Atari Video System X

Yet another holy-grail for the hard-core Atari enthusiast. The Atari System X console was the original name and design for the classic Atari 5200 console released in 1982.

The Video System X (VSX) made its way to be gazed upon at one video game trade show (the Summer CES in Chicago in 1982) for its one and only public outing before Atari chose the more conventional 'Atari 5200' name for its product.

There are several flyers and adverts in magazines touting the VSX as the next best thing around the time of the show too so get out your vintage mags and have a looksee.

The VSX is considered prototype hardware by those in the know and it's commonly accepted that 4 or 5 are known to exist in the world.

This particular unit is straight black, making it appear somewhat more sinister and a little bit sleaker than other Video System X units known to exist. It is not the unit that was put on display at CES 82 but more likely a concept unit that was considered prior to mass-marketing the VSX.

Aside from the all-black features though this console appears to be the same shape as the VSX that was put on display (and thus the 5200).

This console was acquired by a collector in about 2001/02 from one of the most well known Atari enthusiasts around, who got it from one of the designers of the 5200/Video System X.

You can drool over this as much as you want (though please always remember to put a handkerchief to your mouth to prevent the drool hitting the console!) but sadly you will probably never be offered one of these historic Ataris. (and even if you did, you probably couldn't aford it)