Atari Jaguar

Background

Having been out of the console market for years after the failure of the 7800, Atari decided in 1993 to try one more shot at a video game console, as competition for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System, as well as the 3DO, which had just come out that year (and even the original Nintendo, which was on its last legs). Originally intended to be a 32-bit system called the "Panther", Atari in shock of the 3DO having 32-bit capabilities, decided to create a 64-bit system called the Jaguar.

Although sales were decent at launch, the console did poorly on the market, one problem being that the graphics weren't really "64-bit", but more like 16-bit style graphics you'd see on the Genesis and SNES. This may have been because Atari decided to use the 32-bit processors they had for the Panther, and then added some other processors and enhancements to make it "64-bit" (which probably isn't true). In an attempt to boost sales, Atari created a CD-ROM add-on for the Jaguar in 1995, but by then, it was too late.

The following year, the Jaguar was discontinued after only three years, with sales totaling less than 250,000 units worldwide (with the CD-ROM add-on selling less than 20,000 units) and putting out only 81 games (67 on cartridge, 14 on CD-ROM). Atari exited the console market afterwards and was ultimately acquired by Hasbro. However, new homebrew games are still being made by some developers.

1st Logo (November 23, 1993-1996)

Standard logo
Red Screen of Death

Visuals: On a black background, there is the word "JAGUAR" in a grungy font, with the diagonal line of the "R" being made of a cat scratch, zoom in. The 3D word "ATARI" in its corporate font tumbles to the bottom of the screen below the Jaguar logo, letters coming from all directions. When they stop, a small registered trademark symbol appears next to "ATARI", then "JAGUAR" slides up, and a cube with images of a jaguar inside it zooms in, spinning around. Finally, the logo zooms out.

Variants:

When a non-working cartridge (or non-working Jaguar CD) is in the Jaguar once you turn it on, "JAGUAR" zooms in, but the screen goes red, and goes indefinitely still. This is nicknamed the "Jaguar Red Screen of Death".
In NBA Jam Tournament Edition, before the Atari logo appears, the "Jaguar" text has a six-second extension.

Technique: Sprite animation.

Audio: A jaguar roar as the "JAGUAR" text zooms in, then when the Atari logo appears, a downward high-pitched Moog synth scale (not like in the 1971 PBS logo), followed by an eight-note synth tune (Atari's advertising jingle used in the 1980s ["Have you played Atari today?"]), ending with a slightly lower-pitched orchestral hit, is heard.

Availability: Appears when turning an Atari Jaguar (minus CD unit) on. You have to have a cartridge in the slot in order to turn the console on, however.

2nd Logo (September 21, 1995-1996)

Visuals: On a black background, there is the Jaguar logo from the first logo with rainbow flares shooting out, similar to the logo for Swedish home video company Video Invest. It animates differently depending on what game you put in (and sometimes just differently every time you turn it on, even without a CD).

Variant: A 2D picture of a CD with a flashing pink question mark appears under the logo when you turn the machine on and there's no cartridge or CD in the unit. You'll also see that icon if you put a dead cartridge in without a CD inside.

Technique: Sprite animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Appears when you turn an Atari Jaguar with the CD unit on (which are hard to find since most CD add-ons don't work).