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{{short description|Unreleased dedicated first-generation home video game console supposed to be released in 1978}} |
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The '''Atari Game Brain''' was an unreleased console by [[Atari]]. Intended to be released in [[1977]], it would only have played 10 different games, no more, no less. All of the planned games would have been ports of games from previously released dedicated consoles, such as [[Pong]], Stunt Cycle, & Video Pinball. Its controllers were built onto the system, and included 4 directional buttons, a paddle, and a fire button. Games would be inserted in the top of the system by opening a door, and the door had a small instructions booklet on top of it. The system was never supposed to be a huge seller for Atari, it was just their way of clearing out their [[Central processing unit|CPUs]] from their unsold dedicated consoles. Unfortunately, by the time the Game Brain was finished, dedicated consoles were becoming obsolete against consoles with programmable ROMs, such as the [[Fairchild Channel F]], the RCA Studio 2, the [[Magnavox Odyssey²]], and Atari's own [[Atari 2600|2600]]. Noting this, Atari cancelled the Game Brain. Today, only 3 Game Brain consoles are known to exist, as well as 5 prototype cartridges. Despite the system's cancellation, some Game Brain titles were eventually ported onto the Atari 2600. |
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{{inline|date=May 2019}} |
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{{distinguish|Atari Mindlink}} |
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{{Infobox information appliance |
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| name = Atari Game Brain |
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| title = |
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| aka = C-700 |
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| logo = |
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| image = Atari Game Brain (2).jpg |
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| caption = |
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| developer = [[Atari]] |
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| manufacturer = |
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| family = |
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| type = [[home video game console]] |
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| generation = [[First generation of video game consoles|First generation]] |
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| releasedate = Unreleased ({{Start date|[[1978 in video gaming|1978]]}})<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=piQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Game+Brain%22+1977+ces&pg=PT78 Music Backdrop For Vegas CES], By Stephen Traiman, Page 81, 14 Jan 1978, Billboard, ''Listings from $19.95 to $59.95, additional carts were shown by...Atari(Warner Communications) for its new Game Brain,..''</ref><ref name=gamebrain1978>[https://books.google.com/books?id=3FwGMtRafrAC&dq=%22Game+Brain%22++ces&pg=PA497 Intermission: Innovative Oddities], Page 497, By Marty Goldberg, Curt Vendel, Atari Inc: Business is Fun, ''Another interesting console blip that appears on the radar briefly appeared at the 1978 Summer CES. Called the 'Game Brain' Model C-700, it's a cartridge based console system, but it's not microprocessor based like the VCS.''</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZSIqAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Game+Brain%22++ces Page xiii], Weekly Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, Volume 18, Part 1, Editorial & Business Headquarters, 1978, ''NEW ATARI MPU GAME:Atari is moving into lower end of programmable market with new "moderately prices" Game Brain scheduled for introduction at CES this week. At same time Atari ...will be..., delivered in June along with Game Brain.''</ref><ref>[http://mcurrent.name/atarihistory/wci_games.html A History of WCI Games / Atari / Atari Games / Atari Holdings], ''1978 June 11-14: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced the Game Brain (C-700; $115; never shipped), along with four new VCS titles: Basketball (previously announced in April), Capture the Flag (would ship as Flag Capture), The Maze (would eventually ship as Maze Craze), Wizard (never shipped)''</ref> |
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| discontinued = |
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| storage = [[ROM cartridge]] |
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| memory card = |
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| input = |
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| controllers = Built in |
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}} |
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The '''Atari Game Brain''' (model number: C-700) is an unreleased [[home video game console]] that was developed and planned for release by [[Atari]]<ref name=gamebrain1978 /> in June [[1978 in video gaming|1978]]. It plays 10 particular [[Video game|games]], converted from all of Atari's previously released dedicated consoles, such as ''[[Pong]]'', ''[[Stunt Cycle]]'', and ''Video Pinball''. Its controllers are on the console face, with 4 directional buttons, a paddle, and a fire button.<ref name=gamebrain1978 /> Games are inserted in the top of the system by opening a door that also bears a small instruction booklet. |
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The system was not intended as a big seller for Atari but rather as a clearance of [[Central processing unit|CPUs]] from unsold dedicated consoles.<ref name=gamebrain1978 /> By the time the Game Brain was finished, dedicated consoles were becoming obsolete against consoles with removable ROM cartridges, such as the already released [[Fairchild Channel F]], the [[RCA Studio II|RCA Studio 2]], and Atari's own [[Atari 2600]]. Atari canceled the Game Brain around 1978. Three Atari Game Brain consoles and five prototype cartridges are known to exist. |
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==Games== |
==Games== |
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*Pong |
*''[[Pong]]'' |
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*Stunt Cycle |
*''[[Stunt Cycle]]'' |
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*Super Pong |
*''[[Super Pong]]'' |
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*Super Pong ProAm |
*''Super Pong ProAm'' |
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*Super Pong ProAm 10 |
*''Super Pong ProAm 10'' |
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*Super Pong 10 |
*''Super Pong 10'' |
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*Ultra Pong |
*''[[Ultra Pong]]'' |
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*Ultra Pong Doubles |
*''[[Ultra Pong Doubles]]'' |
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*Video Music |
*''[[Video Music]]'' |
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*Video Pinball |
*''[[Video Pinball]]'' |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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{{Atari hardware}} |
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* [http://www.atari.com/ Atari's official website] |
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[[Category:Atari consoles|Game brain]] |
[[Category:Atari consoles|Game brain]] |
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Latest revision as of 02:37, 3 November 2024
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (May 2019) |
.jpg) | |
| Also known as | C-700 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Atari |
| Type | home video game console |
| Generation | First generation |
| Release date | Unreleased (1978)[1][2][3][4] |
| Storage | ROM cartridge |
| Controller input | Built in |
The Atari Game Brain (model number: C-700) is an unreleased home video game console that was developed and planned for release by Atari[2] in June 1978. It plays 10 particular games, converted from all of Atari's previously released dedicated consoles, such as Pong, Stunt Cycle, and Video Pinball. Its controllers are on the console face, with 4 directional buttons, a paddle, and a fire button.[2] Games are inserted in the top of the system by opening a door that also bears a small instruction booklet.
The system was not intended as a big seller for Atari but rather as a clearance of CPUs from unsold dedicated consoles.[2] By the time the Game Brain was finished, dedicated consoles were becoming obsolete against consoles with removable ROM cartridges, such as the already released Fairchild Channel F, the RCA Studio 2, and Atari's own Atari 2600. Atari canceled the Game Brain around 1978. Three Atari Game Brain consoles and five prototype cartridges are known to exist.
Games
[edit]- Pong
- Stunt Cycle
- Super Pong
- Super Pong ProAm
- Super Pong ProAm 10
- Super Pong 10
- Ultra Pong
- Ultra Pong Doubles
- Video Music
- Video Pinball
References
[edit]- ^ Music Backdrop For Vegas CES, By Stephen Traiman, Page 81, 14 Jan 1978, Billboard, Listings from $19.95 to $59.95, additional carts were shown by...Atari(Warner Communications) for its new Game Brain,..
- ^ a b c d Intermission: Innovative Oddities, Page 497, By Marty Goldberg, Curt Vendel, Atari Inc: Business is Fun, Another interesting console blip that appears on the radar briefly appeared at the 1978 Summer CES. Called the 'Game Brain' Model C-700, it's a cartridge based console system, but it's not microprocessor based like the VCS.
- ^ Page xiii, Weekly Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, Volume 18, Part 1, Editorial & Business Headquarters, 1978, NEW ATARI MPU GAME:Atari is moving into lower end of programmable market with new "moderately prices" Game Brain scheduled for introduction at CES this week. At same time Atari ...will be..., delivered in June along with Game Brain.
- ^ A History of WCI Games / Atari / Atari Games / Atari Holdings, 1978 June 11-14: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced the Game Brain (C-700; $115; never shipped), along with four new VCS titles: Basketball (previously announced in April), Capture the Flag (would ship as Flag Capture), The Maze (would eventually ship as Maze Craze), Wizard (never shipped)
