38 replies to this topic

[segasaturn]

I recently created a "retro video game club" at my school(which is a high school). And we are starting it next week (Thursday). Now I want everyone to try out new(360, PS3, so on) and old(5200, 2600, etc,) systems. My friends and I decided since it IS an old school gaming club, the first system we want everyone to play is an Atari 2600. (I own 25+ systems so I can do mostly...well...most systems that they want to be able to play). And my question is.......what 2600 game do you think my new club should play first????? (don't worry, I got plenty of controllers, and we are going to share the games, etc,.)

Now since I am 17 and the club is starting next week, I can really only use the games I already own. So can you please tell me what game(s) I should bring and have people play during the club;

Games I own;
Chopper Command
Combat
Cosmic ark
Defender
Dig dug
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong JR.
Dragster
E.T.
Fishing Derby
Frankenstein's Monster
Ghostbusters
JR. Pac-man
Keystone Kapers
Pitfall 2
Pole Position
Spider-Man

Edited by segasaturn, Tue Sep 13, 2011 1:10 PM.

[Tinman]

Of that collection, I'd say Chopper Command for single player and Combat for one-on-one action.

[disjaukifa]

If you want to show them how much more skill it takes to win at old games I'd go for Defender and Donkey Kong

[BydoEmpire]

My picks for the best games for your club:

Single player:
Cosmic ark
Spider-Man
Keystone Kapers

Multiplayer:
Combat
Fishing Derby

If you're going to pick one, I'd go with Cosmic Ark. It's got an interesting premise, good variety and challenge in the gameplay, and it's a quick enough game that everyone can get a few rounds it without having to wait too much. Hard to beat multiplayer Combat, though.

[raskar42]

1 player games will result in too many bored spectators at one time - i suggest combat tournament.

Edit: this will also be a chance to open your first meeting with the first VCS game. combat was the launch pack in.

Edited by raskar42, Tue Sep 13, 2011 1:29 PM.

[retrorussell]

Pitfall II. But with one rule: get hit 3 times and you either switch your game over to another player or reset and let another player have a shot at it. That way people won't get too bored watching, unless someone is really good at it.

[Vaughan]

Well, I assume he wants people to come back - so those are poor choices.

[segasaturn]

raskar42, on Tue Sep 13, 2011 1:26 PM, said:

1 player games will result in too many bored spectators at one time - i suggest combat tournament.

Edit: this will also be a chance to open your first meeting with the first VCS game. combat was the launch pack in.

okay.....you do have a point.....another one of my friends(The other "founder" of this club) is bringing in a TV. The teacher who will do the club with us has a projector......so maybe I can bring in 2 systems, so that way it will be alot more fun. What do you guys think about that?

[disjaukifa]

segasaturn, on Tue Sep 13, 2011 1:46 PM, said:

raskar42, on Tue Sep 13, 2011 1:26 PM, said:

1 player games will result in too many bored spectators at one time - i suggest combat tournament.

Edit: this will also be a chance to open your first meeting with the first VCS game. combat was the launch pack in.

okay.....you do have a point.....another one of my friends(The other "founder" of this club) is bringing in a TV. The teacher who will do the club with us has a projector......so maybe I can bring in 2 systems, so that way it will be alot more fun. What do you guys think about that?

Depending on the size of this club that would actually be a great idea. I would setup the project for the multiplayer and the TV for the single player and just rotate people around.

[Zach]

When I taught high school my students loved Medieval Mayhem. For an authentic back-in-the-day experience play Warlords. They are both four-player games and take about half a second to learn how to play.

EDIT: Now that I've actually read the first post, I'd go with Combat first.

Edited by Zach, Tue Sep 13, 2011 3:16 PM.

[TwinChargers]

Atari games don't take up much space, I say throw all of them in a backpack and let people pick for themselves.

[Trinity]

Missile Command.

It is what all the tech is based on.

[Chuplayer]

Whatever you do, don't bring in two pairs of paddles and a Warlords cart. Somebody will end up getting suspended.

[tremoloman2006]

I know it's not realistic with such short time, but do yourself a favor and purchase a Harmony cart. Then you can play ANY game with 1 cart... and it's cheap too!

To do the 2600 justice you really need to pickup some of these:

Single player:
Turmoil, Solar Fox, Pressure Cooker, Megamania, Ms.Pac-Man, Frostbite, Frogger, Seaquest, and many others!

Multi Player:
Worm War I, Surround, Demons To Diamonds, Indy 500 (w/driving controllers), Warlords, Wizard of Wor, Video Olympics

But from your list I'd recommend:
Chopper Command, Jr. Pac-Man, Combat, Cosmic Ark, Keystone Kapers, and Fishing Derby

[DemonoidTentacle]

Tinman, on Tue Sep 13, 2011 1:12 PM, said:

Of that collection, I'd say Chopper Command for single player and Combat for one-on-one action.

Exactly what I was going to say

[segasaturn]

Zach, on Tue Sep 13, 2011 3:06 PM, said:

When I taught high school my students loved Medieval Mayhem. For an authentic back-in-the-day experience play Warlords. They are both four-player games and take about half a second to learn how to play.

EDIT: Now that I've actually read the first post, I'd go with Combat first.

hahahaha well, you ARE actually right. Because I do own Warlords. But the problem and also the reason why I didn't put it up is because I actually don't own any "paddle" controllers. I know....I should get one or two. Eventually I will.

[accousticguitar]

2 player: Combat
4 player: Warlords

[cvga]

Get Kaboom!

The games go quickly,
It's a blast to play,
The paddle controllers are fairly unique even today.
It's cheap and easy to find.

[segasaturn]

accousticguitar, on Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:56 PM, said:

2 player: Combat
4 player: Warlords

One question though(sorry if it is obvious) but can't the 2600 only do 2 players?(because it only has 2 controller ports)

[atari5200dude82]

I SAY bring all of your games. It will give people different choices on different kinds of games. People can chose what they want.

[Curious Sofa]

I would be afraid of Donkey Kong, E.T. or Pitfall II as a starting introduction to the game system. Donkey Kong because it's hard, E.T. because it blows and Pitfall II because it's long. I'd go with what the guys above said on Chopper Command, Cosmic Ark because it's fun and weird, and Keystone Kapers 'cause it's just cool (programmed by the same guy who did Donkey Kong I believe).

I think I'd also stay away from Spider-Man as an intro; I have it and love it, but it takes an investment of time to appreciate.

I agree that there are some goodies you ought to pick up as well, and these can be had for dirt cheap too generally if you go cartridge only: Demon Attack, Fast Eddie, Dodge 'Em, Yar's Revenge and the previously mentioned Ms. Pac-Man, SeaQuest and Turmoil.

Good luck and great idea with the club!

[Curious Sofa]

segasaturn, on Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:04 PM, said:

accousticguitar, on Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:56 PM, said:

2 player: Combat
4 player: Warlords

One question though(sorry if it is obvious) but can't the 2600 only do 2 players?(because it only has 2 controller ports)

The Paddle Controllers actually have 2 paddles per controller port, so if you get 2 "pairs" (a single paddle output with 2 paddles), you can do four players. I have come across a lot of paddles that don't work anymore though, so I don't know if you want to get into that. Maybe I've just had bad luck, but from what I've found in the wild about a third of the paddles I get have worked.

[DemonoidTentacle]

One thing to remember as well is that the Atari 2600 games aren't really designed to be played for long periods of time. So if you have a lot of time on your hands, maybe a couple more games would help.

[HammR25]

I'd start with Combat since it was the original 2600 pack-in.

[accousticguitar]

Yeah, 4 player Warlords is not only possible, it is great fun! I highly recommend it (or Medieval Mayhem, which is even better). Most of the paddle controllers I have come across are jittery and need to be cleaned, but once they are cleaned they work fine. Occasionally I will find one that doesn't work, but most of them are fine after a good cleaning.