Atari Jaguar - Fifth Generation Handheld Console
Overview
In 1993, Atari released the Atari Jaguar after a seven year absence from the console market.
The Jaguar had a stunning supply of processors with a 16/32-bit Motorola 68000 and two 32-bit processors with the registers and busses operating at full 64-bit. However, software developers were lazy and did not want to spend the time to program code access so many processors. And to be fair, the cost to produce more advanced games would have come at a premium.
Games that became available for the console were most often ports of other 16-bit consoles. In fact, there were only about 60 cartridges ever made for the Jaguar before it was pulled from the market in 1996.
In 1995, Atari released a CD-ROM add on capable of accessing the 700 megabit format and retailed the device for a modest US$150.00. The CD-ROM could play video games, Audio CDs, CD+Gs and full motion video at 24 frames a second. Had Atari released this item a few years earlier, the outcome might have been different.
In 1996, Atari restructure and put an end to development of game consoles.
Date Range: 1994 - 1996
Release Price: US $249
Atari released the first ever 64-bit game console. It was a technological success, but it was too late for Atari. Most of the games developed for the console were merely ports of existing 16-bit games.
Atari no longer had restrictive licensing agreements to maintain market share and had been absent from the market for a few years. On top of that, Atari had few game companies developing for it.
With limited success, Atari pulled the machine in 1996 and left the gaming industry forever. It is ironic that Atari captured the market with inferior consoles in the past, but with superior technology, they could not succeed.
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