How to preorder new Atari and Sega Genesis Flashback consoles
Preorders have started for new Atari and Sega Genesis consoles. Here's how to get one.
Looking to capitalize on the mania for remakes of classic gaming consoles such as the SNES Classic Edition and the Nintendo NES Classic Edition, AtGames has announced the launch dates for its upcoming lineup. Yes, I said lineup. AtGames will be releasing four Atari and Sega consoles in September. Preorders started July 28. Here's what you need to know.
The lineup
Atari Flashback 8 Gold brings back the best of '80s gaming.
The Atari Flashback 8 Gold and the Sega Genesis Flashback are brand-new old-school consoles. It will also rerelease the Atari Flashback 8 Classic Game Console and the Atari Flashback Portable Game Player.
The Atari Flashback 8 Gold ($70 or AU$150, which converts to around £90) will have 120 preloaded classic games like Activision's Pitfall and Taito's Space Invaders and Atari 2600 classics such as River Raid and Centipede. It outputs 720p video via HDMI and there's a save/pause/rewind feature so you never miss a moment of your game.
The Sega Genesis Flashback (also $70 or AU$150) will come with 85 preloaded games. If your favorite games aren't already on it, don't worry. It has an integrated cartridge port that will play your old Sega Genesis and Mega Drive cartridges. Talk about a blast from the past! Some of the preloaded games include the Sonic, Mortal Kombat, Phantasy Star and Shining Force series.
The Sega Genesis Flashback comes preloaded with your favorite games.
The Atari Flashback 8 Classic Game Console ($60 or AU$100, which is about £60) comes with 105 classic games. It's basically like the Atari Flashback Gold, but with fewer built-in games and features. Think of it as the budget version.
The Atari Flashback Portable Game Player (also $60) has 70 preloaded games, including Bandai Namco's Pac-Man. You can also add your own games with an optional SD card. It also comes with a built-in, rechargeable battery.
Release dates
There are two different release dates. First up, the Atari Flashback Portable Game Player and the Atari Flashback 8 Classic Game Console will be available September 1. Then, the Atari Flashback 8 Gold and the Sega Genesis Flashback will be available on September 22.
Preorders
It looks like the two consoles have no problems with availability. The company told CNET, "There will be enough systems for everyone that wants to preorder."
Preorders for the Atari Flashback 8 Gold are available at Target, Best Buy and GameStop. The Sega Genesis Flashback is also available at GameStop, Target and Best Buy.
For those in the UK, Target looks to be your best bet for the Atari. It seems that no other major retailers are offering preorders. You can get an older Sega Megadrive console for £57 that has similar games and the cartridge slot, but it doesn't look like a real Megadrive.
EB Games Australia has the Atari Flashback 8 Gold and the Sega Genesis Flashback, ready for preorder, both for for AU$150, and the cheaper versions for AU$100. JB Hi-Fi also has the Atari and Sega HD models, both for AU$150, but they limit you to one console preorder each, per customer, so you can't stock up.
Update, Aug. 7: This article was first published on July 25 and has been updated with the latest information.
