RickR

A view of the 2600 games...because I just bought another storage tub.  But mostly because I want to see Lee do this:  O.o 

A view of my attic, where most of my stuff is kept.  This is shelf #1 of 2.  Someday, I'd like to be able to keep this stuff out for use, but no room at the present time. 
 
 

More stuff listed including Turmoil, Name This Game, Planet Smashers and a boxed Vader 2600 system.

It was probably some of the earlier Pong machines that caused the fear.  I'm sure a rare few of them caused burn in if you played for several hours every day.

That's quite a collection! I like it.
 
O.o

A view of the 2600 games...because I just bought another storage tub.  But mostly because I want to see Lee do this:  O.o 

A view of the 2600 games...because I just bought another storage tub.  But mostly because I want to see Lee do this:  O.o 

My parents relegated me to the basement TV for this same reason!  Initially, it was B&W, but they did upgrade to a "Sampo" 19" color shortly after.  I did get to put the 2600 on the big console TV upstairs once when I was really sick.  They took pity on me.  It was a rare snow day, and I wasn't allowed to go outside...so they let me game on the big tv instead.  I remember that day well.  A ton of Circus Atari was played that day. 

A view of the 2600 games...because I just bought another storage tub.  But mostly because I want to see Lee do this:  O.o 

I was not allowed to use the Atari on our color tv until 84' or so. It was beautiful!

Hell,think I was 12 when this came out. At the time I loved it, it was freaking Pac Man at home. After a couple months and learning the pattern that repeated over and over again it lost it's appeal. I still pop it in from time to time. Pretty weak overall.

Whoever thought of that crap needs a summary execution. I know several people who had to suffer from having to play on a black and white tv. I think that someone thought oh it's a great way to sell more tvs, but the pain and suffering.

A view of the 2600 games...because I just bought another storage tub.  But mostly because I want to see Lee do this:  O.o 

My parents relegated me to the basement TV for this same reason!  Initially, it was B&W, but they did upgrade to a "Sampo" 19" color shortly after.  I did get to put the 2600 on the big console TV upstairs once when I was really sick.  They took pity on me.  It was a rare snow day, and I wasn't allowed to go outside...so they let me game on the big tv instead.  I remember that day well.  A ton of Circus Atari was played that day. 

The best part of this story is the marketing guy who pushed to not release it.  A few small changes would have made the game a lot better.  Black background, blue maze, for example.  And remove the eye on Pac-Man.  They do mention that a lot of other programmers thought it was a tremendous accomplishment on the 2600, and it is.  Especially when you consider it was Tod Frye's first game!  But that's the frustrating part....just a few small changes.....
 
One part I still don't understand is the lack of oversight at Atari.  It always seemed like the programmer didn't have to listen to any input from other developers or a supervisor.  The decisions they made went unchallenged.  I'm not sure if that's entirely accurate, but it seems to be implied in a lot of stories like this. 
 
This was a good read, and thanks for posting it. 

My parents relegated me to the basement TV for this same reason!  Initially, it was B&W, but they did upgrade to a "Sampo" 19" color shortly after.  I did get to put the 2600 on the big console TV upstairs once when I was really sick.  They took pity on me.  It was a rare snow day, and I wasn't allowed to go outside...so they let me game on the big tv instead.  I remember that day well.  A ton of Circus Atari was played that day. 

I gamed in B&W at home till '87 for this same reason.

Excellent read. I still enjoy Tod Frye's Pac-Man. Its the version that I grew up with. Sure it could have been better with a few more tweaks and some different design decisions but it is still fun for what it is.
 
Did anyone else ever use the B&W switch when playing? It gives it a different look.

The best part of this story is the marketing guy who pushed to not release it.  A few small changes would have made the game a lot better.  Black background, blue maze, for example.  And remove the eye on Pac-Man.  They do mention that a lot of other programmers thought it was a tremendous accomplishment on the 2600, and it is.  Especially when you consider it was Tod Frye's first game!  But that's the frustrating part....just a few small changes.....
 
One part I still don't understand is the lack of oversight at Atari.  It always seemed like the programmer didn't have to listen to any input from other developers or a supervisor.  The decisions they made went unchallenged.  I'm not sure if that's entirely accurate, but it seems to be implied in a lot of stories like this. 
 
This was a good read, and thanks for posting it. 

Weird Paul has been posting a lot of great videos lately. I think it's time he had a dedicated thread for his YouTube videos
 
This week, Weird Paul posted a video looking at some of the school papers he still has from 1st through 5th grade!
 
 
 

I did. Thanks for looking though.

You must have gotten the 5200 Berzerk cart. Row and I looked at Game Over VG stores for you. Neither store didn't have them.   

I've got an extra Dreamcast.  And a TI-99/4A. 

Atari Jaguar
I just got a real Jaguar!  Any loose games are fine.  (I already have Cybermorph, Pinball Fantasies, Iron Soldier, Checkered Flag, Cannon Fodder, and the Minter Collection) Atari 2600
Crazy Climber Frankenstein's Monster Gremlins Pete Rose Baseball Quadrun Tax Avoiders Xenophobe Weird Item:
A POKEY chip (or one of the new gen replacements) to add to my Concerto cart.  SMS
- Altered Beast

Other
Retro gaming t-shirts - Adult size M. Homebrews for any system -- used, loose, board-only....anything at all. 
 

If anyone is interested and good with repairs, I have the following available:
All not functioning properly
3 2600 power supplies (2 don't power up, one has partially cut cord. 1 works, but has been cut up by the brick and electrical tape)
3 2600 joysticks (may not register some directions)
1 2600 RF cable (very fuzzy)