Atari 2600 Console

The Atari VCS/2600 is considered one of the greatest consoles ever created and for very good reasons.

Firstly it's iconic.
The first system almost anyone ever talks about when it comes to Atari and the retro scene, in general, is the Video Computer System(VCS). Otherwise known as the 2600 in later life. It was one of the first systems to make use of interchangeable program cartridges and brought the arcade feel to homes. It was highly affordable and literally hundreds of games were made for it.

Secondly it's fun.
The graphics in comparison to modern day, and other 8 bit systems, were basic. Yet your imagination does most of the work. All the games have a great arcade feel to them and most are easily picked up and played without any need to look at the manuals.

Thirdly it's easily collectible.
The systems themselves can be picked up relatively cheaply compared to other retro systems. This is partly because there are so many in existence that they aren't really considered rare. The only time you would ever run into any real trouble with collecting the system is if you went for some of the earlier wood grain version. However the later releases with their smaller form, dubbed 'Jr', are really easy to get hold of.

Ballpark estimates for purchasing the systems can be in the £10 to £30 for a good condition one. Ones that include the original boxes and are closer to mint condition can go for £30 to £100 depending on overall condition.

The games themselves are incredibly cheap. Unboxed games sell for only a couple of pound including postage and packaging. They get slightly more expensive when instructions are included and if they have their original boxing. Also lookout for factory sealed boxes. These are highly collectible.

Tips for collecting.
Finally some tips on collecting these systems. Always make sure that they come with a power supply. Don't be fooled into thinking these things work with other supplies. It has a strange connector like you would find on a set of headphones. Making it unique to the system. This also applies to the 'Jr' version.

The RF cable on the woody versions are built into the system. Always check to see if the cable has no wear or tear before purchasing. These cables can be replaced easily but you would have to open the case. However on the later 'Jr' versions it is a separate connector and is the same as any RF cable that comes with any gaming system.

If the system has no controllers then don't worry. They are easily replaced with official ones for a very cheap price. However most 9pin controllers work with it like the Sega Master System and Sega Mega Drive. There are numerous third party ones that can be bought too that are maybe slightly more expensive but could be better than the official ones.

Finally games are really easy to collect. When starting your collection try and go for bundle lots of games. You may get some repeats of games but these can always be resold to recover some of the costs. Check places like AtariAge for rarity guides. Sometimes a game gets a reprint and a change in label making the older prints more valuable.

I hope this helps you with making a choice about your Atari.