The Atari VCS, the retro-style crowd-funded PC but modern, for consoles and games, is a bit late for those who have donated to IndieGogo. VCS manufacturers continue to assume that the general ship date will be reached in March 2020, but supporters will ask to get their units after December, when it was last promised.
Michael Arzt, Atari’s chief operating officer, attributed the delay to a hardware upgrade. This was also the reason for the initial delay of the VCS compared to a launch, which was originally planned for the late spring or early summer of this year. “We had the opportunity to build a completely new microprocessor based on a more powerful and efficient architecture,” wrote Doctor on Medium. “The team is aware that the delay has affected our supporters, but we strongly believe that we have made the right decision to improve the performance of the product.
“Atari will always have the priority to deliver a high quality product over a self-specified date,” added Physician. “Our Indiegogo supporters are extremely important to us, and the entire team and I want to thank our supporters once again for their loyalty and continued support. I’m sure they will understand our priority of delivering a quality product first and foremost. “
The Atari VCS, while containing a number of Atari 2600 ROMs, is not a fallback mini console. It’s practically a Linux gaming PC with a latest-generation AMD processor. The console is modeled after the design of the original Atari VCS (later known as 2600), with a ribbed case and a wood appliqué reminiscent of the foredeck of the fabulous 1970s original.
It’s not cheap either: $ 249.99, but that gives the buyer 4GB of RAM, 4K and HDR support, more than what’s needed to run Maze Craze or Warlords. There is also a more expensive 8GB RAM model, but none is equipped with an input device. The VCS gamepad and the throwback joystick cost $ 49.99 and $ 59.99 respectively, with the more expensive bundle options offering one or both.
Doctor did not provide a revised delivery date for Indiegogo supporters, but said, “We’re talking weeks here, not months, and the Indiegogo supporters remain our top priority.” “We will also try to find a bonus to reward our supporters for their patience.”
For those who did not donate for the production of VCS, the device is sold by GameStop, Walmart and Atari themselves, with each store front selling a different console design. The Walmart is “Carbon Gold”, the GameStop is “Onyx” (the basic design) and Atari has the “Black Walnut” look. Pre-orders are now accepted.
