As the song says, “I can’t see the future but the past keeps gettin’ brighter every day!”
I have a real place in my heart for the classics. In fact, I’ve spent quite a lot of time collecting and curating my own collection of what is considered “retro” gaming titles by today’s standards. However, to me, they’re more than that. They are a part of my history. From the earliest days of Atari that my Dad bought at a yard sale, up ‘till what I consider the end of that era (with the debut of the PlayStation 2) this was a time period that was truly special to me. It was unlike any other, with Atari marking the very beginning.
Now, long after getting out of the hardware game, Atari’s CEO has finally decided it’s time for them to begin branching out from just software. While this news immediately ginned up speculation regarding what a revamped new console might look like, we were instead thrown a serious curve ball. It turns out Atari had an entirely different idea in mind for their future (in what I’d call an out of the box approach to say the least).
So I ask you, does the idea of Atari accessories tickle your fancy? No I’m not talking about new controllers or headset; I’m literally talking about clothing accessories. In a recent interview, CEO Frederic Chesnais brainstormed several ideas that could lead Atari in a very unusual (but possibly innovative) new direction. “I’m not talking about a new console… but, like, a watch. A gamified watch. It’s not what we are going to do, but think about something like that…like a new type of watch is something we ‘could do.’ A watch, branded, where you don’t have an ‘ordinary watch…To give you another idea of something we could do, you have a jacket. We have a plug-in so you can power your iPhone or Android. You had a solar chip on your shoulder so that you power… would you buy an Atari watch? Would you buy an Atari Jacket…I think you would.” Chesnais touts. While I’m all for exploring new avenues to generate revenue, I’m not sure Atari should devote much of their resources to making a Back to the Future style jacket that self-dries or a Dick Tracey looking watch for gamers on the go.
I, on the other hand, do have a thought that I feel could be a bankable idea.
We’ve seen many of these all-in-one TV game or clone systems that have been released over the last few years. A simple plug and play setup gives you access to a handful of your favorite classics. Couple that with the emulation scene that has been going strong since the mid-late ‘90s, and it would seem that all signs point to a real desire to include the games of yesterday into today’s gaming culture. The problem is, neither emulators nor the plug and play systems have ever been able to recreate a real console experience. I say it’s time for Atari to release a “museum” of sorts. It will look essentially the same as the Atari 2600 (with a $99 price tag), and feature updated materials and a sleek new layer of polish. Inside, a hard drive running a front-end system that provides access to every Atari game ever made (2600, 5200 & 7800). Via a sweet cover flow view (or perhaps several layouts the user can customize), you can check out the box art as well as peruse the original manuals and documentations. Then of course there is the library of games. Instead of having just a simple ROM browser, you’re provided a more accurate representation of the original experience. Perhaps when you select the game, you’re treated to an animation of the cartridge being inserted into the system. Also, I can see different themes for the front-end menu being available as well ( IE : a living room, bedroom, basement, arcade, etc). Naturally the output can be upscaled to HD as well as recreating the original controllers to truly give you that classic feel right in your hands.
And Atari isn’t the only prime candidate for a concept such as this. Every console from that era (including NES, Sega Genesis and Intellivision) could enjoy a similar release. The idea of having an all-in-one spot to relive your favorite memories in a way that truly recaptures those days is something I’ve yearned for for quite some time. I realize that with the advent of the “virtual” consoles, this is likely just a pipe dream. But despite how great emulation has become, it’s never going to be quite the same (as nothing this extensive has ever been attempted). So this is me crossing my fingers in hopes that someone at Atari reads this. Perhaps if a successful “proof of concept” is marketed, others (like Nintendo) will follow suit.
Hey, a guy can dream can’t he?