website/content/museum/atari-jaguar.md

title, categories, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	origins	years	cpus	params
Atari Jaguar	Consoles	U.S.A.	1993	Motorola 68000	name image logo company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos hardware emulators links videos software oc_id source Jaguar /media/museum/photos/atari_jaguar_1s.jpg /media/museum/logos/atari_jaguar_logo.gif /companies/atari Atari label value NAME Jaguar label value MANUFACTURER Atari label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR November 1993 label value END OF PRODUCTION 1996 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD 8-way d-pad, 15 buttons + Option + Pause label value CPU Motorola 68000 label value SPEED 13.295 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR TOM - 32 bit RISC CPU, 64 bit RISC POP (Programmable Object Processor), 64 bit RISC Blitter JERRY - 32 bit RISC DSP label value RAM 2 MB DRAM label value VRAM Shared with system RAM (All processors have direct access to RAM) label value ROM 128 KB label value GRAPHIC MODES 720x576 max. label value COLORS 16.7 Million label value SOUND 2 DAC's, 16 bit stereo (Varying number of channels depending on software) label value SIZE / WEIGHT 9.5'' x 10'' x 2.5'' label value I/O PORTS 2 controller ports, RF out, Video edge connector (A/V output), Cartridge/Expansion port, DSP port label value BUILT IN MEDIA Cartridge (6 MB max.) label value OS 44 label value POWER SUPPLY External power supply unit, 9 volt DC label value PERIPHERALS Jaguar CD label value PRICE $249.99 (USA, 1993) photos hardware software emulators links videos 1191 title subtitle text image ATARI JAGUAR /media/museum/photos/atari_jaguar_1.jpg title subtitle text image BOX /media/museum/photos/atari_jaguar_box_1.jpg title subtitle text image BOX - VERSO /media/museum/photos/atari_jaguar_box_verso_1.jpg title subtitle text image THE CARTRIDGE This is an Alpine development cartridge (6 MB version) for the Atari Jaguar. /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar_alpine-dev-cart_1.jpg title subtitle text image CONTROLLER /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar_controller_1.jpg title subtitle text image BOX /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar_controller_box.jpg title subtitle text image BOX 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. /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar_jaglink_box.jpg title subtitle text image THE UNIT 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. /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar-cd_3.jpg title subtitle text image TOP VIEW /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar-cd_2.jpg title subtitle text image BOX /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar-cd_box_1.jpg title subtitle text image CONTROLLER & BOX 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. /media/museum/hardware/atari_jaguar_procontroller_1.jpg title url platform text Project Tempest http://pt.emuunlim.com/ Windows Atari Jaguar emulator for Windows title url platform text Virtual Jaguar http://icculus.org/virtualjaguar/ Multiplatform Jaguar emulator for Windows, Linux, MacOS & BeOS title url text Atari Jaguar FAQ http://www.electric-escape.net/atari/Jaguar/FAQ Essential! title url text Jaguar Sector II http://jaysmith2000.ipbhost.com/index.php? Active Jaguar forum title url text JustClaws! http://justclaws.atari.org/ UK Site for Atari Jaguar title url text Wikipedia - Atari Jaguar entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Jaguar Good start to learn more about the Jaguar title url text www.atariage.com http://www.atariage.com Atariage.com has an excellent Jaguar section title url text TV commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aEsvcQSjlI Length: 30 s title url text TV commercials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQaro-yjBqI Length: 1 min 37 s title url text TV commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIgvo6PRjgA Length: 31 s title url text TV commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHzOiB2Bpb8 Length: 30 s title url text TV commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NApAwG93Sg Length: 30 s title url text Atari Jaguar 1994 Promotional Tape (part 1/5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y19iAmHg_Wo Length: 8 min 37 s title url text Atari Jaguar 1994 Promotional Tape (part 2/5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0pmtfKLi3A Length: 9 min 46 s title url text Atari Jaguar 1994 Promotional Tape (part 3/5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljou4m7PY08 Length: 8 min 15 s title url text Atari Jaguar 1994 Promotional Tape (part 4/5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHGKj4dU78o Length: 5 min 46 s title url text Atari Jaguar 1994 Promotional Tape (part 5/5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hsohjvqk0I Length: 9 min 2 s title url text Virtua Light Machine demo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8OZhVWXuoM Length: 2 min 30 s title url text Virtua Light Machine demo #2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp0OX7EZsDs Length: 3 min 47 s title url text Jaguar CD overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdInwUNoYfw Length: 2 min 45 s title url text Jaguar CD - TV commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsR2dUe2H_M Length: 22 s title url text Atari jaguar & packaging overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab6n3NT7LV0 Length: 2 min 01 s title url text Jaguar controller overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-dr7fe3P4I Length: 2 min 03 /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 1224 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230604181859/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1224 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 and Mega Drive. 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.

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Contributors: Ste (text & info)