At what point do you think Atari knew the Jag had failed?

It does float! And doesn't get soggy in milk! :)

Moderator: a31chris

Post Reply
User avatar
Trev
3DO ZONE MOD
Posts: 4036
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:19 pm
Location: States
Contact:

At what point do you think Atari knew the Jag had failed?

Post by Trev » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:19 am

I was reading an older article where Trip Hawkins was candid about when he first realized 3DO wasn't going to have the success he had hoped for. Did the powers that be at Atari have a similar realization and simply continue to charge ahead? Or do you think they were in denial?
Most wanted - Eye of Typhoon, 3DO Magazines issues #14 & #15, Pro Stadium, Defcon 5

User avatar
sneth
Nibbler
Posts: 426
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:31 pm
Location: STL
Contact:

Post by sneth » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:02 am

I think it was pretty early on and everyone was just trying to cash out.

I'm more interesting in that article with Trip that you just mentioned.

User avatar
3DOKid
3DO ZONE ADMIN
Posts: 4683
Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 4:21 pm
Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Contact:

Post by 3DOKid » Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:20 am

Since I was a big fan 3do from the start, I always thought the Jag was doomed to failure. Atari was on it's last legs, cartridge was hated and CD, and the Jag lacked the excitement that surrounded 3DO.

User avatar
3DO Experience
3DO ZONE ADMIN
Posts: 3686
Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 8:47 am
Location: U.S.A.

Post by 3DO Experience » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:37 pm

I was hoping it would go somewhere. In the states gamers were divided on the cart or CD issue but there were many more followers of the CD. I personally couldn't stand the load times. But after a generation or two of disc consoles I got used to it and they got faster. I would have liked to have seen Atari stay in the game.
"Wait. You don't have a bag of charcoal in your gaming room???"

User avatar
3DOKid
3DO ZONE ADMIN
Posts: 4683
Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 4:21 pm
Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Contact:

Post by 3DOKid » Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:10 pm

I'll admit to being divided. I loved Atari. I loved my 2600 and I loved my STe,

User avatar
Martin III
3DO ZERO USER
Posts: 1005
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:32 am
Location: United States of America

Post by Martin III » Sat Oct 22, 2011 12:13 am

I figure it must have been at least a year after the Jaguar's launch. Otherwise, why would they have proceeded with development for the Jaguar CD hardware and software?

Also, I have to go with mainstream wisdom on the subject and say that the Jaguar's last chance at cutting it was the 1994 holiday season. Whatever its liabilities, the Jaguar had the strong advantage of being by far the most powerful affordable console on the market. Had it properly exploited that advantage, it could have outsold its 16-bit competitors, putting it in position to at least hold its own against the next generation consoles. By that same token, if it couldn't even compete against the SNES and Mega Drive, it stood no chance against the Saturn and Playstation.

Of course, I'd say that most of the Jaguar's chances were ruined by the poor launch. But I think it still had a slim hope of success until the 1994 holiday season. It was when it had the Saturn and Playstation to complete against that it was totally screwed.

User avatar
Lemmi
3DO ZERO USER
Posts: 1189
Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:10 pm
Location: Mich

Post by Lemmi » Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:30 pm

being a Genesis fan back then, the Atari Jaguar was dead when they first announced it was comming out
Ex-3DO collector extraordinaire , but i still have my collection
Villagephotos is dead, need to find my old pics and find another host

User avatar
Trev
3DO ZONE MOD
Posts: 4036
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:19 pm
Location: States
Contact:

Post by Trev » Sun Oct 23, 2011 1:46 am

ATARI CORP.'S JAGUAR 64 HITS MASS MARKET PRICE; IN TIME FOR HOLIDAY SALES, JAGUAR NOW $99


SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Dec. 15, 1995 — In a bold retailing move to increase its share in the interactive home entertainment market, Atari Corp. Friday morning announced that the Jaguar 64 system will be priced at $99.

A premier gaming platform launched nationally in 1994, the Jaguar 64 is a powerful home video game system designed to provide game enthusiasts with top-quality entertainment products. Atari has developed an extensive software library to support the Jaguar system, and is committed to aggressively expanding its list of exclusive titles throughout 1996.

Four new Atari titles have been released this week alone for the Jaguar 64: "Atari Karts," "I-War," "Fever Pitch Soccer'' and "Supercross 3D." The new games will be available at retail stores before Christmas.

As Ted Hoff, Atari's president of North American operations, explained: "Atari is proud of the depth and breadth of current Jaguar platform software titles, and we're committed to enhancing this already impressive collection. Offering the Jaguar 64 at $99 will allow us to reach more consumers nationwide with top-quality games."

Hoff indicated the Jaguar 64 systems will be offered at their new price in retail outlets across the country effective Saturday, Dec. 16. That means there's still time for Christmas shoppers to benefit from the $99 price tag.

With its aggressive new pricing, Atari is offering consumers a high-end home video game system at a mass market price. This action reinforces Atari's commitment to the Jaguar gaming platform, as well as providing consumers with superior and affordable interactive products.
Most wanted - Eye of Typhoon, 3DO Magazines issues #14 & #15, Pro Stadium, Defcon 5

User avatar
sneth
Nibbler
Posts: 426
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:31 pm
Location: STL
Contact:

Post by sneth » Sun Oct 23, 2011 5:06 pm

I would have loved to see the jaguar make it, but just too many blunders. The console was capable of some great games, which we did see.

I believe there was a blunder with Walmart which really sealed their doom.

User avatar
3DO Experience
3DO ZONE ADMIN
Posts: 3686
Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 8:47 am
Location: U.S.A.

Post by 3DO Experience » Sun Oct 23, 2011 6:08 pm

I would have love to have seen Black ICE \ White Noise completed. That game really could have helped the system's standing.
"Wait. You don't have a bag of charcoal in your gaming room???"

User avatar
3DOKid
3DO ZONE ADMIN
Posts: 4683
Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 4:21 pm
Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Contact:

Post by 3DOKid » Sun Oct 23, 2011 7:25 pm

Trev wrote:ATARI CORP.'S JAGUAR 64 HITS MASS MARKET PRICE; IN TIME FOR HOLIDAY SALES, JAGUAR NOW $99


SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Dec. 15, 1995 — In a bold retailing move to increase its share in the interactive home entertainment market, Atari Corp. Friday morning announced that the Jaguar 64 system will be priced at $99.

A premier gaming platform launched nationally in 1994, the Jaguar 64 is a powerful home video game system designed to provide game enthusiasts with top-quality entertainment products. Atari has developed an extensive software library to support the Jaguar system, and is committed to aggressively expanding its list of exclusive titles throughout 1996.

Four new Atari titles have been released this week alone for the Jaguar 64: "Atari Karts," "I-War," "Fever Pitch Soccer'' and "Supercross 3D." The new games will be available at retail stores before Christmas.

As Ted Hoff, Atari's president of North American operations, explained: "Atari is proud of the depth and breadth of current Jaguar platform software titles, and we're committed to enhancing this already impressive collection. Offering the Jaguar 64 at $99 will allow us to reach more consumers nationwide with top-quality games."

Hoff indicated the Jaguar 64 systems will be offered at their new price in retail outlets across the country effective Saturday, Dec. 16. That means there's still time for Christmas shoppers to benefit from the $99 price tag.

With its aggressive new pricing, Atari is offering consumers a high-end home video game system at a mass market price. This action reinforces Atari's commitment to the Jaguar gaming platform, as well as providing consumers with superior and affordable interactive products.
I used to hang on each and every word of these press releases as if they were words from God. I'd sit the basement computer labs at Uni, late into the night, bickering (as I still do) on rec.games.video.3do like my life depended on it. :) Thanks Trev. :)

User avatar
Trev
3DO ZONE MOD
Posts: 4036
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:19 pm
Location: States
Contact:

Post by Trev » Mon Oct 24, 2011 2:08 am

I also used to really love reading these press releases. If only I knew then what I know now, I would have done so w/a dash of salt and avoided repeated heartbreak ...

Glad you enjoyed reading it.
Most wanted - Eye of Typhoon, 3DO Magazines issues #14 & #15, Pro Stadium, Defcon 5

Post Reply