No love for next-gen? Revisit Atari glory days with The Console Library

No love for next-gen? Revisit Atari's glory days with The Console Library
Got a hankering for Donkey Kong?

The Internet Archive, on a noble mission to preserve the computing software of yesteryear for future generations, has turned its focus to gaming by opening a free archive of home console classics.

The Console Living Room allows in-browser play of practically any game from five consoles that marked the dawn of home gaming - the Atari 2600, Atari 7800, ColecoVision, Magnavox Odyssey, and Astrocade.

Thanks to the versatile MESS emulator, games from the 70s and 80s like Donkey Kong, Frogger, Space Invaders, California Games, Pac-Man and Mario Bros. can be played within the web browser.

Currently, the games don't have sound, but the organisation says it will be added soon.

For better or worse

"In coming months, the playable software collection will expand greatly," said Jason Scott, the curator of the Console Living Room.

"Making these vintage games available to the world, instantly, allows for commentary, education, enjoyment and memory for the history they are a part of."

The archive will give those raised on Call of Duty and GTA a chance to see the origins of their passion, while those non-plussed by next-gen will have the opportunity to revisit their era free of charge.

If nothing else, it'll let younger gamers, who've only heard of the legendary Atari disaster E.T. The Extra Terrestrial a chance to experience how just terrible it was.

Via BBC

Chris Smith

A technology journalist, writer and videographer of many magazines and websites including T3, Gadget Magazine and TechRadar.com. He specializes in applications for smartphones, tablets and handheld devices, with bylines also at The Guardian, WIRED, Trusted Reviews and Wareable. Chris is also the podcast host for The Liverpool Way. As well as tech and football, Chris is a pop-punk fan and enjoys the art of wrasslin'.