The Atari 65XE Video Game System...Huh?

[+sixersfan105]

So we all know that the XE Game System (XEGS) is a modified 65XE. However, has anyone ever seen a true 65XE branded as a 65XE GS like this one? Maybe only in Latin America, since this box has Spanish on it? 🤯

[+save2600]

Gun for great shooting games...  🤣

[Gunstar]

yep, just seen that for the first time a few months ago...I don't remember exactly where I saw it on-line, but it said it was from Brazil, I think. Definitely from central or south America.

Edited July 25, 2019 by Gunstar

[Fred_M]

There are some topics about these already here on AA

 

and

 

 

 

[Gunstar]

The XEGS (Game System) was the full system, including the keyboard. The XEGM (Game Machine) is the version sold without a keyboard. I think light gun, joystick and pack-in games were sold with both, but I don't know for sure. Also,I am referring ONLY to the real XE console with the pastel buttons, sold in the US. Outdise the US I have no idea what they were called or if they were XE console or computer.

Edited July 26, 2019 by Gunstar

[+sixersfan105]

50 minutes ago, Gunstar said:

The XEGS (Game System) was the full system, including the keyboard. The XEGM (Game Machine) is the version sold without a keyboard. I think light gun, joystick and pack-in games were sold with both, but I don't know for sure. Also,I am referring ONLY to the real XE console with the pastel buttons, sold in the US. Outdise the US I have no idea what they were called or if they were XE console or computer.

Yeah you know it's funny, Bruce @ B&C is really the only guy I've seen refer to it as a "game machine." I can't find literature anywhere that actually refers to it as the XE Game Machine. I wonder if he made it up? Here is @Rhod's picture of his XE collection (he's based in France). Notice everything says "XE system" - nothing about machines. I know you specifically mention US-only, but again, I have never seen any reference to a "game machine" outside of B&C and maybe Video61. No actual Atari info that says "game machine" anywhere. @Fred_M's second link above also supports my theory that B&C made up the "game machine" concept and that the XEGS was only ever sold complete here in the US. I'd love to see a picture prove me otherwise, however!

[Gunstar]

@sixersfan105 You may be right, though I'm sure I heard the Basic and Deluxe versions referred to many times in old Analog and Antic magazines as the XEGM and XEGS, but the only picture I can find of the U.S. release is the entire system. Wikipedia says there was the deluxe system that included the keyboard, light gun, joystick and pack-in games, and the basic system was the console and joystick only, but I could not find a picture of the basic system (which I remember seeing in stores, and my memory was it said Atari XE Game Machine, but I may be mis-remembering). On the Internet all I can find of the console and joystick only version is the one in the picture you posted.

Edited July 26, 2019 by Gunstar

[+sixersfan105]

Yeah I've just never seen pictures of a "basic" set stateside. May be a picture will surface one of these days! "Machine" doesn't seem like marketing Atari would use, either. Seems very...unofficial and used by Atari vendors to keep their own stock straight when they started pulling from complete retail sets to piece out individual parts

[+sixersfan105]

Update: A 65XE Video Game System is heading my way next week! 🙌😎