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New Atari Console that Ataribox?


Goochman

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I think pictures of the back side and the last paragraph about watching the progress move from prototype were probably in response to things detractors said.  From here, Reddit, YouTube, or wherever.  

 

2 hours ago, Flojomojo said:

Where do you think they are in the timeline? Did they move up one step, maybe two?

They said DVT is the next step, so no more than one step (AFAIK). 

 

1 hour ago, Flojomojo said:

Do you suppose they're deliberately rationing information, spreading it out so it looks like more and lasts longer? Like the way they queued up their Twitter "what's your favorite game from 1981?" updates? It does certainly seem like more of the same, with information they easily could have included before.

I'd say they are.  I don't think they initially went dead silent because of fan's demands.  At least, not directly.  I suspect people called them out on having so many substance-free Tweets/posts and few actually referring to the Ataribox.  That, or we were right and Uberstrategist needed a relationship break. ;)

 

1 hour ago, ColecoJoe said:

How is everyone holding up in their bunkers today? Got enough tacos???

 

I picked an awful day to go low carb again. ?                             

 

11 minutes ago, ColecoJoe said:

You don't think it has something to do with Intellivision releasing a video of a Atari game yesterday??? 

Ding ding ding!  We have a winner!

Or at least you're a winner in my mind, Joe. ?

 

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16 minutes ago, ColecoJoe said:

You don't think it has something to do with Intellivision releasing a video of a Atari game yesterday??? 

It could be...it just seems out of character for them that they could have pulled together the photos, cad screenshots, and text all in a day...given their typical statements about why updates take so long. It feels like it was in the works for a while (at least more than a day).

 

The update says a lot, but also says a lot of nothing...not the kind of thing I'd get excited for, but maybe the backers or potential buyers would eat it up?

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7 hours ago, OldSchoolRetroGamer said:

Just received more garbage in my inbox ??

https://mailchi.mp/atari/atari-vcs-here-come-the-games-36597?e=d39baf12da

94e79403-94e1-4dd5-8acd-e5493c09d2a5.thumb.jpg.a522d40a740e9cbdf70729adfd5fad62.jpg


Hello Backers, Fans, and Followers!

Throughout October and November, various Atari VCS team members spent extended time in China, working closely with our manufacturing partners to finalize preparations for full production of the system hardware. In addition, we have also spent time visiting with PowerA’s factory teams to finalize the Atari joysticks and controllers.

Lots of steady progress is being made and the team brought back tons of great photos and a mountain of updates. Head over to our newest Atari VCS Developer Blog on Medium to read our latest detailed update and take in some of the sights straight from the factory floors and hear more about the manufacturing and validation testing processes.

Read all the previous Atari VCS Developer Blog posts here.

Complete those Backerkit surveys: Mass production and shipping is coming!

Backers, if you don’t do the survey, you may encounter troubles receiving your Atari VCS. Why are you waiting to set up an account? Go to https://atari-vcs.backerkit.com and get it done!

Sincere thanks for your ongoing support! 

⁠— The Atari VCS Team

5 hours ago, frankodragon said:

Yeah, they updated their Medium page with more fluff.  And that logo light-up test appeared in their latest update.

 

1*fev3vfQsjGk1en7PQemcIw.gif

 

 

 

more_atari_fluff.thumb.jpg.46a4eb63ca9d6b0db2f98385913ce100.jpg

20 minutes ago, ColecoJoe said:

You don't think it has something to do with Intellivision releasing a video of a Atari game yesterday??? 

Someone give Joe a taco and a cigar! I was waiting for someone to point out the oddly convenient timing of @Tommy Tallarico's sudden announcement of his console having twelve exclusive remakes of Atari games on this thread, where the VCS has none at this time (both of the planned games have already released elsewhere), and the incredibly apparent rushjob today that is an underpaid Uberstrategist intern authoring an overnight Medium post. Considering it's a lot of words that say ultimately nothing we don't already know, and the fact that a good chunk of the pictures are of things we've already seen (taking new pictures of old stuff), it does seem to be a sign of life to try to keep the backers from getting antsy over the fact that another revived brand is actually doing something with the Atari name versus the actual company doing next to nothing with it.

 

6 minutes ago, aramis said:

It could be...it just seems out of character for them that they could have pulled together the photos, cad screenshots, and text all in a day...given their typical statements about why updates take so long. It feels like it was in the works for a while (at least more than a day).

 

The update says a lot, but also says a lot of nothing...not the kind of thing I'd get excited for, but maybe the backers or potential buyers would eat it up?

It's almost like they aren't being completely truthful over why they cannot make regular updates to the people they took several million dollars from, and wasn't planning on dumping more info than they needed to keep the well of media full for "sign of life" posts. Like I said, most of what the Medium article shown was stuff we've already seen; they just had new pictures taken of these things so they can say: "We didn't recycle pictures!" One of the few things the Chesnais faithful have left to hold over critics heads are the still-to-be-announced exclusive games made for the console (something Atari SA hasn't brought up in quite a while). All of a sudden, there's another new console on the horizon using a revived retro brand, that's actually showing gameplay of Atari's own games. Even some of the most faithful would probably start second guessing themselves seeing that these exclusive new versions of Atari's games aren't on Atari's own console. Freddie and Co probably saw that if they didn't do anything, questions would suddenly be raised as to why Atari is licensing these games out and still aren't able to show a working console playing games after $3 million in crowdfunding.

 

It's clear that between sales for Atari's recently published releases over the last 24 months (Atari Vault, Flashback Collections, Tempest 4000, etc), merchandise sales, and licensing deals for games or hardware (which I imagine the next time we see one of their fancy, slideshow financial reports, they'll proudly display their licensing deal with Intellivision Corp. as a major win), they are still generating some revenue. Even if they have to go beyond their funding, why can't they properly R&D a piece of hardware? While I'm questioning how successful the Amico is going to be, especially with its planned release date being within weeks of the next gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles, I can at least say I respect Mr. Tallarico's gumption and the fact that he's forged a path with the Intellivision brand with actual plans and proper R&D. All without requiring crowdfunding or asking for a cent in good faith, no less. So, again, if a man who has made a career off of composing video game music can buy a dead brand and both develop and manufacture hardware with it in less than five years, why can't a French businessman with decades of experience in the video game and consumer tech industries do it with a company he's owned for twice as long?

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I Think Atari really took advantage of the crowdfunding scene, I feel a reform coming where after you reach a certain goal in terms of funding, you are no longer crowdfunding but investing, meaning every one of your backers that pledge, are now shareholders of said invention, and as such, they are entitled to future returns, and as well they are allowed to see 24-7 all funds and how they are spent. Now if there are any delays, all backers are allowed to vote if they want to continue with the project, or cut it short and return leftover funds (liquidate all assets) less any wage and contractual feel owed.
Also any patents filed during the project remain under the ownership of all backers
Meaning NO MORE FREE MONEY!

As for Kickstarter that requires a prototype, if the prototype has been pantented and more or less already finished, then this will be treated as a crowdfunding project, as device more or less exists, unlike indiegogo, clowns show up with a dream and no clue.

Edited by OCAT
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21 minutes ago, keithbk said:

"Atari" implies a winning move.

"Frenchman" implies retreat.

 

Put the two together and you've got no movement one way or the other.

 

 

Before we start getting into offensive cultural stereotypes, as we actually have French and French-Canadian people actively following and commenting in this thread (I'm also descended from French immigrants on my mom's side), my point was that when it comes to running, or making major decisions for, a business like Atari SA or Intellivision Corporation, Fred Chesnais has decades more experience than Tommy. As much as I hate Mr. Chesnais's guts, as I've heard many horror stories of those who have done business with him in and out of this thread, the man had/has the ability to take a little and make a profit. I'd even go as far as to say that he could oversee a project like the Amico and probably make a decent profit, even if he cuts more corners than a bad driver in the wrong lane at an intersection. Thing is, he's whiffing it, and whiffing it hard. As others have pointed out some pages back on this very thread, @StopDrop&Retro has covered the various ways Stari SA in its current form cannot complete a project or even pay royalties to developers for games.

 

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Tallarico decided he wanted to buy the Intellivision name and do something with it, even though he doesn't have nearly the same experience leading a company or projects like this as the current CEO of Atari SA. Not to say the man doesn't have business sense, just that most of his experience in video games was from a very different part of the game development process. Yet, despite this, we actually have a solid release date, physical demonstrations and -gasp- GAMEPLAY of the console he wanted to make within a few years. The trail of broken promises, never-released products and multiple bouts of legal grabass Atari has made under Chesnais is insulting, even moreso that despite all of this, ALL OF THIS, there are still people like Stefan Werner who are willing to sing this campaign's praises and never even attempt to think more critically about this entire situation.

 

Ultimately I'm just saying that a man in Fred's position should know better by now, and should've had Atari where Tommy is now with Intellivision if he really wants the VCS to succeed. It's disgraceful.

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Maybe it's just an optical illusion, caused by the reflection off of the plastic ridges, but that curve in the front might not be creating the aesthetic intended, as it certainly looks like it is dipping on one of their models more than the other. It gives a rough appearance. They've at least texturized it in some way, though, so overall , I think that's a little nudge forward from where they were on the last update.

 

I'm not sure showing a line-worker hand-soldering SMD components to a board, either in the main or in trouble-shooting, is symbolic of great success or progress at this stage,when if in they were gearing up for mass-production, they might have an automated process. Anyways...

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5 hours ago, bmadgames said:

Spot on--time to move the goal posts again and act like the VCS had the potential to be mainstream to begin with

Whether it has wide mainstream potential or not is besides the point.  Let the market and individual contributor/backer and consumers decide what the value is to them.  This console should be allowed to succeed or fail on it's own merits.  The problem is many here in this thread are acting like children and essentially saying that they don't enjoy something and don't want anyone else to enjoy it either.

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Ah, another post blaming us instead of taking a hard look at Atari SA and the pointless futility of the VCS.

 

I don't have to worry if anyone is going to enjoy this thing because it will ship to a few thousand people at best and then promptly fade away. I hope those few thousand people get $300 dollars' worth of enjoyment out of it, but remain skeptical.

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Fred knows nothing about making a successful product. He only knows how to wring some loose change out of a license by exploiting it, ..... poorly. He's the poster boy for failing upwards. He can't get a desirable and original Atari retail product off the ground, but he can slap the brand on the ass and put it out on Hollywood Blvd to sell some tees and a stupid promotional hats while pimping it out to other people for their own successful products. This is more of the same, or less of the same considering it's a frickin Linux mini PC with an Atari logo on it. It ain't about enjoying what, if anything, they end up putting out. It's about the broken promises and wasted potential of a brand that has (had) a lot of genuine support and interest. Now it's pretty well limited to a bunch of narcissistic fanboys who will gush over catching a splash when Atari shits the bed. For all the cliche "Atari is Back" tripe, they're still no further along than where they've been for ages.....largely irrelevant.

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17 minutes ago, Tidus79001 said:

Whether it has wide mainstream potential or not is besides the point.  Let the market and individual contributor/backer and consumers decide what the value is to them.  This console should be allowed to succeed or fail on it's own merits.  The problem is many here in this thread are acting like children and essentially saying that they don't enjoy something and don't want anyone else to enjoy it either.

Atari's biggest enemy is itself.  We are mere observers.

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1 hour ago, ColecoJoe said:

It is now "bleeding edge technology" 

 

10024895_ScreenShot2019-12-10at8_14_45AM.png.00230c1e8f901145c491544f16883e39.png

Man, if only there was some medium that Stefan could use to look up the specs of the "bleeding edge" R1000 series APU?

 

Oh wait, there is. And it's in the same class as digital signage and digital casino gaming! Everyday desktop computing and core gaming are suspiciously missing from the suggested list of uses though...

 

https://www.amd.com/en/products/embedded-ryzen-r1000-series

 

Then there's this page that rates the R16066 with a multi-core score of 7234. That happens to be -209615 points below the current top range multi-core score for the AMD Epyc. If the R1606G is bleeding edge, then what does that make the Epyc? 

 

https://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/11110784

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28 minutes ago, DurradonXylles said:

Meanwhile, Mr. Tallarico decided he wanted to buy the Intellivision name and do something with it, even though he doesn't have nearly the same experience leading a company or projects like this as the current CEO of Atari SA. Not to say the man doesn't have business sense, just that most of his experience in video games was from a very different part of the game development process. Yet, despite this, we actually have a solid release date, physical demonstrations and -gasp- GAMEPLAY of the console he wanted to make within a few years. The trail of broken promises, never-released products and multiple bouts of legal grabass Atari has made under Chesnais is insulting, even moreso that despite all of this, ALL OF THIS, there are still people like Stefan Werner who are willing to sing this campaign's praises and never even attempt to think more critically about this entire situation.

 

Ultimately I'm just saying that a man in Fred's position should know better by now, and should've had Atari where Tommy is now with Intellivision if he really wants the VCS to succeed. It's disgraceful.

Experience is out the window on this one. It isn't even fair to use as a benchmark when comparing the two CEOs as it's an insult in itself (to Tommy) by doing so. Proof it's more about drive, motivation, enthusiasm, honest passion and a real desire to ship a unique gaming platform with exclusive games and not about selling out the business in hopes for a quick profit turn.

 

The Dude just gets it!

thedude.thumb.jpg.49a4198a0b15a2b58d17925326f73a17.jpg

 

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32 minutes ago, Tidus79001 said:

Whether it has wide mainstream potential or not is besides the point.  Let the market and individual contributor/backer and consumers decide what the value is to them.  This console should be allowed to succeed or fail on it's own merits.  The problem is many here in this thread are acting like children and essentially saying that they don't enjoy something and don't want anyone else to enjoy it either.

How do you figure any of those last two comments? Moreover, do you think we want to see Atari doing this? Everyone on this forum grew up with Atari in some capacity and/or once respected what they were. The snark and jokes are littered throughout this thread because of how laughable people like Fred Chesnais and Michael Arzt have been handling every business venture attempting to revive and/or expand the Atari brand beyond retro gaming licenses or publishing. Because as we all know...

14 minutes ago, Agillig said:

Atari's biggest enemy is itself.  We are mere observers.

Honestly, if Atari could finish this project with most of what they initially promised, even if it's just a Linux mini PC with their logo slapped on it with proprietary software installed, I'd be over the moon. No joke. As I said, the fact that a much less experienced businessman is actually doing what Atari has been promising for over three years now with another dead video game brand, without needing to raise funds from speculative consumers, only shows how insulting this entire farce of a campaign and the willful ignorance defending it are. We aren't letting the VCS "...succeed or fail on it's own merits," because there still is no console, and there's a good chance despite those pictures of the manufacturing process that there may never be a console. We haven't been shown any actual demonstrations of it working or that one of the two planned games for it is even capable of running on Linux, nevermind seeing them or the streaming service Atari SA has partnered with can even run on the proposed hardware. Atari hasn't had any owed goodwill in ages, and no one with disposable income is going to even think of putting the VCS's MSRP toward Atari over other hardware that can do more right now, and that's without the knowledge of the BS Atari SA and Atari Gamebox LLC has been trying to feed the general public.

 

15 minutes ago, JBerel said:

Fred knows nothing about making a successful product. He only knows how to wring some loose change out of a license by exploiting it, ..... poorly. He's the poster boy for failing upwards. He can't get a desirable and original Atari retail product off the ground, but he can slap the brand on the ass and put it out on Hollywood Blvd to sell some tees and a stupid promotional hats while pimping it out to other people for their own successful products. This is more of the same, or less of the same considering it's a frickin Linux mini PC with an Atari logo on it. It ain't about enjoying what, if anything, they end up putting out. It's about the broken promises and wasted potential of a brand that has (had) a lot of genuine support and interest. Now it's pretty well limited to a bunch of narcissistic fanboys who will gush over catching a splash when Atari shits the bed. For all the cliche "Atari is Back" tripe, they're still no further along than where they've been for ages.....largely irrelevant.

Sadly, I agree with all of it. Again, no one here on AtariAge wants to see Atari do this, but most of us have given up that the company can do anything worthwhile with its current management. We grew up during eras of Atari where they gave a shit, but that clearly isn't the case now.

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25 minutes ago, Tidus79001 said:

Whether it has wide mainstream potential or not is besides the point.  Let the market and individual contributor/backer and consumers decide what the value is to them.  This console should be allowed to succeed or fail on it's own merits.  The problem is many here in this thread are acting like children and essentially saying that they don't enjoy something and don't want anyone else to enjoy it either.

 

I hope you get yours, and that you enjoy it immensely. I certainly have no impact on the market, or whether the unconsole fails or succeeds. At this point, it seems to me that a physical release is all the most vocal backers are looking for...a shiny collectible shelf warmer. Any functionality of the unit looks to be of secondary importance.

 

My enjoyment from this ridiculous incarnation of the company, though, comes from its endless bumbling missteps with not only the VCS project, but also its recent history of half-baked abandonware releases.

 

I've certainly never ruled out its release, but from its very inception I've questioned its relevance and Atari's ability to properly support a hardware release. I've seen nothing over the past 30 months to change that view.

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18 minutes ago, Tidus79001 said:

Whether it has wide mainstream potential or not is besides the point.  Let the market and individual contributor/backer and consumers decide what the value is to them.  This console should be allowed to succeed or fail on it's own merits.  The problem is many here in this thread are acting like children and essentially saying that they don't enjoy something and don't want anyone else to enjoy it either.

Oh relax. 

 

I think everyone here wanted to see Atari succeed. It's their own incompetence and ineptitude that brought them to this point. 

 

What's there to enjoy about the VCS? If it exists, it should be easy for you to point it out.

 

Do you think that Atari acted like a child when they would go around deleting non-trolling questions on Facebook and Reddit, just because they didn't have or want to answer?

 

Did Atari act childish when they accused a journalist of lying about an interview where the COO of Atari looked like a total ignoramus about his own product?

 

Wasn't it childish of Atari to setup a developer portal that never responded to inquiries, then just ignored requests until people stopped asking what the deal was?

 

Is it a merit that the console was supposed to ship this month to backers (it won't), still has no unique content announced for it? Even the NUON, which ended up only having six releases had more game announcements for it prior to release.

 

Is it a merit that the streaming service they've announced for it has a lot of problems and is poorly rated? Last I checked, a console lives and dies by it's content. If you're hyped to play Atari Vault on a low-end PC, that's fine. I just think you're wasting your money since you can already do so on an existing device you likely have at home. 

 

I guess that's all not a problem, as they're Atari, and thus should be completely free of any criticism. We should just buy the product like good mindless consumers with a hankering for Fuji logos. 

 

 

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1 hour ago, Clint Thompson said:

Experience is out the window on this one. It isn't even fair to use as a benchmark when comparing the two CEOs as it's an insult in itself (to Tommy) by doing so. Proof it's more about drive, motivation, enthusiasm, honest passion and a real desire to ship a unique gaming platform with exclusive games and not about selling out the business in hopes for a quick profit turn.

 

The Dude just gets it!

thedude.thumb.jpg.49a4198a0b15a2b58d17925326f73a17.jpg

 

The Dude definitely abides. That much is for sure.

 

Evenwhen he's getting a swirly, fishing for money he owes at the bottom of a toilet, he still has far more dignity than every last member of Atari Gamebox LLC.

 

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12 hours ago, JaqenHghar said:

 

I would just like to point out that you can't spell Tallarico without "taco".

 

Or "Tommy Tallarico" without "Amico" for that matter. Coincidence? ...or perks of being the CEO?

 

In fact, FYI, Tommy Tallarico is an anagram of Totally Mr. Amico. So I think that settles it.

Immortally Taco...

image.png.e817d6ca2a711ace2cd621ad719c1e1f.png

 

Anyway, I realize I'm a relative noob to this board, but have been following it since...well, since the shiny shell was still called the "ataribox."  I've also been a fan / supporter of 'real' Atari (from way back in the day through the Bushnell and Tramiel iterations) and I actually plunked money down on this 'thing' until I saw the photshopped controllers, faked Tempest 4k footage, etc. and luckily bailed within the 30 day window and got a refund from IGG.  

 

Sure seems to me that franken-brand Atari could quell alot of skepticism by people like myself and others this simply by:

 

1.) Plugging shiny box into electrical outlet

 

2.) Connecting HDMI cable to monitor

 

3.) Pressing Power.

 

If they made 100 of them, they surely do...something?  They wouldnt manufacture 100 non-functioning units...would they?  

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9 minutes ago, bonehead said:

Immortally Taco...

image.png.e817d6ca2a711ace2cd621ad719c1e1f.png

 

Anyway, I realize I'm a relative noob to this board, but have been following it since...well, since the shiny shell was still called the "ataribox."  I've also been a fan / supporter of 'real' Atari (from way back in the day through the Bushnell and Tramiel iterations) and I actually plunked money down on this 'thing' until I saw the photshopped controllers, faked Tempest 4k footage, etc. and luckily bailed within the 30 day window and got a refund from IGG.  

 

Sure seems to me that franken-brand Atari could quell alot of skepticism by people like myself and others this simply by:

 

1.) Plugging shiny box into electrical outlet

 

2.) Connecting HDMI cable to monitor

 

3.) Pressing Power.

 

If they made 100 of them, they surely do...something?  They wouldnt manufacture 100 non-functioning units...would they?  

 

Your last question there reminds me of when I was avidly supporting the VCS. Logically speaking, you're 100% correct-- they should just be building hundreds of these units if they actually function. However, this iteration of Atari doesn't exactly live in the real world. I made logical assumptions that the people behind this project would be treading their steps very cautiously because of the fact that they're trying to revive an essentially dead video game brand. Those assumptions were wrong.

 

Never assume an entire company is using logic behind its approach, even though you were able to figure things out yourself. Their #1 priority is strictly "What can we do to ensure revenue increases?" That's the mindset this Atari has... They're doing it so blindly that they're pretty much unaware that they're hurting their chances of having a profitable platform with the VCS in the long run. 

 

It's kinda sad, really... because the hardware DOES in fact intrigue me a bit. I'm interested in those controllers too, and the joystick looks nice. I hope for the sake of everyone that backed this project (including myself) that Atari delivers a product to us successfully. Regardless of how terrible the VCS is or how atrociously Atari is handling the communication, etc... I still have clear plans on what I'll use my unit for, and where it will go in the house. And that's really all that matters to me-- is that I find a good use for it.

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