Atari 2600 VCS Game Console - Darth Vader
(Atari - 1982)
The main component of the Atari 2600 system is the main game system. It serves as the base console where the game cartridges and the various controllers plug into. It is probably the most iconic game console of the 1980s as it defined a generation. Since it's original release in 1977, the Atari 2600 has seen various releases of the base system... this sleek looking all black unit was released in 1982 at a high point of the Star Wars movies and was dubbed the Darth Vader or Vader unit by avid Atari users at the time.
The Vader was a 4 switch unit with two of the original six switches of the original 2600 moved to the back panel. The four switches controlled the power, television type (color/black and white), game select and reset functions. The two switches moved to the back of the unit were the left and right difficulty switches.
There were hundreds of game cartridge released for this gaming console ranging from popular arcade hits like Pac-Man and Asteroids to proprietary titles produced solely for the 2600 by Atari giving a deeper game library than other systems of the time.
Miscellaneous accessories and controllers were produced for the 2600 by Atari and third parties as well. These controllers ranged from paddles and steering controllers for sports and racing games to joystick controllers for real arcade action. Some of the my exotic controllers included the Joyboard (a balance board which controlled the game by leaning your body while standing on it), and various keyboards to give the Atari 2600 the capabilities of a home computer.
I was more into 8-bit home computer systems at the time, mainly my Commodore 64, but played on Atari 2600 systems frequently in the 1980's at various friends houses. The VCS was definitely one of the most popular home video game consoles in my area at the time. The fact that they were part of the technology that helped to shape my childhood, prompted me to obtain this Vader unit as a tribute.
System Specifications for the Atari 2600
Basic system specifications for the Atari 2600 Vader gaming console are listed below.
Model:
VCS 2600A
Released:
1982
Discontinued:
1983
Original Price:
US $59.99
CPU:
MOS Technology 6507 @ 1.19 MHz
ROM:
Game Cartridge ROMs (2KB, 4KB, or banked 2x4KB)
RAM:
128 Bytes
expandable via cartridge port
expandable via cartridge port
Display:
160 x 192 graphics, 4 color displayable - 128 color pallet
Switches:
power, reset, right difficulty, left difficulty, game select, reset
Sound:
2 voices (frequency/volume/noise)
Dimensions:
13-1/2"W (343mm) x 9"D (229mm) x 3-1/2"H (89mm)
Power Supply:
External Power Supply #CO16353
Input 120v 60hz 0.5a AC
Output +9v DC 0.5a
Input 120v 60hz 0.5a AC
Output +9v DC 0.5a
Ports:
TV RF output
(2) 9 pin joystick port
24 pin Cartridge port
(2) 9 pin joystick port
24 pin Cartridge port
User Comments
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Atari 2600 Vader
jboypacman | Feb 22, 2010 9:18am
"You will feel the power of the darkside" this the thought that pops into my head when i look at the Atari 2600 "Vader" just like in the movie classic Star Wars with its main villain Darth Vader...This dark colored gaming system is every bit as cool as him and will just look sleek hooked up to your TV while your playing a Star Wars 2600 game or even Strawberry Shortcake lol.
