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

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Atari's CEO has confirmed that it is working on a new console called the Atari Box, although it is unclear when it will be revealed.


Atari's first home console, the 2600, was released in 1977 to rave reviews.

The firm then released a series of consoles, up until the Jaguar in 1993, at which point the firm was overtaken by competitors including Nintendo, Sega and Sony.

But Fred Chesnais, CEO of Atari, has confirmed that after a 24 year lull, the firm is now working on new device.

Mr Chesnais told Venturebeat: 'We're back in the hardware business.'

Atari has also released a short teaser video, giving a glimpse of what the 'Atari Box' will look like.

The device appears to have wooden panelling – a signature feature across Atari's older devices, and a light-up Atari logo on the front.

Mr Chesnais has confirmed that the device will be based on computer technology, suggesting it could be used to play old classics, including Pac-Man, Pong and Asteroids.

 

[R0H1T]

Mr Chesnais has confirmed that the device will be based on computer technology, suggesting it could be used to play old classics, including Pac-Man, Pong and Asteroids.

AMD or x86

 

[ZenZimZaliben]

AMD or x86

AMD and INTEL and others are all x86, x86-64. I think you meant x86-64 or ARM.

I would imagine they go with x86 based processors.

 

[R0H1T]

AMD and INTEL and others are all x86, x86-64. I think you meant x86-64 or ARM.

I would imagine they go with x86 based processors.

Yeah I meant AMD, but it doesn't need x86-64 unless they're having more than 4GB RAM in there.

 

[AsRock]

Yeah with a Atari all lit up , although they are not giving all that much info just that some thing Atari is on it's way. I do hope it's more of a low powered item.

 

[dorsetknob]

AMD / INTEL or ARM it will be a 64 bit System and it will Start out with 8 gig (upgradable )Memory
Has To or its Dead on Arrival
Atari Still has BRAND persona and retro loyalty.

They also have a wealth of Opportunity to take the best of the other consol offerings and implement it into a new version of their consol

this could be
Blue ray
4k Screen /game Resolution
VR/AR implementation inc wi fi conectivity for headsets and controllers ect

 

[Frick]

AMD / INTEL or ARM it will be a 64 bit System and it will Start out with 8 gig (upgradable )Memory
Has To or its Dead on Arrival
Atari Still has BRAND persona and retro loyalty.

They also have a wealth of Opportunity to take the best of the other consol offerings and implement it into a new version of their consol

this could be
Blue ray
4k Screen /game Resolution
VR/AR implementation inc wi fi conectivity for headsets and controllers ect

So just a really expensive PC with an Atari logo. I mean it is essentially all they can do at this point but it's really boring. At least the A-Eon Amiga X5000 was something different hardware-wise (even though it was enclosed in a boring bog standard Fractal Design case or whatever it is).

If they make a really well thought out gaming PC for the living room it will gain a market though.

 

[Frag_Maniac]

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

But the question is, once it hits the market, will they abandon it in 20 months? LOL

Seriously though, we all know by now integrating game systems with home theater is more about the peripherals used than the hardware in the system itself. It's part of the reason Steam Box is not doing so well, other than Valve having a hard time getting Linux converted games to run as well as those made for Windows.

I really don't see this doing too well.

 

[eidairaman1]

Nintendo barely hangs on. But open platform play will help all consoles, Sony is greedy and won't do it though...

 

[therealmeep]

Good to see something from Atari. I still have a 2600 in my setup. Held up well especially when you mod in composite video.

 

[timta2]

Take a look at the history and how many times the Atari name has been bought and sold. It's hardly the same company.

 

[Beastie]

What is Atari? As far as I can discern there is no linear connection between Nolan Bushnell, Ted Dabney and the present company. This is a cash in on a brand.

 

[Octopuss]

I had no idea Atari still existed.
I never owned a console and only briefly saw C64 back in early 90's before moving directly to PC

 

[WhiteNoise]

This could be cool. I was recently playing some old arcade games on my 61" HD screen and thinking....this would look so much better in HD.

I still remember the day back in the 70's when my Dad told me to jump in the car. We drove over an hour to the closest town and when we got there he said...wait here. I waited and when he walked out of the store he had a large brown paper bag. He didn't tell me what was in the bag at all. I was told not to touch the bag.

When we got home he pulled out the Atari 2600 and a bunch of games. I think I blew out my shorts when I saw it. Up to that point I had only played Pong. The first time I saw the Atari come to life I was BLOWN away by the graphics. I mean this shit was dope yo.

 

[Rehmanpa]

I didn't even know Atari was still a company lol. This is awesome.

 

[WhiteNoise]

Yeah they make games. Atari might have been bought out and such but they have been making games.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I had no idea Atari still existed.
I never owned a console and only briefly saw C64 back in early 90's before moving directly to PC

Every now and then they have been a game publisher.

 

[natr0n]

It's going to be pc based.

Atari really died out when they lost the dragon ball game license.

 

[erocker]

Hopefully they make it easy to develop for. A console without games is a dead console.

 

[remixedcat]

yawn... console peasants....

and it's just a lame cheap box that's atari in name only...which nobody cares about right now.

 

[eidairaman1]

Hopefully they make it easy to develop for. A console without games is a dead console.

Game devs are lazy nowadays, hence why gaming is becoming so stagnant now.

 

[Octopuss]

How is this going to work anyway? Every console needs games coded in different way, doesn't it? Xbox games are not playable on Playstation etc.
How do they expect devs to code stuff for yet another architecture? That doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[erocker]

Game devs are lazy nowadays, hence why gaming is becoming so stagnant now.

Agreed, but replace "developers" (who are generally hard working people) with publishers/corporate/execs.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I bet it runs on ARM and it is just this preloaded. They're selling the look nostalgia is all, not unlike NES Classic Edition. Seriously nothing to get excited about.

 

[Prima.Vera]

I bet it runs on ARM and it is just this preloaded. They're selling the look nostalgia is all, not unlike NES Classic Edition. Seriously nothing to get excited about.

Exactly my thoughts. Can be something simmilar with nGreedia's Shield, able to play any Android games....