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Atari Jaguar
 

The Atari Jaguar was a fifth-generation video game console released in 1993 by Atari. Known for its bold ambition, the Jaguar was marketed as the world's first 64-bit system, a feature that Atari hoped would set it apart from its competitors in the race for dominance in the home console market. Despite its impressive hardware, including two custom 32-bit processors and a unique architecture, the Jaguar failed to capture significant market share, overshadowed by the likes of the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn.

The design of the Atari Jaguar was somewhat futuristic, with a sleek black exterior and angular lines, but it was overshadowed by its somewhat complicated controller, which featured a 12-button layout that some players found cumbersome. The Jaguar's multimedia capabilities were impressive for its time, offering CD-quality audio, real-time 3D graphics, and support for up to 64 simultaneous colors on screen. Its game library, however, was limited, and many of its titles failed to match the quality or quantity of offerings from more successful consoles.

Despite its technological advances, the Atari Jaguar struggled with poor marketing, a lack of third-party support, and a relatively small library of memorable games. It was ultimately discontinued in 1996, leaving behind a legacy as an underrated console that was ahead of its time but failed to secure a place in the competitive world of home gaming.

Thanks to its powerful 64-bit data bus, Jaguar delivers real-world, real-time game play, true-color graphics and stereo CD-quality sound that other game systems can't touch.  The bus acts like a 64-lane freeway, permitting data traffic to flow 64 bits at a time.  Compare that to the cramped country roads of the 32-bit and 16-bit game systems and you'll see why they suffer from slow animation speed, choppy game play, grainy graphics, and poor sound quality.

Advanced technology is just the beginning.  In addition to the killer games for the Atari Jaguar already  on the market, there are a ton of new games coming to harness the insane power of the 64-bit system.  Experience sports games so intense you'll feel the turf burn.  Combat games that'll drain pints of your blood.  And dizzying virtual reality games like Doom and Alien vs Predator.

Jaguar's 64-bit technology gives you the features and functionality you need now, while supplying the power and components, such as virtual reality and CD-ROM capabilities you'll demand in the future.  Put it this way - nothing's going to come along to knock Jaguar off the top.

But hey, don't take our word for it.  The Atari Jaguar has been voted best hardware system in Europe and America.  And it's the only system made in America.

Atari Jaguar 64-bit.  Compare the technology.  Look at the numbers.  Do the math.

 

The world's first 64bit console was also the first true 'next generation' machine - Commodore's 32bit CD32 was based on old Amiga technology. Despite beating Nintendo, Sega and Sony to the Next Gen punch, the lack of decent software and doubts about the viability of cartridge based software and the ability of Atari to attract high profile developers to work on the machine led to apathy in the marketplace.

The Jaguar was originally developed with a 32bit console called Panther, but Atari decided early that their best chance of succeeding in the competitive games market was to concentrate on the more powerful machine, and so the Panther was dropped. 

Atari attempted to regain it's prominence in the videogame market by releasing the Jaguar.  The specs were very impressive, but the lack of good software killed the system. Good luck finding games for this system it is hard.  The CD add on is very cool.  It is definately a must have for any avid videogame collector.

Do you have some Atari Jaguar games to trade.  Just click on the Trade In button on each game you want to trade in.  Player's Choice also pays cash for Jaguar games.  For more info on Game Trading Click Here
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Atari Jaguar Review: An Underrated System with Unfulfilled Potential

The Atari Jaguar, released in 1993, aimed to revolutionize the gaming world with its bold promise as the first 64-bit console. Packed with impressive hardware and futuristic features, it had everything a cutting-edge gaming system could need. But despite its technological prowess, the Jaguar ultimately fell short of becoming a mainstream success. Instead, it earned a reputation as an underrated gem with a unique set of strengths and weaknesses.

Let's dive into what the Atari Jaguar has to offer-and where it faltered.

Design & Build

The Atari Jaguar's design is sleek but unassuming. The black, angular casing is functional and industrial, with a modest size that could blend into any entertainment setup. However, it's the controller where things get a little complicated. The Jaguar controller features a 12-button layout and a digital keypad, which was initially innovative but ultimately hard to navigate, especially for those used to more straightforward controllers like the PlayStation's or Sega Saturn's. Its bulky design and odd button placement made it a bit uncomfortable for extended gaming sessions. While it wasn't outright bad, it certainly lacked the ergonomic appeal of its competitors.

The console itself is relatively compact, but it's the internal architecture that truly sets the Jaguar apart-featuring two 32-bit processors and a 64-bit custom architecture that was touted as far superior to anything else on the market at the time. Unfortunately, this power wasn't harnessed to its full potential due to poor developer support.

Performance & Graphics

The Atari Jaguar was a beast in terms of hardware, offering real-time 3D rendering, CD-quality audio, and support for up to 64 simultaneous colors on screen. This should have allowed it to push the envelope for graphically intensive games. And when games did make use of its capabilities, they could look stunning for the time-smooth 3D environments in titles like "Alien vs. Predator" and "Tempest 2000" demonstrated what the system could do when optimized correctly.

Unfortunately, many games struggled to make full use of the Jaguar's hardware. The console's complex architecture made it difficult for developers to tap into its true potential, which resulted in many titles feeling lackluster compared to the games on PlayStation or Saturn. In some cases, Jaguar games even felt more like last-gen offerings, leaving players disappointed when compared to the next-gen experiences offered by Sony and Sega.

Sound and Music

The audio quality on the Atari Jaguar was one of its strongest features, offering CD-quality sound that added a layer of immersion to games, especially those with atmospheric environments or fast-paced action sequences. While it didn't have the same level of soundtrack variety as other systems, the sound was crisp and powerful when used well.

Game Library

The Jaguar's game library is one of the most polarizing aspects of the system. On the one hand, it had some noteworthy titles that remain cult favorites to this day, like "Alien vs. Predator", "Rayman", "Tempest 2000", and "Doom". These games were ahead of their time in certain respects, offering 3D environments, smooth gameplay, and innovative mechanics that were rare for that era of console gaming.

However, the Jaguar was plagued by a lack of third-party support, which severely hampered its game library. While it did have some solid first-party titles, it didn't have the volume or variety that PlayStation and Saturn had at the time. The console's lack of compelling exclusives, combined with the limited game library, made it difficult to build a substantial user base.

Market Position & Legacy

The Atari Jaguar was marketed as the future of gaming, but in reality, it arrived too late to the party. By the time it hit shelves, Sony's PlayStation had already garnered massive attention, and Sega Saturn was making waves with its own 3D graphics. The Jaguar's marketing didn't do enough to differentiate it from its competitors or communicate the unique advantages it offered. Couple that with a high price tag and a limited game library, and it's easy to see why the system struggled in the market.

Despite its technical innovations, the Jaguar never gained a significant audience and was eventually discontinued in 1996. Today, it holds a cult following among retro gaming enthusiasts and collectors, with many viewing it as an underrated console with much untapped potential. The Atari Jaguar was ahead of its time, but ultimately, it didn't have the market presence or support to make it a true success.

Limitations & Drawbacks

  • Lack of Developer Support: The Jaguar's unique architecture made it difficult for developers to fully leverage its power, leading to a limited library of games.

  • Cumbersome Controller: The 12-button controller was complex and uncomfortable, making gameplay less enjoyable for extended sessions.

  • Small Game Library: While it had a few standout titles, the Jaguar lacked the variety and sheer number of games that its competitors, like the PlayStation and Sega Saturn, offered.

  • Poor Marketing: Atari's marketing was not strong enough to convince gamers to choose the Jaguar over other systems, even with its advanced hardware.

Final Verdict

The Atari Jaguar is a fascinating console that could have been a serious contender in the fifth generation of gaming, but it was ultimately undermined by poor execution and limited support. Its impressive hardware and innovative features left a lasting impact on the gaming industry, even though the console never achieved mainstream success.

For retro gaming enthusiasts, the Jaguar is worth exploring. It's a system that boasted technological ambition but fell short in many critical areas. Still, for those who enjoy discovering the hidden gems of gaming history, the Atari Jaguar is a memorable and unique console.

Score: 6/10

? A technically ambitious system that struggled to find its footing in a competitive market. While it didn't succeed commercially, it remains an intriguing piece of gaming history.

Are you interested in learning more about the Jaguar's game library or its hidden gems, or perhaps curious about its impact on the video game industry?