Atari 50 has proved to be a huge success for Atari, highlighting the company’s legacy in fine style. But the latest linited edition seems like a bit of a piss-take.
A complete set of the ten Atari XP cartridges (for the Atari 2600) is being released exclusively on Atari.com, limited to just 100 units worldwide. But the price is an insane $999.99 – that’s about $100 per cartridge, and in the area of £820.
For ten cartridges each with a single 8-bit game.
No need to rub your eyes. Don’t pinch yourself. This grift is real.
What’s in the $1000 Atari 50 collection?
The set includes:
- Centipede
- Asteroids
- Super Breakout
- Warlords
- Yars’ Revenge
- Gravitar
- Haunted House
- Crystal Castles
- Missile Command
- Adventure
Each cartridge boasts striking new artwork and an acrylic topper that lights up when the cart is inserted in an Atari 2600 (or compatible console). All ten limited edition cartridges, when correctly arranged, reveal the Atari 50th anniversary logo across the collected spines. High-quality materials are said to be used, “is made with high-quality materials and “manufactured to exacting standards.”
Much like the price.
The death-knell of premium collectible retro gear cannot come fast enough.
Should you fancy an expensive laugh or have a spare grand burning a hole in your pocket, you can pre-order before midnight on April 4th 2023 to get the collection at this special price.
Yes. They’re actually hinting at a higher price later. And you won’t get the carts for three to four months – late summer, if you’re lucky, with no option to cancel after the pre-order window slams shut.
The carts ship with:
- High quality box
- Custom art and LED top
- Premium cardstock poster
- Extended instruction guide with bonus material
- Hard enamel collectible pin
- Polyester blend
- Twill-woven embroidered collectible patch
- Certificate of authenticity
- Digital copy of the game for the Atari VCS
If you’re blanching/vomitting/being resuscitated over the price, you will be pleased to know that payment can be arranged in 4 interest-free installments or from $90.26/mo with Shop Pay.
Art for art’s sake
As you can probably see, I’m not impressed. Sure, a few posters and stickers with a Strictly Limited Games release is one thing. A bit of custom art or music produced by a genuine artist and shipped on a purpose-assembled cart is another.
What is happening here, however, is different.
Atari is flogging reanimated horses. With the best will in the world, the Atari 2600 was a terrible system. The games were average at best; while the selection included in Atari XP might not be the worst, they don’t stand up against other systems. The best of them have been updated and re-released countless times over the years, so much so that revisiting these clunking efforts is painful at the best of times.
Atari clearly believes that people will pay for some LEDs and a bit of new art. I’m inclined to agree with them. That doesn’t stop this whole product from being extortionate trash.
The death-knell of premium priced collectible retro gear cannot come fast enough. Just play the games, people. Pick up the brilliant Atari 50 collection instead.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.