tz101 Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 I got to thinking what if the company now hiding behind the Atari logo were to somehow see some profitability in relaunching the VCS, along with a good assortment of the original Atari-branded game cartridges. You now, games like Centipede, Missile Command, Crystal Castles, Battlezone, and maybe even some new releases. Who knows, maybe Activision would even be a little kind-hearted and allow re-release of many of their original VCS game library along with the Imagic titles. Do you think something like this could sell? What if a somewhat down-and-out retailer like say, K Mart in the US, could be persuaded that nostalgic gamers and lower budget game buyers might show some interest in a relaunched Atari game console? Maybe this could work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Dart Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 (edited) I dunno; did the Flashback 2 "work" in your definition? I can't see this doing half as good as selling an Atari with built-in games. Edited August 16, 2011 by Rex Dart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Rex is right. What you're asking is to divorce the games from the Flashback and you won't get a retailer to devote shelf space to a large cartridge library that will probably never sell. The Flashback 2 was pretty much the right idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 No way. What the other guys said. There would be no point to it, no profit in it, no appeal. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Dart Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 If the 3DS is having trouble selling... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jr. Pac Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 IF it got re-released, I'll buy it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 IF it got re-released, I'll buy it! Hell, I'd buy it too! That's not the point LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tz101 Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 So much negativity. While it won't play with the PS3 and 360 crowds, it most likely would have some appeal at a certain price point (i.e. $40-$50 range for the system, $10 for the games). The Flashback 1 and 2 systems were limited in the number of games. This would allow for new releases, along with hundreds of re-released older games. You have to think outside the bun for a moment... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceDice2010 Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 So much negativity. While it won't play with the PS3 and 360 crowds, it most likely would have some appeal at a certain price point (i.e. $40-$50 range for the system, $10 for the games). The Flashback 1 and 2 systems were limited in the number of games. This would allow for new releases, along with hundreds of re-released older games. You have to think outside the bun for a moment... The problem is shelf space. Retailers need to make so much revenue per square foot. Selling Atari 2600's aren't going to cut it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svenski Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 I'm not sure it would sell, at least in numbers necessary to make it worth while. Everyone here would probably buy it but then, in the grand scheme of things, we're the minority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectorGamer Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 No. I think what may sell is a sooped-up Flashback with like 1000 games on it and a set of controllers that can do joystick and paddles all in one. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jr. Pac Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 I don't think he means the size of the original 2600. Maybe around the size of a Jr. I think it would be epic if it looked like an upgraded version of a Jr. and have backwards compatibility for old 2600 games or if the carts are different, there should be an adapter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Dart Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 So much negativity. While it won't play with the PS3 and 360 crowds, it most likely would have some appeal at a certain price point (i.e. $40-$50 range for the system, $10 for the games). $10 a game? People here freak when they have to pay more than three bucks! I could get a GBA SP for $40-50. Cut the console to $10 and the games to $1 and maaaaaybe you'll find a market. The Flashback 1 and 2 systems were limited in the number of games. This would allow for new releases, along with hundreds of re-released older games. You have to think outside the bun for a moment... No, you have to think outside your atari-fetishist haze. Who exactly is going to buy it? It just would not sell, except to atari-nuts who have to have every version of every atari system. I've got buckets of compatible games and I wouldn't buy it. New games are already being made, but not bought in numbers great enough to justify mass production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tz101 Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 New games are already being made, but not bought in numbers great enough to justify mass production. The new games are being sold at $30-$50 a piece. Not exactly the $10 price point I am talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Dart Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 I think what may sell is a sooped-up Flashback with like 1000 games on it and a set of controllers that can do joystick and paddles all in one. There you go. I'd buy THAT. For $30. I don't think he means the size of the original 2600. Maybe around the size of a Jr. I think it would be epic if it looked like an upgraded version of a Jr. and have backwards compatibility for old 2600 games or if the carts are different, there should be an adapter. That's not what epic means. Besides, Jrs still exist. If people want them, they can get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Would a relaunched VCS sell? No. As much as I love classic consoles, it's clear to me that the cartridge-based 2600 is too anachronistic for most of the population today. The few of us who can still enjoy it already have the remaining inventory of "vintage" consoles and games, which should last us for quite some time. O'Shea and Curt Vendel already explored the possibility of creating a new Atari console as a way of selling off the massive inventory of cartridges that O'Shea had. The numbers didn't add up, and that was with a glut of brand new games ready for sale. Having to go back and make new cartridges and a new console would put you even further in the hole, even if you found a retailer who was altruistic enough to give you the shelf space for free. The Flashback 2 was as close as you're going to get to a relaunched 2600, and even that would have been a much harder sale if it had come out just a few years later than it did. Today, I suspect that the only market for vintage 2600 games is through emulation on modern platforms. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroovyBee Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Even if you gave away the carts for free in packets of cereal you'd sell less than 5000 consoles. Nobody apart from Atari nuts will buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Dart Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 New games are already being made, but not bought in numbers great enough to justify mass production. The new games are being sold at $30-$50 a piece. Not exactly the $10 price point I am talking about. You skipped where I said that people won't even pay $10; they demand 'em for $2 max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jr. Pac Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Oops... Wrong word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tz101 Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 The problem is shelf space. Retailers need to make so much revenue per square foot. Selling Atari 2600's aren't going to cut it. This is where slightly off the beaten path ( as far as video games, or just hurting to build business) retailers come in. K Mart, Menards, Kohls, Tuesday Morning, Kroger, etc. Retailers who are willing to take a little "gamble". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Dart Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Oh my god you're right! The Atari 2600 would FLY OFF THE SHELVES OF KROGER GROCERY STORES in 2012! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tz101 Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 They sold the Flashback 2 systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Dart Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 How many? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 No way. What the other guys said. There would be no point to it, no profit in it, no appeal. ...unless they rick-rolled it out with a slew of hip new games under a whole new marketing campaign for the modern times! Fantastic new titles such as: Baby Daddies Divorce Court Hijinx Rahm's Requiem Bankruptcy 2011 Nutty Professors Insane Clown Pussycat Rescue Lender Bender State Fair Thug Thump Maury's Miscreants Trucks vs. SUV's Piercings and Pagoda's Tramp Stamp Nation Affirmative Action Jackson Illinois Dream Acting Earlobe Gauging Freak Fest Donkey Puncher Liberal Spin Twist Bonafied Corporate Bonus Spuds Entitlement Program Blaster Bailout Bastards Texting Trouble Short Pant Teeny Bopper Pajama Public Playtime Wal-Mart Shopper Shooting Gallery Conserv-a-Clash Libertarian Island Twin Tower Toppler Bush*Whacker Methadone Zombies Packrat Intervention Epic Meal Time Trainwreck Terry, The DUI Game mp3 Attack Societal Engineer Big Phat Pharma Dizzy Druggies Cancer Cure Agenda Alignment Promiscuous Texters Salad Tosser Silly Socialists Medical Mary Jane Moral Ethic Masher Mob Riot Panic Marxist Mayhem Futures End Millionaires and Billionaires Cash Clunking Trailer Park Boys Electric Auto Dream Straw Polling Solar Panel Lobby Gulf Oil Spiller Driller EPA The OSHA Tea Party Takeover Wind Farmer Czar Car Media Manipulator LinkedIN Stacker Facebook Friending Down Lo Mortgage Ho Fannie & Freddie Farce Stock Market Plunger Inside Trader Bernanke's Print Shop AIG The Saga Continues Pulitzer Prizing Big Bill Stuffer Cruisin' Iowa Caucus Edition Marion Barry's No-Tell Hotel Huffington Posers Holy Hypocrites Runaway Dems Campaign Bus Crash Rhetoric Rambler Teleprompter Trouble Wardrobe Malfunction Mania Google Droid Wars Asinine Apps Windows Wanking! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gorfcadet Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 It would have to be small... about the size of a nes cart. It would have to support composite out. Have at least 50 built in with a cart slot. I think the most likely thing would be some grey market 20.00 thing like the faketendos floating around that also plays Genesis or something. I'm good with my original. Though I would have to buy a nes/snes/sega/atari in a heartbeat to save wear on my original consoles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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