Heavy Sixer? Wot That?

On 09/13/2013 at 04:25 PM by KnightDriver

My friend today told me about a guy at his work that sold him a Heavy Sixer for $1 with a bunch of carts. Now, I'm pretty knowledgable about games and systems, but I had to scratch my head. What the heck is a Heavy SIxer? A minute's thinking had my best guess at some sort of Atari 2600 because they're often refered to as six or four switch. Sure enough, yes. It's a six switch AVCS, but not any six switcher, but the very first AVCS put into production! It's heavier than the more common decks and has some slight visual differences. It's guts and controllers are apparently a little better quality than subsequent versions as well.

heavysixer

Notice the thicker plastic edges and rounded corners in the pic above. This system, according to Atariguide.com, is worth $129 and is rare.

Atari6switch

This Atari 2600 six switch above is a later, more common, model made more cheaply than the Heavy Sixer. You can see the borders are much thiner, the bottom edges less rounded, and if you could lift it, you would see that it weighs a lot less. Also, the black and woodgrain colors are not as rich as the Heavy Sixer.

So, for Atari collectors, the Heavy Sixer seems to be the ultimate AVCS to have.

I've learned something new today thanks to my gaming buddy, but just remember, no matter how much you think you know, there's always more. So don't get cocky kids!

jgusw

09/13/2013 at 05:52 PM

I had one of those in during the early '80s. I never heard of it referred to as a "heavy sixer". An Atari 2600 is worth $129? That's crazy. Hopefully that's for an unopened box. It's probably worth something now because millions of people threw their's away.

KnightDriver

09/14/2013 at 02:51 AM

This is just the very first model of the AVCS that's worth that much. I got a six switcher once with ten games, all the controllers, and a nice wood grain case for $50 at a convention once. It was in mint condition too.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

09/13/2013 at 06:25 PM

that's interesting. I don't remember which kind I had. I love the damn atari, haters be damned.

09/14/2013 at 02:52 AM

It's so simple both the system and the games. There's something appealing about that.

Cary Woodham

09/13/2013 at 07:41 PM

The 2600 was a rock. I could probably plug mine in right now and it would still work.

09/14/2013 at 02:53 AM

Seems like the big problem was always the controllers and how long they might last. The first model of AVCS apparently had some kind of spring in the controllers that made them more durable.

daftman

09/16/2013 at 05:56 AM

I'd love to have a VCS for novelty's sake. But since I started with the Game Boy and NES, I don't know if I'd really be able to appreciate the minimalism of the games.

09/16/2013 at 02:20 PM

Better to just download the free iphone ap where you can play something like 80 original Atari games. I tried to use it on my 4 year old iPod Touch but no go. It's already out of date with just about everything. Rats! Peanutbutter and Jelly! Cheese and Crackers!

09/16/2013 at 06:59 PM

That's pretty sad if any piece of technology made in the last 20 years can't play Atari games lol

09/17/2013 at 01:31 AM

My hardware is only 4 years old. Why would they stop supporting it? It's crazy and they're crazy if they think I'm just gonna go out and buy a new one when this one works just great for 99% of what I use it for: podcasts, music and the occasional Twitter or Facebook post.

NSonic79

09/22/2013 at 02:04 AM

Never heard of that one before, but then again my knowledge of gaming began in the 8 bit era of nintendo and sega. Though I did see a regluar 2600 recently for 20 dollars.

09/22/2013 at 03:57 AM

My friend gave me such hell for not knowing what a Heavy Sixer was. We both grew up with the Atari 2600 and I knew about four and six switch decks, but not the heavy one. It might have a little better parts than other versions, but it's not something too important. I had a regular six switch once and it was just fine.

PixlBit