The Atari VCS is a nostalgic mini-PC shrouded in faux wood and mystery - landryabadvionand

It still exists. That seems to comprise the substance Atari wanted to send by showing up at GDC with the Atari VCS, formerly titled the "Ataribox." Although the project was only announced last spring, I think I'd already started to think of it as vaporware—surely this ISN't tangible, right? Just it is, or at least Atari's hush claiming IT is, showing off a prototype of the Linux-based comfort this calendar week.

"Prototype" is maybe too proud a full term, though. This wasn't a computer with some rough edges, operating theater hardware in deman of a fancy case. The opposite, really. It was a very fancy-looking case…with nothing in IT. An intragroup electric battery appeared to power the front LEDs to pass on IT the show information technology was in-use, but we didn't actually realise what it's capable of. No user interface, no idea of what games it'll run. This is still very much conceptual.

But Atari did give U.S.A a hardly a bare-bones inside information, both in-somebody and through an FAQ shared after our discussion. For one, Atari's quick to reiterate that this is a modern device, not a SNES Classic-style throwback. From the FAQ, "Atari VCS wish of course of study serve up lots of classic content. But it will do and play much Thomas More." And later, at that place's this more elaborate section:

"Atari VCS is expectable to ship with a assortment of game and entertainment content available. Classic IP from Atari's visibility of more 200 games…will be accessible, plus modern games (including reimagined classics) as well as streaming video, audio, and other entertainment apps."

Games will be hand-selected and published by Atari for the VCS, but the Linux back-end volition also take into account more experienced users to load up unusual content—say, from Steam clean.

As for the VCS's capabilities, I was told the core of the unit is an AMD Bristol Ridge A10 APU ($89.89 on Newegg). Few reasons that's strange. First of all, back up in September we heard there was a custom AMD part at the VCS's core. Maybe that denatured, Oregon maybe the A10 was just mentioned during my demo every bit an equivalent cow chip. I'm not sure.

Second, and weirder, is that the A10's not a selfsame powerful APU, specially compared to the new AMD Ryzen APUs with Radeon Vega graphics. That's only strange because Atari's FAQ and so goes on to promise "carrying out…same to a higher-end Personal computer laptop computer." Again, hardened to know which wish prove true, though I let my suspicions.

Regardless, it'll also cause "aboard and expandable storage," Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, and USB 3.0. So yeah, IT's a small form-factor computer/microconsole, powered by Linux, and presumably mid-tier performance at best (despite Atari's claims to the contrary). Seems like the closest linear is Valve's SteamOS and the incidental Linux-based Steam Machines.

Steam Machines didn't exactly lightsome the world on fire, and when I aforesaid as much to Atari I was told that the new VCS is intended for a different audience. "One of the miscalculations they [Valve] had is that the kind-hearted of audiences that are going to be concerned in Steam and Steam Machines, they're buying something that has way more horsepower," said Michael Arzt, COO of Atari Get in touch. "To me, we're often more oriented towards the perfunctory consumer."

Banking along one-part branding, one-character nostalgia essentially. That's been Atari's strategy for a few years now, with mixed results, only we'll see whether people are drawn to the Atari VCS.

I testament say I love the look of it, unreal-wood paneling and all. It blends elements of the original 2600 with modern conception ideas, and pulls IT polish off surprisingly well. The peripherals are as wel nifty. The gamepad is similar to the Xbox One purpose, while the stick uses integrated LEDs to recreate the dashed-line look of the original.

If we'Re just judging by the prototypes in other words, then this is an riveting little project.

There are still thus few details though, so micro to flatbottomed discuss, information technology's hard to have intercourse whether the Atari VCS has a rising. Its prospects seem eve worse when you look at how little success Valve, Corsair, Alienware, and another massive companies have garnered with selfsame similar living-room-ready devices—to enunciat nothing of the Ouya, the Nvidia Shield, and that altogether Humanoid side of the market.

Anticipate much details, including a preorder date, in April. Until then? Well, Atari's going for it. The Atari VCS still exists (or exists once more, depending on how old you are). Clip will tell whether that's a solid matter.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/401728/atari-vcs-preview.html

Posted by: landryabadvionand.blogspot.com