Atari Jaguar

Atari Jaguar Games Console

Released in November 1993 and discontinued in 1996, the Atari Jaguar was a 32-bit video game console notable for its advanced hardware and unique architecture. Despite being marketed as "the only 64-bit system," it was, in fact, a 32-bit system with 64-bit elements in its memory architecture. The Jaguar featured four specialized processors capable of delivering high-quality graphics and sound but proved challenging for developers due to its complex design.

• At launch, the Jaguar was priced at $249.99 in the U.S. (equivalent to around $530 in 2023 money)
• It is estimated that 150,000-250,000 units were ever sold

THE ATARI JAGUAR AT A GLANCE

The Jaguar was marketed as "the only 64-bit system", but it is a 32-bit video game console.

Tech Specs

• Marketed as a 64-bit system, but technically a 32-bit console
• Released: November 1993
• Discontinued: 1996
• Units sold: ~150,000
• Initial price: USD 249.99

The Jaguar CD

• Add-on CD-ROM drive released in September 1995
• Launched at USD 149.95 (approx. USD 300 today)
• Only 14 official games released for the Jaguar CD
• Includes "Virtual Light Machine" that visualizes music with light patterns
• Connects on top of the Jaguar console

Graphics & Modes

• Supports 16.8 million colors
• Resolutions up to 720×576 pixels
• 32-bit GPU with 4 KB internal RAM
• Tom chip @ 26.59 MHz

Audio Capabilities

• Jerry sound chip (16-bit, 26.59 MHz)
• Stereo output with CD-quality sound
• Wavetable and AM synthesis
• Two DACs for digital-to-analog conversion

Expansions

• CD-ROM drive (placed on top)
• CatBox by ICD (VGA out, RS232 and RJ11 CatNet communication ports, DSP-through connector, and more)
• Dial-up Internet link for online gaming
• MPEG-2 video card

Add-ons

• Virtual reality headset
• 4-controller (compatible with the titles "White Men Can't Jump[" and "NBA Jam Tournament Edition")
• Jaglink connecting two Jaguar consoles (compatible with the games "Doom", "AirCars", and "BattleSphere")
• Memory Track for the Jaguar CD (cartridge accessory with 128K EEPROM)

I/O Ports & Connectivity

• 2 joystick ports (on the front)
• Cartridge port (on the top)
• ROM cartridges for storage (up to 6 MB)
• Video-out (supporting S-Video, RGB SCART, and Composite Video)
• DSP-port (JagLink)
• Antenna port (not included in French models)

Game Titles

• It is estimated that only 50 games were officially released for the Atari Jaguar
• Alien vs Predator was the best-selling title with 85,000 sales
• 13 official games were released for the Jaguar CD
• Enthusiasts and independent developers continue to create homebrew games for the Atari Jaguar

Cartridge Titles (Alphabetically -Source: wikipedia)

• AirCars
• Alien vs Predator
• Atari Karts
• Attack of the Mutant Penguins
• Breakout 2000
• Brutal Sports Football
• Bubsy in Fractured Furry Tales
• Cannon Fodder
• Checkered Flag
• Club Drive
• Cybermorph
• Defender 2000
• Doom
• Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls
• Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
• Evolution: Dino Dudes
• Fever Pitch Soccer
• Fight for Life
• Flashback: The Quest for Identity
• FlipOut!
• Hover Strike
• I-War
• International Sensible Soccer
• Iron Soldier
• Iron Soldier 2
• Kasumi Ninja
• Missile Command 3D
• NBA Jam: Tournament Edition
• Pinball Fantasies
• Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
• Power Drive Rally
• Raiden
• Rayman
• Ruiner Pinball
• Super Burnout
• Supercross 3D
• Syndicate
• Tempest 2000
• Theme Park
• Towers II: Plight of the Stargazer
• Trevor McFur in the Crescent Galaxy
• Troy Aikman NFL Football
• Ultra Vortek
• Val d'Isère Skiing and Snowboarding
• White Men Can't Jump
• Wolfenstein 3D
• Worms
• Zero 5
• Zool 2
• Zoop

CD Titles (Alphabetically)

• Baldies
• Battlemorph
• Blue Lightning
• Brain Dead 13
• Dragon's Lair
• Highlander: The Last of the MacLeods
• Hover Strike: Unconquered Lands
• Iron Soldier 2
• Myst
• Primal Rage
• Space Ace
• Vid Grid
• World Tour Racing

■ Atari Jaguar Games Console

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