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Atari Flashback

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Atari Flashback
Flashback X, released in 2019
Developer
Manufacturer
  • Legacy Engineering Group (2004–2011)
  • AtGames (2011–present)
TypeDedicated console
Lifespan2004–present
Units sold1 million+
System on a chipNES-on-a-chip (original Flashback)
Atari 2600-on-a-chip (Flashback 2 and 2+)
Online servicesFirmware updates (Flashback 9, 9 Gold, X, X Deluxe, 50th Gold and 12 Gold only)
Dimensions5.7 in × 3.8 in × 1.7 in (14.5 cm × 9.7 cm × 4.3 cm) (Flashback 12 Gold)
Mass1.07 lb (0.49 kg) (Flashback 12 Gold)
Websitehttps://www.atgames.us/

The Atari Flashback is a line of dedicated video game consoles produced since 2004, currently designed, produced, published and marketed by AtGames under license from Atari SA. The Flashback consoles are "plug-and-play" versions of the 1970s Atari 2600 console with built-in games rather than using ROM cartridges. The latest home console model, Atari Flashback 12 Gold, was released in 2023 and has 130 games.

The first version, designed by Atari veteran Curt Vendel, was modeled after an Atari 7800 and contained 20 games, of which five were 7800 titles. Each subsequent home console in the series is modeled after the 2600 instead; the Atari Flashback 2 was released in 2005, included 40 built-in games, and was the only one with a 2600 hardware SoC. In 2011, Atari, Inc. stopped producing the Flashback in-house and licensed it to AtGames, who continued from there on beginning with the Flashback 3, including a handheld version, Atari Flashback Portable, in 2016. Several variations of the Flashback 8 were released in 2017, including the Gold edition, which introduces scan line filtering, a gameplay rewind feature, and HDMI output. Since the Flashback X in 2019, the exterior designs have been more faithful near-replicas of the original Atari 2600 in miniature forms.

Home consoles

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Original console

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The original Atari Flashback

The original Atari Flashback was released in November 2004,[1][2][3] with a retail price of $45.[1][4] The console resembles a smaller version of the Atari 7800,[5][6] and its controllers are also smaller versions of the 7800's joystick controllers, but with the addition of "pause" and "select" buttons. The controllers are not compatible with the original 7800 console.[4] It was designed by Atari veteran Curt Vendel and his company Legacy Engineering Group, which designs other home video game and video arcade products.[7]

The console lacks a cartridge slot, making it incompatible with 7800 games. Instead, the console features 20 built-in games, including 15 Atari 2600 games and five 7800 games.[4] Some of the games originally required analog paddle controllers and were made to work with the included joysticks. The Atari Flashback runs on "NES-on-a-chip", rather than Atari hardware. As a result, its games do not match their original counterparts entirely.[4][8] The game library includes Saboteur, a game that went unreleased for 20 years.[1]

The Flashback sold approximately 500,000 units.[8] Craig Harris of IGN was critical of the game conversions and opined that original copies of these games were superior, writing "it's just horrifying to see Atari, a company that outright owns these games and the original hardware, produce such shoddy renditions of the classic 2600 and 7800 games." Harris complained of problems such as flicker, poor collision detection, and missing sound. He praised the controllers for their reduced size, finding them more comfortable to use, but he was disappointed that they are incompatible with the original 7800.[4]

Atari Flashback 2

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Atari Flashback 2

The Atari Flashback 2 was released in August 2005[9][10] as an improved version of its predecessor.[8] It retailed for $30 and included 40 built-in Atari 2600 games.[11][12][13] It is a small near-replica of the 2600, about two-thirds the size of the original. Its controllers are also replicas of the 2600 joysticks.[14][15] The 2600 and Flashback 2 controllers are compatible with both systems.[10][13]

Instead of switches, the Flashback 2 console has several buttons, some of which are used to adjust power and reset it. A "select" button is used to choose between single-player and multiplayer modes, for certain games that offer the latter. Two other buttons are used to adjust the joystick difficulty for the left and right controller respectively.[13][15] An AV cord is hardwired into the back of the console.[15] The back also has a switch to toggle games between color and black-and-white.[13]

Since the Flashback 2, every home console in the series has used a variant of the original Atari 2600 joystick.
Most Atari Flashback systems use RCA cables for video output.

Vendel and Legacy Engineering returned to develop the Flashback 2. In designing it, Vendel relied on materials from his Atari History Museum.[7] He recreated the original Atari hardware on a single chip, allowing games to run as they originally did.[10] The console's hardware makes it easy to mod.[10][16] The Flashback 2's motherboard can be altered to accept 2600 cartridges,[17][18] a concept that the console was designed around.[7][19]

The Flashback 2 was better received compared to its predecessor.[7] John Falcone of CNET praised the controllers and considered them the best aspect of the console.[15] The Flashback 2 sold 860,000 units in the United States. A PAL version was never released.[7] The console was discontinued in 2006.[20]

In 2011, Atari Interactive filed a $30 million lawsuit against Tommo, accusing the latter of knowingly selling pirated Flashback 2 consoles.[20]

Games

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Aside from the 40 built-in games,[13] the Flashback 2 also contains two secret games (Super Breakout and Warlords), which are accessible through a combination of joystick moves on the console's main menu.[10] Five of the 40 games are prototypes that were previously unreleased.[15] While the original Flashback only includes games published by Atari, the Flashback 2 features two games by Activision: Pitfall! and River Raid.[21][22] A few of the included games are homebrews.[22]

Some games, such as Lunar Lander, exhibit some flicker. This is due to limitations in the original Atari 2600 hardware, which the Flashback 2 reproduces accurately. Vendel noted that the games exclusive to the Flashback 2 were programmed under a strict schedule. For a revision of the Flashback 2, Vendel commissioned developers to tweak these games in order to reduce flickering.[23]

Atari Flashback 2+

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In January 2010, Atari announced pre-orders for the Atari Flashback 2+, to be released on February 22, 2010. It included 20 classic Atari 2600 games and 20 new Atari games.[24] The game lineup was mostly the same as the original Flashback 2. However, games such as Pitfall!, River Raid, and Wizard did not appear and were replaced by sports games.

Atari Flashback 3

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Atari Flashback 3

The Atari Flashback 3 was manufactured by AtGames[25] and was released in September 2011.[26] The Flashback 3 included 60 built-in Atari 2600 games, 2 joysticks, and a case design that was similar to the Flashback 2.[27][28] Unlike its predecessors, the Flashback 3 used emulation.[29] It could not be modded to play 2600 cartridges.[28]

PCMag opined that some of the games were inferior to their original arcade counterparts.[28]

Atari Flashback 4

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The Atari Flashback 4 was released by AtGames on November 13, 2012. The console looked similar to its predecessor but included wireless joystick controllers.[30] Like its predecessor, the Flashback 4 used emulation.[29] The console increased its library to 75 games,[30] 15 more than the Flashback 3.

AtGames also released several alternate versions, including the Atari Flashback 4: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. This included a set of replica Atari 2600 paddles, five collectible posters, and a copy of the original Atari joystick patent signed by Nolan Bushnell. AtGames also developed the Atari Flashback 64, a Walmart exclusive version with wired controllers and only 64 games, including Space Invaders. Some versions of the Flashback 4 included a 76th "bonus" game, Millipede.

Atari Flashback 5

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The Atari Flashback 5 was released on October 1, 2014.[citation needed] Like the previous two releases, it was built by AtGames. It was the same as the Flashback 4, with infrared wireless joysticks, but it added 17 more games, increasing the total to 92 games.[31]

Atari Flashback 6

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The Atari Flashback 6 was released on September 15, 2015. Like the previous three releases, it was built by AtGames. It was the same as the Flashback 5, with infrared wireless joysticks, but it added 8 more games, increasing the total to 100 games.[32][33]

Atari Flashback 7

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The Atari Flashback 7 was released on October 1, 2016. Like the previous four releases, it was built by AtGames. It is the same as the Flashback 6 with the infrared wireless joysticks, but it adds one more game - Frogger - increasing the total to 101 games.[34][35][36]

The Atari Flashback 7 Deluxe includes two wired paddle controllers in addition to the wireless joysticks.[37]

Atari Flashback 8

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Atari Flashback 8, released in 2017
Flashback 8 with joystick, released in 2017

The Atari Flashback 8 was released in September 2017[38] by AtGames.[39] Several variations were released.[40] A basic model, the Flashback 8 Classic, featured 105 games and two wired controllers.[40][41] The Flashback 8 Deluxe was identical, except that it included a set of paddle controllers in addition to the joysticks.[citation needed]

The Flashback 8 Gold had 120 games and wireless controllers as well as ports for 2600 controllers.[40][41][42] The Gold edition had "save" and "pause" features as well as scan line filtering.[41][43] It also allowed the player to rewind gameplay by several seconds. In addition, it introduced HDMI output for 720p.[44][40]

The Atari Flashback 8 Gold Deluxe also had 120 games, but included two wired paddles in addition to two wireless joysticks.[citation needed] The Flashback 8 Gold Activision Edition had 130 games, including several by Activision, although the other versions also featured some Activision games.[40][41] All the games were emulated.[45]

Atari Flashback 9

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The Atari Flashback 9 (Model No: AR3050) was released on November 15, 2018,[46] by AtGames. It included two wired controllers and 110 games.

The Atari Flashback 9 Gold (Model No: AR3650) included 120 games and wireless controllers. Both versions featured an SD card slot and an output of 720p.[47][48][49] The SD slot on both basic and gold models was used for firmware updates, downloaded games, and saved game states.

The Atari Flashback 9 (Model No: AR3230) was a Family Dollar exclusive. It included two wired controllers and 110 games, and it featured composite video output along with an SD slot.

Atari Flashback X

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Atari Flashback X Deluxe

The Atari Flashback X was released in 2019[50] and attempted to capitalize on the mini console trend, started by releases like the NES Classic Edition and Sega Genesis Mini, with a case redesign that more faithfully captured the aesthetic of being a near-perfect physical replica of an Atari 2600 in miniature form. Like the previous releases, it was built by AtGames.

The basic model (Model No: AR3060) included two wired controllers and 110 games. The deluxe model (Model No: AR3060S) included 10 additional games. A firmware update through the AtGames website allowed both models to download more games.

Atari Flashback 50th Anniversary Edition

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Atari Flashback 50th Anniversary Edition

The Atari Flashback 50th Anniversary Edition saw a limited release in 2022. Physically it was a slight re-coloration of the Atari Flashback X. It featured brass switches instead of chrome, and it had the gold "Atari 50th" logo stamped onto its wood-veneer trim. Like the previous releases, it was built by AtGames.

The basic model (Model No: AR3070) included two wired standard controllers and 110 games. The gold model (Model No: AR3080) included two wired standard controllers, two wired paddle controllers, and 130 games. Only the gold model supported official firmware updates from the AtGames website to allow more games to be downloaded.

Atari Flashback 12 Gold

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The Atari Flashback 12 Gold (Model No: AR3080B) was given a limited release in 2023. Although it features Gold in its title, like past Atari Flashback releases, there is no basic model of the Flashback 12. Physically it is a slight re-coloration of the Atari Flashback X and Atari Flashback 50th Anniversary Edition that amalgamates the two prior aesthetics. It features brass switches, as seen on the Atari Flashback 50th Anniversary Edition, but the standard silver Atari logo is stamped onto its wood-veneer trim as seen on the Atari Flashback X. Like the previous releases, it was built by AtGames. The model includes two wired standard controllers, two wired paddle controllers, and 130 games. The list of 130 games included is identical to the Atari Flashback 50th Anniversary Edition Gold model. The Atari Flashback 12 Gold features support for official firmware updates from the AtGames website to allow for the download of more games.

Games by Flashback version

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Games Flashback[4] Flashback 2 Flashback 2+[24] Flashback 3[26] Flashback 4[30] Flashback 5[31] Flashback 6 and 7[a] Flashback 8 Flashback 8 Gold Flashback 8 Gold Activision Flashback 9 Flashback 9 Gold Flashback X Flashback X Deluxe Flashback 50th Flashback 50th Gold and 12 Gold
2004 2005 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015/2016 2017 2017 2017 2018 2018 2019 2019 2022 2022/2023
3D Tic-Tac-Toe Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adventure Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adventure II[b] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Air Raiders Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Air-Sea Battle Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Amidar Yes Yes Yes Yes
Aquaventure[c] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Arcade Asteroids Yes Yes
Arcade Pong Yes Yes
Armor Ambush Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Asteroids Yes[d] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Asteroids Deluxe Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Astroblast Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Atari Climber Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Atari Video Cube Yes
Atlantis Yes
Backgammon Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Barnstorming Yes
Basketball Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Battlezone Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Beamrider Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Blackjack Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bowling Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Boxing Yes Yes
Breakout Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bridge Yes Yes
BurgerTime Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Burnin' Rubber Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Canyon Bomber Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Caverns of Mars Yes
Centipede Yes[d] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Championship Soccer Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Chase It! Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Checkers Yes
Charley Chuck's Food Fight Yes[e]
Chopper Command Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Circus Atari Yes[f] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Combat Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Combat 2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Cosmic Commuter Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Crackpots Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Crystal Castles Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Dark Cavern Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Decathlon Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Demon Attack Yes Yes
Demons to Diamonds Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Desert Falcon Yes[d] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Dodge 'Em Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Dolphin Yes Yes
Double Dunk Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Dragonfire Yes Yes
Dragster Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Enduro Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Escape It! Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Fatal Run Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Fishing Derby Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Flag Capture Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Football Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Freeway Yes Yes Yes
Frog Pond Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Frogger[g] Yes[a] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Frogs and Flies Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Front Line Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Frostbite Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Fun With Numbers Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Golf Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Grand Prix Yes Yes
Gravitar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Gyruss Yes Yes Yes Yes
H.E.R.O. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hangman Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Haunted House Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Home Run Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Human Cannonball Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ice Hockey Yes Yes
Indy 500 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
International Soccer Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Jungle Hunt Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Kaboom! Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Keystone Kapers Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Laser Blast Yes Yes
Lock 'n' Chase Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Lunar Lander Yes Yes
Marine Wars Yes
Maze Craze Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Megamania Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Millipede Yes Yes Yes Yes[h] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Miniature Golf Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Miss It! Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Missile Command Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Moonsweeper Yes
MotoRodeo Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Night Driver Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Off the Wall Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Oink! Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Outlaw Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pitfall! Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns Yes Yes
Planet Smashers Yes[e]
Plaque Attack Yes Yes
Polaris Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pong Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pong - Video Olympics Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pooyan Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pressure Cooker Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Private Eye Yes Yes
Quadrun Yes Yes
Radar Lock Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RealSports Baseball Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RealSports Basketball Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RealSports Boxing Yes Yes Yes
RealSports Football Yes Yes
RealSports Soccer Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RealSports Volleyball Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Return to Haunted House Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
River Raid Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
River Raid II Yes Yes
Robot Tank Yes
Saboteur Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Save Mary Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Sea Battle Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Seaquest Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Secret Quest Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Shield Shifter Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Skiing Yes Yes
Sky Diver Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Sky Jinks Yes Yes
Slot Machine Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Slot Racers Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Solaris Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Space Attack Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Space Duel Yes Yes
Space Invaders[g] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Space Raid Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Space Shuttle: A Journey into Space Yes
Space War Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Spider Fighter Yes Yes
Sprintmaster Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stampede Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Star Ship Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Star Strike Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Starmaster Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Steeplechase Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stellar Track Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Strategy X Yes
Street Racer Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Strip Off Yes Yes Yes
Submarine Commander Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Super Baseball Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Super Breakout Yes[f] Yes[f] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Super Challenge Baseball Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Super Challenge Football Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Super Cobra Yes Yes
Super Football Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Surround Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Sword Fight Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Swordquest: Earthworld Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Swordquest: Fireworld Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Swordquest: Waterworld Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tempest Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tennis Yes Yes
Track & Field Yes Yes
Tutankham Yes Yes Yes Yes
Video Checkers Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Video Chess Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Video Pinball Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Warlords Yes Yes[f] Yes[f] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Wizard Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yars' Return[b] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yars' Revenge Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Handheld consoles

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Atari Flashback Portable

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The 2016 Flashback Portable
The 2019 Flashback Portable

In 2007, Vendel was working on a handheld console known as the Atari Flashback Portable. It was being designed to run on three "AAA" batteries, at a screen resolution of 320x240, and it would feature AV output with two joystick controller ports for multiplayer.[51][52][53] Games are loaded into internal 2MB memory by use of a USB cable. The release date was projected as early 2008 with a retail price of approximately $40. However, Vendel announced in 2010 that the project was not going to be released by Atari and no further information was released.[54]

A new handheld console, also called the Atari Flashback Portable, was released in November 2016. It contains 60 games built in and an SD slot for downloaded games. It has a 3.2" LCD, AV output port and mini USB charge port.[55]

A second edition of Atari Flashback Portable was released in September 2017. Like the first Atari Flashback Portable, it was built by AtGames. It includes 70 games with the most notable additions to this edition being four Namco games which are Dig Dug, Galaxian, Pac-Man, and Xevious. The version of Pac-Man included is a homebrew port that is more faithful to the original arcade game and not the original Atari 2600 port of Pac-Man released in 1982.[56]

A third edition of the Atari Flashback Portable was released by AtGames in September 2018. The standard edition includes 80 games.[57]

A fourth edition of the Atari Flashback Portable was released by AtGames in September 2019. It features a woodgrain-like body design that mirrors the woodgrain look on the original Atari 2600 console. The standard edition includes 80 games.[58]

The second (2017) edition of the Flashback Portable includes the following games:[citation needed]

The third (2018) edition includes the following games:[57]

  • 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe
  • Adventure
  • Adventure II
  • Amidar
  • Aquaventure
  • Asteroids
  • Asteroids Deluxe
  • Atari Climber
  • Basketball
  • Black Jack
  • Bowling
  • Breakout
  • Centipede
  • Chase It!
  • Circus Atari
  • Crystal Castles
  • Demons to Diamonds
  • Desert Falcon
  • Dig Dug
  • Dodge 'Em
  • Double Dunk
  • Escape It!
  • Fatal Run
  • Frogs and Flies
  • Frogger
  • Fun with Numbers
  • Galaxian
  • Golf
  • Gravitar
  • Gyruss
  • Hangman
  • Haunted House
  • H.E.R.O.
  • Human Cannonball
  • Kaboom!
  • Millipede
  • Miniature Golf
  • Miss It!
  • Missile Command
  • MotoRodeo
  • Night Driver
  • Off the Wall
  • Pac-Man
  • Pitfall!
  • Pooyan
  • Pressure Cooker
  • Radar Lock
  • RealSports Baseball
  • RealSports Boxing
  • RealSports Football
  • RealSports Tennis
  • Return to Haunted House
  • River Raid
  • Saboteur
  • Save Mary
  • Secret Quest
  • Shield Shifter
  • Slot Machine
  • Solaris
  • Space Raid
  • Sprintmaster
  • Star Ship
  • Stellar Track
  • Strip Off
  • Submarine Commander
  • Super Breakout
  • Swordquest: Earthworld
  • Swordquest: Fireworld
  • Swordquest: Waterworld
  • Tempest
  • Track & Field
  • Tutankham
  • Video Checkers
  • Video Chess
  • Video Pinball
  • Video Olympics (Pong)
  • Wizard
  • Xevious
  • Yars' Return
  • Yars' Revenge

The fourth (2019) edition includes the same games as the third (2018) edition but with Atari's unreleased prototype game Frog Pond replacing Frogs and Flies.[citation needed]

Other products

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Atari Flashback Classics is a compilation of various Atari video games. It is the console release of Atari Vault and its DLC on Microsoft Windows, MacOS and Linux. The compilation was first released in 2016, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One,[59][60] split into three volumes. Then, it was released for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation Vita in 2018,[61][62][63] and finally on Atari VCS in 2020 as Atari VCS Vault, split into two volumes.[64]

In October 2018, AtGames released Atari Flashback Blast!, a trio of wireless controllers each with 20 built-in games.[65][66][67]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b The Flashback 7 includes Frogger as an additional game over its predecessor
  2. ^ a b Homebrew title
  3. ^ A previously unreleased Atari 2600 title that was in the prototype or development stage before officially being cancelled or quietly shelved
  4. ^ a b c Atari 7800 version
  5. ^ a b An Atari 7800 game
  6. ^ a b c d e As a hidden game
  7. ^ a b Custom port made exclusively for the Flashback
  8. ^ Included in some versions of the Flashback 4

References

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  1. ^ a b c Baer, Adam (2004-11-04). "Two Blasts From the Past Revive the Atari Classics". The New York Times. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  2. ^ Reeks, Anne (2004-11-16). "At Home". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  3. ^ "Atari Flashback brings back old games". United Press International. 2004-11-20. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Harris, Craig (2004-12-15). "Atari Flashback: Atari's first retro plug-and-play device isn't exactly what it promises". IGN. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  5. ^ Breznican, Anthony (2004-09-08). "Centipede's comeback: Atari to hit gamers with blasts from past". Tulsa World. Associated Press. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  6. ^ Lipsey, Sid (2004-12-17). "What to get the gamer who (probably) has everything". CNN. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  7. ^ a b c d e Wen, Howard (2007-06-05). "Curt Vendel: The Escapist Interview". The Escapist. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  8. ^ a b c "Building a Better Flashback". Video Game Collector. No. 4. July 2005. p. 7.
  9. ^ Wiley, James (2005-07-12). "Atari to offer plug-n-play induced retro flashbacks". Engadget. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  10. ^ a b c d e Lee, Nicole (2005-08-01). "The Best Atari Yet". Wired. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  11. ^ Mohammed, Arshad (2005-11-12). "Atari invites parents to travel back to the '70s". NBC News. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  12. ^ Barbaro, Michael (2005-11-19). "Ready, Aim, Shop". The New York Times. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  13. ^ a b c d e Lance Ulanoff (2005-11-16). "Atari Flashback 2". PC Magazine. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  14. ^ Harris, Ron (2005-09-27). "Tech Test: Atari Flashback 2 a retro blast". Tulsa World. Associated Press. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  15. ^ a b c d e Falcone, John (2006-10-25). "Atari Flashback 2 review". CNET. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  16. ^ Barton, Matt; Loguidice, Bill (2008-02-28). "A History of Gaming Platforms: Atari 2600 Video Computer System/VCS". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  17. ^ Melanson, Donald (2005-08-04). "Mod an Atari Flashback 2 into a full-fledged Atari 2600". Engadget. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  18. ^ "Playing original Atari 2600 cartridges on the Atari Flashback". Siliconera. 2007-03-06. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  19. ^ "Hacking the Atari Flashback 2 Console - Cartridge Port Mod". Atarimuseum.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
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