exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

I thought this deserves a little bit of attention as I don't believe it has been posted before.

I wasn't a fan of the flashbacks etc But I thought I would splash out and actually preorder this one!


Reason is this one can play original cartridges. Not like I have that many anyway :lol:

NO CARTRIDGE LEFT BEHIND
Enjoy your favorite Atari 2600 and 7800 games on one system! Not only does the Atari 2600+ pull double cartridge duty, it also features HDMI and widescreen mode for easy connectivity to modern TVs.

Jump right in with the included CX40+ Joystick and a 10-in-1 game cartridge that features some of Atari’s most famous games like Adventure®, Missile Command®, and Yars' Revenge®.

I think Atari should be onto a winner with this one for sure. It brings back the ownership and collectability of real games this would appeal to retro enthusiasts and (theoretically) younger people.

Likely also why they are wanting to work with Atariage homebrew creators to bring new games to the platform as well.


https://atari.com/products/atari-2600-plus

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CG9SVRJY (UK)

Note that it's emulator based. Furthermore, seems it uses Stella, a very popular open source emulator.

I got their last console by preorder and it was essentially a pc in a new 2600 style case. I used it three times and then put it back in the cupboard.

I don’t think I’ll order a 2600+ personally. I have a Pi Arcade machine that emulates 2600 etc perfectly well.

I think this is an overall better idea than the recent VCS, which I struggle to see the point of.

I did also wonder why they didn't call it the 7800+, but since the 7800 was a flop, the much more successful 2600 naming was much more sensible. After all, who remembers the 7800 compared to the 2600?

But the idea is much more 7800 like in that it plays carts from both systems. I do wonder if the 7800 carts that came with or require a Pokey are going to run correctly here. I also wonder what would happen if I popped my Concerto SD cart for the 7800 into the 2600+ if it would recognise it and work correctly.

I can see the appeal for sure, but as I think I mentioned elsewhere, the 7800 I have with Concerto is all I really need. It'll run any 2600 or 7800 cart you like as per the 2600+ and the only loss would be HDMI out.

My 7800 has a composite mod, and the output is very nice via my Retrotink, so the HDMI doesn't really appeal, and certainly not for the price.

@exxos I hope you enjoy yours though, Ignore my naysaying, I think it's a great concept, just not for me.

Yeah it's a emulator in a 2600 box. I'm not a fan of such tech but it's just a bit of fun.

Though I do find some poetry in the 2600 as it's now my first and last Atari I've bought :lol:

1990 bought a new Atari 2600
2023 bought a new Atari 2600

:dizzy:

I totally get folks not feeling it if it's an emulator in a box, but if it's seamless then I'm all in favour of branded hardware that takes actual cartridges. It's a much lower barrier to entry for all those old cartridges that people have lying around than finding an old console and figuring out how to hook it up to a modern screen. It feels like a much better reincarnation than, say, the Atari Flashback.

That doesn't detract from original hardware, mods on the old hardware, and things like the 7800GD so that folks can use SD cards. They all serve different people. Love it all.

If something is indistinguishable from the original from the outside then the internal magic doesn't matter, as long as it's reliable.

exxos wrote: 09 Sep 2023 17:24 Though I do find some poetry in the 2600 as it's now my first and last Atari I've bought :lol:
1990 bought a new Atari 2600

Oh, so you were a rather late adopter. I bought my first 600XL on 1984! Shame on you and more respect for the veterans! :) :)

ijor wrote: 09 Sep 2023 21:59 Oh, so you were a rather late adopter. I bought my first 600XL on 1984! Shame on you and more respect for the veterans! :) :)

Well, I was still at school at the time and assume I was about 14 when I got the 2600. Saved like mad to buy my first STFM afterwards. Couldn't afford many games even back then.

I may get one as I sold my 7800 about 15 years ago.

I have a 2600 and play it a fair bit tbh. Emulation just doesn't grab me tbh although I use them now and again, but if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, I'm fooled :D

Edit:

I will never like that joystick though, no matter how new it is :D