Product ReviewsBASIC Programming (Atari 2600, 1979)

Programming with this is fun, though not like real Basic nor is it useful.

I rate this as an attempted educational tool, not as a functional tool. I learned to program on the newer 800 XL but when I found that programming was available here on the 2600 game console I was floored. This requires two number keypads. I bought one new CX50 because I had an old worn keypad that is compatible but larger. I regret not buying two because the old one had problems, plus with this basic it would help a lot to lock the two together. --- Bottom line, writing code in this is really fun! A break from all those sophisticated programming languages. Even graphics (technically you could call it that). Certain commands tell two different colored blocks to be in certain X and Y positions. I love playing with this; I don't care that it really doesn't have any use being so simple and having so little memory for the instructions. I can even trace program steps, something I couldn't do in the Atari basic I grew up with.Read full review...