The Atari Jaguar CD is a CD-ROM peripheral for the Jaguar video game console. Only 13 games were released for the Jaguar CD during its lifetime. However, previously unfinished and homebrew games have since been released.
 | |
 Jaguar CD atop the console with the ProController | |
| Manufacturer | Atari Corporation |
|---|---|
| Type | Video game console peripheral |
| Generation | Fifth |
| Release date | September 21, 1995 |
| Introductory price | US$149.95 (equivalent to $310 in 2024) |
| Discontinued | 1996 |
| Units sold | < 20,000 |
| Media | CD-ROM |
| Online services | AtariNet |
History
editAtari announced a CD-ROM drive for the Jaguar before the console's November 1993 launch.[1][2] Codenamed Jaguar II during development,[3] the Jaguar CD was released on September 21, 1995 for US$149.95 (equivalent to about $310 in 2024).[4][5] It was originally scheduled for launch during the 1994 holiday shopping season, with multiple delays.[6] In mid-1994 Atari and Sigma Designs signed an agreement to co-develop a PC board that would allow Jaguar CD games to be played on home computers, with a scheduled release by the end of 1994.[7] However, it was never released.
Technicals
editThe drive fits into the ROM cartridge slot atop the console, with its own pass-through cartridge slot to optionally run software that uses cartridge only or that uses cartridge and CD in tandem.[8] The Memory Track cartridge stores saved game position and high scores. Several publications have criticized the Jaguar CD's design for resembling a toilet.[9][10][11][12]
The Jaguar CD has a double-speed (2×) drive[13] and built-in VLM (Virtual Light Machine) software by Jeff Minter, using a spectrum analyzer for a sophisticated video light show for audio CDs.[8] It is bundled with Blue Lightning, Vid Grid, the Tempest 2000 soundtrack CD, and a Myst demo disc. Every startup screen is unique, using the VLM for a random light show.
Jaguar CDs can store up to 790MB,[14] more than conventional CD-ROMs. Its proprietary CD format is based on the audio CD format, instead of standard CD-ROM data formats. It allows for more storage, and its incompatibility foils casual piracy, at the expense of reduced error correction.
Game library
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Atari's 64-bit Jaguar Stalks the Competition". GamePro. No. 61. IDG. October 1993. pp. 16–17.
- ^ "Atari Jaguar Unveiled—Stalks 3DO". Computer Gaming World. November 1993. pp. 10–11. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
- ^ "Atari Gears Up for Battle". Next Generation. No. 4. Imagine Media. April 1995. pp. 14–15.
- ^ "Atari Corp". HFN. 1995-09-04. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
- ^ "Atari Jaguar CD system pounces onto multimedia marketplace". Business Wire. 1995-09-21. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
- ^ "1995: The Calm Before the Storm?". Next Generation. No. 13. Imagine Media. January 1996. p. 45.
- ^ "Jaguar to Roar on PC". GamePro. No. 72. IDG. September 1994. p. 160.
- ^ a b Wise, Carey (September 1995). "Gamer's Day at Atari". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 74. Ziff Davis. pp. 64–66.
- ^ Elston, Brett (June 19, 2008). "Consoles of the '90s". GamesRadar. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ Gilbert, Henry (August 28, 2013). "Weirdest console redesigns in gaming history". GamesRadar. p. 4. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ Williams, Andrew (March 10, 2017). "12 new games created for long-obsolete consoles". TechRadar. p. 3. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ "The 10 ugliest pieces of technology ever made". The Daily Telegraph. September 12, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- ^ "Jaguar CD". GamePro. No. 86. IDG. November 1995. p. 20.
- ^ "Jaguar Plugs into the CD Revolution". Next Generation. No. 6. Imagine Media. June 1995. pp. 18–19.