Atari Team Teases Us with Photos of Upcoming Ataribox Controller

[Chino]

Initially the Ataribox team wanted to wait until the console's launch to officially reveal the controller's design. But they just couldn't help themselves and decided to share a few photos of the controller on their Facebook page. As expected, the Ataribox's controller maintains a squared design with a familiar layout similar to the original Atari 2600's controller. There's a single joystick in the middle and a big fire button in the corner of the controller. The joystick appears to sit on a translucent, glossy black surface with LED lighting. However, we're not 100% sure on the lighting as it could have been a result of the camera's flash at the angle of which the photo was taken. We will just have to wait until launch day to verify. What's worth noting, though, is that the modern iteration of the controller is accompanied by home and back buttons, which weren't present on the original design.


View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[blobster21]

Amazing ! stupefying ! truely innovative ! / N O T

 

[Chaitanya]

Is it possible that new Ataribox might be running on android, based on those two new buttons on controller?

 

[TheLostSwede]

Is it possible that new Ataribox might be running on android based on those two new buttons on controller?

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[natr0n]

Doorbells have more buttons than that garbage.

 

[Totally]

They want how much for this again? I hope this is a joke and that controller pictured is just an accessory to appease the hardcore nostalgia crowd.

 

[StrayKAT]

Is it possible that new Ataribox might be running on android, based on those two new buttons on controller?

Even if it is, it could do so much more than Google games. It's apparently got AMD hardware (same as XOne/PS4). It'll have classic games, but I was hoping they'd try to get some modern ports too. In which case, they need a gamepad.

 

[efikkan]

This controller will be included to play the old Atari games, but will obviously have poor ergonomics compared to modern controllers.

Is it possible that new Ataribox might be running on android, based on those two new buttons on controller?

No, according to the information so far it will be running a plain Linux distro with support for Steam.

-----

I know the Ataribox has been ridiculed by most of the media, and I do remain skeptical myself. But if it's executed well, they can easily carve out a market as a cheap Steambox bundled with old Atari games. Steam has a huge selection of casual games, including numerous indie games. If this done properly, I can easily see them selling a few hundred thousands of these units.

What concerns me is the plan to crowdfund it. The Ataribox should launch by June 2018, and if they plan to crowdfund the development of it, then it's going to fail miserably. But if they're crowdfunding to test the market before going into production, then there is at least hope. Anyway, they need to complete the development of this thing by January, otherwise they have no chance of launching it in Q2.

 

[metalfiber]

I hope it'll have a cartridge port on it so i can break out my 80 game collection. Except the games that used the paddles anyways.

The PS4's CPU is a AMD Jaguar. Maybe they can use the same CPU and call it Atari Jaguar.

 

[eidairaman1]

Just following in foot steps of nes and snes classic

 

[efikkan]

Just following in foot steps of nes and snes classic

No, the NES/SNES classics are just a $30 piece of crap hardware that can only run ~20 old games.

The Ataribox can run anything from the Steam library and anything custom, if it arrives to market…

 

[eidairaman1]

No, the NES/SNES classics are just a $30 piece of crap hardware that can only run ~20 old games.

The Ataribox can run anything from the Steam library and anything custom, if it arrives to market…

Controls look like they came from the 2600... hope those aren't the only ones like you claim.

 

[Katanai]

omg they did it! Last time there was news on this, there were no controllers pictured, only the console and I joked that they were just gonna change the Atari classic controller to USB. Well, by the looks of things they went beyond that and made it wireless. I don't know why it's getting all that hate in the comments though. They did a pretty good job redesigning the Atari classic controller and that's what you need to play Atari classic games not an Xbox controller...

 

[AsRock]

i see red hand palms in the future.

 

[plåtburken]

Alright, this seems "fun" and "exciting". I just hope this Atari unit comes with controller and won't be something you buy separately.
Also I hope the price won't be something that burns a hole in the wallet.

 

[metalfiber]

I was thinking i played with an after market controller very similar to that one back in the day. I found it online, while the stick is different it was the cupped feature below it that reminded me of it. The joystick had micro switches but it didn't last near as long as Atari's old controller.

 

[lexluthermiester]

There is a fair amount of sarcasm going on, but to Atari fans, that controller looks good. Antiquated, but good.

Is it possible that new Ataribox might be running on android, based on those two new buttons on controller?

I'm betting it is and that users will be able to do more with it than just Atari gaming as well as connect their own controllers. But who knows. I'm going to stay optimistic. This has the potential to be good.

 

[Caelestis]

Brings back some childhood memories. I've once owned a Atari 2600

 

[StrayKAT]

What'd really be sweet is ability to tinker with OS or install some variation of emulation station modules or something.... in addition to some Steam library/modern games. Then it'd be better than having my Pi around.

But I doubt they'd do this, as that cuts into them trying to market their own "retro" games.