I just got my hands on the Atari 2600+ and it’s been an awesome trip down memory lane. Reminds me of a console I played as a kid, but I can’t remember what it was! It was around 1990 when I played it, but the console was already pretty old then. It had two shorter-than-usual silver joysticks with black bases. We definitely played games like Pong, hockey, football, and basketball on a multi-cart, plus Space Invaders on a separate one. Any ideas on what console it might have been?
7 Answers
Could it have been an Emerson Arcadia? Fits with the shorter joysticks, but it’s hard to be sure since there were many consoles with different designs back then.
The Atari 7800 might be a contender if the console body seems right, but the joystick doesn’t fit your description too well. What you described sounds more like a brushed metal finish, which is unusual for that console.
Ever heard of the Philips G7000? It might be a long shot, but it looks similar to what you’re describing. Retro games often had quirky designs that varied regionally, so it’s a possibility.
You might be looking at something like the Fairchild Channel F or maybe even an older Magnavox Odyssey, or even a dedicated Pong machine. Though if it wasn’t all games on a multi-cart, that might complicate things.
Given you mentioned you’re from the UK, perhaps it was a Radofin variant. Those had unique models not often seen elsewhere, fitting your description somewhat.
Don’t forget about the Texas Instruments TI-99 or similar home computers. They sometimes had unique joysticks slightly reflective of what you described, but the region you’re in might mean it was a more obscure machine.
Sounds like it could be a Magnavox Odyssey 2. The controllers you described fit, but the console itself with the keyboard might not match your memory.
