Atari 2600+ vs an OG Atari 2600 Comparison

For being a good #RetroGaming boy this year, I put an #Atari 2600+ under the Christmas tree for myself. While pulling out all of my old game cartridges, who would have thought my #VintageGaming Atari 2600+ still worked all these years later? Let's see how the 2600+ stacks up to an original 2600 from the 1980s!
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Atari Video Computer System 2600
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600
Atari 2600+
atari.com/collections/atari-2...
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Check out these other great Atari videos:
/ @bigbadbench Does an Atari 2600 Composite Video Mod
kzbin.infoDAJTQLCO...
/ @tayloramyshow Atari Mods
• Atari 2600 DELUXE AV Mod
• LEGO Atari 2600
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Website: blog.smartphonefanatics.com
Mastodon: noc.social/@AlanGrassia
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alangrassia

[@NotMuchHere]

back in the day, my dad refused to buy me this toy, instead got the 400 with the membrane computer. Once I learned to program, upgraded to tape which did not fix the keyboard. Later to 800xl and an indus disk drive. The game had the same (better) graphics of the 5200 system. I picked up the new gamestation instead ... ah memories!

[@JetmanUK]

Some of those old Activision games are quite finicky due to having a thinner circuit board and shorter contacts. They need to be reseated slightly, first push them in as usual and then slightly pull them back out, I find this makes the stubborn ones work correctly. Also, you can safely hot swap carts on the 2600 Plus, it speeds up getting into the game too as you don't have the initial booting up time, just the loading of the cart into memory.

[@danootto6382]

I like what you put up for this discussion. I notice your cartridge choice of DK and Pac. Just a few viewer thoughts. 1977- it's 1st end chosen games were fun, as you said. I think it's fine to think well of those "cheesy" graphics. They were, as we now say, what they were. But there is a bit more to the 2 games than that. The time frames for production, and manufacturers of each version held secrets. Even E.T. well known programmer was only given 5 weeks to get it to Mr Spielberg for the approval. Coleco in a way, intentionally may have lowered DK graphics to boost their own system release. Pac man played well. And I got some high scores on this port. Also glad you mentioned cotton tip fuzz residue. Most people don't mention that important thing. My 2600+ is amazing only a few games won't play with the simulation. Well done.

[@BigBadBench]

Really nice review of the new system! And thanks for the shout out!

[@DJParticle]

The "damsel" you save in Donkey Kong was Pauline. Yes, the same Pauline who's also appearing in current Nintendo games.

[@markaes]

I was close to getting the 2600+ but went with the Atari Gamestation Pro ($32) instead. That can play 2600/5200/7800/arcade/nes etc roms... I'll pick up the plus if they drop under $50, but with the recent gamestation, retron77, VCS, and 4 atari flashbacks I should probably just stop already.

[@AlanGrassia]

s long as you are enjoying the games, in my opinion, it doesn’t much matter which hardware you’re playing on.

[@TheWrightClanX5]

Loving the content thank you 😊

[@m0nde]

On the 2600+ you're meant to hot swap cartridges, something that's a big no no on the original 2600.

[@AlanGrassia]

Old habits are hard to break. I still power down to swap carts.

[@michaeljordan6008]

Really good video - I got my 2600 in 1979.

[@fortitudevalance8424]

The Fairchild VES “Channel F” is also a worthy mention. Atari improved on the idea as the Fairchild had 8 track style cartridges. No Fairchild, no Atari but both genius despite the 2600 being a better system.

[@NotMuchHere]

another option is a pencil eraser to clean the contacts. The sealed up cartridges on the computer sometimes need that treatment too!

[@SuperVirus1978]

I guess an USB A => C cable is not the worst idea, as many TVs have USB A ports for USB sticks or HDDs. That way you do not need an external power supply at all.

[@AlanGrassia]

That hadn't occurred to me. I should try connecting the USB-C to USB-A cable into the TV and see if draws enough power to run the 2600+.

[@bencha3341]

The 2600+ draws very little power and I would always recommend using your TVs USB socket for power. It's very convenient that way as you're connecting HDMI to the TV as well.

[@juliand3581]

Great video, cheers

[@eatportchops]

Even the Heavy 6ers from 1977 still work without any repairs.

[@AlanGrassia]

A testament to how well built these things are. Kinda like my other fav…the Apple IIe.

[@danootto6382]

Just tried my old Starmaster in my plus. I know why it doesn't load. It has a strange add on controller, at least if I remember, that doesn't play on emulation systems, and never will. But on a funny note, mine loaded after about 4 alcohol cleanings. But I can fire But not move. Because it can't emulate this game. But looked better than ever on HD Stars moved proper, lasers fired, but that's was all. Proud of my console for trying ❤

[@IamR3D88]

Does the 2600+ stretch the games like that, or is it just your TV set wrong? I want one, but not if it's not in the original aspect ratio.

[@AlanGrassia]

My old 720p TV I believe has a setting that auto sizes the content to fit the screen. When I had the original VCS 2600 (all black) connected via RCA, the TV did not resize the image. All told, I'm fine with the stretch to fit look. I don't play the games for long stretches and to these old eyes, bigger is starting to look better. Don't get old if you can avoid it. : )

[@edwardmclaughlin719]

There is an option switch on the console for original or stretch.

[@DrSbaitsojr]

it would be nice if you would bring the mic in the same room as you are in. i have to turn the volume up so high that the next video blew out my speakers.

[@bradleydavis6463]

I've had multiple of these Activision carts still not work very well in the 2600+ initially after cleaning. Then some time later they start to work more reliably. Also a few of them still remain temperamental, and sometimes even need to be tilted slightly left or right to make good pin contact. My copy of Seaquest for example. Just something about Activision cartridges. But other than Pitfall 2 they should actually all work. Other brands are mostly fine.

[@AlanGrassia]

That lines up with my experiences so far. That one Activision cart (I purchased it used recently on eBay for like $4) has been the only one that has given me some trouble. The others have been fine. Maybe I'll get some electronics contact cleaner if it gets to be a real problem.

[@DoubleDguitar]

Some activision carts use the reset button to start, and I keep resetting the ROM loader…not the game. Any tip for those??

[@AlanGrassia]

@@DoubleDguitar I haven’t seen that on my Activision carts. Maybe it’s an emulator bug? There is a V1.0.0 in the bottom right of the boot up screen on the 2600+. Are you seeing this issue on a specific game?

[@DoubleDguitar]

@@AlanGrassia I just figured this out about 15 minutes after asking. I have been hitting the reset too hard and too long, even though it didn’t seem that way. Sat at my desk and played a bunch, once I figured it out.

[@MSBomberman94]

Most of the modern homebrew games for the 2600 won‘t run on the 2600+. And does someone talk about costs (compared to the original console)?

[@AlanGrassia]

I didn’t buy any of the new 2600 games or the new collector edition carts of old games, like Yar’s Return and Yar’s Revenge. Since I didn’t buy new carts I didn’t want to comment on them. My old original game carts work just fine.

[@urbanknish]

I have several games where I get the black screen instead of the error, despite cleaning again and again. They all work in a real Atari. SMH

[@wizzel22]

The Cartridge Slot is worse than the original. The Contacts are known to be much weaker in the Plus.

[@XV250]

Ugggh - how can people play these classic old games stretched fat in 16:9...? It just looks so wrong.

[@LockeTheCole]

Yeah, there's a switch on the back of the 2600+... not sure why it's set to stretch the screen by default, so many people on KZbin don't realize it's wrong, or there.

[@MahkyVmedia1]

The experience is you buy one of these you get home plug it in turn it on and you're instantly reminded of how bad Atari 2600 was. You shut it off. The end.

[@rorysuire6177]

Shut up

[@wizzel22]

They are still biting their Nails off to get out a Firmware that in the end only does what the original 2600 did... 😂 (playing *most* of the 2600 cartridges, that is). This thing would sell like hotcakes if their Firmware would boot straight into Stella and they know it...

[@Nohiro.3D]

Poor kid imagine you ask for a ps5 you get this xD What about the atari VCS revamp they did not long ago ? Cause i liked the shape of it

[@AlanGrassia]

I don't have that unit, so I can't test it. : ( It does look cool though.

[@Nohiro.3D]

Yeah can't manage to get it in europe sadly... Although that would just be to put on a shelf I think :/@@AlanGrassia