In my very first For the Love of Atari blog post I mentioned how several years ago I became interested in classic video games again, first through reading the book Art of Atari by Tim Lapetino, then through the discovery of the website AtariAge. And it became quickly apparent perusing the site that although Atari had long since been dethroned as the dominant force in the video game industry (an industry they played a big part in creating), interest in their classic consoles and games remained strong. However, at that time it appeared that the company was still relatively dormant, other than continuing to license their titles and/or change ownership frequently. In fact, I remember reading online about Atari being referred to as a "lumbering zombie", long since having faded from prominence, but never quite having gone completely away (or something to that effect). But sometime after that I started to hear rumblings about a new console in the works, first called the Ataribox, then later renamed the Atari VCS. This was apparently the company's first foray back into the console industry since the 1990's, and arguably, the first real step in their reemergence into the video game industry. So in this post I'll be sharing some thoughts on the Atari VCS and the new age of this pioneering company.
A quick skim of the Wikipedia page linked above informs that the partially crowdfunded Atari VCS was first announced in 2017, went through various design stages, delays and other hurdles, and was eventually released to the general public in 2021. The page also discusses the technical nuts and bolts of the new console, which basically boils down to the fact that it is part video game console and part gaming computer with a decent processor inside it.
Looking back in retrospect at this surprising release, it seems to me that Atari had the right idea for this first step in their comeback. I say this because obviously the video game industry has changed drastically since the heyday of their flagship console the Atari 2600. Modern gamers do not generally play games using physical cartridges, and any new console would be expected to embrace that. And the computer part of the Atari VCS does just that, facilitating a modern gaming experience with titles that can be downloaded, and storage devices that can be used or connected to store them. At the same time, the unit comes pre-loaded with numerous classic Atari titles that look and play just like they would if old-school cartridges were being used. So, in this respect, Atari addressed both the past and present with the new console.
The Atari VCS 800 with modern black finish and wireless controllers
The aesthetics of the Atari VCS are also in line with its functionality. The console comes in two general flavors - one with a "classic" look featuring a wood grain front panel, and one with sleek, modern black trim. Similarly, the wireless controllers are of two flavors - one resembling the classic Atari 2600 CX40 joystick (with a couple menu buttons added), and one in the design of modern controllers. This further compliments the idea of linking past to present.
I could conclude by offering my thoughts on the pros and cons, and strengths and weaknesses of the system, but there are numerous review videos and opinion sites that do just that. So rather than opine on how good of a gaming device it is, I'll wrap up with a few more general observations about Atari's reemergence into the industry with this product.
Referring to the linked Wikipedia page again, it states that initial sales of the unit far surpassed what Atari had anticipated (although in the years since the release, they have trended downward). But reviews of the Atari VCS have been decidedly mixed overall, with a frequent observation being that the unit's technical power may not quite match that of modern systems from Sony, Microsoft, etc. And this comparison may be telling, perhaps signifying that Atari didn't throw all their resources into creating a technical juggernaut aimed specifically at competing directly with current industry leaders Microsoft and Sony and the latest versions of their X-Box or PlayStation consoles. But rather, it seems to me, they created a system with enough technical prowess to give most gamers a good, modern (and connected) gaming experience, while at the same time remaining firmly rooted in their past history. Or, put another way, they were aiming at a core audience of people who grew up with their consoles and titles, who may also sometimes want to play modern games as well.
In the era of modern gaming, Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, and perhaps a few others are no doubt king. And Atari's reemergence won't likely change that. However, their initial step back into the industry with the Atari VCS was clearly aimed at capitalizing on a niche market fueled by nostalgia for a bygone era and cultivated over the years by AtariAge and other sites like it. Over the next few posts, I'll discuss Atari's next steps as they have unfolded since the release of this system.
