Gamescom called again, and unfortunately, due to time constraints, we were unable to attend with an ST Computer booth. However, a company was there without which the magazine would not exist.
We are of course talking about Atari, even though no one from the Tramiel era is currently employed by Atari. Atari is actually a regular guest at Gamescom, but in the Business Area. This year, the company took a two-pronged approach and, in addition to its usual home in the Business Area, also had a booth in Hall 10.1.
But first we went to Business Area 4.2 for a personal meeting with David Lowey, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing. The conversation took place in the room with the new Pac-Man edition of the 2600+. The company was visibly proud of its licensing deal with Bandai Namco, which includes Pac-Man as well as new releases of the classics Galaga, Xevious, and Dig Dug. They had been working on it for “two years” – how convenient that they reached an agreement just in time for Pac-Man’s 45th birthday…
Of course, Atari’s future plans are of more interest than the Pac-Man edition. Further plans for Intellivision have now led to Intellivision Sprint. From an ST perspective, the plans for 2026 are more interesting, because that’s when they want to do something with the Atari ST. Whatever it is, don’t expect an ST in its original format. The demands for a trackball were apparently loud enough. Although David is professional enough not to make a direct announcement, it was clear that there will be something along those lines.
Atari in 10.1
Atari’s public booth was divided into an 18+ area for Mortal Kombat Legacy and a free area for indie games (including Bubsy 4D) and the 2600+ in the Pac-Man edition.
However, Atari’s location wasn’t entirely satisfactory: Hall 10.1 attracts fewer visitors than 10.2, which scores points with its many tightly packed indie games and, of course, the retro area. Despite the proximity of the two halls, Atari would have been closer to the fans in 10.2.
There was familiar hardware on display at various tables, but it was also noticeable that the retro area was increasingly taking a back seat to the indie area. The print media was well represented this time with RETURN, Retro Gamer, and the publisher Look Behind You – Microzeit (Borders, Crackers) was not there this time.
Retro novelties
Retro Games added a kind of intermediate product to its range: the C64 Mini is back on the market in a black edition and equipped exclusively with high-quality homebrew games. Presumably, the company would have preferred to launch a different product for the Christmas season, which was only on display at Gamescom as a 3D print: the A1200 Maxi in the design of the Amiga 1200.
Mini, on the other hand, is the new edition of the Vectrex. The console with a vector graphics screen relies on standard hardware (OLED screen, ARM architecture) in the mini version, but made a cute impression.
