Switched has a new home! Huffpost Tech.

Click here to visit the new home of Switched!

Hot on HuffPost Tech:

See More Stories
AOL Tech

Happy 30th Birthday, Atari!

by Terrence O'Brien on October 1, 2007 at 02:33 PM

Happy 30th Birthday, Atari!

It's hard to believe it's been 30 years since the release of Atari's famous VCS (Video Computer System) or as it's better known, the 2600. The 2600 was the first successful home video-game console of its kind, and the first 2,600 of them rolled out of the factory in October of 1977.

Fantastic original games and home versions of popular arcade titles helped make the 2600 the ubiquitous entertainment machine it went on to become. Atari and Activision titles are still bundled and played to this day on everything from cell phones to iPods to controllers with the games built right in -- even key chains!

Sometimes it's easy to forget what a cultural touchstone the 2600 and games like 'Pitfall!' were. But think of it this way: People are still willing to pay $5 to play 'Pitfall!' on the tiny screen of their cell phone; Can you imagine anyone doing that for 'Halo 3' in 30 years?

Check out the rather thorough Wikipedia article if you're not up on your Atari history.

From Engadget

Related Links:

Tags: 2600, activision, aniversary, atari, birthday, pitfall, vcs, yars' revenge, Yars'Revenge

Comments

1

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular