Atari VCS Pre-Sale Begins May 30th

FrgMstr

FrgMstr

Just Plain Mean
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The Atari VCS has been making waves for a good year now. If it is nostalgia you want, the VCS is delivering that in spades. If playing the old games like Asteroids, Centipede, Breakout, and Missile Command in 4K gets you excited, the VCS will be right up your alley. The VCS proclaims to be more than just a retro-gaming box however, but rather a "fully customizable entertainment experience." Pre-sales are set to start on May the 30th. We are interested in seeing the full specifications at launch, but some of the inner goodness is hinted at below. Hit the Indiegogo link if you want to get on the list.

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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 WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0, as well as USB 3.0 support. A complete list of Atari VCS product specs will be posted with the pre-sale.
 
"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."

So if it includes 100 ARCADE versions of those games, I might be slightly interested at $100, but not so much at $200. If it's just a dump of 2600 versions, then I might as well go buy one of those crappy 2600 flashback consoles that are $30 at Big Lots.

It should have a modern AMD APU, but what future games will be available... linux / android games? Who knows. Article is kind of vague.

"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 WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0, as well as USB 3.0 support. A complete list of Atari VCS product specs will be posted with the pre-sale."

This kind of hardware to emulate arcade games is mega overkill. An Rpi is still overkill. I don't get it.
 
Merc1138 said:
The Atari VCS, been making waves for a year now... and we still don't know what the hell it does.
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It’s going to claim to be a next gen entertainment console with amazing graphics, open development tools, and some retro flair. They are even teasing support for “modern titles” because of course they are. What won’t it do?!

Then it will launch with disappointing software support and a few million from backers will have vanished.
 
This sounds like an alternative to an apple tv, roku or chromecast that also plays some games. If the included controllers are decent quality it might snag some people. I'll stick with my retropie I think.
 
I wonder how big their E3 press conference will be.

Snide remarks aside, I wonder what sort of APU is in there. I'm guessing at that price, it won't be Vega-based, but if it was, I'd definitely take a closer look at the console.
 
All that power and a hefty price tag to run...8 bit games.


tenor.gif
 
Price is up, and about what I expected. I signed up to be notified. I'd still like to see final specs before pre-ordering. Worst case scenario, since it will be standard x86, I could run linux programs or maybe even install Windows 10 on it to be a decent media box. Couldn't be any worse than the AM1 box I am currently using, and will look better too!
 
The Atari 5200 console was the last piece of Atari hardware I'll ever own. Sony can blow me too while I'm at it.
 
as long as the price/specs are reasonable and can act like a "mobile computer"
more so than current gen "consoles" are able, might be nice.

ps4-xb1 can game and do some media stuff for sure, but, they are quite limited in a good chunk of
"normal" computer stuff that can be done.

if the specs are good and price is right the ability to use a proper keyboard/mouse etc
puts it in a good spot and "maybe" will give the option that most laptops etc are very lacking in

upgrade as needed.

here is hoping they thought of this and try to cut in aon the more elusive and
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
custom laptop side of the coin that use desktop class parts

doubtful but there is always hope right? ^.^
 
What they're really going to do, is pull an Atari.

I WANT to like it, but this is almost assuredly what is going to happen. I think it looks kinda cool. But I think all the Ouya 2ers are right here. Unfortunately. I'd love to see them succeed with something cool, but...

Now if it had Jaguar, Lynx, 2600, Arcade, 5200, and ST support... We might at least have something to talk about, but that won't happen either, (especially the latter computers I mentioned).

I was trying my best to be optimistic, (and you'll see that I was in the older threads about this) but I've seen a lot of things falter, some fail, lately of things that I was hopeful about. So... I'm currently grumpy... :D
 
I agree: What *exactly* does it do?

Also: Why the hell can't I just build a 50$ Retropie box and do all the same things?
 
Guarana [BAWLS] said:
I agree: What *exactly* does it do?

Also: Why the hell can't I just build a 50$ Retropie box and do all the same things?
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Well... That's probably what will kill this. The fact that you CAN just build a Retropie box, buy a Shield TV, build a MiniITX PC, etc. etc. There are SO many options. I like this slick future-retro 2600 case, and if this ended up being better than some of the options we've mentioned, I might actually put one on a TV in a spare room, or one of my kids' rooms, or something like that.

Right now, I've got Shield TVs, Steam Links, PCs, consoles, etc. etc. on every TV in the house. So this would be a tough sell without something unique. They could easily make or break with the game library that will be available. I, like so many here, fear "classic Atari library" could mean a bunch of 2600 games. Everyone knows the arcade games, maybe Lynx, and maybe Jaguar would be the big ones. (then maybe the Atari computers as well, though then you need peripherals) Bring out Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters, Marble Madness, and things like that. Not another way to play E.T.
 
1st time someone puts KODI on this thing it might gain traction.

Until then, I'm expecting a crash and burn and I have many great memories of my Atari's when I was a kid but this thing really does leave me wondering WTH.
 
lostin3d said:
1st time someone puts KODI on this thing it might gain traction.

Until then, I'm expecting a crash and burn and I have many great memories of my Atari's when I was a kid but this thing really does leave me wondering WTH.
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But are people going to spend $200 on a Kodi box next years when there are already devices that can run Kodi for cheaper?
 
Ocellaris said:
But are people going to spend $200 on a Kodi box next years when there are already devices that can run Kodi for cheaper?
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Oh I agree but there's always a market for those who don't know any better.
 
My Shield TV was $200. I really had no problem paying that much for it. It's smaller, decently powerful, streams games flawlessly from my PC to my bedroom, though, and has a decent feeling controller. So, I'd be willing to spend that much on something along those lines obviously, but not without knowing ANYTHING about it.
 
I can’t see this gaining much traction honestly.

People buy fire sticks for $40 already for KODI no reason to grab this.
 
J3RK said:
My Shield TV was $200. I really had no problem paying that much for it. It's smaller, decently powerful, streams games flawlessly from my PC to my bedroom, though, and has a decent feeling controller. So, I'd be willing to spend that much on something along those lines obviously, but not without knowing ANYTHING about it.
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Not knowing about it means people will hope for the best and spend money on Atari’s marketing Kickstarter. The Kickstarter will surely tout this as a next gen entertainment device that can do “everything”.
 
Ocellaris said:
Not knowing about it means people will hope for the best and spend money on Atari’s marketing Kickstarter. The Kickstarter will surely tout this as a next gen entertainment device that can do “everything”.
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Agreed. That might actually be ok, except Atari is known (among other things) to disappear, get acquired, go bankrupt, end up in unrelated companies' hands, etc. The name always comes back, but it always means something different. There's no guarantee that this iteration will be around for long.

What they really should do is ensure that they have hardware that's a step up from all current similar devices. (including the shield) Take a hint from places like this, and put a decent library beyond the 2600 into it. Publish some specs, and flood people with information. That would inspire a bit more confidence. Tell people who they're partnering with, as well. Who do they have lined up to provide some content? It needs to be "real" game companies (including indies) but not mobile-device shovelware. It's a tall order, but I think that's what it would take to really make a dent. Hell, even if it was the top-tier indies providing content, like the Hyper Light Drifters, Shovel Knights, Axiom Verges, Dead Cells, and Sundereds of the world, I'd buy one because I play these sorts of games a lot. Having an extra box with all that would be handy in some cases. However, there is one very BIG reason that even this might not work. All of this is on the Switch, and that can be played literally anywhere.
 
jardows said:
It will do anything that you can do on Linux with an AMD x86 processor. How well it will do it will depend on the exact hardware specs.
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If it's half-way decent, it could actually be worth it. It likely won't have the same size "ecosystem" :D as the Shield does, but it could edge it out by being x86. That does open it up for a bit more freedom potentially than something with more of a closed system like the Shield. When they say 4K + 60FPS + HDR though, are they talking games, movies, Atari 2600 emulation :p I've always wanted to play Combat upscaled to 4K with a metric fuck-ton of antialiasing. (or maybe that's not something I've always wanted... :D )

Anyway, it has potential, but like I said, I need more information.
 
If it could play ever Atari home system in existence that would be pretty cool. Heck, add in their Arcade machines too - might help :)
 
Trying to find a quotable source but apparently this thing doesn't even come with a controller. That's...A really fucking stupid move.
 
I really still want to like this thing. I can't bring myself to do any form of pre-order, backing, etc. However, if it looks useful or fun when it is finally retail, I'd consider it. Still not inspired by what they've announced for classics though. (vault etc.) Make a track-ball controller, and put Marble Madness and Tempest on it or something maybe? Something a little different than the usual Atari-Nostalgia thing.

Really curious on the AMD side of this though. Mobile APU or something more interesting?
 
J3RK said:
I really still want to like this thing. I can't bring myself to do any form of pre-order, backing, etc. However, if it looks useful or fun when it is finally retail, I'd consider it. Still not inspired by what they've announced for classics though. (vault etc.) Make a track-ball controller, and put Marble Madness and Tempest on it or something maybe? Something a little different than the usual Atari-Nostalgia thing.

Really curious on the AMD side of this though. Mobile APU or something more interesting?
Click to expand...

For the price, it will probably just be Puma+, not Raven Ridge. These have been used in several Steam handhelds already, at much higher prices. The release of Raven Ridge pretty much guarantees the selling off of all stock of Puma+, hence this thing is only $200.

EDIT: might be Stoney Ridge, which has the older Bulldozer 1-module core and slightly beefed-up graphics, but I'm not sure how much of an improvement that will be.
 
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