@all

Although there are numerous threads and vids discussing this, I'll just link to the owner's comments so you can get the general idea:

AtariAge + Atari

#6

_________________
This posting, in its entirety, represents solely the perspective of the author.
*Secrecy has served us so well*

@number6

Never thought I'd see the day this heretic nonsense would be posted here.
Some of us have abstained from all the next gen vs classic, AOS4, vsAros vs Morphos wars.
That's because we remember who the real enemy are.

Hang your head in shame.

_________________
If your nose runs and your feet smell, you're upside down.

@TiredofLife

Heh!

What is somewhat amusing is the fact that Atari PR is extremely active in the longest thread, and answering almost every question thrown at them.

However, 2 platforms mentioned in the thread that neither the site owner or the Atari PR employee have dared to comment on...are their 2 age old "friends"....Intellivision and Amiga.

Also interesting was they are expressing some of the same concerns that we saw here, when both Amigaworld.net and Amiga.org were acquired by another entity. Well, it's hard to believe, but it's been about 9 years now since that event and our Amiga websites haven't collapsed and closed just yet.

#6

_________________
This posting, in its entirety, represents solely the perspective of the author.
*Secrecy has served us so well*

@number6

Quote:

Also interesting was they are expressing some of the same concerns that we saw here, when both Amigaworld.net and Amiga.org were acquired by another entity. Well, it's hard to believe, but it's been about 9 years now since that event and our Amiga websites haven't collapsed and closed just yet.

No, but they are shadows of their former selves, although whether that reflects the lack of moderation or just lack of interest as things have slowed, I have no idea.

-- eliyahu

_________________
"Physical reality is consistent with universal laws. When the laws do not operate, there is no reality. All of this is unreal."

#6 Quote:

What is somewhat amusing is the fact that Atari PR is extremely active in the longest thread, and answering almost every question thrown at them.

Active Atari fans are high probability potential customers of Atari Inc. hardware like the new Atari VCS (why not VCS+?) and Atari 2600+. This is probably why Atari Inc. is obtaining AtariAge. What I don't understand is the financial health of Atari Inc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari,_Inc._(1993%E2%80%93present)

They already brought out the Atari VCS (10,000+ units sold?) which they have been supporting for a couple of years, they are planning the Atari 2600+, one video mentioned they have about 25 staff members and they are buying up AtariAge possibly adding another so they have funding. They appear to be the previous GT Interactive Software Corp which made tens of millions of dollars on games development but they are a subsidiary of the French Atari SA now which doesn't look so healthy.

Atari SA French listing
https://www.google.com/finance/quote/ALATA:EPA

Atari SA U.S. listing
https://www.google.com/finance/quote/PONGF:OTCMKTS

It looks like Atari Inc. was planning to be listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol ATAR but it never happened?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari,_Inc._(1993%E2%80%93present)#cite_note-infinc-1

The ATAR ticker symbol is a different business perhaps replacing the previous listing which usually remains in the Google finance list after a business has disappeared. The Commodore listing is still there even though they went bankrupt before Google began in 1996.

Commodore International Ltd
https://www.google.com/finance/quote/CBUIF:OTCMKTS

Both Atari SA and Commodore are listed as OTC (Over The Counter) because the stock price is not high enough to be listed on major U.S. stock exchanges.

#6 Quote:

However, 2 platforms mentioned in the thread that neither the site owner or the Atari PR employee have dared to comment on...are their 2 age old "friends"....Intellivision and Amiga.

Atari seems to be in better shape than Intellivision with Amico and the lawsuit hell of the Amiga. It's funny that Cloanto gets blamed in the thread for holding the retro Amiga hostage by obtaining ownership of the Amiga IP. Somebody is going to own the IP and it is no different than what Atari Inc. has done to buy the brand and reassemble the IP.

#6 Quote:

Also interesting was they are expressing some of the same concerns that we saw here, when both Amigaworld.net and Amiga.org were acquired by another entity. Well, it's hard to believe, but it's been about 9 years now since that event and our Amiga websites haven't collapsed and closed just yet.

From my quick skimming, it looked like people were complaining more about cheap emulation instead of real hardware from Atari Inc. Modern retro hardware has a fine line between retro exploitation and respectful homage and preservation. THEA500 Mini managed the tightrope walk with emulation even though they wanted better hardware. I'm not sure the Atari VCS is anymore attractive than any other x86-64 PC in an Atari case with Atari emulation installed. It should have the performance to emulate both 68k and PPC Amigas with more performance and a lower cost than real AmigaNOne PPC hardware. Maybe Atari really should buy the Amiga like someone in the AtariAge thread suggested. Jay Miner is the father of both the Atari and Amiga hardware which is now reduced to emulation for both.

@matthey

I am a bit surprised that the thread on AA has reached 62 pages and shows no sign of ending any time soon, although the topic has drifted into C= ownership.

Apparently retro is still a thing.

#6

_________________
This posting, in its entirety, represents solely the perspective of the author.
*Secrecy has served us so well*

#6 Quote:

I am a bit surprised that the thread on AA has reached 62 pages and shows no sign of ending any time soon, although the topic has drifted into C= ownership. Apparently retro is still a thing.

Like this?

MegaManFan Quote:

If it's any consolation to anyone else reading all 40 pages (and counting) of this thread, Atari's history is far less messy than that of Commodore's when it comes to who owns the brand, company, and/or intellectual property -- and I say this as someone who grew up using Commodore computers (and I still have my C128). If you think modern day Atari is dog shit, you've not seen the number of stupid things the Commodore logo gets stuck on, legally or illegally. The current iteration of Atari whatever it may be is WAYYYYYY better than that.

Emotionally charged and frustration like in our community and the post above doesn't even mention the Amiga specifically. Someone mentioned Amiga with the idea that it is the Atari successor based on employees like Jay Miner, Joe Decuir and Larry Kaplan.

jgkspsx Quote:

If we’re going to do it based on employees then Amiga is the real Atari 🙃

The Amiga really doesn't need the "Commodore" branding and may be better off with "Atari Amiga" which likely would have more retro appeal. There was mention of Atari SA's penny stock price and lack of trading volume zombie status while Atari Inc. seems to have millions for the new Atari VCS and 2600+ console. I'm suspicious why Atari Inc. wouldn't use a small FPGA for the Atari 2600+ which would be seen as a more faithful recreation of the original logic than ARM emulation and quell many of the emulation complaints. If only it was that easy to recreate the best 68k Amiga in a super low cost FPGA but then the 68k Amiga is ugpradeable and Amiga users have already tasted upgraded Amigas in emulation. Anyway, there is definitely some Atari shadiness behind the public image which is coming out and they can't keep spending like they are without more hardware success. If Atari SA goes bankrupt, maybe Amiga Corporation can pick up the Atari IP for a one stop retro licensing shop and maybe even an Atari Amiga retro hardware. Then again, Atari may want to create an Atari Amiga out of the Atari VCS instead as an Atari rep in the thread asks about the Amiga and mentions about Atari "already owning a lot" of Amiga related IP.

TrogdarRobusto Quote:

so, what is the state of the Amiga platform in the opinion of this group? Hardware? Software? What is the appetite for Amiga content?

TrogdarRobusto Quote:

It is not about buying, it is more about already owning a lot.

Atari fans actually had a nuanced but overall favorable opinion about the Amiga despite rivalry at times. This led to speculation about the ownership of Commodore and Amiga IP. People seemed confused thinking that Amiga IP ownership is unclear due to lawsuits but it is not as you pointed out.

#6 Quote:

I thought I already answered this. Amiga IP is not for sale. And it's owned by Amiga Corporation, not Cloanto.

That's not the way I would have worded a response even though it is likely mostly accurate. I prefer, "Most Amiga IP is owned by Amiga Corporation and is likely available for licensing." Some transfer of Amiga IP ownership to Amiga Corporation may be legally delayed or even permanently blocked and I wouldn't assume that it is not for sale at any price. The licensing tip could lead to communication and cross licensing instead of lawsuits later. I just don't understand how you were the only one to state that Amiga Corporation is the primary Amiga IP owner while so many people believe Amiga IP squatters are owners. Retro Games Limited likely performed due diligence before spending millions on THEA500 Mini and that was licensed from Cloanto before combining Amiga Inc. IP assets. There have been other console licensing agreements for Amiga emulation and Amiga emulation on the Atari VCS would likely attract some Amiga customers with much better than ARM emulation performance (likely could even emulate a PPC Amiga better than embedded PPC AmigaNOne hardware), more open hardware than most consoles and better value than most Amiga hardware. The Atari VCS could have an Amiga app that boots into AmigaOS with hard drive space and it is expandable with USB I/O. Downsides include the questionable financial health of Atari SA and the new Atari VCS not selling well due to being too high of cost relative to high performance consoles like the PS4/5. There is room for mass produced budget consoles and Minis at 1/2 the cost and preferable less of high performance consoles as can be seen with the weak little THEA500 Mini being more successful than the much more powerful Atari VCS.