Color label variations

[DeusVult]

Once upon a time I used to keep every single variation of a cart I could find. As I grow older with my collection, I have started to relinquish that thought. I only keep significant changes now.

 

However, I still have kept my color variations. There seem to be only on Atari released text labels. ex: I'll have a red and yellow version of "Slot Racers" and a blue and red "Bowling". Sometimes the only perceivable difference in the carts is the color.

 

I think it's about time I pick one color over another and move on. Should I leave it up to personal preference? Are some colors more sought after? Can I tell which was was the originally intended color and which one may be a re-release?

 

Your Thoughts AA.

 

p.s. please excuse the atrocious pic quality. The phone is acting up again.

[Cobra Commander]

If you got the space for them why not. I don't think I could keep up with them.

[R.O.T.S]

I agree, it is text and colour variations like this that make A2600 collecting real interesting, Gotta get them all!

 

I have scans of mine and you can also see variation with the primary colour on the same game ,look at Yars revenge and Frostbite.

 

more scans here http://www.jammajup.co.uk/atari.html

Edited June 28, 2014 by R.O.T.S

[TheGameCollector]

My main question that I haven't found the answer to yet is: When were the text label versions of Atari branded games in production? Are they older than the picture labels or from the exact same time period and what you got when you opened the box was random? I have like 5 CIB games and all of them have text labels, and then I have a CIB Asteroids with a picture label cart. Looking at the outsides of the boxes I don't see anything on them that makes Asteroids appear different than the other 5 I have.

 

And then what's up with the numbered text label games like "02 Combat" ? Were these the oldest variants of them all from when they were trying to follow after Fairchild's numbering scheme and decided against continuing that direction?

 

I wasn't around during the time (I was born in the red label/2600 Jr. era. lol) so I think it would be interesting to know.

Edited July 6, 2014 by TheGameCollector

[freewheel]

Text came first. Although there was a fair bit of overlap depending on which market you were in.

[AtariLeaf]

I wish some of the text only games like Miniature Golf had a picture label.

[TheGameCollector]

Text came first. Although there was a fair bit of overlap depending on which market you were in.

 

What seems to be the last year that text labels were used?

[BassGuitari]

 

What seems to be the last year that text labels were used?

1980 for the most part. A few probably made it out early in '81 before/while Atari switched to picture labels, but for all intents and purposes, 1980.

[TheGameCollector]

1980 for the most part. A few probably made it out early in '81 before/while Atari switched to picture labels, but for all intents and purposes, 1980.

ah that's what I thought. It must have coincided with the revision of the console from 6 switch to 4 switch, much like the silver labels for new games coincided with switch to the 2600 Vader system.