Atari 2600 VCS Prototype





The above photo is one of the original wirewrapped prototypes for "The Worlds Most Popular Video Game" aka... The Atari Video Computer System (VCS) Model #2600. The interesting and eye catching part of the unit besides the extremely intricate hand wired area (TIA perhaps?) are the controllers, you look and say "Hey those don't look like the standard CX-40 joysticks I've come to know and love all these many years!" The controllers are actually from the Atari/KeeGames TANK coin-op arcade game. The actual Atari VCS joysticks would later come from a home console game of TANK which was sold under the Sears exclusive brand label. The Atari Tank joysticks for a one player would act as left and right treads on the home tank game and then they popped out of the rectangular home console and could be used for two player action and would allow each user to use one joystick just like Atari VCS Combat (CX-2601).