Sunnyvale, CA - June 1993 - Atari Corporation, the founder of the video game industry and the creative force behind some of the world's best known titles, has announced the launch of a revolutionary new multi-media entertainment system, the ATARI JAGUAR. The launch will be supported by aggressive advertising, promotion and marketing efforts to be centered in the New York market in the Fall, with a national roll-out of the product within one year.
The ATARI JAGUAR, housed in a futuristic casing, is an interactive multi- media system based on an Atari-designed proprietary 64-bit RISC processor. The 64-bit system is four times the technology currently seen in the market today. The ATARI JAGUAR features over 16 million colors in 24-bit true color graphics and produces shaded 3-D polygons to be manipulated in a "real" world in real time. The ATARI JAGUAR also has real time texture mapping and creates spectacular video effects.
The sound system is based on Atari's proprietary, high-speed, Digital Signal Processor dedicated to audio. The audio is 16-bit stereo CD quality and processes simultaneous sources of audio data, allowing for very realistic sounds, as well as human voices, which are essential for future multi- media applications.
The ATARI JAGUAR is truly expandable and will include a 32-bit expansion port which allows for future connection into cable and telephone networks, as well as a digital signal processing port for modem use and connection to digital audio peripherals such as DAT players.
The unit will also have a compact disc peripheral, which will be double-speed and will play regular CD audio, CD + G (Karaoke), and Kodak's new Photo-CD.
Currently, there are multiple software titles in development, which will be available on MegaCart ™. Atari, known for such groundbreaking 3-D titles as Battlezone 2000 (r), and Tempest 2000 (r), will issue spectacular new versions for the ATARI JAGUAR. New 3-D game titles will include Cybermorph (r), Alien vs. Predator (r), Jaguar Formula One Racing ™ and many more. Atari will license third party publishers to join the Jaguar family.
"The ATARI JAGUAR system will revolutionize the state of home entertainment as we see it today," said Sam Tramiel, president of Atari. "The idea of a 64-bit system is earthshattering and kids and adults will be amazed at both the imagery and manipulative capabilities. And we are proud that our entry into the multi-media entertainment category will be fully made in America."
The ATARI JAGUAR will retail for approximately $200 and will be available nationwide next year. The ATARI JAGUAR packaged unit will include one software experience and a Power Pad (r) Controller with a ten-key pad, and other special features.
Atari Corp. manufactures and markets personal computers and video games for the home, office and educational marketplaces throughout the world. Atari headquarters are located at 1196 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94089.
Sunnyvale, CA ATARI LICENSES CINEPAK COMPRESSION TECHNOLOGY
SuperMac Technology Inc. announced that Atari Corp. has licensed SuperMac's
Cinepak advanced video compression technology. The agreement with Atari
marks the fourth licensing pact for Cinepak. SuperMac's Cinepak technology
serves both the electronic entertainment and computer markets. Cinepak is
part of Apple Computer Inc.'s QuickTime standard. As well as Creative Labs
Inc.'s digital-video developments in the PC arena. Cinepak is also
available on The 3DO Co.'s upcoming Interactive Multiplayer multimedia
system. Cinepak is a video compression-decompression (codec) scheme that
allows each video frame to use less space than usual, while still retaining
high quality colors and images.
SUNNYVALE, CALIF (JUNE 28) PR NEWSWIRE - Atari Corp. (AMEX: ATC)
announced today that it has contracted with the IBM Corp.'s (NYSE:
IBM) Charlotte, N.C., facility to manufacture the Atari Jaguar,
Atari's new 64-bit multimedia entertainment system.
IBM's multi-year contract is valued at $500 million. The Atari
Jaguar, to be made in the United States, is an interactive multimedia
entertainment system which features over 16 million colors in 24-bit
true color graphics and produces shaded 3-D polygons for manipulation
in a "real world" in real time. A 32-bit expansion port will allow
for future connection into cable and telephone networks, a digital
signal processing port for modem usage and connection to digital audio
peripherals. The Jaguar will also feature a double-speed compact disc
peripheral.
"This system is clearly the wave of the future," said Sam Tramiel,
president of Atari. "Because the Jaguar will feature such an array of
visual and audio special effects, we wanted to work with a premier
company that we are confident can manufacture the quality product we
have developed."
The Charlotte-based IBM plant, which for 15 years has manufactured
and developed products only for other IBM businesses, just recently
began working with outside companies to meet their production needs.
The Atari Jaguar project represents one of IBM's first entries into
manufacturing for the mass consumer electronics market.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to work with Atari and their new
system," said Herbert L. Watkins, director of Application Solutions
manufacturing at IBM Charlotte. "Everyone expects IBM to manufacture
complex information technology products, and with this, we'll show
that we can competitively build a sophisticated consumer product."
In addition to assembling the Jaguar, IBM will be responsible for
the component sourcing, quality testing, packaging and distribution.
The Jaguar, announced on June 3, is based on an Atari-designed
proprietary 64-bit RISC processor that features four times the
technology currently seen in the marketplace today. The sound system
is based on Atari's proprietary, high-speed, Digital Signal Processor
dedicated to audio which can produce CD-quality sound.
The Atari Jaguar will be available on a limited basis in the fall,
focusing on the New York market. A national roll-out is expected next
year, and the Jaguar will retail for approximately $200.
NOTE: Atari Corp. manufactures and markets personal computers and
video games for the home, office and educational marketplaces
throughout the world. Atari headquarters are located at 1196 Borregas
Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94089.
The IBM Corp.'s Charlotte facility manufactures and develops for
IBM and other companies a wide variety of products, such as banking
systems, automotive diagnostic systems and electronic circuit boards.
The site includes 2.3 million square feet of work space on a
1,200-acre site. Its address is 1001 W.T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC
28257. Telephone: 704-594-1000.
-0- 6/28/93 /CONTACT: Nancy Chan of
Bohbot Communications, 415-705-6888, for Atari; or Bob Page of IBM,
704-594-1729/ (ATC IBM) CO: Atari Corp.; IBM Corp. ST: California,
North Carolina IN: CPR SU: CON