KeepAway for the Atari 2600
Atari 2600 ROM (.bin file) for PC emulation or writable cartridge play.
You'll need an Atari 2600 emulator or a writable cartridge to play on real hardware.
This project started as my version of a “Hello World” for the Atari 2600—but it quickly became something much more meaningful.
At the time, I didn’t even own an Atari VCS. What I did have was access to emulation and a set of community-built development tools. That was all it took to chase down a childhood goal that had been sitting in the back of my mind for years: to actually create a game for one of the classic systems that first sparked my fascination with computers.
What began as a simple experiment evolved naturally as I learned the fundamentals—sprite handling, collision detection, and the unique constraints of the Atari’s architecture. The system is famously minimal: two player sprites, a ball, and not much else. In many ways, it’s only a small step beyond Pong… but that simplicity is exactly where the magic happens.
Working within those limitations pushed me to think creatively. Before long, the project took shape as a basic reimagining of the classic playground game Keep Away. It’s simple—intentionally so—but that’s part of its charm.
Because if there’s one thing that era of gaming taught us, it’s this: the best games didn’t need complexity. Two players, one screen, and instantly understandable mechanics—that was all it took. No manuals, no tutorials… just pick up the controller and play.
And in a way, that’s exactly what this project celebrates—not just learning to code for the Atari 2600, but reconnecting with the pure, immediate fun that made those early games unforgettable.
Full Cartridge sold by Good Deal Games!
Get the ROM file
Feature List
This is a simple 2-player game where you try to score goals. Oh yeah, you also have a gun. :)
KeepAway — 2009 by John A. Reder — an attempt to pay homage to the system that started it all, recreating those 30-year-old memories in a two-player game designed for the Atari 2600 console.
Objective: When the two players fight for the puck, the highest player wins. The top and bottom of the playfield are fumble areas. The player with the puck moves slower. Deliver the puck to your goal to score, deliver it to the other player's goal to give them a point. Lose a point if the other player scores. 4 points wins the match.
