Play Atari 2600 Video Games Online

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The Atari 2600 was first released in North America in September 1977 and featured 9 launch titles: Air-Sea BattleBasic MathBlackjackCombatIndy 500Star ShipStreet RacerSurround and Video Olympics. The final licensed Atari 2600 game released in North America was Secret Quest in 1989, and the final licensed game released in Europe was Klax and Acid Drop in 1990 and 1992. Even with their 1980s limited colors and block graphics these games are still entertaining to play today! We have over 500 Atari 2600 games for you to play online for free using our Atari 2600 Javascript Emulator.

This game is mobile device friendly and Iphone compatible. Enjoy!

Instructions and Keyboard Controls towards bottom of page.
Click “Game Reset” or F12 to Start Game

Basketball

INSTRUCTIONS:
If you grew up in the 80’s you shouldn’t need instructions!! You might find some help at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Atari_2600_games and look up the game you need assistance playing.

CONTROLS:
Click “Game Reset” or F12 to Begin/Restart Game
Arrow Keys – Move
Space bar to fire/action button


TRANSCRIBED ORIGINAL ATARI GAME MANUAL AND INSTRUCTIONS
BASKETBALL

GAME PROGRAM TM INSTRUCTIONS

Model CX2624

ATARI

A Warner Communications Company

ATARI, INC., Consumer Division 1195 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086

(c) 1977 ATARI, INC. C011402-24

Use your Joystick Controllers with this Game Program TM. Be sure the
Controllers are firmly connected to your Video Computer System TM. See your
Owner's Manual for details. Hold the Controllers with the red button to
your upper left towards the television screen. To play against the
computer, use the right hand controller.

NOTE: To prolong the life of your Atari Video Computer System and protect
the electronic components, the Console unit should be OFF when inserting or
removing a Game Program.

CONTROLLER ACTION

Moving your Joystick Controller according to the diagram will move your
player around the court.

   Up and     Move      Up and
   Left       Up        Right
               ^
             \ | /
Move          \|/          Move
Left    <------+------>    Right
              /|\
            /  |  \
               v
   Down       Move      Down and
   and Left   Down      Right

The player with the ball will dribble automatically and will always face
the goal. The defending player will always face the ball.

To shoot, depress the red controller button. Your player will stop
dribbling and will hold the ball, waving it back and forth over his head
(as shown in the diagram). When the controller button is released, the
player will shoot. If the shot is made when the ball is over the player's
head, it will be a long, high arching shot. If the shot is made when the
ball is held low in front, it will be a short easy shot. The shot will
always go towards the goal.

To defend against your opponent's shot, place yourself between the ball and
the goal. When the shooter releases the ball, depress your red controller
button. Your player will jump and you can block the shot and recover the
ball. You can only block a shot when the ball is in its "upward" arc: there
is no "goaltending" in this game.

To steal the ball, put the player's feet even with your opponent's feet.
When the ball leaves your opponent's hand during the dribble, take the ball
and race towards your own basket. Stealing the ball comes much easier with
practice and will become an integral part of your defense strategy.

HANDICAP

When the Difficulty Switch on your console unit is in the B position, your
player can move from goal to goal much more quickly than the A position.
Thus a beginning player, using the B position, will be able to defend more
easily and will be able to "outrun" his opponent.

TO BEGIN PLAY

Visualize that you are sitting at center court about six rows back. The
bottom of the playfield is the near side of the court. The goals are in the
center of the two endlines. The top of the court is the side farthest from
you.

As shown in the above diagram, the two players are standing at center
court, waiting for the "jump ball" to begin the game.

The left or green player's score is shown at the top left of the playfield;
the right or lavendar player's score is shown at the top right. Between the
two scores is a time clock. When the game begins, this clock will begin
counting backwards from 4:00. For any score to count, it must go through
the basket before the game ends at 0:00.

To start the game with a jump ball (after setting your Difficulty Switch),
depress the Game Reset switch on your Console unit. When the switch is
released the ball will be thrown straight up. When the ball comes down the
game is underway.

When a basket is made, the player making the basket is reset to center
court to defense. His opponent will be reset under the basket to receive
the ball and make his offensive moves.

The line under each basket are the court endlines. A defensive player can
cross over either endline. An offensive player cannot dribble the ball over
the endline nearest to his offensive goal. This features stops any "stall"
tactics.

Game 1 Two-player Game

In this version, you are against your opponent. To make your game more
interesting, try playing two 4:00 halves, changing controllers at halftime.

Game 2 One-player Game

Using the right hand controller, it's you against the computer... and our
computer is programmed to increase your playing skill. The closer the
score, the better his defense and he will make more offensive moves. Try
not to let the computer get more than an 8-point lead, because after he has
let you close the score, his defense will tighten much sooner.

Suggestion: At first place the left Difficulty Switch in the A position and
the right Difficulty Switch in the B position. If you can beat the computer
6 to 8-points, consider yourself a skillful player. Then move the left
Difficulty Switch to the B position. If you can beat the computer by more
than 4-points, you are a superior player.

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Document converted to html by gchance@ecst.csuchico.edu
-------------------Atari 2600 Instructions Archive-------------------
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REQUIRMENTS:
Our Atari 2600 emulator utilizes Javascript to run in your browser. No plugin is required, but a fast modern web browser will enhance the game play.

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SAMPLE IPHONE GAMEPLAY SCREENSHOT

Emulation on mobile devices will drain your battery quite fast. I recommend playing while device is plugged into charger.


KEYBOARD CONTROLS

controls
help

Basketball Arcade Game Emulated on the Atari 2600. Play Basketball in your web browser or mobile phone. This Atari 2600 console emulator provides very accurate Basketball gameplay. Basketball is a classic 1980s Atari 2600 video game.