Jaguar collecting

[Atari2008]

I've been following the Jaguar forum lately and I find it pretty cool that it's having such an after-life. I'm thinking of getting into Jaguar collecting and I had a few questions.

 

How much does a loose Jaguar console with 2 controllers go for these days? Also, the hoembrews seem super cool, it looks like many are released on CD...so I'm assuming a Jaguar CD will be necessary if I want to play homebrews? Likewise a skunkboard?

[twoquickcapri]

You should be able to get a loose Jaguar for around $50-60 and an extra controller are around $10-15. Both CD and skunkboard work fine for homebrews. But if the goat store is still saleing skunkboard I would get one now while you still can.

[sh3-rg]

so I'm assuming a Jaguar CD will be necessary if I want to play homebrews? Likewise a skunkboard?

 

Either/or for the most part but if you're doing it form a collecting point of view, a flash cart isn't much use obviously, but it's not like there's loads of homebrew CDs to buy either right now. Lots of future homebrews will be on cartridge.

[Atari2008]

I'm glad to hear that future homebrews will be released on cartridge, since Jaguar CD's seem pretty expensive. I've seen them around $200 at least at the Atari online stores. What is the benefit of the skunkboard? My understanding is that I can download ROMs from my PC and play them on the Jag? I'm a newbie. skunkboard runs around a hundred bucks?

 

Not a bad price for a loose Jag, I'll keep that in mind...

[sh3-rg]

I'm glad to hear that future homebrews will be released on cartridge

 

There have already been plenty of homebrews/protos/betas/whatever put out on cart as well, I was mostly speaking from a Jagware perspective, it's likely the majority of our output will be cartridge format in future.

 

What is the benefit of the skunkboard?

 

Homebrews that you can obtain as free downloads are often also in CD form or easy to put on CD with JiFFI/ULS. For a collector, there's no benefit to a skunkboard other than 1 more box on the shelf. To a frugal gamer, it's the ease of running those free homebrews via USB or flashing. For the ROM kiddie, there's not much point. Yeah, you can run most games. Some will glitch, some won't run at all and none will let you save progress as a regular cart would. They're supposed to be for people who want to make stuff but there are so few jaguar devs it's likely only 1 in 20 is put to that kind of use, maybe half that if you consider testers and the like... some are in the hands of collectors (people often fess up to never even trying their skunks!).

 

If I was a collector and a gamer and wanted to get into Jaguar, the CD would be higher up my shopping list than the skunkboard. You have the official releases to collect, the CD homebrews and you can burn CD-Rs of demos and other things - look at Felyx's collection of home-made boxed games, it's epic! (but beware, you might have to research what media works for you and maybe you'll just be stuck with a JagCD that refuses CD-R media full stop). As someone who works on making games for the Jaguar, the skunkboard is more important that the Jaguar itself - indispensable

[+CyranoJ]

The other advantages of the JagCD for homebrew are that you won't need your Jaguar to be tied to a PC via USB to run the software - and that you can use a MemoryTrack to save progress (Which you can't do with a skunkboard, as it is using the cart slot)

[Atari2008]

You have the official releases to collect, the CD homebrews and you can burn CD-Rs of demos and other things - look at Felyx's collection of home-made boxed games, it's epic! (but beware, you might have to research what media works for you and maybe you'll just be stuck with a JagCD that refuses CD-R media full stop). As someone who works on making games for the Jaguar, the skunkboard is more important that the Jaguar itself - indispensable

 

Okay I'm sold on the Jaguar CD! If I do get a Jag, I'd hunt out a Jag CD next. I'm glad that both aren't necessary for a Jag gamer, as it would be pretty pricey to get a Jag CD and a skunkboard. What is Felyx's collection? I'd love to look into it.

 

And I'm glad that programmers like you are still making games for it! Look forward to seeing your work.

 

Okay so some Jag CD's are picky as to what type of recordable CD they prefer (if any)? I also understand that it's hard to find a working Jag CD.

 

Also nice to know that with the JagCD I don't have to have it tethered to the comp, I like to keep my comp and my gaming separate, helps me get in the game zone. :-)

[racerx]

I also understand that it's hard to find a working Jag CD.

 

They get a bad rap.

 

These are mine, and I've never once had any problems with them.

 

 

This was at MGC, also no problems.

 

[Atari2008]

They get a bad rap.

 

These are mine, and I've never once had any problems with them.

 

 

This was at MGC, also no problems.

 

 

WOW!!! Nice Jag set up!! I see that you're a huge fan. If I do get a Jag, I'll keep the CD in mind, especially since I never owned one when it was originally released. It'll be like the thrill of owning a Jaguar again plus a special treat.

[Felyx]

Hi there,

 

I confirm what has been said about the not so bad bargain of the Jag CD.

In my opinion it offers so far and still the best solution to play a lot of homebrews.

 

The link to my topic is here : http://www.yaronet.c...l=&s=146080&p=1

Although it is french, you should easily find your way between the games covers for homebrews boxes and CD's

 

Those homebrews are the most interessant thing nowaday for that good old Atari black kitty: most of them are playable via CD-R and Skunk/BJL but they are fews which just work on CD or just on Skunk/BJL.

The CD format is for me the most accurate for several reasons:

- it is plug and play compared to Skunk/BJL which need to link to a PC

- having games on physical medium means need for a box and this is why I am doing covers for DVD boxes so we can add the homebrews to our "Jagotheque"

 

Last point: the Jag CD is suffering a very bad reputation of bing very unreliable. It is true that the Philips CD transport is not the best one ever in term of reliability but there is no fatality: it doesn't happen to every Jag CD and most important thing, if it happens you can fix it by yourself and for a ridiculously lo cost (about 15€ and that's it) as the part is easy to find and very cheap. I know that because I fixed mine (sorry I don't owe 5 )

Edited November 8, 2012 by Felyx

[Felyx]

I forgot to mention the Jag got about 20 commercial games on CD with amongst them some good games like Myst, World Tour Racing, Primal Rage, Vid Grid, Highlander, Space Ace, Robinson requiem...

Some titles are enhanced sequels of cartridges games like Battlemorph, Iron Solider 2 or Hover Strike Unconquered lands.

 

+ some eye candy like Soulstar proto or Natives demo