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Atari Is Back In the Hardware Business, Unveils Ataribox (hothardware.com)

Posted by msmash on from the hello-again dept.

Reader MojoKid writes: Atari CEO Fred Chesnais confirmed the company was working on a brand new console back in June this year at E3, but today the company has officially unveiled the product. The new Ataribox console draws on some of the classic styling of the original Atari 2600 console but with a modernized flare, though still sporting that tasty wood grain front panel. Atari is also looking to make the Ataribox a bit more user-friendly and expandable than its Nintendo rivals through the addition of an SD card slot and four USB ports (in addition the requisite HDMI port). The new console will be based on PC component technologies but will be available with a number of classic games to let you bask in the early days of console gaming. However, Atari will also be bringing what is being billed as "current content" to the console as well. So, we can expect to see brand new licensed games for the Ataribox, although it's hard to say, given just its size to go on, what sort of horsepower is lurking under the Ataribox's hood. "We know you are hungry for more details; on specs, games, pricing, timing," said Atari in a statement sent via email. "We're not teasing you intentionally; we want to get this right, so we've opted to share things step by step as we bring this to life, and to listen closely to the Atari community feedback as we do so."

12 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. Will it run full emulators? or the crap pay ones? by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 2

    Will it run full emulators? or the crap pay ones?

    Let you load your own roms?

  2. Missing a few features... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

    I don't see a cartridge slot or nine-pin connectors for joysticks.

  3. Only Atari in name by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The company calling itself Atari today has no real connection to the real Atari of old, except in name. For all intents and purposes, the real Atari went out of business in 1984. The name has changed hands many times since.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:Only Atari in name by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

      I worked at Accolade when Infogrames (French) bought the company on a buying spree in the run up to the dot com bust. They bought Hasbro Interactive, which held the Atari intellectual property (IP) rights. The company later changed its name to Atari. And then the dot com bust happened. The company found out it overpaid for acquisitions by two to four times actual value, which it sold for pennies on the dollar to pay off acquisition debt. Still recycling the Atari brand since then.

  4. They should partner with Valve by rsilvergun · · Score: 2

    Make it a Steam Box. Otherwise what's the point of x86? I guess the could run Windows but the cost would probably be to high.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  5. buy me BONESTORM or to to HELL! by Thud457 · · Score: 2

    sweet render, dude!
    also, Polybius 2600 or you're just playin with yourself...
    Prepare to be underwhelmed.

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    1. Re:buy me BONESTORM or to to HELL! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      If it doesn't play "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", it ain't squat.

      CAPTCHA = "outrage". Sweet, sweet outrage!

  6. Re:Will it run full emulators? or the crap pay one by cayenne8 · · Score: 2

    I'm just hoping it will let me play Kaboom...hooked to a modern HDTV....and not have to try to kludge running though an old VCR or the like to try to get it to sync with my LCD/Plasma/OLED tvs.....never have been able to get that old original 2600 to work right with video on modern tv.

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  7. Re:Vaporware by randomErr · · Score: 2

    They're targeting a different market. The AtGames portable has the emulator market tied up. I'll bet they're taking an early swipe at the NES Classic but with an online market. The guts of the machine will most likely be AllWinner Android box with modified version Android 6. So you can also get streaming services and use prebuilt dev tools and games already on the Play Store. Version 2 or 3 is where they'll go after the the Switch market once that shakes out.

    --
    You say things that offend me and I can deal with it. Can you?
  8. Re:Will it run full emulators? or the crap pay one by Major+Blud · · Score: 2

    .....never have been able to get that old original 2600 to work right with video on modern tv.

    For real? My 2600 is hooked up to a 1080p 24" LED TV and seems to work just fine.

    I'm using something similar to this instead of the old switchbox:
    http://www.mouser.com/ProductD...

    --
    If you post as Anonymous Coward, don't expect a reply.
  9. Atari ST by should_be_linear · · Score: 2

    I would love to see PC designed in Atari ST or Amiga style, meaning as a slightly enlarged keyboard, with good performance for both gaming AND tinkering (i7, 1080 Ti, 32 GB RAM, SSD 500 GB), good price (1000$). I really loved being able to carry my computer around, attach it to TV, and play with my friends anywhere, not being attached to some stupid desk with stupid tower under the desk and all the stupid cables, speakers and whatnot.

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    839*929
  10. Re:Will it run full emulators? or the crap pay one by RailRide · · Score: 2
    There are a number of people who have designed mods for the 2600 (as well as other consoles) that allow it to output composite or S-Video. A number of these are discussed/demonstrated on YouTube.

    Here is one of them: Atari 2600 AV + pause drop in pcb mod for 6 + 4 switchers composite stereo s-vid

    Be sure to read through the comments, the poster lists his web store in the last thread. If he doesn't have them, a look through the related videos may give you some leads

    ---PCJ