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Atari Flashback 2
The Atari Flashback 2 was released in August 2005,[1][2] as an improved version of its predecessor.[3] It retailed for $30, and includes 40 built-in Atari 2600 games.[4][5][6] It is a small near-replica of the 2600, about two-thirds the size of the original. Its controllers are also replicas of the 2600 joysticks.[7][8] The 2600 and Flashback 2 controllers are compatible with both systems.[2][6]
Instead of switches, the Flashback 2 console has several buttons, some of which are used to adjust power and reset it. A "select" button is used to choose between single-player and multiplayer modes, for certain games that offer the latter. Two other buttons are used to adjust the joystick difficulty for the left and right controller respectively.[6][8] An AV cord is hardwired into the back of the console.[8] The back also has a switch to toggle games between color and black-and-white.[6]
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Vendel and Legacy Engineering returned to develop the Flashback 2. In designing it, Vendel relied on materials from his Atari History Museum.[9] He recreated the original Atari hardware on a single chip, allowing games to run as they originally did.[2] The console's hardware makes it easy to mod.[2][10] The Flashback 2's motherboard can be altered to accept 2600 cartridges,[11][12] a concept that the console was designed around.[9][13]
The Flashback 2 was better received compared to its predecessor.[9] John Falcone of CNET praised the controllers and considered them the best aspect of the console.[8] The Flashback 2 sold 860,000 units in the United States. A PAL version was never released.[9] The console was discontinued in 2006.[14]
In 2011, Atari Interactive filed a $30 million lawsuit against Tommo, accusing the latter of knowingly selling pirated Flashback 2 consoles.[14]
Games[]
Aside from the 40 built-in games,[6] the Flashback 2 also contains two secret games (Super Breakout and Warlords), which are accessible through a combination of joystick moves on the console's main menu.[2] Five of the 40 games are prototypes that were previously unreleased.[8] While the original Flashback only includes games published by Atari, the Flashback 2 features two games by Activision: Pitfall! and River Raid.[15][16] A few of the included games are homebrews.[16]
Some games, such as Lunar Lander, exhibit some flicker. This is due to limitations in the original Atari 2600 hardware, which the Flashback 2 reproduces accurately. Vendel noted that the games exclusive to the Flashback 2 were programmed under a strict schedule. For a revision of the Flashback 2, Vendel commissioned developers to tweak these games in order to reduce flickering.[17]
Atari Flashback 2+[]
In January 2010, Atari announced pre-orders for the Atari Flashback 2+, to be released on February 22, 2010. It includes 20 classic Atari 2600 games and 20 new Atari games.[18] The game lineup is mostly the same as the original Flashback 2. However, games such as Pitfall!, River Raid, and Wizard do not appear, and are instead replaced by sports games.
- ↑ Wiley, James (2005-07-12). "Atari to offer plug-n-play induced retro flashbacks". Engadget. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lee, Nicole (2005-08-01). "The Best Atari Yet". Wired. https://www.wired.com/2005/08/the-best-atari-yet/. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedBetter - ↑ Mohammed, Arshad (2005-11-12). "Atari invites parents to travel back to the '70s". NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10009708.
- ↑ Barbaro, Michael (2005-11-19). "Ready, Aim, Shop". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/19/business/ready-aim-shop.html.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Lance Ulanoff (2005-11-16). "Atari Flashback 2". PC Magazine. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Harris, Ron (2005-09-27). "Tech Test: Atari Flashback 2 a retro blast". Tulsa World. Associated Press. https://tulsaworld.com/archive/tech-test-atari-flashback-2-a-retro-blast/article_30b15b37-f42f-5d31-84e8-9e8dd1036c53.html.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Falcone, John (2006-10-25). "Atari Flashback 2 review". CNET. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Wen, Howard (2007-06-05). "Curt Vendel: The Escapist Interview". The Escapist. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Barton, Matt; Loguidice, Bill (2008-02-28). "A History of Gaming Platforms: Atari 2600 Video Computer System/VCS". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Melanson, Donald (2005-08-04). "Mod an Atari Flashback 2 into a full-fledged Atari 2600". Engadget. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Playing original Atari 2600 cartridges on the Atari Flashback". Siliconera. 2007-03-06. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Hacking the Atari Flashback 2 Console - Cartridge Port Mod". Atarimuseum.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 14.0 14.1 Cifaldi, Frank (2011-07-06). "Bootleg Consoles Attract Lawsuit From Atari". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Roper, Chris (2005-07-12). "Atari Flashback 2 to Include Activision Games". IGN. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 16.0 16.1 Sinclair, Brendan (2005-07-12). "Atari, Activision team up for Flashback 2". GameSpot. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "60,000 Rev C's on the water... - Atari Flashback Consoles - AtariAge Forums". Atariage.com. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Atari Flashback 2+". Atari.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-25.
{{cite web}}: