Atari VCS Retro Gaming Console Now Available to Purchase

[Uskompuf]

The Atari VCS was first teased in 2017 as the "Ataribox" before a rebranding to Atari VCS and a successful IndieGoGo campaign in June 2018. The campaign raised over three million dollars with an original target release date in mid-2019 but development was repeatedly delayed resulting in the project's lead architect quitting. The console is modeled after the Atari 2600 and includes 100 Atari games of which 18 are from the arcade and 82 are from the Atari 2600. The console features an AMD Ryzen R1606G processor paired with 8 GB ram and 32 GB storage both of which can be upgraded. The console also includes support for installing various desktop operating systems including Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS. The Atari VCS has now shipped to IndieGoGo backers and is currently available to purchase from Best Buy, Micro Center, and Atari for 299.99 USD. Atari also offers a limited Walnut edition which includes a wireless joystick and controller for 399.99 USD.



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[Space Lynx]

you probably better off saving $130 and just buying this...

 

[TheLostSwede]

Or you could spend the same amount on an Xbox series S...
At least it comes with a controller in the box.

 

[The Quim Reaper]

I see no compelling reason for this thing to exist other than to cash in on the (ridiculous) rose tinted nostalgia of the 'Baby Boomers' & 'Gen X' types who grew up playing the 2600 in the 70's & early 80's and who now have money to burn.

 

[InhaleOblivion]

I was on board until I saw the price tag. Then laughed and though...yeah no. This is a pure cash grab as mentioned above.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I see no compelling reason for this thing to exist other than to cash in on the (ridiculous) rose tinted nostalgia of the 'Baby Boomers' & 'Gen X' types who grew up playing the 2600 in the 70's & early 80's and who now have money to burn.

The 2600 was crap. My brother in law had one and it was the worst of the lot imho, but I guess I played it well after its prime.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

you probably better off saving $130 and just buying this...

This is pretty much illegal and im surprised whoever selling it hasnt been hit with a C&D letter.

Why is it illegal?? For the same reason Nintendo went after a ROM website. They are profiteering off Atari's intellectual property by selling it with the games.

 

[Space Lynx]

This is pretty much illegal and im surprised whoever selling it hasnt been hit with a C&D letter.

Why is it illegal?? For the same reason Nintendo went after a ROM website. They are profiteering off Atari's intellectual property by selling it with the games.

I don't think it's illegal. It's sold by Micro Center and shipped by Amazon. Micro Center is a legit store in USA. It must be Atari licensed and they get a piece of the pie? Not sure.

Amazon.com: Atari Ultimate Arcade Fightstick USB Dual Joystick with Trackball 2 Player Game Controller Powered by Raspberry Pi 3B+ 1GB RAM 32GB Micro SD Card Preloaded Over 100 Classic Atari Games : Video Games

Buy Atari Ultimate Arcade Fightstick USB Dual Joystick with Trackball 2 Player Game Controller Powered by Raspberry Pi 3B+ 1GB RAM 32GB Micro SD Card Preloaded Over 100 Classic Atari Games: Gamepads & Standard Controllers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I don't think it's illegal. It's sold by Micro Center and shipped by Amazon. Micro Center is a legit store in USA. It must be Atari licensed and they get a piece of the pie? Not sure.

Amazon.com: Atari Ultimate Arcade Fightstick USB Dual Joystick with Trackball 2 Player Game Controller Powered by Raspberry Pi 3B+ 1GB RAM 32GB Micro SD Card Preloaded Over 100 Classic Atari Games : Video Games

Buy Atari Ultimate Arcade Fightstick USB Dual Joystick with Trackball 2 Player Game Controller Powered by Raspberry Pi 3B+ 1GB RAM 32GB Micro SD Card Preloaded Over 100 Classic Atari Games: Gamepads & Standard Controllers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Its illegal. Another example is the knock off 'gaming consoles' that are made in China & sold by the likes of souljaboy claiming he made them. manufacturing of the 'gaming consoles' isnt illegal but when you start pre-loading it with games and featuring the logos of the original brand and console youre trying to mimic then it becomes highly illegal because youre using their intellectual property without their permission and making money off it if youre selling them for profit.

If you supplied the tech and said "go find your own 'games' wink wink" then that would be absolutely fine.

If Micro center is in partnership with Atari then thats fine. But we dont know if they have a partnership. Micro Center do sell a lot of Atari stuff so i assume they are in partnership or Atari dont know or know and dont care that they are doing what they are doing.

basically, Micro Center are committing piracy by selling units/kits with games pre-loaded/installed if they didnt ask for permission from Atari before doing so.

 

[Turmania]

I like the look of it, but I believe the price of it, is a ripoff. Clearly, shows me the intend and purpose of the company itself.

 

[persondb]

Honestly, I think that for the price, using this old(relative to now) Ryzen Embedded dual core processor is just too much. They could have used a better Ryzen Embedded one like the cheapest V2000 they could get or even a cheap mobile SKU, preferably a quad core one. Something like a 3500U or 4300U, that would have been very good for the price.
$299 for just two Zen cores just isn't good. Plus more Vega CUs and not just 3.

It would have been a different story if it was released in 2019 like it was planned. But in 2021, it just don't make sense.

You can get some pretty decent Odyssey SBC with quad core celerons. And those even come with an onboard microcontroller.

you probably better off saving $130 and just buying this...

To be fair, as a computer, this is miles ahead to that of this RP 3B+ based system.

 

[TheLostSwede]

@FreedomEclipse is this illegal too then?

• Over 100 licensed Atari games included

Amazon.com: Atari Games for Raspberry Pi 32GB Micro SD Card Preloaded Over 100 Classic Atari Games Compatible with Model 3/3B+/3A+ Only : Electronics

Amazon.com: Atari Games for Raspberry Pi 32GB Micro SD Card Preloaded Over 100 Classic Atari Games Compatible with Model 3/3B+/3A+ Only : Electronics

www.amazon.com

 

[FreedomEclipse]

@FreedomEclipse is this illegal too then?

Amazon.com: Atari Games for Raspberry Pi 32GB Micro SD Card Preloaded Over 100 Classic Atari Games Compatible with Model 3/3B+/3A+ Only : Electronics

Amazon.com: Atari Games for Raspberry Pi 32GB Micro SD Card Preloaded Over 100 Classic Atari Games Compatible with Model 3/3B+/3A+ Only : Electronics

www.amazon.com

Probably not if Micro Center is a registered distributor for Atari. Made by Atari etc etc

 

[Guwapo77]

The 2600 was crap. My brother in law had one and it was the worst of the lot imho, but I guess I played it well after its prime.

My very first system was an Atari 2600 and at the time, it was freaking amazing. Most kids my age (8), we had nothing to compare it to and this was leaps ahead of anything else happening. The one that sucked was the Atari 7800 and it was too late because the Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Master System hit the scene and it was a wrap for Atari.