Considered the great-granddaddy of video game consoles, the Atari 2600 (originally the Atari VCS) was the first to significantly penetrate the home market. The system got off to a slow start upon its release in 1977, but its popularity soared with the release of faithful arcade translations like Space Invaders and Asteroids. By the beginning of the 80's, the 2600 was a legitimate phenomenon, making Atari one of the most recognized brand names in the world. The system offered several practical innovations, including removable cartridges, detachable controllers, different types of controllers, and the ability to select game "variations" from a single cartridge. Although many technically-superior consoles were released during the 80's, the Atari 2600 remained in production in one form or another long after most of its competitors had folded, all the way up until 1991.

The Atari 2600 was practical in design, with an easy-to-access cartridge slot and a series of silver switches across the front. The system went through several incarnations during its lifetime, but the original version with six switches and a distinctive fake wood facade is the most sought-after by collectors. The second version, which is the most common, raised the controller ports on the back (making them easier to reach), and difficulty switches on the back as well (making them harder to reach). The console's third iteration replaced the wood-grain with a solid black strip labeled with a white "Atari 2600" insignia. The final version had a slim, compact design not much larger than a VHS tape. It was produced in modest quantities from the mid-80s until the end of the system's lifetime.