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The Atari 2600 was first released in North America in September 1977 and featured 9 launch titles: Air-Sea Battle, Basic Math, Blackjack, Combat, Indy 500, Star Ship, Street Racer, Surround 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
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
CCW(TM)* Indicates trademark of MUPPETS, INC. CHILDREN'S COMPUTER WORKSHOP AN ACTIVITY OF CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP ATARI(R) 2600(TM) OSCAR'S TRASH RACE(TM+) +Indicates trademark of MUPPETS, INC. FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-7 CTW SESAME STREET (TMo) ATARI AND CHILDREN'S COMPUTER WORKSHOP(TM*) PRESENT: Educational games featuring the lovable Sesame Street Muppets and other wonderful, whimsical characters. The creators of Sesame Street, Electric Company, and 3*2*1 Contact have teamed up with the creators of the world's most popular video games. ATARI/CCW(TM*) games are designed by writers, artists, programmers, educators, psychologists, and lots of kids! OUR FORMULA: One Part Creative Magic + One Part Technical Wizardry + One Part Educational Know-How = Dynamic, Child-Appropriate Video Games! ATARI/CCW Video Games Provide: * Family Play * Continuous Challenge * Long-Term Fun * Nonviolent Play * Opportunity for Cooperative Play, Individual Play, and Competitive Play * Appeal to Both Girls and Boys This Video Game Product was developed by ATARI, INC. and the CHILDREN'S COMPUTER WORKSHOP (C) 1983 ATARI, INC. All Rights Reserved (C) 1983 CHILDREN'S COMPUTER WORKSHOP, INC. All Rights Reserved. Muppet Characters (C) 1983 MUPPETS, INC. All Rights Reserved. Featuring the JIM HENSON(TM#) SESAME STREET(TMo) MUPPET(TM#) Characters. * Indicates trademark of CHILDREN'S COMPUTER WORKSHOP, INC. o Indicates trademark of CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WORKSHOP. + Indicates trademark of MUPPETS, INC. # Indicates trademark of HENSON ASSOCIATES, INC. Table of Contents [Drawing of used toothbrush] Note to Parents.............................1 [Drawing of patched beachball] Setting Up................................2 [Drawing of apple core] A Read-Aloud Story...............................4 [Drawing of old sneaker] Game Play ......................................9 [Drawing of banana peel] I Love Trash...................................14 [Drawing of bent hangar] More Fun With Oscar............................15 [Drawing of hat with hole in it] Game Matrix............................21 [Drawing of Oscar in his trash can] [Used toothbrush] Note to Parents OSCAR'S TRASH RACE provides an exciting urban setting for practicing a variety of numerical skills and concepts as well as important prereading skills. These include: [Picture of 3 cups under a trash can with the number 3 on it] 1) Counting objects and matching the number of objects counted with its corresponding numeral. 2) Recognizing the number of objects in a pattern. [Picture of four arrows in circles pointing up, down, left and right] 3) Following directional arrows 4) Using the relational concepts up, down, left, and right. When you play OSCAR'S TRASH RACE with your child you can reinforce numerical concepts by talking about the game as you play. Say the names of the numbers out loud and encourage your child to say them too. As you read this manual, from time to time you will see this symbol: [Abstract drawing of a parent with arm around child] The symbol will be followed by suggestions to help you and your child get the most fun out of playing OSCAR'S TRASH RACE. [Drawing of Oscar in his trash can pointing at the text, and 3 little walking trash cans with feet sticking out of the bottom. [Patched beach ball] Setting Up HOW TO USE YOUR ATARI(R) KID'S CONTROLLER Use your ATARI KID'S CONTROLLER to play OSCAR'S TRASH RACE. Plug the ATARI KID'S CONTROLLER into the LEFT controller jack at the back of your ATARI 2600(TM) console. (See Figure 1.) In two-player games, players take turns using the controller as each person's turn comes up. The computer keeps score automatically. [Drawing of the back of the 2600] Figure 1 - Plugging in the Controller [Drawing of Oscar, inside his trash can, putting the overlay on the kid's controller] Figure 2 - Keypad Overlay You will find one keypad overlay included with this game. This colorful overlay will help your child select and use appropriate buttons during game play. Slip the overlay tabs into the slots at the top and bottom of your ATARI KID'S CONTROLLER, as shown in Figure 2. NOTE: Always turn the console POWER switch OFF before inserting or removing an ATARI Game Program(TM) cartridge. This will protect the electronic components and prolong the life of your ATARI 2600 Video Computer System(TM) cartridge. HOW TO USE THE ATARI 2600 CONSOLE CONTROL SWITCHES POWER ON/OFF SWITCH After you have inserted the Game Program cartridge, move the POWER ON/OFF switch to ON. GAME SELECT SWITCH OSCAR'S TRASH RACE contains seven exciting game levels. Find the game number you want to play in the GAME MATRIX on the back cover. Press the GAME SELECT switch until the game number appears at the lower left of the television screen. (See Figure 3.) The number on the right indicates the number of players for that game. For a detailed description of each game, see GAME PLAY. [Screen shot] Figure 3 - Selecting a Game GAME RESET SWITCH After you have chosen the game level you want to play, press GAME RESET to begin the game. You can also press GAME RESET during game play or after a game ends if you want to start the same game over. DIFFICULTY SWITCHES RIGHT and LEFT DIFFICULTY switches are not used in this game. TV TYPE SWITCH Set the TV TYPE switch to COLOR to play the game on a color TV. Set this switch to B/W to play on a black and white TV. [Apple core] A Read-Aloud Story [Drawing of a road, with 2 candy cane poles along the sign, with a banner in between them saying "THE GROUCH DAY PICNIC". A wooden sign points to the CITY DUMP. Trash lies along side the road. A city skyline is in the distance.] It was the morning of the annual Grouch Day Picnic. The weather was perfect: cloudy, cold, and dreary. Little grouches from all over the country came to the picnic, which was held at their favorite spot: the scenic city dump. The little grouches ate peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, showed off their junk collections, told grumpy stories, and played grouch games. But the high point of the day was the Trash Race, a game invented by Oscar the Grouch and his pet worm Slimey. [Drawing of Oscar blowing his broken bugle, inside his trash can] When Oscar blew his broken bugle, the race began. The three grouchiest grouches got to play first. They lined up at the back of the dump and waited for the start signal. "Blaat!" went Oscar's trumpet. "Here comes the trash truck!" yelled the spectators in the grouch gallery. [Drawing of dump truck dumping trash] The three grouches waited nervously while a trash truck slowly backed into the dump. Out poured the trash: one, two, three, four - four old tin cans. Each grouch counted carefully and checked the number on his can to see if it matched. "It's Herman!" yelled someone in the crownd. "No, I think it's Grungetta!" yelled another. But they were both wrong. The Grouch with the number four on her can was Sloppy. "It's me! It's me!" shouted Sloppy as she started racing to the trash. She knew she had to grab the trash and make it back to the starting line before Slimey reached the other end of the dump. [Picture of Oscar yelling at the trash race contestants.] "Go Sloppy!" yelled the crowd. "Go Slimey!" shouted Oscar the Grouch. Sloppy raced through the muddy junk yard leaping over puddles and potholes as fast as her little green legs would go. By the time she reached the trash pile, Sloppy really lived up to her name: She was covered with mud from head to toe. Sloppy quickly grabbed the trash and ran back toward the starting line. It was a close race! Slimey was only a slither away. But the thought of the grand prize gave Sloppy an extra burst of energy and she slid across the starting line before Slimey got to the far edge of the dump. [Picture of Oscar giving Sloppy an icky sardine sundae.] "Hurrah!" yelled all the grouches. "Boo!" yelled Oscar. Sloppy stepped up to Oscar's can to receive her prize. It was a delicious, icky sardine sundae. That day the little grouches ran several more races. They simply loved racing for [cracked plate] cracked plates, [old shoe] old shoes, [apple core] apple cores, [letters] junk mail, used [2 toothbrushes] toothbrushes, crumpled tin [crumpled tin can] cans, and other wonderful junk. [Hat with bite out of it, banana peel, patched beach ball, bent hangar, cracked teapot.] Of course, some of the little grouches liked playing in the puddles that covered the dump as much as getting the trash! After the Trash Races, the grimy participants celebrated by eating more peanut butter and pickle sandwiches and talking about especially rotten aspects of the games. At the end of the day, everyone agreed that a grouchy time was had by all! [Picture of the gang eating PB & P] [Picture of old shoe] Game Play [Picture of Oscar in his can] NOW PLAY OSCAR'S TRASH RACE...HERE'S HOW: All the little grouches want to show Oscar how fast they can count and collect trash. You can help them. OBJECT OF THE GAME: Help the little grouches count the trash, run to it, load it up, and return to the starting line as quickly as possible. Each time you finish a race you get one point. GET READY TO PLAY: Follow the directions in SETTING UP to plug in the KID'S CONTROLLER, to use the keypad overlay, and to select a game level. To select a little grouch, press one of the three grouch buttons on your kepad overlay. [3 pictures of the trash can overlay button] If you pick a grouch whose number doesn't match the number of trash pieces, a buzzer sounds. To move the grouch down toward the trash, press the arrow that points down: [Picture of down arrow overlay button] To move the grouch to the left, press the arrow that points left: [Picture of left arrow overlay button] To move right, press the arrow that points right: [Picture of right arrow overlay button] To make the grouch jump, press the jump button on your overlay [Picture of trash can with 2 red feet below, with lines indicating jumping] To move the grouch back up to the starting line, press the arrow that points up. [Picture of up arrow overlay button] GAME VARIATIONS OSCAR'S TRASH RACE contains seven action-packed game levels. Below are detailed descriptions of each. For quick reference see the GAME MATRIX on the back cover. GAME 1: ONE-PLAYER PRACTICE GAME [Picture of yellow trash can with purple feet, with the number 1 in the upper left hand corner] The trash truck dumps out one to five pieces of trash, one piece at a time. First count the trash as it drops. Then look at the grouches. The correct number appears on one of the grouch cans. Select that little grouch by pressing the grouch button on your overlay which corresponds to the grouch's position. To help the grouch get to the trash as quickly as possible, press the left, right, and down arrows. Then move the grouch back up to the starting line by pressing the up arrow. (See Figure 4.) The little grouch runs as fast as his furry legs can go - what fun it is to load up on that nice, yucky trash! There are three races to a game. You receive one point at the lower left side of the screen each time you finish a race. After three races, Oscar the Grouch makes his magnificent appearance! [Screen shot of game play, pointing out Starting Line at top of screen, and the Running Grouch (trash can with feet)] Figure 4 - Grouch On The Run [Parent/child picture] Young children may need help counting objects. Encourage your child to point to the screen and count each piece of trash out loud as it falls. GAME 2: ONE-PLAYER BEGINNING GAME [Picture of yellow trash can with red feet, the number 2 in the upper left hand corner.] Again, the dump truck throws out one to five pieces of trash, one piece at a time. But now all the cans of the little grouches are numbered, so you must count the pieces of trash and decide which grouch has the same number on his can. Press the corresponding grouch can on your overlay to select that grouch. Then press the right, left, and down arrows to help the grouch get to the precious trash as quickly as possible. As soon as you've loaded up the trash, press the arrow that points up to run back to the starting line. You receive one point each time you complete a race. After three races, Oscar appears and congratulates you in his own grouchy manner. GAMES 3 AND 4: ONE- AND TWO-PLAYER JUMP GAMES [Picture of yellow trash can with green feet, and a brown puddle. The number 3 is in the upper left hand corner] [Picture of yellow trash can with red feet, and a brown puddle. The number 4 is in the upper left hand corner] Now the truck dumps one to nine pieces of trash on the ground. Select the grouch whose number matches the number of pieces of trash, and press the arrows on your overlay to make him run! In game 3 there are three puddles on the race course. In game 4 the rececourse[!] is covered with many messy puddles. When the running grouch gets to a puddle, you should either press the jump button on your keypad overlay to help him jump over or use the arrows to walk around the puddle. You get one point for every puddle you jump. Also, the grouches get down to the trash and return to the starting line faster when you make them jump over puddles. Once a grouch's toes touch a puddle, she or he can't resist playing in the muck, as shown in Figure 5. Just watch those little feet get covered with mud! [Picture shows yellow trash can with purple feet and the number 3 on it in a puddle] Figure 5 - Grouch in a Puddle After three races in Game 3 and five races in Game 4, Oscar the Grouch shows his grouchy face. In two-player games, the second player takes over the controller to run races after the first player finishes. The number at the lower left side of the screen totals the first player's points and the number at the lower right side totals the second player's points. GAME 5: ONE- AND TWO-PLAYER TIMED RACES [Picture shows a yellow trash can with blue feet, a brown puddle, an inchworm, and the number 5 in the upper left hand corner] Take the little grouches on as many races as you can before Slimey the Worm reaches the other side of the dump. See Slimey at the bottom of the screen? (Figure 6.) He slowly crawls from one end of the dump to the other end where Oscar awaits news of the races. When Slimey reaches Oscar, time is up, the game ends, and Oscar appears. [Screen shot shows game play. Slimey the Worm is pointed out] Figure 6 - Timed Game The truck dumps all the trash out at once and there are lots of puddles. Try to make the grouches jump over or run around these mudholes. If their toes touch that gooshy mud, they will hop in and play. You get one point for every puddle you leap and one point for each race you complete. In two-player games, the second player runs as many races as possible after time is up for the first player. [Picture of parent/child symbol] You may want to draw your child's attention to Slimey the Worm on the screen, and explain that when Slimey reaches the far right edge of the screen, the game ends. GAMES 6 AND 7: ONE- and TWO-PLAYER RAINY DAY GAMES [Picture shows yellow trash can with brown feet, a blue puddle, and an inchworm. The number 6 appears in the upper left hand corner.] [Picture shows yellow trash can with green feet, a blue puddle, and an inchworm. The number 7 appears in the upper left hand corner.] Pay close attention and help the runners leap over all the mucky puddles on the racecourse. Remember, whenever a grouch gets into a puddle, the race is delayed while the little grouch plays. During these races, the sky darkens and rain falls on the runners. When it rains, the puddles fill up with blue rain water. If you jump over a puddle when it is blue, you score two points. There are one to nine pieces of trash which are dumped all at once. Slimey times the game. In two-player games, each player runs as many races as possible before time is up. In Game 7 everything moves really fast because the little grouches have their speed up from all the practice they've gotten. [Picture of banana peel] I Love Trash As you play OSCAR'S TRASH RACE, watch for the following pieces of trash: BONE [White diagonal with perpendicular ends] HANGER [White, bottom is yellow] MUG [White rectangle with a handle near the top on the right side] TOOTHBRUSH [Thin blue line with white rectangle on top left side] TIN CAN [Grey rectangle, with diagonal line off top, and red rectangle in the middle] TELEVISION [Brown rectangle with white rectangle inside, and two white circles for knobs] HAT [Yellow ten-gallon hat, with black where hat meets brim] PHONE [Blue rotary phone] TENNIS SHOE [Blue blob with black on the bottom and part of the top] SHOE [Red blob with black on the bottom and part of the top] ENVELOPE [White square with a black V inside the top half] SCISSORS [Thin grey rectangle with 2 circles at the bottom. This looks as if it belongs in the Bachelor Party manual] BOAT [White triangle sail, blue hull] HAMMER [Grey handle, black business end] BEACH BALL [Circle with two yellow quarters, a blue quarter and a red quarter] More Fun With Oscar [Picture of a bent blue hanger] The Grouch Picnic Oscar and the little grouches are getting ready to eat a yucky picnic lunch. What you you think they will eat? Draw the lunch. Color the picture. [Picture in black outline suitable for coloring, shows Oscar in his trash can, with a blanket for the picnic, a bunch of trash, trees, bushes, plants, a CITY DUMP sign and a skyline] What happened first? Here are some pictures from OSCAR'S TRASH RACE. What happened in each picture? Can you find what happened first? What happened next? What happened last? Now tell a story about what happened in the race! [Picture shows a closed trash can with purple feet] [Picture shows Oscar in his trash can] [Picture shows garbage truck dumping garbage] [Picture shows garbage on the ground] Trash Match Each little grouch has a number on his can. The number tells you how many pieces of trash he or she will get. Draw a line from the grouch to the pieces of trash he or she will get. [Picture shows an orange little grouch in a silver can with a 3 on it, a red little grouch in a silver can with a 4 on it, and a yellow little grouch in a silver can with a 1 on it. At the bottom are 3 tin cans, a teapot, and 4 toothbrushes] Oscar's Scavenger Hunt Oscar wants to fix up his home. Here he is at the city dump looking for fabulous junk. Help him find; one Slimey the worm, two sardine ice cream cones, three yucky balloons, four little grouches, five banana peels, six old shoes, and seven tin cans. [Picture shows another picture of the CITY DUMP, with a bunch of junk. The picture is signed by GUS ALLEN] [Picture of a red hat with brown brim and a bite taken out] Game Matrix [Picture of yellow trash can with purple feet, with the number 1 in the upper left hand corner] [Picture of yellow trash can with red feet, the number 2 in the upper left hand corner.] [Picture of yellow trash can with green feet, and a brown puddle. The number 3 is in the upper left hand corner] [Picture of yellow trash can with red feet, and a brown puddle. The number 4 is in the upper left hand corner] [Picture shows a yellow trash can with blue feet, a brown puddle, an inchworm, and the number 5 in the upper left hand corner] [Picture shows yellow trash can with brown feet, a blue puddle, and an inchworm. The number 6 appears in the upper left hand corner.] [Picture shows yellow trash can with green feet, a blue puddle, and an inchworm. The number 7 appears in the upper left hand corner.] [Picture of inchworm] GAME LENGTH INDICATOR [Brown puddle] PUDDLE JUMP GAME [Blue puddle] RAINY DAY GAME Games 1 & 2: One-Player Game Only Games 3-7: One-Player & Two-Player Games [Fuji] ATARI(R) ATARI, INC. Consumer Division 1312 Crossman, P.O. Box 61657 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 A Warner Communications Company [Warner symbol] CO19741-101 REV. A 26101 (C) 1983 ATARI, INC. All Rights Reserved Printed in U.S.A.
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.
Emulation on mobile devices will drain your battery quite fast. I recommend playing while device is plugged into charger.
KEYBOARD CONTROLS