"Atari" finally shows off new console, rebadged as Atari VCS - Sensationalist Headlines

https://i.imgur.com/hllBHGt.jpg Atari has renamed its upcoming retro mini-console from the Ataribox to the Atari VCS, according to VentureBeat. The device, similar to Nintendo’s NES Classic and SNES Classic consoles, uses a design aesthetic inspired by the Atari 2600 Video Computer System. In an interesting twist, the device will not only play classic Atari titles, but it will also play modern PC games (of the less intensive variety) thanks to the device’s custom AMD processor with Radeon graphics and a Linux-based OS. The device was slated to go on preorder back in December, but Atari pressed pause on the sale because the company needed more time “to create the platform and ecosystem the Atari community deserves.” We still don’t have a concrete release date, but Atari says it will announce an official preorder date in April. That said, the preorder date could be any time later this year, and the actual ship date could be any time in the future. We also don’t know the price, but Atari said last year that its mini-console would likely cost between $250 and $300. The Verge

I don't understand why I'd spend $250-$300 if I could just spend ±$20 on a controller and just run those "Atari classics" in an emulator.

sounds like a non-oem backed version of the steam box, really not feeling too hot about this. if it can use windows as an alternative it MAY have an audience.

So it is more or less what everyone thought it would be, not a serious attempt at a new Atari console but a novelty gift like the NES and SNES Classics but with the added ability to play other games. I mean, sure, having a device that can play PC Indie games (because lets face it that is probably as powerful as it is going to get) in the living room is cool and all but, if I really wanted to do that I could just get them on my Switch or get a Steam Link.

The IP lawyers that own Infograms/Atari based out of somewhere in Europe (France, I think) are looking for the hot trends to cash in on: porting their old catalogs to a console (like the NES and SNES Mini that Nintendo made bank off of), crowdfunding a port of the really, really bad Roller Coaster Tycoon phone game to the Switch, and starting up a blockchain/cryptocurrency incentive.

The difference is that I provided an link to a place where you can just play the games without any configuration in your browser.

Its pretty clearly just a cash grab following in the wake of the Nintendo classic consoles. Atari as a company has been dead for a very, very long time. This isn't genuine Atari work, its just some company that owns the worthless brand trying to cash in on the nostalgia band wagon. This console will be a huge piece of shit with no support beyond launch.

Naturally, but given the mystic and hype they where trying to build around it over past year or so it created the illusion that whilst this wasn't going to be Atari making a come back it could have at least been a competent little living room PC kind of deal that just so happened to have classic Atari games pre-loaded into it. Which would have been neat but no, it is like you say, just an expensive novelty banking on nostalgia. And is there any great nostalgia for the classic Atari games? At least to a level that would warrant a machine like this? It feels like this is going to be a major flop in the making.

Most of the people who played Atari games as a kid are in their late 30s and 40s. Not many of them have remained gamers and the ones that have know how bad Atari games sucked. Atari games were pretty revolutionary for their time but I dont think many people have been thinking for the last 35 years "man I wosh I could play Combat again".

I love how the main selling point of this hunk of shit is still 'REAL WOOD'

imagine buying anything Atari when RetroArch exists. I get that the novelty is a big part of it but I'd rather have a real 2600 than this faux Stella PC Something

it looks really nice, tho