Many years ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a company called Atari dominated the video game universe.
On second thought, that was our galaxy, and it was in the late 1970s and early ’80s. It only seems like light years away.
Since those early days of Pong, Atari has fallen on more than its share of hard times, flirting with bankruptcy and oblivion and being taken over by maverick entrepreneurs Jack and Sam Tramiel. But somehow the company has survived, and it has even produced critical-if not popular-successes such as as the Atari ST computer and the Lynx handheld video game.
Now the company has launched the Atari Jaguar, its most ambitious video game machine since the ill-fated Atari 400 and Atari 800 of more than a decade ago. Atari bills the Jaguar as “the world’s first 64-bit interactive multimedia entertainment system.” But can the Jaguar survive in a jungle filled with threats like Nintendo, Sega, 3DO, Philips and Commodore?
First, a bit about bits: The Jaguar uses what’s called a 64-bit data bus, compared to a 16-bit bus for the Super NES and the Genesis and a 32-bit bus in the 3DO. Without getting too technical, a data bus controls the transfer of information within a computer. Generally, the bigger the data bus, the faster the system.
So is a 64-bit bus system four times better than a 16-bit machine? Yes and no. Atari claims that its machine can process more than 100 times as much data at once than the Genesis or Super NES (Nintendo’s 64-bit Project Reality is set for home use in ’95). But faster processing does not in itself make for better games or a better machine. Is a car that can go 200 miles per hour twice as good as a car that has a top speed of only 100 m.p.h.?
Nonetheless, the specifications sheet of the Jaguar is impressive. It boasts a 64-bit graphics chip, which allows for realistic 3D graphics, high animation speeds and a mind-boggling 16.7 million color combinations (the Sega CD has 256,000 combinations).
Moreover, the screen resolution is 768 by 512 (twice that of the Philips CD-i and even better than 3DO) and you can hook the system up to your television or to an analog monitor. The sound is CD-quality.
And here’s the best part yet: all of these features come for a list price of just $249-almost $250 less than a 3DO system and just $100 more than a Super NES or a Genesis. Dollar for dollar, the Jaguar is the best buy in the video game market.
But before you rush out and spend your hard-earned dollars, be advised that there are some drawbacks to the machine. First of all, the Jaguar currently accepts only cartridge games. And right now relatively few titles are available. The Jaguar comes bundled with a futuristic space flight simulator called Cybermorph. Although the game highlights such system features as 3D polygons and holographic images, it just didn’t fly for me.
Other programs for the system include Alien vs. Predator, Checkered Flag II, Crescent Galaxy and Dino-Dudes. From the titles alone, it’s clear that the Jaguar is meant for arcade addicts and joystick jockeys. If you’re looking for more cerebral fare, you’ll be disappointed.
But is the Jaguar a good buy? If you’re a video game freak-or have one in your house-the answer is probably yes. The cartridges available for the machine are already technically dazzling, and they should get even better as developers get to work with the machine.
But if you’re looking for a machine that offers educational titles as well as entertainment, you’d probably be better off considering a 3DO or the new Amiga CD32, at least until the Jaguar’s CD attachment debuts in late ’94 and applications for it become available.
– Super Solitaire (Absolute; $49.95) is the answer to the question, “Isn’t there any game I can play on Super Nintendo after my kids are asleep?” The game offers 12 popular variations of solitaire, including Aces Up, Klondike, Poker and Pyramid. It also has fun tournament and championship modes.
– Strat-O-Matic Computer Basketball (IBM; $40) is quite simply the most realistic simulation of pro basketball ever. You won’t find fancy graphics here, just incredibly detailed text-based replays. Its array of statistical reports only adds to the realism. It’s a must for hoop fanatics.
– PC Karaoke (IBM, $129.95) just may be your ticket to stardom. At least it beats singing in the shower. It hooks up to your CD drive and turns your system into a complete karaoke system. The package comes with a microphone and a disk with 12 songs. If you want to add to your repertoire, additional 10-song disks are available for $15.99.
