What should be my second 2nd Gen console?

[shanesawkool]

The only second gen game console I have in my modest collection is the Atari 2600. I have around 13 common games for the system. What should be my next step after this? None of my console collections are bigger than like 30 games, and I have been lucky to get some consoles and games for free. I can't afford anything really expensive, and I don't want any clone consoles. I am also not very interested in the 2nd gen computing market, although I might try some of the more popular/common computing systems if it comes down to that.

[Flojomojo]

You've barely scratched the surface of the Atari 2600, stick with that if you're having fun. It doesn't get a whole lot better than that in this generation. 

[+LS650]

1) get a Harmony multicart so you can easily get many more games to play.I

 

2) the Magnavox Odyssey 2 is still a fairly inexpensive console to collect for, has some good games, and has a good homebrew scene.

[ubersaurus]

I second picking up a harmony cart at some point. It's not terribly expensive! At the least it's cheaper than getting a whole new console.

 

The Odyssey2 or Intellivision are both reasonable second choices with their own distinct personality/flavor of games, and a lot of games in both cases are still fairly inexpensive. A lot of the other interesting machines from that gen are either expensive or are kind of flaky.

[Noah98]

Intellivision is a fun, unique console, with a manageable library and modest costs for most games.

[CatPix]

I second that. Odyssey2/Videopac has a solid, if mostly uninspired, selection of games. It could be the "demo system" of the second gen. All the main genres f games in a solid library.

Intellivision is more experimental but also more interesting.

[+wongojack]

I agree with the advice on this thread to continue digging into the 2600

 

However, there are really only 2 choices as the NEXT 2nd gen system, and they have both been mentioned here.

1) Intellivision

2) Odyssey 2

 

The Intellivision library is more diverse and games were produced for it for about the same duration as the 2600, so there is more to discover within its library.  However, the Odyssey 2 is no slouch when it comes to delivering compelling arcade-style action.  The Odyssey 2 also has probably the cheapest multi-cart around (Packrat was selling some), and while there have been some good homebrews, the original library is still "good enough" for that console.

 

A rather distant 3rd IMO would be the Astrovision/Astrocade, but it is rather difficult and expensive to track down a working one.  An even more distant 4th place for me is the Fairchild Ch. F which just does not deliver the same compelling gaming experiences as 1-3.

 

In all cases, you should try the excellent emulators to help you decide.

[mbd30]

The Intellivision is super fun. My next door neighbor friend had one when I was a kid. The controller might take some getting used to, but it didn't bother me at the time.

 

Some favorites were Demon Attack, Burger Time, Lock n Chase, Frogger and Night Salker. B-17 Bomber is a surprisingly in-depth arcade flight sim type game.

 

[+cjherr]

I agree with @Wongojack. The O2 and Intellivision are excellent choices. In my opinion, Astrocade is just as good, with some excellent games for the time, but it is definitely less affordable and  harder to find. Probably his best advice is check out the games by emulation and go from there.

[fiddlepaddle]

Start with one of each, then build slowly from there.

[EdgeOfPortal]

Odyssey 2. It seems to match your situation pretty well. You can get a boxed system for $60 or $75 last I checked, and almost all the games are pretty inexpensive. In North America there's only around 3 really expensive games out of the 49. Games are fun too. Otherwise, Intellivision.

[Blazing Lazers]

Get a Vectrex, while they're still somewhat affordable. Get a good multicart and repro overlays, and start looking into quality homebrews such as Vector Pilot. Vectrex is one of the very few systems that has to be experienced with real hardware, as lot of the feel is lost in emulation.

[BassGuitari]

Odyssey 2. You can get an Odyssey system and most of the games worth playing for a hundred bucks. Probably even CIB if you're into that (and Odyssey boxes are really cool, incidentally).

 

Intellivision would be my next pick. There are more and better games than the Odyssey has, but you're going to spend more money. Ask around here first if you want to get a console--they're overpriced on eBay.

 

Beyond that, there are some interesting early systems that are going to cost an arm and a leg to get working examples of, and which only have a handful of decent games anyway. Unless you're really interested in pre-historic game systems, it's best to ignore these.

 

50 minutes ago, Blazing Lazers said:

Get a Vectrex, while they're still somewhat affordable. Get a good multicart and repro overlays, and start looking into quality homebrews such as Vector Pilot. Vectrex is one of the very few systems that has to be experienced with real hardware, as lot of the feel is lost in emulation.

"Affordable" isn't the first word that comes to mind when I think of the Vectrex, but even as expensive as the consoles can get, with a Sean Kelly multi, it's still actually a pretty good value.

 

"A lot of the feel is lost in emulation" describes basically every pre-crash console, though, or anything that didn't use a D-Pad controller.

[bluejay]

I have to agree with @Flojomojo. If you only have 13 common games in your collection, just keep digging the 2600. There are some amazing hidden gems for the 2600, as well as just regular good games(Pitfall II, HERO, Spy Hunter, Adventure...). Neither the Odyssey2 nor the Intellivision has as many games as the 2600(albeit more than half the games are utter grabage) but there is something fun about trying these terrible games and saying "What a complete piece of shit!".

However, if you insist on buying another console, I wouldn't recommend a console, but a computer from the era. The Apple II, VIC-20, C64, CoCo, all have their share of great games, and I prefer them over the Intellivision and Odyssey2.

If you still want a console after all my effort of trying to convince you, try some 2nd generation games on an emulator, and choose what's more fun for you. We don't know what kind of games you like, and therefore have no idea what console would enjoy the most.

[shanesawkool]

My father got me an Odyssey 2 as a gift.

I now have 7 games for it.

I am enjoying it so far.

[CatPix]

What are the games?

I hope one of them is KC Munchkin. I think, with his random maze generator and that "chase the dot" mechanism, that it's one of the most inspired Pac-Man clones. Two small changes that make it so much more fun than most Pac-Man clones or variants. Even if the random generator can result in unfairly hard mazes or pretty easy ones... each maze is a new challenge.

 

KC Crazy Chase is fun, but mostly if you get The Voice! else... it's a bit meh, due to the maze layout never changing.

[Mikebloke]

19 hours ago, shanesawkool said:

My father got me an Odyssey 2 as a gift.

I now have 7 games for it.

I am enjoying it so far.

A good choice, it's short and simple gameplay, but it's an affordable console to keep collecting for. If you do move to another 2nd gen Console, intellivision is probably the better choice. Most available are still boxed and complete, and doesn't command much more price than loose copies. 

 

Most of the other 2nd generation is more specialist, 1292 is European exclusive, the fairchild channel f market seemed to have ballooned out of nowhere price wise and is more simple than the odyssey2. The other is colecovision, which some (including me) would argue is not a true 2nd generation console, it certainly has deeper gameplay and graphics than other 2nd generation consoles but the price is not ridiculous for loose carts for a good starter set. 

[insertclevernamehere]

Wow.  No mention of the Colecovision?!   That's 2nd gen and the most sophisticated of the bunch.  Plenty of arcade ports that aren't available on the 2600 and superior versions of many that are.  Tutankham anyone?  Waaaaaaaayyyyyy better on the CV than the 2600.  Just before I'm accused of being a 2600 hater though, that's still my fave 2nd gen machine and probably my all time favourite console.

[+wongojack]

When I answered the question, I didn't consider the Colecovision as part of the same generation . . . because it is not.

[mr_me]

5 hours ago, insertclevernamehere said:

Wow.  No mention of the Colecovision?!   That's 2nd gen and the most sophisticated of the bunch.  Plenty of arcade ports that aren't available on the 2600 and superior versions of many that are.  Tutankham anyone?  Waaaaaaaayyyyyy better on the CV than the 2600.  Just before I'm accused of being a 2600 hater though, that's still my fave 2nd gen machine and probably my all time favourite console.

If you want to play golden age arcade games best to play the originals in Mame or go to an arcade rather than play inferior conversions on these systems.  I'd go for a console that offers more unique gameplay experiences.

[+wongojack]

3 hours ago, mr_me said:

If you want to play golden age arcade games best to play the originals in Mame or go to an arcade rather than play inferior conversions on these systems.  I'd go for a console that offers more unique gameplay experiences.

Zing!

 

Nobody tell him about Fortune Builder, Campaign '84, Alcazar, Wargames, Jumpman Jr, or 2010.  That's just off the top of my head.

 

But seriously, I love the thing, but I didn't consider the Colecovision a valid answer to the question.

[insertclevernamehere]

22 hours ago, wongojack said:

When I answered the question, I didn't consider the Colecovision as part of the same generation . . . because it is not.

Somebody tell wikipedia then because they have the CV listed as 2nd generation and it's not listed in their 3rd generation entry.  The Intellivision, Atari 2600 and CV are ALWAYS mentioned in the same breath as being the main consoles of that generation.  I have never heard anything different and suddenly you're telling me that everything I've read and heard prior to this thread is wrong?  More like you're wrong.

[mr_me]

He's not wrong; wikipedia is wrong.  Intellivision competed against the Atari 2600 and Odyssey2.  Colecovision competed against the Atari 5200 and Commodore 64.  You think the Atari 5200 and Atari 2600 are the same generation?

[insertclevernamehere]

21 hours ago, mr_me said:

If you want to play golden age arcade games best to play the originals in Mame or go to an arcade rather than play inferior conversions on these systems.  I'd go for a console that offers more unique gameplay experiences.

Just giving the CV as another alternative to the 2600.  Sure, Mame is better for arcade games but the guy is asking for console suggestions which mame isn't.  I'm not looking for arcade perfect games. This thread isn't about what I want. Just offering why I think the CV would be a good option as a second, 2nd generation console. 

[insertclevernamehere]

12 minutes ago, mr_me said:

He's not wrong; wikipedia is wrong.  Intellivision competed against the Atari 2600 and Odyssey2.  Colecovision competed against the Atari 5200 and Commodore 64.  You think the Atari 5200 and Atari 2600 are the same generation?

Tell them then, not me.  I also personally remember shopping for my first console.  The three available in the store at the time were the Atari 2600, the Intellivision and the Colecovision.  This was the UK.  The 5200 wasn't even released there and the C64 is a home computer, not a games console.