ART REVIEW 1Megan Cary | ITGM 705-OL | Art Review 1 | January 18, 2011

The Atari VCS

Megan Cary

ITGM 705-OL

Winter 2011

Prof. Meyers

Art Review 1: Atari VCS

Video arcade games hit the big time in the early 1970s. Popular interactive games like

Pong infiltrated American society in dedicated arcades, restaurants and bars. By the mid-1970s

companies began to turn their interest to home-based versions. In 1975, Atari released a home-

based version of Pong that flew off the shelves. While innovative, this “console” gaming device

was limited to only one game and even though Atari and other companies were releasing

different titles, each one required its own system. A revolution was on the horizon, however.

Though Atari can’t claim to be the first to introduce cartridge based video game systems

(that honor belongs to the Fairchild Channel F). In October 1977 Atari released the Atari VCS

(Video Computer System), which used microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges that

contained game code. It featured a

MOS Technology 6507 CPU and

had only 128 bytes of RAM. The

console was packaged with two

joysticks and a set of paddles,

which were used for games with

one-dimensional movement.

During the first year of production,

the VCS was manufactured with

six prominent aluminum slide

switches on the control panel,

heavy aluminum radio frequency

shielding and a ½” thick plastic bottom half – these early units are known as “Heavy Sixers.” In

1978 the design was revised to reduce the weight of the system.

Figure 1 ­ The Original Atari VCS "Heavy Sixer" 

The Atari VCS launched at a price of $199. According to the Consumer Price Index,

$199 in 1977 is roughly equal to $716 today. The price was quite high for a console that was

targeted for the average consumer, even by today’s standards – consider the Sony Playstation 3,

which launched at $499 for the cheapest

model. Because the market was already

saturated with freestanding Pong units

and the like, during the first two years

the sales of the VCS were slow and in

1977 they sold only 250,000 units. It

was however enough to keep them

afloat, and by 1979, after a redesign and

a competitive round of price-cutting, the

public began to warm to the system. By Christmas 1979, the Atari VCS sold 1 million units,

making it the best-selling Christmas gift that year.

Overall, the historical contribution of the Atari VCS is significant. While it was not the

first home console system, it was the home console system that revolutionized the video game

industry. Over 30 years later, the video game console is still one of America’s favorite pastimes.

67% of American households play computer or video games; the average game player is 34

years old and has been

playing games for at least

12 years. Additionally, the

video game industry feeds

the economy – with

software sales generating

over $10.5 billion in 2009.

Even though Atari is no

longer producing consoles, the VCS paved the way for today’s Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation 3

and Microsoft Xbox 360, influencing game makers and gamers alike, worldwide.

Figure 2 ­ Renamed Atari 2600 Version (1980) 

Figure 3 ­ Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation 3 & Microsoft Xbox 360 

References

“Atari 2600” Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed January 17, 2011.

“Atari 2600 Consoles and Clones” Atari Age.

http://www.atariage.com/2600/archives/consoles.html

“Atari 2600 History” Atari Age.

http://www.atariage.com/2600/index.html?SystemID=2600

“Atari 2600 Teardown” IFixIt. http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Atari-2600-Teardown/3541/1

“Atari VCS (Atari 2600)” Business Week.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/10/game_consoles/source/3.htm

Godinez, Victor. “Once a Pong a time, Atari ruled; 

  Games of yesteryear revived in anthology and whiz‐bang joystick” The Dallas 

  Morning News. January 2, 2003. Lexis‐Nexis – Accessed January 17, 2011. 

Barton, Matt. “A History of Gaming Platforms: Atari 2600 Video Computer System/VCS” 

  Gamasutra. 

  http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3551/a_history_of_gaming_platforms_. 

  Php 

 

“Industry Facts” Entertainment Software Association. http://www.theesa.com/facts/index.asp

Measuring Worth. http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/