I don’t know about you, but I spent many, many hours sitting in front of my parents’ TV playing Pong, Breakout, and Space Invaders. Before I got my TRS (TRASH)-80 computer I spent several minutes adjusting the vertical hold on my parents’ TV and finding a channel that had no signal. All to play in the amazing world of at-home video games.

Guess what, pixelheads?

ATARI announced plans to ship a new Atari 2600+ console this fall. Just in time for Christmas.

For $130, you can have a 2600+ console and play original and modern 2600 and 7800 cartridges. You can also buy the CX40+ joystick for $25, and the CX30+ paddle controllers bundled with a game for $40.

Retro Gaming Will Never Get Old

In a world of HDR and perfectly rendered Legend of Zelda realms, retro gaming is as popular now as it was then.

Maybe it’s nostalgia?

Maybe it’s to combat overstimulation?

Maybe it’s the game play?

A combination of factors make retro games popular with GenXers. Many of us seek out ways of getting our fix using game emulators. Early games had to be good. Consoles were very limited in storage and computer power. Limitations in computer power and inaccurate controllers forced game developers to focus on story and interactivity in their games. This led to a string of classics that will never get old and will never be forgotten.

Many games live on in software emulation. Unfortunately as time passes, titles get lost in the trash or the attic. Discrete hardware components are hard to get making upkeep difficult. And many games don’t make it.

87% of retro games are lost to the aether. Preservationists are trying to preserve these games and they aren’t always successful.

Lucky for us, Atari is doing their part to preserve their piece of videogaming’s history.

The Atari 2600+ is $130 for the console. It’s available for preorder now, due to ship this November in time for Christmas.

You know this is going on this year’s Annual Gift Guide.