When I created AtariAddict.com, I wanted it to become more than just another retro computing website. I wanted it to be a place where Atari fans, collectors, gamers, programmers, artists, and curious newcomers could come together to celebrate one of the most creative and influential companies in the history of home computing and video games. Whether your memories revolve around the Atari 2600, the Atari 800XL, the Atari ST, the Atari Lynx, or even the ambitious Atari Jaguar, this site is dedicated to preserving the stories, hardware, memories, and excitement that made Atari so special.
Like many Atari fans, my connection to Atari started early. My family owned an Atari 2600 when I was younger, and like countless kids growing up in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I was completely fascinated by it. There was something magical about being able to control what was happening on a television screen. But as much as I loved the Atari 2600, my real Atari story began a few years later when I was 13 years old.
I had just received my very first paycheck from my first job and decided I was finally going to buy my own computer. I remember going to Toys “R” Us full of excitement and leaving the store with a Commodore VIC-20. At the time, owning a computer felt like stepping into the future. I rushed home, set it up, and started using it… and honestly, I hated it. Something about it just didn’t feel right to me. I couldn’t stop thinking about the Atari computers I had seen in magazines and stores.
The very next day, I went back to Toys “R” Us and made what felt like a huge financial decision at the time. I spent another $99 and exchanged the VIC-20 for an Atari 800XL. The moment I brought the Atari home and powered it on, everything changed. I absolutely fell in love with that machine. I used it every single day. I explored games, programming, peripherals, magazines, and software with endless curiosity. I became so attached to my Atari that when my family planned vacations, I honestly wanted to stay home just so I could spend more time with my computer.
Looking back now, that Atari 800XL was more than just a computer to me. It opened the door to creativity, technology, problem solving, and imagination. In many ways, it helped shape the direction of my entire life and career. Atari systems inspired an entire generation of people to become programmers, artists, musicians, gamers, engineers, and technology enthusiasts. That spirit of exploration and excitement is exactly what I hope to capture here on AtariAddict.com.
As this site grows, you’ll find articles, hardware galleries, rare accessories, historical information, personal stories, and plenty of retro nostalgia celebrating every era of Atari history. I also invite you to sign up for the AtariAddict monthly newsletter where I’ll be sharing classic Atari memories, stories from the community, featured hardware, retro computing discussions, and reflections on why these incredible machines still matter so much to us decades later.
Thank you for visiting AtariAddict.com. I truly hope this site brings back great memories, sparks new discoveries, and reminds all of us why Atari continues to hold such a special place in computing and gaming history.
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