#vintagegaming

[econocaos]

[sinclair-speccy]

[adafruit]

🎄💾🗓️ Day 14: Retrocomputing Advent Calendar - Atari 400/800🎄💾🗓️

The Atari 8-bit computer line was launched in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800. Both were advanced for home computers at the time. Both were driven by a 1.79 MHz MOS Technology 6502 CPU, with ANTIC and CTIA/GTIA custom chips for advanced graphics and the POKEY chip handling sound and input/output duties. The Atari 800 was the premium model, featuring a full mechanical keyboard, user-expandable to 48 KB of memory, more metal shielding, and more durability. The Atari 400 was a lower-cost alternative with a membrane keyboard, limited to 16 KB of RAM, and a simplified construction.

With hardware-accelerated scrolling, Player/Missile graphics, and rich sound, the Atari 8-bit systems were known for gaming and creative applications. They were a versatile platform with cartridge-based software, cassette, and floppy disk storage. Atari's proprietary SIO (Serial Input/Output) port allowed daisy-chaining peripherals such as printers, modems, and disk drives, making connecting them easier than with other systems.

Newer models were more compact, combined memory expansion to as much as 128KB, and compatibility with developing software and peripherals improved. Atari's 8-bit computers are remembered for having groundbreaking hardware and a very colorful game library, and they are still being used by the retrocomputing community.

While doing research for this, I saw the XE Game System, never saw it before, very 80s for sure!

The Atari XEGS (XE Game System) was launched in 1987. A repackaged 65XE with a removable keyboard, it boots to the 1981 port of Missile Command instead of BASIC if the keyboard is disconnected.

Have first computer memories? Post’em up in the comments, or post yours on socialz’ and tag them #firstcomputer #retrocomputing – See you back here tomorrow!

[curatethewav]

[cybr-crypt1d]

Retro Atari Video Game Print Ads

[taraemory]

Look at how this glorious 13” zenith #crt set compliments the 1983 Atari XL line of computers and peripherals! I saved this set because it’s such a good match. The width is nearly identical to the 800xl, and that aluminum strip on the top is a near perfect match to the aluminum accents of the Atari design language. Now it’s not a perfect match as it’s still wood grain but considering that Atari never sold a monitor for the 8bit line I think that’s as good is it’s going to get. Sadly it’s only RF input but I’m tempted to paint the woodgrain slab sides ivory and silkscreen “ATARI” over the aluminum stripe #atari #vintagecomputer #vintagegaming https://www.instagram.com/p/CpIuts0u8aV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[xaropinhoicons]

[videogamesskies]

The Adventures Of Bayou Billy (NES) (1989)