Jump to content

Photo

Atari


  • Please log in to reply
10 replies to this topic

#1 Cukeman

Cukeman

    "Tra la la, look for Sahasrahla. ... ... ..."

  • Banned
  • Location:Hyrule/USA

Posted 18 June 2017 - 02:23 AM

   Sooo, there's no thread about this. But Atari has announced they are making a new console, and it's been generating a bit of hype in some circles. I'm curious to hear what you think, especially as I'm sure many won't share my perspective.

 

   I personally don't want Atari to make a comeback. To begin with the company has changed hands so many times it's not even the same business anymore. It's just been a logo kicked around to various groups trying to cash in on the ancient past. Now I love older video games going back to the early 80's, so this isn't about me not liking retro stuff. But what do I associate Atari with? I associate it with the video game crash, where they were pumping out so much shovel-ware trying to ride the waves of their success that they killed the industry.

   When Nintendo came out they were afraid of being seen as what Atari was, so they made their system more like a VCR in design and advertised it as an "Entertainment System" for the home and family with accessories. They also make a big deal about the Nintendo seal of quality, trying to get faith back to consumers. Sure there were still crappy games on the NES, but at least they had to pay a licensing fee, that's not much, but it's better than nothing. Anyway the point is that because of Atari, it was very hard for Nintendo to enter the market and bring back gaming.

   There is also talk about how powerful a system it might be. As if because they had the name Atari they were still limited to 70's tech?? Of course they'll go for the latest tech, don't be silly. Is it really that hard to assemble a powerful console today? It's getting really hard for me to tell the new generation from the last because the visual updates are so minor. Size and performance speed is really the only issue left as far as the system goes.

 

   So in short, I'm not amazed or impressed to see them come back and I really don't care. For me Atari blew it back before the NES, and their next attempts to return with systems like the Jaguar just made them look even more like washed out has-beens trying to cling on to other people's success.

 

    I have to admit the new company using this old logo could have better business practices, but really why would they want to associate themselves with the Atari name? It's not an attractive brand if you ask me.



#2 Neppy

Neppy

    Grand Overlord Empress

  • Members
  • Real Name:It's dangerous to go alone. Take Nep!
  • Location:Minnesota

Posted 18 June 2017 - 02:50 AM

I did not know this until you posted this topic.  I'll admit, I am kind of curious as to what they have in mind. Can't say I'm feeling much different from you though. Whenever I think of Atari, I think of the video game crash. We already have 3 companies making game consoles, and then you have PC on top of that. I don't think a 4th console maker would be a good thing, it would just put strain on the market as things are already getting pulled left, right, up and down as it is now. Guess we'll see when the time comes.... if the time comes.



#3 thepsynergist

thepsynergist

    thepsynergist

  • Members
  • Real Name:Jeff Lee
  • Location:California, USA

Posted 18 June 2017 - 03:18 AM

Atari's making games and Nintendo just announced a new Metroid game.  What year is it?


Edited by thepsynergist, 18 June 2017 - 03:18 AM.

  • Matthew likes this

#4 Timelord

Timelord

    The Timelord

  • Banned
  • Location:Prydon Academy

Posted 18 June 2017 - 09:19 AM

Link? Reference on this topic?

 

 

I am curious what they are producing. They have decent sales on their retrogaming consoles, so this could be anything. TBH, I think they could profit most by making some kind of demi-console, that encourages game development in 8/16 bit styles, which would probably be a good seller, and in the spirit of the old Atari computer-console hybrid systems (e.g. Atari 400).

 

I would not want to see another Jaguar-type failure. It may not be Tramiel's company now, but at least they do have the pulse of the Atari retrogaming community, and seem to grasp how to market their products, which include romhacks of old Atari titles, and fan-made games in the hardware. A new pocket console would also be viable, as this market has room for expansion.

 

I truly love the miniature edition retro consoles that have been coming out: They are so adorable. I have no need to own any of them, as I own virtually every console released in the 1970s-90s, but I still find them too eye-catching to simply ignore. (The FC Mini is on my shopping list when I am next in Osaka.)



#5 Nathaniel

Nathaniel

    Deified

  • Members

Posted 18 June 2017 - 10:26 AM

There isn't much information out there about it, but Rich talks about it here...

 

Skip to 2 minutes if you don't want to hear the history lesson.

 

I myself am skeptical about it.  For all we know, they could just be planning to make gaming PCs instead of a true console.  But I am just speculating.  It's pretty strange.  I can't see them directly competing with Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft.  Nintendo has had a hard enough time gaining third party support, so imagine Atari in such a case.


  • Neppy, Cukeman and Dark Ice Dragon like this

#6 Anthus

Anthus

    Lord of Liquids

  • Members
  • Location:Ohio

Posted 18 June 2017 - 12:48 PM

Huh, yeah.. I mean, I don't get it. Is anyone asking for a new console? Any time a new console of any type has tried to go against the big three, it usually completely fails to get a foothold in the market. I feel like even calling a product or brand a "new console" at this point is a marketing death sentence. There's a bit of irony here, if Atari is making a system, and if we are on the verge of a console crash (not that I think we are, but a lot of people do) this new Atari will surely push us over the tipping point. Atari does not have the respect, and pull it once did. Anyone over the age of 20 probably knows about how they kind of caused the crash in '83, and anyone under 20 probably doesn't give a shit at all about these guys.


  • Neppy likes this

#7 Saffith

Saffith

    IPv7 user

  • ZC Developers

Posted 18 June 2017 - 02:37 PM

Given the styling emphasized in the trailer, I wonder if it isn't a retro console. Why would anyone design a game console with woodgrain styling today except to evoke the image of the 2600?
That's something there's definitely a market for, whereas it's hard to see a new competitor for the PS4 and Xbox One getting anywhere.
  • Rambly likes this

#8 Cukeman

Cukeman

    "Tra la la, look for Sahasrahla. ... ... ..."

  • Banned
  • Location:Hyrule/USA

Posted 18 June 2017 - 02:48 PM

Retron is making the 77, basically HDMI for old atari games, so that base seems covered.



#9 Saffith

Saffith

    IPv7 user

  • ZC Developers

Posted 18 June 2017 - 03:07 PM

I mean something that would play original, mock 8-bit games. Something like PICO-8, except as a physical device.

#10 Cukeman

Cukeman

    "Tra la la, look for Sahasrahla. ... ... ..."

  • Banned
  • Location:Hyrule/USA

Posted 18 June 2017 - 04:40 PM

I mean something that would play original, mock 8-bit games. Something like PICO-8, except as a physical device.

 

I guess??? I mean, since modern consoles are capable of doing retro styled games... not saying there's no interest, it just doesn't make sense to me personally


Edited by Cukeman, 18 June 2017 - 04:41 PM.


#11 Timelord

Timelord

    The Timelord

  • Banned
  • Location:Prydon Academy

Posted 07 July 2017 - 12:37 PM



I mean something that would play original, mock 8-bit games. Something like PICO-8, except as a physical device.

 

PICO-8. This is precisely what my mind latched onto, when I read the topic.

 

I could see something like that, based more on the 8-bit Atari computers, and the 5200.

 

Edit: Here is a link to PICO-8 for those who have never seen it. My only complaint is that it uses Lua. ::shrug::


Edited by ZoriaRPG, 07 July 2017 - 12:40 PM.



1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users