilla]

yup, thats a DOH alright. I passed one up too, but got one later in a giant box I bought for $20 (and much later found out it was rare,) so I never had to suffer the internal DOH! :-)

[tillenterprises]

maybe it's still there somewhere on atari2600.com, but i think jerry greiner once said the 4-switch sears model was the rarest of the atari-made consoles. .

 

Yeah! I picked up one of those in the original box at a thrift!