Atari has announced that the unreleased Ataribox has been rebranded as the Atari VCS [Official Site] and they say they will reveal the date for pre-orders next month. Their wording has been interesting, as they say the "pre-order date to be announced in April.", not that it actually will begin in April. They're still being all very coy about it all.
Originally, the Atari VCS under the name of the Ataribox was due to have pre-orders start towards the end of last year in December. This was then delayed, as Atari stated something about it missing a "key element on our checklist". We still have no idea what this was, as they're not yet saying.
Here's the latest shots they've sent around, it sure does look like something I wouldn't mind owning:
The gamepad is also looking really rather slick. Sometimes it's simplicity that creates beauty, I'm not saying it's the best looking gamepad out there, but you have to admit it does look pretty nice. Looks like a good size too, like it might actually fit in my hands properly…
I hope it does genuinely turn into something interesting, as an open Linux-powered games console with backing from someone to see it through could be a good boost for Linux gaming overall. What actually happens remains to be seen, will it be a force to be reckoned with or will it see another delay? Who knows, but we shall keep you informed.
We still know too little details about it—sure they've given some hardware specifications and they said it will remain based on Linux, with access to the underlying system free of restraints, but the key fact here is that they haven't shown it actually working in any form at all. That's what worries me the most after all this time. On top of that, their official site is using quotes with no source that seem pretty made up from randomly picked names.
What do you think?
Still amusing they listed us on their press page.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: tuubiIf you'd mixed up Amiga and Atari back in the 16bit A500/ST days, you'd have had both camps coming after you with torches and pitchforks. ;)I never owned a gaming console because I never found them interesting and useful enough. For that matter, I never even bought a handheld Tetris or some other game, because they are too "specialized" for my taste. :P
So if the brand new Atari VCS can do more things than a gaming console, I will consider it. That means it would have to be a decent PC under the hood, with a regular GNU/Linux distro. From what we know so far, that seems to be the case already. But we'll have to wait and see.
Quoting: kneekooNeither did I. Despite the gaming focus, these were personal computers, not consoles.Quoting: tuubiIf you'd mixed up Amiga and Atari back in the 16bit A500/ST days, you'd have had both camps coming after you with torches and pitchforks. ;)I never owned a gaming console because I never found them interesting and useful enough.
wvstolzing Mar 21, 2018
Quoting: slaapliedjeAnd Atari was supposed to own them.. it's a whole thing...
The unconsummated Atari deal, how Amiga bailed themselves out at the last moment, etc., is an interesting story ... like pretty much all stories from the Amiga's short life.
One can always read about such things, of course; but we also have the chance to see the people who were personally involved. This is a really great documentary, that I'd wholeheartedly recommend -- it's sold on Steam; before that it was a kickstarter:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/551260/From_Bedrooms_to_Billions_The_Amiga_Years/
There's really well made, informative, accurate stuff on youtube as well. The following excerpt has plenty about the Atari deal, from Jack Tramiel's perspective (Atari stuff begins on the 10:30 mark):
View video on youtube.com
Last edited by wvstolzing on 21 March 2018 at 6:45 pm UTC
slaapliedje Mar 21, 2018
Quoting: GuestApparently - I just discovered this today - the retro controller works as a paddle if you rotate the stick. It remains to be seen how well that'll work, but it's a cool idea.Quoting: LeopardKey element = Exclusive games to Atari VCSTo me, Atari + Key Element = PADDLES :D
Quoting: GuestI mean the ones for the new VCS.Quoting: DuncApparently - I just discovered this today - the retro controller works as a paddle if you rotate the stick. It remains to be seen how well that'll work, but it's a cool idea.I can't recall if this is correct. The 2600 classic joysticks on my Flashback 2 system don't do this.
As I say, it may or may not work as well as a real paddle. It all depends on how it's implemented. I can imagine it being just like a paddle with nice, fine, smooth control, but then will that get in the way of it functioning well as a joystick? As with everything involving this console, we'll just have to wait and see.
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