Atari Jaguar, questions and thoughs about getting one.

Well, ive decided to in the next few months get myself a jaguar. I like collecting obscure game consoles, and this one has eluded me for some time, mainly becouse ive never motivated a purchase strongly enough.

Ive been keeping an eye out on ebay.com/.co.uk/.de, and gotten a fair idea of prices on those sites.

However, on ebay.com, as opposed to the other sites, sellers often declare their jaguar as "black". ehm.. what does this mean? I have seen some jaguars and they've all looked kinda darkblue/greyish? Where there different shells made?

Also, ive understood that it is region free, but that some games have issues playing on some "regions", at least when the cd adon is concerned. Which is the best region to get, to avoid these issues? Im guessing a US NTSC jaguar and cd?

Please answer my questions if you have the information, and pitch in your thoughts and ideas on this console.

Thanks and regards,
grimm

I think a friend of mine still has his Atari Jaguar stored in a closet in his house. It must be the only Jaguar in my city, maybe in my country as far as I know. Never seen another one here, not even in flea markets.

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Originally Posted by grimm

Well, ive decided to in the next few months get myself a jaguar. I like collecting obscure game consoles, and this one has eluded me for some time, mainly becouse ive never motivated a purchase strongly enough.

Ive been keeping an eye out on ebay.com/.co.uk/.de, and gotten a fair idea of prices on those sites.

However, on ebay.com, as opposed to the other sites, sellers often declare their jaguar as "black". ehm.. what does this mean? I have seen some jaguars and they've all looked kinda darkblue/greyish? Where there different shells made?

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I have a Jaguar a modest size collection of games and have enjoyed the system for years. As far as black goes, no idea why this is "advertised" on auctions. All systems are grey/charcoal colored. Though right now some of white Imagin Hotrod dental cases are available for sale.

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Also, ive understood that it is region free, but that some games have issues playing on some "regions", at least when the cd adon is concerned. Which is the best region to get, to avoid these issues? Im guessing a US NTSC jaguar and cd?

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The system is region free. The only issue I've ever heard of is some copies of Raiden not working correctly on PAL system.

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Please answer my questions if you have the information, and pitch in your thoughts and ideas on this console.

Thanks and regards,
grimm

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AtariAge and Jaguar Sector II are probably your best bets for information.

All consoles are a very dark grey that is always described as black, the box for the console is proper black.

The Jaguar is totally region free, the ONLY game that has issues is Dragon's Lair for the Jag CD which crashes on a PAL system.

I am a big fan of the Jag I think it has far better games than its ever given credit for and ever since the days when EGM went out their way to rag on it people have seemed to think its fashionable to slag it off and go on with its not really 64-bit rubbish . . . .

As for games it pretty much depends what type of games you like but I would certainly recommend the following cartridge games as a good place to start (I suggest looking them up on You Tube)

Super Burnout
Ultra Vortek
Tempest 2000
Protector: SE
I-War
Missile Command 3D
Raiden
Iron Soldier
Doom
Alien Vs. Predator
Rayman
Ruiner
Powerdrive Rally

As to which Jag to get it depends where you live. If you are in PAL land then get a PAL Jag and vice versa. Jag's seem to demand a pretty good price on eBay these days and you can often pick up a new one from an online store for not much more. If you are in the UK or Europe there is a member here called Steve Jigga who recently said he picked a couple that he was going to sell so you could contact him. Otherwise I could put you onto some excellent sellers.

The other great thing about the Jag is that its still being supported by people and just this week it saw a new CD release in Robinson's Requiem from Songbird - http://www.songbird-productions.com/. New cart releases are also planned for this year such as the very cool Mighty Frog - http://mightyfrog.forcedesign.us/

The Jaguar is actually fairly pricey on the used market due to its relative scarcity and the demand from Jaguar enthusiasts. If you can actually get a CD unit that works there are some decent games for it, though unless you find a modestly priced lot or score an auction deal, generally the CD is to pricey for the available library IMO.

The controller is a bit wonky. You get used to it, but like the first orig. Xbox controller, you can't ever shake that feeling that there has got to be an easier way to play games then with this beast. The Jaguar has some very interesting/unique 3D adaptations of classic Atari games and can put out some pretty decent music. If you've got the money and the space, it is definitely worth checking out (though maybe not over more famous systems)

Thanks for the info you guys have provided so far.

Crackdown, im in Sweden, so i guess pal would be more convenient initially, but then i wouldnt have the safety of not having trouble with Dragons Lair, if i end up getting that game in other than Pal region..

Ive seen plenty of new jaguars on ebay.de, but they all seem pal. So im stuck between choises.. Im a few months away from purchasing a system tho..

I also wonder if you can mix a pal jaguar, with an ntsc cdrom? Those seem more reasonably priced across the pond, even with taxes and import fees, and again, i wouldnt have the issue with Dragon's Lair..

I believe you can but I seriously wouldn't be worried about that game as its absolute crap anyway and there is a hacked version out there that works (which is of course illegal!) if you were really desperate to play it.

Its also worth noting its really easy to mod a PAL Jaguar with an NTSC switch.

If you are in Sweden then the UK or Germany are probably your best bets to get one from, I would contact that member or try Nick Harlow's wonderful shop - http://sales1632.myzen.co.uk/acatalo...Jaguar_32.html

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Originally Posted by Algus

If you can actually get a CD unit that works there are some decent games for it, though unless you find a modestly priced lot or score an auction deal, generally the CD is to pricey for the available library IMO.

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Its actually quite easy to pick up a new Jag CD unit, just don't look on eBay. They are also pretty simple to fix. I personally think they are well worth the price as the CD games are mostly excellent, Battlemorph is easily worth the price alone, and also there are tons of hombrew games and demos you can burn and play for free.

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Originally Posted by Algus

The controller is a bit wonky. You get used to it, but like the first orig. Xbox controller, you can't ever shake that feeling that there has got to be an easier way to play games then with this beast

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I would actually say the Jag controller is my favourite after the Megadrive and Saturn's. Especially the 6 button Pro Controller which might be pricey but is well worth getting.

Really? I always thought the Jag controller was pretty bulky (and I've got big hands too). I have not used the pro controller though, only the standard one. How do you think the pro compares to the Saturn's big analog controller?

Battlemorph IS pretty good.

I have stupid girl hands and didn't really have a problem with the Jaguar pad - was actually surprised after the fuss everyone seems to make over it. I find the DC pad far more cramp-inducing.

As for whether the console itself is worth getting... 'eh. I have hooked mine up and used it on a grand total of three occasions. :/

Also: Dragon's Lair sucks bottoms.

I have very small hands for a guy, despite being a semi-pro goalkeeper for many years, and never found it bulky. The pro controller is actually smaller than the original Jaguar pad and the buttons are much nicer. I have never used the Saturn analogue pad as I hate analogue controllers.

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Originally Posted by Crackdown

The pro controller is actually smaller than the original Jaguar pad and the buttons are much nicer.

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No, the controllers are the same size...

The Jaguar gets a lot of flack for having a telephone pad slabbed onto it's face, but the controller itself fits the average sized hand quite well. In fact, I have yet to find a *real person* find it's style uncomfortable at all. Most games don't use the number pad, though it's nice to have a software reset (# and * in any game will take you back to the main screen). The reason the controller isn't that great is because the d-pad and action button are stiff and mushy. Yes, stiff and mushy, at the same time, quite the feat.

The pro-pad has an improved d-pad and better feeling buttons, along with some shoulder buttons (mapped to the 4 and 6 buttons on the number pad).

Seriously though, the controller fits well in the hand, feels very similar to a Saturn 3D controller. The buttons just suck.

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Originally Posted by kgenthe

No, the controllers are the same size...

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You sure about that? :confused:

This picture I just took clearly shows the pro controller is both thinner and shorter than the original pad. :o

If it weren't a little squiffy it wouldn't appeal to you as an odd system. My impression has always been Kasumi Ninja was the signature game, if for no wiser reason than advertising. Iron Soldier is usually near the top. Attack of the Mutant Penguins anyone? The homebrew games should be good, at least the retro sort, as the system does have surprisingly high 2D specs.

I had a lot of fun with Attack of the Mutant Penguins. I know a lot of people online give it crap but it is colorful and a bit crazy and I found the controls to be about as decent as a Jaguar game's controls can be.

Kasumi Ninja is terribly stupid but then again that's the point. ENTEWING DA COMBAT ZONE!