Atari VCS (2019)

They're crowdfunding it?

Honestly, given the lukewarm reception the announcement of the thing itself has gotten, I don't see how a crowdfunding campaign for it could succeed. Of course, I could be wrong...

I do kind of like the throwback design of the Atari Box, though.

Aaah, Crowdfunded, there's the other shoe dropping.

With stuff like the Colico Chameleon (an outright scam) and the Ouya (A pile of garbage) and the Spectrum Vega+ (A clusterfuck), this is gonna have some serious work to do to convince anyone to shell out money for this. The concept of a crowfunded console has ''never turned out well". Even the Oculus Rift got its fair share of controversy.

Honestly, at this point, anyone putting money on Crowdfunding for consoles have to be hopelessly naive.

edited 17th Jul '17 4:54:20 PM by Ghilz

It's not being "crowd-funded". They're using Indie Gogo as a pre-order service.

Sounds like they'll have classic 2600 games on the HD, but they're doing modern games. Sort of a smarter version of the Steam console, but using a GOOD controller and not making it a "computer that attaches to your TV".

Official press release released today:

One of the world's most iconic consumer brands and interactive entertainment producers — today announces that pre-sales of its new Atari VCS™ hardware platform will start May 30, 2018. The pre-sale is exclusive to Indiegogo and features the time-limited Atari VCS Collector’s Edition featuring the special retro-inspired wood-front. In addition to the Collector’s Edition, fans will have the option to pre-order the Atari VCS Onyx, a sleek black version. Early-bird Atari VCS packages will be offered, including the Onyx starting at $199 USD for a limited period of time. Other packages will include the Classic Joystick and Modern Controller. Initial Atari VCS shipments are planned for Spring 2019. Fans who have signed up for “insider” email alerts at Atari VCS.com before May 24, 2018 will be eligible for special purchase incentives during the pre-sale.

The VCS is a completely new Atari connected device, designed in California by Atari. The company has partnered with AMD who provides the Atari VCS custom processor with Radeon Graphics Technology. The Atari VCS platform will offer support for 4K resolution, HDR and 60FPS content, onboard and expandable storage options, dual-band Wi Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, as well as USB 3.0 support. (emphasis mine) A complete list of Atari VCS product specs will be posted with the pre-sale.

The updated Classic Joystick and new Modern Controller for the Atari VCS are being developed in partnership with leading video game peripherals maker Power A. Both items will be available in select packages and as standalone purchases.

Retro-inspired, but not a “retro-box,” the Atari VCS will be a fully customizable entertainment experience. This means access to a vast array of games, media and streaming content options. As an homage to the past, Atari VCS covers the classics with the included Atari Vault of more than 100 classic games, including all-time arcade and home entertainment favorites like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Breakout®, Missile Command®, Gravitar® and Yars’ Revenge®; a growing list of games, especially a full range of popular modern titles, will be announced at later dates.

Oh, now that it has a name, can someone change the title of the thread to "Atari VCS (2019)"?

edited 30th Apr '18 10:44:17 AM by AnotherGuy

Oh that's even funnier. This isn't a retro console, but instead they want this to be a new, modern day console? Pffff yeah sure.

New!Atari is Infogrames, a company that was approaching bankruptcy in 2013 to 2015. Their turnabout strategies in the last years include publishing Roller Coaster Tycoon World (43 on Metacritic, and the worst reviewed game in the series) and Alone in the Dark: Illumination (19 on Metacritic).

These people are making a console?

edited 30th Apr '18 11:41:02 AM by Ghilz

Negativity much?

edited 30th Apr '18 11:30:14 AM by AnotherGuy

Practicality and skepticism. Both of which seem dutifully earned.

No one's even mentioned you. Stop being so confrontational.

Like, neither I nor Beatman 1 have mentioned you. All I said is I have no reason to believe in a product helmed by a company whose most recent achievements are barely avoiding bankruptcy and publishing really bad games based on IP they own.

edited 30th Apr '18 11:45:36 AM by Ghilz

The point being made here is not only is Atari not really Atari anymore, they're just not in any shape to develop a new console.

I expect this to crash and burn. It's one thing to release a NES Classic style device, but trying to break into the console market can't end well for these guys.

I think it'll be a hot new console.

Just like the Ouya!

The company that's going to be making the console for them, Power A seems to be an alright peripheral maker. Mostly making controllers, which get decent to good amazon reviews. And before anyone gets to excited, we're not talking "high performance controllers with improved button layouts" but mostly "cheaper third party alternative to first party controller who are mostly identical".

So hey, maybe this will at least have a better controller than the Ouya's sticky unresponsive mess. :-P

My question is - Is there room for another console? I mean, Ouya and its clones all used Android architecture and games from its store. So there was a library even if like the consoles themselves, it was low budget.

Here, well, are they using Android? Or do they expect someone to port games to it?

They haven't listed specs or OS or games for it (Beyond retro games you'd be able to get and frankly can already get almost anywhere).

Which, ya know, is only further reasons to be suspicious beyond who's making this. I frankly don't even believe enough in this console to even consider its ability to carve itself a place in the marketplace. Not at this stage.

Their announcement spends more time going "pre-order ASAP" than telling anything tangible about the console.

edited 1st May '18 6:44:28 AM by Ghilz

Wouldn't be surprised if they're using this as their final card to sray afloat. Many people I talked with throught Atari died like 10 years ago.

If all you can get are old games, well, you can go to the drugstore and buy a replica 2600 with a wood grain finish and emulated games. There’s literally no reason to buy a new console for that.

It did. (And the Atari who died a few years ago wasn't even THE Atari)

This is Infograme, who bought the Atari brand, and renamed themselves Atari.

Well according to them it's not "all you get". but it's all they confirmed. I'm also suspicious of a console that has a price tag, but no specs.

At 199$ they are clearly aiming for some sort of budget console, as that's cheaper than a switch and X Bone

edited 1st May '18 7:20:01 AM by Ghilz

Today's the final date for their "Sign up for email updates and get pre-order incentives" thing, and pre-orders are (supposed) to go up in 6 days, and this thing still doesn't have any specs.

Nothing shifty about this.

Atari no longer exists.

Atari Inc, what made the 2600, split in two in 1983, and the two daughter companies have been variously acquired, reorganised, split further, and bits of them sold off and traded to the point that there are bits of the company in a slew of other entities.

As has been stated already, the company that is releasing this new console is Infogrames, who at some point changed their name to Atari but who are no more Atari than is Mitsubisho.

I think there is room for a new console, but it will have to be something really special to persuade people to buy in stead or addition to the Big Three.

Atari's New Console Under Fire Again As Crowdfunding Campaign Nears End

Looks like things are starting to get a little hairy.

Isn't that exactly what I said?

x2 Oh boy, this looks like a glorious train wreck in the making.

Let it never be said we were taken by surprise.

Yes. Yes it is.