Video Game Collection

Welcome to an Online Exhibit of Our Vintage Video Game Collection!

-image credit to http://ry-spirit.deviantart.com/

Here you'll find an online exhibit that spotlights our vintage video game consoles. After you explore the exhibit, you may want to take a look at our other Video Gaming pages.

Make Your Own Video Game!

See what our young Coders are doing now!

Dean 's List of Top Video Games!

Favorite and Classic games in no particular order.

Joysticks and Controllers!

A fun look at controllers over the years.

Atari 2600 (1977)

October 1977 brought us the Atari VCS. It was not dubbed the 2600 officially for a few more years, but was known by its model number CX2600.

The 2600 was not the first system to use interchangeable ROM cartridges for its games and software (that honor belongs to the Fairchild Channel F), but it did popularize them.

It was a wildly popular system from the late 1970's to early 1980's.The system's official production run was from 1977 to 1992. Even today, 2,600 enthusiasts produce their own games for the 1.19MHz wonder.

Atari 400 (1979)

Atari released its first home computers in 1979. The Atari 400 was a member of Atari's 8-bit computer family, which also included the 800 and 1200.

The 400 pictured here was the entry model and it featured less memory, only one cartridge slot, non upgrade-able memory, and the less popular membrane keyboard.

The cheaper and less powerful 400 was pushed as more of a hybrid unit: game console and computer in one.

Magnavox Odyssey 2 (1978)

Released in 1978, the Odyssey 2 was part of the second generation of home video games consoles. The Atari 2600 was also a member.

The Odyssey 2 featured a membrane keyboard which offered no tactile feedback, but was functional. The system featured two standard one-button joysticks. In the first version of the system, these joysticks could be unplugged from the main unit. Later revisions moved to a hard-wired approach.

The games were simple. Not quite as refined as the 2600's better titles, but still fun. The European version (known as the Videopac) enjoyed much more success.

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A (1981)

An upgraded version of the TI-99/4 from 1979, the 4A was an improvement in many areas including better graphics capabilities, full-travel keyboard, and lowercase letters character set.

Software and games came primarily in what TI called "Solid State Software," more commonly known as a ROM cartridge. The system had many add-on hardware modules that would plug into the right side of the device, and could be daisy-chained to additional modules.

The system fared well in the over-saturated 1980's game/computer market, having its share of the home computer market peaking at 35%.

Commodore 64 (1982)

August 1982 was the time of release for the Commodore 64. This machine was sold not just in computer stores, but in any store that was willing to carry it.

The 64 tends to be a 50/50 mix of game system and computer. It seemed to work its way into homes under the guise of being a productive office computer (which it pretty much was), but it was also heavily used by 80's gamers. The machine used 3 different formats for its games: cartridge, floppy disk, and cassette tape.

The system is also known for its sound capabilities, leading music artists of the 80's and 90's to use it for producing electronic sounds and beats.

Nintendo Entertainment System (1985)

The NES is known as the system that revived home video gaming after the Video Game Crash of 1983-84.

An American version of the Japanese-made Nintendo Famicom (Family Computer) (1983), the NES made its American debut in 1985 in New York City, and was being sold coast-to-coast by 1986. 34 Million units were sold in the U.S. alone.

Though it is best known for its flagship title, "Super Mario Brothers," the little gray box is recognized for leading to many other successful video game franchises including The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man, Final Fantasy, Metroid, Ninja Gaiden, Castlevania, and many more.

Nintendo Game Boy (1989)

One of Nintendo's biggest successes, the Game Boy came to the U.S. market in August of 1989 and sold one million units in just a few weeks. Its pack-in game, "Tetris," is one of the most popular games of all time.

Despite the fact that it was black and white (realistically green and light green), the Game Boy surpassed the competition in popularity. Many of the early games were revamped versions of their NES counterparts, such as Super Mario Bros and Kid Icarus, but Game Boy originals, such as Pokemon have gone on to become extremely popular.

Atari TV Games (2002)

A retro throw-back from the not so distant past. Atari worked with Jakks Pacific to release 10 popular Atari 2600 titles into a single CX-40 style joystick that plugs directly into a TV via composite cables.

Powered by 4 AA batteries, the mini-console has such 2600 classics as Circus Atari, Centipede, Breakout, Pong, Asteroids and Missile Command.

These are also still available through many retailers.

Namco TV Games (2004)

Another Jakks Pacific TV Games console, this time made with the cooperation of Namco.

This AA powered console featured Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Mappy, Pole-Position and Xevious.

One very interesting feature of this unit is the twist-able joystick. When playing the featured racing game, Pole-Position, the players twist the joystick itself to steer the on-screen car. This gives actual analog control to the player, enabling them to turn the car as much as needed.

Atari VCS 2600
Magnavox Odyssey2
Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Game Boy

Last Update: August 2020

Information listed on this page is compiled, organized, and maintained by TheDean316.

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