Remember the Ataribox? [Official Site] The Linux-powered retro console that will turn to crowdfunding sometime soon just had the reveal of their Joystick.
I'm quite excited by it, as it does sound like an interesting Linux-powered device. Considering they said before that you will be able to get full access to the underlying Linux OS, it could be a damn fine little unit.
Take a look at the pictures they shared recently (from their official Facebook):
The design looks perfect. Stylish and simple!
Also, something that was missing from Valve's Steam Machines, which the Ataribox will have is proper access to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO and more. Which was also confirmed in another of their Facebook updates. I assume this means it will have proper applications set up to just tap and browse.
I'm pretty keen to hear more about what retro and "current" titles they're planning to have on it. It's sounding more and more interesting! I still have some worries about how it's going to turn out, but I'm staying positive until we see what happens with the crowdfunding that has yet to be started. If it turns out okay, I will be first in line for one for sure. As a Linux fan and a tech enthusiast, it ticks many boxes for me.
Finally, they have a survey up at the moment where you can tell them what you feel is important, like full access to the Linux OS inside.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
Quoting: Atary SurveyThanks for taking our survey. Now, enter your email address to get an exclusive discount when Ataribox launches (a limited number will be made available)
Well this is a smart way to end a survey and ask you for your email!
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slaapliedje Nov 28, 2017
So.. I've been following the AtariBox since I first got a weird email because I think I was signed up to the Atari newsletter from.. oh probably from when I registered Neverwinter Nights...
I've also been following and involved with the thread over on the AtariAge forums, and people there are far more bitter toward 'current' Atari than people here.
But yes some kept saying ARM, and it's AMD. There is even a few articles from AMD stating a deal with Atari (like on their earnings) http://www.amd.com/en-us/press-releases/Pages/press-release-2017oct24.aspx
Someone in the Atari Forum did track down the gamepad that is used in the other image.
http://atariage.com/forums/topic/266480-new-atari-console-that-ataribox/page-100#entry3891664 breaks down everything in the image... though earlier in the thread was where the gamepad is. https://www.amazon.com/Speedlink-Torid-Gamepad-Wireless-Pc/dp/B014R4E8IE
I've also been following and involved with the thread over on the AtariAge forums, and people there are far more bitter toward 'current' Atari than people here.
But yes some kept saying ARM, and it's AMD. There is even a few articles from AMD stating a deal with Atari (like on their earnings) http://www.amd.com/en-us/press-releases/Pages/press-release-2017oct24.aspx
QuoteAtari disclosed that a customized AMD processor featuring Radeon™ graphics technology will power the upcoming Ataribox game console, which is targeted for global launch in spring 2018.
Someone in the Atari Forum did track down the gamepad that is used in the other image.
http://atariage.com/forums/topic/266480-new-atari-console-that-ataribox/page-100#entry3891664 breaks down everything in the image... though earlier in the thread was where the gamepad is. https://www.amazon.com/Speedlink-Torid-Gamepad-Wireless-Pc/dp/B014R4E8IE
2 Likes, Who?
Would be fun if Ataribox was sneaky Steambox, where Valve is trying a bit different concept of Steambox, with specific brand image and specific target group. Get more traction on linux gaming platform, have have number of support staff that can solve linux-specific issues before they roll out with more general-use box.
4 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje Nov 28, 2017
Quoting: ColomboWould be fun if Ataribox was sneaky Steambox, where Valve is trying a bit different concept of Steambox, with specific brand image and specific target group. Get more traction on linux gaming platform, have have number of support staff that can solve linux-specific issues before they roll out with more general-use box.
I've always suggested this, but the bitter pill some people have swallowed for crowdfunded systems in the Atari community is pretty terrible, so many are convinced already that it's going to flop, never get made, etc. And one of the main people behind it (Feargal Mac) has had two other crowdfunded things that were a bit on the 'wtf' side, and still have failed to deliver the Gameband watch that had Atari Branding (and Pong!) on it.
I'm hopeful yet cynical at the same time. While it'd be cool to have a box this small dedicated with AMD hardware and for Linux as a gaming box, I'm not sure what's left of Atari can manage to pull it off, especially since all they are now is a Brand name.
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Oi, that fire button looks like it's going to suck. It seems too low-profile to be comfortable, but maybe the pictures don't do it justice.
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Luke_Nukem Nov 28, 2017
I'm buying the shit out of this! Might even be powerful enough to use as a secondary desktop computer.
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ElectricPrism Nov 28, 2017
AMD Radeon puts this at the top of my watch list with MESA in the great shape its in.
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Quoting: danniello* Joystick buttons - looks like "home" and "back" from Android...
Damn it you are correct - it it's true then it's worse than useless to me the last thing I need is another OUYA :(
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TheRiddick Nov 28, 2017
Quoting: GuestI guess they are going to have to come out with some 'current' titles that only require one button and one analogue stick.
Looks pretty though.
Like I said, I'd suspect this controller is only for their retro game library, just look at the game the chap is playing in the screenshot. My guess is they expect people to plug in their fav controller or K/M
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Is it only by chance that every picture hides the upper right corner?
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As good as this box sounds, it doesn't really help linux gaming in any way. Its a retro gaming box, which we have plenty with the use of RPI or similar. Yeah its out of box experience, but it wont run anything more demanding. While small indie/retro games can be super addictive and fun, they unfortunately wont grow the linux marketshare much at all. We need a "Console" that has those top 40-50 Most played games in Steam, or just linux ports from those games which don't run like crap compared to other operating systems.
Anyway i like the idea of Ataribox, but i dont have really high hopes for this. Atari is no more. Its just a name that got aquired. They havent made anything fantastic lately, just half finished junk after half finished junk. Will see how it turns out though.
Anyway i like the idea of Ataribox, but i dont have really high hopes for this. Atari is no more. Its just a name that got aquired. They havent made anything fantastic lately, just half finished junk after half finished junk. Will see how it turns out though.
1 Likes, Who?
TheRiddick Nov 28, 2017
Yeah its going to take some talented Linux developers to make the hardware perform good for more modern games under Linux. I do hope its not released with a OLD kernel linux spin as that would being extremely telling, really it would need kernel 4.15 as bare minimal, 4.16 should be out by the time we see the kickstarter.
They will need to religiously keep the kernel and drivers up to date to maximize the effectiveness of the AMD hardware! if not then it means they are not serious about this console....
They will need to religiously keep the kernel and drivers up to date to maximize the effectiveness of the AMD hardware! if not then it means they are not serious about this console....
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: XpanderAs good as this box sounds, it doesn't really help linux gaming in any way. Its a retro gaming box, which we have plenty with the use of RPI or similar. Yeah its out of box experience, but it wont run anything more demanding. While small indie/retro games can be super addictive and fun, they unfortunately wont grow the linux marketshare much at all. We need a "Console" that has those top 40-50 Most played games in Steam, or just linux ports from those games which don't run like crap compared to other operating systems.
I agree. Running modern Linux games will be even more niche than Linux gaming in general. A nice toy for the Linux geeks.
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did the tech companies think we are stupid to buy anything that have an tux logo on it?
the expected price for this thing was like 250~300:
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/09/ataribox-aims-high-with-250-300-price-point-linux-core-custom-amd-chip/
why would anyone buy one of those instead of an PS4, Switch or xbox one? (or a new video card for their pc, or maybe 5 more games)
the only 2 groups that i see buying one of those are:
Atari fans ,but those dont exist anymore since they burn they own brand with the classic remakes.
see the jimquisition videos about it
And Linux users, but we buying that will not aughment the linux marketshare and solve the chicken/egg issue.
we will just waste 300 dollars that could be better spent in buying games. as we did with the steam machines (and even then, sold less than 500K copies)
at least now, they admit that they have no clue on what the price should be (they are asking this question on the pool) wich isnt a good think at all, but at least will give then a clue.
sorry guys, but supporting it will only make linux being remembered as "the system of the scans like oton X".
the average joe dont know what linux and FLOSS software is.
and if they cant make an product that have apeal for the average joe, we shouldnt support it just because it runs linux, it will not help us, we should spend smarther not harder.
just think about it, if you go to github.com, there are millions of projects there, if you have 1 million of dollars, what would make more sense, donate 1 dolar to each project?
or donate 1 million the ones who are more likely to be a thing and not die tomorrow?
we are just throwing money at everything to see if its stick, instead of focusing on ensure the survival of something that has potential.
1 dollar per month cant hire an developer and ensure that he will not have to find an "real job" in the closed software world, instead of work on the free software he is doing and hire more people to help.
1 million of dollars on a single hand on the other hand can make the difference, and an hardware that will only be purchased by a few linux users isnt an gamechanger project.
hardware has an cost per unit, aside from things like purism that dont aim to be mainstream, projects like this are doomed to fail.
the expected price for this thing was like 250~300:
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/09/ataribox-aims-high-with-250-300-price-point-linux-core-custom-amd-chip/
why would anyone buy one of those instead of an PS4, Switch or xbox one? (or a new video card for their pc, or maybe 5 more games)
the only 2 groups that i see buying one of those are:
Atari fans ,but those dont exist anymore since they burn they own brand with the classic remakes.
see the jimquisition videos about it
And Linux users, but we buying that will not aughment the linux marketshare and solve the chicken/egg issue.
we will just waste 300 dollars that could be better spent in buying games. as we did with the steam machines (and even then, sold less than 500K copies)
at least now, they admit that they have no clue on what the price should be (they are asking this question on the pool) wich isnt a good think at all, but at least will give then a clue.
sorry guys, but supporting it will only make linux being remembered as "the system of the scans like oton X".
the average joe dont know what linux and FLOSS software is.
and if they cant make an product that have apeal for the average joe, we shouldnt support it just because it runs linux, it will not help us, we should spend smarther not harder.
just think about it, if you go to github.com, there are millions of projects there, if you have 1 million of dollars, what would make more sense, donate 1 dolar to each project?
or donate 1 million the ones who are more likely to be a thing and not die tomorrow?
we are just throwing money at everything to see if its stick, instead of focusing on ensure the survival of something that has potential.
1 dollar per month cant hire an developer and ensure that he will not have to find an "real job" in the closed software world, instead of work on the free software he is doing and hire more people to help.
1 million of dollars on a single hand on the other hand can make the difference, and an hardware that will only be purchased by a few linux users isnt an gamechanger project.
hardware has an cost per unit, aside from things like purism that dont aim to be mainstream, projects like this are doomed to fail.
0 Likes
Quoting: ColomboWould be fun if Ataribox was sneaky Steambox, where Valve is trying a bit different concept of Steambox, with specific brand image and specific target group. Get more traction on linux gaming platform, have have number of support staff that can solve linux-specific issues before they roll out with more general-use box.
that is my only hope.
Atari alone is not strong enough, but with valve help....
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Quoting: TheRiddick2) My guess is they will just optimize some sort of interface to access these web features, very much doubt it will be a ALL IN ONE browser because we all know the big boys don't like competing with each other.First: I’m not 100% sure, but probably it is not legal. Without Netflix/Hulu/etc. legal permission you cannot wrap it inside another GUI. Legal issues could be bypassed as "community mod" that user will download and install by himself. But in this situation - it cannot be officially advertised.
Second: It is not easy task to wrap one GUI into another GUI, especially when "source" is using DRM and is it very "hostile" for "third-party" modifications. Also every tiny change on source website will destroy wrapper...
Third: Netfix/HBO/Amazon require DRM and HDCP support (for resolution bigger than 720p). There is no HDCP support in Linux at all. HDCP is supported by Android...
Long story short: if they want Netflix/Hulu/etc. it will be MUCH easier for them if it will be another Android clone.
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To set the record straight:
I watch netflix solely on my steam machine from steamos, streaming it to my steam link.
Same goes for hidive.
I stopped my crunchyroll, since they refused to support it (or better, they stopped their beta trial of html 5 support video streaming, just as I put a lot of effort into getting the higher crunchyroll service only to be able to watch the beta evolve, which was 1 day working, and 2 weeks of bugs (that's ok, it's beta), and then they just stopped the html 5 interface).
The videos on steam itself is crap as big picture only shows 20 times the same title for a series, and there is no other interface.
So any html 5 drm compatible streaming service can be watched on steamos.
I do that from the build in browser, as streaming apps -except for kodi- suck.
I watch netflix solely on my steam machine from steamos, streaming it to my steam link.
Same goes for hidive.
I stopped my crunchyroll, since they refused to support it (or better, they stopped their beta trial of html 5 support video streaming, just as I put a lot of effort into getting the higher crunchyroll service only to be able to watch the beta evolve, which was 1 day working, and 2 weeks of bugs (that's ok, it's beta), and then they just stopped the html 5 interface).
The videos on steam itself is crap as big picture only shows 20 times the same title for a series, and there is no other interface.
So any html 5 drm compatible streaming service can be watched on steamos.
I do that from the build in browser, as streaming apps -except for kodi- suck.
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Quoting: dannielloThird: Netfix/HBO/Amazon require DRM and HDCP support (for resolution bigger than 720p). There is no HDCP support in Linux at all. HDCP is supported by Android...
linux has DRM support on Firefox and Chrome, not that this is a good thing...
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