Atari Is Getting Back Into the Console Business

[The Deadman]

http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/...5944e971000011

A new Atari video game console is on the way, according to the company's CEO Fred Chesnais.

Atari has released a mysterious video teasing a brand new piece of hardware called the Ataribox. Though the video doesn't reveal much, it does suggest the console will sport some sort of wood-grain design.

In an interview with GamesBeat, Chesnais addressed the speculation and rumors, confirming Atari is indeed "back in the hardware business." While Chesnais did not provide further details about the hardware, he did confirm the Ataribox will be based on PC technology. Chesnais also said the system's design is still not finalized and that more information about the console will be shared at a later date.

Atari's last home console was the Atari Jaguar, which released in North America in 1993. While you wait for more information about the Ataribox, check out IGN's extensive feature on the history Atari, as well as the new Atari Flashback 8 Gold that's launching this September.

I feel like this will last 6 months and then flop, hard. This probably would be a bigger deal if Sega came back and announced something like the Dreamcast 2.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by The Deadman

http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/...5944e971000011



I feel like this will last 6 months and then flop, hard. This probably would be a bigger deal if Sega came back and announced something like the Dreamcast 2.

Do children and young people today in general even know what Atari is? I didn't know when I was about 10, it was all about Nintendo and SEGA.

[TigerClaw]

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

Do children and young people today in general even know what Atari is? I didn't know when I was about 10, it was all about Nintendo and SEGA.

Atari 2600 was one of the 1st consoles I used to own.

[snake]

Originally Posted by TigerClaw

Atari 2600 was one of the 1st consoles I used to own.

The question asked about children and young people, robot.

[TigerClaw]

Originally Posted by snake

The question asked about children and young people, robot.

In the early 80s, It was all about Atari 2600 Coleco Vision or Intellivision.

[GoldMutant]

Originally Posted by TigerClaw

In the early 80s, It was all about Atari 2600 Coleco Vision or Intellivision.

Not your generation, the current generation is what snake is saying.

Really weird for them to return, but I'm curious.

[The Deadman]

Originally Posted by TigerClaw

In the early 80s, It was all about Atari 2600 Coleco Vision or Intellivision.

Today's younger crowd doesnt know anything about those. The last Atari console was the Jaguar and that came out in '93....so yeah. Everyone born after 2000 doesnt know anything about those consoles.

[Powder]

Originally Posted by Original TMNT Cartoon Fan

Do children and young people today in general even know what Atari is? I didn't know when I was about 10, it was all about Nintendo and SEGA.

Some do, from following "retro gamers" on Youtube. Prolly doesn't matter though, I suspect Atari will be targeting a bit of an older demo anyway.

[sdp]

Atari felt like an ancient console to me when I was a kid and it was only ten years old, the equivalent of the PS3/Wii right now, I wonder if kids today think of the Wii and PS3 as ancient history as well.

I still got into Atari later in life though, I was always a fan of a few games which I played later incarnations of in other consoles and I got the second Atari Flashback console which is now like a decade ago now that I think about it and I fell in love with the console, the games are very simple but very fun for a game or two. And playing with the joystick is so satisfying.

I hadn't seen this thread but like I posted in the general discussion thread, this console won't be competing with the Sony or Microsoft, it's impossible unless they made a deal with say Amazon or Apple which I don't see happening. I also don't think this will be another of those classic Flashback consoles since they've released those pretty much every year for a a decade. I'm guessing it'll be a cheap tablet like product like the Nvidia shield or Switch and compete in that market.

I have to say I'm excited because I'm thinking it could be a fun little gaming product that they release and it could be cheapish around the $100 range. But who knows maybe it's just them licensing the name for some gaming PCs and that comment was only for attention not because they're really making a big hardware product. I'm sure Sega is looking at what they do though to get ideas, because the only way Sega is making new hardware would be on a smaller level that doesn't compete with the big 3.

[DestronMirage22]

Interesting news. Might actually get me to buy a modern day console if it looks good.

And the return of wood-grain sounds bitchin'.
My Super Pong's wood still looks good today with it, and these newer consoles do seem like they're missing something in their designs, so it would be fantastic to see some of that on a new console.

[Coola Yagami]

If the games are cool and the price is good... I might buy it. Who cares if people don't know what Atari is anymore, it's this new console's job to show them what Atari means.

[Allio]

with the stiff competition, it's really gonna have to blow us away with a good balance of Exclusives to cross-platform game.

[Candy Kappa]

I'd imagine a lot of kids that's already into gaming or technology, or watches React videos are aware that Atari was this Stone Age console that old people played on. But beyond that probably not so much.

[Andrew NDB]

It's just brand recognition at this point. Is there even a single person at "Atari" now that worked on even the Jaguar, let alone anything before it? Creatively or in any significant position? I could be wrong, but I'm going to say "No way."

I mean, it's a smart move. Do you release the "Altima" system with your startup company... or do you make a deal to bring forth the new Atari system, particularly in a world obsessed with hipster retro nonsense? It gives you press you otherwise wouldn't even begin to have. Plus the retro hipsters' ears perk up.

[LeotheLateBloomer]

The odd thing about this is that the Atari that lives today is just Infogrames who bought the original company (after they went defunct) and renamed themselves after the brand name. But they haven't had a financial success in a long time so how much money do they have now for them to be making a new console?

[sdp]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

It's just brand recognition at this point. Is there even a single person at "Atari" now that worked on even the Jaguar, let alone anything before it? Creatively or in any significant position? I could be wrong, but I'm going to say "No way."

Well you can say that pretty much for any huge corporation, people want them to bring back _____ franchise but all those people who worked on the games you loved are long gone.

I mean, it's a smart move. Do you release the "Altima" system with your startup company... or do you make a deal to bring forth the new Atari system, particularly in a world obsessed with hipster retro nonsense? It gives you press you otherwise wouldn't even begin to have. Plus the retro hipsters' ears perk up.

That's what the RetroVGS console tried to do, after the kickstarter failed they licensed the Coleco name for their console just for recognition, but that project failed since it was very shady and Coleco pulled out.

Originally Posted by LeotheLateBloomer

The odd thing about this is that the Atari that lives today is just Infogrames who bought the original company (after they went defunct) and renamed themselves after the brand name. But they haven't had a financial success in a long time so how much money do they have now for them to be making a new console?

Atari has a very messy past, basically Atari was split into three in the 90s, you had the company called Atari which had nothing to do with the original Atari but licensed the name and released stuff under it and you had another company which were basically the old Atari but they couldn't use the name. I don't remember if Infogrames is the old atari or the new atari but anywho after their bankrupcy a few years ago all 3 Atari brands are now one again so I think whoever owns Atari now basically owns "everything", I think it's a french company. This is all from memory so some details may be wrong but I believe it went something like that.

And Atari as of now is at their best financially that it has been in many years, I believe they made made a lot of money from Casinos and mobile games, so the time to act would be now. They don't have tons of cash so I do think they'll be partnering up with someone, it all depends on the type of market they want to relase this Ataribox to compete against. If it's another ouya or around that site then yeah they can do it themselves.

[wvfan]

Around here kids just seem to be into those mobile games and touchscreen games app games. Teens and adults are the console crowd.

I dont know one kid or hardly any person under age of 30 that knows about Atari. I showed my kids some of the games and the had no interest in them other than pac man

Atari was my first game system but as soon as Nes came out and gave up on it.
I would consider buying thier new system. If the price point was right and the had some good games.

For me I think the have to sell less than current gen system. Even if the graphics match up with the others. I cant think of anything specific that have to would draw and if the at same price point im afraid people will just go with one of the modern established brands.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Originally Posted by wvfan

I showed my kids some of the games and the had no interest in them other than pac man

Never liked where all happens on the same screen, not even Pacman. Which almost all videogames did back in 1984.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Powder

Some do, from following "retro gamers" on Youtube. Prolly doesn't matter though, I suspect Atari will be targeting a bit of an older demo anyway.

AVGN fans will certainly know what Atari is.

And yeah, like you said, it will mostly target older fans since nostalgia sells a lot nowadays.

Myself? Not really interested. I didn't grow up with the Atari so it means nothing to me.

[Allio]

just gonna have to hope that the games justify the new console.