How is it going? A question for Atari, Ben, and Plaion

[Zonie]

OK, we're a coupla months into this 2600+.

I see lots of new people interested, mostly in FB but here too.

 

Atari, Ben, and Plaion, How is it going?

What are the numbers?

How many sold?

Is it meeting or exceeding expectations?

Is it driving more game development than we have seen?

 

 

[Ben from Plaion]

Thanks for posting, these are questions I'd ask if I was on the other side of the fence as a consumer watching it all, but they venture too deeply into commercially sensitive detail for me to answer.

 

The one thing I would say is that we have just announced more accessories and games to build on the launch range of products. We would not be doing this if the 2600+ was a lemon. 

 

The veracity of social media interactions detailing wants and desires for the project dwarfs the realtime ability of us satisfying them. 

 

However my thoughts are always to take it all into account and think about leap frogging the consumer feedback with products that provide wow moments.

 

I might fail and Food Fight, Ninja Golf and Fatal Run might be the last 2600+ new products....but somehow I doubt that.

[JetmanUK]

30 minutes ago, Ben from Plaion said:

Thanks for posting, these are questions I'd ask if I was on the other side of the fence as a consumer watching it all, but they venture too deeply into commercially sensitive detail for me to answer.

 

The one thing I would say is that we have just announced more accessories and games to build on the launch range of products. We would not be doing this if the 2600+ was a lemon. 

 

The veracity of social media interactions detailing wants and desires for the project dwarfs the realtime ability of us satisfying them. 

 

However my thoughts are always to take it all into account and think about leap frogging the consumer feedback with products that provide wow moments.

 

I might fail and Food Fight, Ninja Golf and Fatal Run might be the last 2600+ new products....but somehow I doubt that.

Me too. 🤟🏻😊

[PowerDubs]

1 hour ago, Zonie said:

How many sold?

 

 

Best we know- a guy posted in December in the serial # thread with a number just under 60,000

 

But I can understand why Ben can't say much.... and agree with his sentiments- watch what they do with product tie in to judge.

 

 

[MikeM_]

As someone on the outside trying to peek in, everything I see is promising and positive. Phased releases of games, accessories and the hard work on the FW shows a growing investment and confidence in the product. 
 

As much as we all love this, and are wanting to see this grow bigger, it’s still a niche part of gaming. It will not sell numbers in line with the big three. It will not inspire big game studios to produce new AAA games. 
 

Continued investment in FW development, occasional re-releases and the surprise new title (like Mr. Run and Jump) every now and again is exactly what I’m hoping to see and am glad to keep seeing. 
 

Thank you Ben 👍🏼 
 

 

[Brad_from_the_80s]

No matter what, it's amazing to have an authentic-feeling iteration of a product from 47 years ago that was engineered to last maybe a year or two on the market and be forgotten, and which had many failed and long-forgotten contemporaries.  And it feels like Atari is real in this world again.

 

Who knows what may happen, but ideally this just becomes a perennial retro platform for Atari with moderate tasteful refreshes instead of a one-off, something you can always get and there is always something new for.  Because this basic product more than anything else is what Atari is known for.

[Glorkbot]

34 minutes ago, Brad_from_the_80s said:

No matter what, it's amazing to have an authentic-feeling iteration of a product from 47 years ago that was engineered to last maybe a year or two on the market and be forgotten, and which had many failed and long-forgotten contemporaries.  And it feels like Atari is real in this world again.

I agree, it's absolutely amazing. I am completely delighted with my Atari 2600+. My sons, age 16 and 20, have been playing with me. Tonight even my wife played two-player Space Invaders with me. I didn't even ask...she suggested it herself. I couldn't believe it, haha!

 

I am just so happy. Atari means a LOT to me. A whole freaking LOT.

 

 

[Microjak]

Agreed I am absolutely made up with my 2600+ its bringing me so much pleasure playing the games, collecting long lost games and discovering new hidden gems.

Thank you so much Ben and your team(and many members of this forum) for all your hard work and continued support for this machine.

 

I sincerely hope this remains an 'Evergreen' product for Atari as I know I'll have one sitting in my living room for the foreseeable and it'll sit nicely along all the latest and greatest,PS12,Xbox 14,Switch 8 !!!!

as its not trying to compete with the latest and greatest, it doesn't need to, its already proven itself generations ago....

 

Long Live The 2600+

[JetmanUK]

5 hours ago, Glorkbot said:

I agree, it's absolutely amazing. I am completely delighted with my Atari 2600+. My sons, age 16 and 20, have been playing with me. Tonight even my wife played two-player Space Invaders with me. I didn't even ask...she suggested it herself. I couldn't believe it, haha!

 

I am just so happy. Atari means a LOT to me. A whole freaking LOT.

 

 

Really lovely to hear that your family is getting enjoyment from the Plus too. Great story. 😊

 

I have slowly introduced my two and a half year old daughter* into Atari, she's obviously too young to use the joystick properly, but we have held it together, she gets what's going on and has enjoyed it. She's said "Play game!" to me a couple of times. 

 

I'm still trying to get my totally non gamer wife to dabble in Atari. She enjoyed Hangman (🤣) and I managed to get her to play one round of the box collecting game (a favourite of mine) in Indy 500. She was terrible, to be expected. 🤣

 

Other than Hangman, any tips on Atari games for non gamers to try to draw them in? I don't think she'd play Chess, Othello, Bridge, Casino etc. I mean more of an accessible game with a hook. 

 

*Yes, I am an old Dad, a late starter. 🤣

[DEANJIMMY]

19 minutes ago, JetmanUK said:

Really lovely to hear that your family is getting enjoyment from the Plus too. Great story. 😊

 

I have slowly introduced my two and a half year old daughter* into Atari, she's obviously too young to use the joystick properly, but we have held it together, she gets what's going on and has enjoyed it. She's said "Play game!" to me a couple of times. 

 

I'm still trying to get my totally non gamer wife to dabble in Atari. She enjoyed Hangman (🤣) and I managed to get her to play one round of the box collecting game (a favourite of mine) in Indy 500. She was terrible, to be expected. 🤣

 

Other than Hangman, any tips on Atari games for non gamers to try to draw them in? I don't think she'd play Chess, Othello, Bridge, Casino etc. I mean more of an accessible game with a hook. 

 

*Yes, I am an old Dad, a late starter. 🤣

No tips for your wife,  mine does not play at all, she just loves to watch when I play games like RiME or First Tree and at the end she cries😊

But for kids there are so many good games on the Atari. They get much better feedback as from games running on modern consoles.

Until 11 I only played Atari with my godson and at 5/6 Fishing Derby was number one🤙

[KainXavier]

My hope is that the sales of the 2600+ convinces Atari, and the rest of the industry, to support their legacy platforms by re-issuing old games and manufacturing new hardware.  There's clearly money to be made.  Otherwise companies like retro-bit and Limited Run Games wouldn't stay in business.

 

P.S.: I also hope the 2600+ is supported for years to come!

Edited February 4 by KainXavier

[MikeM_]

2 hours ago, JetmanUK said:

Other than Hangman, any tips on Atari games for non gamers to try to draw them in? I don't think she'd play Chess, Othello, Bridge, Casino etc. I mean more of an accessible game with a hook. 

Video Olympics come to mind. It’s iconic and easy to learn. Maybe that would draw her in. For that matter, I wonder if any of the two player only titles would be good places to start. That way, it’s an activity you two are sharing. 

[JetmanUK]

2 minutes ago, MikeM_ said:

Video Olympics come to mind. It’s iconic and easy to learn. Maybe that would draw her in. For that matter, I wonder if any of the two player only titles would be good places to start. That way, it’s an activity you two are sharing. 

Thanks for the suggestion. 😊

 

This one had actually crossed my mind, very simple and easy to understand, and I think the paddle is probably a friendlier device to use than a joystick for the non gamer. 

 

Perhaps some paddle controlled shooters would work well too. 🤔

[Dr Karnov]

1 hour ago, JetmanUK said:

Thanks for the suggestion. 😊

 

This one had actually crossed my mind, very simple and easy to understand, and I think the paddle is probably a friendlier device to use than a joystick for the non gamer. 

 

Perhaps some paddle controlled shooters would work well too. 🤔

The only paddle shooter I've got:

 

 

[r_chase]

Believe it or not, I have a question for Atari itself: why is the GameStation Pro going for a hardware revision a year after release? I know it's technically a licensed product made by MyArcade, but you'd think they'd do their side of the bargain for more than two years considering there are firmware updates and stuff.

Just curious, that's all.

[+Intellivision Master]

6 hours ago, Microjak said:

Long Live The 2600+

Hear, hear! 

[JetmanUK]

1 hour ago, r_chase said:

Believe it or not, I have a question for Atari itself: why is the GameStation Pro going for a hardware revision a year after release? I know it's technically a licensed product made by MyArcade, but you'd think they'd do their side of the bargain for more than two years considering there are firmware updates and stuff.

Just curious, that's all.

Tbf I think it's more of a repackage - The Gamestion Pro Remix. 

 

My understanding, and I may be wrong, is that it's some different colours on the console itself, to fit in with the Atari 50 colour branding, and new controllers, which will also be sold separately. 

 

I have a current GSP so I'll watch this space, I assume any further firmware updates will be supported on both models. 

Edited February 4 by JetmanUK

[+Intellivision Master]

4 hours ago, KainXavier said:

P.S.: I also hope the 2600+ is supported for years to come!

Yes to this.  Hopefully it goes on forever.  

[r_chase]

35 minutes ago, JetmanUK said:

Tbf I think it's more of a repackage - The Gamestion Pro Remix. 

 

My understanding, and I may be wrong, is that it's some different colours on the console itself, to fit in with the Atari 50 colour branding, and new controllers, which will also be sold separately. 

 

I have a current GSP so I'll watch this space, I assume any further firmware updates will be supported on both models. 

Thanks. If you're wrong, thanks for trying anyway.

On the topic of the 2600+, if there is a hardware revision on that as well, I would guess it would include an SD card slot, but it could be wishful thinking for now, since they want to stay as close to the original 2600 as possible. We'll wait and see I guess.

[chad5200]

4 minutes ago, r_chase said:

On the topic of the 2600+, if there is a hardware revision on that as well, I would guess it would include an SD card slot, but it could be wishful thinking for now, since they want to stay as close to the original 2600 as possible. We'll wait and see I guess.

Make it a six switcher too. 

 

[r_chase]

Just now, chad5200 said:

Make it a six switcher too. 

 

Four switches is fine enough me and some people; I'm anticipating more on the new gamepads. I kinda hope they're compatible with my RetroN 77 as I need something for 2-button 2600 games. The closest thing I have for a 2600 gamepad is the Ranger...by the same guys behind RetroN 77.

[Plumbob]

7 hours ago, JetmanUK said:

Really lovely to hear that your family is getting enjoyment from the Plus too. Great story. 😊

 

I have slowly introduced my two and a half year old daughter* into Atari, she's obviously too young to use the joystick properly, but we have held it together, she gets what's going on and has enjoyed it. She's said "Play game!" to me a couple of times. 

 

I'm still trying to get my totally non gamer wife to dabble in Atari. She enjoyed Hangman (🤣) and I managed to get her to play one round of the box collecting game (a favourite of mine) in Indy 500. She was terrible, to be expected. 🤣

 

Other than Hangman, any tips on Atari games for non gamers to try to draw them in? I don't think she'd play Chess, Othello, Bridge, Casino etc. I mean more of an accessible game with a hook. 

 

*Yes, I am an old Dad, a late starter. 🤣

My wife enjoys playing RiverRaid, although she doesn’t always get real far in the game. My sister-in-law plays Barnstorming. I would also recommend Freeway set to the easy difficulty. And probably Grand Prix game selection 4 for longer play duration. 
 

These games mostly have a sort of “one dimensional” user interface that might make it easier to get immersed in the games. 

Edited February 4 by Plumbob
Clarification

[JetmanUK]

14 minutes ago, Plumbob said:

My wife enjoys playing RiverRaid, although she doesn’t always get real far in the game. My sister-in-law plays Barnstorming. I would also recommend Freeway set to the easy difficulty. And probably Grand Prix game selection 4 for longer play duration. 

Thanks, I have these, she definitely won't have the reactions to play River Raid though (being a non gamer). Freeway is super simple. 👍🏻

All Activision games too! 

 

[Microjak]

1 hour ago, chad5200 said:

Make it a six switcher too. 

 

Yes even a Vader ,jnr. or 7800 edition ? I know I would end up buying them all😀

[Microjak]

1 hour ago, JetmanUK said:

Tbf I think it's more of a repackage - The Gamestion Pro Remix. 

 

My understanding, and I may be wrong, is that it's some different colours on the console itself, to fit in with the Atari 50 colour branding, and new controllers, which will also be sold separately. 

 

I have a current GSP so I'll watch this space, I assume any further firmware updates will be supported on both models. 

Yeh I prefer the original design myself but the new joystick button layout does look better as well as the gamepad👍