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Post by The Laird on Jul 20, 2014 15:58:15 GMT
The Atari Jaguar is a video game console that was released by Atari Corporation in 1993. It was the last to be marketed under the Atari brand until the release of the Atari Flashback in 2004. It was designed to surpass the Mega Drive/Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and the Panasonic 3DO in processing power. Although launched one year earlier, it was eventually in competition with the Sega Saturn, the PlayStation, and other consoles that made up the fifth generation of video game consoles. The console was first released in New York City and San Francisco in 1993, and the rest of the US in early 1994. Although it was marketed as the first 64-bit gaming system, the Jaguar proved to be a commercial failure and prompted Atari to leave the home video game console market. Despite its commercial failure, the Jaguar has a dedicated fan base that produces homebrew games for it. It was the last console from an American company until the 2001 introduction of Microsoft's Xbox. Read more at Wikipedia |
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Post by Riddick on Jul 21, 2014 23:26:20 GMT
My favorite system of all time!!!! Just look at that picture, how beautiful that cat really is! It's like a muscle car of classic consoles, aesthetically speaking.
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Post by dougyt on Jul 22, 2014 17:10:00 GMT
The Jaguar is a great looking console, and great to play it's just a shame it wasn't better supported or we'd be on Jaguar IV by now.
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TrekMD
Junior Member
Posts: 95
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Post by TrekMD on Jul 22, 2014 20:21:04 GMT
The Jaguar has always been misunderstood. I really like the console and, had it had proper 3rd party support, it likely would have done well. It would have also helped if there had been better programming tools so people could take advantage of what the system can do. To this day, I don't think the Jaguar has ever been pushed to its limits.
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Post by The Laird on Jul 22, 2014 20:46:26 GMT
To this day, I don't think the Jaguar has ever been pushed to its limits. Very true and I think only a few games even came close, most notably the CD version of Hoverstrike, which is easy on par with the early PS1 and Saturn games in terms of 3D graphics. In fact in some ways it's better because it doesn't feature any of the texture warping that plagued those console (especially the PS1). |
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TrekMD
Junior Member
Posts: 95
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Post by TrekMD on Jul 22, 2014 20:56:55 GMT
I still hope someone will come around an create a homebrew title worthy of the console that will take it to its limits.
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Post by Riddick on Jul 22, 2014 21:27:59 GMT
Just to touch again on the appearance of the machine itself; The Jaguar CD aside, which has been ridiculed since it's release for it's toilet shape, you can tell that some actual resources were spent on the design of the case. Atari was no stranger to intelligent and attractive designs of their consoles. In fact, usually Atari put a bit of thought into what their consoles looked like, as I think starting with the woodgrain 2600, you have elements of modern design fashion there. I mean, they wanted the consoles to fit in and look good on contemporary living room furnishings.
Let's face it, in 1976, wood paneling and shag carpet was in style. When it comes to the Jaguar, well, I'm not going to state it was designed with modern furnishings in mind, but it definitely has some 'edge' to it. Why am I so interested in this? Because, almost every other video game console was just a box, with not much variation on that.
Nintendo was probably the worst offender, with the shoe box shaped NES, then a box called the SNES. The N64 has some shape to it, kind of curvy actually, but then as if to mock itself, the Game'cube'. I know, it's really a superfluous issue with no impact on game quality. It's just, looking back, I appreciate the Jaguar more and more for numerous reasons, and the sexy design of the case is one of them.
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TrekMD
Junior Member
Posts: 95
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Post by TrekMD on Jul 23, 2014 1:44:18 GMT
You make very valid points about the console's design. It certainly was better designed than most of the "boxes" other consoles looked like.
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Post by The Laird on Jul 24, 2014 18:48:35 GMT
The design is certainly one of the system's biggest selling points, I would put it right up there with the model 1 Sega Mega Drive in the looks stakes.
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Post by Riddick on Jul 28, 2014 23:07:52 GMT
So, I'm back to playing my Jag recently. I have this game that I never play as it seems too complicated. It's called Syndicate. Is this game worth my time to spend learning it, and is it really very difficult?
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Post by The Laird on Jul 31, 2014 19:03:55 GMT
So, I'm back to playing my Jag recently. I have this game that I never play as it seems too complicated. It's called Syndicate. Is this game worth my time to spend learning it, and is it really very difficult? My personal view is no. I have just never "got" this game, although back in the day my neighbour played it non-stop - it was his fave Jag game. |
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