Posted on Leave a comment

Kickstarter campaign is live!

We have launched our Kickstarter campaign – please check it out:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gnb-atari/playable-lego-atari-2600-game-console

Also, notice that we have 3 options in Kickstarter: the “Builder” reward, the “Plug-n-Play” reward and the “Complete Build” reward.

The “Builder” reward – for Lego Builders of course! Enjoy the Build and the 130 Games!

The “Builder” reward provides you with the Controller Board and the Switch Panel, along with the Lego bricks and instruction set on how to install them into your Lego Atari 2600. This is the most involved reward because it requires you to take the Switchboard apart and install the components needed to make your Lego into a game console. It takes more time, but is also the most fun!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gnb-atari/playable-lego-atari-2600-game-console/rewards#reward-UmV3YXJkLVVtVjNZWEprTFRrM09ESTJOVGc9

The “Plug-n-Play” reward converts your Lego Atari 2600 in just a few steps!

The “Plug-n-Play” reward makes the conversion as easy as possible, assuming you built the Lego Atari 2600 that you are converting! You simply remove the Switchboard and a few of the anchor pieces from the set, and then replace it with our custom Switchboard. There are a few additional pieces, to help secure the new Switchboard and to relieve tension from plugging/unplugging the controllers, HMDI cable and USB power cable in/out repeatedly.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gnb-atari/playable-lego-atari-2600-game-console/rewards#reward-UmV3YXJkLVVtVjNZWEprTFRrM09ESTJPRFE9

The “Complete Set” is a complete Lego Atari 2600 Console

The “Complete Set” ships to you as a completed Lego Atari 2600 – so it’s a ready-to-play console! Since this is a Lego set, we also ship the bags for the Atari games and scenes, along with the instruction book. This gives Lego enthusiasts a chance to participate in the build, but it isn’t necessary. The point is that the console just needs to be plugged into your TV so you can enjoy it! Or… buy it as a gift!

Read more about our Story at Kickstarter

We are very excited about our Kickstarter campaign! We did this to help us fund the up-front costs of specialized switches, PCB boards, connections, cabling, etc. We hope that you will support our campaign by becoming a Backer!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gnb-atari/playable-lego-atari-2600-game-console/description

Posted on Leave a comment

Working on a Kickstarter campaign

Now that we have a working prototype of the game-n-bricks “Playable Lego Atari 2600” we are working on a Kickstarter campaign. We want to share this to other Lego + Atari enthusiasts who also want to convert the Lego console into a working Atari console.

We are only using genuine LEGO® bricks

There are many challenges to bring this product to life, one of the most important is the decisions around how to offer it. We are certainly wanting to produce this using genuine LEGO® bricks to complement the construction set sold by LEGO®.

Also, it is important to us to offer the product in a variety of options, such as one that “feels” like a Lego build. For this type of product, creating instructions and ensuring that the build is successful is critical. We need to simplify the wiring, make the components retrofit into an existing Lego build and have the process be enjoyable.

We had to fit all of the electronics into the Atari switchboard. This also means we could offer a simplified product, if there is enough interest.

A “easy to assemble” version of the Atari Switchboard component to conversion kit

Of course, we could offer the Playable Lego Atari 2600 as a completed build… but then should we also complete all of the “side builds” like the game cartridges and game displays? We think those should be enjoyed by the owner!

A playable Lego Atari 2600 with the building bags and instruction book.

We are not sure how everyone would want to enjoy this product, but we are sure we want to offer it! Once our Kickstarter is live, we will try to get the word out.

And of course, our products are not endorsed by either LEGO® or Atari® but we will source genuine Lego building bricks and use licensed Atari electronics. We just want to enjoy our Lego builds in new and exciting ways, and we hope to share our products with you.

LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site

Posted on Leave a comment

Introducing the first playable Lego Atari 2600

We, at game-n-bricks, have created the first playable Lego Atari 2600! Now, we’ve seen videos of other “playable Lego Atari” systems, but those Lego sets were essentially destroyed, with wires hanging out and even the slide-up Lego diorama removed. That isn’t a playable Lego set – those sets were destroyed!

This is the game-n-bricks playable Lego Atari 2600

This is our Lego Atari 2600 with 130 games! The Lego switches actually operate the the game console, the controllers plug into the back of the game system and you connect it to your TV with an HDMI cable.

And be amazed as the console still has room for the Lego diorama!

The console has working Lego switches and will be ready to play!

We are excited to introduce this after almost a year of prototyping. We found a lot of ways to NOT make this work, and finally found the one way it could work!