This seems to be the time where vintage console brands come together for a shot at renaissance. Atari has done so with a new iteration of the Atari VCS, narrowing down the expected pre-sale date to May 30, 2018.
In other words, that means pre-orders are now open for interested parties, available exclusively on Indiegogo. Sporting a furnished, retro-inspired wood front, the Atari VCS was designed with the purpose of bridging retro and modern-day gaming, and comes with a library of all-time classics like Asteroids, Missile Command, and Gravitar.
Following that, Intellivision is next to join the fray. The home video game console is set to undergo a makeover, with a focus on introducing a system that “all age groups and levels of gamers and non-gamers” can enjoy. Details about the project remain scarce, as a name has yet to be assigned to it, but more information should be forthcoming after the team’s Q&A session on Facebook come May 31, 2018.
It appears that Intellivision is promising more than just another straightforward revival of a classic system. Keeping up with the “company tradition of firsts”, a richer experience beyond the nostalgia and replayability of older titles can be expected.
But the gaming community is a touchy bunch, and with this announcement comes some well-warranted concerns. As per the situation with the Atari VCS, one of the most important questions would be if the team is able to live up to their promises and avoid the repeated delays, as well as stand up against the likes of other more well-known competitors, including the SNES Classic Edition.
All in all, it looks like a tough fight for Intellivision. Its less-prominent reputation puts it at a disadvantage, which increases the difficulty of enticing newcomers. Coupled with the threat posed by current-gen consoles on the market, the team has to head down this route carefully and strategically. Still, it’s certainly too early to write them off, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Ryan Michael Chin
The Baroness
