Atari 2600

The Atari 2600 was the first successful game console. Also known as the Atari VCS.

It was released in 1977 at a price of $200, but initially it sold slowly. It would have completely destroyed the company, but the new owner, Warner Communications, helped out the system after Nolan Bushnell left. Atari rapidly scooped up licenses, including: Space Invaders from Taito, Pac Man, E.T., and others. By 1979, it was the best selling Christmas present (and console), mainly becuase of its exclusive content. Like all consoles, it was badly hurt by the video game crash of 1983, but managed to survive. The Atari 2600 continued to sell in the USA and Europe until at least 1988, and continued to sell in PAL version in Asian nations until the early 1990s. Videogames for it are still made for it today by hobbyists.

Atari 2600
Specs:

Video Processor: None
Audio Processor: None
RAM: 128 bytes
Storage: Cartridges: 4K Max