The Atari VCS, the Linux-powered gaming box seems to be progressing on some more with some new store partners with exclusive models announced.
As a reminder, it's using a customised version of Linux they're calling "Atari Custom Linux OS". However, they are sticking to what they originally said and allowing it to boot any other operating system too. So, you could boot up Ubuntu on it if you wished which makes it quite an interesting unit.
They've announced that they're partnering with GameStop and Walmart in the USA, so you can order from there if you prefer. Both stores are getting "exclusive" models, with slightly different colouring on the panel (and it seems that's all that's completely different). They also re-launched their official website where you can also pre-order, although that seems USA only too right now. Here's a look at the different models they will now be doing (click to enlarge):
Walmart Exclusive Model
GameStop Exclusive Model
Atari Web Exclusive (their own store)
"Onyx" - Atari Web (their own store)
If you go for the base model Atari VCS 400 (4GB RAM) you're looking at $249.99, which shoots up to $389.99 for the Atari VCS 800 (8GB RAM) which includes both the Atari VCS Classic Joystick and Atari VCS Modern Controller which Atari teamed up with PowerA to make. All models seem to have upgradable RAM, with 32GB eMMC internal storage as standard and they're powered by AMD's "Raven Ridge 2".
Shipping no matter where you order, will now be in March 2020 so there's still quite a while to wait. However, original backers on IndieGoGo will get theirs starting December 2019. Hopefully there won't be any more delays now they've properly settled on the final design.
According to the latest info sent direct from Atari to us, they've now surpassed $4 million in "gross sales" which includes the $3M+ from IndieGoGo funding.
Will you be getting one? I'm still doing my wait and see approach, not that I have any choice since they're not currently shipping to the UK to give it a review.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
slaapliedje 12 Jun 2019
Last edited by kuhpunkt on 12 Jun 2019 at 8:05 am UTC
doomiebaby 12 Jun 2019
also on the price, not everyone can sell hardware at a loss with a certainty of making profit from millions of sales of $80+ games
Last edited by doomiebaby on 12 Jun 2019 at 6:17 am UTC
thelimeydragon 12 Jun 2019
slaapliedje 12 Jun 2019
The people behind this device are not trustworthy in the slightest. I wouldn't give them a penny.There is a very long post about tacos and the Atari VCS (ex Ataribox) on Atari Age saying the same thing.
Though there is one of the moderators there that knows someone on the team making it, and says it's a legit project. Though I hadn't read his opinion on it recently, that was a ways back.
But yeah, it isn't like this is the 'old' Atari, or even the Tramiel Atari. It's what's left of Infogrames' Atari.
doomiebaby 13 Jun 2019
I was eventually going to build something like this to stick in the living room anyways. I wouldn't mind dropping $400 on it, especially with that sweet wood grain. It's not like it's some locked down proprietary OS havin' console with a subscription fee tied to it. Worst case if it loses support from Atari I'll just reimage with something like GameDrift or the likes. Win/Win ;)
hear hear! i almost added something about this to my last comment. don't complain about the price til you try to build out your own version from what's available on the market. i've actually done so for people (not yet myself) but this would be a sweet lil go-to form factor, open so no risks if it's on shelves, like you said.
+1 on that real-fake wood =P'' i admit the aesthetics work on me. funny, too, as i couldn't wait for that woodgrain to disappear from consumer stuff when it was popular. damn market research
Does anyone know if this is still a GNU/Linux based OS, or is it like Android where the kernel is Linux but the rest of the stack is not a GNU/Linux?Pretty sure it's fairly close to a normal Linux. Re-doing everything from scratch like Android would be rather a lot of work for a small company. Anyhow, I feel like I remember hearing they've specified that you can swap in ordinary distros if you want.
Anyhow, I feel like I remember hearing they've specified that you can swap in ordinary distros if you want.
If only someone would have written this in the article...! ;)
Will you be getting one? I'm still doing my wait and see approach, not that I have any choice since they're not currently shipping to the UK to give it a review.Judging by the specs, the promising thing is this:
8GB DDR4 RAM (upgradable)However, it's weird that it doesn't have "ac" wireless. I also wonder if it has any other storage expansion ports, like M.2 or SATA - although M.2 would be more plausible for the console's size. I really don't like eMMC memory, considering we can't easily replace it if/when it fails, and booting off of USB isn't ideal in long-term. So an M.2 slot would be a huge selling point for me, and if it's missing that would be a big demotivator.
All in all, the specs are pretty nice and all I have to do is wait until someone gets their hands on it, tears it down and shows us what expansion options we have. Or I could direct my question directly to Atari and hope for an answer. :D
slaapliedje 16 Jun 2019
Not sure about the wireless, but I'm pretty sure I'd read that it does have an M.2 port.Will you be getting one? I'm still doing my wait and see approach, not that I have any choice since they're not currently shipping to the UK to give it a review.Judging by the specs, the promising thing is this:
8GB DDR4 RAM (upgradable)
However, it's weird that it doesn't have "ac" wireless. I also wonder if it has any other storage expansion ports, like M.2 or SATA - although M.2 would be more plausible for the console's size. I really don't like eMMC memory, considering we can't easily replace it if/when it fails, and booting off of USB isn't ideal in long-term. So an M.2 slot would be a huge selling point for me, and if it's missing that would be a big demotivator.
All in all, the specs are pretty nice and all I have to do is wait until someone gets their hands on it, tears it down and shows us what expansion options we have. Or I could direct my question directly to Atari and hope for an answer. :D
In theory since I backed it, I should be getting mine before Christmas? So I'll be sure to let everyone know if I got ripped off or not :P
Edit: https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/c1a6sk/knowing_that_the_atari_vcs_is_based_on_a_pc/erbtv28?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
Last edited by slaapliedje on 17 Jun 2019 at 10:21 pm UTC
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