I'm quite unclear on just what's going on with the Linux-powered retro console, but the Ataribox [Official Site] is going up for limited pre-orders on December 14th.
Arriving in my inbox today direct from the folks running Ataribox was this announcement:
It's Time!
Ataribox will be available for pre-order on December 14th, 2017.You'll be the first to know before pre-orders go live.
Our team would like to offer our earliest supporters a chance to grab Ataribox at an exclusive discount, so keep an eye on that inbox.These deals will be extremely limited. We'll tell you everything you need to know to get the best deal soon.
Since they previously announced it would go to IndieGoGo this "fall", I'm going to assume that's what this is all about. With a wider release expected next year.
We still don't know enough about it, to really get a good idea of what it will actually have inside. We've seen the retro joystick they plan to include, we know it will have support for streaming video services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO and more as well.
What we don't know, is anything specific about the hardware and the actual software. We know it's Linux-powered, it will have access to the full Linux-OS inside and that it will use an AMD CPU, but they're still keeping very tight lipped about anything more specific.
We don't know what games it will support, apart from retro games and some apparent more current titles, again nothing has been confirmed though. There's so much we don't know about, that makes it hard to really feel excited about it yet. My initial excitement over it has faded given the lack of anything really concrete. Although, it should work with more traditional gamepads considering their plans to put newer games on it too, plus this image on their actual website shows someone using one:
One thing we can probably bet it on, is Wi-Fi built in. I couldn't imagine such a unit launching without it, for system updates and downloading games, since it will likely use an online store.
What are your thoughts on it? I would imagine when this limited pre-order campaign starts, that they will reveal more information. If they don't, alarm bells really will be ringing.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
slaapliedje Dec 12, 2017
Quoting: doomwarriorxI have no idea but if I would have to build a box for 300$ using an AMD APU. I would try to build something like this:
http://rhomb.io/shop/hyperion 45€ -> Mainboard with USB, Wifi, Bluetooth for Wireless controllers, USB for more controller ;-)
http://rhomb.io/shop/amd-rx-421bd 192€ -> AMD RX-421BD 4 Core 2,1Ghz with 512 Shader GCN 1.2 graphic card
8GB DDR RAM 70€
Casing 20€
32GB SD-Card Class 10 20€
---> 347€ Raw price
Minus bulk discount (for buying 5000 units) of lets say 25%
---> ~260€
seems to be too tight. The stuff has to be manufactured, boxed and they want to make some revenue. Wouldn't expect too much. But I think it will be an R-Series APU it is sold for this niche.
I guess it really all depends on their distribution model (hardware + software). If they're able to sell huge numbers of them, it could be on par with PS4 hardware? But you're right, if they are smaller gains, they won't be able to get the parts for as cheap, so less profit. If they're planning on having a digital 'Atari' store (which is what they've hinted at) and it can get some decent content, they may be able to to 'pull a Valve' though unless their store fixes a lot of the Valve issues (like DRM?) then I don't see it being anywhere near as successful. But then again I guess they don't have to catch up with Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo to be really considered successful, as long as they get some money coming in to do even a small amount of what they're doing, it's still more money coming in than going out, I would think.
Quoting: KuJoQuoteThe new box will have an AMD custom processor with Radeon graphics. It will run the Linux operating system, with a user interface it’s customizing for TVs. Mac said that the machine will run PC games, but it will also be capable of doing streaming, running apps, browsing the web, and playing music. As far as games go, the machine will run the kind of games that a mid-range PC can do today, but it won’t run Triple-A games that require high-end PC performance.-> https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/25/ataribox-runs-linux-on-amd-chip-and-will-cost-at-least-249/
slaapliedje Dec 12, 2017
Quoting: KuJoI quote myself:
Quoting: KuJoQuoteThe new box will have an AMD custom processor with Radeon graphics. It will run the Linux operating system, with a user interface it’s customizing for TVs. Mac said that the machine will run PC games, but it will also be capable of doing streaming, running apps, browsing the web, and playing music. As far as games go, the machine will run the kind of games that a mid-range PC can do today, but it won’t run Triple-A games that require high-end PC performance.-> https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/25/ataribox-runs-linux-on-amd-chip-and-will-cost-at-least-249/
I don't have anything to add, just to quote you quoting yourself. :P
Yeah, some keep missing that it's 'and some mid-range' stuff. So it being Linux based, I was pointing out that Mad Max and Shadows of Mordor are both available for Linux, and I think both have their own benchmark, so I guess once it's out (if it comes out) then we can throw those at them and see how 'mid-range' vs 'triple A' vs 'only old console games' it can handle.
Mohandevir Dec 13, 2017
Quoting: GuestI hopscotched through that video. Here are my thoughts.
1) They (instinctively and disturbingly) talk about OUYA and Steam Machines. YIKES!!! Why is that?!
2) Linux on Radeon. Seriously? Unless you are running Vega+plus on a (yet to be released) Linux kernel, how is this a selling point?
3) "Hundreds" of Atari retro games? I own all those—already—on multiple platforms (ibid. "Atari Vault" on Steam; "Atari Classics" on PlayStation and "Atari Flashback" console).
4) No social-media buzz- AT ALL!
5) If he looks like a liar, walks like a liar, talks like a liar and sounds like a liar, ... ;)
Slightly off-topic, but reading this I really hope, for Linux gaming in general, that Valve is up to something for a futur Steam Machine. Some custom hardware that's in the range of an Xbox One X /PS4 Pro based on AMD Ryzen + Vega graphics would be welcome.
2015-2016 has been awesome years for Linux gaming but 2017, for whatever reasons, saw a steep decline in AAA releases. As examples, where are the Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Tomb Raider, Shadow of Mordor, Bioshock Infinite and Mad Max 2017 Equivalents? We have been buried under racing, rts and indie games, but the Feral radar signal that used to be filled with upcoming Linux titles now feels really empty and it's been like this for the last 8 to 10 months... If not a year.
This said, I don't mind getting 2 years old AAA titles, but now there is not much to be excited about. I got used to have one or 2 games on my backlog waiting to be played, but since Dirt Rally came to Linux, I'm just playing my old titles all over again. Where is the regular 2K, WB or Square Enix Linux release? It makes me sick to think about it but it's the first time since 2012 that I seriously consider dusting off my old Win7 installation CD and go through the painfully long process of installing it for gaming's sake (Don't get me sarted over Win10).
All I'm saying it's if I'm at this point, others might think the same way and the decline in Linux market share might not only be related to China and PUBG stuff. Not sure the absolute number of Linux users is not in decline too as convinced Linux users are looking for alternatives because new and interresting releases have become far and few between.
My hope lies in the possibility that it's a temporary setback involving Vulkan development and that new titles releases will resume after it becomes "more stable", but in the meanwhile...
Sorry that I bothered you with my first world problems. Lol!
Edit: Might be overpriced, but if it's really a mid range computer, the Ataribox could be an awesome piece of hardware to install Recalbox on. Add Steam integration to it... Just saying. :)
Last edited by Mohandevir on 13 December 2017 at 6:16 pm UTC
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