TrekkiELO

I don't think any license is valid for any discontinued system. Yet Atari still has to get a new license or permission from whoever owns the original copyright now, otherwise they would have just gone right ahead and already published/rereleased at least some, maybe all, of those more popular second-third party game titles like Space Invaders along with many more, but there is something that obviously keeps preventing them.

Taito owns the arcade game and the IP. They don't own Coleco's home port of it. True, but they might as well since Atari can only publish the Coleco home port of it with Taito's permission.

Didn't Atari buy Coleco's 2600 library? More like a third party license, I remember when Atari reboxed most of the Coleco titles in their own red/brown 2600 boxes around 1988, but it still said its original copyright date along with "Coleco Industries, Inc.", though there was never any new box, cartridge or instruction manual for Front Line, please look up all those scans here at Atari Age as proof. I really doubt if they were merely licensed that the license would still be active here decades down the line when nothing else of the sort is still active in regards to their 2600 software library. Atari surely owns Front Line outright. Atari will never own it outright as it's a port of an original game by Taito, thus still under license, unless they buy them out.

Probably a rights issue again. It's kind of frustrating there's so much red tape with licensing various aspects of an old game... That looks like an old CBS/Telegames box or instruction manual which was essentially the Coleco division in Europe! Correcting myself here, I just found out through accidental internet research that it's an old Zellers box, but Front Line is actually their version of Combat by Atari, so AtGames used the wrong scan!

Didn't Atari buy Coleco's 2600 library? I suspect that's how it worked out and that it essentially became almost a freebie when they went after the Space Invaders license. Everything else in the Coleco/Atari library relied on licenses from other companies like Exidy and Nintendo. I suspect they just didn't think that something like Mouse Trap was as worth going after as Space Invaders was. Front Line was just along for the ride, more or less. I doubt they paid anything extra for it or worked too hard at it. More like a third party license, I remember when Atari reboxed most of the Coleco titles in their own red/brown 2600 boxes around 1988, but it still said its original copyright date along with "Coleco Industries, Inc.", though there was never any new box, cartridge or instruction manual for Front Line, please look up all those scans here at Atari Age as proof.

Probably a rights issue again. It's kind of frustrating there's so much red tape with licensing various aspects of an old game... That looks like an old CBS/Telegames box or instruction manual which was essentially the Coleco division in Europe!

So a complete gVideo Olympics game selection from October 1977 only under its original name before port? Just wish that Indy 500 as "Race" by Sears Telegames was included, it is now the only '77 launch title not to be on any Flashback built-in. Thanks Bill, yeah, that's right, I remember about Front Line and an old Coleco license now! What about my Haunted House II and Tempest questions? Really liking their new menu graphics, they remind me of JAKKS Atari Paddle, but these have box graphics like Atari: 80 Classic Games in One!

It has a different mix and more games, two wireless controllers, and improved emulation over the 3. So yeah, basically the 3, but different. So, personally, I will be taking back my Atari Flashback 3 to buy an Atari Flashback 4 later as the only real difference for me is that they eliminated Secret Quest because of a b/w switch issue!

Gone Secret Quest, because of b/w switch issue. Minus 1. New Blackjack Breakout Crystal Castles Football Front Line Haunted House II (Return To Haunted House from Atari Flashback 2 & 2+?) Jungle Hunt Polaris Pong (Atari Flashback 2 Arcade Pong by Curt Vendel or JAKKS Atari Joystick one as taken from Video Olympics?) Slot Machine Slot Racers Space Invaders Stellar Track Street Racer Tempest (Crappy single level from Atari: 80 Classic Games in One! or now complete?) Warlords Plus 16, that makes 15 additions, 75 total. No Video Olympics Casino Indy 500 as "Race" by Sears Telegames Millipede Quadrun Radar Lock Solaris Arcade Asteroids Asteroids Deluxe Lunar Lander Space Duel Yars' Return Since Taito has significant involvement, it would have been nice to see a completed Elevator Action, I see why Jungle Hunt was left off JAKKS'. Also, there are no Coleco games and Asteroids is by Atari, thus has been on all Atari Flashbacks in one form or another!

Thanks Zwackery and onmode-ky for those links, good news and awesome looking unit from Namco/Bandai, although I don't like the idea of repeats with only one new advanced Pac-Man level!

Indeed, this is what I've been saying for years now!

You must have got lucky or knew somebody there because their ad clearly shows a Jakks Pacific Atari Joystick for $15 from Sunday, November 20th-Wednesday, November 23rd, while the Atari Flashback 3 is $25 only on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th. http://www2.dollarge...cular-HTML.aspx

You must have got lucky or knew somebody there because their ad shows a Jakks Pacific Atari Joystick for $15 from Sunday, November 20th-Wednesday, November 23rd, while the Atari Flashback 3 is $25 only on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th. http://www2.dollarge...cular-HTML.aspx

As did the ST . . . though whether the ST or Amiga was the better bang for the buck at the time is a separate issue. Of course,technical superiority (be it system hardware or OS) is a separate issue from mass-market acceptance and software support. (well that and the PC did have certain technical superiorities over the competition -namely the flexible open-box expansion . . . similar to the Apple II's technical advantages -aside from the software support or market perception -and then low-cost optimized clone manufacturers with embedded chipsets appeared and PCs became increasingly more attractive in all aspects -Tandy 1000 obviously being the fist major example of that, also showing IBM's massive missed potential for what the PCJr could have been) Commodore's Amiga 500/1000/2000 also had a pretty good mass-market acceptance or perception over an ST and then also IBM clones not only stateside but in Europe where they were still popularly supported well after their bankruptcy!

Actually from 1985-1994 Commodore's Amiga blew away both the Apple Macintosh and IBM PC at a fraction of their costs!

The official US press release told everybody it was $39.99! PRESSRELEASEFORATARIFB3LAUNCH.pdf http://www.pr.com/press-release/351732 AtGames Digital Media Inc. Press Release Share Blog Receive press releases from AtGames Digital Media Inc.: By Email PDF Version RSS Feeds: AtGames to Launch the Atari Flashback 3 Retro Gaming Console with 60 Built-in Games Recreating the Original Atari 2600 Retro Gaming Experience AtGames announces the release of the Atari Flashback 3 console including 60 built-in games in the USA. Los Angeles, CA, September 08, 2011 --(PR.com)-- AtGames Digital Media Ltd. is launching the Atari-licensed Atari Flashback® 3 console in the U.S. This product recreates for gamers the original video gaming experience of the widely appealing video game console (30 million units sold worldwide) from the 1980’s. With titles such as Asteroids, Missile Command, Centipede, Yars’ Revenge and 56 others, there are hours and hours of the purest video gaming entertainment for the whole family. For anyone who had an Atari 2600 back in the 1980’s, the Flashback 3 really is a “flashback” to an era when video gaming first had mass appeal. But if you haven’t had the experience of the original Atari, then the Flashback 3 takes you right back to the heart of the eighties. With styling based on the original Atari 2600, the Flashback 3 is complete with two retro joysticks, also based on the original Atari designs. This retro experience allows you to go back in time so you can experience how it all started, and why retro gamers still say that the Atari games are as playable now as it was then. The Atari Flashback 3 is an easy to use plug and play device that you use with your TV that provides an affordable piece of video gaming nostalgia suitable for the whole family. “Atari games are known around the world and we are pleased to partner with AtGames to re-launch our best selling Flashback series of classic games for a whole new generation of consumers worldwide,” says Lee Jacobson, SVP of Licensing at Atari Inc. “Atari is one of the legendary brands in the world that goes beyond borders and time. We are delighted to be Atari’s partner for bringing the Atari Flashback 3 to the worldwide audience,” says Dr. Ping-Kang Hsiung, CEO of AtGames Digital Media Ltd. The Atari Flashback 3 will be available in September 2011 for the low price of $39.99. AtGames has designated Digital Media Cartridge as its distributor. Features: Design based on original Atari 2600 Two retro joysticks based on original Atari controllers 60 built-in games Plug and Play into your TV Classic limited edition Atari poster included Games List: 3D Tic-Tac-Toe Fatal Run Swordquest: Earthworld Adventure Flag Capture Super Baseball Adventure II Frog Pond Saboteur Air·Sea Battle Fun with Numbers Save Mary Aquaventure Golf Secret Quest Asteroids Gravitar Sky Diver Backgammon Hangman Space War Basketball Haunted House Sprintmaster Battle Zone Home Run Star Ship Bowling Human Cannonball Steeplechase Canyon Bomber Maze Craze Submarine Commander Centipede Miniature Golf Super Breakout Championship Soccer Missile Command Super Football Circus Atari Night Driver Surround Combat Off the Wall Swordquest: Fireworld Combat Two Outlaw Video Checkers Demons to Diamonds Realsports Baseball Video Chess Desert Falcon Realsports Basketball Video Pinball Dodge’ Em Realsports Soccer Wizard Double Dunk Realsports Volleyball Yars' Revenge About ATARI, SA Atari (www.atari.com) is a multi-platform, global interactive entertainment and licensing company. The original innovator of video gaming, founded in 1972, Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 games and franchises, including world renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong®, Test Drive®, Backyard Sports®, Deer Hunter®, Ghostbusters®, and Rollercoaster Tycoon®. Atari capitalizes on these powerful properties by delivering compelling games online (i.e. browser, Facebook® and digital download), on smartphones and tablets and other connected devices. The Company also develops and distributes interactive entertainment for video game consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony. As a licensor, Atari extends its brand and franchises into other media, merchandising and publishing categories. Atari has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Lyon and London. 2011 Atari Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved. Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc. About AtGames Digital Media, Ltd. AtGames® Digital Media, Ltd. develops innovative interactive entertainment products for worldwide distribution. AtGames® has distribution in North America, Western Europe, Russia, Latin America, Greater China, and the rest of Asia. AtGames® has offices in Los Angeles, Taipei, and ShenZhen. Information about all AtGames products can be found at www.atgames.net For more information, please contact Deborah Lu: [email protected] Note: The company names and product names are the registered trademark of each respective company. ### Contact Information AtGames Digital Media Inc. Jodie Lee 310-286-2222 Contact www.atgames.net Deborah Lu [email protected] Attached Files Atari Flashback 3 console release in North America AtGames announces the release of the Atari Flashback 3 console including 60 built-in games in the USA. Filename: PRESSRELEASEFORATARIFB3LAUNCH.pdf http://www.ibtimes.c...ng-the-orig.htm AtGames to Launch the Atari Flashback 3 Retro Gaming Console with 60 Built-in Games Recreating the Original Atari 2600 Retro Gaming Experience 08 Sep, 2011 @ 09:00 am EDT <p class="articletool"> Comments 1 EMAIL PRINT TEXT SIZE : A A A Consumer Electronics, Technology AtGames announces the release of the Atari Flashback 3 console including 60 built-in games in the USA. Los Angeles, CA, September 08, 2011 --(PR.com)-- AtGames Digital Media Ltd. is launching the Atari-licensed Atari Flashback® 3 console in the U.S. This product recreates for gamers the original video gaming experience of the widely appealing video game console (30 million units sold worldwide) from the 1980’s. With titles such as Asteroids, Missile Command, Centipede, Yars’ Revenge and 56 others, there are hours and hours of the purest video gaming entertainment for the whole family. For anyone who had an Atari 2600 back in the 1980’s, the Flashback 3 really is a “flashback” to an era when video gaming first had mass appeal. But if you haven’t had the experience of the original Atari, then the Flashback 3 takes you right back to the heart of the eighties. With styling based on the original Atari 2600, the Flashback 3 is complete with two retro joysticks, also based on the original Atari designs. This retro experience allows you to go back in time so you can experience how it all started, and why retro gamers still say that the Atari games are as playable now as it was then. The Atari Flashback 3 is an easy to use plug and play device that you use with your TV that provides an affordable piece of video gaming nostalgia suitable for the whole family. “Atari games are known around the world and we are pleased to partner with AtGames to re-launch our best selling Flashback series of classic games for a whole new generation of consumers worldwide,” says Lee Jacobson, SVP of Licensing at Atari Inc. “Atari is one of the legendary brands in the world that goes beyond borders and time. We are delighted to be Atari’s partner for bringing the Atari Flashback 3 to the worldwide audience,” says Dr. Ping-Kang Hsiung, CEO of AtGames Digital Media Ltd. The Atari Flashback 3 will be available in September 2011 for the low price of $39.99. AtGames has designated Digital Media Cartridge as its distributor. Features: Design based on original Atari 2600 Two retro joysticks based on original Atari controllers 60 built-in games Plug and Play into your TV Classic limited edition Atari poster included Games List: 3D Tic-Tac-Toe Fatal Run Swordquest: Earthworld Adventure Flag Capture Super Baseball Adventure II Frog Pond Saboteur Air·Sea Battle Fun with Numbers Save Mary Aquaventure Golf Secret Quest Asteroids Gravitar Sky Diver Backgammon Hangman Space War Basketball Haunted House Sprintmaster Battle Zone Home Run Star Ship Bowling Human Cannonball Steeplechase Canyon Bomber Maze Craze Submarine Commander Centipede Miniature Golf Super Breakout Championship Soccer Missile Command Super Football Circus Atari Night Driver Surround Combat Off the Wall Swordquest: Fireworld Combat Two Outlaw Video Checkers Demons to Diamonds Realsports Baseball Video Chess Desert Falcon Realsports Basketball Video Pinball Dodge’ Em Realsports Soccer Wizard Double Dunk Realsports Volleyball Yars' Revenge About ATARI, SA Atari (www.atari.com) is a multi-platform, global interactive entertainment and licensing company. The original innovator of video gaming, founded in 1972, Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 games and franchises, including world renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong®, Test Drive®, Backyard Sports®, Deer Hunter®, Ghostbusters®, and Rollercoaster Tycoon®. Atari capitalizes on these powerful properties by delivering compelling games online (i.e. browser, Facebook® and digital download), on smartphones and tablets and other connected devices. The Company also develops and distributes interactive entertainment for video game consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony. As a licensor, Atari extends its brand and franchises into other media, merchandising and publishing categories. Atari has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Lyon and London. 2011 Atari Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved. Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc. About AtGames Digital Media, Ltd. AtGames® Digital Media, Ltd. develops innovative interactive entertainment products for worldwide distribution. AtGames® has distribution in North America, Western Europe, Russia, Latin America, Greater China, and the rest of Asia. AtGames® has offices in Los Angeles, Taipei, and ShenZhen. Information about all AtGames products can be found at www.atgames.net For more information, please contact Deborah Lu: [email protected] Note: The company names and product names are the registered trademark of each respective company. ### Contact Information: AtGames Digital Media Inc. Jodie Lee 310-286-2222 Contact via Email www.atgames.net Deborah Lu [email protected] Click here to read the full story: AtGames to Launch the Atari Flashback 3 Retro Gaming Console with 60 Built-in Games Recreating the Original Atari 2600 Retro Gaming Experience Press Release Distributed by PR.com

I thought that they had a new low retail price point of $39.99, down from their originally too high $59.99, what happened?!

I thought that they had a new low retail price point of $39.99, down from their originally too high $59.99, what happened?!

That the publisher is Jakks Pacific is not actually visible in this link, but it's visible in ESRB database search results. There was a previous Taito Space Invaders plug-n-play system, incidentally, by Radica Games in 2004 (prior to Mattel buying them up), which included Qix, Lunar Rescue, Phoenix, and Colony 7. I wonder if Jakks' new system will have any repeats aside from Space Invaders. Regarding those five unnamed games, it's too much to hope for Darius or Ninja Warriors (triple-wide games), but I'd be interested to see some of the games that were in Bandai Namco's Japan-only Taito Nostalgia plug-n-plays from 2006 (in addition to Legend of Kage, that is), particularly Slap Fight. What's really interesting in the ESRB description is the mention of Tube-It, which is from 1993, far newer than any previous Taito arcade game released in a plug-n-play system. Might the 5 unmentioned games include contemporary titles . . . like Metal Black or Darius Gaiden? After all, with today's Generalplus MCUs supporting NAND ROMs and SDRAM, there's a lot more capacity available. However, Tube-It ran on simpler, slower hardware than either of those two titles, so it's not a good indicator. Perhaps this is a better question: is this the beginning of a revival in retro plug-n-play, or will it be just a one-off appearance? Personally, I don't see this being such a huge sales success that it will be followed by more, but I also know jack squat about consumer tendencies. Besides, it's perfectly conceivable that this is only part of a retro blitz Jakks Pacific might be planning. onmode-ky Man, I sure hope that Jungle Hunt, Wild Western, Zoo Keeper, Space Dungeon, then most especially Elevator Action are also apart of the 5 other yet to be revealed games on their Plug-and-Play here because if the latter is I'll be purchasing this right when it hits store shelves! Rick

I can understand the removal of the paddle games if there are no paddle controllers included. Also, didn't Curt say there was some special electrical requirement for the keyboard/touchpad controllers that couldn't be met with the new hardware? But other paddle games are still included, ones easier for joystick control and you're correct about the keyboard/touchpad issue, I knew that was why those were not on there.

Also, neither Swordquest was on either Flashback 2 or 2+.

Seriously? Man, you'd think that AtGames would have at least tried to put this into a portable. It really is what we all have been waiting for for so long. Indeed, I am always serious, except they added... Adventure II Aquaventure Backgammon (PS2 and Xbox Atari Anthology only) Championship Soccer (original name before they changed it to Pelé's Soccer) Combat 2 Fatal Run Frog Pond Hangman (PS2 and Xbox Atari Anthology only) Realsports Basketball Saboteur Save Mary Secret Quest Wizard Why didn't they add Atari Video Cube?! And took away... A Game of Concentration BASIC Programming Blackjack Breakout Casino Codebreaker Crystal Castles Football Math Grand Prix Millipede Quadrun Radar Lock Slot Machine Slot Racers Star Raiders Stellar Track Street Racer Swordquest: Waterworld Video Olympics Warlords Is there a list of all 60 games releasing on this somewhere? Taken from http://red022.redmedia.com.tw/ezcatfiles/red022/img/img/934/AR2660_Atari_IMForATARIApproval_StandardOK-07082011.jpg 3D Tic-Tac-Toe Adventure Adventure II Air-Sea Battle Aquaventure Asteroids Backgammon Basketball Battlezone Bowling Canyon Bomber Centipede Championship Soccer Circus Atari Combat Combat 2 Demons to Diamonds Desert Falcon Dodge 'Em Double Dunk Fatal Run Flag Capture Frog Pond Fun with Numbers Golf Gravitar Hangman Home Run Haunted House Human Cannonball Maze Craze Minature Golf Missile Command Night Driver Off the Wall Outlaw Realsports Baseball Realsports Basketball Realsports Soccer Realsports Volleyball Saboteur Save Mary Secret Quest Sky Diver Space War Sprintmaster Star Ship Steeplechase Submarine Commander Super Baseball Super Breakout Super Football Surround Swordquest: Earthworld Swordquest: Fireworld Video Checkers Video Chess Video Pinball Wizard Yars' Revenge

Seriously? Man, you'd think that AtGames would have at least tried to put this into a portable. It really is what we all have been waiting for for so long. Indeed, I am always serious, except they added... Adventure II Aquaventure Backgammon (PS2 and Xbox Atari Anthology only) Championship Soccer (original name before they changed it to Pelé's Soccer) Combat 2 Fatal Run Frog Pond Hangman (PS2 and Xbox Atari Anthology only) Realsports Basketball Saboteur Save Mary Secret Quest Wizard Why didn't they add Atari Video Cube?! And took away... A Game of Concentration BASIC Programming Blackjack Breakout Casino Codebreaker Crystal Castles Football Math Grand Prix Millipede Quadrun Radar Lock Slot Machine Slot Racers Star Raiders Stellar Track Street Racer Swordquest: Waterworld Video Olympics Warlords

This Flashback 3 is basically Atari: 80 Classic Games in One minus the arcade game versions, making it 60 2600 games by Atari on a plug and play system.

Atari Flashback Atari Flashback 2 Atari Flashback 2+ Commodore 64 DTV Ms. Pac-Man Super Gamekey Combo Walmart Exclusive Retro Arcade...Pac-Man Super Pac-Man Jakks Activision Atari Joystick Atari Paddle 1 Player The Price Is Right Radica Space Invaders Sapphire Orange Sega Arcade Nano Columns & Flicky Keychain Techno Source Activision Intellivision 10 Intellivision 10 2nd Edition Majesco Konami TV Arcade Signed, Rick Vendl II