Ah yes, the Atari VCS, the Linux-powered console/PC hybrid thing that's coming out supposedly by the end of this year has a new announcement and…nope it's not more games.
You would think as the release of the hardware is approaching, after numerous delays, they would be loudly talking about all those wonderful games that will support it but no. Instead, you get another streaming application. On top of Antstream for retro games, AirConsole for cheaply made multiplayer browser games and Game Jolt which is apparently helping to bring over some indies they've announced Plex.
Sure, Plex itself is quite a nice streaming application and having direct support for it means you get another device that can stream your vast amount of video and audio. It's better than not having Plex but not exactly going to be exciting for people still wanting to know what damn games will work on it. Considering their own Linux-based Atari World OS that comes pre-loaded requires games to have Linux builds to work on it, this shouldn't be too hard for them to find some indies to get on it relatively easily but it's far too quiet on announcements.
Don't get me wrong, I think the idea of the Atari VCS is nice. A tidy little unit that's a good size, admittedly I think it's very stylish and the ability to run whatever operating system on it you want is a great feature but…I'm not excited about it at all. They have barely done anything to make it exciting at this point. Considering for streaming you can just set up a vastly cheaper Raspberry Pi 4, which I've done and it works great, the Atari VCS needs a few fresh features to turn heads.
See more on the official site.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Mohandevir Aug 26, 2020
Quoting: slaapliedjeQuoting: MohandevirThinking the same, Liam. The concept is cool, but every news that comes out of it is one step closer to DOA. I'm pitying those that backed it and paid for what seems to be an overpriced and under featured experience.The theory is that it should be open enough to throw whatever on there.
I mean, Anstream? AirConsole? Seriously?
Where is Stadia? Where is Steam Link?
No indies onboard is already bad... Missing on those two is even worse, imo.
What I would like to see is BPM of Steam becoming more PS4 like (with an app store for some streaming apps). Then you really could just through Steam Link app on it and use it as your multimedia center. Then it wouldn't even matter what the specs of the box are, as your gaming computer on the network would be the powerhouse for it.
Yep... But it would make for a pretty expensive streaming box. Even the Nvidia Shield is cheaper than that and I run RetroArch on it.
slaapliedje Aug 26, 2020
Quoting: MohandevirYeah, but the Shield doesn't look as cool hahaQuoting: slaapliedjeQuoting: MohandevirThinking the same, Liam. The concept is cool, but every news that comes out of it is one step closer to DOA. I'm pitying those that backed it and paid for what seems to be an overpriced and under featured experience.The theory is that it should be open enough to throw whatever on there.
I mean, Anstream? AirConsole? Seriously?
Where is Stadia? Where is Steam Link?
No indies onboard is already bad... Missing on those two is even worse, imo.
What I would like to see is BPM of Steam becoming more PS4 like (with an app store for some streaming apps). Then you really could just through Steam Link app on it and use it as your multimedia center. Then it wouldn't even matter what the specs of the box are, as your gaming computer on the network would be the powerhouse for it.
Yep... But it would make for a pretty expensive streaming box. Even the Nvidia Shield is cheaper than that and I run RetroArch on it.
ElectricPrism Aug 27, 2020
Atari VCS coming %YYYY.MM + 6-12 Months
At this point I just wish it was over with andead instead of "coming"
slaapliedje Aug 27, 2020
Quoting: ElectricPrismSorry gotta be that guy.I know it will come out this year.
Atari VCS coming %YYYY.MM + 6-12 Months
At this point I just wish it was over with andead instead of "coming"
You know why I know this? 2020 is the year of Disasters! Like it is one giant disaster movie. Even to the point where it includes bad plot lines (like the 5G conspiracy).
So of course everything coming out this year will probably have a recall or otherwise be problematic. So yeah, my bets are on the VCS getting into backer hands before the end of this epically shit year.
Quoting: MohandevirThinking the same, Liam. The concept is cool, but every news that comes out of it is one step closer to DOA. I'm pitying those that backed it and paid for what seems to be an overpriced and under featured experience.You don't need Steam Link, as you can run Steam. They have always said it's a linux box, and running Steam would be possible.
I mean, Anstream? AirConsole? Seriously?
Where is Stadia? Where is Steam Link?
No indies onboard is already bad... Missing on those two is even worse, imo.
As for Stadia, Stadia needs chrome, so that might be a problem, since Chrome support for linux is bad.
All in all, it's a pretty linux htpc, running an Atari thing, from which you should be able to start Steam, or Kodi, or whatever....
To be clear: it being a native Linux htpc with an AMD is making it a feature rich device already.
slaapliedje Aug 31, 2020
Quoting: ArdjeYeah, I mean it's basically the PS4 (original) level specs in a modern retake on the 2600, but with an open bootloader.Quoting: MohandevirThinking the same, Liam. The concept is cool, but every news that comes out of it is one step closer to DOA. I'm pitying those that backed it and paid for what seems to be an overpriced and under featured experience.You don't need Steam Link, as you can run Steam. They have always said it's a linux box, and running Steam would be possible.
I mean, Anstream? AirConsole? Seriously?
Where is Stadia? Where is Steam Link?
No indies onboard is already bad... Missing on those two is even worse, imo.
As for Stadia, Stadia needs chrome, so that might be a problem, since Chrome support for linux is bad.
All in all, it's a pretty linux htpc, running an Atari thing, from which you should be able to start Steam, or Kodi, or whatever....
To be clear: it being a native Linux htpc with an AMD is making it a feature rich device already.
Mohandevir Aug 31, 2020
Last edited by Mohandevir on 31 August 2020 at 7:53 pm UTC
Quoting: MohandevirI'm just wondering what the AtariOS will be like... From what I understand, it's going to be "hardcoded" (might no be the right expression). Will it be required to boot another OS for any other "features" not included ootb on AtariOS? That wouldn't make it that much "feature rich" for the average Joe.From the news I got it's a Linux distribution preloaded on the system.
With access to the linux system itself so you can install whatever you want. A bit like steamos.
slaapliedje Sep 7, 2020
Quoting: ArdjeNow that I found out about this, it's what I'd put on a new Atari....Quoting: MohandevirI'm just wondering what the AtariOS will be like... From what I understand, it's going to be "hardcoded" (might no be the right expression). Will it be required to boot another OS for any other "features" not included ootb on AtariOS? That wouldn't make it that much "feature rich" for the average Joe.From the news I got it's a Linux distribution preloaded on the system.
With access to the linux system itself so you can install whatever you want. A bit like steamos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TYUsL74ERU
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