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Atari 2600

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Gaming Console

The Resume

    (October 1977-1984)
    Released by Warner Communications (parent company of Atari)
    Also known as the Computer Video System
    Discontinued in 1984
    Popular games include 'Pac Man,' 'Ms. Pac Man,' 'Space Invaders,' 'Centipede,' 'Pong,' 'Donkey Kong,' 'Breakout,' 'Pitfall!' and 'Asteroids'

Why Atari 2600 might be annoying:

    Its pre-production prototype was referred to as 'Stella.'
    The games produced for it did not have to be certified by Atari for quality. As a result, tons of crappy games were made.
    Gaming companies started making games based off of movies, thinking that the popularity of the movie would translate over to killer game sales.
    The pinnacle of the crap was the game version of 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial' widely considered to be the worst game of all time.
    Costing over $20 million to make (an astronomical figure), so many people sent the game back to the Atari company that they had to steamroll and bury all the returned copies in New Mexico.
    One of its games, called 'Custer's Revenge,' involved General Custer raping an Indian woman.
    After the system died, it caused a crash in the gaming industry that was only fully recovered by the Nintendo Entertainment System.
    Atari has never produced another widely successful console.

Why Atari 2600 might not be annoying:

    It was the first widely successful cartridge system.
    It was so successful in its prime that it provided over half of the revenue for Warner Communications.
    It introduced the idea of gaming beyond PONG to the world.
    Many gaming companies learned from its crash and have safeguards to prevent it.

Credit: Captain Howdy


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 13 Votes: 23.08% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 23 Votes: 26.09% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 143 Votes: 66.43% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 38 Votes: 44.74% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 36 Votes: 38.89% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 124 Votes: 46.77% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 164 Votes: 45.12% Annoying