I grew up playing the Atari 2600 back in the early 80’s. I remembered my parent’s basement in Toronto where they setup the game in a corner, next to the fireplace. During winter, it got pretty cold down there, but I didn’t care. I would play for hours. I would invite friends over, and played a few games of Combat, Pitfall, Missile Command, Space Invaders, or Pacman.
When I went shopping with my family, I would stop at the stores’ window where they displayed the games. I begged my parents to get me a copy of Air Sea Battle, Warlords, or Video Pinball. Why? Because the box art looked so good! The actual game quality was questionable, but I didn’t care: the picture on the box was awesome!
Below are some of those awesome, nostalgia inducing, Atari 2600 box arts. I can stare at them all day!
For more Atari 2600 box arts, check out Wikia Gaming site.
Tags: atari, video games
Building IT
Jot It Down
Loved Frogger and Pac-Man. That system sure had some classics.
Farzan´s last blog post..REVIEW: Changeling
Hey Farzan,
I also liked Ms. Pac-Man, but there was no box art for it. 🙁
Nice! Any list dealing with the Atari 2600 is tops in my book. Though how could you leave off the classic Superman box art? Or The Empire Strikes Back?!? Both of those had me drooling when I saw the ads for them as a kid.
Andrew´s last blog post..Frak You, Battlestar Galactica
Hey Andrew,
That’s true, I missed Superman in the list! I did have that game. Thinking back, the graphics for Superman was so blocky and stupid, it was funny. But as a kid, I didn’t care – he looked pretty real at the time. hehehe
Brought back memories. Loved how the box covers were always so much richer than the actual graphics.
Mark Alves´s last blog post..DC SEO Meetup – May Event Highlights
Yup, they spent more time marketing it than the actual game itself. Hence, better box art. 🙂
Awesome images! Brings back all kinds of memories. The 2600 is still one of my favorite game systems.
I just box a MIB Pac-man for the atari 2600
you know i see alot of pics of games all the time. What about the original box???? I have one that will realy bring back those memories sitting on the floor in front of the tv getting hollerd at by your mom to get off that stupid game and get in bed!!! i have an atari still in its original box that my sis gave me.
Hey Billy, I didn’t have the discipline to keep my old games. Now, I just end up enjoying the photos instead.
If you still have the original box, it may be worth quite a bit.
yeah after i left your blog site i actually got to really looking into it and i actually found that there are two others out there that have the original box in good condition. i found that the pice tag on them really arnt that much. One guy was only asking like 450 and another just a little cheaper then that.
Dios mio, quiero llorar.
I love Atari boxart and I love the games.
Anyone who thinks Atari games are outdated should play Atari circus!Even though it came out in 1977,it will still challenge anyone in 2012!I love Atari,I didnot grow up with Atari,we were Nintendo kids.But since becoming a adult I came to love Atari art and games.I love how things use to be done.
Funny how Henry Thomas was a Intellivision kid and Atari had the ET game!I love the commercials with him and Climpton.
I remember playing pitfall when I was younger I love these old Atari games.
This guy makes pitfall mugs..
https://www.etsy.com/listing/110793789/crocodile-coffee-mugs-set-of-three-3
I like those Pitfall mugs, Justin!