Esoteric Devices Wiki

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====== Atari Jaguar ======

//includes Jaguar CD//

Atari's final attempt at releasing a home game console. Releasing on November 23rd, 1993 in North America, the Jaguar over-promised and under-delivered with it's dubious "64-bit" claims and confusing architecture. Specifications-wise, the Jaguar came with 2 custom RISC chips and a Motorola 68k for CPU, 2 MB of RAM, and could output video at up to 800x576 with 24-bit color.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Jaguar

https://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/pg90-jaguar.htm#page=specs

===== Operating Systems (Motorola 68000 + Custom RISC x2) =====

=== Atari ST’s TOS+GEM ===

Almost certainly requires a custom hardware extension (Skunk PCB?) to run. Presumably, THIS CANNOT BE EMULATED. The install itself appears to be quite complete, which allows the Jaguar to run whatever TOS+GEM can run, hardware differences notwithstanding.

http://mdgames.de/tosonjag.htm



=== Contiki ===

The ever-so-common port of Contiki a system. In this case, Ethernet is not required to run the system, although a browser does exist, and a certain Ethernet board (below) made it possible to actually use it. NOTE: The supplied zip in link 2 almost certainly requires the “Skunk” homebrew/development board!! In other words, THIS CANNOT BE EMULATED.

http://hitmen.c02.at/html/tools_contiki.html

https://atariage.com/forums/topic/22358-contiki-coming-to-the-jaguar/page/2



=== SkunkGUI ===

>This is a small tcl program that implements a GUI based on the Windows SkunkGUI

Seems to be a GUI for the “Skunk” homebrew/development board? Once again, it appears that THIS CANNOT BE EMULATED.

http://www.mbernstein.de/download/jaguar/index.htm



===== Internet =====

=== Prototype Ethernet Card ===

>A small amount of cards of the current PCB-generation is produced

Never exited early prototype phase, with production possibilities being paused by 2005. With this board, one could access the internet on a Jaguar via Contiki.

https://atariage.com/forums/topic/25150-the-atari-jaguar-ethernetflash-card/

===== Version & Revision Guide =====

For general information, see the [[eop:essays:game_console_revisions_overview|Game Console Revisions Overview]].

==== Versions ====

//There is one version of this console.//



=== “Jaguar” (1993-1996) ===

The Jaguar console, of which no alternative versions were ever made. Weird “toilet seat” shape, top loading cartridge, easily broken cartridge pins, native RGB out on the back, plus a “DSP” port on the back. The JagLink network adapter used the DSP port, which apparently follows typical RS-232 conventions.


==== Revisions ====

//There are two revisions within the Atari Jaguar.//


=== Jaguar revisions: ===

=== “K Serial” (1993-1993/94?/95?) ===

Easily identified by the serial number that begins with a K. The early ones have some faults in the chips + build, but have ADC in the controller ports, which allows using analogue controllers on the system. However, some K systems were produced later, eliminating both the faults and the analogue support. Some also claim that this revision works better with the Jaguar CD.



=== “M Serial” (1993/94?-1996) ===
//BEST RELIABILITY//

Easily identified by the serial number that begins with an M. There appears to be nothing relevant about this revision, outside of what it doesn’t have. The only upside is that it will be free of K’s chip faults.



//RECOMMENDED OVERALL and LOWEST PRICE couldn’t be assigned, or were not applicable.//

https://atariage.com/forums/topic/46777-m-or-k-pcb/

https://atariage.com/forums/topic/52866-jaguar-model-numbers/