California Games for the 2600 is one of those late releases, it came out in 1987, and it's a bit harder to find that some of the other games. I actually really like this one, not just for the nostalgia, but it's actually a pretty good play, even today in 2022. That said, it's not a common nor very talked about release. In California Games for the 2600, you get to pick your sponsors like Aussie, Casio, and Santa Cruz - which I believe is a part of the multiplayer function (pass the controller around) - and then earn scores in each game: Hackeysack, Skateboarding, BMX, Surfing - in that order. And the highest score after all 4 rounds wins. However, I don't think I've heard anyone who has reviewed this game or otherwise talked about it evern mention this functionality.

First off, BMX was the first thing I could figure out how to play well enough to enjoy, but secondly, we lived in a crazy cat lady house, and so imagine this, a Console TV with six to eight cats all gathered around trying to swipe the "little man" on the BMX Bike off the screen. I mean, it was insane - I had cats LEAPING off the floor trying to swipe the BMX racer sprite as he flew over the horizon like some kind of screwed up version of the bicycle/car chase from E.T. That is a memory that gives me the best nostalgia for this game.

But, like most of these things, as I got older and did my research, I learned, and figured out how to play this game REALLY well - including the Surfing which when I was a kid SUCKED but now rules along with the rest. It's one of those Atari games you needed the manual to truly understand, 100% how it worked from a player angle. Basically, you start off selecting your "teams" - ie Aussie, Casio, Suncoast, etc.... - and then those teams act as your "multiple players". Basically, you play against your friends with your "sponsor" as your "team", and then you pass the controller between yourselves - sort of a way of having more than 2-4 players on a 2600 game without needing more than a single joystick.

Then I lost it with all of my 2600 games when I upgraded to an NES when the 4-switch woodie I originally had died. Another one of those "I chased it down for decades" things I guess. Finally I found a copy. One that I'd like to think is my old one (just like the Mitsubishi CS-1984R TV I had) based on how the label looks and my memories (it had SERIOUS Antiplaque and some yellowing). Either way, this ones a true permanant fixture along with the Pitfall cartridges.