So, we haven’t talked much about the Atari VCS lately (last time: OPINION: What’s Wrong and Right with Atari VCS). The VCS is on life support, yes, but still alive, and now with a better new in box cost.
Price isn’t something these days, it’s just about everything, and Atari is finally getting their overpriced Atari VCS down to a closer to reasonable cost at $199 for the Onyx package new in box and $159.99 for the base unit. It’s still too expensive for what’s included, but this is a better deal than the $399 price it launched at in 2021.
I bought mine for $250, so paid roughly $50 more than what it’s priced at now. After using it awhile, I said the price this should have launched at was around $150 and that $200 was at least worth considering, for those truly interested in it. My feelings on the aging tech now is that should be $100 or less, so really, it’s still $100 too much for what you get, but hey, it’s no longer a horrible deal.
The reality is if the Atari VCS had launched in 2021 at/under $150 for the Onyx package they would have sold more of these than they did. Three plus years later, it seems like a clearance sale vs. support for offering this at the price it should always have been, but it’s encouraging, if not a necesssity, to see this price drop.
Recently, Walmart was selling the Onyx package for $80, so keep your eyes peeled for holiday sales, if you really want one of these. I’m not saying to buy one, not recommending buying one, just reporting that the price has dropped and it’s not part of Atari’s holiday sale.
Is Atari’s indie-friendly official platform its saving grace?
Here’s a post on AtariAge from February 2024 (owned by Atari, btw), about what will happen in 2024: VCS in 2024 – Atari VCS – AtariAge Forums — the two prominent requests herein are:
- Physical cart reader add-on – this should have come with the original system
- indie dev support – indie devs enjoy making software on the Atari VCS 800
Adding to #1, in 2023, Atari announced a strategic partnership with Polymega via Atari Announces Strategic Collaboration with Playmaji – Atari®. This could be the way they add the cart reader to the Atari VCS 800. It’s a curious way to use the physical carts: proof you legally own the game and then emulate the gameplay, not play from the game itself.
Atari Holiday Deals
Speaking of Atari’s holiday sale, they have the 7800+, which plays both 2600 and 7800 carts and has an HDMI out for $131.98 (20% off regular price) here: https://atari.com/products/black-friday-exclusive-7800-console-w-2-wireless-controllers
Maybe, I’m a sucker, but am kinda interested in this. If only to update my old Atari 7800, which is dented, but still works. This might be a better way these days to play my 2600 and 7800 carts. Then again, it isn’t really running the games from the cart, it’s emulated, so my old Atari 7800 is the real deal and this would be just a modern facsimile of the original console.
I think maybe a MISter system might be more up my alley, personally, but am thinking about this. A little. Am also thinking about this silly and possibly lame speaker hat for $24.95: https://atari.com/products/pong-speakerhat
I mean, a hat costs $25, so a hat with a bluetooth speaker and microphone for roughly the same price can’t be a complete dud of a deal, can it?
Are you buying anything Atari this holiday season?