--- title: Atari Jaguar categories: - Consoles origins: - U.S.A. years: - '1993' cpus: - Motorola 68000 params: name: Jaguar image: /media/museum/photos/atari_jaguar_1s.jpg logo: /media/museum/logos/atari_jaguar_logo.gif company: /companies/atari company_name: Atari specs: - label: NAME value: Jaguar - label: MANUFACTURER value: Atari - label: ORIGIN value: U.S.A. - label: YEAR value: November 1993 - label: END OF PRODUCTION value: '1996' - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: None - label: KEYBOARD value: 8-way d-pad, 15 buttons + Option + Pause - label: CPU value: Motorola 68000 - label: SPEED value: 13.295 MHz - label: CO-PROCESSOR value: TOM - 32 bit RISC CPU, 64 bit RISC POP (Programmable Object Processor), 64 bit RISC Blitter JERRY - 32 bit RISC DSP - label: RAM value: 2 MB DRAM - label: VRAM value: Shared with system RAM (All processors have direct access to RAM) - label: ROM value: 128 KB - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 720x576 max. - label: COLORS value: 16.7 Million - label: SOUND value: 2 DAC's, 16 bit stereo (Varying number of channels depending on software) - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 9.5'' x 10'' x 2.5'' - label: I/O PORTS value: 2 controller ports, RF out, Video edge connector (A/V output), Cartridge/Expansion port, DSP port - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: Cartridge (6 MB max.) - label: OS value: '44' - label: POWER SUPPLY value: External power supply unit, 9 volt DC - label: PERIPHERALS value: Jaguar CD - label: PRICE value: $249.99 (USA, 1993) tabs: - photos - hardware - software - emulators - links - videos forum_thread: 1191 photos: - title: ATARI JAGUAR subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/atari_jaguar_1.jpg - title: BOX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/atari_jaguar_box_1.jpg - title: BOX - VERSO subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/atari_jaguar_box_verso_1.jpg hardware: - title: THE CARTRIDGE subtitle: '' text: This is an Alpine development cartridge (6 MB version) for the Atari Jaguar. image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar_alpine-dev-cart_1.jpg - title: CONTROLLER subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar_controller_1.jpg - title: BOX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar_controller_box.jpg - title: BOX subtitle: '' text: |- The JagLink Interface allows the Atari Jaguar to be networked with another Jaguar unit. The JagLink Interface comes with two small boxes that allow you to network two Jaguars together. The JagLink box plugs into the DSP port on the back of the Jaguar. Only three games took advantage of the JagLink: Air Cars, BattleSphere, and Doom: Evil Unleashed. image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar_jaglink_box.jpg - title: THE UNIT subtitle: '' text: |- In 1994 the Jaguar was facing competition from the 3DO and soon to be released PlayStation. Following in the footsteps of SEGA, Atari decided to create an ill advised CD based add-on for their system. This came in the form of a double speed CD-ROM drive capable of full-screen FMV, CD+G and audio CD playback. A non-standard format was used for storing data giving Jaguar CDs a larger than normal 790MB storage capacity. Originally scheduled for release in 1994, several delays finally saw the machine released in late 1995. Included in ROM was the Virtua Light Machine, which created visual effects to accompany the playback of audio CDs. Ultimately the Jaguar CD suffered from the same poor sales and support as the Jaguar, with very few games released for the system. The unfortunate nickname of "the toilet" due to its shape probably didn't help either. image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar-cd_3.jpg - title: TOP VIEW subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar-cd_2.jpg - title: BOX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar-cd_box_1.jpg - title: CONTROLLER & BOX subtitle: '' text: Here is a rare Atari Jaguar 64-bit system PROCONTROLLER, with the addition of 2 shoulder buttons and 3 more thumb buttons for a total of 6, and a new slim-line ergonomic design. The new buttons map out to regular controller keypad buttons, so not only were games design for the procontroller able to use it, but it enhances the playability of pre-procontroller games too. image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar_procontroller_1.jpg emulators: - title: Project Tempest url: http://pt.emuunlim.com/ platform: Windows text: Atari Jaguar emulator for Windows - title: Virtual Jaguar url: http://icculus.org/virtualjaguar/ platform: Multiplatform text: Jaguar emulator for Windows, Linux, MacOS & BeOS links: - title: Atari Jaguar FAQ url: http://www.electric-escape.net/atari/Jaguar/FAQ text: Essential! - title: Jaguar Sector II url: http://jaysmith2000.ipbhost.com/index.php? text: Active Jaguar forum - title: JustClaws! url: http://justclaws.atari.org/ text: UK Site for Atari Jaguar - title: Wikipedia - Atari Jaguar entry url: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Jaguar text: Good start to learn more about the Jaguar - title: www.atariage.com url: http://www.atariage.com text: Atariage.com has an excellent Jaguar section videos: - title: TV commercial url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aEsvcQSjlI text: 'Length: 30 s' - title: TV commercials url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQaro-yjBqI text: 'Length: 1 min 37 s' - title: TV commercial url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIgvo6PRjgA text: 'Length: 31 s' - title: TV commercial url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHzOiB2Bpb8 text: 'Length: 30 s' - title: TV commercial url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NApAwG93Sg text: 'Length: 30 s' - title: Atari Jaguar 1994 Promotional Tape (part 1/5) url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y19iAmHg_Wo text: 'Length: 8 min 37 s' - title: Atari Jaguar 1994 Promotional Tape (part 2/5) url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0pmtfKLi3A text: 'Length: 9 min 46 s' - title: Atari Jaguar 1994 Promotional Tape (part 3/5) url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljou4m7PY08 text: 'Length: 8 min 15 s' - title: Atari Jaguar 1994 Promotional Tape (part 4/5) url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHGKj4dU78o text: 'Length: 5 min 46 s' - title: Atari Jaguar 1994 Promotional Tape (part 5/5) url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hsohjvqk0I text: 'Length: 9 min 2 s' - title: Virtua Light Machine demo url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8OZhVWXuoM text: 'Length: 2 min 30 s' - title: 'Virtua Light Machine demo #2' url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp0OX7EZsDs text: 'Length: 3 min 47 s' - title: Jaguar CD overview url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdInwUNoYfw text: 'Length: 2 min 45 s' - title: Jaguar CD - TV commercial url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsR2dUe2H_M text: 'Length: 22 s' - title: Atari jaguar & packaging overview url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab6n3NT7LV0 text: 'Length: 2 min 01 s' - title: Jaguar controller overview url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-dr7fe3P4I text: 'Length: 2 min 03' software: - /software/alien-vs-predator - /software/alien-vs-predator-prototype-261 - /software/atari-karts - /software/attack-of-the-mutant-penguins - /software/brutal-sports-football - /software/bubsy-in-fractured-furry-tails - /software/cannon-fodder - /software/checkered-flag - /software/club-drive - /software/cybermorph - /software/defender-2000 - /software/doom - /software/double-dragon-v-the-shadow-falls - /software/dragon-the-bruce-lee-story - /software/evolution-dino-dudes - /software/fever-pitch - /software/fight-for-life - /software/flashback - /software/flip-out - /software/hover-strike - /software/i-war - /software/iron-soldier - /software/kasumi-ninja - /software/missile-command-3d - /software/nba-jam-tournament-edition - /software/pinball-fantasies - /software/pitfall-the-mayan-adventure - /software/power-drive-rally - /software/raiden - /software/rayman - /software/ruiner-pinball - /software/sensible-soccer-international-edition - /software/super-burnout - /software/supercross-3d - /software/syndicate - /software/tempest-2000 - /software/theme-park - /software/trevor-mcfur-in-the-crescent-galaxy - /software/troy-aikman-nfl-football - /software/ultra-vortek - /software/val-d-isere-skiing-and-snowboarding - /software/white-men-can-t-jump - /software/wolfenstein-3d - /software/zool-2 - /software/zoop oc_id: 1224 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230604181859/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1224 date: '2023-06-04' --- In the early '90s Atari was approached by a company called Flair Technology. They claimed that they could design a new console that would be better than the [SNES](/museum/nintendo-super-nintendo-entertainment-system/) and [Mega Drive](/museum/sega-genesis/). Atari were so impressed that they provided funding for a new company called Flair II. The newly formed company set about designing two new machines, the 32 bit Panther and the 64 bit Jaguar. After cancelling the Panther project, Atari contracted IBM to manufacture the Jaguar. Released late in 1993, the Jaguar was marketed as the worlds first 64 bit console resulting in speculation as to whether really was. Containing five processors on three chips, only two of them were in fact 64 bit. A proprietary chip named TOM contained two 64 bit and one 32 bit processors. Primarily used for graphics processing TOM was also able to execute program code if desired. JERRY was another 32 bit proprietary chip responsible for sound processing while a 16 bit Motorola 68000 acted as a main controller, managing the other two chips and executing code. Included with the Jaguar was one of the largest joypads ever made, with an 8-way d-pad, A, B and C buttons, pause and option buttons, and a 12 key numeric pad complete with star and hash keys! It also shipped with a free game, Cybermorph, which included a plastic overlay for the controller's number pad for a customised control layout. The Jaguar's short lifespan came to an end when Atari merged with JTS in 1996. With sales of around just 150,000 units and poor publisher support, production ended soon after. This would be Atari's final machine (the Jaguar II was planned but never released), and a sad end to the company that once dominated the console market. Atari is now controlled by French company Infogrames, where it continues as a software publisher. --- Contributors: Ste (text & info)