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Comprehensive Atari Jaguar Timeline. (1991-2008)


kevincal

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*Information in this timeline is taken from many sources on the internet. The list is not 100% accurate, however what I'm mainly going for is getting as much Jag info in one place as I can. Not necessarily having everything 100% accurate (although that would be nice, I'm trying!) ;).*

 

June, 1991 - Atari announces the 64-bit Atari Jaguar.

 

December, 1992 - Atari announces the Jag will be cartridge-based & released Summer 1993 for $150.

 

August, 1993 - Jaguar is unveiled to worldwide press. Atari announces that 50,000 units will be sold in New York, San Francisco, Paris, and London in October. With a worldwide release in 1994 & an MSRP of $200.

 

October, 1993 - Atari sues Sega for patent infringements.

 

November 18, 1993 - Atari releases the Jaguar with Cybermorph set in limited quantities in San Francisco and New York City for $250. All available units are quickly bought.

 

November 18, 1993 - Cybermorph released.

 

November 18, 1993 - Trevor McFur in the Crescent Galaxy released.

 

1993 - Evolution: Dino Dudes released.

 

1993 - Raiden released.

 

1994 - Atari Jaguar officially released in the US, Canada and Europe.

 

April, 1994 - Warner Communications and Time Life Inc. merge to form Time-Warner. Atari Games is folded into the new Time-Warner Interactive.

 

April, 1994 - TWI announces plans to use Atari Corp.'s Jaguar technology in its arcade games. The first "CoJag" game planned is Area 51.

 

April 13, 1994 - Tempest 2000 released with an MSRP of $60. The game quickly becomes a best seller, and eventually reaches total sales of over 350,000 copies.

 

July, 1994 - Wolfenstein 3D released in limited quantity. All 3000 were sold in under 48 hours. A full release happened about 3 weeks later.

 

August, 1994 - Brutal Sports Football released in limited quantities. It is the 1st third-party game released for the Jaguar.

 

September, 1994 - Atari announces plans to release a modem for the Jaguar.

 

September 28, 1994 - Atari and Sega settle their infringement lawsuit. Sega pays Atari $50 million for patent rights, and buys 4.5 million shares of Atari's stock, valued at $40 million. There is talk between the two companies of releasing games on each other's systems (Jaguar & Saturn).

 

October 20, 1994 - Alien vs. Predator released with an MSRP of $70.

 

November, 1994 - Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story released with an MSRP of $60.

 

November, 1994 - Doom released with an MSRP of $70.

 

November, 1994 - Club Drive released with an MSRP of $60.

 

November, 1994 - Checkered Flag released with an MSRP of $70.

 

November, 1994 - Brutal Sports Football officially released (not limited).

 

November 21, 1994 - Atari announces the Jaguar will be available at all 25 Toys "R" Us stores and other selected stores in Japan.

 

December 9, 1994 - Kasumi Ninja released with an MSRP of $70.

 

December 9, 1994 - Bubsy In Fractured Furry Tales released with an MSRP of $50.

 

December 9, 1994 - Zool 2 released with an MSRP of $60.

 

December 22, 1994 - Iron Soldier released with an MSRP of $60.

 

January, 1995 - Val d'Isere Skiing and Snowboarding released with an MSRP of $60.

 

February 24, 1995 - Cannon Fodder released.

 

1995 - Syndicate released.

 

1995 - Troy Aikman NFL Football released.

 

March 13, 1995 - Atari Corp. and Williams Entertainment Inc. announce that Atari will be publishing "Mortal Kombat 3" for the Atari Jaguar 64-bit multimedia system.

 

1995 - Theme Park released.

 

1995 - International Sensible Soccer released.

 

1995 - Double Dragon V released.

 

1995 - Hover Strike released.

 

1995 - Pinball Fantasies released.

 

March 21, 1995 - Jaguar Core Set (64-bit Power Kit) released. Includes the system & controller (no game) for $150.

 

1995 - Jaguar system with Cybermorph set price reduced to $190. Includes a free second controller & a free game, either Wolfenstein 3D or Tempest 2000

 

May, 1995 - At the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3), Atari announces a joint venture with Virtuality and unveils the Jaguar VR headset. The only product of that venture ever released is Missile Command 3D.

 

June 26, 1995 - Atari hires Ted Hoff. Rumors of powerful leadership and prompt decisions soon follow.

 

July 5, 1995 - Super Burnout released.

 

August 1, 1995 - White Men Can't Jump released with the Team Tap 4-player adapter included for an MSRP of $70.

 

August 9, 1995 - Flashback released.

 

August 12, 1995 - Greg La Brec announced that a 2600 emulator is in the works. Atari can now package every single Atari-owned 2600 game with it, and have OVER 200 GAMES on the Jaguar.

 

August 28, 1995 - Flip-Out! released with an MSRP of $50

 

September 1, 1995 - Rayman released.

 

September 11, 1995 - Atari releases the Jaguar CD for $150 with $100 worth of free software included (Blue Lightning, Vid Grid, Myst Demo & the Tempest 2000 Soundtrack.)

 

September 11, 1995 - Blue Lightning released.

 

September 11, 1995 - Vid Grid released.

 

September 11, 1995 - Myst Demo released.

 

September 11, 1995 - Tempest 2000: The Soundtrack released.

 

September, 1995 - Memory Track released.

 

September, 1995 - Power Drive Rally released with an MSRP of $55.

 

September, 1995 - Ultra Vortek released.

 

October, 1995 - JagLink Interface released with an MSRP of $30.

 

October, 1995 - Jaguar ProController released with an MSRP of $30.

 

October 18, 1995 - Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure released with an MSRP of $60

 

October 26, 1995 - Hoverstrike: Unconquered Lands released with an MSRP of $60.

 

October, 1995 - Highlander: The Last of the MacLeods released.

 

October, 1995 - Team Tap 4-player adapter released (individually) with an MSRP of $30

 

November, 1995 - Ruiner Pinball released with an MSRP of $60.

 

December 6, 1995 - Dragon's Lair released.

 

December 6, 1995 - Missle Command 3D released with an MSRP of $60

 

December 14, 1995 - Myst released.

 

December 15, 1995 - Fever Pitch Soccer released.

 

December 15, 1995 - I-War released.

 

December 16, 1995 - The Atari Jaguar 64-bit Power Kit system package is reduced in price from $150 to $100.

 

December 20, 1995 - Supercross 3D released.

 

December, 1995 - Battlemorph released.

 

December, 1995 - Primal Rage released.

 

December, 1995 - Baldies released.

 

December, 1995 - Myst released.

 

December 22, 1995 - Atari Karts released with an MSRP of $60

 

December 27, 1995 - NBA Jam: Tournament Edition released with an MSRP of $70.

 

December, 1995 - Space Ace released.

 

December, 1995 - Defender 2000 released.

 

December 29, 1995 - Attack of the Mutant Penguins released with an MSRP of $60.

 

January 5, 1996 - Zoop released.

 

January, 1996 - Brain Dead 13 released.

 

1996 - Fight for Life released.

 

February 13, 1996 - Atari enters a "reverse merger" with JTS, a maker of computer disk drives. JTS acquires Atari's $50 million, and the Tramiels are able to liquidate their holdings in Atari (per SEC Rule 144). Atari Corp.'s operations are absorbed by JTS; Atari Corp. lives on for tax purposes, allowing for the licensing of game titles and patents. Most of the remaining Atari employees are released.

 

The closed video game division leaves behind an installed based of 150,000 Jaguar game systems and outstanding title development contracts amounting an estimated $6 to $8 mill. Approx. 20 employees have been laid off, leaving 30 remaining. These too are expected to depart shortly. Layoffs include the entire Interactive division including management, accounting and legal personnel.

 

Atari, and the Jaguar, essentially "die"...

 

September 30, 1996 - Area 51 is released. It's the first Co-Jag arcade game to be released.

 

1996 - The era of the "post Atari death" Jaguar begins for the hardcore, diehard Jaguar fans.

 

December 9, 1996 - Breakout 2000 released.

 

December 9, 1996 - Towers II released.

 

1997 - Iron Soldier 2 (CD) released.

 

1997 - World Tour Racing released.

 

1997 - Air Cars released.

 

1997 - Zero 5 released.

 

1997 - Iron Solder 2 (Cart) released.

 

February 23, 1998 - JTS Corporation sells all of its Atari assets to Hasbro Interactive for $5 million in cash.

 

May 14, 1998 - Hasbro announces that they have released all rights to the Jaguar to the public; independent hobbyists and developers are thus able to develop Jaguar games and peripherals without fear of legal repercussions from Hasbro. (Thunderbird got this done, right? :))

 

May 15, 1998 - At the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, Hasbro officially relaunches Atari as their home video game label, a subdivision of Hasbro Interactive. Updated versions of classic Atari titles like Pong, Missile Command, Star Raiders, and other games for the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64 were announced.

 

May 15, 1998 - Worms released.

 

December 20, 1999 - Protector released with an MSRP of $75

 

February 7, 2000 - Soccer Kid released with an MSRP of $75

 

February 29, 2000 - Battlesphere™ released.

 

April 10, 2000 - Hyperforce released with an MSRP of $75

 

May 22, 2000 - Skyhammer released with an MSRP of $80

 

September, 2001 - Spacewar 2000 Demo released.

 

2002 - CD Bypass Cart is released by B & C.

 

2002 - Demolition Man Demo released by B & C.

 

March 15, 2002 - Battlesphere Gold™ released with extras for $160.

 

April 30, 2002 - Protector: SE (cart) released by Songbird Productions for $75 w/box & manual.

 

June 5, 2002 - Phase Zero Demo released by B & C (cart only) for $50

 

July, 2002 - Barkley Shut Up & Jam! released by B & C ComputerVisions for $60 (cart only).

 

February, 2003 - ScatoLOGIC ScatBox™ is released.

 

March, 2003 - Black Ice/White Noise Revision 18 for the Jag CD released by Clint Thompson.

 

April, 2003 - American Hero Demo released for the Jaguar CD by Stone.

 

August 9, 2003 - Painter is released for the Jaguar CD.

 

August 12, 2003 - Air Cars is made available at B & C ComputerVisions for $40 (cart only). These are not the rare, originally released Air Cars by ICD. In-game content are the same though.

 

January 9, 2004 - Brett Hull NHL Hockey (cart only) is released by B & C for $50.

 

2004 - Ocean Depths released by Lars Hannig.

 

2004 - Soul Star Beta (bootleg) is put up for auction regularly on eBay.

 

May 21, 2004 - Jay Smith creates the "Jaguar Sector II" message board. Insanity ensues. :D

 

2004 - Jaguar Sector II Extremist Pack #1 released by Jay Smith.

 

2004 - Jaguar Sector II Extremist Pack #2 released.

 

2004 - Jaguar Sector II Extremist Pack #3 released.

 

August 8, 2004 - Jaguar Sector II Commemorative Pack released by Jay Smith.

 

September, 2005 - Total Carnage released.

 

October 31, 2005 - Fight For Life Beta released at JSII for $50.

 

February 1, 2006 - Gorf Classic released. The game was developed by 3D Stooges which includes JSII regular Steve Scavone (Gorf).

 

April, 2006 - Atomic released for free on the Jaguar CD.

 

June 9, 2006 - Battlesphere Trio™, a one-of-a-kind cart is put up for auction on eBay. All proceeds will go to Diabetes research thanks to the Scatologic team which includes the JSII regular, Doug Engel (Thunderbird).

 

July 15, 2006 - Arena Football '95 Prototype released exclusively at Jaguar Sector II for $50 (cart only). It also becomes available at B & C ComputerVisions.

 

July 23, 2006 - DiamJag released by JagWare team.

 

October 31, 2006 - Double Feature #1 released by Matthias.

 

2006 - Black Ice/White Noise Revision 19 released by BJ West, one of the original programmers for the game.

 

October 1, 2007 - Alien vs. Predator Beta released exclusively at Jaguar Sector II, complete with custom, original style box and inserts. Only 32 copies are produced, with the first 7 being Collector's Editions (£44 each) with the rest costing £36 each.

 

October 30, 2007 - Frog Feast released. It includes box, manual and cartridge for $50.

 

February 23, 2008 - Jaguar Sector II Extremist Pack #4 released by Jay Smith.

Edited by kevincal
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I thought this might be interesting to those who don't frequent the Jaguar Sector. :)

 

http://www.jaguarsector.com/index.php?auto...icle&id=379

I'm puzzled by some of your numbers. You stated that Tempest 2000 sold 350,000 copies. But then you state that when Atari quit making hardware, there was a user base of 150,000 systems. So were 200,000 + units sold afterwards? I may be wrong, but to me, that just doesn't seem right.

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I thought this might be interesting to those who don't frequent the Jaguar Sector. :)

 

http://www.jaguarsector.com/index.php?auto...icle&id=379

I'm puzzled by some of your numbers. You stated that Tempest 2000 sold 350,000 copies. But then you state that when Atari quit making hardware, there was a user base of 150,000 systems. So were 200,000 + units sold afterwards? I may be wrong, but to me, that just doesn't seem right.

I would have to agree. 150,000 systems vs 350,000 Tempest 2000 carts? I know that the 150,000 number is tossed around a lot, but I have always questioned that number. This just makes me question it more.

 

I guess 200,000 people just bought the cart because they liked the way it looked. :D

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From Atari Corp's own 4/12/96 SEC filing:

 

From the introduction of Jaguar in late 1993 through the end of 1995, Atari sold approximately 125,000 units of Jaguar. As of December 31, 1995, Atari had approximately 100,000 units of Jaguar in inventory.

 

So by first quarter '96 they had sold 125,000 units, had an unknown amount of units out at the stores and in distributor's warehouses at the time, and had 100,000 units in their own warehouse as excess inventory.

 

Being kind and saying maybe there were 75,000 units out at retailers and distributors, that would bring the total through 200,000 units up to the reverse merger. With the deep discounting and liquidation to remove the excess inventory over the next 2 years until the sale to Hasbro, its possible that there were 300,000 out there by the late 90's.

 

 

BTW, there's some wrong stuff in the time line. Time and Warner Communications merged in 1989, not 1994. Likewise, Atari Games was merged in to Warner in '92. '94 was when the TWIG, Atari Games, and Tengen divisions all merged together as TWI.

Edited by wgungfu
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I thought this might be interesting to those who don't frequent the Jaguar Sector. :)

 

http://www.jaguarsector.com/index.php?auto...icle&id=379

I'm puzzled by some of your numbers. You stated that Tempest 2000 sold 350,000 copies. But then you state that when Atari quit making hardware, there was a user base of 150,000 systems. So were 200,000 + units sold afterwards? I may be wrong, but to me, that just doesn't seem right.

I would have to agree. 150,000 systems vs 350,000 Tempest 2000 carts? I know that the 150,000 number is tossed around a lot, but I have always questioned that number. This just makes me question it more.

 

I guess 200,000 people just bought the cart because they liked the way it looked. :D

 

 

I know I own at least two copies of Tempest 2K. Probably thought it was so good that people would own two copies.

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I thought this might be interesting to those who don't frequent the Jaguar Sector. :)

 

http://www.jaguarsector.com/index.php?auto...icle&id=379

I'm puzzled by some of your numbers. You stated that Tempest 2000 sold 350,000 copies. But then you state that when Atari quit making hardware, there was a user base of 150,000 systems. So were 200,000 + units sold afterwards? I may be wrong, but to me, that just doesn't seem right.

I would have to agree. 150,000 systems vs 350,000 Tempest 2000 carts? I know that the 150,000 number is tossed around a lot, but I have always questioned that number. This just makes me question it more.

 

I guess 200,000 people just bought the cart because they liked the way it looked. :D

 

If those numbers are correct then Atari (Tramiel) didn't learn the lesson from the 2600 days and ET cartridge. Funny how history can repeat itself at times.

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I thought this might be interesting to those who don't frequent the Jaguar Sector. :)

 

http://www.jaguarsector.com/index.php?auto...icle&id=379

I'm puzzled by some of your numbers. You stated that Tempest 2000 sold 350,000 copies. But then you state that when Atari quit making hardware, there was a user base of 150,000 systems. So were 200,000 + units sold afterwards? I may be wrong, but to me, that just doesn't seem right.

 

I was actually puzzled by this myself. What I'm thinking this means is, 350,000 copies of Tempest 2000 were sold to retailers etc, but maybe only 100,000 or so were actually sold to consumers... Leaving a whole hell of a lot of Tempest 2000's all over the US & Europe. Seems kinda far fetched though, doesn't it? ;) Also ALL of the information in the timeline is taken from places all over the internet, through researching etc. A lot of the info is taken directly from Official Atari Newsletters, including the user base of 150,000 systems. I forget where I got the number for Tempest 2000.

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Nice list. A very interesting read.

 

Well thanks, I'm glad you liked it. :) Although I can't take credit for much as most of the information was taken from several sources on the net. There were a couple of other Jaguar timelines on the net, but they were very incomplete. I just thought it would be cool to get as much Jag info as possible in one place! :cool:

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From Atari Corp's own 4/12/96 SEC filing:

 

From the introduction of Jaguar in late 1993 through the end of 1995, Atari sold approximately 125,000 units of Jaguar. As of December 31, 1995, Atari had approximately 100,000 units of Jaguar in inventory.

 

So by first quarter '96 they had sold 125,000 units, had an unknown amount of units out at the stores and in distributor's warehouses at the time, and had 100,000 units in their own warehouse as excess inventory.

 

Being kind and saying maybe there were 75,000 units out at retailers and distributors, that would bring the total through 200,000 units up to the reverse merger. With the deep discounting and liquidation to remove the excess inventory over the next 2 years until the sale to Hasbro, its possible that there were 300,000 out there by the late 90's.

 

 

BTW, there's some wrong stuff in the time line. Time and Warner Communications merged in 1989, not 1994. Likewise, Atari Games was merged in to Warner in '92. '94 was when the TWIG, Atari Games, and Tengen divisions all merged together as TWI.

 

You are more than welcome to add that information to the timeline. ;) Also, again, I got all of this info from all over the net, so there's bound to be some errors etc. ;)

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Where does "The Cave" infomercial fit in that list? Or the other TV commercials for that matter?

 

Good question. :) The timeline is far from complete. I guess I should have mentioned that. It is an ongoing project. Also any of you are free to add information, just so long as it is semi-credible. ;)

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October 31, 2006 - Double Feature #1 released by JagWare team

 

Matthias, not Jagware

 

Fixed, sorry... ;) Also you are resonsible for the free release of Atomic, correct? I'll have to credit you for that on the list. ;) Sorry but I threw this list together in a day or 2, so much information is left out. It is quite incomplete, that is why Jay put it in the Wiki section, so that people can freely add info to make the list as complete and accurate as possible.

Edited by kevincal
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October 31, 2006 - Double Feature #1 released by JagWare team

 

Matthias, not Jagware

 

Fixed, sorry... ;) Also you are resonsible for the free release of Atomic, correct? I'll have to credit you for that on the list. ;) Sorry but I threw this list together in a day or 2, so much information is left out. It is quite incomplete, that is why Jay put it in the Wiki section, so that people can freely add info to make the list as complete and accurate as possible.

 

No problem ;)

 

Atomic was done by The Removers / Jagware

 

We (= The Retro Gaming Connexion team) only did the free release, yes

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