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Game Brain
 

The Atari Game Brain was a cartridge based system intended to consolidate all of Atari's dedicated machines into one, offering more flexibility than other dedicated game systems. All of the game logic was housed in the removable cartridges, and the rotary controllers were built onto the game unit.     There are five known prototype cartridges. These are: Video Pinball, Stunt Cycle, Ultra Pong, Super Pong, and Video Music. More cartridges were planned but never made it to the prototype stage. 4 of the 5 Game Brain cartridges     Atari never officially released the Game Brain, largely due to the release of more powerful cartridge based systems like the Odyssey2 by Magnavox, Fairchild's Channel F, and Atari's own VCS (2600).     It is possible, however, that Atari may have shown the system in a few test markets. The only test market I am currently able to confirm is Milwaukee, Wisconsin, thanks to Marty Goldberg who remembers seeing the system on display at his local Sears store in Milwaukee. It is widely believed that only three prototypes of the Game Brain exist, so what Marty probably saw was just a demo.     Thanks to Curt Vendel for the pictures. Please visit Curt's Atari Historical Society Virtual Museum.

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