The
Atari 2600, (or
Atari VCS before 1982) is a
home video game console released on September 11, 1977 by
Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of
microprocessor-based hardware and
ROM cartridges containing game code, a format first used with the
Fairchild Channel F video game console in 1976. This format contrasts with the older model of having non-microprocessor
dedicated hardware, which could only play the games which were physically built into the unit.