I've had a weird Atari VCS for a while. Not weird for working differently, but weird because it'd been in a box for all of the 80s (my dad seems to have bought/obtained a spare 2600 in case the first one broke... and it never did until the 90s) and having a special tattoo under it. It's the second revision, four switch woodgrain model (Before it was officially the 2600, and when it was the VCS instead), and after a bit of cleaning, it works like a charm. Nothing out of the ordinary but the word "PROMOTIONAL" tattooed on the plastic under the unit. Anyone know anything about this "PROMOTIONAL" marking? I went to AtariAge to check, but other than the fact that this might be an early version for retailers, there's not much to be known. I've opened this one, to clean it and stuff, and it doesn't seem different to the other ones. Thanks beforehand for any information.
Look on the bottom label, if it says it's made in Sunnyvale (most 2600As were not) that's one indication that it's a promo. I've also heard that the switches are supposed to be chromed...that's not is this description. If you're still not sure, ask on the 2600 forum there. Theres a ton of knowledgable people. Basically, if it is what it sounds like, it's a promotional console that was used in stores.
The bottom label is unfortunately gone (and it's weird, because there's no traces of it), but I guess it's likely it's one of these machines. Weird thing, because the machine is pretty much new. It's likely to be one of them Sunnyvale machines - because of the marking. It truly makes me wonder how the hell my father got this one, though, if it's not for resale - and yet we had it, outside of the U.S. and everything.
Ok, first, quick question...Are the switches chromed? I mean, the very fact that it has "promotional" melted into it sugggets that it's a promotional 2600. It could be a case swap...but that would me that you just had the bottom half of a promotional console! Look at the trim...is it yellow instead of orange? (By "the trim" i mean the trim around the line that is the edge of the area that has all of the switches in it)... Oh yeah...is that the original box for it? Look to see if it says "Not for Resale." Sorry for the rambling...if you have a Promotional console, I'm automatically jealous!
That's the strange thing. The rim is light orange, but definitely not yellow. The switches definitely don't look chromed but they're definitely a more shiny silver colour than my other Atari, which happens to be newer. Who knows. I sort of recall the original box being in one of the closets. It might have read "not for resale" but I don't recall clearly. I'm going to look for it. I hope it's still arond somewhere.
