Atari To Release Old Games and New Console System

GrueMaster writes "Atari is announcing the re-release of their older games for the PS2 & Xbox. They are also talking about releasing a new console, which is a miniaturized version of the 7800 with built in games. Check out the story here. Being a collector of old Atari stuff, I'll be in line to get mine."

Comments

Saw something at Futureshop

[Nos.]

On Sunday, at Futureshop (a friend wanted to go) we saw a PC cd of 80 classic Atari games, some of the ones that jump to mind are: asteroids, defender, combat, circus, joust. It was about $20 (CDN) The screenshots looked like the games I remember playing as a kid. I love some of those games, but I'm scared to play them again as I wonder if I'll ruin my memories where I actually enjoyed these games.

Patenets and Copyright

[ajuda]

These games should be public domain already... Patents and copyright are supposed to increase innovation, but they are doing the exact opposite. When a company can simply repackage and sell the same ol' stuff over and over again, why should they invest their money in new (potentially risky) endeavors?

Nostalgia for the 7800?

[huchida]

2600, 5200, Intellivision, Coleco nostalgia I can see... As well as NES, of course... But wasn't the 7800 a terrible flop?

Eh. Good luck, Atari. You'll need it. Nintendo can sell us Excitebike, Zelda and Super Mario again because they always were and will be great games. Anything that could be considered "great" on the 2600 was only because we didn't have anything better.

Re:Lots of issues

[funkdid]

I don't think anyone who didn't own these at one point would buy it. If some teenager ends up with this, it's cause his dad bought it for him. It'll end up next to the other crap that was "fun in my day". For us though, us conesoures of fine video games, us cultured folk who can gain amusement from really bad sound and worse graphics...

OK this is strictly a nostalgia thing. I found my 2600 a few years ago. I played it a bunch for a few days. It sucked. It was a lot of fun to break out the old classics that I grew up on but after a while it still only has one button and honestly combat SUCKS. I'll take Unreal of Counter Strike out whatever over Combat any day. -Anyone remember Keystone Coppers that game rocked.

Re:Justifying Bootlegging

[geeber]

Abandonware sites work on logic somewhat like: "Well, you have this car, but since you've left it parked in the driveway for 6 months without using it, you shouldn't complain if we hotwire it and go joyriding in it... we'll return it so you don't lose anything!"

The logic is more something like, "Well, you have this classic car parked in the driveway, and since it isn't made anymore, I am going to duplicate the plans and build one for myself. Your car still works."

Big difference there.

Re:Justifying Bootlegging

[LordNimon]

This is one of those cases where justifying "abandonware" sites becomes much more difficult.

On the contrary! The reason why these games are still popular is because of the abandonware sites. These sites kept the market alive, and now the companies see that there is still a demand. If these sites had never existed, the games would truly be dead, and the companies would see no reason to bring them back.

So you see, the companies should be thanking the abandonware sites.

Re:Justifying Bootlegging

[Fortress]

> The logic is more something like, "Well, you have this classic car
> parked in the driveway, and since it isn't made anymore, I am
> going to duplicate the plans and build one for myself. Your car
> still works."

Or, more accurately still,

"Well, you have this classic car parked in the driveway, and since it isn't made anymore, I am going to duplicate the plans and build one for myself AND give one free to whoever wants one. Your car still works, and good luck trying to sell it."

Another big difference.

Why should they be any different then the RIAA?

[bogie]

They or whoever owns Atari's corpse in 20 years will just keep re-releasing this stuff on new systems forever. And of course Congress will oblige with copyrights that never expire. Sorry but I already shelled out for the real catridges once I'm not doing it again. Emulation is the only way to go IMHO. I don't begrudge anyone who wants to buy this but let's not turn this thread into a emulation users are stealing from the artists thread. I doubt most of the original programmers are even getting a dime from this.

"But Bonnell downplayed the impact bootlegging could have on sales for "Atari Anthology" and the Atari Flashback console."

"You're right to say that a lot of them are bootlegged, and the code is not the right code, and the color is not the right color."

Uh sure buddy. Whatever you say.