Files
website/content/museum/atari-jaguar.md
T
yann64andClaude Opus 5.5 b274874139 All machines linked to their forum thread (full comment import)
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
2026-10-13 17:26:43 +02:00

265 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
Raw Blame History

This file contains invisible Unicode characters
This file contains invisible Unicode characters that are indistinguishable to humans but may be processed differently by a computer. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.
---
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)