Was their ever a compact version of the 2600?

[Anthony1]

You know I recently got a Atari 2600, something that I haven't had since the late 70's early 80's. Actually, I still have it in my parents garage somewhere, but my Mom will never let me did through the old garage. So I had to get another one.

Anyways, the thing is quite big. I have so many systems right now, that I prefer to get smaller versions of certain systems if I can. I was just curious if they ever came out with a compact version of the 2600?

[Raedon]

The 2600 Jr..

[Anthony1]

I just did a search on google for 2600 jr and I saw some pictures of it, but I couldn't really tell if the footprint of it is really all that much smaller than the original 2600.

Was it quite a bit smaller? Or, just a little bit smaller?

[Sylentwulf]

It's probably about 1/4th as big.
Roughly 2" tall, 12" wide, 8" deep (Guesstimates)

[ubikuberalles]

I got the Stella emulator running on my Cassiopeia does that count? :) It's only 3 1/2" X 5" X 1" in size! If you have a color PDA that's one way to go.

The 2600 Jr. is the smallest production VCS Atari built but there are a lot of people out there who've put the 2600 into smaller cases. There's one guy who attached the VCS to a color LCD display and made a portable VCS: http://www.classicgaming.com/vcsp/

So, if you don't want to get into a homebrew system then the 2600 Jr. is your best bet.

[Kid Ice]

Coleco also came out with a compact 2600, the Gemini.

[Isometric_Bacon]

There was a guy who used to make portable 2600's and sell them. They were amazing little things, He'd just cut up the old atari boards and custom make a gameboy like system. Can't remember the link though, don't know if it's still up.

He also made a portable PSOne... (A REAL portable, like a GBA, not the actual PSOne) The best part about it was tehre was no casing for the CD Rom. It'd simply spin around at the back of the system, unprotected.

[slapdash]

That's Ben Heckendorn you're talking about; the VCSp page above is the correct link.

In addition to Ben, Kevin Horton and John Soper have also made portable VCSs, and another guy (Spongbue is his nick on AtariAge) made a smaller model, but without a screen IIRC.

[The Unknown Gamer]

I owned a Coleco Gemini (before it burned out) and I can say it was smaller than a 2600 jr. It was roughly the same size as a volume of my encyclopedia but thicker.

[digitalpress]

http://www.evg2000.com/cge2k3/swap_auction/images/P8090066.jpg

[ubersaurus]

I suggest the 7800. It is a bit smaller then the 2600, to be sure, but it gives you a bigger bang for your buck, since you can play non-2600 games on it, without needing any bulky addon modules. It's my solution to the "strapped for space" dilemma.

[Pantechnicon]

Another route one can go for a compact 2600 is the Super TV Boy series made by Systema. These are not much bigger than a Sega Genesis gamepad. They run on batteries and have about 150 roms built in. It's hard to find an NTSC version, but the PAL's pop up every now and then on E-Crack...I mean Ebay :roll:

Does anybody know where one can get these in NTSC? I wouldn't mind owning one myself.

[gameman007]

I picked up an ntsc tv boy on ebay, I paid a hundred bucks for it. it's boxed and works great. I bought it because like you said you don't see them that often.

[Raedon]

http://home.cablelynx.com/~tsouthern/bump.jpg

[MarioAllStar2600]

Just like to add in that I have a revision 5. Number #36. last one made. People like low mubers but I like knowing mine was last one. ;)

[MegaDrive20XX]

http://www.evg2000.com/cge2k3/swap_auction/images/P8090066.jpg

Dear god lady, what happened? Did you leave them in another shirt and stuffed a bruised potatoe in there?

Seriously, the Atari 2600 Jr or the one this "lady" is holding is the only compact verisons that exist at the moment

[farfel]

I suggest the 7800. It is a bit smaller then the 2600, to be sure, but it gives you a bigger bang for your buck,
I would not. My 7800 won't accept Activison carts.

[soniko_karuto]

http://www.evg2000.com/cge2k3/swap_auction/images/P8090066.jpg

Dear god lady, what happened? Did you leave them in another shirt and stuffed a bruised potatoe in there?

Seriously, the Atari 2600 Jr or the one this "lady" is holding is the only compact verisons that exist at the moment

ah yes she's holding an portable atari. i didn't noticed after about 15 seconds later.

[soniko_karuto]

so, seeing those eyes, are they really that color? i mean, i like them. damn they look nice.

[Raedon]

I remember having my 2600 Jr. on top of my Ps2 for a while. They are the same size but the Jr. is more then 1/2 the size in height.

[Marco]

Seriously, the Atari 2600 Jr or the one this "lady" is holding is the only compact verisons that exist at the moment

There is also the Mega Boy, an original remote control Atari 2600 by Dynacom from Brazil. It does not have a screen, but unlike the later TV Boys it does have a cartridge slot.

http://members1.chello.nl/~mcj.kerstens/Megaboy.jpg


Cheers,
Marco