InvaderPac Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 In 10 games or less, What would you say were the games that defined the Atari 2600? Consider It's capabilities, uniqueness, pop culture, what is what like to be a user in it's lifetime. My picks would be: Combat Video Olympics Because they were the types of games that the console was originally designed to be able to play. Featuring head-to-head gaming and Video Olympics utilizing the paddle controllers. Space Invaders Pac-man The system's 2 best selling games. Ports of massively popular arcade games. Maybe include Ms Pac Man also to show that the console was capable of a good version of the game. Pitfall - the best selling 3rd party game, a platformer Warlords - 4 players fight against each other with the paddle controllers Other possibilities? Night Driver representing driving games, E.T. for the hype and let down, Breakout a popular paddle game, Adventure 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+cjherr Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 I would agree with the above choices, plus Adventure, and Haunted House. They pretty much defined action adventure at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 Well I thought that: Video Pinball Video Chess Space Invaders Missile Command Phoenix Dodge'em Surround Combat ..were sophisticated games at the time, yet accessible and understandable to everyone. Approachable. They were accepted into the videogaming public rather seamlessly and that speaks volumes. There's more but these stand out to me at this moment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cris1997XX Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 I'd say Pitfall, Pitfall II and Ms Pac Man. Stargate was also an excellent conversion for the Atari 2600 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapitanClassic Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 For infamy, you need to go with. Swordquest (series) Custer’s Revenge E.T. Dragster 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+cvga Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 I'd go with... Combat - iconic pack-in game Space Invaders - many systems were sold for this title Asteroids - first 8k game Pac-man - so much anticipation, so much disappointment E.T. - blamed by many for the video game crash Adventure - easter egg! Pitfall - welcome 3rd party manufacturers (I know this wasn't their first game) Donkey Kong - did Coleco make these inferior on purpose? NOTE: I personally loved this game Warlords - awesome multi-player paddle game Custer's Revenge - let the protests begin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 Activision's Laser Blast was the first 3rd party game for the VCS in 1981. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davyK Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 (edited) Combat - pack in for many Space Invaders - first really big licence. Likely the killer app of its day. Adventure - genre defining Basketball - sports entry that many will associate with the 2600 Warlords - best paddle game Pitfall! - probably the first game anyone thinks of when mentioning Activision for the 2600 River Raid - ditto re shooting game by Activision Tennis - ditto re sports game! Yars' Revenge - Atari original , iconic IP Pacman - massive licence and public awareness. Edited February 20, 2023 by davyK 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwdkong Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 just my experience, these were my favorites-- 1 adventure. i'll still play this & enjoy it. 2 space invaders. i had a 6th grade sleepover w/ a few dudes in 80 or 81, whatever, it was a blast. 3 missile command. wonderful graphics. ok, that's all the energy i got, probly should add 2 more, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BONEMAN Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 I think these are the most famous games Pac-Man E.T. Space Invaders Pitfall Yars Revenge Asteroids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keir Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 All games that have already been mentioned but I’d call these the ten most defining games: Adventure Asteroids Combat E.T. Missile Command Pac-Man Pitfall Space Invaders Video Olympics Yars Revenge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goochman Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 Adventure Asteroids Combat Warlords Missile Command Pac-Man Pitfall Space Invaders Video Olympics Yars Revenge Though Combat was popular it wasnt a system seller. When SI came out it was the system seller for the 2600. Asteroids, Warlords, Missile Command were respectable arcade adaptions solidifiyng the 2600's lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzip Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 I'll give 5 arcade and 5 non arcade Arcade Ports Night Driver Space Invaders Pac-Man (as much as I hated it, can't deny its impact) Defender Berzerk (probably others I could pick for this spot) Original Adventure Pitfall E.T. Haunted House Yar's Revenge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RamrodHare Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 Combat Fishing Derby H.E.R.O. Boxing Warlords Asteroids Dragster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasperAK Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 I started a list but realized it was just a list of my favorite games. I was just a wee little one during the 2600 heyday, so I'm not sure if my thoughts have any value to the question posed. What I'd really be more interested in is what 10 games or fewer keep your 2600 hooked up to the TV. What can really only be played on the 2600? Sp what defines the 2600 today. Is that list different? For the record the games that had the most impact on me around 1982-1984 when I started really playing the 2600: Asteroids Haunted House Pac-Man Defender Missile Command Yars' Revenge Space Invaders Chopper Command Pitfall Empire Strikes Back Miscellaneous Notes: I naughty word hate Space Invaders. I don't think I've ever completed two boards. Almost the same thing with Megamania. I did not have Megamania back then but it wouldn't have mattered. I still stink at both of these games. Badly. But Space Invaders was always in the rotation. Naughty word you all. We loved Pac-man and Defender! Today, there are so many better versions of Pac-man that I'd rather play them than the Atari's original. But while Stargate (Defender 2) is awesome and the remake of Defender that's on this site is naughty word amazing, I still like Atari's original Defender. Chopper Command, Pitfall, and Empire Strikes Back were the most graphically attractive games. I'm mad that I never got an actual Chopper Command patch. Too easy. But fun as naughty word. Honorable Mentions: Now for some reason I don't remember having Berserk, but if I had that game back in the day, like today it would have been my favorite. Same with River Raid. And Warlords. By 1986 or so my friends were moving on to Nintendo but I logged a naughty word ton of time with Solaris. At some point (1985-86) I also played the snot out of H.E.R.O and loved it. I could only clear maybe three or four boards but loved it none-the-less. So to answer the question I posed for myself at the top of this is this: Berzerk Asteroids Yars' Revenge Warlords Defender Chopper Command River Raid Ice Hockey (and all the team color hacks I made) Pitfall Empire Strikes Back Honorable Mentions: Beamrider Star Master Robot Tank Atlantis (which I suck at) Moonsweeper Galagon Wizards of Wor Remake Defender Remake Dr. Who Today is awesome because we have access to everything, but back then, I would have loved Beamrider, Ice Hockey, Star Master, and Robot Tank if I had them. They would have definitely made my list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 1 hour ago, JasperAK said: I started a list but realized it was just a list of my favorite games. I was just a wee little one during the 2600 heyday, so I'm not sure if my thoughts have any value to the question posed. What I'd really be more interested in is what 10 games or fewer keep your 2600 hooked up to the TV. What can really only be played on the 2600? Sp what defines the 2600 today. Is that list different? Yes people are going to pick their favorite games - as that's what defined the 2600 (to them). How could it be any other way? What defines the 2600 is going to be people's favorites list. And those favorites are what will keep a 2600 hooked up. How could it be any other way? I suppose the question could possibly be asked in context of what was its killer app or what what game introduced a certain style/genre that endures till today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapitanClassic Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 15 minutes ago, Keatah said: What defines the 2600 is going to be people's favorites list. And those favorites are what will keep a 2600 hooked up. How could it be any other way? I suppose the question could possibly be asked in context of what was its killer app or what what game introduced a certain style/genre that endures till today. I don’t think that is necessary. It seemed pretty clear to me. These games should be iconic, when people think of the 2600, these games would come to mind. The other possible interpretation would be what games would you expect to be “must own”/or in the favorites list of a 2600 owner/emulator. I suspect the OP meant the former rather than the latter. Sure some people may have different favorites than others, but as the Top 100 Atari 2600 list shows, the drop from 1-20 is 2x from 50-100. Quote In 10 games or less, What would you say were the games that defined the Atari 2600? Consider It's capabilities, uniqueness, pop culture, what is what like to be a user in it's lifetime. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Psionic Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 On 2/19/2023 at 6:12 PM, Keatah said: Activision's Laser Blast was the first 3rd party game for the VCS in 1981. Activision shipped their first four titles (Dragster, Boxing, Checkers & Fishing Derby) in July 1980. They released Skiing and Bridge later that year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr SQL Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 On 2/21/2023 at 9:09 PM, Keatah said: I suppose the question could possibly be asked in context of what was its killer app or what what game introduced a certain style/genre that endures till today. StarShip. The initial 1977 release inspired and introduced an enduring genre. StarWars came out in theatres the same year and rapidly gathered so much cultural momentum that the sequel, Star Raiders, took the industry by storm two years later. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 Hadn't really thought about StarShip being the prequel to StarRaiders. But I suppose it is so! I had the game when it first came out and loved the eerie ambient blips/bleeps/bloops. Today it seems like too much, but to us hyper-active kids it would be just right. The scanline effects in the video are pretty lousy, overdone, and not blended. That's not classic looking at all and screams "emulator from 2002!" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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