Atari is working on its first console in more than 20 years

[Recon-UK]

I am rather excited at this news wow.

 

[AsRock]

i bet they are not built as robust as they were then.

 

[las]

It's confirmed to be as weak if not weaker than Switch aka pretty much useless without exclusives.

 

[lexluthermiester]

It's confirmed to be as weak if not weaker than Switch aka pretty much useless without exclusives.

Citation please.

Oh and for the record, the Switch is not "weak".

 

[Recon-UK]

It's confirmed to be as weak if not weaker than Switch aka pretty much useless without exclusives.

Do you consider hardware weak? or bad games weak?

Playstation 2 was weakest of the bunch in it's generation of consoles yet sold the most and has a vast library of excellent titles people still play to this day.

Don't judge a machine like this on hardware alone.

 

[silentbogo]

Citation please.

Oh and for the record, the Switch is not "weak".

Quote from IGN:

“It might play the original Call of Duty but it might not play the latest Call of Duty, we’re just not sure yet,” says Michael Arzt, COO of Atari. “I can’t give you what percentage we are to completion … that’s something that’s very subjective and we’d rather underpromise and overdeliver.”

“It will be somewhere in between an Nvidia Shield and the Nintendo Switch,” Frederic Chesnai, Atari’s CEO, assures us. “In terms of specs, obviously, not in functionality.”

And there is a big gap between Shield and Switch (e.g. Tegra K1 and Tegra X1). E.g. nearly 50% more SoC performance and double the graphics horsepower.
So, it's like saying that the new iPhone XXX will be somewhere between Lenovo S60 and Xiaomi Mi6 in terms of performance.
Total nonsense.

Shield TV is down to $199 in its base configuration (which is faster than Switch due to lax thermals on X1), so I have no idea whattaf#$%k Atari is thinking.

 

[lexluthermiester]

And there is a big gap between Shield and Switch (e.g. Tegra K1 and Tegra X1). E.g. nearly 50% more SoC performance and double the graphics horsepower.

As I possess devices with both chipsets, 50% performance difference is crazy inaccurate. And it doesn't take a genius to figure out how wrong that is. The K1 has 4(+1) cores running at 2.3ghz with the GPU at 192 cores running at 950mhz(in my device). The X1 has the 4+4 core CPU config but only running at 1.9ghz+1.3ghz with the GPU having 256 cores running at 1000mhz. While there is improvement, it is not 50%. And the benchmarks bare that out. Generally there is between 25% and 30% improvement depending on the task. Both of my devices are Android based and both are connected to UHD displays. While the K1 based system doesn't keep up with it's big brother, it has no problems running anything I throw at it, from tough to run games and emu to UHD video.

So, it's like saying that the new iPhone XXX will be somewhere between Lenovo S60 and Xiaomi Mi6 in terms of performance. Total nonsense.

No, that statement was total nonsense.

Shield TV is down to $199 in its base configuration (which is faster than Switch due to lax thermals on X1),

And? The Shield doesn't come with any software/games. Atari will be including a bunch of games from past system libraries. That's were the value comes in.

I have no idea whattaf#$%k Atari is thinking.

If the new Atari RetroVCS(or whatever they end up calling it) is based on K1, it will run anything Atari has ever made with flawless effort and will be more that capable of running anything new Atari is working on, which if rumors are even halfway true, will include a remake/sequel to Primal Rage and/or the Iron Soldier series, either of which will draw attention.

 

[silentbogo]

And it doesn't take a genius to figure out how wrong that is. The K1 has 4(+1) cores running at 2.3ghz with the GPU at 192 cores running at 950mhz(in my device). The X1 has the 4+4 core CPU config but only running at 1.9ghz+1.3ghz with the GPU having 256 cores running at 1000mhz.

Also don't forget that K1 is kepler-based, while X1 is maxwell-based, which contributes immensely to this difference. I'm not taking my numbers out of thin air. Benchmarks for both chipsets have been out for awhile now (geekbench, antutu, 3DMark, various synthetics etc.) Just google it.

No, that statement was total nonsense.

Why? Cause I'm comparing a fictional device with two randomly taken devices and a performance gap as wide as Proxy Paige's butthole a barn door? Well, that's exactly what Atari did, and made it even more confusing by adding things, like "it's not going to be a console per-se", and "it’s a much more casual device ".

And? The Shield doesn't come with any software/games.

Wut? Having a library of Android games and GeForce Now service is not enough? You get nearly 60 free PC games on GFN, which is more than XBL and PSN offers for their premium services.

Atari will be including a bunch of games for past system libraries. That's were the value come in.

Which ones? Pong and Asteroids? Alone in The Dark?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Just google it.

Like this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tegra I've run the benchmarks myself. That is where my numbers come from.

performance gap as wide as Proxy Paige's butthole a barn door

You're trying to make mountains out of mole-hills. The difference is significant, but not huge. You missed the point about the K1 being a capable SOC. So what if it isn't the "latest and greatest", if it's damn good and well supported, who cares. The world isn't the same as it was even 10 years ago. You don't need cutting edge anymore to make something fun, engaging and beautiful. Look at the PS1, PS2, Wii and the Switch. All of those systems were the slowest of their respective generation of hardware and yet each has an amazing library of software.

Wut? Having a library of Android games and GeForce Now service is not enough?

I have three Shield devices and no. The quality titles are ones you have to pay for generally. The free stuff is fluff for the most part. And Google Play is the same, the quality stuff you pay for.

Which ones? Pong and Asteroids? Alone in The Dark?

Really? That's the best response you can muster? Try looking up the game title lists for the 2600, 5200, 7800, Lynx, Jaguar, Arcade titles not to mention the Atari PC series. If none of those games appeal to you, then you wouldn't be impressed with this system no matter what the specs and you're wasting your time & effort berating a system the specs of which aren't even known.

It would be easier for you to say; "Hi, I'm LoudBongo, I hate Atari and this system is crap because I don't like them. Everyone else should hate them with me."

 

[silentbogo]

It would be easier for you to say; "Hi, I'm LoudBongo, I hate Atari and this system is crap because I don't like them. Everyone else should hate them with me."

Apparently you have more faith in Ataribox than Atari themselves. I hope this blind fanboyism does not make you short of $300 sometime in the near future.
I'm gonna end this pointless argument before it gets out of hand and I start calling names and punching monitors. "Loudbongo" signing off.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Apparently you have more faith in Ataribox than Atari themselves.

No, it's called optimism and objectivity. I'm not going to call something garbage until it's actually seen the light of day. Atari has had it's share of successes and has done things right in the past, some of it recent. If they do this right, it'll be a cool little system. Thus my optimism.

I hope this blind fanboyism does not make you short of $300 sometime in the near future.

Yet another brilliant expression. That's it? That's all you got? Calling me a fanboy.

I'm gonna end this pointless argument before it gets out of hand and I start calling names and punching monitors.

Really says more about you than anything else. You're the one being a jerk.

"Loudbongo" signing off.

That's probably best..

 

[sepheronx]

If it could sport the Tegra X1, that would be great. Would be a cool device and lots of potential. But, as usual, wait and see.

 

[r9]

Microsoft and Sony have so much resources it's hard for any company to match them.
Nintendo are doing a good job but Atari is no Nintendo.

 

[silentbogo]

I guess I'll come back one more time for some more info: according to some reports from GDC conference Atari stated that it will be AMD Bristol Ridge APU. Though, no word on whether it's a mobile APU, or a low-power desktop APU. With current size and venting of the proto-box I suspect it can be an infamous FX-9800p capped at 15W (which is still not too bad for a 4K entertainment system, but not enough for FHD gaming).

 

[lexluthermiester]

which is still not too bad for a 4K entertainment system, but not enough for FHD gaming

There seems to be a difference of information floating around. There's been a ton of talk about them going with the ARM platform, thus the talk of K1. Rumors are rumors, we all know how that goes. Still, if they're going to go with an AMD SOC, they'll likely go with something a bit newer, but that's just speculation.

 

[silentbogo]

There seems to be a difference of information floating around. There's been a ton of talk about them going with the ARM platform, thus the talk of K1.

Well, at least we have some progress - AMD A10 Bristol ridge is more or less confirmed. Though, still no word on other specs.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Microsoft and Sony have so much resources it's hard for any company to match them.
Nintendo are doing a good job but Atari is no Nintendo.

Well, at least we have some progress - AMD A10 Bristol ridge is more or less confirmed. Though, still no word on other specs.

Cool! Hadn't seen that. IMO, A10+Linux based OS=Decent little system. Still leaning on the optimistic side.

 

[dj-electric]

*raises hand*

Am i the only one completely unimpressed with this device?
I mean, i see almost no redeeming features in this. Its too weak for modern games (not inc indie), and too strong for retro gaming.

I really really don't get it. This seems like a potentially huge flop.

 

[WhiteNoise]

*raises hand*

Am i the only one completely unimpressed with this device?
I mean, i see almost no redeeming features in this. Its too weak for modern games (not inc indie), and too strong for retro gaming.

I really really don't get it. This seems like a potentially huge flop.

As long as it flops onto my media stand I'm good.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Am i the only one completely unimpressed with this device?

No, but as stated above if you're not impressed, this isn't for you. Don't take me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of Atari. They've done some good things. However, I know quite a few people who are big fans of them and I see this as something they would greatly enjoy. So my optimism isn't personal as mush as it is excitement I feel for them, and they are excited. Having said that, if they get it right and offer good value for the platform, this will a fun system and I might just get one for myself.

 

[WhiteNoise]

For me the Atari was my first game console. I had the 2600 at release. It was the most amazing thing to me back then. I have logged countless hours on that console during rainy days and whenever my parents let me. Just having a new Atari in my future makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Being able to share it with my kids...especially my 3 year old son is going to be a lot of fun.

 

[lexluthermiester]

For me the Atari was my first game console. I had the 2600 at release. It was the most amazing thing to me back then. I have logged countless hours on that console during rainy days and whenever my parents let me. Just having a new Atari in my future makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Being able to share it with my kids...especially my 3 year old son is going to be a lot of fun.

Exactly. For those who love the old systems, this is something to be excited about. Not everyone will get it.

 

[Vayra86]

*raises hand*

Am i the only one completely unimpressed with this device?
I mean, i see almost no redeeming features in this. Its too weak for modern games (not inc indie), and too strong for retro gaming.

I really really don't get it. This seems like a potentially huge flop.

It probably will flop, or just serve a very specific niche. Either way, this isn't going to make any sort of dent in the gaming market as it is now.

In reality its nothing special, just an emulator and retro looks, a plastic box with new hardware in it running old stuff. Any PC can do this.

 

[lexluthermiester]

It probably will flop, or just serve a very specific niche. Either way, this isn't going to make any sort of dent in the gaming market as it is now.

Atari isn't tending to take the gaming scene by storm. And it seems clear you are not the audience for this product. This sentiment is, like the others who have expressed similar, pure pessimism. Until the specs and package details are released it is negative and pointless to render any judgment.

In reality its nothing special, just an emulator and retro looks, a plastic box with new hardware in it running old stuff. Any PC can do this.

The same was said about the NES-Mini and SNES-Mini and look how that turned out. I have each and really like them. And in respect to the PC point, this little system is going to be an authentic Atari brand product, which is important to some people.

 

[Vayra86]

Atari isn't tending to take the gaming scene by storm. And it seems clear you are not the audience for this product. This sentiment is, like the others who have expressed similar, pure pessimism. Until the specs and package details are released it is negative and pointless to render any judgment.

The same was said about the NES-Mini and SNES-Mini and look how that turned out. I have each and really like them. And in respect to the PC point, this little system is going to be an authentic Atari brand product, which is important to some people.

The NES and SNES mini turned out exactly like what I'm saying, they suffer from latency and horrible ergonomics, because it really just is an el cheapo plastic box with a bit of branding and super weak hardware. Of course there is a horde of fans buying them, but that doesn't represent any type of quality except nostalgia. That's also clearly what Atari is betting on here.