Atari is working on its first console in more than 20 years

[biffzinker]

Bad news for Indiegogo backers:

Atari’s upcoming VCS won’t make it out to early Indiegogo backers by the end of the year as originally promised. The good news is that we're talking about a delay of only a few weeks and according to Atari brass, backers should still get their units before the general public.

In a recent Medium post on the matter, Atari Chief Operating Officer Michael Arzt said that given the work that still needs to be done like final stage certification and testing, they realized they needed a few more weeks than originally anticipated.

Atari VCS won't be delivered to Indiegogo backers before the end of the year as promised

In a recent Medium post on the matter, Atari Chief Operating Officer Michael Arzt said that given the work that still needs to be done like final...

www.techspot.com

 

[lexluthermiester]

Bad news for Indiegogo backers:

Atari VCS won't be delivered to Indiegogo backers before the end of the year as promised

In a recent Medium post on the matter, Atari Chief Operating Officer Michael Arzt said that given the work that still needs to be done like final...

www.techspot.com

Seems like a minor delay.

 

[Space Lynx]

Does it only play older games? If so this is a huge mistake... that market is capped out. I googled launch titles and I see nothing modern AAA :/

This thing will be dead within a year.

PS5 on other hand, sold out every where yet again... was going to get the $199 bundle for my niece but waited to long, sold out everywhere... Sony $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[Prime2515102]

So it's a Ryzen APU based computer with a custom Linux distro with a console emulator and smartTV apps, with a sandbox mode so you can install Windows on it, with 32GB of storage (for the 800), 8GB of RAM, and the wifi is b/g/n all for only $390? And it's shipping in March? And it's partially made of real wood???

I'll pass, but let me know when they start selling the standalone emulator with the 100 games for $9.95 or $19.95 with the joystick.

 

[Space Lynx]

So it's a Ryzen APU based computer with a custom Linux distro with a console emulator and smartTV apps, with a sandbox mode so you can install Windows on it, with 32GB of storage (for the 800), 8GB of RAM, and the wifi is b/g/n all for only $390? And it's shipping in March? And it's partially made of real wood???

I'll pass, but let me know when they start selling the standalone emulator with the 100 games for $9.95 or $19.95 with the joystick.

Take care.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Does it only play older games?

No, it'll have a wide variety of titles across all of Atari's history and library of games, including a few PC titles. There are also new titles in development for the system.

This thing will be dead within a year.

Not a very positive outlook.

 

[Space Lynx]

No, it'll have a wide variety of titles across all of Atari's history and library of games, including a few PC titles. There are also new titles in development for the system.

Not a very positive outlook.

Just doesn't seem all that promising unless they get some third party AAA games involved, that's how the markets work and the money flows. Which is why nintendo pushed so hard for it on the Switch, and got it. They learned their lesson on Wii U about relying on first party only.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Just doesn't seem all that promising

A lot of people said the same thing about the Switch and the Wii. I'm not saying that the VCS will have the same wild success, just that it's potential is there and success can not be predicted at this time.

They learned their lesson on Wii U about relying on first party only.

Nintendo did not intentionally rely on first party titles. Third party support waned for WiiU, in spite of it's respectable specs and capabilities.

 

[silentbogo]

And it's partially made of real wood???

With latest "press-release" in mind, it has no wood, and it's not even matte plastic, as promised initially. Few posts earlier there's a pic of pre-production cases made out of toy-like shiny plastic.
I'm sure Walmart will be super-happy if this is what they get past the holiday craze.

A lot of people said the same thing about the Switch and the Wii.

Nintendo is a big company with a good track for consoles and games alike, while Atari is not even Atari anymore - just a dozen or so people with IP rights to Atari stuff and brown-stained track on Kickstarter.
Plus, both consoles had some original content and a "killer app" upon release. Third-party titles started development way before console release, and some already had a good long-term investment in Nintendo-friendly franchises, like Ubisoft's Rayman series. Atari has none. They've only managed to slap together a fake gameplay of Tempest, while Llamasoft wasn't even aware that they even work on VCS port. As far as I'm aware - there is not a single thrid-party developer working specifically on VCS game, and not a single modern title that was officially announced by Atari. Zilch. None. Zero. Nada.
The only confirmed games for VCS are the classic collection, and whatever's on Antstream (glorified emulator-streaming-as-a-service, now also fueled by tencent and microtransactions).

 

[Prime2515102]

With latest "press-release" in mind, it has no wood, and it's not even matte plastic, as promised initially. Few posts earlier there's a pic of pre-production cases made out of toy-like shiny plastic.
I'm sure Walmart will be super-happy if this is what they get past the holiday craze.

Specs still say wood: "Materials Plastic, Metal, Wood"

The front panel looks like wood, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[silentbogo]

Oh, boy... Just when I thought it wouldn't get any worse, it actually did (....again....). Was browsing youtube after work, and a recent video from reviewtechusa popped up. Don't really like the guy, but on occasion he has some good info and sources.

Apparently a few months ago there was a good confirmation at least on some specs, and it's even more underwhelming than i thought.
VCS 400 : Ryzen R1505G [2c/4t, Vega 3], which is nearly identical to previously speculated V1202b. 4GB DDR4. 32GB eMMC.
VCS 800: Ryzen R1606G [2c/4t, Vega 3], which is an abysmal downgrade from previously speculated V1605b [4c/8t, Vega 8] and performs about on par with FX9800p, which was supposed to go in it initially (before pre-previous delay/upgrade).
P.S. You can buy a brand new Ryzen 3 laptop for $300 new. Or just build a base udoo bolt v3, and you'll get a more compact and better looking system.

 

[TheLostSwede]

How many years is it by now, as I've lost count...

Atari VCS Is Finally Ready To Ship To Backers Anytime Now - SlashGear

Crowdfunding has helped many dreams come true but also dashed many hopes. Pretty much like investors, backers took not just the financial but also the…

www.slashgear.com

 

[Rei]

How many years is it by now, as I've lost count...

Atari VCS Is Finally Ready To Ship To Backers Anytime Now - SlashGear

Crowdfunding has helped many dreams come true but also dashed many hopes. Pretty much like investors, backers took not just the financial but also the…

www.slashgear.com

Meh, there have been many projects that took longer than this but yeah, from a big brand company like Atari, this is taking too long. I do like the design aesthetics of the console's casing but I don't like the new name to Atari VCS. I prefer the old name "Ataribox". Which sounds like "lunchbox" or "Xbox" or "toolbox", etc.

 

[lexluthermiester]

How many years is it by now, as I've lost count...

Atari VCS Is Finally Ready To Ship To Backers Anytime Now - SlashGear

Crowdfunding has helped many dreams come true but also dashed many hopes. Pretty much like investors, backers took not just the financial but also the…

www.slashgear.com

Yeah, it took a while didn't it? At least it's finally coming.

I prefer the old name "Ataribox". Which sounds like "lunchbox" or "Xbox" or "toolbox", etc.

Gotta disagree. Wouldn't want the association with Xbox at all.

 

[Rei]

Gotta disagree. Wouldn't want the association with Xbox at all.

True... What about AtariStation then? Or AtariCube? Ataricast? AtariU? Atarimachine? Atari's GOD DAMN Device Thingy!!!!

 

[sepheronx]

True... What about AtariStation then? Or AtariCube? Ataricast? AtariU? Atarimachine? Atari's GOD DAMN Device Thingy!!!!

Maybe go back to old days and just give it a number. Or animal name like how Jaguar was or Panther prior (which never released). But seeing as how it's aimed at the retro (older than Jaguar), then why not something akin to 7500 but newer? Atari 9200 or something?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Maybe go back to old days and just give it a number. Or animal name like how Jaguar was or Panther prior (which never released). But seeing as how it's aimed at the retro (older than Jaguar), then why not something akin to 7500 but newer? Atari 9200 or something?

Funny you should say that, because "Atari VCS" is literally the name of the first Atari console before they renamed it "2600". The current name is a throw back to the original, which I think is cool.

 

[sepheronx]

Funny you should say that, because "Atari VCS" is literally the name of the first Atari console before they renamed it "2600". The current name is a throw back to the original, which I think is cool.

Atari 2600 was just a bit before me. It was the Atari 5200 that I remember so didn't know it was originally called VCS. So it's good to keep it at VCS.

Meant to initially say Atari 7800 not 7500.

 

[Rei]

Funny you should say that, because "Atari VCS" is literally the name of the first Atari console before they renamed it "2600". The current name is a throw back to the original, which I think is cool.

Yeah, that's right but VCS could be any of their home console since it stands for Video Console System. The name still doesn't click with me...

Atari 2600 was just a bit before me. It was the Atari 5200 that I remember so didn't know it was originally called VCS. So it's good to keep it at VCS.

Yeah, Atari 5200 & the one after that was also called VCS in it's marketing but I think they dropped it after.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Yeah, that's right but VCS could be any of their home console since it stands for Video Console System. The name still doesn't click with me...

Actually it stood for "Video Computer System". The term "console" didn't refer to set-top devices until the mid 80's. Of course that also depends on who you ask.

 

[Rei]

Actually it stood for "Video Computer System". The term "console" didn't refer to set-top devices until the mid 80's.

Close enough... It was after all a read from long time ago so I'm just remembering off the top of my head.

 

[lexluthermiester]

For those who would like to know more, the wiki has a lot of very useful info about the history of the original VCS/2600.

Atari 2600 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Vayra86]

Oh wow, Piano glossy plastic? I thought that died somewhere around the year 2005. 'Actual product might look different on pictures' I guess... damn.

I wonder what else is subject to change, but when I read Atari is also in Hotels and numerous other wildly varying activities and businesses, all I can see and say is "Leave that sinking ship". They haven't got the slightest clue of direction left in that company. This won't end well.

 

[sepheronx]

For those who would like to know more, the wiki has a lot of very useful info about the history of the original VCS/2600.

Atari 2600 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I played it. I took one apart many moons ago.

I never cared for it. Only Atari I liked was 7800. Then again, wasn't into gaming till NES.

 

[Rei]

For those who would like to know more, the wiki has a lot of very useful info about the history of the original VCS/2600.

Atari 2600 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

That's where I learned these stuff long ago.

I just don't see much success sales-wise in the new console. They would have to compete with new techs coming out such as PS5, Xbox 4, RTX 30 series, smartphone, etc. Only niche few outside of backers would want an Atari emulator within a linux system. Atari would have to keep sales expectations low.

Oh wow, Piano glossy plastic? I thought that died somewhere around the year 2005. 'Actual product might look different on pictures' I guess... damn.

Yeah, first time I saw the pic long time ago, it wasn't glossy... And now it is.... I would've thought they would use the same material as the classic system. Is it cuz glossy plastic is cheaper than most?