Book Review & Giveaway: The Atari 2600 Encyclopedia Volume One

Have you read Atari today? If you're a child of the '80s like me then Atari 2600 was probably your first experience with home video game consoles. I got mine a couple years before the NES came out and have fond memories of playing it with friends and even my parents. My favorite games were mainly created by Activision like Pitfall, Freeway, Barnstorming, Fishing Derby, and Grand Prix. Other games like Defender, Missile Command, and Demon Attack were also in my collection.

It's been great that classic Atari 2600 games have been available in modern times through Flashback consoles, the Atari Greatest Hits app, and collections like for the Nintendo DS and PS2. But now there is an easier way for Atari 2600 fans to reference their favorite games without a console. Derek Slaton has compiled facts, screenshots, and manual scans into Volume One of The Atari 2600 Encyclopedia!

I've had the opportunity to preview Volume One and it's incredible! It contains visuals and stats for all Atari 2600 titles from A-D. Four pages are dedicated to each game which includes a short history lesson, game play instructions, and box/manual scans. Check out the 2-page spreads below to see exactly what's inside! (Click to enlarge.)

Author Derek Slaton got help from sites like Atari Mania and Atari Age plus a crew of design professionals to compile an awesome piece of Atari 2600 history. This is definitely a quality book whether you are planning to use it as a reference guide or a conversation piece for your coffee table. I will definitely be looking forward to future volumes as his pursuit to chronicle the entire Atari 2600 library continues.

Hardcover editions are now available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, plus Apple users can download an electronic iBooks version through iTunes with plans for a Kindle release in the future. Plus, check out the author's site The Video Game Archeologist for other works including The Sega Master System Encyclopedia!

I'm also giving away a code for a FREE iBooks version of the Atari 2600 Encyclopedia: Volume One for Apple users! If you want a chance to win (and own an apple device, of course), use the Rafflecopter widget below. Gain entries by connecting with social media and commenting.

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