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.
QuoteThe 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 like what they're saying about openness. The various streaming clients is definitely nice to have. I like that they're keen on Linux tech. At approx 25 minutes, they mention having 100s of retro titles (I think from day one, i.e. coming free with the hardware). Unlike the current Linux emulation of retro titles, where the copying and using of arcade ROMs is on dodgy ground legally, I'm assuming that all the titles on here will be legit.
I suspect from the size of the box, that it is unlikely to cope with high-end gaming. Those games need top end processors with big cooling fans, and even bigger graphics cards with bigger cooling fans. Saying that, a medium spec system would still manage to play games like The Witcher 3 or Skyrim or DOOM (at no more than 1080P).
Which leads me on to something positive. If the Nintendo Switch is "big enough" to get DOOM and Skyrim ported to it. Then if a popular name like Atari manages to pull this off as a big hit - Then Skyrim, DOOM could be ported to Atari Box... and who knows, maybe regular Linux will eventually get titles like that.
Generally this will be good news for Linux I feel. Games publishers would release to Atari Box, which is based on Linux, and this is going to encourage them to release their game to native Linux as well. Might as well... It's Linux too... we've already done all the hard work.
One thing that I'm not clear on yet - Is this Atari Box going to run regular Linux Steam client (at all)? I'm assuming it likely will do, but if it ends up that it doesn't then this box isn't going to be anywhere near as appealing as it could be (to the typical Windows gamer).
Also noting that the Nintendo Switch came out at a similar price value, and that hasn't really deterred sales of that console. Atari does have a good chance, and thumbs up that this'll be good news for Linux gaming generally.
Last edited by g000h on 12 December 2017 at 12:34 am UTC
slaapliedje Dec 12, 2017
Quoting: g000hIf the Nintendo Switch is "big enough" to get DOOM and Skyrim ported to it. Then if a popular name like Atari manages to pull this off as a big hit - Then Skyrim, DOOM could be ported to Atari Box... and who knows, maybe regular Linux will eventually get titles like that.TBF Nintendo is still huge. Atari's brand alone won't do much here, and popularity doesn't mean anything if it isn't backed by the market. I doubt Bethesda bases their business decisions on hype or nostalgia.
I'm not trying to sound negative, I really hope Atari's gambit succeeds. And of the consoles, Nintendo's slice of the pie is the one an affordable "indie box" might actually take a bite out of.
Quoting: g000h...
Which leads me on to something positive. If the Nintendo Switch is "big enough" to get DOOM and Skyrim ported to it. Then if a popular name like Atari manages to pull this off as a big hit - Then Skyrim, DOOM could be ported to Atari Box... and who knows, maybe regular Linux will eventually get titles like that.
...
Hate to be negative (well, not really, since we're talking about atari), but the Switch sold in enough numbers to pass the entire linux market share within a single month. By now, not even a year from release, the switch install base is well over 10 times as large. Additionally, many switch users seem to have money to burn; many of them are buying ports at prices as high as double those in competing platforms (steam, xbox ps4).
No way in hell can atari match that with what is, essentially, a conventional console. Even if they hadn't flushed their name down the toilet with such gems as roller coaster tycoon 4 mobile and alone in the dark illumination this would have been a tall order.
Last edited by emphy on 12 December 2017 at 10:22 am UTC
doomwarriorx Dec 12, 2017
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.
slaapliedje Dec 12, 2017
Quoting: 14Is it really $300? I haven't seen the price posted. If that's true, that's too much based off the spit of info we have. To me, it sounds like it's only powerful enough to play old pixel games. If that's the case, it should be more like $100 for the convenience package and good looks. Otherwise, I'll just hook up a $100 computer from Craigslist to my TV.
I think they hinted that the 'wood grain' version (with real wood!) was going to be the $300 model. And yeah, it's an AMD based system. Could be around the same spec as the PS4. Who knows until they announce it though.
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me