26 replies to this topic

[JoeyCipriani]

What would it take to have a new console from Atari? I know it has been some significant time since a new original system, but if the demand is there, what is stopping them? I mean as long as they had a system that was backwards compatible with the 2600 you know it would sell (perhaps with an add on), and if it was backwards compatible with the jaguar than what would stop them?

[remowilliams]

The demand wasn't there when the Jag was new. It hasn't increased in the 18 years since then...

You seem rather new here, you can do a search for 'what if type' wishful topics about new Atari consoles, there's been plenty of threads on that subject over the years.

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

This idea has been touched on many times. It would take a time machine or entering an alternate dimension at the very least. ATARI is not the "ATARI" you knew and loved, it is more just the name, trademark and some patents and licenses owned by another company, while they may be able to throw together a retro or FLASHBACK console I doubt they are in any good position to come up with a new modern console let alone anything to compete with the big 3 currently dominating the market. Hell I would guess they are in less a position to do this then even SEGA.

[Austin]

[svenski]

I agree with Remo, this has been touched on soooo many times and Atari just don't have the cash or the will.

[save2600]

remowilliams, on Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:13 PM, said:

The demand wasn't there when the Jag was new. It hasn't increased in the 18 years since then...

Seems to me there's more demand today than ever for the Jag. Especially since its release

Just ask all the people that didn't buy the system new from Kay*Bee for $25, but are buying them now at $100+. Instead of $80 for the JagCD at Wal-Mart, upwards of $200 now. $40 for S-video cables that used to cost $10 and Pro Controllers for $40+ Wal-Mart could barely sell for $15.

Bought my mint CIB Atari Karts for $10 from Software Etc. in the late 90's, now they're worth $60+?
Battlesphere back in the day for $80 and now they're worth several times that? And Carl's stuff still ain't down in price.

Oh... and Club Drives for $37?!?! When is the madness gonna stop?

[GKC]

The Jaguar was a good swan song for Atari. It just took over a decade to realize it.

Edited by GKC, Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:39 PM.

[pboland]

Admittedly, there are plenty of these type of topics, but I don't mind a new one popping up from time to time.

As to the question at hand:
Atari first needs to have the desire to make a new console. Which they don't. Secondly, I don't think they have to compete with the big three. I don't understand this idea that if you don't do it the way the big three do you can't make it. That's just silly. The Big "N" showed you didn't have to have the most powerful hardware on the planet to make it. You just need to be unique. I think something on the level of the never completed Jag 2 but in 3D. And yes a 3D console can be done. Sega did it back in 1986. If it can be done then it can be done even better today. Just a thought.

[JoeyCipriani]

OldSchoolRetroGamer, on Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:35 PM, said:

This idea has been touched on many times. It would take a time machine or entering an alternate dimension at the very least. ATARI is not the "ATARI" you knew and loved, it is more just the name, trademark and some patents and licenses owned by another company, while they may be able to throw together a retro or FLASHBACK console I doubt they are in any good position to come up with a new modern console let alone anything to compete with the big 3 currently dominating the market. Hell I would guess they are in less a position to do this then even SEGA.

SEGA unfortunatly have their heads up everyones butts. I love SEGA, and also would love them to reclaim their top 3 position (just like Atari has the right to be in the top 3 as well just for the history of them alone). I was on the OFFICIAL SEGA forum a couple days ago, and noticed a post by someone asking about a new system, it got flooded by tons of positive responces by people within' minutes, and than all of a sudden, a staff member from SEGA locked the crap out of it, and trash talked about how it will never happen yadda yadda... sad really... really sad... they have a longer legacy than Atari does... and they suck up big time.

[The_Laird]

JoeyCipriani, on Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:19 PM, said:

they have a longer legacy than Atari does...

I wouldn't say that is true at all.

[JoeyCipriani]

Well considering they were making old school table tops in the 40s... I do not speak of home consoles.

[Atari_Falcon]

A VR console with social networking and whole body control would be a seller! I really wonder why all this VR stuff was abandoned...

[JoeyCipriani]

oh never mind on the SEGA bit... didn't know they just came out with the Toylet!!!

[Sauron]

Atari_Falcon, on Tue Mar 15, 2011 1:17 AM, said:

A VR console with social networking and whole body control would be a seller! I really wonder why all this VR stuff was abandoned...

VR always had enough of a problem with giving people motion sickness. Add social networking into the mix, and the results would be less than pretty.

[JoeyCipriani]

Sauron, on Tue Mar 15, 2011 10:39 PM, said:

Atari_Falcon, on Tue Mar 15, 2011 1:17 AM, said:

A VR console with social networking and whole body control would be a seller! I really wonder why all this VR stuff was abandoned...

VR always had enough of a problem with giving people motion sickness. Add social networking into the mix, and the results would be less than pretty.

oh god... it would be like the movie Wall-E, people just sitting on a chair talking to friends who are right next to them!

[Sauron]

JoeyCipriani, on Tue Mar 15, 2011 10:41 PM, said:

oh god... it would be like the movie Wall-E, people just sitting on a chair talking to friends who are right next to them!

For 5 minutes, maybe, then all of a sudden, out come the barf bags.

[Tyrant]

Atari_Falcon, on Tue Mar 15, 2011 1:17 AM, said:

A VR console with social networking and whole body control would be a seller! I really wonder why all this VR stuff was abandoned...

So... you mean xbox kinect with xbox live on a 3DTV?

Or how about the 3DS with street-pass?

All things come to those who wait (and buy the latest stuff).

[carmel_andrews]

Atari died in 1996, sega died when sammy bought them out...Commodore is doing with commodore what infowhatsitsname is doing with atari...the world has moved on, there are less players in the games hardware field then previous years and the same applies to computer hardware companies as well

I wonder if warners/midway will do something with atari coin op rights (since i recall that atari coin op merged with midway after wms got sick of running it as a seperate entity)

[wood_jl]

We really need a pinned, permanent "New Atari Console?" thread to quell the constant stream of new duplicate such threads.

[svenski]

wood_jl, on Wed Mar 23, 2011 12:56 PM, said:

We really need a pinned, permanent "New Atari Console?" thread to quell the constant stream of new duplicate such threads.

We do. If Carlsberg did AA threads then they'd probably do this one.

[toptenmaterial]

There is always a market for a dedicated machine (FB3)

[EmOneGarand]

toptenmaterial, on Sat May 28, 2011 7:11 PM, said:

There is always a market for a dedicated machine (FB3)

Yeah, I wish Curt could of gotten that out also the Flashback portable.

[toptenmaterial]

EmOneGarand, on Sat May 28, 2011 7:12 PM, said:

toptenmaterial, on Sat May 28, 2011 7:11 PM, said:

There is always a market for a dedicated machine (FB3)

Yeah, I wish Curt could of gotten that out also the Flashback portable.

I know very little about the attempted FS3 project, but I know that the FB2 hit the nail right on the head. I wonder how it faired commercially? That might be a good indicator of how a future dedicated console would perform in the marketplace with the right support. And if the FB2 was the "real thing" in terms of 2600, then why not a cartridge port on that or a future dedicated console?

[EmOneGarand]

toptenmaterial, on Sat May 28, 2011 7:29 PM, said:

EmOneGarand, on Sat May 28, 2011 7:12 PM, said:

toptenmaterial, on Sat May 28, 2011 7:11 PM, said:

There is always a market for a dedicated machine (FB3)

Yeah, I wish Curt could of gotten that out also the Flashback portable.

I know very little about the attempted FS3 project, but I know that the FB2 hit the nail right on the head. I wonder how it faired commercially? That might be a good indicator of how a future dedicated console would perform in the marketplace with the right support. And if the FB2 was the "real thing" in terms of 2600, then why not a cartridge port on that or a future dedicated console?

Well seeing as Atari had Curt's company produce a limited run of Flashback 2+'s there is some demand.. so much so that the original Flashback 2 was actually counterfeited. I really think at least the Flashback Portable would have been just as successful.

[avanteproject]

YES!!! Even if's not financially possible for Atari to do so and they have to use government money!