Atari prototype System?

[starsoldier1]

Has anyone ever seen one of these Sears Atari Video System's before? Amazingly it looks like a 7800 but it only play 2600 games and it has four controller ports in the front and joysticks with built in roller support. I think this is the R8 Atari unit listed on the online guide but this is the first time I ever seen one. I wonder if it was a prototype or something for Atari and Sears got their hands on it? Anyway here's the pic of it:


http://ryangenno.tripod.com/images/Atari2600SearsVAIIsystem.jpg

[ClubNinja]

I had two before I sold them. They're tougher to find that most other 2600s, but not overwhelmingly rare in my opinion. Still, I actually really like the design - probably my favorite next to the all black, "Darth Vader" 2600.

[starsoldier1]

Did you get a lot for them? Are they rare units like the guide's says?

[dojosky]

i have one in my collection but few weeks ago i saw one boxed for $49.99 BIN on ebay !!

[Mitch]

That's the Sears version of the Atari 2800. The Sears version isn't very rare, the Atari version is the rare one.

Mitch

[starsoldier1]

So the Atari 2800 unit isn't a commerial product, eh?

[Pantechnicon]

So the Atari 2800 unit isn't a commerial product, eh?

Not in the U.S. It was the designation under which Atari marketed the 2600 platform in Japan. Looks exactly the same as the Sears model but for the label on the front.

[rbudrick]

That's the Sears version of the Atari 2800. The Sears version isn't very rare, the Atari version is the rare one.

Mitch

Wow! I didn't know this. I never knew there was a version of the 2800 here, let alone that the paddle support was built into the sticks. That's a very cool joystick design. I wonder why other manufacturers didn't attempt this (besides the Gemini).

Thanks, for pointing this out to me, folks. :)

-Rob