The Atari Flashback series are a line of
dedicated video game consoles designed, produced, published and marketed by
AtGames
AtGames Cloud Holdings Inc. (formerly AtGames Digital Media Inc.) is an American video game and video game console manufacturer, known for their Legends Ultimate Arcade and the creator of the connected arcade. Since 2011, they have produced and m ...
under
license from
Atari SA. The Flashback consoles are "
plug-and-play
In computing, a plug and play (PnP) device or computer bus is one with a specification that facilitates the recognition of a hardware component in a system without the need for physical device configuration or user intervention in resolving reso ...
" versions of the
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocesso ...
console. They contain built-in games rather than using the
ROM cartridges utilized by the 2600. Most of the games are classics that were previously released for the 2600, although some Flashback consoles include previously unreleased prototype games as well.
The series began in November 2004, with the release of the original Atari Flashback, designed by Legacy Engineering Group. It features 20 games, including 15 that were originally released for the Atari 2600 and five that were released for the
Atari 7800
The Atari 7800 ProSystem, or simply the Atari 7800, is a home video game console officially released by Atari Corporation in 1986 as the successor to both the Atari 2600 and Atari 5200. It can run almost all Atari 2600 cartridges, making it one ...
. The Flashback was designed to resemble a smaller version of the 7800. Each subsequent home console in the series is modeled after the 2600, and the original Flashback is the only one that includes games from the 7800 library.
The Atari Flashback 2 was released in 2005, and includes 40 built-in games. The Flashback 3 was released in 2011, and was the first in the series to be manufactured by AtGames. Additional Flashback models have since been released by the company. The Flashback 7 debuted in 2016, and includes the same games as its predecessor, but features ''
Frogger
is a 1981 arcade action game developed by Konami and manufactured by Sega. In North America, it was released by Sega/Gremlin. The object of the game is to direct a series of frogs to their homes by crossing a busy road and a hazardous rive ...
'' as an additional game. AtGames also introduced a handheld console, the Atari Flashback Portable, in 2016.
Several variations of the Flashback 8 were released in 2017, including the Gold edition, which introduces
scan line
A scan line (also scanline) is one line, or row, in a raster scanning pattern, such as a line of video on a cathode ray tube (CRT) display of a television set or computer monitor.
On CRT screens the horizontal scan lines are visually discernible ...
filtering, a gameplay rewind feature, and
HDMI
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a proprietary audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital audio data from an HDMI-compliant source device, such as a display controlle ...
output. The latest home console, the Flashback 50th Anniversary Edition, was released by AtGames in 2022.
A video game was also released under the Atari Flashback brand in 2016.
Home consoles
Original console
![AtariFlashback](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/AtariFlashback.jpg)
The original Atari Flashback was released in November 2004,
with a retail price of $45.
[ The console resembles a smaller version of the ]Atari 7800
The Atari 7800 ProSystem, or simply the Atari 7800, is a home video game console officially released by Atari Corporation in 1986 as the successor to both the Atari 2600 and Atari 5200. It can run almost all Atari 2600 cartridges, making it one ...
, and its controllers are also smaller versions of the 7800's joystick controllers, but with the addition of "pause" and "select" buttons. The controllers are not compatible with the original 7800 console. It was designed by Atari veteran Curt Vendel and his company Legacy Engineering Group, which designs other home video game and video arcade products.[
The console lacks a cartridge slot, making it incompatible with 7800 games. Instead, the console features 20 built-in games, including 15 ]Atari 2600
The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocesso ...
games and five 7800 games.[ Some of the games originally required analog ]paddle
A paddle is a handheld tool with an elongated handle and a flat, widened distal end (i.e. the ''blade''), used as a lever to apply force onto the bladed end. It most commonly describes a completely handheld tool used to propel a human-powered w ...
controllers, and were made to work with the included joysticks. The Atari Flashback runs on " NES-on-a-chip", rather than Atari hardware. As a result, its games do not match their original counterparts entirely.[ The game library includes ''Saboteur'', a game that went unreleased for 20 years.][
The Flashback sold approximately 500,000 units.] Craig Harris of IGN was critical of the game conversions and opined that original copies of these games were superior, writing "it's just horrifying to see Atari, a company that outright owns these games and the original hardware, produce such shoddy renditions of the classic 2600 and 7800 games." Harris complained of problems such as flicker, poor collision detection
Collision detection is the computational problem of detecting the intersection of two or more objects. Collision detection is a classic issue of computational geometry and has applications in various computing fields, primarily in computer grap ...
, and missing sound. He praised the controllers for their reduced size, finding them more comfortable to use, but he was disappointed that they are incompatible with the original 7800.[
]
Atari Flashback 2
The Atari Flashback 2 was released in August 2005,[ as an improved version of its predecessor.][ It retailed for $30, and includes 40 built-in ]Atari 2600
The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocesso ...
games. 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.[ The 2600 and Flashback 2 controllers are compatible with both systems.][
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.][ An AV cord is hardwired into the back of the console.][ The back also has a switch to toggle games between color and black-and-white.][
Vendel and Legacy Engineering returned to develop the Flashback 2. In designing it, Vendel relied on materials from his Atari History Museum.] He recreated the original Atari hardware on a single chip, allowing games to run as they originally did. The console's hardware makes it easy to mod.[ The Flashback 2's motherboard can be altered to accept 2600 cartridges, a concept that the console was designed around.][
The Flashback 2 was better received compared to its predecessor.][ John Falcone of CNET praised the controllers and considered them the best aspect of the console.] The Flashback 2 sold 860,000 units in the United States. A PAL
Phase Alternating Line (PAL) is a colour encoding system for analogue television. It was one of three major analogue colour television standards, the others being NTSC and SECAM. In most countries it was broadcast at 625 lines, 50 fields (25 ...
version was never released.[ The console was discontinued in 2006.][
In 2011, ]Atari Interactive
Atari Interactive is a name used by several separate groups and corporations since the mid-1990s. In 1996, it was the name of Atari Corporation's PC publishing division, bringing games like the Atari Jaguar's ''Tempest 2000'' to the PC platfor ...
filed a $30 million lawsuit against Tommo
Tommo Inc. is an American video game publisher based in City of Industry, California. Founded in 1990, Tommo started out as a small independent distributor of imported video games. Since 2006, Tommo also operates a publishing subsidiary, UFO I ...
, accusing the latter of knowingly selling pirated Flashback 2 consoles.
Games
Aside from the 40 built-in games,[ the Flashback 2 also contains two secret games ('']Super Breakout
''Super Breakout'' is a sequel to the 1976 video game '' Breakout'' released in arcades in September 1978 by Atari, Inc. It was written by Ed Rotberg. The game uses the same mechanics as ''Breakout'', but allows the selection of three distinct ...
'' and ''Warlords
A warlord is a person who exercises military, economic, and political control over a region in a country without a strong national government; largely because of coercive control over the armed forces. Warlords have existed throughout much of h ...
''), which are accessible through a combination of joystick moves on the console's main menu.[ Five of the 40 games are prototypes that were previously unreleased.][ While the original Flashback only includes games published by Atari, the Flashback 2 features two games by ]Activision
Activision Publishing, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Santa Monica, California. It serves as the publishing business for its parent company, Activision Blizzard, and consists of several subsidiary studios. Activision is one ...
: ''Pitfall!
''Pitfall!'' is a platform video game designed by David Crane for the Atari 2600 and released by Activision in 1982. The player controls Pitfall Harry and is tasked with collecting all the treasures in a jungle within 20 minutes. The world con ...
'' and ''River Raid
''River Raid'' is a vertically scrolling shooter designed and programmed by Carol Shaw and published by Activision in 1982 for the Atari 2600 video game console. Over a million game cartridges were sold. Activision later ported the title to th ...
''. A few of the included games are homebrews.[
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.
]
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. The game lineup is mostly the same as the original Flashback 2.
Atari Flashback 3
The Atari Flashback 3 was manufactured by AtGames
AtGames Cloud Holdings Inc. (formerly AtGames Digital Media Inc.) is an American video game and video game console manufacturer, known for their Legends Ultimate Arcade and the creator of the connected arcade. Since 2011, they have produced and m ...
, and was released in September 2011. The Flashback 3 includes 60 built-in Atari 2600
The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocesso ...
games, 2 joysticks, and a case design that is similar to the Flashback 2. Unlike its predecessors, the Flashback 3 uses emulation
Emulation may refer to:
*Emulation (computing), imitation of behavior of a computer or other electronic system with the help of another type of system
:*Video game console emulator, software which emulates video game consoles
*Gaussian process em ...
. It cannot be modded to play 2600 cartridges.[
'']PCMag
''PC Magazine'' (shortened as ''PCMag'') is an American computer magazine published by Ziff Davis. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009. Publication of online editions started in late 1994 and have continued to the present ...
'' opined that some of the games were inferior to their original arcade counterparts.[
]
Atari Flashback 4
The Atari Flashback 4 was released by AtGames on November 13, 2012. The console looks similar to its predecessor, but includes wireless joystick controllers.[ Like its predecessor, the Flashback 4 uses emulation.][ The console increased its library to 75 games,] 15 more than the Flashback 3.
AtGames also released several alternate versions, including the Atari Flashback 4: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. This included a set of replica Atari 2600
The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocesso ...
paddles, five collectible posters, and a copy of the original Atari joystick patent signed by Nolan Bushnell
Nolan Kay Bushnell (born February 5, 1943) is an American businessman and electrical engineer. He established Atari, Inc. and the Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre chain. He has been inducted into the Video Game Hall of Fame and the Consu ...
. AtGames also developed the Atari Flashback 64, a Walmart
Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
exclusive version with wired controllers and only 64 games, including ''Space Invaders''. Some versions of the Flashback 4 include a 76th "bonus" game, ''Millipede
Millipedes are a group of arthropods that are characterised by having two pairs of jointed legs on most body segments; they are known scientifically as the class Diplopoda, the name derived from this feature. Each double-legged segment is a resu ...
''.
Atari Flashback 5
The Atari Flashback 5 was released on October 1, 2014. Like the previous two releases, it was built by AtGames. It is the same as the Flashback 4 with the infrared wireless joysticks, but it adds 17 more games, increasing the total to 92 games.
Atari Flashback 6
The Atari Flashback 6 was released on September 15, 2015. Like the previous three releases, it was built by AtGames. It is the same as the Flashback 5 with the infrared wireless joysticks, but it adds 8 more games, increasing the total to 100 games.
Atari Flashback 7
The Atari Flashback 7 was released on October 1, 2016. Like the previous four releases, it was built by AtGames. It is the same as the Flashback 6 with the infrared wireless joysticks, but it adds one more game - ''Frogger
is a 1981 arcade action game developed by Konami and manufactured by Sega. In North America, it was released by Sega/Gremlin. The object of the game is to direct a series of frogs to their homes by crossing a busy road and a hazardous rive ...
'' - increasing the total to 101 games.
The Atari Flashback 7 Deluxe includes two wired paddle controllers in addition to the wireless joysticks.
Atari Flashback 8
The Atari Flashback 8 was released in September 2017, by AtGames. Several variations were released. A basic model, the Flashback 8 Classic, features 105 games and two hardwired controllers.[ The Flashback 8 Deluxe is identical, except that it includes a set of paddle controllers in addition to the joysticks.
The Flashback 8 Gold has 120 games and wireless controllers, as well as ports for 2600 controllers.][ The Gold edition has "save" and "pause" features, as well as ]scan line
A scan line (also scanline) is one line, or row, in a raster scanning pattern, such as a line of video on a cathode ray tube (CRT) display of a television set or computer monitor.
On CRT screens the horizontal scan lines are visually discernible ...
filtering. It also allows the player to rewind gameplay by several seconds. In addition, it features an SD card
Secure Digital, officially abbreviated as SD, is a proprietary non-volatile flash memory card format developed by the SD Association (SDA) for use in portable devices.
The standard was introduced in August 1999 by joint efforts between SanDis ...
slot and introduces HDMI
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a proprietary audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital audio data from an HDMI-compliant source device, such as a display controlle ...
output for 720p
720p (1280×720 px; also called HD ready, standard HD or just HD) is a progressive HDTV signal format with 720 horizontal lines/1280 columns and an aspect ratio (AR) of 16:9, normally known as widescreen HDTV (1.78:1). All major HDTV broadcast ...
.[
The Atari Flashback 8 Gold Deluxe also has 120 games, but includes two wired paddles in addition to two wireless joysticks. The Flashback 8 Gold Activision Edition has 130 games, including several by ]Activision
Activision Publishing, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Santa Monica, California. It serves as the publishing business for its parent company, Activision Blizzard, and consists of several subsidiary studios. Activision is one ...
, although the other versions also feature some games by the company.[ All the games are emulated.
]
Atari Flashback 9
The Atari Flashback 9 was released on November 15, 2018, by AtGames
AtGames Cloud Holdings Inc. (formerly AtGames Digital Media Inc.) is an American video game and video game console manufacturer, known for their Legends Ultimate Arcade and the creator of the connected arcade. Since 2011, they have produced and m ...
. It includes two wired controllers and 110 games.
The Atari Flashback 9 Gold includes 120 games and wireless controllers. Both versions feature an SD card
Secure Digital, officially abbreviated as SD, is a proprietary non-volatile flash memory card format developed by the SD Association (SDA) for use in portable devices.
The standard was introduced in August 1999 by joint efforts between SanDis ...
slot and an output of 720p
720p (1280×720 px; also called HD ready, standard HD or just HD) is a progressive HDTV signal format with 720 horizontal lines/1280 columns and an aspect ratio (AR) of 16:9, normally known as widescreen HDTV (1.78:1). All major HDTV broadcast ...
. The SD slot is used for firmware updates, downloaded games, and saving and resuming game states.
Atari Flashback X
The Atari Flashback X was released in 2019 and attempts to capitalize on the mini console trend, started by releases like the NES Classic Edition
NES Classic Edition is a dedicated home video game console by Nintendo, which emulates the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It launched on November 10, 2016 in Australia and Japan, and November 11, 2016 in North America and Europe. Aesthet ...
and Sega Genesis Mini
The Sega Genesis Mini, known as the Mega Drive Mini in regions outside of North America, is a dedicated console modeled on the Sega Genesis. The Mini emulates the original console's 16-bit hardware, and includes 42 games ported by M2. It was r ...
, by being a near perfect physical replica of an Atari 2600 in miniature form. Like the previous releases, it was built by AtGames
AtGames Cloud Holdings Inc. (formerly AtGames Digital Media Inc.) is an American video game and video game console manufacturer, known for their Legends Ultimate Arcade and the creator of the connected arcade. Since 2011, they have produced and m ...
.
The basic model includes two wired controllers and 110 games. The deluxe model includes 10 additional games. A firmware update through the AtGames website allows both models to download more games.
Atari Flashback 50th Anniversary Edition
The Atari Flashback 50th Anniversary Edition was released in 2022 at limited retailers. Physically it is a slight re-coloration of the Atari Flashback X. It features brass switches instead of chrome and has the Atari 50th logo stamped onto its wood veneer trim. Like the previous releases, it was built by AtGames
AtGames Cloud Holdings Inc. (formerly AtGames Digital Media Inc.) is an American video game and video game console manufacturer, known for their Legends Ultimate Arcade and the creator of the connected arcade. Since 2011, they have produced and m ...
.
The basic model includes two wired standard controllers and 110 games. The gold model includes two wired standard controllers, two wired paddle controllers and 130 games. Currently there are no firmware updates for either model to allow for the download of more games, but being physically based on the Flashback X hardware the potential is there.
Games by Flashback version
Handheld consoles
Atari Flashback Portable
In 2007, Vendel was working on a handheld console known as the Atari Flashback Portable. It would run on three "AAA" batteries, and would include a screen resolution of 320x240. It would feature AV output and two joystick controller ports for multiplayer. Games are loaded into internal 2MB memory by use of a USB cable. The release date was projected as early 2008 with a retail price of approximately $40. However, Vendel announced in 2010 that the project was not going to be released by Atari and no further information was released.
A new handheld console, also called the Atari Flashback Portable, was released in November 2016. It contains 60 games built in and an SD slot for downloaded games. It has a 3.2" LCD, AV output port and mini USB charge port.
A second edition of Atari Flashback Portable was released in September 2017. Like the first Atari Flashback Portable, it was built by AtGames. It includes 70 games with the most notable additions to this edition being four Namco
was a Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company, headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo. It held several international branches, including Namco America in Santa Clara, California, Namco Europe in London, Namco Taiwan in Kaohsiung, ...
games which are ''Dig Dug
is a maze arcade game developed by Namco in 1981 and released in 1982, distributed in North America by Atari, Inc. The player controls Dig Dug to defeat all enemies per stage, by either inflating them to bursting or crushing them underneath rock ...
'', ''Galaxian
is a 1979 fixed shooter arcade video game developed and published by Namco. The player assumes control of the Galaxip starfighter in its mission to protect Earth from waves of aliens. Gameplay involves destroying each formation of aliens, wh ...
'', '' Pac-Man'', and ''Xevious
is a vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Namco for arcades in 1982. It was released in Japan and Europe by Namco and in North America by Atari, Inc. Controlling the Solvalou starship, the player attacks Xevious f ...
''. The version of ''Pac-Man'' included is a homebrew port that is more faithful to the original arcade game and not the original Atari 2600 port of ''Pac-Man'' released in 1982.
A third edition of the Atari Flashback Portable was released by AtGames in September 2018. The standard edition includes 80 games.
A fourth edition of the Atari Flashback Portable was released by AtGames in September 2019. It features a woodgrain-like body design that mirrors the woodgrain
Wood grain is the longitudinal arrangement of wood fibers or the pattern resulting from such an arrangement.
Definition and meanings
R. Bruce Hoadley wrote that ''grain'' is a "confusingly versatile term" with numerous different uses, including ...
look on the original Atari 2600 console. The standard edition includes 80 games.
The second edition of the Flashback Portable includes the following games:
The third edition includes 80 games.[
]
Other products
''Atari Flashback Classics'' is a video game compilation of various Atari games, split into three volumes. The game was first released in 2016, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third base console in the Xbox series of video game consoles. It was first released in North America, parts of ...
. It was released for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation Vita in 2018.
In October 2018, AtGames released Atari Flashback Blast!, a trio of wireless controllers each with 20 built-in games.
See also
* Atari Joystick Controller TV Video Game System
* Namco Plug & Play games
* NES Classic Edition
NES Classic Edition is a dedicated home video game console by Nintendo, which emulates the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It launched on November 10, 2016 in Australia and Japan, and November 11, 2016 in North America and Europe. Aesthet ...
* Neo Geo X
The Neo Geo X (NGX) is a video game console manufactured by Tommo, licensed by SNK Playmore. Information about the Neo Geo X was first reported in January 2012 and later confirmed in March. It is the first Neo Geo system to be released since the ...
* SNES Classic Edition
The Super NES Classic Edition is a dedicated home video game console released by Nintendo, which emulates the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The console, a successor to the NES Classic Edition, comes with twenty-one Super NES titles pr ...
Notes
References
External links
Archive of Atari Flashback product page
Archive of Atari Flashback 2 product page
*Atari Flashback 2 online manual
PDF
{{Dedicated consoles
Flashback
Dedicated consoles
Atari 2600 hardware clones
2000s toys
2010s toys
2004 in video gaming
Products introduced in 2004