Giles N Posted June 15 Share Posted June 15 36 minutes ago, Lord Mushroom said: With original games there is a chance of becoming big overnight. Well, if it’s a great shot, like one-in-a-million, - overnight - yeah, sure. 58 minutes ago, Lord Mushroom said: If they don´t have ideas, they can publicly announce that they are looking for developers to pitch ideas to them. Yeah, and then there still need to be some process or persons who say ‘you know, I think this will work, but this stuff over here won’t. Hey, this is pure briilance, this one’s okeyish, and that concept over that is absolute dreck’. And that weeding process needs to work snd be done before both full production and release, or the losses could be enormous if they want to make a big(ger) production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mushroom Posted June 15 Share Posted June 15 1 hour ago, Giles N said: and if then go-all-in with your money, you may have a problem… They shouldn´t go all-in on a game, or even a few games. You can make games with a high potential at a low cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles N Posted June 15 Share Posted June 15 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Lord Mushroom said: You can make games with a high potential at a low cost. …yes, that is possible, but you need the right folks to pull off such moves… …and have games that have broad appeal… Edited June 15 by Giles N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mushroom Posted June 15 Share Posted June 15 6 minutes ago, Giles N said: Well, if it’s a great shot, like one-in-a-million, - overnight - yeah, sure. I didn´t literally mean overnight. I realize that games that do that well are very rare, but why make games without such potential when you can make games with such potential? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles N Posted June 15 Share Posted June 15 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Lord Mushroom said: why make games without such potential when you can make games with such potential? I’ve asked the same question, and believe that Atari just right now have a somewhat limited competance to discern what makes for mass-appeal… they seem unfocused and distracted on this point when it comes to new games (contra retro hardware, compilations, remakes, which moves in right direction imo) Edited June 15 by Giles N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred_M Posted June 15 Share Posted June 15 Making new versions of old Atari games...... I was curious and used Mobygames to find out how many times Atari re-released old games (and compilations) and how many times they have released newer versions of existing games..... Well, it is a big list.... I can not imagine that republishing these games over and over again will be the way to go. I have hidden the list to make sure that this post is not a very long one. I listed only software releases, I did not include the huge flood of hardware made by a.o. Jakks Pacific, Plaion, MGA, Blaze, At games, Arcade 1up and probably many others. Spoiler Lunar Lander Beyond 2024 Windows, Nintendo Switch (+5 more) Berzerk: Recharged 2023 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 (+7 more) Haunted House 2023 Windows, Nintendo Switch (+5 more) Caverns of Mars: Recharged 2023 Windows, PlayStation 4 (+7 more) Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration 2022 Xbox One, Windows (+5 more) Yars: Recharged 2022 Xbox One, Nintendo Switch (+7 more) Gravitar: Recharged 2022 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 (+8 more) Breakout: Recharged 2022 Linux, Windows (+8 more) Asteroids: Recharged 2021 PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch (+8 more) Centipede: Recharged 2021 Windows, Nintendo Switch (+8 more) Aquaventure 2021 Plex Arcade, Antstream Asteroids deluxe 2021 Antstream Star Raiders 2021 Antstream Atari Arcade 1 2021 Evercade Atari Combat: Tank Fury 2020 iPad, Android (+1 more) Atari Collection 1 2020 Evercade Atari Collection 2 2020 Evercade Atari Lynx Collection 1 2020 Evercade Atari Lynx Collection 2 2020 Evercade Pong Quest 2020 Windows, Nintendo Switch (+1 more) Missile Command: Recharged 2020 Linux, Windows (+10 more) Ninja Golf 2019 Android, iPad (+1 more) Atari Vault: 50 game add on pack 2019 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Atari Flashback Classics 2018 Nintendo Switch, PS Vita Atari Flashback Classics: Vol.3 2018 PlayStation 4, Xbox One Tempest 4000 2018 PlayStation 4, Windows (+2 more) Night Driver 2018 Android, iPad (+1 more) Atari Flashback Classics: Vol.1 2016 PlayStation 4, Xbox One Atari Flashback Classics: Vol.2 2016 PlayStation 4, Xbox One Atari Vault 2016 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Haunted House: Cryptic Graves 2014 Windows Asteroids: Outpost 2015 Windows Asteroids & Deluxe 2015 Xbox One Pong World 2012 iPad, iPhone Circus Atari 2012 iPad, iPhone Warlords 2012 PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Centipede 2011 Windows Phone Centipede: Infestation 2011 Wii, Nintendo 3DS Breakout: Boost 2011 iPhone, iPad Asteroids: Gunner 2011 iPhone, iPad Star Raiders 2011 Xbox 360, Windows (+1 more) Yar's Revenge 2011 Xbox 360, Windows Atari's Greatest Hits 2011 iPhone, Android (+1 more) Atari Greatest Hits: Volume 2 2011 Nintendo DS Missile Command 2011 PlayStation 4, Playstation Vita Asteroids Online 2010 Browser Atari Greatest Hits: Volume 1 2010 Nintendo DS Haunted House 2010 Xbox 360, Windows (+1 more) Missile Command 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Centipede 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Breakout 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Asteroids 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Asteroids deluxe 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Star Raiders 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Centipede 2008 iPhone Missile Command 2008 iPhone Super Breakout 2008 iPhone Warlords 2008 Xbox 360 Battlezone 2008 Xbox 360 Tempest 2007 Xbox 360 Asteroids & Deluxe 2007 Xbox 360, Xbox One Atari Classics Evolved 2007 PSP Centipede & Millipede 2007 Xbox 360, Xbox One Atari Masterpieces Vol. II 2006 N-Gage BattleZone 2006 PSP Retro Atari Classics 2005 Nintendo DS Atari Masterpieces Vol. I 2005 N-Gage Atari classic games 2005 Digiblast Centipede, Breakout, Warlords 2005 Game Boy Advance Pong, Asteroids, Yar's revenge 2005 Game Boy Advance Atari Retro 2004 Windows Mobile, Zodiac (+2 more) Atari: 80 Classic Games in One! 2003 Windows, PlayStation 2 (+1 more) Warlords 2002 Windows Atari: Anniversary Advance 2002 Game Boy Advance Atari Revival 2002 Windows Atari: Anniversary Edition 2001 Windows, PlayStation (+2 more) Combat 2001 Windows Breakout 2000 Windows, PlayStation (+1 more) Atari Arcade Hits: Volume 2 2000 Windows Atari's Greatest Hits 2000 Windows Battlezone II: Combat Commander 1999 Windows Missile Command 1999 Windows, PlayStation (+3 more) Pong: The Next Level 1999 Windows, PlayStation (+5 more) Atari Arcade Hits: Volume 1 1999 Windows Phoenix 1999 Windows Arcade Gr. Hits: The Atari Collection 2 1998 PlayStation Asteroids 1998 Windows, Playstation Centipede 1998 Windows, PlayStation (+5 more) Battlezone 1998 Windows Robotron X 1996 PlayStation, Windows Arcade Gr. Hits: The Atari Collection 1996 PlayStation, Saturn (+1 more) Super Asteroids and Missile Command 1995 Lynx, Antstream Arc. Cl. 1: asteroids & Missile Command 1995 Game Boy Arc. Cl. 2: Centipede & Millipede 1995 Game Boy 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles N Posted June 15 Share Posted June 15 (edited) 38 minutes ago, Fred_M said: used Mobygames to find out how many times Atari re-released old games (and compilations) and how many times they have released newer versions of existing games A-ha… thats why Atari bought Mobygames - they needed it to keep track of what they’ve done and are doing… 😛 No, rereleasing the same games over and over cannot be the way to go. (if Switch 2 won’t be backwards compatible with the Switch e-store, it’ll be one of their last chances for a long time, to resell these games). They either need to make modern versions or fully fledged sequels of really high quality with as broad appeal as possible, or get new IP to use. (preferably both). They have the hardware-opportunity too; right now they need to fix the Atari 2600+ and make it shine and after that, make sure people know it’s out there on new and better premises. Edited June 15 by Giles N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+jeremiahjt Posted June 15 Share Posted June 15 46 minutes ago, Fred_M said: Making new versions of old Atari games...... I was curious and used Mobygames to find out how many times Atari re-released old games (and compilations) and how many times they have released newer versions of existing games..... Well, it is a big list.... I can not imagine that republishing these games over and over again will be the way to go. I have hidden the list to make sure that this post is not a very long one. I listed only software releases, I did not include the huge flood of hardware made by a.o. Jakks Pacific, Plaion, MGA, Blaze, At games, Arcade 1up and probably many others. Reveal hidden contents Lunar Lander Beyond 2024 Windows, Nintendo Switch (+5 more) Berzerk: Recharged 2023 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 (+7 more) Haunted House 2023 Windows, Nintendo Switch (+5 more) Caverns of Mars: Recharged 2023 Windows, PlayStation 4 (+7 more) Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration 2022 Xbox One, Windows (+5 more) Yars: Recharged 2022 Xbox One, Nintendo Switch (+7 more) Gravitar: Recharged 2022 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 (+8 more) Breakout: Recharged 2022 Linux, Windows (+8 more) Asteroids: Recharged 2021 PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch (+8 more) Centipede: Recharged 2021 Windows, Nintendo Switch (+8 more) Aquaventure 2021 Plex Arcade, Antstream Asteroids deluxe 2021 Antstream Star Raiders 2021 Antstream Atari Arcade 1 2021 Evercade Atari Combat: Tank Fury 2020 iPad, Android (+1 more) Atari Collection 1 2020 Evercade Atari Collection 2 2020 Evercade Atari Lynx Collection 1 2020 Evercade Atari Lynx Collection 2 2020 Evercade Pong Quest 2020 Windows, Nintendo Switch (+1 more) Missile Command: Recharged 2020 Linux, Windows (+10 more) Ninja Golf 2019 Android, iPad (+1 more) Atari Vault: 50 game add on pack 2019 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Atari Flashback Classics 2018 Nintendo Switch, PS Vita Atari Flashback Classics: Vol.3 2018 PlayStation 4, Xbox One Tempest 4000 2018 PlayStation 4, Windows (+2 more) Night Driver 2018 Android, iPad (+1 more) Atari Flashback Classics: Vol.1 2016 PlayStation 4, Xbox One Atari Flashback Classics: Vol.2 2016 PlayStation 4, Xbox One Atari Vault 2016 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Haunted House: Cryptic Graves 2014 Windows Asteroids: Outpost 2015 Windows Asteroids & Deluxe 2015 Xbox One Pong World 2012 iPad, iPhone Circus Atari 2012 iPad, iPhone Warlords 2012 PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Centipede 2011 Windows Phone Centipede: Infestation 2011 Wii, Nintendo 3DS Breakout: Boost 2011 iPhone, iPad Asteroids: Gunner 2011 iPhone, iPad Star Raiders 2011 Xbox 360, Windows (+1 more) Yar's Revenge 2011 Xbox 360, Windows Atari's Greatest Hits 2011 iPhone, Android (+1 more) Atari Greatest Hits: Volume 2 2011 Nintendo DS Missile Command 2011 PlayStation 4, Playstation Vita Asteroids Online 2010 Browser Atari Greatest Hits: Volume 1 2010 Nintendo DS Haunted House 2010 Xbox 360, Windows (+1 more) Missile Command 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Centipede 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Breakout 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Asteroids 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Asteroids deluxe 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Star Raiders 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Centipede 2008 iPhone Missile Command 2008 iPhone Super Breakout 2008 iPhone Warlords 2008 Xbox 360 Battlezone 2008 Xbox 360 Tempest 2007 Xbox 360 Asteroids & Deluxe 2007 Xbox 360, Xbox One Atari Classics Evolved 2007 PSP Centipede & Millipede 2007 Xbox 360, Xbox One Atari Masterpieces Vol. II 2006 N-Gage BattleZone 2006 PSP Retro Atari Classics 2005 Nintendo DS Atari Masterpieces Vol. I 2005 N-Gage Atari classic games 2005 Digiblast Centipede, Breakout, Warlords 2005 Game Boy Advance Pong, Asteroids, Yar's revenge 2005 Game Boy Advance Atari Retro 2004 Windows Mobile, Zodiac (+2 more) Atari: 80 Classic Games in One! 2003 Windows, PlayStation 2 (+1 more) Warlords 2002 Windows Atari: Anniversary Advance 2002 Game Boy Advance Atari Revival 2002 Windows Atari: Anniversary Edition 2001 Windows, PlayStation (+2 more) Combat 2001 Windows Breakout 2000 Windows, PlayStation (+1 more) Atari Arcade Hits: Volume 2 2000 Windows Atari's Greatest Hits 2000 Windows Battlezone II: Combat Commander 1999 Windows Missile Command 1999 Windows, PlayStation (+3 more) Pong: The Next Level 1999 Windows, PlayStation (+5 more) Atari Arcade Hits: Volume 1 1999 Windows Phoenix 1999 Windows Arcade Gr. Hits: The Atari Collection 2 1998 PlayStation Asteroids 1998 Windows, Playstation Centipede 1998 Windows, PlayStation (+5 more) Battlezone 1998 Windows Robotron X 1996 PlayStation, Windows Arcade Gr. Hits: The Atari Collection 1996 PlayStation, Saturn (+1 more) Super Asteroids and Missile Command 1995 Lynx, Antstream Arc. Cl. 1: asteroids & Missile Command 1995 Game Boy Arc. Cl. 2: Centipede & Millipede 1995 Game Boy Many of those games were brand new games in the same franchise. Are you saying Atari should never make a sequel, or even never make a second game within the same franchise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred_M Posted June 15 Share Posted June 15 13 minutes ago, jeremiahjt said: Many of those games were brand new games in the same franchise. Are you saying Atari should never make a sequel, or even never make a second game within the same franchise? Yes and no. When I look at a lot of these "brand new games" of older titles, I would not qualify them as a sequel or a second game. For me, many of these are "remakes" with updated visuals and some added game play but are in essence still the same game. Sequels or second games for me, are games featuring the same characters but with a completely new story line. Examples are: the Zelda series or Super Mario series of Nintendo, or games like Wolfenstein, Doom and Quake. I think many IPs or games of Atari are not that complex and are not really suited for creating complex games. So I would say Atari should stop creating remakes (and publish less compilations) and should start creating more modern and more complex games. If those games can be based on an old game character that is fine. But my main concern is that I think that rereleasing compilations of old classics over and over again will not be future proof. Retro is hot the last few years, but I think that will not last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzip Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 On 6/15/2024 at 5:10 AM, Lord Mushroom said: I can see that potentially working, but then they have to change the Recharged approach, as it isn´t working. They have to put more money into it. Go big or go home. I don´t think that will work either, though, as the IP isn´t big enough to draw a big crowd. The games will have to be good to work. Good in the eyes of non-Atari fans. I think the Recharged series was something commemorate the 50th anniversary. They've moved beyond that with recent releases. On 6/15/2024 at 5:10 AM, Lord Mushroom said: I think trying to make Bentley Bear their mascot is like polishing a turd. Very few have heard of him, and people would find him lame. It is better to come up with something new, or make Bubsy work Well like I said it's something they should have done decades ago, Bubsy could work. Or both, it's not like Nintendo has a single mascot. But the other question is does Atari need a mascot in 2024? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mushroom Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 21 minutes ago, zzip said: But the other question is does Atari need a mascot in 2024? I don´t think they need a mascot to represent them, but it would be helpful in building a new franchise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopDrawer Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 On 6/15/2024 at 5:17 PM, Fred_M said: Making new versions of old Atari games...... I was curious and used Mobygames to find out how many times Atari re-released old games (and compilations) and how many times they have released newer versions of existing games..... Well, it is a big list.... I can not imagine that republishing these games over and over again will be the way to go. I have hidden the list to make sure that this post is not a very long one. I listed only software releases, I did not include the huge flood of hardware made by a.o. Jakks Pacific, Plaion, MGA, Blaze, At games, Arcade 1up and probably many others. Reveal hidden contents Lunar Lander Beyond 2024 Windows, Nintendo Switch (+5 more) Berzerk: Recharged 2023 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 (+7 more) Haunted House 2023 Windows, Nintendo Switch (+5 more) Caverns of Mars: Recharged 2023 Windows, PlayStation 4 (+7 more) Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration 2022 Xbox One, Windows (+5 more) Yars: Recharged 2022 Xbox One, Nintendo Switch (+7 more) Gravitar: Recharged 2022 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 (+8 more) Breakout: Recharged 2022 Linux, Windows (+8 more) Asteroids: Recharged 2021 PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch (+8 more) Centipede: Recharged 2021 Windows, Nintendo Switch (+8 more) Aquaventure 2021 Plex Arcade, Antstream Asteroids deluxe 2021 Antstream Star Raiders 2021 Antstream Atari Arcade 1 2021 Evercade Atari Combat: Tank Fury 2020 iPad, Android (+1 more) Atari Collection 1 2020 Evercade Atari Collection 2 2020 Evercade Atari Lynx Collection 1 2020 Evercade Atari Lynx Collection 2 2020 Evercade Pong Quest 2020 Windows, Nintendo Switch (+1 more) Missile Command: Recharged 2020 Linux, Windows (+10 more) Ninja Golf 2019 Android, iPad (+1 more) Atari Vault: 50 game add on pack 2019 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Atari Flashback Classics 2018 Nintendo Switch, PS Vita Atari Flashback Classics: Vol.3 2018 PlayStation 4, Xbox One Tempest 4000 2018 PlayStation 4, Windows (+2 more) Night Driver 2018 Android, iPad (+1 more) Atari Flashback Classics: Vol.1 2016 PlayStation 4, Xbox One Atari Flashback Classics: Vol.2 2016 PlayStation 4, Xbox One Atari Vault 2016 Windows, Linux (+1 more) Haunted House: Cryptic Graves 2014 Windows Asteroids: Outpost 2015 Windows Asteroids & Deluxe 2015 Xbox One Pong World 2012 iPad, iPhone Circus Atari 2012 iPad, iPhone Warlords 2012 PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Centipede 2011 Windows Phone Centipede: Infestation 2011 Wii, Nintendo 3DS Breakout: Boost 2011 iPhone, iPad Asteroids: Gunner 2011 iPhone, iPad Star Raiders 2011 Xbox 360, Windows (+1 more) Yar's Revenge 2011 Xbox 360, Windows Atari's Greatest Hits 2011 iPhone, Android (+1 more) Atari Greatest Hits: Volume 2 2011 Nintendo DS Missile Command 2011 PlayStation 4, Playstation Vita Asteroids Online 2010 Browser Atari Greatest Hits: Volume 1 2010 Nintendo DS Haunted House 2010 Xbox 360, Windows (+1 more) Missile Command 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Centipede 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Breakout 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Asteroids 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Asteroids deluxe 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Star Raiders 2010 Xbox 360, Windows Centipede 2008 iPhone Missile Command 2008 iPhone Super Breakout 2008 iPhone Warlords 2008 Xbox 360 Battlezone 2008 Xbox 360 Tempest 2007 Xbox 360 Asteroids & Deluxe 2007 Xbox 360, Xbox One Atari Classics Evolved 2007 PSP Centipede & Millipede 2007 Xbox 360, Xbox One Atari Masterpieces Vol. II 2006 N-Gage BattleZone 2006 PSP Retro Atari Classics 2005 Nintendo DS Atari Masterpieces Vol. I 2005 N-Gage Atari classic games 2005 Digiblast Centipede, Breakout, Warlords 2005 Game Boy Advance Pong, Asteroids, Yar's revenge 2005 Game Boy Advance Atari Retro 2004 Windows Mobile, Zodiac (+2 more) Atari: 80 Classic Games in One! 2003 Windows, PlayStation 2 (+1 more) Warlords 2002 Windows Atari: Anniversary Advance 2002 Game Boy Advance Atari Revival 2002 Windows Atari: Anniversary Edition 2001 Windows, PlayStation (+2 more) Combat 2001 Windows Breakout 2000 Windows, PlayStation (+1 more) Atari Arcade Hits: Volume 2 2000 Windows Atari's Greatest Hits 2000 Windows Battlezone II: Combat Commander 1999 Windows Missile Command 1999 Windows, PlayStation (+3 more) Pong: The Next Level 1999 Windows, PlayStation (+5 more) Atari Arcade Hits: Volume 1 1999 Windows Phoenix 1999 Windows Arcade Gr. Hits: The Atari Collection 2 1998 PlayStation Asteroids 1998 Windows, Playstation Centipede 1998 Windows, PlayStation (+5 more) Battlezone 1998 Windows Robotron X 1996 PlayStation, Windows Arcade Gr. Hits: The Atari Collection 1996 PlayStation, Saturn (+1 more) Super Asteroids and Missile Command 1995 Lynx, Antstream Arc. Cl. 1: asteroids & Missile Command 1995 Game Boy Arc. Cl. 2: Centipede & Millipede 1995 Game Boy I have a soft spot for Hasbro Interactive's PS1 "re-releases". They are different enough to feel like games of their own while not deviating too far from the original titles' gameplay. Pong: The Next Level & Breakout for the PS1 are criminally underrated imo. They have a fun, Banjo-Kazooie esque cartoonish humour that is very endearing (well, at least for me). Hope Atari ports these on future platforms soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopDrawer Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 (edited) 1 hour ago, Lord Mushroom said: I don´t think they need a mascot to represent them, but it would be helpful in building a new franchise. Bentley Bear is an obvious choice, but he's too much of an obscure character outside of Atari fan circles. They could push him by releasing new Crystal Castle games, I guess? Pushing Bubsy as the company's mascot feels too much like a sarcastic, self-deprecating joke from Atari towards itself. When I think of Atari, Bubsy doesn't really pop in my head. Plus, he has a very negative brand image with gamers in general. At least Sonic had genuinely great, innovative games in the past, you cannot say the same towards Bubsy. It could only work MAYBE if they release a fantastic Bubsy game that knocks it out of the park to the point that it shatters that general perception, but that'd be very hard. I think they should either pull a Namco and push various characters of their classic arcade games as a cast of mascots (Pac-Man & the ghosts, Mappy the police mouse, Dig-Dug & the Pookas, etc). Or they should try to retain the rights of the Humongous Entertainment games & characters and use those as de-facto Atari mascots (they have a past with the company AND they resonate more positively with gamers today due to nostalgia factor). Edited June 17 by TopDrawer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mushroom Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 I meant that when Atari makes original games, or pays someone to make them, the games should usually have a protaginist with a mascot potential, as that increases the chances of creating a successful franchise. I don´t want Atari to try to create an official mascot. Although, if they manage to create a successful franchise that has a mascot, people will automatically associate Atari with that mascot, and vice versa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowerDubs Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 They don't need a mascot. They need characters though. Don't push any one character too hard. Let the fans pick their own favorites and grow organically. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+jeremiahjt Posted June 17 Share Posted June 17 51 minutes ago, PowerDubs said: They don't need a mascot. They need characters though. Don't push any one character too hard. Let the fans pick their own favorites and grow organically. This right here. Of course, the fans have already chosen, and we have chosen Ptarmigan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mushroom Posted June 18 Share Posted June 18 11 hours ago, PowerDubs said: They don't need a mascot. They need characters though. By mascot I don´t necessarily mean a colourful fluffy animal. It could be a "realistic" person like Master Chief. Just something other than stick-figures and geometrical shapes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PowerDubs Posted June 18 Share Posted June 18 I didn't mean that either... I meant they don't need a singular character to represent the brand. Don't push any one 'person' in all the advertising, etc. Make a wide variety of cast over several games... if one or two become fan favorites- expand on them. As it is- I already feel like 'Emi' is being shoved down our throats instead of just letting her find her own way. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles N Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 On 6/18/2024 at 12:16 PM, Lord Mushroom said: By mascot I don´t necessarily mean a colourful fluffy animal. Whaaat…no fluffy animal …are you insane ? 😂😉 On 6/18/2024 at 12:16 PM, Lord Mushroom said: It could be a "realistic" person like Master Chief. You mean Master-Chef as main Antagonist, as in some possible ‘Food Fight - Hell-Kithcen’; the FPS take on the original Food Fight? 🙃 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles N Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 (edited) On 6/18/2024 at 3:35 PM, PowerDubs said: As it is- I already feel like 'Emi' is being shoved down our throats instead of just letting her find her own way. I liked that Atari went with new/modern genre - the Metroidvania. I think some of it feels a bit like trying to cram too many missing or incompatible pieces into one single thing, in a way that may turn out akward, cringe, desperat or just, plain annoying (I’m not sure I want to break up-and-out-of platform run ‘n gun, to play Yars-versions 2600-style). I understand Atari want to give modern players ways to ‘discover’ their most significant IP-classics. Some of their ‘takes’ on this feels a bit construed or ‘stiff’ in its undertaking. 2600 cartridges strewn around in Haunted House…? I’m not saying they shouldn’t play on the famous IP they have per today, but they must remember historical fame among reviewers and hardcore retro-enthusiasts doesn’t make it feel fun to play for modern gamers. And there may be a slight over-accentuation of female characters in their newer games, given that it isn’t unlikely (at all) the majority of potential folks who’d ever look up something-Atari would have a male majority. Working with WayForward a heroine is to be expected; it’s their ‘thing’, leaving it up to whether an insectoid connection using an insectoid franchise, is meaningful here… We’ll have to wait and see how it all looks like in the final result. As to gameplay, I’m ‘worried’ the 2600-Yars stuff will actually get in the way for fluid platform shooting. Another thing that have ‘worried’ me, is that they make the games deliberately less action-based when they use more ‘advanced’ graphics, just to have it run well on the VCS. That means the old VCS (2018-2024) is a hindrance for proper game-developement. They then need to face two things: - most likely the majority of Atari game-buyers are male, so they need some male heroes, not just a whole ton of female protagonists everywhere with some male sidekicks now and again. No problems with heroines now and again, but now its more like 79% vehicles and wierd things or creatures, 24% female protagonists and 6% male characters - protagonist of sidekicks. I’m not sure it completely ‘mirrors’ the potential market. Perhaps it does? If anyone cares at all of course, but if you want to build a franchise you must make deliberate choices: military incognito guy in modern armor-suit or hero/heroine with strongly defined personality, or fun and friendly ‘mascot’ character - with some universally likable traits. i.m.o. — — — The more I think about the Recharged games, the more I feel they got some core reconceptualizations actually quite right, just didn’t take it beyond 1983 and into the game-world where ‘everyone’ expects progress and more to see and do. (And I don’t mean more hidden Atari 2600 throwbacks to unlock, I mean simply more levels with different backdrops and obstacles, new enemies, actual Boss fights - just, basic classic stuff that make it all feel like a story, a journey, a set mission objective which when done, you win the game! Woohoo!) Best modern Atari game in my view is Yars:Recharged - 30 levels to beat - sticks close to original ‘world’ - plays fantastic - semi-randomization on levels, which gives a tiny bit of variation for every try - music that feels spacey and insectoid (but melodies could’ve been a tiny bit better) This^ with much more advanced graphics-settings (even if kept within a given deliberate style), and with much, much more to see and explore, and without having dissonant or cringy factors (you need to find an old 2600 cart from Earth, touch Mr. Bushnells hair twice, spin the Atari-Logo like a lottery wheel… in order to blow apart the final Qotila…) in there, effecting to sidetrack the gamers mind and decrease the overall fun, - well, then I could see modern Atari games moving much more in the direction I believe would have more universal appeal… Edited June 21 by Giles N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukiha Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 1 hour ago, Giles N said: They then need to face two things: - most likely the majority of Atari game-buyers are male, so they need some male heroes, not just a whole ton of female protagonists everywhere with some male sidekicks now and again. No problems with heroines now and again, but now its more like 79% vehicles and wierd things or creatures, 24% female protagonists and 6% male characters - protagonist of sidekicks. I’m not sure it completely ‘mirrors’ the potential market. Perhaps it does? I think the more feminine pivot they are taking could very well be attempting to reverse the male-dominated demographics of their fanbase. Although just making protagonists women isn't the secret sauce to changing demographic makeups. That being said, I think if their goal with say, Yars Rising is to attract a wider, and potentionally less male set of buyers, Wayforward as the dev and the genre is a decent choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roots.genoa Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 On 6/18/2024 at 3:35 PM, PowerDubs said: I already feel like 'Emi' is being shoved down our throats instead of just letting her find her own way. Can you explain what you mean exactly? Isn't it the case in every game in which you don't create your own avatar anyway? What should have they done instead according to you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles N Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 10 hours ago, ukiha said: I think the more feminine pivot they are taking could very well be attempting to reverse the male-dominated demographics of their fanbase. If they try to ‘reverse’ something as to their fanbase, I’d consider it a mistake. They could try to win more types or categories of gamers, but not at the expense of a fanbase, not even at the expense of having as broad appeal as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
82-T/A Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 Is it confirmed that Infrogrames no longer holds the rights to the Alone in the Dark series? I loved that series growing up, it was fantastic. Would love to see these ported to the VCS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mushroom Posted June 21 Share Posted June 21 43 minutes ago, 82-T/A said: Is it confirmed that Infrogrames no longer holds the rights to the Alone in the Dark series? Yes, they sold it to THQ Nordic in 2018: https://www.thqnordic.com/article/thq-nordic-acquires-alone-dark-and-act-war-atari-europe-sas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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