Atari Jaguar

Jaguar
Jaguar with original controller
DeveloperAtari Corporation
ManufacturerIBM
TypeHome video game console
GenerationFifth
Release date
Discontinued
  • 1996
Units sold< 150,000[6]
MediaROM cartridge
CPUMotorola 68000, 2 custom RISC processors
Memory2 MB RAM
StorageInternal RAM, cartridge
DisplayComposite, S-Video, RGB, or RF TV out
GraphicsTom chip (up to 720 × 576 / 720 × 480, 16.8 million colors)
SoundJerry chip (16-bit, two DACs, wavetable and AM synthesis)
Best-selling gameAlien vs Predator (85,000)[7]
Predecessor
  • 7800
  • XEGS
  • Panther (canceled)

The Atari Jaguar is a home video game console developed by Atari Corporation and released in North America in November 1993. The Jaguar has a Motorola 68000 CPU and two custom 32-bit coprocessors named Tom and Jerry. Atari marketed it as the world's first 64-bit game system, drawing controversy as some argued that this configuration did not meet the definition of a 64-bit system.[1] The Jaguar launched with Cybermorph as the pack-in game.[8] The system's library ultimately comprises only 50 licensed games.

Development started in the early 1990s by Flare Technology, which focused on the system after cancellation of the Panther console. The Jaguar was an important system for Atari after discontinuing Atari ST computers in favor of video games.[9] However, game development was complicated by the multi-chip architecture, hardware bugs, and poor programming tools. Underwhelming sales further eroded third-party support.[8]

The Jaguar struggled to capture major market share in the face of continuing competition from the popular 16-bit consoles, the Super NES and Sega Genesis. Atari attempted to extend the system's lifespan with a Jaguar CD add-on, an additional 13 games, and an emphasis on the Jaguar's price, which was more than US$100 less than that of its competitors.[10] However, the entry of the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation in 1995 brought further competition, and the Jaguar failed to find its niche. Atari internally abandoned the system by the end of that year, liquidating its inventory by 1996.[11] The commercial failure of the Jaguar prompted Atari to leave the console market and restructure itself as a third-party developer. After Hasbro Interactive acquired all of Atari Corporation's properties,[12] it released the Jaguar patents into the public domain in 1999 and declared it an open platform.[13] Since its discontinuation, hobbyists have produced games for the system.[14]

  1. ^ a b "Atari Ships Jaguar For New York And San Francisco Markets; World's First 64-bit Interactive Multimedia Home Entertainment System Available". PR Newswire. November 23, 1993. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  2. ^ Humphreys, Andrew (August 1994). "Jaguar - Reality Bites?". Hyper. No. 9. Next Media Pty Ltd. pp. 20–25. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  3. ^ Euer Video Games Team (September 1994). "Warpzone - Jaguar - Jaguar in Deutschland!". Video Games. No. 34. Future-Verlag. p. 38.
  4. ^ "Scene - Next Generation Battle - Japan". Mega Fun. No. 30. CT Computec Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. March 1995. p. 28. Archived from the original on July 13, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  5. ^ "¿Qué Consola Comprar?". Hobby Consolas (in Spanish). No. 51. Axel Springer SE. December 1995. pp. 36–37.
  6. ^ Item 7. Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations. Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-K (Report). Atari Corporation. April 12, 1996. p. 8. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  7. ^ "Jaguar: mass market machine". Edge. No. 22 Supplementary. Future plc. July 1995. p. 5. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "AtariAge - Atari Jaguar History". www.atariage.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2008.
  9. ^ "Clunky". Next Generation. No. 4. Imagine Media. April 1995. p. 41.
  10. ^ "Once and Future Kings". GamePro. No. 80. IDG. May 1995. pp. 28–30.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference ataritohasbro was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference hasbro was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference redundant was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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