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Atari VCS 800 Black Walnut All-in-One Bundle $299.95 + Delivery ($0 SYD C&C) @ The Gamesmen

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Atari® returns to the living room with the Atari VCS™ — a completely modern gaming and video computer system, blending the best of consoles and PCs to delight a whole new generation of gamers and creators.

Apparently Atari have ceased manufacturing these, that news alerted me to the price. Might good for those wanting a Mini PC or Streaming Box, considering NVidia Shield is cancelling GameStream, this might be more desirable. Atari VCS update increased TDP from 35W to 45W.

Amazon have it at $316.95 if that is preferable https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08JPKKHCV

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closed Comments

  • -1
  • I wonder if this will end up having a homebrew community… Commercial support seems non-existant.

    • +2

      It's basically a cheap NUC. Just install Win 10 on it and you can basically run anything you want as long as the hardware can handle it.

  • +2

    Also available from their eBay Store - $306.95 Delivered with code SNSDEC

  • I'm torn now, I have it on a Camels alert for $300, but hitting a few days before Christmas means dipping into money I'd rather not spend.

  • I'm not sure I'd be super-keen given "Atari"s recent track record https://www.theregister.com/2020/09/30/atari_vcs_ship/

    • +4

      How is that relevant now? 2 years old, missed the release, who cares?

      • +14

        Remember when Atari dumped all those unsold E.T. cartridges in the desert?
        Never trust them again!
        /jk

      • Because support will be sketchy AF, it's old hardware being marketed as powerful, new, modern or whatever. The latest couple of guys who bought the Atari name didn't have a clue about what they're doing. It'll probably be fine for the kids or the retro gaming market or whatever.

        • I buy a lot of retro gaming stuff, including atari flashbacks etc but this isnt and never will be one of them.

          You want to emulate an old atari pc get a retron77 or something.

          NB This is nothing against the Gamesmen, ive bought quite a few things from them - just this product is about as useful as the OYUA

          • @Franc-T: Excuse me!? My OUYA is useful, it's taking up valuable cupboard space.

  • +2

    Bought one a couple of months ago. Want all the classic/mini consoles.

    Online purchasing was bugged. Had to contact support who solved the issue a day or two later.

    Want to like it more than I do….

    Can you add Atari Roms in a manner similar to the mini consoles? Haven't researched into it too heavily. Do like the idea of adding a few games I grew up with.

    FWIW, for something with decent internals, it's sluggish as hell. Initial few updates took a VERY long time.

    • Want all the classic/mini consoles.

      Good luck with that - theres oodles out there and several like the intellivision flashback, arent being made anymore (I had to pay $200 for one shipped)

      • I got a fair few, honestly didn't know of that one, so unsure if I should be thanking you jk

        • +1

          Was sold years ago - about $200 on ebay.

          Theres a colecovision one as well.

          Honestly a real colecovision was/is cheaper.

  • +7

    Yikes, the hardware is pretty weak. I guess it's ok at $300 but the original $850 RRP sounds like a joke

    • +5

      The RRP was insane, at $300 I'm considering it, but it still isn't an instant buy.

      • I'm somewhat tempted too. Could be fun to tinker around with. Still a bit high but it does come with some half-decent looking controllers.
        Hmmmm….

        • +6

          ETA Prime improved performance in PC Mark by
          50%, he upgraded the RAM from 2x4GB (2400Mhz) to 2x16GB (3200Mhz), swapped thermal pads for thermal paste, modified BIOS to update TDP to 54W. Doing that sounds fun and increases its usefulness but dramatically increases the price.

          • +4

            @FabMan: 32GB of ram sounds like serious overkill.
            I'd add an NVMe drive + 16GB of decent RAM if I got one

        • The controller sticks were prone to snapping, I don’t know if they ever fixed that.

        • +2

          Meh I was about to push go. Did a bit more research and it's a hard no now.

          300 bucks just isn't worth it. You need to spend more to get some bang for buck and at which point you might as well have bought something else.

  • +1

    $300 for a unsupported unit now?

    Hmmm I don’t know

    • I don't know that the system is unsupported, it is no longer being manufactured, but if games keep selling, then updates will happen. If games stop selling then it joins the likes of Stadia, Wii U, Dreamcast, Saturn, 32x, Jaguar, 3DO, 7800, 5200, and many other consoles that didn't last long.

      • +2

        Wii U seems to have had a fairly okay run in terms of the consoles being manufactured 2012–2017 - surprised by this myself due to the obvious. Third parties were still making games for it into 2020.

        • +1

          I enjoy my Wii U and I was playing it with my kids on the weekend, you are right about during the 4 1/2 years after its release it got a good run of games, it doesn't deserve to be considered the same as the Jaguar or the 32x. Though I think you are being too generous towards its later lifespan of games by referencing 2020 releases. All regular high end games stopped in early 2017, just as the Switch released, and after that you have Ubisoft Just Dance and many Indie games of which lots were converted from iOS. Check out Captain U for the Wii U as an example of a late life Wii U game.

    • +1

      Its a cheap NUC. Just run Windows on it to run anything you want.

  • +2

    I was a “founder” investor in this thing, it is Atari in name only and bares little resemblance to the once legendary games platform. As said above, it is an overpriced NUC with outdated hardware and OS that left much to be desired. It was a failure from the start, despite what the fanboys will tell you. Buy if you want the curiosity value, but it is not a real Atari and you’d be better putting your money into one of those fanless NUCs that Amazon sell.

  • Does anyone know where I could buy the following Atari games?

    River Run
    Enduro

    • +1

      For which system? And did you mean River Raid?

      • +1

        Yes River Raid😃, I used to love playing those games on my Atari 2600 when I was a kid.
        Am I better off searching for game emulators?

        Enduro was a racing game, love it so much. Wish I could find it

        • I recently bought an Atari 2600 off eBay with 128 games built in, exactly like how I had when I was a kid.

          You can get River Raid from the Google Play store if you really want to play it, otherwise there's websites you can play it from for free as well.

          As for Enduro, if you still have an Atari 2600, you should be able to find the cartridge online.

          • @Trishool: I found the cartridge online, but don't have the 2600 console unfortunately.
            Would be great if this new console had those games.

    • +1

      River raid is on the Atari flashback, it's the whole reason I bought that system

      • I just found out that Activision has an Android version of River Raid, I'll see if I can find it somewhere.
        Would be great to play it on my Android Box

    • I was thinking of buying the Atari 50th Anniversary collection for XBOX. Neither of the games you want are on it though…

      https://www.ign.com/wikis/atari-50-anniversary-celebration-c…

      • It's available for PS5 as well, but doesn't come with my games unfortunately

    • I know not the same, (I love the Atari 2600) but I went down a rabbit hole and there's a steam modern version of River Raid https://store.steampowered.com/app/2018190/River_Raid_3D/
      And also an Amiga 500 Homebrew version
      https://www.nextgenroms.com/topic/17438-river-raid-reloaded-…
      Both might be fun too!

  • How many games are actual available for this system?

    • +1

      https://www.dualshockers.com/atari-vcs-is-finally-available-…

      This new console/pc hybrid comes fitted with PC web browsing capabilities. As well as a selection of 100 classic Atari 2600 games called the VCS Vault Volume 1. Additionally, you can also download a VCS Vault Volume 2 for $4.99 which adds an extra 50 unique Atari titles.

      Plenty more online too.

      • Too bad this console doesn't come with River Raid or Enduro.
        No point in buying it then🙁

        • +1

          So you like the games from the first independent, third-party, console video game developer?

          Those two are a few of the games that are still playable, though I can also enjoy H.E.R.O., Star Wars Empire Strikes Back, Pitfall!, and a couple of more modern homebrew games.

          • +1

            @FabMan: Yep, wish a company would make a 4K version of those games with awesome graphics for PS5, then I would have a good reason to buy a PS5, oh well one can only dream.

  • I wonder what the original Atari VCS cost here in the late 70s…

    • +3

      US $190 on launch. Equivalent to US $850 in 2021….

      Ironically the launch price of this in Australia.

  • Kind of tempting at that price to get it and run Windows on it. But I think I'll wait and put the money towards the Steam Deck and a Dock when it is finally released here.

    • +1

      I'm starting to think by the time we get the Steam Deck the updated revision will be not long after kinda ruining it. Even if it's just a better screen and battery as rumoured. Such delays in releases worldwide is like going back to the 90s with retro consoles. It's rediculous.

  • +2

    Did they do a remaster of Custer’s Revenge?

  • -1

    Can someone ask Gamesmen if he'll do $199?

  • +2

    You can overclock the GPU, install faster RAM 3200MHz and looks like you can change the fan settings, see video below.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSKTYPXgWsU

    • +1

      Plus 1 for ETA. Great channel.

  • +1

    I loved H.E.R.O. it was brilliant game that played amazingly given the 2600's constraints. The story behind River Raid's creation is pretty interesting too. I would get one of these but Im trying to downsize my retro console collection :(

  • +1

    Also a side note to this console is that its included controllers are $100 each, and they look like they have very good reviews.

  • +1

    Pulled the trigger, got one on eBay for $296.95 from https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/324615991445, had a $20 discount from something.

    • Looks like they jacked the price since

  • +1

    Price has been increased to $350.

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