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Atari Box


TrekMD

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Ok. So i was able to find some info on what it isn't...and sadly what it isn't is probably what would've interested me the most.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-NrWaLNMhs

The No Swear Gamer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChtJuo040EOCTVziObIgVcg

Host of The Atari 7800 Game by Game Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and YouTube

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Yeah, it's real & official, but that is in the planning sense.

I think it will come out at some point, but at the same time, I must remind myself that for awhile, the Coleco Chameleon was also real in the same sense.

 

One of my viewers brought this up, but could you imagine the reaction if Mike Kennedy ended up being behind the Atari Box...

The No Swear Gamer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChtJuo040EOCTVziObIgVcg

Host of The Atari 7800 Game by Game Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and YouTube

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Yeah, it's real & official, but that is in the planning sense.

I think it will come out at some point, but at the same time, I must remind myself that for awhile, the Coleco Chameleon was also real in the same sense.

 

One of my viewers brought this up, but could you imagine the reaction if Mike Kennedy ended up being behind the Atari Box...

You wash your mouth out with soap NSG!

Don't just watch TV, PLAY IT!

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I wont be disappointed as my expectations are based in a realistic view of modern "Atari" and the current market, in other words I am not expecting much at all
 
Atari CEO confirms the company is working on a new game console
 

"We're back in the hardware business," he said.

 

Chesnais declined to describe a lot of details about the console. But he said it is based on PC technology. He said Atari is still working on the design and will reveal it at a later date.

https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/16/atari-ceo-confirms-the-company-is-working-on-a-new-game-console/

 

Based on PC Technology and able to emulate classic ATARI ? Finally!!!!!!!......oh wait.........been doing that for years........oh that's right, now it will have the "official" license from "Atari" which of course has nothing to do with the Atari we all knew and loved but hey, it's official! Just more whoring of the Atari brand to us desperate for Atari Nostalgia of years gone by. So far the Retron77 seems more interesting imho. 

I am Rob aka MaximumRD aka OldSchoolRetroGamer and THIS is my world http://about.me/maximumrd

"For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday."

 - M. Bison

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IMG_20170616_185417_003_zpsk90j0gyu.jpg

RetroN 77 will have wood-grain side..........

post-52-0-43147300-1497937867_thumb.jpg

Brian Matherne - owner/curator of "The MOST comprehensive list of Atari VCS/2600 homebrews ever compiled." http://tiny.cc/Atari2600Homebrew

author of "The Atari 2600 Homebrew Companion" book series available on Amazon! www.amazon.com/author/brianmatherne

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OK...here's my speculations on the Atari Box (I really hope they change the name before release).  It's PC-based hardware.  PC's are good for just about anything you can imagine these days.  And XBOX has proved that you can take PC parts, create a custom BIOS, slap it in a fancy shell, and be somewhat successful.  And there are operating systems on the market that are free to use for whatever your heart desires.  

 

For many years now their has always been the attempts to bring a Linux-based gaming console to the masses.  But none have ever made it past the prototype phase.  On the other side, Steam is a successful place to get digital gaming content for your computer.  Let's face it...it is successful to a point and about the only way to obtain some games.  However, dedicated Steam gaming hardware (PC's in a fancy shell) were expensive and I don't think sold very well.  Even with well known brand names slapped on them.  

 

Now...picture this if you will.  Atari Box + games in a download-only format.  Four USB ports on the front could mean a four-player system.  They didn't show a controller probably because one is not being made or not ready for show.  It would make sense to slap a Linux-based OS in it and follow the steps of Ubuntu where you have a central access point for software (meaning games).  It would also mean saving money because you wouldn't be releasing a physical format.  More work and money could be concentrated on producing games in digital format.  However, I worry about the amount of storage space they plan to include in the system if any.  I also worry about what digital games will be offered to the public.

 

I'm not trying to dog it in any way and really hope it puts Atari back on the map.  But I do have to be a bit concerned because XBOX has already blown away many followers with their new X1X console coming in November.  And Nintendo, while not doing good at keeping hardware on the shelves (nothing new right?), it is not hard to see that Switch is a success for them.  I'm not sure about PS4 sales because Sony bored me to sleep many times with their E3 show this year.  

 

I feel that for Atari to be successful with their new hardware it should be priced with in reason.  And I would place it in the $200 to $300 range.  I would also suggest that they support 4K but not only 4K.  Not all of us have a 4K TV nor plan to get one.  I just hope Atari isn't shooting themselves in the foot with this console.  But I would expect them to show more by the time the holidays are upon us.  It's an "Atari" tradition.

 

Whatever it is Atari has my attention and I can't wait to see more development on this.  I just we don't end up disappointed in the end.

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I'm thinking too much at once is happening.  We have, so far, these consoles for sure coming out:

 

  • XBOX One X
  • AtGames' Atari Flashback 8 Gold
  • AtGames' Atari Flashback Portable Game Player
  • AtGames' Sega Genesis Flashback
  • AtGames' Ultimate Portable Game Player
  • Hyperkin Retron 77
  • AtariBox
  • SNES Classic Edition

That's a LOT of game systems no matter how you look at it.  Just link in the 90's when we had all kinds of weird and odd game systems coming out from all angles.  It would, however, be nice to see the TG-16 get some kind of attention by someone who would do it justice.  I don't feel AtGames would be the ones.  Sorry, their products just don't seem worth it to me.  

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I had my eyes on the Scorpio, I mean Xbox One X (definitely a silly name Lee) since last E3, but Mrs. Surge surprised me with an Xbox One S for Christmas last year. I was hoping the price would be a little lower so a trade-in would make the upgrade easier to swallow. I also don't have a 4K TV yet, so I can't take true advantage of either machine anyway.

 

I have a Flashback 2 & haven't seen a need to purchase any other iteration since, but I am intrigued by the 8 Gold. (I also have a FB Portable) I do have high hopes for the Retron 77 but slim hopes for the Atari Box.

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In a post on FB, Atari said that there will be 2 editions, 2 boxes and details will be revealed in 2 weeks. They also indicated in the comments that they are calling the project "Atari Box" but that wouldn't be the name of the product. Mark your calendars folks,

 

https://www.facebook.com/atariboxofficial/posts/326047647833158

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