Atari 2600 with the "GameLine"
The Atari 2600 is one of the pioneering consoles, it has left a lasting mark on video games and I have already mentioned this in THIS ARTICLE. Another "feat of arms", it was, in 1983, the support of an innovative device: The GameLine.
It is, no more and no less, than a cartridge coupled to a 1200 Baud modem to connect a download service for online games developed and operated by Video Control Corporation (CVC)… And yes, already online games …
In 1983, William F. von Meister looked for a way to use his innovative data transmission technology.
It will be done with the GameLine.
The GameLine Master Module was a silver gray case.
The "Master Module" has 8 KB of RAM and its smaller end allows you to plug it into the cartridge slot of the 2600.
The package cost $ 49.95 plus a $ 15 subscription. Then the player was allowed to play the downloaded game until $ 1.00 of credit was then.
The user should not cut his connection or turn off the console because the game disappeared.
It was a 9 Volt battery that powered the unit.
This beautiful initiative was "torpedoed" by problems of commercial licenses. Indeed, for lack of agreement, no Activision games, Parker Brothers, Coleco and even less Atari.
Nevertheless, Imagic was part of the adventure with great games, for the time, like "Demon Attack" or "Atlantis".
The number of games available was 75 games.
Other well-known but less talented tellers (sorry for them), Tiggervision and Spectravision. I played some of these games like "King Kong" (a sub-Donkey-Kong) or even "Gangster Alley" not unpleasant to play in the context.
There were also variants of Pac-Man (Fast Food – Jawbreaker).
Video bonus:
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