Handy Pick Hank for the Atari 2600
Atari 2600 ROM (.bin file) for PC emulation or writable cartridge play.
To play this on original hardware, you’ll need an Atari 2600 emulator like Stella or a writable cartridge—but trust me, it’s worth the effort.
My journey with this game really starts with my very first console: the Magnavox Odyssey² (also known as the Videopac). It was a scrappy underdog in a world dominated by giants like the Atari 2600. While it never quite matched the popularity of its competitors, it had something special—a lineup of creative, charming games that stuck with you.
In an effort to stay competitive, Magnavox released a collection of arcade-inspired titles they called the Challenger Series. These were their answer to the booming arcade scene, and among them was one of my all-time favorites: Pick Axe Pete!—a game clearly inspired by Donkey Kong, but with its own quirky personality.
Years later, when I decided to start porting some of my favorite Odyssey² games, this one immediately called to me. After working on UFO, I knew I was in for a challenge. The Atari 2600 is legendary, but it comes with some very real hardware limitations—limitations that meant a perfect port simply wasn’t possible. So instead of forcing it, I embraced it.
The result was something new.
Given the differences, I reimagined the game and gave it a new identity: Handy Pick Hank. And just to clear things up—no, the name has nothing to do with any unfortunate sinus conditions… 😄
Rather than being a compromise, the project became a creative reinterpretation—capturing the spirit of the original while adapting it to the strengths (and quirks) of the Atari hardware.
I didn’t stop there. I also developed a version for the Vectrex, which was later sold through Good Deal Games. One of the most rewarding moments of the entire experience came when Ed Averett—the original creator of UFO—saw the work and gave it his approval. Knowing that someone who helped shape those early gaming experiences appreciated the port was incredibly meaningful.
What started as a nostalgic project turned into something much bigger: a tribute to the games that inspired me, and a chance to breathe new life into them for a different generation of hardware.
Order Cartridge version from 2600connection.com
Get the ROM file — version 20170415
Video posted by players on AtariAge:
Feature List
Part of the "ODtari" series — along with K.C.'s Crazy Nightmare! and UFO, recreating Odyssey2 games in Atari's image!
Inspired by the Odyssey2 game Pick Axe Pete!
