Retro Video Games and Fitness Tracking Synergized in Atari 2600 My Play Watch
Ready for a blast from the past, wrapped around your wrist? Atari's bold move, the Atari 2600 My Play Watch, unites retro gaming thrills with modern-day wristwear.
This beastly wearable takes inspiration from popular handheld gaming devices, shrinking them down for added portability. You'll have four nostalgic classics at your fingertips: Centipede, Missile Command, Pong, and Super Breakout, all based on their original Atari 2600 versions[6].
But how does one control these games originally played with joysticks, from a simple watch? Atari 2600 My Play Watch does the trick using innovative controls. One side button mirrors a regular button, while the crown controller, initially appearing as a round button, acts like an arcade paddle controller[7]. This clever design element aims to make the games surprisingly comfortable on your watch[1].
Games on smartwatches usually feel out of place, but this Atari watch could be an exception[1].
Additional Features
The Atari 2600 My Play Watch delivers the essentials of a fitness tracker. It counts steps, monitors your heart rate, and calculates daily caloric expenditure[8].
It shuns complexities often found in smartwatches, such as GPS, active exercise tracking modes, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity, and even mentions no battery life[8]. Atari promotes its simple design as an appealing factor: "Your My Play Watch will never update and therefore never become obsolete," they say[8].
The watch sports a 2.02-inch screen and a partial metal screen bezel[8]. Two straps come in the box, the first mimicking the original Atari 2600's wood grain, and the second offering a classic blocky-style color gradient[8]. Pre-orders also get a Missile Command band[8].
Pre-order the Atari 2600 My Play Watch for just $79.99, with shipments expected from June 10[8]. This watch marks a return to the roots, similar to a Kickstarter project from late 2024 known as the Space Invaders: My Play Watch. Though limited to a single game, Space Invaders, the previous project garnered 573 orders[5].
[1] https://www.tomsguide.com/news/atari-2600-smartwatch-controls-10-classic-games[2] https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/14/23414485/atari-2600-smartwatch-everything-you-need-to-know[3] https://www.pocket-lint.com/watches/buying-guides/atari-2600-smartwatch-pre-orders[4] https://www.reuters.com/technology/atari-debuts-2600-smartwatch-lets-you-play-pong-missile-command-on-wrist-2022-12-03/[5] https://www.gamesradar.com/atari-2600-smartwatch-release-date-price-preview-games-specs-news/[6] https://www.polygon.com/23421171/atari-2600-smartwatch-games-news[7] https://www.tvinsider.com/1527354/atari-2600-watch-smartwatch-classic-arcade-games-pre-order-details/[8] https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/atari-2600-smartwatch-wants-to-bring-classic-games-to-your-wrist/
The Atari 2600 My Play Watch combines arcade games like Centipede and retro gaming with the convenience of modern smartwatches. Despite its small size, it delivers a surprising level of comfort when playing games originally designed for joysticks. Interestingly, this watch also has additional features such as a fitness tracker that counts steps, monitors heart rate, and calculates calories burned.
