When I was at West Lake Center in Seattle today with BBQ I found an interesting thigie at the software store the Atari Classics 10-In-1 TV Games Joystick. It is an all in one Atari 2600 built into a Joystick Combo and 10 games for only 24 bucks!
I read about them on Slashdot and now I am the proud owner of one. Now given the fact that I am the owner of a site called 8Bit Joystick.com seeing something like this and passing it up is just beyond me.
It is slightly taller than a regular 2600 joystick and has two AV cables instead of a connection. The CPU and ram is on one chip that is inside the joystick as well as a Rom with the games and 4 AA batteries. It also has a power switch and select and start button on the bottom of the thing. The game worth mentioning are Centipede, Adventure, Missile Command, Breakout, Asteroids and PONG! It sounds like an 2600 it looks like a 2600 that is because it IS a 2600.
I would love to see them make a deluxe version of this with more game and an external cartridge slot. This thing is slick and the graphics are actually a lot crisper than the normal 2600 ever was due to the AV jacks instead of that cheap ass RF switch that the 2600 had. My only complaint is that I had to use a screw driver to put the batteries in besides that this baby earns it place next to my Nintendo GameCube and Playstation2.
If you see one of these GET IT QUICK! Now if they would only bring back the Coleco-vision. I give it a 9 out of 10. If it had an external slot for additional cartridges and if it wasn't so damn rare it would be perfect. I really think that they are sitting on a gold mine here and that the market isn't kids but 20 somethings looking to relive their youth and 2600 days.
gahh, it's impossible to find anywhere online. it was available at avon.com till a couple days ago. that's what I get for waiting. I'll have to keep my eye out. sounds way cool!
I have a similar thing with Nintendo games on it, but there's over 100 games and it does have a cartridge (not that they make other cartridges, but they could). It also comes with a second controller so you can play two player games (like tennis) and the main controller has one of those old guns on it, so you can play duck hunt. And it has an AC adapter so you don't have to change batteries. It's pretty sweet.
My only complaints are that the games aren't their original names (like kung fu is actually karate man or something lame like that), and it's not easy to find the game you want because there are about 4 screens worth of games that you have to scroll through.
My mother-in-law got it for me on QVC, and they don't carry them anymore. So I have no idea where you'd be able to pick one up ...
Jeremy I didn't plan or finding this it was just a lucky accident. It was at EB and if they had another in stock I would get it and mail it to you.
TJ that sounds like one of the hundreds of knock off nintnedo systems that came out in Hong Kong and Taiwan. You see Nintendo didn't have any anti piracy features in the Japanese Famicom so the Asian market out side of Japan was flooded with knock off games and systems. When they released the NES in America they made sure to include a pretty good anti -piracy feature that mostly kept the market safe. Anti Piracy is the whole reason that the Nintendo GameCube uses special disks.
the strange thing is, I can't even find it at ebay. you can normally find anything there. s'ok, I'm sure they'll become available somenwhere soon, with xmas kickin into full gear and all. thanks for the offer though.
http://www.jakkspacific.com/ is the company that made it. If I were you I would email them and ask them to make more of these kick ass toys. Perhapse I should start a signature campain to bring back the 2600 in a Joystick thingie
Man...that is cool! How come I have never seen one? I want one now dangit. Good find Jake!
The coleco vision would be cool. I remember how awesome the graphics seemed at the time!
So what is the rating? 1 to 10?
About the closest thing I've been able to find are the Activision 10-in-one controllers, which are pretty much the same thing only instead of a cool 2600-style stick with Atari games, you get what looks like a really ugly-ass Super NES controller with Activision 2600 games. They're everywhere right now, and I'm sure the games are great, but it's not the same...
WOW THAT THING IS COOL! My mom would love that thing. Sounds like it has a lot of games she used to love on it. I'll keep my eyes on EB & all those see if I can catch one.
You can get these from Amazon.com (and most Toys R Us stores will also have them)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000645DD/
Yeah it is listed at Amazon but the web site says "This item is not stocked or has been discontinued."
But I will drive to the Toys R Us in Kitsap to see if they have any.
I actually first saw this at "Bed Bath & Beyond" which is a strange place for it. It was located near the registers. It makes a good Christmas Stocking Stuffer. The price was $29.95.
- Tony
No Shit.."Bed Bath & Beyond" Now I might have a reason to to go to that store.
Try here:
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=321721&affid=99999&sourceid=00290340477062273524(null)
They say it's in stock, so I just ordered one to see how long it takes to arrive.
Cheers.
Cool GameStop is one of my favoritest store.
Heh, the coolest thing I ever have seen like this was basically one of the all-in-one Famicom (NES) systems from Hong Kong that basically looked like the casing had been made from the molds for the Atari Jaguar. The thing looked EXACTLY like a Jag, albeit without the joystick port and the yellow plastic...
I Checked out Gamestop today it end up these things are new and they had two of them in stock. So the good news is that these things are still being made so it is possible to get one.
I just saw these in the new issue of Wired, so whoever is making them better get ready for a HUGE demand! I found this website by Googling for "Jakk Pacific Atari".
Yeah, I found out about them through Wired as well, and a Google search only came up with Gamestop.com as having them in stock. They're going to get a HUGE demand from the exposure in Wired, and their article links to the Jakks website, which doesn't have a link for the product anywhere... On a side note, I ordered one in the morning when I found it at Gamestop, and they've already sent it out to my by UPS yesterday, and free shipping too! Should get it in about three days.
Cheers.
Well they actually had two of them in stock at my local Gamestop it looks like all the Gamestops are getting two before christmas so I would move your ass unless you want to wait until after the rush.
ebay has both of these for sale and alot cheaper than the site you recommended. I collect these all in one systems (clones) i have polystation (playstation) advance boy (game boy advance) and power player. All of these have hundreds of games built into the controllers or main units. The polystation has a built in lcd screen. I would be willing to sell or trade for others. I need to add one of these atari types and intellivision tyoes. email if you would like pictures of these.
Actually I seriously reccomend against getting cheap knock offs from Asia. I mean Hong Kong bootleggers are not known for their quality and reliability. You can buy a Nintendo system and treat it well and it will still work after twenty years. This product is actually legally licensed and I would support it with your money because I would like to see more products like this on the market.
QVC has em cheap:
http://www.qvc.com/asp/frameset.asp?nest=%2Fasp%2FIsItemNumberRedirect.asp&search=SQ&frames=y&referrer=QVC&txtDesc=atari
QVC has them "waitlisted" so you won't get them there immediately. Apparently, you can get them at Babbage's although my local store is out of stock. I ordered one from GameStop.com, so hopefully I'll be in 1983 soon.
Anyone know were I can get one of the activision 10-in-1 controllers online? I like the Atari joystick, but the games on the activision unit sound better.
These Atari units seem to be sold out everywhere. I too saw the article in Wired, and can't find these in stock anywhere. I can't believe jakks didn't make more of these! They are sitting on a goldmine and don't even realize it.
Many "20 somethings" like myself who grew up on these games don't have the time, or quite frankly the desire, to buy a PS2 or X-Box only to spend hours learning the games. (Not to mention that my wife would kill me if I brought one home.) But with these simple game console units, you just plug and play like it was 1983 all over again!
If jakks agreed to sell me 100 units, I'd be ALL over ebay!
I will bet you a 6 pack of cold ones that They are taking note of the demand and did not expect the hype. I bet that within a couple months we will see supply meet demand and perhaps a marketing campaign and the announcement of another model. This thing came out of left field. You know yesterday I was looking at a Activision collection of games they made for the 2600 in an emulator for PS2 and the cool thing about it is they had Real early 80s music like Blondie on the DVD so you could listen to the period music as you played. That looked slick.
1983? Atari 2600 was big in 77 to 83 if I recall. No clue about the Activision all in one. I have never heard of them before I posted this review.
Now if they would only bring back the Colecovision.
If your wife would kill you if you brought home a PS2 I think that is a sign of a much bigger problem. Whip ka Whip Ka!
You know There are emulator games out for several game systems not to mention lots of open source game emulators on computers.
UPDATE...I just bought one of the activision units on eBay for $9.90 plus $5.00 shipping. Not bad considering that the same unit will set you back $25 at ebgames.com.
The joystick unit isn't available on eBay, from what I could tell. I also found an extensive review of that unit (sorry...forgot the URL) which didn't speak too highly of it. Apparently, one of the games (Atlantis) is barely playable, and three of the other ones are not very good without a paddle.
Well let us know how you like it. I am damn glad that I have mine.
The atari unit is available at most Bed Bath and Beyond...go figure? I got the activision one at Toys 'R Us, but they've never seen the atari unit they said. The atari was $24.99 and activision was $19.99.
T.Clark
Gamestop.com had a big splash thing for them on their main site So that would be a good place to get one.
KB Toys retail stores has a few of them too (both before and after xmas).
I'm slow, I found this for the first time last night 01/28/03, they had them a Target, for $19.99. I was alittle disapointed about the game selection, but hey I am still kicking myself for selling my 2600 a long time ago, so this is a great way to get some of those games back and not pay an arm and leg for a used system that my not work. Just hoping for more of these with more games!!
A friend of mine showed me this curio recently. He managed to get one from Avon when they were selling them. Very cool. Strange that Breakout is included, since it's almost impossible to play with a joystick.
The thing is, I already have most of the Atari 2600 games running under a 2600 emulator on my Macintosh. The ROM cartridge files aren't easy to find, but I was able to collect over 500 by some determined searching on Google.
To complete the experience I've modified an X-Arcade by adding two extra 9-pin joystick ports on the front. Now I can plug in my Wacom bat and SlikStik and play the old games the way they were meant to be played. Here in Portland, Oregon I've found a few places that sell the old 2600 units and cartridges. "Fairly Honest Bill's" is one store that usually has a couple of units.
Cool. I am a big Mame fan. and I think Mac Mame is the best of all the Arcade emulators regardless of platform. The ease of use of Win and Linux MAME is now where near the Mac version. I never really got into 2600 collecting because I never owned one. But I would sell my kidney for a Colecovision.
This looks like an interesting device. I first saw it advertised on a UK site. THEN, yesterday I found IT and a version by Activision in my local Media Play. The Activision one by Toymax was 50% off of the $24.99 price, so I grabbed one. It was cool, but some of the games froze the unit (must be an MS product.) So I exchanged it, haven't tried the new one yet. I didn't grab the Atari 2600 joystick version as I didn't like the game selection as well, but if it goes 50% off it's mine! LOL
It appears from users that the Atari version is much more reliable than the Activision one.
Here is a link to the Activion creator site. A GOOGLE.COM search for Atari 10-in-1 or Activision 10-in-1 will help you find these units while you can.
DAHstra (Happy Emulating)
http://www.toymax.com/ToyCentral/EL/10in1.htm
If anyone else here is the from the UK (like me) you might like to know you can get them here:
http://www.firebox.com/index.html?dir=firebox &action=product &pid=482
I've got both of these (Atari and Activision), and they're great! I checked the Jack's Pacific site, and it looks like they're planning a classic Namco version with Pacman, Dig Dug, Pole Position, Galaga, Galaxian, and more:
http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=JAKK&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=351552
There are dozens for sale for those without....
I'm just wondering if anyone has seen any info anywhere about people hacking these things to be able to play more roms? I've been searching around and haven't found anything. I find it hard to believe that no one has done it yet, or at least attempted.
To answer some of the comments above, I saw these both (Activision and Atari 10-in-1s) at Wal-Mart tonight, in ready supply and selling for $18.77 each; if you live in the continental U.S., you ought to be able to find a Wal-Mart and check them out there.
Just got home with them and went right online to see what other ones there were. Glad there's a Namco one in the works; first thing I said to my roommate when I got home was, "Man, they really ought to do a Namco version with Pole Position, Pac Man and the like..."
hey all, i got my atari stick at cicuit city, they didnt even know they carried it, also i found a namco game with pacman, rally x galaxian, dig dug, bosconian at walmart by accident , i cant find the namco anywhere but online, but they are both the cheesy quality crappy games we grew up too love....... playstation what? nah pac man rules
I would not call them cheezy or crappy when you consider the extreem technological restrictions the developers at Atari and Namco had to work with. I doubt that most Xbox game developers could make such playable games using an 8 bit 4mhz cpu and 16k of ram
I think the game is pretty cool.I rather play Ms. Pacman than the regular pac-man.If you decide to make something similar to Ms. Pacman let me know about it.
Look I reviewed it but I did not make it. Neither Pac Man games are in the Atari joystick because Pac Man was made by Namco not Atari.
Well there is something called apolysation advance but you could only find it in swapmeets>
The Polystation Advance is just a 8-bit Nintendo Famicom clone. http://darkwatcher.psxfanatics.com/console/poly.htm
Both devices are available from;
http://www.thinkgeek.com for a few dollars more than the Wal-Mart prices.
I would really be interested in information about hacking these and loading more/other ROMS into them. I would at least like to play Battlezone. I use MAME but would like to play without turning on a full-blown computer.
Power Joy III Retro Arcade Game System
http://www.thinkgeek.com/cubegoodies/toys/644e/
"Self-contained gaming system with 84 classic games built-in. There is no console or gaming cartridge. Just plug the RCA inputs that are attached to the controller into any TV and you are ready to go. Completely portable and lightweight, the PowerJoy III even has 26 LCD games that can be played right on the main controller with no TV."
P. S. If this is last week's news... well, I was born late too. (C:
That is nice but there are regular emulators. THis thing is the next best thing to an real new Atari 2600
Does anyone know what the name of the similar thing with Nintendo games on it, but there's over 100 It also comes with a second controller so you can play two player games(like tennis) and the main controller has one of those old guns on it, so you can play duck hunt. And it has an AC adapter so you don't have to change batteries.
If anyone knows please feel free to email me ASAP
12/06/03
There might be an unauthorized pirate device like that but Nintendo has not made any official hardware like that.
18$ at walmart. its great
dude, i just bought one... i want the namco one too.
and you are so right, coleco would be great... intellivision too.
that's cool you have a cameo on their website - just noticed it.
I purchased one of the Atari 10 in 1 systems and I love it. It let's me connect with my youth again. I do have one wish about this product. Some of the games on there was originally made to use with paddle controllers. It's very hard to do Breakout, Pong and the others with a joystick.
I would like to see one come out with a version that has a paddle controller, and put all the games that used that kind of game controller with it. EX: ( Breakout,Pong, any others )
and then keep all the games that uses a Joystick controller on the Joystick Model.
I think that would be easer and more fun to play.
or how about this. an exact replica of the Atari 2600 complete with both paddle and Joysticks. Then you could buy game cartridges with 10 or more games on them and change them out.
i own the activision model of the 10 in 1 and it's great it features the games tennis, pitfall,ice hockey, river raid, boxing, spider fighter, crackpots, alantis, grand prix and freeway. i purchased it at wal*mart and have been having a blast with it. Also not to cause another missing website but this site........ http://www.atariage.com/software_list.html?SystemID=2600&searchCompanyID=ALL&searchRegion=N&searchTvFormat=ALL&searchRarity=ALL&searchType=NORMAL&orderBy=Name&orderByValue=Ascending&recordsPerPage=100¤tPage=5 can hook you up with some atari games that with the downloadable emulatator will have you playing atari in no time right on your pc. enjoy
I saw one!!!!!!!!!!! I passed it up for ms pacman, :( Im gonna go get it right now, and dude, my brother jacked my colecovision about 3 months ago, im really chocked. You rock man!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my lord! Classic retro games from the 80's, make a comeback! Except for the fact that my favorite games (pong, breakout & circus) are really meant to be played with the PADDLE CONTROLLERS, this little unti is hours of fun!! But, don't worry I have - a plan! Why they never included paddle controllers, if they want to market those games is a mystery (it is extremely difficalt to move the player in pong & breakout with a joystick), never the less - games like Asteroids, Misslie Command and even Beach Volleyball are worth the 20 bucks! There are 2 games missing that I still wish for, Space Invaders & Combat. in the 80's everybody had the combat - i think it came free with the 2600 unit? It is a snazzy little gadget and most games are more addictive than the games of today! Thanks to Jakk's Pacific we can all enjoy the absolute classics of the great 1980's!!
This was the first version but since they have been such a good seller they have made new versions including an Atari 2600 Paddle version. These things are a real sleeper hit. They were rare when they first came out but now they are all over the place.
Hello everybody i have the atari thing too but has anyone heard or read how i can hack or somthing like that that i can put in new games in the joystick im from the nederlands