What year is it tonight? Atari releases a new console after a gap of 46 years! - News - Offical News | Rustar

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What year is it tonight? Atari releases a new console after a gap of 46 years! I woke up to the surprising news that Atari is releasing a new gaming console. Yes, you heard that right – it's the Atari, often referred to as the "pioneer of modern gaming." The new gaming console unveiled by Atari, named the "Atari 2600+," is an upgraded version of the original "Atari 2600" released in 1977. This new console comes equipped with the CX40+ joystick and a 10-in-1 cartridge, supports HDMI output and widescreen mode, and is compatible with the original cartridges of Atari 2600 and 7800 consoles. Although the Atari 2600+ closely resembles the original Atari 2600 in appearance, it's actually only 90% of the size of the original, ensuring it won't take up too much space. The Atari 2600+ is priced at $129.99 and is expected to be available in November this year. As a gaming company that can be considered "ancient" in the industry, Atari made a significant impact during the 1980s. Regardless of their decisions or game releases, Atari had a substantial influence on the gaming world. This influence included their first commercial arcade game, "Pong," and the highly successful home gaming console "Atari 2600," which dominated the North American console gaming market in the 1980s. Of course, it also includes the infamous "cult classic" "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," which ultimately led to Atari's downfall. The "Atari 2600" sold over 30 million units during its lifetime and officially ceased production in 1992. The new "Atari 2600+" can be seen as an upgrade after 46 years. When it comes to Atari, players of a certain age have likely heard of the name. Atari's "Pong," developed in 1972, is widely recognized as the "world's first commercially successful video game." The company's most famous gaming console, the "Atari 2600," held a dominant position in North America's home console gaming market in the 1980s. Even Apple's future CEO, Steve Jobs, worked at Atari as a game developer when he was just 19 years old. Atari, with its vision and technological prowess, was a source of pride for the American gaming industry. Before Atari's complete dominance in the North American gaming market, it faced strong competition from products like Fairchild's "Channel F" and Magnavox's "Odyssey." Despite numerous challenges, Atari rapidly conquered the North American home console gaming market with games like "Adventure," "Yars' Revenge," and "Breakout." It's worth noting that Atari's founder, Nolan Bushnell, sold the company to Warner Communications to create better home gaming products. However, due to disagreements and unreasonable demands from Warner, he left Atari in 1978, just a year after the release of "Atari 2600." Nolan Bushnell's departure, combined with a flood of low-quality third-party games and Warner's high demands, led Atari to create the infamous and game market-crashing "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" had some of the worst graphics, the most baffling story, and the most grating sound effects globally, but due to Warner's massive marketing campaign, it still managed to sell 1.5 million copies during the Christmas season. However, it was this game, along with Atari's last hope, that led to the company's destruction and the onset of the "video game crash." After the "E.T." incident, Atari suffered huge losses and entered a period of decline. For several decades, it went through cycles of acquisition and sale. It wasn't until 2013 when Atari filed for bankruptcy protection in a New York court, marking the end of this 41-year-old gaming company. In the eyes of many players, Atari disappeared from public view after declaring bankruptcy. However, Atari never gave up on survival and has been seeking ways to make a comeback since then. First, in 2014, they relaunched their classic casino games from the past on mobile and web platforms. Then, in 2017, they attempted to release their new console, the "Atari VCS." Due to technical limitations and the impact of the pandemic, the Atari VCS was not officially released until 2021, and it was discontinued just a year later due to poor sales. However, after the Atari VCS was launched, Atari solidified its "retro" focus and began helping players enjoy retro games on modern devices. In the same year that the Atari VCS was released, Atari ventured into the blockchain field, introducing its own cryptocurrency, "Atari Token," and allowing players to use it as chips for its previously launched casino games. With this move into blockchain, Atari restructured its internal organization, creating "Atari Game" to focus on the gaming sector and "Atari Blockchain" to handle blockchain and virtual currency. Additionally, Atari has plans to build its brand hotels in locations like Dubai and Gibraltar, indicating its expansion into the tourism industry. Finally, in June of this year, Atari released a brand new game for the Atari 2600 titled "Mr. Run and Jump." The company claimed it was the first Atari game cartridge released after the turn of the 21st century, and its price was set at $60, on par with the "AAA" titles of today. Of course, most of the players buying this cartridge are likely collectors, as there aren't many avenues to acquire an Atari 2600 for actual gameplay. Now, with the Atari 2600+, collectors who have purchased cartridges but couldn't find a console finally have a suitable way to experience the games. Atari, this company with a turbulent history, has been around for 51 years, making it an absolute "living fossil" in the gaming industry. It may never return to its former glory, but it won't disappear easily. The historical experiences and lessons from Atari are still worth celebrating and remembering.

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Dec.14,2023

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