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Welcome to the archived messages from In The 00s. This archive stretches back to 1998 in some instances, and contains a nearly complete record of all the messages posted to inthe00s.com. You will also find an archive of the messages from inthe70s.com, inthe80s.com, inthe90s.com and amiright.com before they were combined to form the inthe00s.com messageboard.

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Subject: Atari's

Written By: 80sChicky1988 on 07/28/03 at 11:35 a.m.

How much did these cost back then?

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: MotleyCrue85 on 07/28/03 at 12:28 a.m.

I have some copies of newspaper ads from 1981 that I got from my local library and these are what the prices are:


Atari 2600 game console (with combat game) was---$130-140

A game cartridge (such as Asteroids) was $25-30.

Another thing I looked at that was interesting was the price of a VHS tape in 1981. ONE tape was $17.  Today you can get about 30 of them for that much.

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: 80sChicky1988 on 07/28/03 at 12:30 a.m.

LOL! Not here! Two Weeks Notice Just came out and it's 14.99 on VHS in Target, that's a LOT Of money, I bet buying an atari back in '81 was a huuuuge sacrifice!

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: MotleyCrue85 on 07/28/03 at 12:37 a.m.

Im talking about blank VHS tapes, not movies. I was 11 in 1981 and got all my atari stuff as christmas gifts, so I wasnt to concerned about the price, but look how much games cost today and the consoles too

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: 80sChicky1988 on 07/28/03 at 12:38 a.m.

In 1981 I wasn't even a thought!

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: Howard on 07/28/03 at 06:55 p.m.

Nowadays you can purchase an Atari 2600 system for at least $100.00-$200.00.Hey it's been well over 20 years since the Atari 2600 faded into the clouds. ;D

Howard

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: Jeffpcmt on 07/29/03 at 08:38 a.m.


Quoting:
Nowadays you can purchase an Atari 2600 system for at least $100.00-$200.00.Hey it's been well over 20 years since the Atari 2600 faded into the clouds. ;D

Howard
End Quote



Probably one of those in good working order is a worthy collectors item.  Those things are practically antiquities by now.

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: KMFeit on 07/29/03 at 09:45 a.m.

An Atari back then was not that big of a sacrifice, even us poor farmers had one  ;).  A CD player was more of a sacrifice, considering they cost about $650 when they first came out to the general market...they then quickly came down as the technology spread.  I purchased a Sharp "boombox" CD player in 1987 for $150.  CDs cost about $20 back then too...Vinyl was about $8-10.

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: Howard on 07/29/03 at 06:57 p.m.

And remember 20 years ago,you had all your music on vinyls and 45's? Now,you can carry your tunes in a portable CD player which costs about $100.00 or less.

Howard

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: Secret_Squirrell on 07/30/03 at 00:37 a.m.

If I remember correctly, the Atari 2600's average retail was $299 Canadian (you figure out the exchange rate that year) and the game cartridges went for around $25 to $150 depending on the game.

Atari 2600's appear in the local paper and at garage sales fairly often, usually for less than $20 (I see them for $5 - $10).  I got mine free (along with an original PONG) from a friend who had his in his closet for years.  You'd be surprised how many people still have theirs... although, they usually are buried in their attics.  :)

Since I couldn't afford the Apple ]http://www.xs4all.nl/~rimmer/cpics/2600-6.jpg

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: Jason on 07/30/03 at 07:44 a.m.

I can't believe that we are talking about Atari consoles and that they are over 20 years old from the early 80's.  yikes!   :o

I remember when I was a kid and I used to listen to older people talk about the 50's, 60's, and even the 70's.  Man when I was 13 in 1989, if I heard some teachers or parents talking about 1967, 1968, or 1969 the way we are sitting here talking about 1981, 1982, and 1983....I would have thought they were so freaking old!  LOL.

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: 80sChicky1988 on 07/30/03 at 07:50 a.m.

Hey LOL I'm 14..and I'm a freak for the 80's :)

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: Howard on 07/30/03 at 07:01 p.m.

Quoting:
If I remember correctly, the Atari 2600's average retail was $299 Canadian (you figure out the exchange rate that year) and the game cartridges went for around $25 to $150 depending on the game.

Atari 2600's appear in the local paper and at garage sales fairly often, usually for less than $20 (I see them for $5 - $10).  I got mine free (along with an original PONG) from a friend who had his in his closet for years.  You'd be surprised how many people still have theirs... although, they usually are buried in their attics.  :)

Since I couldn't afford the Apple ]http://www.xs4all.nl/~rimmer/cpics/2600-6.jpg
End Quote



I hated to have to blow into the game cardtridges sometimes to make it work.The switches were a pain. :P >:(

Howard

Subject: Re: Atari's

Written By: the_OlLine_Rebel on 07/31/03 at 11:35 a.m.

Around here the Ataris were quite expensive.  Could go up to $200.  I think on avg they were around $150.  Don't forget the inflation when you're talking "sacrifice".

I got 1, then we were robbed, and the next Xmas I got another.

I still have that latter 1.  Doesn't work; have to try to figure it out.  There are sites on-line dealing w/Atari.  Still have some 15 games.  (Never had that many like some kids did.)

I loved the game; still do.  I hate the (lack of) controller that Nintendo introduced and the modern industry can't let go of.  Why can't we just use joysticks, complete w/all-in-1 movement?  4 separate buttons for 4 basic directions sucks and requires too much "skill" to make games fun.  Seems like "regression" instead of progress, to me.  They're way too frustrating.