Basketball
Atari 2600 · 1978
About this game
Two titles are available in this cart: Bowling! : one to four players take turns in this game.
The alley is shown from a top down view and the ball moves back and forth at the foul line.
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The players have to press the action button to release the ball and can add an effect to it by pressing left or right on the right hand controller.
Each player gets two balls per frame, except in the case of a strike.
A strike scores 30 points, a spare 15 points and an open play scores one point for each pin hit.
There are two game modes, League Night (selected by pressing "1"), with a slower swinging ball, and Tournament Play (selected by pressing "2"), with a faster swinging ball.
Basketball! (selected by pressing "3") features two players in a five minutes game.
Each drop scores two points for the player.
The player can move with the ball left or right, but must shoot within 8 seconds, or else the ball will automatically transfer to the other player.
If the ball is shot while the other player is touching the ball, he will steal it.
The player with more points when the clock reaches zero wins.
About Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 (1977) was the console that first proved interchangeable game cartridges could sustain a mass-market business, effectively founding the home console industry as we know it. Most common 2600 titles are inexpensive today given how many units and copies were sold, but a small number of extremely rare releases — including several from Atari's own late-era prototype and licensed titles — are among the most valuable cartridges in retro collecting.
Gamevaro tracks Basketball for Atari 2600 with separate market values for loose, complete-in-box (CIB) and factory-sealed copies, sourced from real eBay sales. Prices also vary by region — PAL, NTSC-U and NTSC-J releases of the same game often sell for different amounts due to print run sizes and regional collector demand.
Adding Basketball to a Gamevaro collection takes seconds — search by title or scan the box barcode, and the app fills in cover art, release details and current pricing automatically. This A2600 release dates back to 1978.
Market values by condition
NTSC-U
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-18 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €10.49 |
| 2026-07-18 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €2.61 |
| 2026-07-18 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €7.00 |
| 2026-07-18 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €88.48 |
| 2026-07-18 | Item only | NTSC-U | €5.34 |
| 2026-07-18 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €26.23 |
| 2026-07-16 | Item only | NTSC-U | €5.36 |
| 2026-07-16 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €26.29 |
| 2026-07-16 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €7.01 |
| 2026-07-16 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €10.52 |
| 2026-07-16 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €88.71 |
| 2026-07-16 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €2.62 |
| 2026-07-15 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €15.34 |
| 2026-07-15 | Item only | NTSC-U | €8.12 |
| 2026-07-15 | Loose / Item only | PAL | €10.59 |
| 2026-07-15 | Boxed (CIB) | PAL | €19.06 |
| 2026-07-14 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €10.50 |
| 2026-07-14 | Item only | NTSC-U | €5.35 |
| 2026-07-14 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €2.62 |
| 2026-07-14 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €7.00 |
| 2026-07-14 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €26.25 |
| 2026-07-14 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €88.57 |
| 2026-07-13 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €88.52 |
| 2026-07-13 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €2.62 |
| 2026-07-13 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €10.50 |
| 2026-07-13 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €7.00 |
| 2026-07-13 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €26.24 |
| 2026-07-13 | Item only | NTSC-U | €5.35 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €26.24 |
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €10.50 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Only a handful of market sales have been tracked for Basketball, suggesting it doesn't trade hands very often — a sign of relative scarcity compared to more common Atari 2600 titles.
Complete-in-box (CIB) copies typically command a premium over loose cartridges/discs because the original box and manual are more fragile and get discarded or damaged over time — fewer complete sets survive.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Basketball worth?
Basketball for Atari 2600 is currently worth €10.59 loose, €19.06 complete in box. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is Basketball rare?
Basketball has only a handful of tracked market sales, suggesting relative scarcity compared to more common Atari 2600 titles.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for Basketball?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. For Basketball, loose is €10.59 and CIB is €19.06 — CIB commands a premium because original boxes and manuals are fragile and often don't survive.
Is Basketball worth more in PAL or NTSC?
The PAL version of Basketball is currently worth €10.59 loose, versus €8.12 for NTSC-U. Regional price differences usually come down to print run size and regional collector demand.
Ratings & Reviews
Also on other platforms
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