Resplendent with simple graphics and simpler rules

December 27, 2013 7:05 AM

The Internet Archive Console Living Room harkens back to the revolution of the change in the hearth of the home, when the fireplace and later television were transformed by gaming consoles into a center of videogame entertainment... Simply click on a system below to browse through available games and cartridges and try them out. Where possible, links to manuals and additional information are available for reference.

posted by griphus (8 comments total)

Just saw this last night, and thought it would make a marvelous FPP. I'm excited for when they get sound working on the Bally Astrocade, just for the awesome sound effects from The Incredible Wizard. (aka Wizard of Wor)
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:14 AM on December 27, 2013 [1 favorite]

Oh jscott, you are the both the hero we want and need.
posted by jaduncan at 7:18 AM on December 27, 2013 [4 favorites]

PS: and the rest of the awesome people at IA are too. An Archivist League, if you will.
posted by jaduncan at 7:20 AM on December 27, 2013 [2 favorites]

Yars' Revenge was always one of my favourite Atari 2600 games. The minimal graphics and the weird glittering area made the game feel like an abstract art experience. We never had the instruction manual, and I didn't realize until years later that it included an awesome comic-book backstory.
posted by oulipian at 7:26 AM on December 27, 2013 [2 favorites]

BBC: Internet Archive puts classic 70s and 80s games online
posted by oulipian at 10:09 AM on December 27, 2013 [1 favorite]

I almost posted this last night, but asked a mod first cause I have a few friends who are also friends with jscott, and I met him once for five seconds. When I got the thumbs-up to post it, I thought I'd better make sure nobody had posted it between 2AM last night and today. So, you beat me to it, but that's fine, cause it gives me all the more time to play Kangaroo.
posted by not_on_display at 10:09 AM on December 27, 2013

didn't realize until years later that it included an awesome comic-book backstory.

Wow, I think all video games should have comic book tutorials/ prologues.
posted by Think_Long at 10:29 AM on December 27, 2013

I meet hundreds of folks a day, so I don't think people should be worried about posting something just because they know that me or met me.
posted by jscott at 12:39 PM on December 28, 2013