#### Back to index | # Info for a2600

#### Atari 2600 Video Computer System

History and Trivia:
The Atari Video Computer System (VCS) was released in 1977 at a suggested retail price of $299, which dropped quickly as sales soared; about 340,000 systems were sold the first year alone. Joe Decuir, Steve Mayer and Ron Milner designed the VCS. The Atari VCS was developed under the project codename "Stella". The VCS later became known, both commonly and officially as the Atari 2600 (from the model number CX2600). It is rumored that the number 2600 was chosen because 2600 cycles was a prominent long distance access tone, and that one of the developers had created devices that would trick pay phones into granting long distance access as a hobby.

Features:
Resolution: 160 x 260 (horz.) at 60.00 Hz
CPU: 6507
Cpu Clock: 1.19 MHz
Graphics Clock: 1.19 MHz
Bits: 8
ROM: 4k max
RAM: 128 bytes, in VLSI
Video Display Processor: Stella
Sprites: 32
Colors: 256 (static)
Sound Processor: Two Channel Square or Noise (TIA)
Cartridge ROM: 2k up to 64k

Links:
Atari Age - www.atariage.com
Atari Historical Society - www.atari-history.com/a2600.html

MESS Emulation State:
This driver is highly preliminary. It will load most 2k, 4k, and 8k Game Program images, but will only display graphics for some of them. The games themselves are not currently playable. Work is continuing on the driver however.

created on Mon Dec 09 08:16:57 2002