[Interview with Atari CEO]

A new hardware device that can serve as an add-on or be independent... hmmm, I wonder what that could be. 🤔

[New hardware project is going to be related to the VCS.]

Throwing some guesses out there, it could be:

1. Trak-ball peripheral (for existing games & future games such as Missile Command Recharged, Akka Arrh, relevant games in VCS Vault, Atari 50, etc.)

2. Multi cartridge add-on (play carts from previous Atari hardware, 2600 to Jaguar)

3. Modern "pro" controller (matches features seen in PS5 & Xbox Series controllers)

4. VCS-branded keyboard, mouse, and headset accessories

 

He did say this new hardware will be "unique for the industry" so that probably rules out everything except #2. I really don't know what else. They already released that USB drive late last year.

[PC Mode "On-A-Stick" (from Atari store)]

I remember their July 2022 annual results document mentioning they were developing new hardware to compliment the VCS. I suppose they were referring to this USB device.

 

 

 

[Atari Mania - (in VCS Store)]

On 10/14/2022 at 11:50 AM, Nall3k said:

I'm honestly surprised the game is being review bombed on Steam. I bought for Switch and enjoying it!

Some of those reviews are a complete joke. One person complains about input lag and nothing else (repeating the same thing over and over). Another just has a Shreck face. These reviews don't have any substance to them so they should be disregarded. All others, whether positive or negative, look to be fair.

[How would you improve the AtariOS interface?]

Hey everyone,

 

So today I decided to create a mockup of a new Atari VCS store. I feel the store could use an overhaul as it looks kinda bland to me. My overall design was inspired by my Vizio SmartCast menu, with a banner at the top (that cycles) and various selections below. This can be the main menu when users first enter the store from the top navigation. The main banner features Atari Mania which is coming sometime this Summer (supposedly), but the banner can also feature a high-profile new release or games that have been out for a while. The three icons directly below the banner tells the user which one is being displayed currently. I put a search bar above the main banner, and I feel it fits well there. Below are the genre selections. I tried to squeeze in as many as I can. The rest can be located in the "More" button. Below that are several tabs with the "All Games" tab selected (you can tell it's selected because it's underlined), showing all games in the store. Note: I tried to put the games in alphabetical order, but I missed a lot of them lol. Each game is appropriately priced below their respective box arts. The main reason for the different genre buttons and tabs below is so users can better filter for the content they wish to see. I put it all on the main page for quicker access and not having to deal with any drop-down menus.

 

I used this grid background image because it has a retro 80s look to it. I feel it fits well with the Atari VCS being a retro-inspired product.

 

Let me know what you guys think. Any feedback is appreciated. I hope Atari reps see this so they can get ideas to better enhance the real VCS store.

 

 

 

[Retro Fridays on VCS. Today’s release?]

10 hours ago, Gunther said:

As far as I'm aware, Yars' Returns has received a new title screen, graphical enhancements, and has been completely de-bugged.

I don't know about the other two-games', but I'd wager they too have received similar treatment.

 

I read this article a while ago and it made me curious about this new version of Yars' Return. I'll look into downloading the game from the VCS store. 

[Atari developing hardware for VCS]

I think the Atari Fightstick on Microcenter looks really neat, but it's not fully compatible with Atari's software offering on VCS (going by a YT video). Maybe they'll do their own that is fully compatible. 

 

Maybe a "pro" controller with a proper d-pad, headset jack (or built-in mic), USB C, and a capture button.

[Rollercoaster Tycoon on VCS]

The back of my VCS box advertises one of their RCT games (RCT Adventures, I think). My packaging is from early 2021. I believe later packaging removed that image. I suppose they abandoned the idea of releasing the game on VCS. 

 

EDIT: My box also advertises Adventure II (5200) but that never happened as well. 

[AtGames 2022 Speculation Thread]

I like the packaging. It definitely looks better than previous Flashback boxes. The quantity is still the same as the 2019 "X" model. They probably shifted games around. I'd like to see Imagic games present this time. I wonder if any improvements have been made since 2019. It looks like they're recycling the case design from the 2019 model as well.  

[Coming Soon - new games announced (by Atari / developer)]

On 2/25/2022 at 6:56 AM, jandb said:

- Atari announced 3 titles during the general meeting in november 2021

• Food fight (sprint 2022)
• Atarimani (summer 2022)
• Pong 50th anniversary (pring 2022)

https://atari-investisseurs.fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ATARI_AGM_30112021-Presentation.pdf (page 18)

I wonder what happened to that Pong game. I thought they would've announced that during their 50th celebration. Instead it's MIA. 

[Breakout: Recharged (in VCS Store)]

On 5/29/2022 at 10:02 PM, E. King said:

Here I compare Breakout Recharged on the VCS to Breakout Recharged on Steam using an Atari Spinner control.

 

 

That arcade USB controller looks really cool. It looks to have the functionality to play most Atari arcade game. I would love for Atari to update their recharged games and Vault packages to fully support that USB controller. If they ever do, it would be really neat if they offered a bundle that comes with the walnut system and this controller (matching woodgrain) as well as and both Vault packages & all recharged games. They could market it as the ultimate Atari arcade experience.

 

[How would you improve the AtariOS interface?]

I would like the 7800 emulator to be updated where we can pause the game. I would also like for the Stella emulator to be updated where all switch functionalities are mapped to the modern controller. 

[Atari VCS Flashback Fridays]

3 hours ago, MScottson said:

Do you guys think that flashback Fridays will start to come back eventually or is that done?  I like the idea of more back catalogue even if Atari Anniversary is going to be a thing.

I would like to see it come back. There are still some games that they can provide that utilizes DOSbox and the 2600 emulator. 

 

I can think of the following below:

 

Call of Cthulhu: Prisoner of Ice (DOS)

Call of Cthulhu: Shadow of the Comet (DOS)

Solo Flight (DOS)

Conflict in Vietnam (DOS)

Decision in the Desert (DOS)

Lunar Lander (2600 game first available in the FB2/2+)

Asteroids Deluxe (2600 game first available in the FB2/2+)

Arcade Pong (2600 game first available in the FB2/2+)

Dark Chambers (2600 game not in the Vaults)

Solaris (2600 game not in the Vaults)

Atari Climber (2600 game first available in the FB2)

[Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration - (in VCS Store)]

18 hours ago, WAVE 1 GAMES said:

The real question I have is WHERE THE HELL IS BLASTEROIDS? Its been well over 30 years now and Im pretty sure Blasteroids was the OFFICIAL sequel to Asteroids. Its not listed in the IP catalog either but I dont think they are actually listing ALL of their IPs. I loved the arcade version of Blasteroids. I played another version for pc or something and I didnt like that one but the arcade Blasteroids was one of my favorites. I really hope it gets some love.

All Atari arcade titles that released after the 1984 split are properties of WB Games. Blasteroids was released in 1987. 

I look forward to looking through the copyright information in the Atari 50 package to see what is licensed and what it owned by Atari SA. 

[Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration - (in VCS Store)]

33 minutes ago, Shaggy the Atarian said:

As for Lynx titles, what they'll have likely depends on what they could get licensed. In looking at their 2022 IP list, unless I overlooked something, I only see two Lynx titles on there, Basketbrawl and Super Asteroids & Missile Command. It is kind of odd that they don't list Tempest 3000 on there, as well as so many unreleased games (although maybe that means they'll end up pulling an AirWorld with those too, which would be neat).

There's also the Lynx version of Scrapyard Dog. 

That IP catalog is unreliable. They don't list everything they own (such as the Microprose war sims they're currently selling on Steam & VCS, for example).

[Atari Server Problems (VCS Logins/Store etc.)]

Same here. Asking for a pin on startup. It's not accepting it.

 

EDIT: I tried accessing my account again and it let me through. How weird.

[Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration compilation will include Jaguar games]

6 hours ago, sirlynxalot said:

Hm, I wonder if that list is supposed to be all IPs related only to the atari brand, rather than everything the company might currently own, which could include infogrames stuff.

Your guess is as good as mine. They do list Castles & Catapults in that catalog and that's not a classic Atari IP. They are currently selling two point-n-clicks on Steam and GOG (Prisoner of Ice and Shadow of the Comet) and yet those have never been listed in their catalog. Same goes for those DOS war sims by MicroProse (Crusade in Europe, Conflict in Vietnam, etc.). 

 

EDIT: They also list the RCT franchise as an IP, even though that's licensed to them (a license that expired yesterday).

[Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration compilation will include Jaguar games]

On 6/29/2022 at 8:18 PM, sirlynxalot said:

Atari has an ip list on it's website which includes about 250 games. I was surprised there were hardly any Jaguar games on it and I don't think I saw a single lynx game.  Several titles previewed like fight for life and cybermorph are not on the list of owned ips, so it's kind of funny then that "atari" must be having to license the use of a substantial amount of atari games from others in order to present this historical collection that is supposed to embody the history of its brand.  

They don't list everything they have in that IP catalog for some reason. Before selling off V-Rally, Drakkhen, Glover, the Videopac stuff, etc. they never bothered having them listed. 

[Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration - (in VCS Store)]

1 hour ago, zzip said:

Sounds like for the ST the issue is Atari-owned IPs is lacking.    When I think back of what Atari released on the ST a lot of it is arcade ports some of which they probably don't have rights to anymore (Battlezone, Joust).    So if they were to release ST games, it wouldn't be anywhere close to ST's greatest hits, it would be like Crystal Castles, ST Star Raiders, Asteroids Deluxe.   

In the Atari 50 trailer, the Atari ST version of Asteroids Deluxe is briefly shown at the 1:00 mark (between arcade Asteroids & Tempest 2K). I'd like the see ST Crystal Castles as that one has a really cute rendition of Bently Bear. The updated visuals in ST Star Raiders looks really neat as well.

[Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration - (in VCS Store)]

18 minutes ago, Pete5125 said:

The 5200 games just have the keyboard keys on the side of screen, not the greatest option but it works 

Oh yeah, I forgot that they're on the side of the screen. I actually find that more convenient since I no longer have to look down on the controller. 

 

I find it interesting that this package includes more Jaguar games than what's listed in their IP catalog. Either they recently acquired full ownership, or they weren't listing everything they have ownership of. 

[Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration - (in VCS Store)]

Wow! This is very exciting. The inclusion of Jaguar games, especially pricey ones, make this package worth it. If Hover Strike is one of the games, will it be the cart or CD version ?

 

Cybermorph uses the numeric pad quite extensively. I wonder how they'll emulate it with the modern controller. 

[Dragon Ball Z]

Bandai Namco has exclusive video game rights to the Dragon Ball franchise (in North America and Europe, at least). They will have to get on board to release any legacy software. IMO, I don't see that happening.

[Atari Mania - (in VCS Store)]

Will the VCS version have any exclusive content? If not, then I'll get it on Steam for the achievements. 

[How would you improve the AtariOS interface?]

On 6/14/2022 at 7:41 PM, joeatari1 said:

I like your mock up.  It is organized and gives great information at a glance.  I might size things a little differently but the general layout is great.  Oh, and I would change the Recently Released tab to New and Hot or something like that (overuse of the word recent).  If you have not posted it yet, please post this on the VCS Discord server and tag a couple admins. 

I appreciate the feedback. I didn't notice that I used "recent(tly)" three times. Maybe change "Recently Released" to "New in Store", or something like that. I'm not on Discord anymore, but hopefully an Atari rep sees this and passes the idea along to the proper people. 

 

 

On 6/15/2022 at 10:35 AM, zzip said:

The thing that bothers me the most about the look of the current Atari Store is the way the game icons look.    I get they are going for the classic 2600 game box look, but if they are going to do that, they should at least make the font bigger when possible and waste less space in the border.   Right now it looks like a cheap generic version of the 2600 game look

 

What looks cheesy to me is that on some box covers, the name of the game is displayed twice. Tempest 4000 and Mad Age & This Guy are good examples (custom font within the art and generic font at the top). 

 

Instead of squeezing the art into a tiny square, why not just have the art take up the entire box.

 

Instead of this...

 

 

Maybe change it to this...

 

 

Just an idea.

 

[How would you improve the AtariOS interface?]

So I came up with this mockup for a new VCS home screen.

Sometime ago I posted that the home screen feels redundant as it combines what is already in the "Games" & "Apps" tabs.

 

This home screen I made pretty much shows everything "at a glance". The top section shows recently used software (games & apps split into their own sections). 

The lower-left section shows friends that are currently online (not all friends) and what they are currently doing on VCS. Bottom-middle section is the latest news that pertains to the VCS ecosystem (some wishful thinking there). Bottom-right are games that recently released in the VCS store (some more wishful thinking lol).

 

The background image should be changeable with users being offered multiple selections. I went with this background image because it has a cool retro look to it.

 

I left the top navigation alone as I feel it gets the job done (it's an older image prior to the March update so there's no internet icon)

Anyways, just an idea I had in my mind for several months now. Let me know what everyone thinks. I hope Atari sees this and is able to use some of the ideas here.