Guide to Atari Catalogs

8 of the first 9 original carts- which have the last numbers of their product code printed on the end labels- are listed (Combat is omitted).

9 titles are added, 3 of which are "available soon". Of those 3, only Hangman has a screen ‘picture’ (artist rendering). Outlaw graces the intro, and the borders at the bottom of the pages are color-coded (purple for older games; green for newer ones). A cartridge checklist appears on the back inside cover (with a "Take me to your controller" slogan), but Football and Baseball are not listed! Note how the artwork differs slightly with the original-style Combat box (a smoke trail extends up through the lettering), and the lack of game variations on the original Black Jack box.

The checklist is moved to the back cover, and 2 more titles are added, but for some reason Football is now missing!

10 carts are added, with Miniature Golf and Football each having 2-page ads. Video Chess and Backgammon are listed as "available soon". Along with Casino, these 3 were the first "Special Edition" (4K) cartridges.

"Available Soon" carts are denoted with red borders, which are Superman (with a nice 2-page ad) and BASIC Programming. The checklist is now back on the inside cover.

The "More games, more fun" moniker is dropped from the cover, and the artwork is changed. The checklist covers 2 pages. The introduction now has a picture of Sky Diver. The 1st cart advertised is Space Invaders, Atari’s1st giant hit. Combat is also advertised for the 1st time. 6 new titles are added, including the classic Adventure, and 2 are renamed (Hunt & Score became A Game of Concentration, and Basic Math became Fun With Numbers). All pages now have the same colored borders (on top) as the cover. Notice- on the first page, the boxes for Night Driver (purple box with different, more relative artwork) and Golf (different artwork, and lack of a game variations number).

4 titles are added, and 2- Slot Machine and Star Ship- become the first games to be dropped from the lineup.

A larger overall size catalog featuring 42 carts. Miniature Golf and Space War were dropped. Some of the first carts to be released with the new label style (Style 2, Appendix C) were Asteroids, Video Pinball, and Warlords. The catalog also features an ad for the Game Library Storage Unit (#ORG300). Things to notice on the intro pages: an older (prototype? artist rendering?) screen ‘picture’ of Space Invaders, the "64 Video Games" typo on the Asteroids box (there’s 66), and the different artwork for Warlords and (Pele’s) Championship Soccer, with the Special Edition banner on the front. Were any of these boxes released?

Missile Command is added, and Pele’s Championship Soccer is now referred to as Pele’s Soccer. It also features an ad for the Atari Game Club, founded by ‘George Dakota’ (a fictitious name). For $1 you could receive 4 issues of the Atari Age club newsletter (which incidentally only lasted 2 issues. These pre-date the magazines), special offers, an official membership certificate and wallet pass, and even some "mystery" gifts. I don’t recall getting the certificate or wallet pass, or any gifts for that matter, but it was probably the best $1 I ever spent.

Asteroids is now depicted on the inside front cover. An ad for the Game Program (bookshelf) Case (#ORG400) is shown near the back. Note the original-version Maze Craze box, with different artwork, and the "256 Video Games" typo- both here and in the ad (there’s only 16).

Completely redesigned cover and layout (arguably the nicest of any of the catalog styles). Games are now placed into 1 of 8 categories. The Modular Cart Library (#ORG500) and Game Center (#ORG700) are promoted. A few more titles are retired, some new ones added, and one re-introduced- Space War. For those with a keen eye, check out the introduction picture for a red Defender box, a different Pac-Man box, and a prototype box for Hot Rox (the original name for Demons to Diamonds). Refer to the Rev 1 (blue) Log Book for a better picture of these. Also, a slightly different (rare) cover of this catalog exists. It was only released in Atari press kits. Check out the last page of the ‘Race Track’ section- the artwork is similar that found in the earlier catalogs, although there’s no known game that is associated with it (or is there?). Also check out the description for Pac-Man for a somewhat blatant (and humorous) error!

The intro and accessory ads are changed again, and the checklist is dropped. A small article notes the coming releases of the first 3 RealSports titles, the first 2 Swordquest games, a new educational game (which turned out to be the new CCW games), and Combat II.

This is probably the most interesting and hardest-to-find (and maybe the last booklet-style) Atari catalog. The 2-page intro shows a drawing of the black wood 2600A model. The "Learning Center" category is sub-divided into the "Atari Kid’s Library & Learning Center", which is comprised of 5 CCW (Sesame Street characters) games. No pictures are shown, but the product numbers for these games are shown as the CX2800 series! These are: CX2803 Alpha Beam with Ernie, CX2802 Cookie Monster Munch, CX2804 Big Bird’s Egg Catch, CX2806 Grover’s Music Maker, and CX2801 Oscar’s Trash Race. Using this early numbering scheme, CX2805 was skipped, so another CCW title may exist! This catalog also marks the first time actual screen shots (albeit very few) are used, and 2 of them- Galaxian and RealSports Soccer- are the 5200 versions (with the notation "simulated game screen"). The majority are still artist renderings (including the infamous "tipsy" ghost Pac-Man one). Note the Raiders of the Lost Ark picture is upside down, the artwork for Asteroids and Vanguard is reversed, and Swordquest Waterworld’s is completely different. Ms. Pac-Man is listed as having only 2 different mazes. There is an entry for RealSports Basketball (but no picture) and "preview" mentions of Swordquest Airworld, Gravitar, and Kangaroo, along with the Atari Omni Center (which was never mentioned anywhere else, and currently no pictures or actual produced items exist. Other storage devices were slated to appear for 1983 but never did), but the biggest surprise entry is for Combat- the title and description are for the original, but the screen picture and artwork are for Combat II!

The poster side features 42 titles, including prototype renderings of Haunted House, Super Breakout, and Pac-Man (and the screen looks better than the actual release!). The other side is an intro. A checklist is shown with 42 titles, plus Defender and Yar’s Revenge. Interesting note- check out the strange purple glow coming from the screen of the Asteroids arcade machine!

The difference between this and the Ver 1 catalog is the preview checklist, which includes 13 "to be released" titles (lists the sequel to Combat as well as Frog Pond, but not Yar’s Revenge!), and also the top right corner of the cover has a little "Colorful poster inside" graphic.

Measures 18"x11.5" (closed). Each month highlights artwork from a different game. The last page lists 8 categories and 48 titles - 7 of which were being released that year.

Printed in the Netherlands, this catalog includes 6 different languages, and is opened like a calendar. 44 games are listed across 8 categories. All box art shown is the silver style. Some "Coming Soon" games and prototypes are listed- a few even having screen shots and box art.

14 games are added and 2 are dropped (Krull and RealSports Basketball). The trademark info was moved from the Contents section to the Introduction. Actual screen pictures and/or better renderings, along with box art, appear for some titles, including the preview "Coming Soon" ones. RealSports Soccer is now listed as Football/Realsports Soccer.

Pictures are now listed for most titles. "Sneak Previews" of upcoming games include Miss Piggy’s Wedding, Good Luck Charlie Brown, RealSports Basketball, Donald Duck’s Speedboat Race, and Dumbo’s Flying Circus. There is also an Atari 5200 cartridge list on the back, with hardware lists for both systems. More controllers are shown for the 2600, as well as renderings of the Keyboard and Voice Commander add-ons.

Similar to Rev A - exist?

Measures 11.25"x8" (closed). Each month highlights a game or game series. The RealSports month also mentions RealSports Basketball, which was never released. At the end are pictures of the 2600A (black wood style), 5200 Super System, and five $5 coupons good for specified 2600/5200 games.

Exist?

32 carts are listed, including 6 "coming soon" titles (all with descriptions): Dr. Salk’s Peek-A-Boo, Good Luck, Charlie Brown, Elevator Action, Jr. Pac-Man, Garfield, and The Last Starfighter. Also advertised for the 1st (and only?) time are Pengo, Gremlins, and Track & Field. 5 accessories are shown, including the MindLink system.

Covers games for the 2600, 5200, and 7800 systems.

The redesigned 2600 JR is shown, along with 16 2600 game pictures. The Galaxian picture shown is actually the 5200 version, and the XEGS picture of Star Raiders II is reversed. Mostly newer titles are depicted. Stargate is renamed Defender II. 5 accessory controllers are shown.

Covers games for the 2600, 7800, and XEGS systems.

Colorful poster on one side, 40 game pictures and a contest entry form on the reverse. RealSports Baseball and Super Baseball are both listed, as well as a picture for RealSports Basketball (listed as Basketball CX2624- the old title!). Contest grand prize (for 2 winners and 2 guests) was a 7 day trip to Cali, including a day at Atari headquarters. Anyone know who won this?

Don’t seen any discernable difference with this revision and the 2/89 one- does anyone?

Similar to the Rev 1 9/81, except lacking any trademark notes, and a little larger, with a second "cover" page that includes 10 screen pictures.

Fold-out pamplet style catalog (similar to early Activision ones). Depicts 34 games with a few (Football, Backgammon, etc.) having actual screen shots! Note the picture for Combat is upside down. Descriptions for some are a bit longer than the 9/81 version. 3 Sears Exclusive titles are listed: Steeplechase, Stellar Track, and Super Breakout (which was only available from Sears throughout 1981).