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[Agent X]

Digital Press posted up some scans of magazine ads for the Atari 2600 and its games, which you can view if you click here.

There are some true gems in the bunch, including a great one right on the first page featuring John Madden (yes, the one you normally associate with football). Also of interest to the Sega buffs here, page 4 has a two-page ad for Sega's very first home video game.

 

[DJPS2]

Gorf freaking ruled! (Coin-op and C-64 versions, that is.)

Looking at these makes me think about going into the gaming den and firing up Activision Anthology on my PS2.

 

[belgurdo]

 

[PC Gaijin]

Man, how I loved Atari back then. Although I couldn't help but laugh at the "Everything you always wanted to know about Atari games" ad. "Are they a passing fancy, like Hula Hoops?" Oh, if they had only known :lol

I would have liked to see a little more variety in the ads they scanned. Such as 5200 and CV, plus some home computer ads. Remember Alan Alda pimping Atari home computers? Bill Cosby also hawked computers, although I don't remember which one (was it the TI99/4A?).

 

[bishoptl]

 

[Agent X]

Yeah, Bill Cosby was a spokesman for the TI-99/4A. Last week, USA Weekend mentioned a few facts about Alan Alda, and one of them was the fact that he used to be the spokesman for Atari home computers. While we're on the subject, Commodore had William Shatner as their spokesman.

Getting back to the 2600 again, here's another one for the history buffs in our audience. Take a look at the four-page spread for the GameLine modem by Control Video Corporation for the 2600. There are a couple of significant points of interest here. It is, of course, one of the first modems ever for a video game system...but that's not all! Although the GameLine itself wasn't exactly a raging success, Control Video Corporation did eventually become a household name...just not under that name. They restructured and refocused their business on the home computer market, and ultimately evolved into America Online.

 

[captmcblack]

Dude, these are fucking awesome to look at. That "Imagic Fire Fighter" ad is best of all, IMHO. :lol

...looking at these makes me wish games were called "game programs" again.

 

[Mason]

I just bought an Atari 2600 from eBay last week and I'm having a fucking blast. It's every bit as fun as I remember it.

 

[Buffy4ever]

I loved the old Mario Brothers add.
Something gumming up the plumbing.
Poor Lulgi in a bind
Killer turtlers out to get him
Giant Crabs are right behind
Fighter flies, holy cripes!
They"re all coming out the pipes!
Mario, were are you?

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Rick Colby thought he was hot stuff? That dumb son of a bitch.

 

[Spectral Glider]

I still remember the day my dad actually bought Coconuts. It was from a discount bin in Kay Bees. I tried telling him he was cazy back then, but then he always liked the goofier games. Atari Golf was another of his favorites, and Lunar Pool on the NES was another of his picks....oh, the memories.

 

[Buffy4ever]

I always wished I had a ColecoVision and Atari 5200 back than. I would also like to see more ColecoVision and Atari 5200 adds.