The Internet Archive has now opened the Console Living Room. The site allows gamers to play vintage console games from the 1970s and 1980s without additional plugins. The Console Living Room uses JSMESS, which allows simple access to all of the games.
The collection of games is not yet complete, and they are presented without sound. However, the current offerings are impressive. Internet Archive explains that sound “will be added soon.”
The currently available systems include the Atari 2600, Atari 7800 ProSystem, ColecoVision, Magnavox Odyssey², and the Astrocade. The site also provides photos of the vintage consoles and instruction manuals where available.
It is recommended that users note the games’ key mappings and use an up-to-date browser for an optimal experience. Although the games can be played on older systems, they may be somewhat slow.
ATARI 2600
The Atari 2600 was released by Atari, Inc. in 1977. The console was originally sold with a pair of joystick controllers and a paddle controller. It also included a Combat game cartridge, which was later replaced with Pac-Man . The Atari 2600 is credited with introducing microprocessor-based hardware and ROM game cartridges.
The Internet Archive offers hundreds of Atari 2600 games including Adventure , Battlezone , California Games , Chopper Command , Defender II , Dragonfire , Frogger , and River Raid .
ATARI 7800 PROSYSTEM
The Atari 7800 was released by Atari, Inc. in 1986. It was sold with two digital joysticks and offered backward compatibility with the Atari 2600 — without additional hardware. The console’s biggest competitors were the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Master System. However, the $140 price tag and backward compatibility made it a popular choice for gamers.
The Internet Archive has numerous Atari 7800 games. However, Alien Brigade , Asteroids , Centipede , Food Fight , and Joust , are the most popular.
COLECOVISION
ColecoVision was released by Coleco Industries in 1982. It was the company’s second generation console. It included quality graphics and a gaming style that was comparable to arcade games. In a period of two years ColecoVision released 145 ROM cartridge games.
The Internet Archive’s Console Living Room offers several ColecoVision games, including the Berenstain Bears , M.A.S.H. , Porkys , Robin Hood , and War Games .
MAGNAVOX ODYSSEY²
The Magnavox Odyssey² was released by Magnavox in 1978. The original Magnavox Odyssey was the very first home video gaming system. The Odyssey² was their second generation gaming system. Although the graphics and games were quite simple, the console and games are true classics.
The Odyssey² games offered by the Internet Archive include K. C. Munchkin , K. C.’s Krazy Chase , Killer Bees , Pick Axe Pete , Smithereens , and many others.
ASTROCADE
The Astrocade was a game console computer system originally released by Bally in 1977. The console was later re-released by a third-party company. At the time of its release, the console was well-known for its advanced graphics.
Internet Archive offers several Astrocade games, including Blast Droids , Football , The Incredible Wizard , Muncher , and Space Fortress.
The Console Living room provides a simple and fun way to explore a vast collection of vintage console games.