Atari, the company that brought us the Atari 2600–the game system that revolutionized what it meant to be a zombie–offered families in the 1970s and 1980s the benefit of the neighborhood arcade without that annoying quarter-gobbling component.  Adults who shake their heads today at kids zoning out over their smartphone games forget what it was like when they first zoned out over Combat, Air-Sea Battle, Duck Hunt, Asteroids, Yar’s Revenge, Berserk, Pitfall, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and all their pixelated friends.  When Space Invaders was introduced, kids lined up at Woolco stores for hours on end to play the in-store demo model to try to beat the current high score.  The earlier Pong and Breakout games were revolutionary–and addictive–but Space Invaders was exciting, nerve-wracking, and required a different take on an old skill.  Hand-eye coordination became a new, finely-honed, almost magical power.  Wielded the best by teenagers.  Here’s the original Atari 2600 that changed everything:

Atari came and went, but in a decade of peak nostalgia, why not a reboot of it all?  For that look to the new Atari 7800+, available for pre-order now here at Amazon at a locked-in price guarantee of $129.99.  And it’s coming in time for Christmas, with a November 29, 2024, street date.  The best feature?  It plays classic and new 2600 cartridges and all 7800 games (see several available here at Amazon).  Like all these classics:

Check out our previous discussions of Atari here at borg, then check out this trailer and the key stats for the new Atari 7800+:

Here are the specs from Atari:

• TIMELESS ‘80s DESIGN. The 7800 console takes its place among other ‘80s design icons like shoulder pads, crop tops, and aviator sunglasses.
• ATARI+ PLATFORM. Atari+ Platform games and accessories are backward and forward compatible. Consoles, accessories, and games work together and are also compatible with most original accessories and cartridges.
• ARE YOU POWER-READY? Includes a USB-C power cable but does not come with a wall charging plug for your outlet. You’ll need to pick one up if you don’t have an extra at home.
• Includes Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest Cartridge – In this brand-new sequel to Crystal Castles, you’ll find power-ups, hidden paths, a challenging variety of enemies…and one adorable bear. Everything a platforming fan could possibly want.
• 2 Systems in 1 – Plays both Atari 2600 and 7800 game cartridges. HDMI-Ready – Connect to any screen via HDMI so you can enjoy every last pixel.

Every geek and nerd and fan of all things retro will want this.  The new Atari 7800+, available for pre-order now here at Amazon.  Order now to get the locked-in price guarantee of $129.99.  Pre-order the new and 2600 and 7800 games here at Amazon.

C.J. Bunce / Editor / borg