Atari vcs and retropie

gizmobjb

So the Atari vcs will let you install custom Linux builds.
Any chance we will see retropie on it?

Ulysses

Simply, yes. The Atari VCS will have an open system that (while the hardware is Atari maintained) will allow the user to install anything that they would like. Controller compatibility will be up to the community to develop, however, but it won't be difficult.

Due to the significantly better Radeon GPU, multicore highly (or higher) clocked AMD CPU, one will be able to run many more systems. (Note that it will be an AMD APU processor, originally it was to be of the Bristol Ridge setup, but now they're looking more Ryzen, but we'll see how that all pans out.) The question will go from "What settings do I use to better run N64 or PSP?" to "What settings do I use to better run PS2 and Gamecube?"

lilbud

@ulysses While the performance will be understandably better. You'd find yourself asking, "would it be worth paying $300+ to play Gamecube/PS2 games?"

RedBatman

@lilbud Especially if you have a gaming pc.

lilbud

@redbatman Yeah, I already have a $500 PC. Why the hell would I drop another $300 on a Linux box that would play ps2 and gamecube when my PC does all that and more.

thelostsoul

@lilbud To have a separate console dedicated for emulation only. No need to login to Windows or Linux with password, no updates of all applications, drivers, restarts, security updates. The console is better portable than your big pc and probably needs less power.

I mean, there are some reason (not all covered here) to get a specialized machine for emulation only. Before Atari, I was thinking of doing this myself with a small pc case and I may still do it.

lilbud

@thelostsoul While the Atari VCS has a smaller footprint, I don't really see the point in a separate box for emulation. It would just needlessly complicate a setup even more, with more cables to run and controllers to worry about and games to transfer. And besides, we don't even know if this console is powerful enough. So until we know more for sure, I wouldn't make it a surefire purchase. Maybe when it drops in price a while down the line I'd consider.

space cadet

The 2600 was one of my first systems so I want one just because!

thelostsoul

@lilbud Sure we don't know much about it. I was speaking in general.

See it this way, your pc is on a different place (maybe even different room) cabled to a monitor and keyboard and you want just play with your friends or family on a tv or let playing your kids. Then such a console emulation device would come very handy.

Ulysses

@lilbud Determines the person. Gaming PCs aren't exactly small elegant beasts that have a cozy spot in the living room. I think the Atari VCS will bring a nice compact elegant solution. Not a hulking beast, but not as underpowered as say a Nvidia Shield. For its price range, I figure it'll outclass most Mini-PCs in its price range. Not to mention it's running a straight operating system and not limited to the confines of Android or even something like a PS4.

It's something that's not aiming to be the best, but to be the best at what it does.