As reported earlier, the Atari VCS was set to open its Indiegogo campaign on May 30th and today's the day! While there was little information about the details of this cryptic console, the pre-order page finally shed some light on some of the most burning questions people had:

• Unit Dimensions 14.5" x 5.3" x 1.6"
• Unit Weight 3 lbs.
• Materials Plastic, Metal, Wood
• Operating System Linux OS based on Ubuntu (Linux Kernel 4.10)
• Compatible Systems Linux
• Power Low TDP architecture - Less Heat & Noise
• Connections HDMI 2.0, 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet, 4xUSB 3.0
• External Inputs Classic Joystick, Modern Controller, Microphone
• Storage 32GB eMMC, external HD, SD card
• RAM 4GB DDR4 RAM
• Memory 32GB eMMC
• CPU Bristol Ridge A10
• GPU Radeon R7
• HDCP Integration HDCP 2.2
• Second Screen (Screencasting) Yes
• Cloud Storage Yes. Additional Service Offering
• Required Internet Connection Not for classic gaming but required to access all features
• Cross Game Chat Skype, Discord, etc.
• Voice Commands 4-front facing mic array
• Subscription Needed? No. Includes cloud and other services.
• Live Streaming Yes with Twitch.tv
• Mouse & Keyboard Support Yes

Additionally, the Atari VCS platform will support 4K resolution, HDR and 60FPS content, onboard and expandable cloud storage options, dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0, as well as USB 3.0 support. Moreover the proprietary Atari VCS User Interface that the device packs integrates optional voice control and a web browser for full access to the internet.

A new Atari VCS launch video accompanied the announcement:

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And what about games? Every Atari VCS comes with the Atari Vault collection of more than 100 classics like Asteroids, Centipede, Breakout, Missile Command, Gravitar and Yars’ Revenge.

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And that's as much as we know for now but the team behind the Atari VCS previously said that "a growing list of games, especially a full range of popular modern titles, will be announced at later dates". Nevertheless, the Indiegogo campaign page is touting the device as a "gaming and home entertainment streaming device with open platform for creativity and customization". This might entice tinkerers as the platform runs on Linux and might evolve into a community investing in independent software development for the console.

However this revival of the Atari brand in the console market does not come cheap. The less pricey option is the Atari VCS Onyx priced at $199 USD (without controllers), and that for a limited time. Other options include extra controllers or even the $299 USD Indiegogo-exclusive Atari VCS Day One Collector’s Edition, also available only for a limited time. Nevertheless, there seem to be a lot of people interested in the product as its campaign has raised 1779% of its initial goal (almost $1.8 million) at the time of writing, with a month left before the backing ends.

“We are happy with the progress we are making on Atari VCS and thrilled that fans finally have a chance to reserve the first ones,” said Michael Arzt, Atari COO of Connected Devices. “Atari VCS will give fans a lot of freedom to game, stream, connect and customize their experience like never before. The entire Atari team is working hard to deliver this unique platform and can't wait for fans to get their hands on it. We’ll have exciting reveals and announcements between now and then so stay tuned!”

The Atari VCS has an expected delivery date of July 2019. Do you think it will fare well? What games would you like to see on the console?

Atari VCS Indiegogo Campaign page

 

[pastaconsumer]

$300 for this shit, or $30 to $40 for a Pi and SD Card that can run the entire Atari library and still have enough room for your Spiderman porn games for other consoles.

 

[matthi321]

its 199 without controllers but you can add ps4 controllers etc. but yeah its still and overpriced mini pc for 199. they should add an ryzen apu instead and 4gb more ram, and then raise the price to 300. then it would be an very good emulator machine and would be cheaper than what you can build yourself.

 

[pedro702]

People complaining about 4gb of ram in 2019 when the switch in 2017 did it just fine

Still, what a huge and expensive emulator box you got there atari

switch games are made with 4gb ram in mind... this runs linux and linux games arent made thinking on 4gb of ramso they arent even optimized for the console, like people said this thing probably wont even run gtav at 720p, and its getting released on mid2019 at best acording to their calendary, if they hit any predicament it will releas in 2020 lol.

 

[the_randomizer]

People complaining about 4gb of ram in 2019 when the switch in 2017 did it just fine

Still, what a huge and expensive emulator box you got there atari

Yeah, but Switch games actually have a perceptible level of enjoyment and are worth the money If I want an overglorified emulation box, I'd get a Raspberry Pi 3.

 

[Deleted User]

i have something in mind that i was wondering about. atari is a big company right? or they are not anymore? cuz if they are a big company then why they need crowdfunding campaign? Nintendo and sony didn't do it for their consoles so why arati? is it really atari or they just using the name of "atari"?

 

[Reploid]

atari goes to crowdfund. O tempora, o mores.

 

[pedro702]

i have something in mind that i was wondering about. atari is a big company right? or they are not anymore? cuz if they are a big company then why they need crowdfunding campaign? Nintendo and sony didn't do it for their consoles so why arati? is it really atari or they just using the name of "atari"?

atari was a big company in the 80s lol, recently they just went bankrupt and were bough out by a random studio wich renamed themselves atari after aquiring it, theres nothing from original atari, and they dont have any decent funds since the 90s.

see this:

On January 21, 2013, the four related companies Atari, Atari Interactive, Humongous, and California US Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.[46] All three Ataris emerged from bankruptcy one year later and the entering of the social casino gaming industry with Atari Casino.[47] Frederic Chesnais, who now heads all three companies, stated that their entire operations consist of a staff of 10 people.[48]

so yeah atari is runned by casino crap and has 10 staff menbers lol.

 

[Deleted User]

thanks for the answer. i understand now. but i also understand that this "console" cost the same as regular ps4 or switch. so why would anyone prefer this console over the others? it's just a low spec linux pc inside a fancy box. no FPGA chip, no exclusive games (probably), no special features.
just a low budget pc that uses emulators to run old games. so why they think we should buy it?

 

[pedro702]

thanks for the answer. i understand now. but i also understand that this "console" cost the same as regular ps4 or switch. so why would anyone prefer this console over the others? it's just a low spec linux pc inside a fancy box. no FPGA chip, no exclusive games (probably), no special features.
just a low budget pc that uses emulators to run old games. so why they think we should buy it?

people buy it because its atari nostalgia, same way people bought nes and snes mini even tough you could get the same exact play and much more and cheaper using a pi3 really.

 

[wiewiec]

Not special and huge overpriced by the lame specs... I will pass this... This money I will spend for used PS4 pro and few games. What are they thinking?

 

[Subtle Demise]

I wanted this to succeed, but sadly it seems like it will become another Ouya. Too bad.

 

[Tony_93]

its 199 without controllers but you can add ps4 controllers etc. but yeah its still and overpriced mini pc for 199. they should add an ryzen apu instead and 4gb more ram, and then raise the price to 300. then it would be an very good emulator machine and would be cheaper than what you can build yourself.

No, it's $200 for backers only, aka give them $200 now and pray they don't just steal it.

The "retail" price is $300...

 

[supergamer368]

haha, time for another atari laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaandfill

 

[Glyptofane]

At this point I am considering getting just the controllers for this thing.

 

[calagan]

I took the bait and went for the All-in Collector edition.

The specs are rather unimpressive, but I don't mind paying a bit more for great-looking hardware: back in the days, especially in Europe, the Atari 8-bit computers were getting destroyed by the Commodore 64 which was cheaper and had a lot more games, but I went for the Atari 800XL anyway, being seduced by its gorgeous Bang&Olufsen-inspired chassis.

I also find that the Ubuntu-based OS makes it more future-proof than Android (no updates), Windows (deteriorating performance) or some proprietary OS (no more support).

 

[pedro702]

I took the bait and went for the All-in Collector edition.

The specs are rather unimpressive, but I don't mind paying a bit more for great-looking hardware: back in the days, especially in Europe, the Atari 8-bit computers were getting destroyed by the Commodore 64 which was cheaper and had a lot more games, but I went for the Atari 800XL anyway, being seduced by its gorgeous Bang&Olufsen-inspired chassis.

I also find that the Ubuntu-based OS makes it more future-proof than Android (no updates), Windows (deteriorating performance) or some proprietary OS (no more support).

i wish i was like you willing to pay in advance for something that released mid 2019 with luck.

 

[ca032769]

I took the bait and went for the All-in Collector edition.

The specs are rather unimpressive, but I don't mind paying a bit more for great-looking hardware: back in the days, especially in Europe, the Atari 8-bit computers were getting destroyed by the Commodore 64 which was cheaper and had a lot more games, but I went for the Atari 800XL anyway, being seduced by its gorgeous Bang&Olufsen-inspired chassis.

I also find that the Ubuntu-based OS makes it more future-proof than Android (no updates), Windows (deteriorating performance) or some proprietary OS (no more support).

Yes I too have been watching it for a while and just decided today to get into this as well. Admittedly it hurt my chest a little to go through with it, but alas it'll look nice on the retro gaming wall I'm putting together.

I have a Black Darth Vader 2600 with the Atari Age SD Cart already, was never a big fan of the wood versions, so I went for the Onyx Early Bird and also two Joystick+Controller sets.

I'm optimistic and look forward to seeing this in about a year (while secretly hoping I didn't completely throw away $348). Of course what I really want to see is how this might be modded and what fun stuff we can do with her.

 

[pedro702]

Yes I too have been watching it for a while and just decided today to get into this as well. Admittedly it hurt my chest a little to go through with it, but alas it'll look nice on the retro gaming wall I'm putting together.

I have a Black Darth Vader 2600 with the Atari Age SD Cart already, was never a big fan of the wood versions, so I went for the Onyx Early Bird and also two Joystick+Controller sets.

I'm optimistic and look forward to seeing this in about a year (while secretly hoping I didn't completely throw away $348). Of course what I really want to see is how this might be modded and what fun stuff we can do with her.

why do you need to mod it? its an open linux system so you already have an open os you can download and play anything compatible on linux...

 

[ca032769]

why do you need to mod it? its an open linux system so you already have an open os you can download and play anything compatible on linux...

Hi @pedro702, huge fan of your work. I'm more of a collector and just looking for all those fun things people come up with for it. That sounds great, no huge wait time like the PS4 or Switch then.

 

[pedro702]

Hi @pedro702, huge fan of your work. I'm more of a collector and just looking for all those fun things people come up with for it. That sounds great, no huge wait time like the PS4 or Switch then.

there is no wait and no homebrew, its a linux system iits basicaly a pc with atari games instaled, you can just go to the browser and downlload normal stuff and install it like with any pc.