Further Details About The 'AtariBox' Revealed

ataribox-6.jpg

Here comes additional details concerning Atari's big, ambitious comeback in the video game console market!

In an exclusive interview last week with GamesBeat, Ataribox creator and general manager Feargal Mac announced that Atari will begin a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo this fall and launch the Ataribox in the spring of 2018. The console will run Linux on an AMD custom processor with Radeon graphics, with a user interface customized for TVs and will cost between $250-$300.

The Ataribox will launch with a large back catalog of the publisher’s classic games. The idea being to be able to "create a box that makes people feel nostalgic about the past, but it’s also capable of running the independent games they want to play today, like Minecraft or Terraria". In addition to indie games, the console will run those that a mid-range PC can handle, but won't run AAA games that require higher-end specs. Mac added that it will also perform PC-worthy stuffs like streaming, running apps, browsing the web, and playing music.

“I was blown away when a 12-year-old knew every single game Atari had published. That’s brand magic. We’re coming in like a startup with a legacy,” Mac said in the interview. “We’ve attracted a lot of interest, and AMD showed a lot of interest in supporting us and working with us. With Indiegogo, we also have a strong partnership.”

“People are used to the flexibility of a PC, but most connected TV devices have closed systems and content stores,” he said. “We wanted to create a killer TV product where people can game, stream and browse with as much freedom as possible, including accessing pre-owned games from other content providers.”



“People are used to the flexibility of a PC, but most connected TV devices have closed systems and content stores,” Mac said. “Ataribox is an open system, and while our user interface will be easy to use, people will also be free to access and customize the underlying OS. We’ve chosen to launch Ataribox with Indiegogo given their focus on delivering technology products, and their strong international presence in over 200 countries, allowing us to reach and involve as many Atari fans around the world as possible.”

“It’s a very flexible product, and you won’t need to spend more money if you don’t want to,” he further added. “In some ways, you are buying some freedom.”

So what do you think of the Ataribox in the light of the new details? Are you considering backing it on Indiegogo? Or is it awfully reminiscent of the OUYA to you?

For more updates, you can signup on ataribox.com.

:arrow: SOURCE
 

Meteor7

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I don't really see the benefit in owning one of these if one already owns a reasonably competent PC, so I wonder how they're planning to try and market this thing. What will be their hook? They don't seem to be filling any sort of niche with this box, and I don't think this whole endeavor is going to go very well for them.
 

Tom Bombadildo

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I don't really see the benefit in owning one of these if one already owns a reasonably competent PC, so I wonder how they're planning to try and market this thing. What will be their hook? They don't seem to be filling any sort of niche with this box, and I don't think this whole endeavor is going to go very well for them.
I agree. I feel like the only appeal this is trying to go for is "Hey we're Atari! Old games! PC games! Woodgrain! Love us!". No real appeal to the thing other than nostalgia purposes, and barely even that. This thing could've been cool, but looks like they're ruining that before it's even out :(
 
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Steam Machine destined for failure, unfortunately.
funny how mini emulator consoles with only a few games people go crazy about them
but a console that is basically a computer in a console case capable of doing everything a computer can, no one wants thoose :C
 

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I was hoping this thing would be Atari throwing their hat into the ring with the big boys, but it's starting to sound a whole lot more like some skeezy execs deciding that it's probably been long enough that they can release some outdated tech to cash in on the nostalgia bucks.
 

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How disappointing. Was hoping they were really going to try and make a real comeback. A console that could at least hold it´s own against ps4 and xbone, and new original 1st party titles would have made it an instant buy for me.

This isn´t even near close to worth the 200-300 dollars they apparently think someone will pay for whatever this is. I will definitely skip this one. Sorry Atari.

Sad.
 

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I think it will be a cool system. The fact that they're saying it's an open system should be a good selling point. Depending on the OS, there are probably tons of homebrew apps and games that can be ported over, or require no porting at all.
It'll just be running a Linux distro with a "customized interface", so it's going to just be a PC with Linux installed.
 

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I was hoping it was going to be cheaper and Android based something with an S912 chip would have been nice fast and cheap. At 250-300 I would just buy a Shield TV pro and load up emulators.
 
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funny how mini emulator consoles with only a few games people go crazy about them
but a console that is basically a computer in a console case capable of doing everything a computer can, no one wants thoose :C
IF it's closer to $200 than $300, I'll probably buy one for my dad's office. I feel like he'd enjoy it, since the 2600 was his first console
 

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