Issue 102 Feedback Thread

[Antiriad2097]

I remember it being the VCS. Took me a while to realise the 2600 I kept reading about was the same system.

It was definitely a VCS I entered a Look-In competition to win (but failed).

[martyg]

Yep 2600. Always thought "Video Computer System" was more a description than a name.

Video Computer System was the actual name, with CX-2600 the product number. The name was changed to Atari 2600 in 1982 when the Darth Vader model was brought out to coincide with the release of the Atari 5200. Though Video Computer System was still on the box.

Also, in the mag I usually use 2600 for ease of reading by people not familiar with the name changes. Most people don't realize Atari's 8-bit computer line was not called Atari 8-bits either, as they're commonly referred to as now.

[Antiriad2097]

Did anyone refer to the 8 bits as such (other than during technical specs) before the 16 bit systems came along? I've always thought of it as a generational descriptor retrospectively applied. I knew my Spectrum and C64 had 8 bit processors, but I never really thought much about calling them 8 bit systems, they were just 'computers'.

[stvd]

usually use 2600 for ease of reading by people not familiar with the name changes

Same here but it annoys me when people refer to it as the 2600 when describing it's launch or pre '82 when it was re-badged as the 2600.
It makes them sound like they don't know what they're talking about.

[The Laird]

2600 was still on the box though as it was still the model / part number and Atari themselves even called the old machines that too.

[martyg]

2600 was still on the box though as it was still the model / part number and Atari themselves even called the old machines that too.

No, at Atari it was still referred to as the Video Computer System up until '82. For instance I have a huge junket of theirs used by the marketing department to collect press clipping on a 6 month basis for internal use for marketing meetings. It's entitled Atari Video Computer System Press Clipping 1981, June-Dec.

All products released by the company, be it consumer or coin, had product numbers. Even the various PONG consoles had these on their boxes. They didn't have anything to do with the title or marketing, they're used for internal reference. The move to using the product number as the title for consoles didn't happen until 1982 when the 5200 came out and the "darth vader model of the VCS was promoted as the "Atari 2600". That continued of course with the 7800.

[Eric]

Martyg, was it known as the VCS here in the UK or did it launch directly as the 2600 here?

[Mayhem]

It was the VCS here, it launched in Europe through various parts of 1978. I remember the adverts from Ingersoll advertising it back in the day here in the UK, cheekily stating "another great idea from Ingersoll!"

[martyg]

Martyg, was it known as the VCS here in the UK or did it launch directly as the 2600 here?

Look at the ending credits. This would have been earlier in '82 before the name change later that year.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NMjGl_6ddoM

[RetroMartin]

Lots of amazing looking articles in this one, the Fighting Fantasy one sticks out for me personally.

Am also looking forward to reading the Wipeout, Super Mario RPG and Virtual Boy articles and whilst I never got to play it, the X-Wing article also looks great fun along with the Spectrum and Virtual Boy ones.

[The Laird]

2600 was still on the box though as it was still the model / part number and Atari themselves even called the old machines that too.

No, at Atari it was still referred to as the Video Computer System up until '82. For instance I have a huge junket of theirs used by the marketing department to collect press clipping on a 6 month basis for internal use for marketing meetings. It's entitled Atari Video Computer System Press Clipping 1981, June-Dec.

All products released by the company, be it consumer or coin, had product numbers. Even the various PONG consoles had these on their boxes. They didn't have anything to do with the title or marketing, they're used for internal reference. The move to using the product number as the title for consoles didn't happen until 1982 when the 5200 came out and the "darth vader model of the VCS was promoted as the "Atari 2600". That continued of course with the 7800.

You mis-understood my post. I was refering to the fact that after '82 Atari refered to all machines as the Atari 2600. Hence why they used that on all game boxes from then on, they didn't differenciate.

[Darran@Retro Gamer]

usually use 2600 for ease of reading by people not familiar with the name changes

Same here but it annoys me when people refer to it as the 2600 when describing it's launch or pre '82 when it was re-badged as the 2600.
It makes them sound like they don't know what they're talking about.

But it's equally confusing when effectively using two different names for the same system.
I've always referred to it as the 2600 and always heard it called that, so that's what we call it in the mag. No one has ever complained in the past when we've called it that, I doubt no one will in the future, I can understand why it might wind some up though.

[jdanddiet]

At least we never do what half of ebay seem to do and refer to the Spectrum/C64 as a console, or even worse, consul

[the_hawk]

I can understand why it might wind some up though.

I don't.

In spite of it being my favourite consul (sic) I really find it hard to summon the energy to care whether it's called a VCS, 2600, or "Woody gamey video box thing"

The only thing that matters is that it's a flippin' awesome piece of kit & given it's place in the timeline of video games, home to some astoundingly playable & versatile games.

Anyway....issue 102, looks great & after finally finishing 101 there's quite a few features I'm looking forward to getting stuck into it when I get some spare time.

[Antiriad2097]

I don't think the VCS/2600 usage in the mag is an issue, since Atari themselves used both names. Its not as if its something without any foundation, like calling the PS1 the PSX (especially after Sony recycling the name for yet another system variant).

Now, what say we change all mention of the Odyssey 2 to its proper name, the Videopac G7000