My parents had Bowling before I was born. My mom was at home all day one day practicing so she could beat my dad after he got home. By the time he got home, she had the biggest, most painful blister on her hand. I still have this Bowling cartridge :)
Just played Bowling yesterday for the first time in forty years. Very simple but highly addictive. With your expert tips it will be even more enjoyable. Thanks Jon.
Fun fact, this game has seen a recent resurgence in popularity in my workplace. No joke. I started bringing my Atari 50 tabletop cabinet with me to work, and one day, one of my coworkers got curious and asked if they could try it. They scrolled through the game list and saw Bowling, and since it's one of the few games on the machine where a two-player game is possible, we started up a game. Ever since, I've been asked to bring my machine with me whenever I come in to work so we can play again. I was even asked by one of the managers for an Amazon link so that they can get their own to play Bowling. It hasn't taken off with everyone, of course, but seeing this little game from 1979 bring some much needed joy and fun to an otherwise stressful place, and to people who would likely have never experienced Atari makes me feel like I have, in some small part made the world a tiny bit better. :)
I know what you mean here, though my own guilty pleasure is Golf. Yes, the weird club dynamics take some getting used to, but something about those simple graphics and mastering the holes is so relaxing! Got a a copy I enjoy on my 2600+!
I didn’t have the cartridge when I was a kid, I got the game very recently, included in one of those Atari compilations. One nice thing is that it’s very easy to enjoy from the first time you launch it, unlike other games from that time which required some time learning how to play. Nice video!
What I mean is: compare it with Yars’, which is also great, but you need a videotutorial for learning how to play it :-) Bowling is straightforward from minute one.
Back in the day, I played the 1985 Bowling by TK Computer Products for Atari 8-bit home computers. Very similar, in many ways, despite more advanced graphics and a few tweaks to setting up a ball trajectory, but I recall having had a lot of fun playing it. Indeed, those simple games have their charm and suprisingly, IMHO, their playability did not really diminish over time.
Great review of this game. It’s funny how we had practically no expectations for games back then- we were willing to go along with the programmers intent and figure out if we liked it. Loved this game and enjoyed the review. Thanks
Used to bowl in leagues as a kid. Can confirm they get as excited as your dude when he gets a strike. Absolutely love older Atari cart artwork. Even bowling looks nice. Check out "The Art of Atari" book if you feel the same.
So, I've been thinking about it, and one of the first games we got after the launch in 1977 was Star Ship. Of course, we didn't get the game until sometime 1978. but I remember playing the heck out of it. Thought maybe that might be an idea for one of your Friday plays. Of course, like so many of the launch titles, there really isn't a whole lot to it, but I remember having fun with it none the less. Just a thought! Loved the bowling game as well! We did play this a lot!!
Oh yes Bowling! I have this game, simple but still lovely. So much fun, back in the late '70s (and today too) That man is actually one of the best sprites for the VCS. Amazing for 1979
This is probably one of my Top 5 most played games from the Atari 2600. In fact, I'm known to fire up Stella on my superpowered M3 iMac and whip off a few games because you can do them so quick. Love this game even though I have so many other bowling video games on other platforms which are in every measure technically superior. In fact, seeing your post made me break it out and do that just now.
I love when you cover games that I normally skip right by and don't even consider playing. I always end up giving them a try and I'm never disappointed. I hadn't played Atari Bowling in decades, but just fired it up and you're right- it's genuinely fun!
I played this game ALL the time as a kid. And it was with this game I experienced real stress for the first time. On the able to put a spin on mode, I bowled a 300. I don't remember if you took a picture of the screen and sent it in to "where ever", you got a patch or something. But, yeah, memories.
That looks awesome! I vaguely remember this game from my early childhood. It’s amazing how something that is so simple compared to what’s out there nowadays can be so fun to play. Behold the power of the 2600!
Christmas a few days away in 2024. Me remembering how excited I would get at Christmas to open up a few new 2600 games and play them the entire winter break.
I played the hell out of this when it was released. I just remember my 2600 at the ready when my mom or dad got me a new game and I just whiled away the day when I could. This was one of those games I just played a lot of.
I love this version of bowling but I am comically bad at the real game so makes sense, this and golf show how well sports can be done with very little.
I agree that this is a great game and totally playable. This was THE computer bowling game until Wii Sports Bowling, which is still one of the absolute best party games ever designed.
It still holds up too. Along with this bowling I enjoyed intellivision bowling a lot. I wished the arcade game Capcom bowling got a port to Nintendo or super Nintendo
The Atari 2600 was released long before I was born, but I acquired one of those retro Flashback consoles. Scrolling through the various games, I discovered a few I really like such as Missile Command and this. It's as basic as they come but I love the simplicity and fun of this game. The little guy's "happy dance" on getting a strike just makes me smile!
Not gonna lie I love the bowling on atari. My nephew who is 5 years old loves to play it when he comes down. He likes to play against me to see who gets the highest score.
One of the first games we had on the Atari 2600 (outside of Combat). Spent a lot of time playing Bowling as a whole family. Simple game. Maybe simpler times. Was still loads of fun.
I owned this one back in the day. I remember spending hours and hours trying to get that 300 game. I finally did it after playing for about two or three years. Its pretty easy to get 9+ strikes with a lot of practice, but 12 in a row is just patience and dedication.
when I was a kid in the 70s, I loved this game and even scored some perfect 300 games (on version 3 steerable ball), but now as a 53-year-old I can't get 300 at all! of course, I played Atari every day back then sometimes for hours at a time, so that practice really matters I guess, but I still have just as much fun playing this game now as I did back then. it's a top 10 atari 2600 game for me for sure.
Thanks Jon!!! Yup, one of my favorites too... By the way, when I was a kid, the game that made a lot of impact on my "gaming" experience was 'Night Driver' hopefully you can make a video like this one. It would be really nice to see your input on this Night Driver game that, to this day, I consider it my #1 Atari game. Thanks again.
I never played this as a kid (I was too young for this release and my first console was a 7800). But I started playing this gem when I got the Atari Gamestation Pro last year and it is one of my favorite games to play. My kids love this one as well. Absolute tons of fun.
Jon. I loved it. I abstained from asking you to do a Bowling Friday play because I thought it was too simple. But I agree with you, I love it. It's a game I like to play again, and again, and again. Also, I love the cartridge label design. Although I discovered it in the mid-80s, another similar game for me is Video Pinball.
If there is a classic for the Atari 2600, this has to be it. It even had rudimentary pin physics! How not only myself and my brothers, but also my cousins would be playing this! Never forget that one Christmas when we were all playing this, and since it was two player only, we pretty much had to caller "winners" to get to play the next game with however won the previous game. Then fast forward some 30-odd years to the bowling in Wii Sports on the Nintendo Wii, and that had to be the closest thing to reliving those days in the late 70s playing Atari Bowling. I have bowled many a league over the years (although not rolled a ball in quite some time in recent years, at least since the pandemic). My team even managed to take 3rd place in one league! Aiming and curving the ball for that space between the 1 and 2 pins is indeed a way to a strike. For right-handed bowlers, that is the 1 & 2 pocket. I am left handed myself, so I aim for the 1 & 3 pin pocket (cool that Wii Sports bowling allows selecting right or left handed). How that brings back so much memories playing that, plus always did like the sound effects, including that little celebration ditty on getting strikes and spares. I remember even "imitating" that when bowling for real as kids when that game was still "contemporary" at the local bowling alley, such as doing the jumping up and down and making that "wee-woo, wee-woo" sound effect with the voice when getting a strike.
This was the game that made me really want an Atari for Christmas 1978. Unfortunately, my mom couldn't afford it, so we got the Coleco Telstar Arcade instead.
I will always maintain that the 2600 has a nice little bunch of games that are still very playable and fun to do so even in this day and age. I especially still like Missile Command and Yar's Revenge.
This was one of my original 11 games on my Atari. I wish I could remember my high score, though, likely in the 200s. I do agree that the steerable variation was a bit overkill, while curve was the most natural.
I love this game as well. Usually one of the carts I pop in for a while every time I fire up the VCS. Got it for xmas one year. Of all the times I've played it over the last four decades I still have never bowled a 300 game. It seems like certain situations, like in 4:17, that it's impossible to pick up the spare.
Hah, loved this game. We had a small mark on our tv screen that would show us when to start the curve. Didn’t move the bowler kept him on the bottom then when the ball hit the mark pressed up. I think it’s about 4 seconds. Almost got perfect games with this cheat/ strategy 😂
Bowling!!! Haha. I use steerable ball and start with the guy standing down at the bottom line on the screen. I might try it your way at some point. Haha.
If you have Atari 50 then you've got Bowling. People might laugh at bowling but it's a big part (and possibly the best part) of Wii Sports, one of the biggest sellers in video game history.
Indy 500 on the 2600 or Qix on the 5200 would make a great Friday plays video I think. I have yet to see a Friday plays video for a 5200 game on your channel.
My 5 year old is constantly playing this. He knows he can play it on the 2600, the 2600+ and on my switch or the VCS with Atari 50.. He cant be without it.
This game is still so good we are watching a guy play the game 45 years later.
And I'm that guy! 😜
My parents had Bowling before I was born. My mom was at home all day one day practicing so she could beat my dad after he got home. By the time he got home, she had the biggest, most painful blister on her hand. I still have this Bowling cartridge :)
That would be a fun one to frame with a pic of your parents.
Just played Bowling yesterday for the first time in forty years. Very simple but highly addictive. With your expert tips it will be even more enjoyable. Thanks Jon.
Glad to hear you dug it!
Fun fact, this game has seen a recent resurgence in popularity in my workplace. No joke. I started bringing my Atari 50 tabletop cabinet with me to work, and one day, one of my coworkers got curious and asked if they could try it. They scrolled through the game list and saw Bowling, and since it's one of the few games on the machine where a two-player game is possible, we started up a game.
Ever since, I've been asked to bring my machine with me whenever I come in to work so we can play again. I was even asked by one of the managers for an Amazon link so that they can get their own to play Bowling.
It hasn't taken off with everyone, of course, but seeing this little game from 1979 bring some much needed joy and fun to an otherwise stressful place, and to people who would likely have never experienced Atari makes me feel like I have, in some small part made the world a tiny bit better. :)
Isn't that amazing? Love hearing of little stories like this. Thanks. 😁
We got Bowling when we got the Atari 2600 for Christmas 1981. We played it for hours and it absolutely holds up today!
I know what you mean here, though my own guilty pleasure is Golf. Yes, the weird club dynamics take some getting used to, but something about those simple graphics and mastering the holes is so relaxing! Got a a copy I enjoy on my 2600+!
I didn’t have the cartridge when I was a kid, I got the game very recently, included in one of those Atari compilations. One nice thing is that it’s very easy to enjoy from the first time you launch it, unlike other games from that time which required some time learning how to play. Nice video!
What I mean is: compare it with Yars’, which is also great, but you need a videotutorial for learning how to play it :-) Bowling is straightforward from minute one.
Back in the day, I played the 1985 Bowling by TK Computer Products for Atari 8-bit home computers. Very similar, in many ways, despite more advanced graphics and a few tweaks to setting up a ball trajectory, but I recall having had a lot of fun playing it.
Indeed, those simple games have their charm and suprisingly, IMHO, their playability did not really diminish over time.
My family used to play so many Atari Bowling tournaments back in the day. Great times and a great game!
And great memories! 😁
Yup this and kaboom I played the hell out of lol I love the box art. God the sound brought back memories.
Great game , still play to this day . Early 80s this and basketball were my go to , space invaders as well
Great review of this game. It’s funny how we had practically no expectations for games back then- we were willing to go along with the programmers intent and figure out if we liked it. Loved this game and enjoyed the review. Thanks
I'm glad you enjoyed the review, and I'm with you - that's what makes gaming so magical!
Definitely 1 of my favourite 2600 games, managed to score a few 300 games
Oh dude! So glad you are covering this one! Also my all time favourite sports title on the VCS! Thank you so much eh!
As a kid we used to make a mark in the dust on the TV screen in order to try and score a strike with the steerable ball. ( I never did get a 300 BTW)
Used to bowl in leagues as a kid. Can confirm they get as excited as your dude when he gets a strike. Absolutely love older Atari cart artwork. Even bowling looks nice. Check out "The Art of Atari" book if you feel the same.
Thank you for telling us about "The Art of Atari" book- I've always been a fan of their artwork and this book looks amazing. 🙂👍
So, I've been thinking about it, and one of the first games we got after the launch in 1977 was Star Ship. Of course, we didn't get the game until sometime 1978. but I remember playing the heck out of it. Thought maybe that might be an idea for one of your Friday plays. Of course, like so many of the launch titles, there really isn't a whole lot to it, but I remember having fun with it none the less. Just a thought! Loved the bowling game as well! We did play this a lot!!
Oh star ship , not Jefferson Starship with Grace Slick at the controls lol.
Me and my father back in 1983 used to play this all the time. Good times. Thanks for the memories
Oh yes Bowling!
I have this game, simple but still lovely. So much fun, back in the late '70s (and today too)
That man is actually one of the best sprites for the VCS. Amazing for 1979
This is probably one of my Top 5 most played games from the Atari 2600.
In fact, I'm known to fire up Stella on my superpowered M3 iMac and whip off a few games because you can do them so quick.
Love this game even though I have so many other bowling video games on other platforms which are in every measure technically superior.
In fact, seeing your post made me break it out and do that just now.
I love when you cover games that I normally skip right by and don't even consider playing. I always end up giving them a try and I'm never disappointed. I hadn't played Atari Bowling in decades, but just fired it up and you're right- it's genuinely fun!
This makes me smile. 😁
I played this game ALL the time as a kid. And it was with this game I experienced real stress for the first time. On the able to put a spin on mode, I bowled a 300. I don't remember if you took a picture of the screen and sent it in to "where ever", you got a patch or something. But, yeah, memories.
That looks awesome! I vaguely remember this game from my early childhood. It’s amazing how something that is so simple compared to what’s out there nowadays can be so fun to play. Behold the power of the 2600!
I always overlooked this game and most of the sports games but now I want to try it! Great video as always!
It really is a fun, simple game!
Christmas a few days away in 2024. Me remembering how excited I would get at Christmas to open up a few new 2600 games and play them the entire winter break.
I played the hell out of this when it was released. I just remember my 2600 at the ready when my mom or dad got me a new game and I just whiled away the day when I could. This was one of those games I just played a lot of.
Bowling is one of those games that is just universally loved on the Atari,.
I love this version of bowling but I am comically bad at the real game so makes sense, this and golf show how well sports can be done with very little.
just seeing you enjoy playing this ...was great jon....and your right the little dude gets excited!
Thanks!
You're very welcome!
@@GenXGrownUpfun game😊
This was the ONE game my mom would play on our 2600, she was a absolute shark at this game
What a great memory! Thanks for sharing that.
love that game, me and my uncle played it for hours back and forth back in 1979 on a holiday, so timeless.
I agree that this is a great game and totally playable. This was THE computer bowling game until Wii Sports Bowling, which is still one of the absolute best party games ever designed.
It still holds up too. Along with this bowling I enjoyed intellivision bowling a lot.
I wished the arcade game Capcom bowling got a port to Nintendo or super Nintendo
Bowling was my favorite atari 2600 game to play when I was very little.
I still play it to this day
I remember the 1979 for us kids this was a midblowing game, especially when we hit a strike!! Thanks Jon for this memories
Always loved this simple title.
The Atari 2600 was released long before I was born, but I acquired one of those retro Flashback consoles. Scrolling through the various games, I discovered a few I really like such as Missile Command and this. It's as basic as they come but I love the simplicity and fun of this game. The little guy's "happy dance" on getting a strike just makes me smile!
Same!
Had this when I was 10 and loved it. Nice to see it again!
This was one of the few games my dad bought! Loved it!
Not gonna lie I love the bowling on atari. My nephew who is 5 years old loves to play it when he comes down. He likes to play against me to see who gets the highest score.
One of the first games we had on the Atari 2600 (outside of Combat). Spent a lot of time playing Bowling as a whole family.
Simple game. Maybe simpler times. Was still loads of fun.
I owned this one back in the day. I remember spending hours and hours trying to get that 300 game. I finally did it after playing for about two or three years. Its pretty easy to get 9+ strikes with a lot of practice, but 12 in a row is just patience and dedication.
Bowling is one of the few 2600 games I still play today. The rest are mostly paddle games like kaboom and 4 player Warlords.
when I was a kid in the 70s, I loved this game and even scored some perfect 300 games (on version 3 steerable ball), but now as a 53-year-old I can't get 300 at all! of course, I played Atari every day back then sometimes for hours at a time, so that practice really matters I guess, but I still have just as much fun playing this game now as I did back then. it's a top 10 atari 2600 game for me for sure.
Awesome video, Jon. 🙂 (I got the Atari 2600+ this year- I'm going to have to buy this cart.)
Thanks Jon!!! Yup, one of my favorites too...
By the way, when I was a kid, the game that made a lot of impact on my "gaming" experience was 'Night Driver' hopefully you can make a video like this one. It would be really nice to see your input on this Night Driver game that, to this day, I consider it my #1 Atari game.
Thanks again.
One of my absolute favorite Atari games! So simple and fun.
I never played this as a kid (I was too young for this release and my first console was a 7800). But I started playing this gem when I got the Atari Gamestation Pro last year and it is one of my favorite games to play. My kids love this one as well. Absolute tons of fun.
Agreed.
This game was way more fun than it should have been! Loved playing this with friends and family on my atari. Only difference was I had the 7600.
Jon. I loved it. I abstained from asking you to do a Bowling Friday play because I thought it was too simple. But I agree with you, I love it. It's a game I like to play again, and again, and again. Also, I love the cartridge label design. Although I discovered it in the mid-80s, another similar game for me is Video Pinball.
Too simple? I can run on for 10 minutes about just about anything! 🤣 Bowling is awesome and I'm glad you enjoyed the FP this week.
Wii sports bowling is my absolute favorite, but this one holds a ton of nostalgia for me. Such a simple and fun game.
Love this game! Great review! 😊
I totally agree. I have one of the retro games and I play bowling often.
If there is a classic for the Atari 2600, this has to be it. It even had rudimentary pin physics! How not only myself and my brothers, but also my cousins would be playing this! Never forget that one Christmas when we were all playing this, and since it was two player only, we pretty much had to caller "winners" to get to play the next game with however won the previous game. Then fast forward some 30-odd years to the bowling in Wii Sports on the Nintendo Wii, and that had to be the closest thing to reliving those days in the late 70s playing Atari Bowling. I have bowled many a league over the years (although not rolled a ball in quite some time in recent years, at least since the pandemic). My team even managed to take 3rd place in one league! Aiming and curving the ball for that space between the 1 and 2 pins is indeed a way to a strike. For right-handed bowlers, that is the 1 & 2 pocket. I am left handed myself, so I aim for the 1 & 3 pin pocket (cool that Wii Sports bowling allows selecting right or left handed). How that brings back so much memories playing that, plus always did like the sound effects, including that little celebration ditty on getting strikes and spares. I remember even "imitating" that when bowling for real as kids when that game was still "contemporary" at the local bowling alley, such as doing the jumping up and down and making that "wee-woo, wee-woo" sound effect with the voice when getting a strike.
Never played this. I’m impressed by the ball’s deflection after hitting a pin. Very natural.
bought our 2600 used, bowling came with it, big love for bowling.
One of those rare sports games I incredibly love
Simple yet incredible
One of my most played games. Miniature golf might have been my favorite.
Another great review! I just played it for the first time this year on the atari micro player pro and it was surprisingly fun.
I’m glad you got to experience it.
I lmao every time I see the King of Nerds spoofing "Byyyyyy Mennon!!!!"
Like most of those early 2600/VCS games, bowling just holds up... even after all these years.
This was the game that made me really want an Atari for Christmas 1978. Unfortunately, my mom couldn't afford it, so we got the Coleco Telstar Arcade instead.
Wow this takes me back!
I will always maintain that the 2600 has a nice little bunch of games that are still very playable and fun to do so even in this day and age. I especially still like Missile Command and Yar's Revenge.
100%
I can enjoy long, complex RPGs for days on end, but I can also toss in a game like that and have some fun for a few minutes as well.
Great video Jon!
Happy you enjoyed it!
I love this game and other games like this.
Never played too much back then but I've been playing this a lot as I get older
“He’s very excited.” 😄
You can tell!
This was one of my original 11 games on my Atari. I wish I could remember my high score, though, likely in the 200s. I do agree that the steerable variation was a bit overkill, while curve was the most natural.
One of my all-time favorites. It has no right being as enjoyable as it is, but that didn't stop it...
100%
This was the only 2-player game my mom would play with me on the 2600 🥰
Such a classic. I'd like to see a video over frogs and flies.
I used to put tape on my TV. One for up and down. Another down the lane when to hit up for the curve. Strike 100% of the time.
Never had the bowling game
That is a awesome game
Can’t wait to play it
Maybe this will help with my actual bowling league games lol
IMHO, bowling games tend to age well. The first bowling game I remember was Indoor Sports on the C64 - which still plays well today.
My earliest gaming memory.
I love this game as well. Usually one of the carts I pop in for a while every time I fire up the VCS. Got it for xmas one year. Of all the times I've played it over the last four decades I still have never bowled a 300 game. It seems like certain situations, like in 4:17, that it's impossible to pick up the spare.
Just ordered a 7800+. I honestly can’t wait some 2600 stuff like combat
The box art for these old titles are so great. I guarantee that guy smelled like Michelob and Winstons and Jovan Musk
I had that game loved it could get many strikes in a row
I can tell you are getting a dopamine hit every time you hear the celebration sound of a strike or spare.
Hah, loved this game. We had a small mark on our tv screen that would show us when to start the curve. Didn’t move the bowler kept him on the bottom then when the ball hit the mark pressed up. I think it’s about 4 seconds. Almost got perfect games with this cheat/ strategy 😂
It's almost as good as Wii Bowling. 😊
Oh yeah!! Fun game
🎳👊🏻😎🕹️
Thank you. 😊
You’re welcome 😊
Bowling!!! Haha. I use steerable ball and start with the guy standing down at the bottom line on the screen. I might try it your way at some point. Haha.
The steerable version is easier, but I prefer the more realistic version with a single adjustment. And even that's a bit little sneaky!
If you have Atari 50 then you've got Bowling. People might laugh at bowling but it's a big part (and possibly the best part) of Wii Sports, one of the biggest sellers in video game history.
You won't hear me laughing unless it's from joy. 😁
Oh yeah I remember this one quite well. Very basic and yet very fun.
Agree , one of my all time favorites!
This game was so much fun
I think this is still my most played 2600 game.
Somehow 2600 Bowling is still more satisfying than NES Pinball. 😂
Cool game. Btw… random question; what’s that Galaga player in the background with a ball top joystick??
Indy 500 on the 2600 or Qix on the 5200 would make a great Friday plays video I think. I have yet to see a Friday plays video for a 5200 game on your channel.
You know what, you're right! I think we need to do some 5200 Friday Plays.
@GenXGrownUp Cool, looking forward to it.
I love Atari 2600 Bowling.
I was just playing this a few days ago 😮
My 5 year old is constantly playing this. He knows he can play it on the 2600, the 2600+ and on my switch or the VCS with Atari 50.. He cant be without it.
He finds it superior to the Wii sports bowling.
A perfect example of how simple is better.
Jon have you tried Intellivision bowling? It seems more complicated, I took a quick try and didn't have any luck but maybe you would.