Classic Game Room - How to Buy & Hook Up Atari 2600

[KissofDawn2012]

I agree. It is the best looking console ever made! Mine that I ordered on eBay just came in last night. It's in great shape, works great, and to my surprise, it's a Sunnyvale original!

[TinyTracey]

Awsome,there's no radio shack near me so I found an "RF Female Socket to F Type Screw Male Plug Adapter" on Amazon,now when I get my atari I can record it,would it work if I I hooked up RCAs ffrom the "out" on the back of my VCR to my capture card?

[KissofDawn2012]

I just bought/ordered an Atari 2600 on Ebay right now! What the heck is wrong with me?! I think I got a good deal though, $45 total. It works, has 2 joysticks, 2 paddles, power supply cord, RF adapter, & 12 games. We'll see. Can't wait !

[LordHumungusFL]

Love my old 2600 but......definitely NOT the best looking system...maybe coolest or most original though

[spyglassweb]

Great advice, thanks! Bought the female RCA/male coax connector at Radio Shack for under $5 and it worked perfectly for the atari 2600 - wood grain. No need to also use a vcr, just plug it right into your TV coax input. Kind of a long video to get to that simple solution though.

[Tekken4Life3]

Hmmmm....best looking console ever made?? Really??

[johnandrewthomas1981]

very informative video

[cosmic1125]

28 people have the atari 5200 and cant hook it up

[MrEpicAaron]

will this work on the 5200?

[Netscape128]

@MrEpicAaron No. In fact, the 5200 MAKES you use the boxy converter, but it has to be the special 5200 one. The 5200 only has one wire coming out of it, and it plugs into the box. You plug the power supply into the box, and THEN you plug the coax cable from the box into the TV. The AVGN weighs in on this here:

/watch?v=AknyR-kRvLc

[deadlygroove1]

Atari consoles definitely hold up. I just took one of my Atari Jr's and took it a part. I filled up my kitchen sink with warm water and dish soap. I dropped the front, back and the board into the soap and water. I washed the front base, the back and the board. I quickly dried them off with a wash cloth and took a blow dryer to the board to get inside the jacks and made sure everything was completely dry. Then I hooked everything up and it works like a charm. I have a nice clean Atari 2600 Jr. :)

[jimieo]

I was born in 85 and my family never liked upgrading to a new console just because it was out. Because of that I grew up first playing the Atari 2600 and Commodore 64... Eventually we moved on to the NES and a GameBoy.. I grew up on these systems. I'll never forget them. :)

[brainjuice654]

i think i'll stick with the game room on xbox, easier to set up

[Ushanka15]

Put the what in the thing and the how ?

[MrAwesomeAnimation]

Is there any way I could hook up my atari 2600 to my computer (Mac OS X 10.5.8 or Windows XP sp2)?

[PerfectBlade20]

secretely the atari 2600 90000000000x more powerful than the most powerful supercomputer out right now, it was made in the year 9098, somebody just brought it from the future, those graphics are only pixels because it's actually processing out a another universe, So everytime you fire up the ol' atari, remember the truth, THE TRUTH GODAMNIT!!!!!

[romerozombie85]

there were no adds in 1981

[coolox62]

but tell me mark does the 7800 play vectrex games?

[64jamesbond]

well its really hard to find atari in europe so im getting the atari flashback it has 60 games built in but you cant put atari games in it unless you mod it

[TheYoNate]

I don't have one in my room, but I do have one in one of the rooms in the house. Also, the cord thats on my TV is already taken care of, too (well, actually, I might be able to unplug it, use the atari, and then when I'm done, I can put it back in).

[classicsonic91]

when you turn on your tv, make sure it's turned to channel 3.

[deadlygroove1]

@classicsonic91 as long as your Atari is set to channel 3. :)

[TheYoNate]

Dang! My TV isn't even HD but it doesn't even have that type of stuff, nor do I have a VCR. I might start a old game system collection somehow and want to try the Atari. I wish there was some thing where there's a cable-thingy where it had the same plug-in thingy for the Atari system but had the original cable for the TV. That sux... :(

[deadlygroove1]

@TheYoNate I don't know if you can do this but can you hook it up through your cable box?

[Zuggaron]

Didn't knew CGR had longer than 6 mins videos D:

[afrodylan671]

For me I didnt need two have the RCA cords that go into the VCR then TV. I just used a single RCA cord with the Cohax adapter and switched my TV to channel on the TV itself (I have Dish Network) Just a little side note for the simplicity of some people

[Capitanvolume]

LOL, "Newer model" only 30 years old!

[coalb389]

I lucked out, I found a working 6 switch atari 2600 for 7 bucks at a thrift store :D

[CMGCave]

CMG: Classic Movies and Games is looking into an Atari 2600 Junior. We will be doin' some Atari games from time to time on our new channel! Thanks Mark for this useful info!

[adamant4045]

What's the difference between 4 switch and 6 switch

[ColonelRazor1995]

Mark, have you ever tried to plug in an Atari joystick into the Genesis?

[WCBguy1]

if you get the atari flashback game console pack those are in perfect conditon

[luisperez86]

Very nice indeed!!

[XXxxretrogamerxxXX]

MARK U ROCK!!!!!!!!!!

[KagakuGakusei]

I have been thinking about get an atari 2600 for a while, I really like the wood panel version. I hope it is real wood and not that plastic that looks like wood.

[spurtoh]

i'm guessing the rca/coaxial trick will work with a sega master system as well. I need a replacement rf and i'm not gonna go hunt down one made by sega

[JSchuyler2010]

LOL Female end O

[Firedragon41520]

i think the wood-finish version is rare

[bio2020]

@Firedragon41520 yeah i still have mine in a box.

[Firedragon41520]

@bio2020 let me give a tip: if you are a gamer,don't be shy. play it. if you like to collect old consoles,keep it in the box

[animegamer66]

does the atari 2600 and 7800 work on 1080p tv's

[SuperFilmReviews]

@animegamer66 as long as you follow the guide and have an RCA input on the back of your tv it will.

[deadlygroove1]

@animegamer66 Yes as long as you have a coax on the back which most HD TVs still have.

@Firedragon41520 you can still buy wood grain Atari VCS consoles online or at retro game stores. They are more common than you think. :)

[jennaE36]

@animegamer66

Of course they can connect to any TV that has RF input but newer TVs such as LCDs can make the picture quality of older consoles look worse, don't support light guns, and show control lag. For older systems, I recommend a CRT that has at least S-Video and is a curved screen instead of a flat screen so that the light guns work properly. Hope that helps. I got that advice from GamingTheSystems on his 2-part gaming setup videos. Please check his videos out for more helpful tips.

[deadlygroove1]

@jennaE36 that's not always true. I have a Vizio HD TV and Atari looks excellent on it. The Sega Saturn looks really nice on it as well as the Sega Genesis and my other old school consoles. As far as the light gun, you are correct on that.

[optimusmikey]

@animegamer66 no they dont and who cares

[parmopete66]

@animegamer66 how did that comment get 11 likes?? :/



[animegamer66]

@parmopete66 I don't know

[demonchacer]

i got lucky and got a woodgrain atari 2600 with game cabinet and game center in really good condition with 4 controllers and 40 games for $75. and everything works fine

[Combatarms423]

@demonchacer i did better than you, i got an old computer, an atari 2600, an intellivision and 52 games for 40 dollars

[demonchacer]

@Combatarms423 damn you got a really good deal on that. im jealous

[nathan3227]

Oh And I Think It Was A Good Idea To Add The Wood To The System.

[nathan3227]

i love the system and yet i hate the remote :o

[ralman20154]

i just wanted a simple answer. not a 14 min video. TL;DW

[AtariFTW]

I like to play centipede ad flicker the power swich on and off real fast until the mushrooms dissapear and then i can have a clean shot at the centipede. as for buying ataris, i agree about buying a 2600 jr first. You can find them dirt cheap but they feel kinda cheap compared to a heavy sixer or a later 4 switch. A neat "2600" would be a Colecovision with the 2600 expansion pack: or a 7800: or a japanese 2800: or a macintosh 512k casemod using a atari flashback 2 and 9" color tv screen

[AtariFTW]

@fuck192ass ok..... nice name too...

[videogmer911]

I have a atari 2600 it kinks ass

[TheFunFan1]

Do you know what I would do if my new TV won't recognize the cable input? I have the Atari 7800 ProSystem and I am using the Radio Shack converter box that has worked with other TVs. Could it be that I have DirectTv, or does that not matter? The type of TV I have is the Sharp Aquos Quattron LE830 Series. I am going to Radio Shack today to get the other converter to see if that works, would that make any difference?

[TheFunFan1]

@TheFunFan1 Ok, I figured it out, all you have to do is run it through a VCR. Thanks for telling us how to do that! :)

[mrjuan234]

Cool I was looking into buying it again

[Leishmaniasisably]

My grandmother gave me an old 2600 that didn't come with the power adapter. I had to wait a day after getting it to get my Battlezone on...

[mariofan1112]

what should i get 2600 jnr or 7800

[Leishmaniasisably]

@mariofan1112 Definitely the 7800. There are a few games that don't work with it, but I'm unfamiliar which games they are, so you shouldn't need to worry about that. Also you get a lot of awesome arcade ports like Mrs. Pac-Man, Galaga, Choplifter, Robocop, Joust, Xevious... the list goes on. You're really getting two systems in one. Hope you get one!

[burpgoeztheweazel]

When you are playing a 2600 game on the 7800, how do you change the difficulty since there are no switches?

[appleguyforeternity]

MrAwesomeAnimation, just plug the VCR line output into the DVD recorder line input

[MrAwesomeAnimation]

How do you record footage from the tv with the vcr? Is it with an empty video? If so, how do you transfer it to the computer?

[appleguyforeternity]

Thanks CGR, you helped me out a lot when looking to convert RF Coaxial to RCA

[liamh1982]

This kind of thing is where living in a PAL territory pays off, no need for adaptors - just plug one end of a cable into the console and the other end straight into the TV aerial socket.

[thman1234]

Also the six foot coaxal cable plugs into the output on the 2 way converter

[thman1234]

What I use is I take a six foot coaxal cable, a RCA coaxal female end, and a 2 way converter. The coaxal cable plugs into my antenna input on me tv, while the RCA coaxal female end plugs into the first end, while the other caxla cable coming from the TV output in my wall plugs into the second end. That way I can play my atari and watch TV at the same time.

[BlueFlashProductions]

There was a wood Atari 2600 at a nearby flea market with 8 games, joysticks, paddles, and a lot more, for $60. It looked unopened, but it seemed too good to be true. I may head down there in a week or two and see if I can test it before buying it, and if it works, then I may have an Atari 2600 on my hands.

[macsoundguy]

Radio Shack Model & Catalog # = 278-276 if you simply need Coax Male to RCA Female or "F" Jack to Phono Plug. It is currently listed as $4.19 on their website. I will never go into Radio Shack again without first looking up a Model # (I thought I had already learned my lesson). Often times the sales people don't know their stuff well enough to know if they have something based on a description. They will not always look it up either so you are better off asking them to look up a model # tha

[LimitlessHate]

This is a very useful guide. Mark's the shit ^^

[Zecifer]

Might as well hook up the rf cable directly to the tv coaxial input, unless it's being used for tv.

Fun fact, Xbox 360 composite looks way better through a VCR because of the better comb filter on it.

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Ha, I use channel "INPUT."

[pogisiG]

thumbs up if your At& T customer

[Xaiv55]

@itzMagoo no

[Fillipino122]

Is that a heavy sixer?

[Oragnutang]

i have the one on the right

[uofm97]

Is that game at 13:13 called........"Fapper"? lol

[MrBobbyBoucher1]

@uofm97 Its Root Beer Tapper, root beer in small letters. It was one of my favorite games.

[uofm97]

@MrBobbyBoucher1 Yes, I know. lol. I was making a joke. :)

[RadaStudios]

shouldnt the male ends go into the female ones

[MrNickdog10]

do you have to use a vcr if your tv has those screwy things on it(coaxal plugs)???

[biteme294]

BLASTMAFMY

[Pacman117productions]

Nice.

[MrEhGames]

I am glad to own my 4-switch 2600 and an Atari Flashback 2. That way, I get extra controllers and more games that I don't own in cartridge form.

[gillianorley]

Additionally, the Flashback 2 outputs to standard RCA audio and video cables which are compatible with modern televisions, so there is no playing around with adapters as Mark shows with the original systems in this video.

In fact, now that I think about it, a Flashback 2 system would probably be a good subject for a CGR review.

[gillianorley]

I had a "heavy sixer," original-type Atari 2600 as a kid which I wish I still had, but I don't even recall what became of it.

For those looking to play 2600 games without spending much money, the Atari Flashback 2 system is pretty good. You should be able to find one for $30 to $50. It is modeled to "emulate" the look of an original 2600 in a smaller size including the original joysticks. It comes with about 45 games "built in" (no cartridges) including many classics and some unreleased games.

[airplanetime]

i got my atari 2600 junior for free and it works just fine except the power button is jammed so whenever i plug it in it turns on even though it says off

[SuperMatman79]

i have two attari 2600 gameing systems very old and i cant play them because my mom refuses to ride me over to my aunts trailler and get it when i was 2 i was in my little walker chair thing playing it thats how i know that i will create games one day look for the old cartriges at walmart again they will be the creator of me SuperMatman79 (matthew singleton) even though i am 15

[HarimaBR]

you should do more videos like this, they are just great ^^

[Techraingeek]

the ch 2 or ch 4 is for the good old days when analog TV was still around in my case channel 2 is a local tv sation and the atari wont show up but channel 3 wasent used so it whould work

[SuperMatman79]

@Techraingeek i was hooking my tv i got in 2000 for crhistmas and then i turnd it on i onhooked the attina pluged in the insight and the tv refuses to use insightbecause every time i plug the cable in to it the tv turns off but when i play games on it like the nintendo the original it works fine

[jooppac]

I Love The Wood On It. Ahh..................

[blackcountryme]

I found an Atari as a kid and dragged it home by the RF cable (they were hardwired in the uk) i had a multiplug adapter but the rental TV`s had channel 36 disabled so you couldn't play games on them. It took two years to get a TV but it worked, supra cobra was my fave along with keystone kapers. I sold the Atari when i was 16 and brought some cigarettes and a spectrum game (a £1.99 one)

Wish i still had it :(

[TheC00LD00DS]

lol wut about the 5200? I know it sucks bad but come on

[KartKing4ever]

I just bought a heavy sixer with 25 games for $103. I hope it gets here soon.

[gtnathangardner]

will a rca like for the nes genesis snes work on the atari 2600

[aofksjg]

this could have been half as long

[qazwsxyhnujm123]

what if my lcd hdtv doesn't have the rf input and i don't longer own a vcr?

[LedSatriani]

Can someone help me? Whenever I try to play a 2600 game that has more than one game type on it (Combat, Outlaw etc), I can't play the game or get a response, it only changes the screen and sprites a different color every 2 seconds and will let me change the game type. I know the system works because one of my games will play. What's going on? I feel kind of stupid not being able to work the simplest video game system ever made...

[pvtchapman1beer]

@LedSatriani it sounds like bad game cartidges, luckily for you they are cheap and plentiful, get another one and try it again, or try cleaning the one you already have and give it another go

[LordSamael666]

No, you know what? This is BULLSHIT! The BEST way to play 2600 games is to buy a Colecovision and the Module #1.

[JamesIsHereBro]

So they made these AFTER the video games crash of 83?

0_o

[1996Mewtwo]

27 people work for Nintendo

[SONGOKU02]

Thumbs up to me. xD I have buy one yesterday. And its like new. xD

[2WIRE311]

I have the Atari Vader (the black one, with 4 sticks and 2 switch), but i need new controllers!!1

[fpvshitsonhsv]

@2WIRE311 Use Sega Gen or SMS controls they work great on the 2600 \

[2WIRE311]

@fpvshitsonhsv I know, but they are either harder to find or cost more here in Mexico lol. But thank you, ill try to find one or two (maybe even the complete console xD)

[BeatlesFloydnDeadFan]

i just wanted to say i got so lucky i got a atari 2600 darth vader model for a 1 and it works perfectly

[1337BananaL33TVostok]

hi im johnny knoxville and this is the atari sound torture.

[553J723]

lol that plug is same as a monitor port hahaha

[MIBsecretagent]

are the 7800s like thaT WHERE YOU NEED THE VCR AND ALL THAT CRAP

[fpvshitsonhsv]

@MIBsecretagent Yeah you do as them days RCA was a very new thing ,not many people even had a TV with RCA inputs until the mid 90's

[TeamRocketReviews]

I miss the days when Mark reviewed classic games...

[estlib]

27 people didnt screw the adapter in properly

[saiiad737]

you need to screw it in

[UK1681]

my neighbor gave me junior fo free with 15 games

[joshwill1979]

Dude just buy a RF modulator its 20.00 bucks and you dont need a VCR or you could just do what I did and use an emulater on your PC... I have Atari, Nintendo 8bit, Super Nintendo, and Nintendo 64 all hooked up to my big screen... and yes i do have all the original cartages for all the games on the emilater

[TheCapitalFalcon]

Will an NES rf cable work for plugging the smaller 2600 into your tv?

It has an rca cable just like the one for the atari

[hejjagedu]

@bartmaster1234 'cause Genesis is the best console ever

[TheJustinator100]

@bartmaster1234 thats what she said

[crankdatable]

@bartmaster1234 Its the Sega Genesis.

[xDXPxJOEx456x1]

@bartmaster1234 its magic

[ocomi231]

@bartmaster1234 cuz its the best thing ever

[BailenbergMedia]

I went to Radio Shack and asked for one of those converters and they said they didn't have them. Well, I looked around and found one right behind where I was standing. I wish people knew what they were doing...

[zizwop]

I grew up in the 80's-hooked this stuff up all the time-but the TVs have changed. So let me get this right, I need a VCR to hook one of these up? Almost makes me want to just get an old TV instead.

[DeltaPhi79]

Excuse my geek moment... The paddle controller looks like a PowerShot SX130 IS (or maybe SX120 IS) with its lens out.

[immothep101]

What shall I do, when my woodie doesn't work with my TV? The cable is stored in the console, isn't it? Do I have to open the console?

[o0trickay0o]

Thanks dude. I just find my dads old atari in his old house and really wanted to play the classics instead of my PS3. Can't wait to play

[guv859]

Life's too short. I think I'll leave my 7800 on the shelf, for now.

[ragensi]

The background music makes me think of those animated Charlie Brown specials. Now I feel all extra warm and fuzzy inside (all full of nostalgia).

[Starscream183]

by when you say don't plug your Atari in all the time do you mean that you have to unplug the Ac adapter or the ac adapter from the console. Sorry just got a Atari 2600 Thank you so much for the help!

[NonstopRam]

Thanks for the VCR tip.

[ivertualgamer]

how do you hook up sega megadrive model 1

[Bioshot11]

Someone please help me. If I hook up my Atari to my 1987 G.E. tv, it looks like crap-static and whatnot- but if I hook up my genesis or NES to it, they look fine. All were tested on the same RF modulator. Any help? Thanks in advance.

[el69tufi]

Does someone can tell me if the Atari 2600 has AV output for composite video or only RF-coaxial? I don't remember.  : ¿

[el69tufi]

@el69tufi Never mind... I just watched the video.  XD

[AzureEyedCowboy]

thanks very helpful, playing my old atari in video is a much better picture

[4stringsRbetterThan6]

cuz... Thats how it rolls =)

[retrocak]

More mids like this one, please.  These could be very useful for new collectors.

[iamdavinci]

what a waste of time - just show the fing hookup.

[MISTRO1111]

Can't you just use the coax? I mean if you have a female coax on your TV you can just use that right? Don't have run around with a VCR and all that BS.

[Back2DaFuture98]

my radio shack adapter was brittle and broke im pissed

[MrDavidtron7]

im saving up for atari7800 and a xarcade arcade machine

[ken0176]

lol why was i not subscribed !!!!

[flexyldy]

Thumbs up if you hate half minute ads.

[ErinTurco21]

@flexyldy If those adds weren't there, YouTube would cost money. Just sit through the half minute adds and be happy YouTube is still free.

[ocomi231]

@flexyldy i like them, they always get skip ad buttons

[flexyldy]

@ocomi231 Not always. :(

[ankous1001]

@flexyldy Get adblock

[thespritewizard]

I looked up 1970's plasma screen TV, and this popped up. What does that tell you about Youtube's search system?

[Oblivion709]

whats the point of the on screen display outlets

[MrDavidtron7]

is there away to turn rf in to composite without splicing them together

[toxicmonst3r]

hey when i try to hook video game systems throw my vcr my sreen on my tv stays blue and you can see the picture very faint in the blue screen please help

[BMediaChannel]

Is the Atari loud? I don't have the video hooked up, but when I turn it on I don't hear anything coming from the Atari, is it quiet, or my power not working?

Thanks!

[MysticIcon]

What is up with the crazy porn music in the back ground the entire time? lol Very informative though. ty

[swedishfish110193]

The captions are hilarious.

[kissra69]

I can't believe you still have your Atari..does it still work? the joystick moves in all directions? I love your vids. 5 stars!

[darthaardvark]

I normally hate music in videos like this, but this is very nice. classy. well done.

[MaruluExploit]

it wont work whitout power !?!?!?!

[xxxIronLeexxx]

This is true what he was talking about at the end. Keep the old school alive. If I ever have a kid, he / she will be introduced to Atari / Intellivision / Colecovision before touching a PS5 or whatever it will be by then...lol.

[TheOdysseyKid]

I got a Atari Jr WITH THE ORIGINAL BOX and all the cables for $24.

eBay FTW!

[Slab123456]

@TheOdysseyKid lucky!

[RandomTask3000]

Thanks so much for the tip about the VCR! I was so bummed when I brought mine home from my local classic gaming store. I don't have a proper TV, and I use a portable projector. Now I'm happily playing Pole Position! Thanks!

[Flipolopolis]

@widssss

Haha, yea-NO! The Atari 5200 was 1 of the worst consoles of all time! Where the hell did u hear that it kicks ass???

[TheDandHTV]

yeah it does matter if u plug in a audio cable dumbass

[widssss]

what about the Atari 5200? that console kicked ass.

@widssss The 5200 indeed kicked ass...until it burned your house down in a giant ball of chaotic flame from its weird Video/AC box thing.