• Tag Archives Atari 2600

  • Backgammon (Atari 2600)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    https://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/703167336262320128

    Backgammon probably isn’t one of the most exciting Atari 2600 games but it does have the distinction of being one of the first board game adaptations to a video game system. It was released fairly early in the life of the Atari 2600 (then just called the VCS for Video Computer System) in 1979. The cover art style will also look familiar as it was done by Chris Spohn who did the cover art for pretty much all of Atari’s early games.

    I don’t know how many backgammon video game variants there have been (probably not all that many because I can’t currently think of any others) but this one is pretty thorough, especially given the limitations of the system. It can be played against another player or against the computer. I vaguely remember my Dad teaching me backgammon when I was pretty young but I don’t remember much about it and I don’t think I have played since. Apparently there are a number of variants. Atari’s version includes eight variants including what was once a popular variant called Acey Ducey which involves faster paced play and I suppose is therefore more exciting.

    Reviewers at the time rated it reasonably well. It was described as something more for the beginning or intermediate player so I suppose that related more to the difficulty of the computer opponent. It’s an Atari 2600 game so the graphics aren’t going to be spectacular or anything but then the graphics for backgammon are pretty straightforward and the Atari presents them well enough. You aren’t going to get any sounds that are too exciting either. Backgammon isn’t really a noisy game.

    As far as its value today as a game to actually play, I would say most people wouldn’t want to bother. Having said that, if you love the Atari 2600 and enjoy backgammon (or want to learn), then there is no reason not to give it try. It’s not a particularly hard game to find so it is not expensive when it comes to looking for an original. It has also been re-released in various ways over the years, including on a variety of Atari Flashback consoles so it is pretty easy to find and play if you want to give it a try.


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  • Outlaw (Atari 2600)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Outlaw was originally released by Atari in arcades in 1976 as a response to Midway’s Gun Fight which was released the year before. The Atari 2600 port was released in 1978 and was actually a better game. The concept was basically two gunfighters shooting it out against each other and could be played vs. the computer or another player.

    Like most Atari 2600 games, this one is pretty simple. You control one of two gunfighters with the old west theme clearly being indicated by the cowboy hats, obstacles and names. One gunfighter is faster and the other is more accurate adding a tiny bit of variety. There are also various game modes. Some involve just the two gunfighters, others have obstacles (like a cactus) and there are also target practice modes.

    A friend of mine used to joke that they called this game “Sit Down”. That’s because when you get shot, it looks like you sit down (vs. lying down completely or something else that actually indicates that you are dead…see the last screen shot). Thinking of it that way definitely adds a lot of humor to the game.

    This was a pretty basic game but it was pretty good compared to the competition at the time. Reviews were positive and it was fun enough in short bursts (especially as Sit Down). From a historical and curiosity perspective it is worth trying but it isn’t really the type of game that holds up well today. But if you have an original cartridge lying around, you can play it on the upcoming Atari 2600+ from Atari. It will play your original Atari 2600 and Atari 7800 cartridges and has HDMI out so you don’t have to worry about screwing this the analog connection of the original.

    There weren’t really any sequels to this game that I know of. There was also a port to the Atari 400/800 in 1981 which I’m sure had slightly better graphics but otherwise was likely very much the same. Outlaw was released via most of the various Atari Flashback consoles (except the original) and for Windows and Xbox 360 via Game Room so there are in fact various ways to play it.


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