AtariAge + Atari Q&A

[AtariNerd]

(Carry on, really, but...)

[Giles N]

3 hours ago, MrBeefy said:

How about this instead? The heating elements can be Atari symbols.

 

ISIKI Heated Pants USB Bluetooth Control 5 Temperature 8 Heating Zones Heated Leggings Winter Warm Trousers for Men and Women https://a.co/d/cWkx8j8

I appreciate your concern, but given  the frequency of my Atari SpeakerPants(TM) voice-channeling activity, I just don’t think I’ll need any extra heating. 

[MrBeefy]

52 minutes ago, AtariNerd said:

(Carry on, really, but...)

[jerseystyle]

8 hours ago, PowerDubs said:

 

 

 

Yup- just like the VCS- people love to post cynical negative stuff, puffing up their chests and feeling cool to be so 'witty' just like a kid in grade school- but the reality is they are talking trash about something they have no hands on experience with - and the people that actually own the products like them.

 

I said it years ago- and stand by it- the speakerhat is very well built, well packaged, and performs it's function with no issues whatsoever. 

 

If you don't have a desire that function / item / cost- doesn't make it bad.

 

 

 

Holy shit he came back. It’s like we summoned him Kraken style. I figured by now you’d have someone to read and respond in Atari Age for you.

[Wildstar]

14 minutes ago, jerseystyle said:

Holy shit he came back. It’s like we summoned him Kraken style. I figured by now you’d have someone to read and respond in Atari Age for you.

Yeah... like Beetlejuice

 

[Wildstar]

Now my personal opinion on the speakerhat thing.

 

I will note that I haven't used it so I am not going to diss it on technical matters or quality of the making of the product.

 

Here are my opinions:

1. It is more of a promotional item. A little gimmicky but it is fine for a company to promote the brand with promotional gimmicks. It serves a purpose and other companies long done that. I have a promotional Sony PSvita hat. Regular hat and all. I'd buy a nice cool Atari branded hat, too. If not too expensive. I don't need it to be a speakerhat. I'd be fine with it being a quality made hat. Probably not pay as much as a speakerhat. Okay. Some people may desire or want one of those speakerhats. I'm okay with it, if they like it. Not that my being okay with it matters to them or others or matter at all.

 

2. Excessive promoting it can feel spammy. Especially from a forum user where it is not clear if they work for Atari. If the person works for Atari, fine... part of the job but I would rather see Atari promote the VCS and projects for it. Promote development for VCS and also their 2600+ and other projects. Promoting and encouraging projects like games for current and prior Atari consoles, computers. Maybe a deal for publishing new games for Atari consoles and computers. This doesn't mean they develop the games. That risk be borne on the developer. Licensing/publishing for modern systems using emulators and physical media. I can put the game on SD and it be used by the Atari 400 and 800 using existing hardware accessories that have been made by the Atari 8 bit community and retro businesses. Distribution for emulators on PCs, smartphones, etc. can be downloaded from an online store after purchase. Piracy or copyright infringement or distribution on ROM sites of games currently made and sold should not be condoned or otherwise acceptable conduct. There can be a justified exception for preservation of "out of print" games no longer made and sold. 

 

3. I do not have a current need or burning desire for a speakerhat in general. It ranks low on my list of stuff I want. An Atari VCS they are making. An Atari 130XE in good condition. An Atari TT030 would be something I would want. TT030 was cool looking computer. Have one along with my Amiga 1200. A MEGA65. One of these vampire 1200 cards for my Amiga 1200. Possibly a standalone Vampire units from Apollo Systems. Yeah, the wishlist goes on. 

 

A hat ranks low. If inexpensive, I'd consider buying. They can be inexpensive and have good quality. Extra price for speakers is not a feature that gets me eager to own one when there are a litany of cool stuff I want.

 

So I am not saying there is anything wrong about the hat. 

 

PS: an Atari 65XE would work. I can basically turn it into 130XE more or less. Mainly need a new case because the one I got has a few banged up parts. A good motherboard be good too. Although I got one of the remake motherboards. May need some components. Once that's done and all working... I can do some game projects for XE/XL systems. Some sellers on eRape likes to have some at extreme prices. 

 

Edited September 26, 2023 by Wildstar

[roots.genoa]

Except for its price tag, I think the biggest problem about the speakerhat is it was released at a time Atari was not very active (to say the least) in the game development side of things. So it was not seen as what it is, merchandise like a T-shirt or a mug (although a little goofier), but as the main thing Atari had to offer at the time.

[Wildstar]

3 minutes ago, roots.genoa said:

Except for its price tag, I think the biggest problem about the speakerhat is it was released at a time Atari was not very active (to say the least) in the game development side of things. So it was not seen as what it is, merchandise like a T-shirt or a mug (although a little goofier), but as the main thing Atari had to offer at the time.

Agree. Atari should consider timing merchandise better. Although some of it being third party licensing. 

[Matt_B]

12 minutes ago, roots.genoa said:

Except for its price tag, I think the biggest problem about the speakerhat is it was released at a time Atari was not very active (to say the least) in the game development side of things. So it was not seen as what it is, merchandise like a T-shirt or a mug (although a little goofier), but as the main thing Atari had to offer at the time.

Yeah, to put it in its full context, the Speaker Hat came out in 2017, alongside the launch of Atari's crypto token and the crowdfunding for the Gameband, which ultimately never shipped.

 

The only meaningful game release that year was the PC port of Rollercoaster Tycoon, a mobile game that had come out the previous year. They were definitely a merch company first and only an occasional publisher of games at the time.

 

Had it come out last year, when they released ten games on Steam most of which were quite decent, I don't think anyone would have batted an eyelid.

[Wildstar]

7 minutes ago, Matt_B said:

Yeah, to put it in its full context, the Speaker Hat came out in 2017, alongside the launch of Atari's crypto token and the crowdfunding for the Gameband, which ultimately never shipped.

 

The only meaningful game release that year was the PC port of Rollercoaster Tycoon, a mobile game that had come out the previous year. They were definitely a merch company first and only an occasional publisher of games at the time.

 

Had it come out last year, when they released ten games on Steam most of which were quite decent, I don't think anyone would have batted an eyelid.

I think that being a merchandise-first company and what not is against the spirit of what Atari was about... a video game company. Yes, early on, Atari manufactured the hardware like the arcade hardware and home console and home computers but first of all, all that hardware was meaningless without the content..  games and apps. It was that "software" that was most important. Hardware facilitates but it is software ultimately. It was what people remembered. It is what made the Atari Experience. So, Atari like Sega can be software/video games, first. Hardware can be later and hold a meaningful place when there is capacity. Nintendo is more about its content than its consoles. Even if Nintendo stop making console, it will survive as a company by making games and its large IP collection. If Atari made/published games prominently on PC and Android/iOS, and added support for stuff like Tilt Five and VR/XR, tapping into that game Experience that is unique especially like Tilt Five provides, driving up sales for the hardware accessory but bringing new gaming experience. I may help open the door for them on that front. They help with their brand market value. Culling the resources of various developers in the market. Atari doesn't have to do everything in-house. Especially if you don't have billion dollars+ in the accounts. 

[jerseystyle]

7 hours ago, roots.genoa said:

Except for its price tag, I think the biggest problem about the speakerhat is it was released at a time Atari was not very active (to say the least) in the game development side of things. So it was not seen as what it is, merchandise like a T-shirt or a mug (although a little goofier), but as the main thing Atari had to offer at the time.

I think it’s biggest problem was Pdubs at the time preaching its revelatory speaker powers and showing us, in detail, how .01 cents would drift upwards to .012 cents in the future and lead to women, power, and sugar. 

[Flojomojo]

@Wildstar I think you're missing what @Matt_B was saying. At the time when Atari Speaker Hats came out for $129, Atari's company slogan on their website was "Atari, so much more than video games." They were pushing the idea of an Atari Hotel, Atari casino games, Atari crypto currency, Atari NFT/metaverse fad crap, and poorly articulated and vague aspirations to be a "lifestyle brand." In truth, they were so much LESS than video games and the company's reputation was diminished by it. 

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20181121071042/https://www.atari.com/

 

Despite the Tallarico-like shilling efforts of PowerDubs, Atari SA stock is still locked in at 13 cents per share. I appreciate the brand as a historical artifact and occasional game publisher, but the further they got out of their lane, the more ridiculous they seemed. I don't know if they'll grow much beyond where they are now, but at least they're making some games that fit with the heritage. 

 

[JPF997]

On 9/26/2023 at 6:02 AM, jerseystyle said:

Holy shit he came back. It’s like we summoned him Kraken style. I figured by now you’d have someone to read and respond in Atari Age for you.

One thing I've learned about powerdubs is that he always comes back in the end 😂

[roots.genoa]

56 minutes ago, jerseystyle said:

I think it’s biggest problem was Pdubs at the time preaching its revelatory speaker powers and showing us, in detail, how .01 cents would drift upwards to .012 cents in the future and lead to women, power, and sugar. 

To be fair, that's a 20% price increase. Not too shabby. 😉

[Mockduck]

I like the Speakerhat enough that I keep eyeing the newer imo nicer looking versions when they keep going on sale, I prefer the cured brim to the trucker hat style and that Pong one is really nice. 

[+Stephen]

19 minutes ago, roots.genoa said:

To be fair, that's a 20% price increase. Not too shabby. 😉

To quote an old Dennis Miller routine from the early 80s:
"Cheap clothing stores always offer a two for one sale.  Hey folks - two of shit, is SHIT".

[PlaidMouse]

On 9/14/2023 at 9:59 PM, Wildstar said:

Reposting to draw attention to it.

Thank you so much @Wildstar! Really love playing on the JS7800 and competing for high scores. Would be a shame to loose it.

 

Anyone reading this know if we will loose access to the JS7800 and/or the currently available games? Thanks in advance!

[Wildstar]

1 hour ago, Flojomojo said:

@Wildstar I think you're missing what @Matt_B was saying. At the time when Atari Speaker Hats came out for $129, Atari's company slogan on their website was "Atari, so much more than video games." They were pushing the idea of an Atari Hotel, Atari casino games, Atari crypto currency, Atari NFT/metaverse fad crap, and poorly articulated and vague aspirations to be a "lifestyle brand." In truth, they were so much LESS than video games and the company's reputation was diminished by it. 

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20181121071042/https://www.atari.com/

 

Despite the Tallarico-like shilling efforts of PowerDubs, Atari SA stock is still locked in at 13 cents per share. I appreciate the brand as a historical artifact and occasional game publisher, but the further they got out of their lane, the more ridiculous they seemed. I don't know if they'll grow much beyond where they are now, but at least they're making some games that fit with the heritage. 

 

 

Agree but first things first.... Atari needs to focus on video games and content. Build upon their 'cast of characters' with new games. Take a page from Nintendo playbook and use it. From there, you can go from a $13M-$60M company to maybe $130M to $200M+ if you successfully build quality successor games building franchises out of various games and characters. When you expand on the games you publish made by third party, you expand the portfolio of games and your own revenue, potentially.

[roadrunner]

Don't forget to wear your Speaker Belt with your Speaker Hat, Speaker Pants, and Speaker Shoes! 

[guppy]

5 hours ago, Flojomojo said:

@Wildstar I think you're missing what @Matt_B was saying. At the time when Atari Speaker Hats came out for $129, Atari's company slogan on their website was "Atari, so much more than video games." They were pushing the idea of an Atari Hotel, Atari casino games, Atari crypto currency, Atari NFT/metaverse fad crap, and poorly articulated and vague aspirations to be a "lifestyle brand." In truth, they were so much LESS than video games and the company's reputation was diminished by it. 

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20181121071042/https://www.atari.com/

 

Despite the Tallarico-like shilling efforts of PowerDubs, Atari SA stock is still locked in at 13 cents per share. I appreciate the brand as a historical artifact and occasional game publisher, but the further they got out of their lane, the more ridiculous they seemed. I don't know if they'll grow much beyond where they are now, but at least they're making some games that fit with the heritage. 

 

This is why I decided to buy 1000 shares of PONGF last week.

 

For the price of the 2600+, I now own a tiny stake in the company. It's not a lot of money to throw away if the stock becomes worthless, and if it ever does increase in value to, say, even $1/share, it could end up being a decent investment. Given the performance over the past several years, this is a long shot, but over the long term if Atari SA manages to do well, it's conceivable that it could happen. 

 

Atari is currently valuated at a little under $70 million USD, with something like 480 million shares outstanding, which is not that much, really, all things considered. If AtariAge forum members all decided to buy a modest amount of the stock, we could become a more influential bloc when it comes to whom Atari SA is beholden to. Instead of complaining that they have to act in the interest of the shareholders, we could become a sizable portion of the shareholders, and then they would have to act in our interests. 

 

If you have a brokerage account, you can pick up a hundred shares here and there for pocket change, and have more of a voice in the company. 

[Flojomojo]

1 hour ago, guppy said:

If AtariAge forum members all decided to buy a modest amount of the stock, we could become a more influential bloc when it comes to whom Atari SA is beholden to. Instead of complaining that they have to act in the interest of the shareholders, we could become a sizable portion of the shareholders, and then they would have to act in our interests. 

 

If you have a brokerage account, you can pick up a hundred shares here and there for pocket change, and have more of a voice in the company. 

Nah, I'd rather just bitch and whine on Internet forums than own Atari stock. 😇  If they make good products, I'll buy 'em. 

[roadrunner]

[JPF997]

1 hour ago, Flojomojo said:

Nah, I'd rather just bitch and whine on Internet forums than own Atari stock. 😇  If they make good products, I'll buy 'em. 

Well I  consider all  the game's I've bought  from Atari SA for my PS5  to be of high quality but I understand why someone wouldn't want to risk owning stock, you could easily end up like our friend powerdubs who's purchased more than 30k shares just this year on pongf and hasn't received a single cent yet.

[+littaum]

5 minutes ago, JPF997 said:

Well I  consider all  the game's I've bought  from Atari SA for my PS5  to be of high quality but I understand why someone wouldn't want to risk owning stock, you could easily end up like our friend powerdubs who's purchased more than 30k shares just this year on pongf and hasn't received a single cent yet.

 

PONGF doesn't provide a dividend, thus the only way you can get money is by selling some of your stock.  As with any stock that doesn't provide a dividend (like Tesla).  

[JPF997]

13 minutes ago, littaum said:

 

PONGF doesn't provide a dividend, thus the only way you can get money is by selling some of your stock.  As with any stock that doesn't provide a dividend (like Tesla).  

Thanks for the information. If I remember correctly he hasn't sold his pongf share's yet because the value is too low, but it's anyone's guess if the stock will actually go up in value at any point in the near future so his share's could end up being worth more or even less depending on  future stock evaluations, not a good place to be in my opinion.