Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration

[Sabertooth]

Sharing this from the Official Atari VCS Discord. Hopefully it's helpful info to anyone encountering download issues with Atari50.

 

[RickR]

2 minutes ago, Sabertooth said:

Sharing this from the Official Atari VCS Discord. Hopefully it's helpful info to anyone encountering download issues with Atari50.

This is VERY helpful indeed.  Thank you @Sabertooth and @Davpa.

This explains a lot.  I moved my VCS a while ago to a room in my home that's the furthest possible from my WiFi router.  And I've had download issues a few times since.  I think I'll move the VCS closer before I purchase Atari 50. 

THANKS!

[RickR]

Boom!  Worked for me no problem 

[Sabertooth]

That awesome @RickR! Can't wait to hear what you think of it!

[Sabertooth]

Wondering which games have Classic Controller support in Atari 50?  Classic Controller support is indicated by an icon in the Games Library.  This is not viewable when selecting games via the timeline. 

Additionally, developer Digital Eclipse have shared some button mapping suggestions for games that have Classic Controller support.  Sharing the pdf here. 

Atari_50_Classic_Controller_Games_Button_Remapping_Suggestions.pdf

[RickR]

That's awesome to have.  Also, remind me what the VCS exclusive extra game is?

[Sabertooth]

1 minute ago, RickR said:

That's awesome to have.  Also, remind me what the VCS exclusive extra game is?

It's Circus Atari. So VCS adds are Classic Controller support and that game. 

[RickR]

I'm enjoying it so far, but I need to spend a lot more time with it.  I see it's kind of a documentary with games sprinkled in as you go.  Really well done!  I'm trying not to skip ahead to some of the goodies that come later (like Lynx and Jaguar games). 

 

[Sabertooth]

Yeah, it's definitely one that requires some time.  There is so much cool content to explore.

[Sabertooth]

I'd add that the VCS version is the first to get arcade dip switch options, 60 FPS mode for T2K and bug fixes not yet pushed to other platforms.

[RickR]

And a real "paddle" controller too.
I've made it to "Breakout" and the updated version too.  Both very fun. 

 

[Sabertooth]

I think that Neo-Breakout is my favorite in the collection. Both the Breakout and Battle Breakout modes are excellent.

[RickR]

I am now stuck on playing "Vectr Sectr".  Holy cow this one is good.  These would make some really great high-score challenge games!

 

[Sabertooth]

2 hours ago, RickR said:

I am now stuck on playing "Vectr Sectr".  Holy cow this one is good. 

 

Yes, VCTR-SCTR is almost worth the price of entry. It's that good!

2 hours ago, RickR said:

These would make some really great high-score challenge games!

 

It's funny that you say that...🤔

[RickR]

Looks like an update is ready today...although I don't know if it applies to the VCS version.

https://realotakugamer.com/atari-50-the-anniversary-celebration-update-out-now-patch-notes/87547/

 

[Sabertooth]

@RickR - Because the VCS port was delayed, it included the patch at launch. This is why you see dip switch settings and options for analog controls and overclocking on Tempest 2000.

[RickR]

18 minutes ago, Sabertooth said:

@RickR - Because the VCS port was delayed, it included the patch at launch. This is why you see dip switch settings and options for analog controls and overclocking on Tempest 2000.

I appreciate having you and your knowledge here!  Thanks. 

[Sabertooth]

The FREE update is live on Atari 50! It includes 12 additional games - well, technically 11 for the VCS since we had Circus Atari at launch.

Make sure you have space on your onboard memory for the download. You need 9GB to download and unpack the game. Unlike last year, the download and installation process was uneventful.

Here's the breakdown:

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/atari-50-the-anniversary-celebration-gets-a-few-more-forgotten-classics-today/1100-6519699/

 

[Sabertooth]

Of course, I'm playing Aquaventure first.

[RickR]

On 12/5/2023 at 7:06 AM, Sabertooth said:

The FREE update is live on Atari 50! It includes 12 additional games - well, technically 11 for the VCS since we had Circus Atari at launch.

Make sure you have space on your onboard memory for the download. You need 9GB to download and unpack the game. Unlike last year, the download and installation process was uneventful.

Here's the breakdown:

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/atari-50-the-anniversary-celebration-gets-a-few-more-forgotten-classics-today/1100-6519699/

 

I did the update last night.  Dang it, only 8GB of free space for me.  I added an 8GB USB drive and moved BPM Boy over to that.  BOOM.  The Atari50 update worked with no issues.

 

[Sabertooth]

A new expanded edition of Atari 50 is coming October 25.

From Atari Twitter:

"Coming later this year to an #Atari50 near you,

39 playable games and TWO new timelines:
🕹️  The Wider World of Atari
🕹️  The First Console War

You'll also be able to add an all-new expanded physical edition to your home library! 😍"

[Sabertooth]

The new content will be available as DLC. No word on cost.

Switch is getting a new steel book with an Al Alcorn replica business card, Atari game cards and mini arcade marquees.

Teaser images suggest Intellivision and Stern content.

[Sabertooth]

From the press release:

Atari and developer Digital Eclipse are excited to announce a significant expansion to their acclaimed 2022 release Atari 50: the Anniversary Collection. The new version, entitled Atari 50: the Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition, adds two new timelines and 39 games to the playable Atari retrospective. The game will release October 25 on PC, Switch, Xbox One and Series X, and PlayStation 4 & 5, and the Atari VCS this holiday, including a physical release on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.

The physical release will include a Steelbook version for Nintendo Switch, which will come with Atari 2600 art cards, miniature arcade marquee signs, an Al Alcorn Replica Syzygy Co. business card and a Steelbook case. The standard version will retail for $39.99 USD and the steelbook will retail for $49.99 USD.

The Wider World of Atari timeline, which includes 19 playable games and eight video segments, takes a series of deep dives into stories from Atari history, showing how Atari continued to influence creators and fans over the decades.  New interviews, vintage ads, historical artifacts, and more have all been researched and presented with Digital Eclipse’s signature style. Highlights from the new timeline include a deep dive into Stern Electronics' robot-blasting Berzerk; unusual and underappreciated innovations and hidden gems from the late 1980s; a spotlight on the artist Evelyn Seto, who helped create the iconic “Fuji” Atari logo; Pong creator Al Alcorn explaining the birth of Breakout; and an exploration of the fan base’s role in discovering unreleased prototypes, creating “homebrew” games, and preserving Atari history.

The First Console War timeline, which includes 20 playable games and half-dozen video segments, tells the story of the first major console war in the gaming industry between the Atari 2600 and Mattel’s Intellivision. The team at Digital Eclipse curates an exploration of the rivalry, including Mattel’s quixotic decision to create games for the competing Atari 2600. Highlights include a selection of M Network games, including some fan-favorites; a mix of Atari and M Network sports games, and some rare Atari 2600 and 5200 prototypes. New interview features include former Intellivision game director Don Daglow, M Network programmer Jane Terjung, Activision’s David Crane and Garry Kitchen, homebrew programmer Dennis Debro, and historians Leonard Herman and Mike Mika.

 

[TrekMD]

Cool to see this!