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godslabrat

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Posts posted by godslabrat

  3. Posted

    20 minutes ago, Mockduck said:

    The individual thread per game thing is more Resetera or Reddit style than what we usually see on AA. Doesnt seem that odd to me for 2020 forum culture. 

    It's just weird to see threads on these games when the actual *interest* in said games seems to be lukewarm at best.  On a Forem like this, if someone wants to make a thread on a Game, it gets made.  If not, it doesn't.  
     

    Making threads for every game by default and hoping if you build it, they will come is... not the best use of your time. IMO.

    • Like 7
    • Haha 3

  4. Posted

    23 hours ago, Atarick said:

    My guess would be the emergence of things like PalmPilot and BlackBerry around the same time. While not smart phones, they embedded a lot of "at a touch" information services that could be regularly obtained via a handheld device. That was huge. No, not a smartphone, but for the era, kind of a game changer. Laptops also dropped in price substantially after about 2000, which may be another reason. In a way, things like streaming and Zoom may have made us come full circle. Now, in the age of smartphones, the desire to have ease of access and a one stop shop for various lifestyle apps and media may be more important that whether such a commodity is mobile. I could see something like the VCS, or similar, coming into vogue in that way if it were designed, equipped, and marketed to fill that niche.

    I would also say that browsing the web on a CRT tv wasn't quite a great experience.  It wasn't bad, but it needed HD resolution for lots of layouts.  And when HD sets dropped in price, like atariack said, better options were around.

    • Like 4

  6. Posted

    2 hours ago, RARusk said:

    If it is inexpensive but has a lot of power then I would think that people would buy it but I think a lot of them would end up getting modded in some way to make it into a more traditional looking console. However, it has been pointed out that the chicken warmer concept is a good way of dealing with the excess heat - perhaps using it for more that just chicken, like popcorn (also already suggested). If modded right you could use it for scented wax and at least make your work area smell nice.

    I don't see that there's a way the heat can vent up to the chicken WITHOUT grease from the chicken being able to flow back to the CPU.  Hot grease gets everywhere, it's what it does.

    • Like 1

  11. Posted

    Okay, reality check... is there any end here where this is not either A) a joke that goes too far or B) an absolutely terrible idea?

     

    If investors of any kind are willing to throw money at this, that's the best argument for socialism there will ever be.

    • Haha 1

  13. Posted

    2 minutes ago, Bill Loguidice said:

    I HATE the "this console is really a computer!" argument, like that somehow invalidates it or it's some form of cheating. It's purely semantics. Many consoles, including from Atari, have been consoles running so-called "computer" hardware, and many consoles could be turned into full computers. So what? It's not the hardware that makes a console worthwhile, it's the easy accessibility and game selection. And certainly the "console" designation has become abstracted to a degree anyway since we have so many set top boxes that also function exactly like consoles, although that's typically not their primary functions. 

     

    Call the VCS what you will, but dinging it for being more computer than console is not really a path I'd personally go down. I'd challenge it more on how well it can function like a console or computer, or even a typical set top box for that matter. From the early reviews, it seems like it has a long way to go serving any of those functions. At this point it feels more like a variation of a single board computer concept (Pi, Odroid, etc.) than something meant as a mass market product.

    The sole reason I'd even bring up the "computer" aspect of it is to contrast it with l'Atari's own messaging.  The Box was sold as being able to play and stream "like never before", but what they've delivered is *exactly* what has come before.  You call this thing a "computer" and it cements the idea that it's not meaningfully different than the PC you likely already have.

     

    I agree, today's consoles are (to varying degrees) computer variants... but all the systems I can think of bring to the table an experience that you couldn't easily replicate with a consumer PC.  L'Atari, on the other hand, has not only delivered something like you'd order from Newegg, but you'd need to add additional purchases to even achieve that level of functionality.

    • Like 6

  14. Posted

    Making games takes money.  You either  pay someone to develop a game in-house, or you buy someone else's game and slap your name on it.  Either way, it doesn't appear out of nowhere, you pay for it.  L'Atari made it clear they wanted to spend an absolute minimal amount of money to release the VCS.  Their own reports indicated their lack of desire to spend, which is why they made so many decisions that are otherwise puzzling.  
     

    Nearly everything the company did makes complete sense when you realize their top priority was avoiding anything resembling a financial risk-- even if that meant doing the unthinkable and releasing a game console that had no games.

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

  18. Posted

    59 minutes ago, racerx said:

     

    That's...not how the market works.

     

    The brand superfans have already ordered theirs. Anything after that Atari needs to earn with a compelling product. "Retro fans have a responsibility for its success" is a hopelessly backwards attitude.

     

    Successful companies generate fans. Fans don't generate successful companies.

    This.  I respect the "Personal Journey of an Atari Fan" story, but it's a story that ends in the mid-90s.  Someone's relationship with the old Atari has no relevance to their choice to buy a VCS... and if it does, they've been misled by a trio of Frenchmen who aren't even that good at misleading.  
     

    If the VCS is to succeed beyond being excreted out of a factory, then l'Atari needs to provide a reason for current and new customers to buy it.  They haven't done so.  They don't appear to be doing so.  
     

    Making the VCS was the easiest way out of a lawsuit by a company that doesn't know what they're doing.  

    • Like 9

  19. Posted

    12 minutes ago, Solomon_Man said:

    All,

    I bought a Pre-Order one. I also put money down on a Amico and I have bought a few Retro-N products. Not to mention the slew of adapters to make the old hardware run on new TV Sets/Monintors etc. You can call me a fan-boy and I am ok with that label especially considering the forum I am writing this response. But I am the ones that will help keep the Retro-Computing Scene healthy financially so people will have options. Now and in the future. This is not the 1970s-1980s if you think it is you are just showing your age.

     

    One thing that the naysayers cant argue with is its out. Yes its late/delayed but its still out. (My only complaint would be maybe a little more communication and more public communication (TV Commercials)). My Expectations are not of a PS5 or the newest Xbox. I can buy those as well. Just another option for entertainment. Personally I believe how this is broadcasted to the masses will seriously influence its adoption to the standard Joe and its success rate. 

     

    I have been in my fair share of Software Releases over my 23 year career (7 of which was with Microsoft) and delays happen and sometimes for really stupid reasons...Larger companies (deep pockets)  throw resources at it and I am not talking small money here...things I have seen to get a product out would completely shed a new light on the Atari VCS financials. 

     

    Now whether the product is worth the costs...Look in your driveways...the automobile.

    Cars are all over the cost spectrum but there have been studies done of what an actual car cost in materials and manpower and I will tell you its not anywere near what you paid. I will give you an example on a typical 2021 fender with modern sensors (proximity etc). I know these costs because another 7 years of my career have been in the Automobile sector for one of the Largest Tier one providers. The cost from the dealer to the consumer/Tier 1 supplier to OEM fender on the car is somewhere in the neighboorhood of $350 to $700 range loaded. The cost to make (parts and labor) is well under $80 dollars. In fact the sensorless ones commonly range sub $40. These are painted and ready to go on a vehicle delivered to sequencers. People still go out and buy Cars (15.2-18.4 million cars a month).  A car is a car the price differences between them is commonly separated by brand/how many are made (size of company).

     

    So the cost comparison of a Laptop/Pi/Computer to this device is really not in most peoples radar. Remember not everyone can setup a machine or wants to play with them constantly. Also some people $400 is nothing to spend. I know people who spend that on a Friday night out. Its not me at least not me currently with 5 kids, mortgage, and a wife.

     

    As far as AtariAge not supporting (no new forum(s)) the AtariVCS I am somewhat disappointed. I know sites will pop up supporting it but I would think AtariAge supporting it "could" significantly breathe new life (interest) in the Older systems and bring new fans of Atari which I would assume would increase the bottom line for AtariAge.

     

    Just my two cents,

    Chris

     

     

     

    There is some logic to what you say, but I have serious disagreement that l'Atari wants anything to do with this machine once it leaves the warehouse.  Your analysis would have merit if this were a contending product off to a rocky start, but all signs point to it being a one-off project they reluctantly fulfilled.

    • Like 2

  20. Posted

    No, I could get behind another console with a very low upfront cost ($150 max, $99 preferable).  But between my Switch and my XB1, I struggle to find the need that isn't already being filled.  Does SNK benefit from locking me into a particular ecosystem?  I didn't think they were big enough to play that game.

     

    What I do love about their fighting games is that they're great for local co-op.  Family.

    • Like 2

  22. Posted

    I'm thinking there's still a viable market for speculators.  Now that the thing is out, some people might be trying to buy one and sit on it for a year or three to see if it goes up in value.

     

    If someone is buying a VCS, I wouldn't assume they'd be breaking the seal.

    • Like 6

  23. Posted

    1 minute ago, AlecRob said:

    It would be nice if Atari, SA could buy back all the atari properties owned by other companies.   It would certainly be cool to have all the stuff under one roof again.   

    Yes, let's give them more stuff to screw up.

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
    • Haha 4
    • Confused 1

  24. Posted

    30 minutes ago, zzip said:

    Exactly,  I don't see Atari challenging the big three, but that was never what AtariVCS was about.   Niche "micro-consoles" are a fairly big thing, with entries like Amico, and Playdate, etc.   The Gen-Xers that these are meant to appeal to are now in their peak earning years with money to spend on stuff that maybe doesn't make sense..    But consider this scenario:

    Kids: "What do we get dad for Christmas this year, he has everything?"

    Mom: "Look at this Atari VCS thing, he used to love Atari growning up"

    Kids: "It even plays Minecraft and Fortnite?  Cool, now we can teach him how to play, perfect!"

    So I can see a lot of them being sold as gifts for a hard to buy for parent.

    But why would the dad, who apparently knows enough about video games to know what Atari is, not want to play Minecraft and Fortnight on a PS5 or Switch?

     

     

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1

  25. Posted

    2 hours ago, mr_me said:

    With over 26 thousand posts, Amico should have its own sub forum.  Not sure why it doesn't.

    I'm sure when it's released, it'll have one.  Given what happened with the VCS, it makes sense to not jump the gun.

    • Like 6
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