Hey there fellow gaming enthusiast! Prepare for a serious dose of 70s and 80s video game nostalgia, because we‘ll be unboxing and reliving the magic of the iconic Atari 2600 console in glorious Lego form!
Get Reacquainted with the Trendsetting Atari 2600
Before we open those iconic Lego boxes, let me refresh your memory on why the Atari 2600 became such a landmark system. Bear with me here – this is important background for appreciating just how special recreating it in brick form really is!
Officially launched as the Atari VCS (Video Computer System) in September 1977, it played cartridge-based games using cutting-edge 8-bit technology. Rather than fixed internal games, these removable carts allowed for an ever-growing software library. By dominating living rooms globally thanks to acclaimed titles like Space Invaders, it became the first truly mainstream console.
Over its 14 year reign, the Atari 2600 sold over 30 million units and kickstarted the $22 billion gaming industry. Its iconic faux wood and switch-laden front panel remains burned into our pop culture consciousness, even if those glory days ended 30+ years ago!
Okay, history lesson over! Now we can fully appreciate why being able to recreate this legendary console in Lego form in 2022 is such a big deal. Let‘s check out the set!
The Lego Atari 2600 System Set Fully Explored
Officially titled the ‘Lego Atari 2600’, set number 10306 was released worldwide on August 1st, 2022. Packaged in a sleek black box true to its gaming pedigree, opening it reveals a sizable 2,532 piece build targeted at adult constructors.
Standing 13” wide x 9” deep x 4” high when complete, it‘s substantial enough to accurately recreate the key visual elements of the Atari 2600. It looks right at home alongside other nostalgic Lego Ideas sets.
At $239.99, the Atari 2600 resides at the higher end of the Ideas price scale, comparable to kits like the 2,207 piece Lego Volkswagen Camper Van revival. As a premium display model built purely to showcase Atari’s retro console magic in Lego form, it generally feels well-priced.
But enough spec talk – you’re probably dying to see the Lego Atari 2600! Here’s everything that comes in the box, and what it looks like once fully assembled:
What’s Included in the Box?
- 2,532 Lego pieces to build console
- Instruction guide + individual piece bags
- 3 buildable Atari 2600 cartridges
- Cartridge storage rack
- 3 micro Atari game model scenes
- Exclusive retro gamer minifigure
- Microscale CRT television element
Lego Atari 2600 Set Box (Image credit: Lego)
Built Lego Atari 2600 Console
- Faithful replica of 1977 console
- Opening cartridge slot with ribbed contours
- Functional power, reset & select switches
- Four controller ports on rear
- Side ventilation grills and elevation feet
Completed Lego Atari 2600 model (Image credit: Lego)
Every Detail Perfectly Captured
Once you’ve built the console using the clear instruction guide, the accuracy compared to the real Atari 2600 is astounding. The fundamental proportions are identical, right down to signature elements like the faux wood paneling cascading over the front.
The textured finish evokes so many late 70s living room memories, believe me! Those little ribbed vents along the side plus accurately colored and contoured cartridge slot show immense attention to detail. Spin it around and even the busy rear interface is perfect, ready to accept controllers.
Speaking of which, the boxy joystick controller builds are sublime. The bright red fire button, navy blue grip pads and fully articulating analog stick made from Technics pieces – it‘s all sheer nostalgic heaven! Combine that tactile joy with moving console controls and it’s almost impossible not to dive back to those youthful days battling pixilated aliens and maze ghosts!
Comparative Specs: Real Atari 2600 vs Lego Atari 2600
| Feature | Real Atari 2600 | Lego Atari 2600 |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Sept 1977 | Aug 2022 |
| Dimensions | 14" x 8" x 2" | 13" x 9" x 4" |
| Processor | 6507 8-bit | N/A (Static) |
| Controllers | Joysticks | Buildable joysticks |
| Cartridge slot | Yes | Yes w/ ribbed contours |
| Cartridges included | N/A | 3 (Asteroids etc) |
| Display output | RF/Composite | N/A |
But wait, we’ve saved the tastiest retro surprise for last…
Sneak Peek: The Hidden Retro Den!
For the piece de resistance, discreetly slide off the faux wood front panel covering the cartridge flap and a stunning microscale scene is revealed inside the console body!
Our hip gamer minifigure is parked on a beanbag inches from a vintage CRT television, Atari joystick primed for action. The rad wood-paneled basement decor is straight out of the late 70s, from movie posters to a boombox. It‘s a delightful living room capsule straight from our childhoods!
This tiny eight-bit tableau captures the golden era ambiance perfectly in just a handful of bricks. It reminds us older gamers of countless hours immersed in these pixelated fantasy lands, enthralled by science fiction and arcade action made real in our living rooms for the first time!
Verdict: Must-Build for Nostalgia Seekers!
As a devoted retro gamer and passionate builder of Lego’s 1000+ piece showstoppers, constructing this 2,532 element homage to Atari’s pioneering console was hugely gratifying. From recreating the Atari‘s trademark textures and cartridges to nailing those realm-shaping games like Adventure and Pitfall, it gave my inner child a big hug!
Seeing the weathered lines of that faux wood paneling emerge as the build progressed sparked some extremely fond memories of long-lost gaming marathons. Displaying the final model alongside original joysticks and cartridges I’ve accumulated intensifies the nostalgia rush even more!
For pop culture aficionados and anyone who lived and breathed Atari 2600 action back in the day, constructing this Lego Ideas tribute is akin to reliving that wondrous dawn of home gaming magic one brick at a time.
The sheer wealth of custom accessories like era-perfect minifigs and micro TV elements show Lego understands exactly why revisiting ATARI’s living room revolution matters. This is no quick nostalgia cash grab. It‘s a meticulously craftedinteractive memory lane built with genuine affection and LEGO’s signature attention to detail.
So if you still carry a little 70s or 80s gaming flame in your heart, the Lego Atari 2600 set deserves pride of place in your brick collection. Just prepare to lose many hours reconnecting with much simpler but hugely more satisfying virtual worlds once you power her on!
Well, that wraps up our fun-filled exploration of bringing ATARI’s 8-bit magic back home the LEGO way. I hope you enjoyed this nostalgic trip down gaming memory lane as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you! Let me know your own early gaming recollections in the comments, or if you have questions around potentially grabbing this awesome throwback for yourself!
