The Atari 2600 is considered a second generation console, being among the first wave of hardware to utilize cartridges. Of its peers, the console is by far the most successful and has the largest library.
Some are probably too young to have played the Atari 2600 in its heyday, but those who did fondly remember the days they spent playing the likes of Kaboom, Pitfall, Space Invaders, and many more. To celebrate Atari's revolutionary gaming system, the following ten memes will make one either long for childhood, or make them feel bad they were born in a later generation.
10 Just The Best Childhood
This picture showcases a child at the peak of their happiness. With the helmet placed on their head and a joystick in hand, the child has been transported out of the living room and into another world. They had no idea they'd be living through a global pandemic and years of political strife in adulthood. The '80s also had its problems, but the '80s also had Atari.
9 Parents, The Street Sweeper
Ask any adult who used to read comic books, play video games, or collect action figured as a child and they'll most likely relay stories about how their parents threw away all the goodies they accumulated throughout their youth. Sure, the Atari 2600 probably would not be worth a lot, but that is not the point. Most would kill just for the chance to pop a Centipede cartridge in and play a few rounds.
8 It Was Not All Better
Everyone knows about E.T., but for any who are unaware, Pac-Man received a port on the Atari 2600 as well. Just one glance reveals a less than stellar conversion. Some kids were simply thrilled to have the game regardless of how it looks compared to the original. At the same time, others have to be there to remind the world the past was not better than the modern day, especially with video games.
7 Well, Sort Of
The Atari 2600 was built to last, so most could probably get one to work and play it if they had an old television lying around.
However, one should note that modern consoles also work when the Internet is down. Additionally, broken games came out thirty years ago and could not be fixed with patches like they today.
6 Pitfall Harry Is Only Human
Pitfall Harry must be really embarrassed when all the other platforming protagonists show up in his game and conquer the screens with ease. Harry should not feel bad, however, since he is only human. Of course these obstacles are difficult for him, while they are a piece of cake for a robot with a gun on its arm. He should always remember, Pitfall was here before all the other ones. Future platformers might not exist without it.
5 The Day History Was Unearthed
Anybody who has seen Atari: Game Over is well familiar with the story of the E.T. game burial. On April 26th the copies were finally unearthed, salvaging an important piece of gaming history.
There is a certain irony when a game like E.T., often considered one of the worst video games ever made, ends up being more valuable than almost any other game released at the time. The next time we make something terrible, we'll just bury it in the ground for 35 years until it is worth something.
4 One Action Button Was All We Needed
The Atari's joystick was a revelation upon release. The design is incredibly simple and easy to understand just from one glance. Older gamers are no doubt confused by the controllers modern consoles utilize. Sometimes they shift in their chair to find a more comfortable sitting position and all of a sudden the motion controls kick in and do something on screen. Some miss simpler days.
3 Combat
The effects violence in video games has on kids is not a new conversation. Back in 1977 when the Atari 2600 launched, kids were destroying each other playing Combat, one of the console's launch titles. Kids did not need a level up system, prestiges, or battle passes to entertain them during multiplayer battles, either. Simply blowing up their friend's tank was all the encouragement they required to play.
2 Let The Battles Begin
Many attribute the 1983 video game crash to one game, E.T.. However, the story is a little more complicated. Too many options, lack of quality control, and the increased accessibility and interest in home computers were also factors in the market decline. E.T. is certainly not a great game, and deserving of its reputation, but it also is notable for including numerous mechanics not typically seen in games of the time. The game's quality is mostly due to the incredibly short development time.
1 The Weird March Of Time
Even in the modern landscape gaming is still considered a medium for kids, despite games like Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and The Last of Us Part 2 proving otherwise. The above meme certainly proves how far gaming has come since its early days in the late '70s. So if you played the Atari 2600 as a child, please call up your doctor and take care of all the proper tests. We just want to make sure you can enjoy whatever gaming offers for the next forty years.