Comments on: [ Retro Scan of the Week ] Atari 2600 Computer Attachment http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439 The Retrogaming and Retrocomputing Blogazine Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:20:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 Comment on [ Retro Scan of the Week ] Atari 2600 Computer Attachment by: Jo_Olz http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-20332 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:34:13 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-20332 Was Mattel the producer of this attachment ?? Because that is Mattel Aquarius Keyboard !! You can check it at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattel_Aquarius I has both the Atari 2600 and the Mattel Aquarius, and remember that Atari published the Computer Attachment and it had a white keyboard. I mean, o was a kid at that time but will recognize that mattel keyboard anywhere ! Was Mattel the producer of this attachment ??

Because that is Mattel Aquarius Keyboard !!

You can check it at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattel_Aquarius

I has both the Atari 2600 and the Mattel Aquarius, and remember that Atari published the Computer Attachment and it had a white keyboard. I mean, o was a kid at that time but will recognize that mattel keyboard anywhere !

]]> Comment on [ Retro Scan of the Week ] Atari 2600 Computer Attachment by: moi http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15105 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 11:57:36 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15105 I don't think this would have been very interesting, seeing how the vcs was limited. Just displaying a standard character screen would have been an achievement for this hardware, even if the keyboard included an expansion cartridge. I had the basic catridge too and I can confirm it was very limited and horrible to use, even for the early eighties. I don't think this would have been very interesting, seeing how the vcs was limited. Just displaying a standard character screen would have been an achievement for this hardware, even if the keyboard included an expansion cartridge. I had the basic catridge too and I can confirm it was very limited and horrible to use, even for the early eighties.

]]> Comment on [ Retro Scan of the Week ] Atari 2600 Computer Attachment by: Benj Edwards http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15094 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:18:24 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15094 It's ok, Bill. In a similar vein, I've always wanted the Space Age controller for some reason, but I've never seen one in person. I've read that the "Basic Programming" cartridge was extremely limited. It makes sense, since the console only had 128 <em>bytes</em> of RAM. :) It's ok, Bill. In a similar vein, I've always wanted the Space Age controller for some reason, but I've never seen one in person.

I've read that the "Basic Programming" cartridge was extremely limited. It makes sense, since the console only had 128 bytes of RAM. :)

]]> Comment on [ Retro Scan of the Week ] Atari 2600 Computer Attachment by: Ghazban http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15092 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:57:11 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15092 I had the basic cartridge and keypad. I don't recall much about it except it was VERY limited. I had the basic cartridge and keypad. I don't recall much about it except it was VERY limited.

]]> Comment on [ Retro Scan of the Week ] Atari 2600 Computer Attachment by: Bill http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15090 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:00:22 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15090 great list..ah, the CX prefex..I have the Cosmic Command controller with survival run...sorry to be off subject... great list..ah, the CX prefex..I have the Cosmic Command controller with survival run…sorry to be off subject…

]]> Comment on [ Retro Scan of the Week ] Atari 2600 Computer Attachment by: Benj Edwards http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15089 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:03:45 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15089 Believe it or not, but Atari released a very primative BASIC programming cartridge for the 2600 for use with number pad controllers (I have two of them) called "Keyboard controllers." There was also a numeric keypad called the "Kid's Controller" similar to the Star Raiders and BASIC controllers. Ah, here's a list: http://www.atariage.com/controller_list.html?SystemID=2600 Believe it or not, but Atari released a very primative BASIC programming cartridge for the 2600 for use with number pad controllers (I have two of them) called "Keyboard controllers." There was also a numeric keypad called the "Kid's Controller" similar to the Star Raiders and BASIC controllers. Ah, here's a list:

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

]]> Comment on [ Retro Scan of the Week ] Atari 2600 Computer Attachment by: Bill http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15088 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:18:09 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15088 I think the game Layne is remembering was Star Raiders. It came packaged with the small keyboard/touchpad controller (like the number keypad on the side of most modern keyboards). It was a really fun game but you had to use it in conjunction with the regular Atari 2600. I don't remember any other games that used that controller, though..I also remember the graphics on that and the "scope" of the game pushed the envelope for the 2600 at that time...Oh the fun.. I think the game Layne is remembering was Star Raiders. It came packaged with the small keyboard/touchpad controller (like the number keypad on the side of most modern keyboards). It was a really fun game but you had to use it in conjunction with the regular Atari 2600. I don't remember any other games that used that controller, though..I also remember the graphics on that and the "scope" of the game pushed the envelope for the 2600 at that time…Oh the fun..

]]> Comment on [ Retro Scan of the Week ] Atari 2600 Computer Attachment by: Layne http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15086 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:59:14 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15086 I'll have to agree with Bill. My parents didn't play the Atari 2600, I did (and to a much lesser extent, my sisters). My parents didn't *get* it. I was a kid, so I liked it for the games. And there weren't any games that would have needed that much input.....I had one of the keypad controllers (don't even remember which game it came with) and almost never used it. If the keypad is too much input, a keyboard would have been beyond overkill. Layne I'll have to agree with Bill. My parents didn't play the Atari 2600, I did (and to a much lesser extent, my sisters). My parents didn't *get* it. I was a kid, so I liked it for the games. And there weren't any games that would have needed that much input…..I had one of the keypad controllers (don't even remember which game it came with) and almost never used it. If the keypad is too much input, a keyboard would have been beyond overkill.

Layne

]]> Comment on [ Retro Scan of the Week ] Atari 2600 Computer Attachment by: Bill http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15085 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 04:17:11 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/439#comment-15085 I remember buying first the odessey because it had the keyboard (thinking it would be more interactive and making my decision to buy a game system seem more intelligent) over the 2600..No offense to oddessy fans ,but I returned the odessey after 2 days of looking at available game software and bought the 2600 because the games were more fun and the graphics looked better..If the Atari had the keyboard, I don't think it would have changed much in the way of sales or perception as at that time simple games were the craze..people were not thinking "computer" then.. I remember buying first the odessey because it had the keyboard (thinking it would be more interactive and making my decision to buy a game system seem more intelligent) over the 2600..No offense to oddessy fans ,but I returned the odessey after 2 days of looking at available game software and bought the 2600 because the games were more fun and the graphics looked better..If the Atari had the keyboard, I don't think it would have changed much in the way of sales or perception as at that time simple games were the craze..people were not thinking "computer" then..

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