Could, Atari come back?

[atari52]

I was just thinking, Do you guys think That Atari's founder "Nolan Bushnell", Could buy back Atari,and make a new system? I have read online,that He wants to make another system, and have it built in the good old USA. I think that now would be a great time. Question is,would hasbro sell it back? I would love to have a new Atari system. But unless Nolan is in charge, Forget it . I am so sick of ps3 and xbox 360 I think they are both junk. maybe its just me, but I think that the games today suck too. I mean come on, $60.00 plus for a game. Lately, I have been playing my 2600 more than my xbox. anyway back on track. Do you guys think there is room for another system. Could Atari come back? Is this a good time? Would Nolan even want to buy Atari back? If there ever is another Atari,I would love to see it be 100% backwords compatable. It would have to play games from all past Atari systems,even the jaguar. I would also love to see it be cartrage based. Or have hasbro, make a special edition system,and release like ten games for it, in the old 2600 type box. And,no! Im not talking about the flashback 2. I am talking another 2600 system, just like it was back in the day. I bet that every store in the country would sell out. I beleive, that this is what us fans are waiting for. Thank you for reading this post. Please forgive me for spelling mistakes,and if there is already a post like this. I am just, an Atari fan that likes to dream.

[oky2000]

I would like to ask what you think would be included in the design of a new Atari console by Bushnell that isn't in either the Wii, the 360 or the PS3?

 

If the only difference would be games then why isn't there any such games for the 360 or PS3 with such massive amounts of graphical and CPU horsepower? Or the Wii with those goofy controls?

[sandmountainslim]

Nope,

That is a pipe dream on Nolan's part.

I reckon Hasbro doesn't own Atari nowadays, it is Infogrames.

Wp

[Warriorisabouttodie]

Nope,

That is a pipe dream on Nolan's part.

I reckon Hasbro doesn't own Atari nowadays, it is Infogrames.

Wp

 

 

I thought Infogrames officially became ATARI. I think the new Atari is moving in the right direction with online distribution and MMORGS. I don't think they or anyone for that matter would have much of a chance competing with Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. 3 platforms is traditionally the limit for success in every generation and usually one is not so successful (for example last gen the Gamecube died young and this gen the PS3 seem's to be getting off to a very rocky start)

 

getting back to what you asked, Nolan Bushnell is cool and started Atari way back when, but he has had a ton of failures since that time. The Check E Cheese franchise didn't do well until after he sold it, he worked on the Amiga CDTV at Commodore what is that? well need I say more..., ummm this uWink thing he's doing now hasn't exactly set the world on fire either. If he could return Atari to it's former market dominating glory, you would think he would be able to do something pretty spectacular even without the Atari name.

[+wood_jl]

With the Playstation 3 losing [$$______you fill the blank_____] and perhaps even Microsoft on the Xbox360, how could anyone build a console that is more capable, cost less, and generates profit? Not likely! Where would the software come from? They'd better name it "Jaguar 2." Plus, I don't think Nolan did hardware design, so he'd have to hire it out just like anybody else, with similar results.

[HFK]

Simple answer, no. As stated the 3 current systems are having hard enough of a time, people are even ripping on the Wii now. I do really enjoy my 360 but unless Nolan came out with a holodeck there is no way.

[Artlover]

Nope. Could never happen.

 

Already have 3 systems on the market that pretty much do it all (all that is capable right now). So there is no real market left for it. Unless it did something really radical which would probably be expencive and/or go over people's heads by being ahead of it's time.

 

World economy is in the toilet, so it's not a good time to try, even if he had some good ideas.

 

Companies like MS & Sony can afford to bleed money since they both have other divisions that make up the bulk of their profiles. They are willing and able to lose money just for the sake of market share. Nintendo is the weakest of the 3, but they are still a VERY big company with a long history and all the money they need to make a whole hearted effort in to anything/everything they do. That and they always balanced their production costs vs profit well. I doubt Nolan could ever front the money needed to get serious investments and compete in today's market place. Especially with uWink NOT being the next Pong/Atari/Suck-e-Cheese success.

 

I don't see any new system going back to being cartridge based either. Silicon storage isn't cheap. With the size of games today, it would be cost prohibitive to go that route. There would need to be some major advances here to improve the $/GB ratio first before it would be practical.

 

It's a nice dream, but alas, it's only a dream.

[xg4bx]

would there be a market for a very low cost "old school" style console? say something along the lines of the flashback or fc twin consoles, albeit with more marketing and new titles released regularly and at low cost? modern "old school" games like bit trip beat have really got me wondering.

[homerwannabee]

Could it happen? The answer is yes. But a sack of money could fall out of an airplane and land on my front doorstep as well.

[atari52]

Thanks guys for all of your input. I just wanted to know, what you guys think about the idea. I don't know who owns Atari right now, but I do know what Atari used to be. Maybe, its that fact that I am a lot older now,but I don't care for these new systems and their games. I beleive that this is the reason, why none of the new systems are doing good. Games are to high, systems over heat,to be honest. They are not even a video game system. They are a computer. I don't want a computer,I want a video game. I think this is why Atari is so special. They almost never broke down,never caused you a problem. The carts. never failed you. And you had fun. Remember when you tried to beat your friend, in getting the high score. now its about how the game looks. no fun factor. They games are so deep, and complex that you need to spend more money on a stratergy guide, just to see were you go next. I think we are heading for another, Great video game crash (Part 2) Thanks guys, for letting me vent. It feels good. Iam now off to play some Atari, Man its hell to get old!

[mos6507]

would there be a market for a very low cost "old school" style console? say something along the lines of the flashback or fc twin consoles, albeit with more marketing and new titles released regularly and at low cost? modern "old school" games like bit trip beat have really got me wondering.

 

Write downloadable iPhone games.

[atarian63]

would there be a market for a very low cost "old school" style console? say something along the lines of the flashback or fc twin consoles, albeit with more marketing and new titles released regularly and at low cost? modern "old school" games like bit trip beat have really got me wondering.

 

Write downloadable iPhone games.

Probably the best market. though for what it is worth a coll lost cost console with games would be nicer and you could play on a full sized screen no a mini screen.

[VectorGamer]

Thanks guys for all of your input. I just wanted to know, what you guys think about the idea. I don't know who owns Atari right now, but I do know what Atari used to be. Maybe, its that fact that I am a lot older now,but I don't care for these new systems and their games. I beleive that this is the reason, why none of the new systems are doing good. Games are to high, systems over heat,to be honest. They are not even a video game system. They are a computer. I don't want a computer,I want a video game. I think this is why Atari is so special. They almost never broke down,never caused you a problem. The carts. never failed you. And you had fun. Remember when you tried to beat your friend, in getting the high score. now its about how the game looks. no fun factor. They games are so deep, and complex that you need to spend more money on a stratergy guide, just to see were you go next. I think we are heading for another, Great video game crash (Part 2) Thanks guys, for letting me vent. It feels good. Iam now off to play some Atari, Man its hell to get old!

 

I agree with a lot of what you said. With the exception of sports games, everything else is junk.

 

I started a thread in another forum regarding if the video game crash would happen again. I believe the title of that thread is "Will History Repeat Itself?"

 

I honestly believe that if someone can design an original 2D game that smells of the classic video game era and iff that game is a huge success, that it could open the flood gates for a comeback as you suggested. There's someone out there smarter than me that can figure out exactly what original and addictive could be in that regard as I am spent as far as what that something new and different could be.

 

But, for all this to happen is going to take a lot of luck, a lot of effort and nice big kick in the pants. This may be just wishful thinking and a pipe dream on my part.

[fred]

Thanks guys for all of your input. I just wanted to know, what you guys think about the idea. I don't know who owns Atari right now, but I do know what Atari used to be. Maybe, its that fact that I am a lot older now,but I don't care for these new systems and their games. I beleive that this is the reason, why none of the new systems are doing good. Games are to high, systems over heat,to be honest. They are not even a video game system. They are a computer. I don't want a computer,I want a video game. I think this is why Atari is so special. They almost never broke down,never caused you a problem. The carts. never failed you. And you had fun. Remember when you tried to beat your friend, in getting the high score. now its about how the game looks. no fun factor. They games are so deep, and complex that you need to spend more money on a stratergy guide, just to see were you go next. I think we are heading for another, Great video game crash (Part 2) Thanks guys, for letting me vent. It feels good. Iam now off to play some Atari, Man its hell to get old!

 

I agree with a lot of what you said. With the exception of sports games, everything else is junk.

 

I started a thread in another forum regarding if the video game crash would happen again. I believe the title of that thread is "Will History Repeat Itself?"

 

I honestly believe that if someone can design an original 2D game that smells of the classic video game era and iff that game is a huge success, that it could open the flood gates for a comeback as you suggested. There's someone out there smarter than me that can figure out exactly what original and addictive could be in that regard as I am spent as far as what that something new and different could be.

 

But, for all this to happen is going to take a lot of luck, a lot of effort and nice big kick in the pants. This may be just wishful thinking and a pipe dream on my part.

 

I think it would be possible. A new system doesn't have to compete with the 3 big video game companies but cater to a different market. Just look at the Hyperscan. People buy and collect for it (not me). The graphics and game play could probably be improved, classic games could be ported to it, maybe some improved Jaguar games, and Atari games from the 2600 to the 7800 maybe on a CD to cut costs. The only problem is $$$.

 

I think there would be a market if the system had a good amount good of software at the time of release, a low price, and good distribution.

[Goochman]

Nolan is prob the last person you would want running Atari - he has pretty much screwed the majority of investors in his past few endevors.

[otaku]

Not a chance I'm afraid. If sony can't make it (well they're sorta making it) then atari can't

[+Random Terrain]

Now somebody put this thread in your favorites in case it happens. Then you can remind me if I forget. If I would somehow win millions of dollars, I promise to at least have an Atari 2600 clone made that can use real cartridges and an SD card (or similar thing that is as easy to use as an SD card). I'd also see if the Atari 2600 clone can have 2 joysticks and 2 sets of paddles (4 paddles) plugged in at the same time so we can put in any game we want and start playing immediately without needing to unplug and plug joysticks or paddles.

 

I'd have enough made so that anyone who wants a brand-new Atari 2600 clone can buy one. Atari may not make a comeback, but an unofficial version of the Atari 2600 would.

[Corby]

You know it kinda sickining that retro games are in a underground state. Would be nice if it were back into the main stream, the media. Why come out with a new console? Just keep making atari games, and push them to what there respected machines can do.

 

Now days, if a game is said to be released, and it may take longer to make, people will wait, look at the new gta 4 there was a release date , but they said its not finshed!! then it finally came out! not like before when corprate big wigs rushed programers into making a strict deadline and come out with crap like the first pacman!

 

If Nolan Bushnell does buy back Atari and gets things rollin, set up and factory, hire programers from all over even the guys here. Make new pcb boards, sara chips, stuff made alvailable so there is no gutting others games to make new ones.

 

sure atari and others don't have a chance in hell of competing with the big 3. but why should it. look at the guys here, they do it because they love it. theres no competing here, hell we got opcode selling colecovision games on a atari site for petes sakes, and theres no fuss about.

 

support projects like the opgrade module! speaking of other machines I'm sure other retro games could benifit from this like coleco.

 

advertise them out to the public....Hey jack are you listening!!! Advertisment, or make some kind of campiagn, see if there are others out there who would be interested in the old games.

 

You know there is one guy/company who could make this happen . this Bill o'shea guy. He cries he has millions of atari games in thses so called caves. then he run over to Curt Vendel to make a new system for, so curt comes up with a newly designed 7800, but then he doesn't want to pay for the cost of producing it. Or something around those lines. too bad.

 

With this Atari movie coming out soon, would that generate or spark an interest in retro gaming?? I read the thread here about it, seems alot of people here panned it??? don't know why? for years there have been camoes of atari in movies, espeacially Wall-E.

 

Yeah i'm sure they'll tell of the short comings atari of past. but alot of people don't know what really happened.

 

This sounds pretty good, maybe on paper. More of pipe dream than anything. but never say NEVER!

Edited May 4, 2009 by corbysatarigame

[S1500]

The south will not be rising again.

[Retro Rogue]

Question is,would hasbro sell it back? I would love to have a new Atari system.

 

Hasbro hasn't owned the Atari brand (which is all it is now), since 2001 when they sold it to Infogrames.

 

 

I thought Infogrames officially became ATARI.

 

No, Infogrames is still Infogrames Entertainment. They renamed their subsidiaries to "Atari" names.

 

 

getting back to what you asked, Nolan Bushnell is cool and started Atari way back when, but he has had a ton of failures since that time.

 

Nolan co-founded Atari, and had it near bankruptcy the entire 5 years until he sold it to Warner.

 

 

The Check E Cheese franchise didn't do well until after he sold it,

 

Chuck E. Cheese, Catalyst Technologies and its subsidiary companies (Androbot, Etak, Cumma, and Axlon), Playnet, the original 2 uWink's, I believe there were 20 or so companies all together that he ran over the last 30 some years, all went bust. There's also always the same MO - take other people's ideas and work and invest money in it, take credit (even claim inventing said product) and use the publicity for himself, run it in to the ground and move on to the next one.

 

he worked on the Amiga CDTV at Commodore what is that?

 

No, he was brought in as a figurehead and spokesperson. According to one of the CDTV members, Guy Wright -

 

"For some unknown reason Nolan Bushnel was hired and was theoretically in charge of the project but we only met with him a few times and he didn't really have much to do with the day-to-day work."

 

well need I say more..., ummm this uWink thing he's doing now hasn't exactly set the world on fire either.

 

Its in its 3rd iteration. The other two failed and it looks like this one isn't doing well either with the recent closing of one of its 3 locations (after only being open for 7 months). Oh, and another example of the PR machine, Nolan was co-founder of uWink and the uWink idea. He managed to write Loni Reeder out of the picture and she even named the company.

Edited May 4, 2009 by wgungfu

[yllawwally]

I certainly believe a mini tv console machine could be popular. It couldn't compete with the big three. However there has been some people suggesting apple may try again for a console, so it may become a 4 way console war. My kids mostly play genesis and n64 games. The last 2 generations of games have been too difficult for them to play. The older consoles were easy to just plug a game in and start playing. The new systems are just too complicated, to just start the game. There is the V-Smile, which is certainly a success. The only complaint I have about the V-Smile, is the lack of games for kids over 8. If they made a version of their console that's a little more sleek, and expanded their software line up to include non learning games, it would be a great system.

[CV Gus]

Even if it was possible, from a business point of view, Nolan would have trouble.

 

First of all, who owns the rights to the arcade games now?

 

Secondly, the name Nolan Bushnell only matters to older gamers, for the most part. Younger gamers were raised in the era of Japanese systems. Atari has had such a bad reputation for so long, its name, except for nostalgia, is poison.

 

In order for "Atari 2010" to get anywhere, he'd have to get the rights to games from companies that aren't eager to sell, and offer something none of the current systems can offer- and what, barring ultra-expensive and exotic control schemes, would that be? It would make the effort Nintendo put into selling the NES here back in 1985 look like nothing by comparison.

 

I don't think it'll happen. It should be mentioned that Bushnell was actually not a very good businessman.

 

If he was a realist, he might try a third-party company, and try to release games for various systems- including older ones?- that are not as well known, but might catch on. Snap Jack. Drol. Astro Fighter. Pleiades. etc. Those games aren't making much money now, so whoever owns the rights might want to give it a shot. But a new system, in today's circumstances? Get out the shovels; a funeral's a`comin'.

 

Now, if Jeff Minter tried...

Edited May 19, 2009 by CV Gus

[classicgamingguy]

No, I personally don't think Atari or another incarnation of the 2600 could make it these days. They're better off making games for the big three than actually attempting to design a console from scratch, even using a marketing ploy off of "old school". That just wouldn't work except for a select few.

 

The economy sucks, and there's really no viable room for another console system to compete in next to Sega, Sony, and Nintendo. It would have to be a long shot at best, and who can afford to invest the level of money needed in hopes that their system could compete, or at the very least, carve out a piece of the video game/console pie? Eh, they are doing fine as a supplemental game provider.

 

Don't get me wrong, though. If Atari did design a "retro" console, I might consider it, but....then again, probably not. Good question!!!

[VectorGamer]

Don't get me wrong, though. If Atari did design a "retro" console, I might consider it, but....then again, probably not. Good question!!!

 

If Atari designed a retro console, hopefully it will not be recycling old 2600 games.

 

Personally, I would love to see a retro console that plays the actual arcade ROMs of the "Golden Era." You don't need Atari to do that as one could put this in a small form factor using open source software, licensed ROMs (that being the hairy part!) and custom USB controllers. It would be cool if the games were cartridge based about the size of the Lynx carts.

 

But, all this would have to be cost effective in order to sell.

[S1500]

Perhaps it's time to move past cartridges & removable media & just do a USB sync cable + flash storage or hard drive approach. Sure, there's downsides to it, but the upsides(jamming a bunch of games on one flash drive, etc) makes it worth it.