Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by martyb on Wednesday September 27 2017, @02:55PM   Printer-friendly
from the more-than-a-game-[machine] dept.

Atari will crowdfund an "Ataribox" console this fall, but it can do much more than play old Atari games:

Atari released more details about its Ataribox game console today, disclosing for the first time that the machine will run Linux on an Advanced Micro Devices processor and cost $250 to $300.

In an exclusive interview last week with GamesBeat, Ataribox creator and general manager Feargal Mac (short for Mac Conuladh) said Atari will begin a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo this fall and launch the Ataribox in the spring of 2018. The Ataribox will launch with a large back catalog of the publisher's classic games. The idea is 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.

The new box will have an AMD custom processor with Radeon graphics. It will run the Linux operating system, with a user interface it's customizing for TVs. Mac said that the machine will run PC games, but it will also be capable of doing streaming, running apps, browsing the web, and playing music. As far as games go, the machine will run the kind of games that a mid-range PC can do today, but it won't run Triple-A games that require high-end PC performance.

[...] "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."

So it's a PC that comes preloaded with Pong, Asteroids, and presumably E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Who needs this?

Also at PCWorld, BGR, Gizmodo, and Techpowerup.

It seems whoever owns the Atari name [takyon: Atari, SA] is going to cash in with a new Linux and AMD based "console". I guess Hollywood is not the only one that can drag up old properties and wring the blood from them. Might make a decent Steambox, I suppose. Also, wouldn't be complete without crowdfunding!


Original Submission #1   Original Submission #2

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by edIII on Wednesday September 27 2017, @07:15PM (1 child)

    by edIII (791) on Wednesday September 27 2017, @07:15PM (#573963)

    VCRs are hard to come by?

    Computer store next door has a thrift section with two brand new Jaz disks and an actual working Jaz drive. Not to mention three VCRs sitting underneath a shelf. Goodwill always has a VCR. Like always. No idea on how to create your converter, but I know there are a couple of people here that could flat out design one for you.

    Just curious, but which consoles do you have that are RF only? I'm assuming they predate Nintendo because it has RCA outputs. IIRC, my Atari 2600 did have coax. I thought it did at least.

    --
    Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 2) by Aiwendil on Thursday September 28 2017, @01:23AM

    by Aiwendil (531) on Thursday September 28 2017, @01:23AM (#574140) Journal

    Since I'm bordeting on hypochondria I refuse second hand, and even in junk surplus stores I havn't seen a VCR in years (they ran out there before in conventional stores - the wonders of a good recycling sysyem)

    And what devices I have thar are RF only - well, yes, I do have an Atari 2600, havn't taken a real close look at the C64 or VIC20 (current TV handles RF - I'm planning for when ot dies in 10-15 years), have a few oddballs [mixed bag of old industrial machines, videocameras, innards of an arcade-machine...].