Fixed: Atari Jaguar console, but....

[ifkz]

I just finished fixing a parts Atari Jaguar console bundle.

I tore into it after it arrived and found a blown power regulator; research confirmed it dies a terrible death when a Sega Genesis power adapter is used instead of the proper Jag DC supply.  I am usually a bit better at solder work, this surface mount replacement part went in just slightly crooked.  A fix is a fix and it is electrically sound for now.  I have been playing a bit of Jag Doom. 

This is my second Jag, and I bought it to improve my original Jag collection I piecemealed together years ago.  On that point, the purchase did some good.

For a console that sold 250,000 or less, that I have never seen for sale in the wild, I should be happier.  I guess I need to play and enjoy it now that it is more than a pile of disassembled parts on the shelf.  Forum posts say I am one of the lucky ones because there are a lot of other Jags that are toast even after similar repair attempts.  I have fixed many consoles, never for monetary gain, but just because I enjoy the end results of a working game system (or game board).  They all have a place and remain productive members of my collection, but I still feel a bit deflated over this one.  Have any of the other repair-minded members felt this way after a project?

[Necromancer]

Congrats on saving it from the scrap heap, even if it is just an unloved, lowly Jag. 

[ifkz]

Thanks for the words of encouragement.  I did some good to be sure, and I have a good (or as good as Jag games get  ) library to enjoy with it.  The power regulator is in there, I gave the console a few good smacks and short drops and was still happily running Doom.  Maybe the longer the fix holds, the happier I'll get.  It does look nice all back together again.

[ultrageranium]

Maybe it's the Jaguar curse

While I did not fix mine, it's probably the only console I have where there is a rather strong discrepancy between how I thought I would feel after finally getting one and how I actually felt once I got it.

It's been in a box for ages now, and I'm thinking I should maybe get rid of it in favour of consolidating the collection of things that I already know how I feel (good) about.

[_joshuaTurbo]

I sort of 'fixed' a jag too!  I got one from a friend in trade for a working N64 along with a handful of choice titles.

The problem wasn't a cap or board issue, it was a bent pin inside the cartridge slot.  Got that bent back in correctly with a safety pin. 

It's a BINGO...

[johnnymad]

Congrats on getting it working! Hoping to fix my TE when I get home from work. I'll probably be a little more excited if I get it working that you were for the Jag.

[Lost Monkey]

You fix a Jaguar and it is...



....still a Jaguar....


I loved the Jaguar when it came out - mostly due to AVP and Tempest 2000.  I ended up buying nearly every game for it.... When I started paring down my collection, it was one of the first to go.   

Right now I have my original Jaguar, a customized Jaguar (plastic had changed colour, like a SNES) and a few games...  As long as I have T2K, that is all I need.

[ultrageranium]

Yes Tempest 2000 is the only thing that makes me keep it, but now that I am trying to focus on less consoles, I'm afraid this won't last forever.

Also I'm a bit gutted to have missed the Another World port from RGC. I would have seen the pre-order in time, I do not think I would hesitate keeping the Jaguar...

[ctophil]

That's cool, ifkz.  The Atari Jaguar is next on my list to be added to my massive console collection.  Hehe.     It doesn't have many games.  But I don't care about that.  The Philips CD-I hardly had any games, and I'm getting that console as well.

[MrFulci]

The Jaguar is not a bad system. It has some bad games, but overall the feel of the console was OK with me. It has a version of Wolfenstein 3D not found elsewhere, which has unique graphics.

I have maybe a half dozen OK games for it. DOOM, Wolf 3D, Flip-Out, Dino-Dudes, somethingoranother pinball, I forget what else.

The 2 I have that have had the most use are Tempest 2000, and Attack of the Killer Penguins. I bought Attack of the Killer Penguins for $5-$10. With a title like that, and reading it's a puzzle game, I thought I'd give it a go. Though I've not played Attack of the Killer Penguins in a while, I remember it being a unique puzzle game on the Jaguar. I'm not sure if any other system has that game.

Tempest 2K, it's nice with the regular controller, but the rotary controller really allows you to get all you can out of it. There are more rotary controllers out there than before, and they're cheaper than I paid for mine back in 2006 or 2007! Anyone intending on keeping a Jaguar around, and if they enjoy T2K enough, I suggest buying a rotary controller.

.

[vestcoat]

While I did not fix mine, it's probably the only console I have where there is a rather strong discrepancy between how I thought I would feel after finally getting one and how I actually felt once I got it.

Wow. Thank you for perfectly expressing my feelings.

The Jaguar is not a bad system. It has some bad games, but overall the feel of the console was OK with me.

Zeta summed up the Jag nicely once, saying that "something has to suck." Every underdog, overlooked console will have its advocates, especially on a TG16 forum, but at some point we have to stop touting the ever-shorter lists of reasonably fun originals and not-bad ports and ruefully admit that one of our beloved obscure consoles sucks. The CD-i isn't enough. The Jaguar also has to suck. 

[MrFulci]

The Jaguar is not a bad system. It has some bad games, but overall the feel of the console was OK with me.
Zeta summed up the Jag nicely once, saying that "something has to suck." Every underdog, overlooked console will have its advocates, especially on a TG16 forum, but at some point we have to stop touting the ever-shorter lists of reasonably fun originals and not-bad ports and ruefully admit that one of our beloved obscure consoles sucks. The CD-i isn't enough. The Jaguar also has to suck. 

I still wouldn't say the Jaguar sucked.

The Jaguar isn't for everyone, that's the thing. You have to know what you are getting into with the system. I knew, years ago, when the Jaguar was still somewhat fresh, what I would be getting if I bought a Jaguar. For me, having Tempest 2K, and some other games, I was alright. I knew this was not going to be a system with tons of support, but I was OK with it. I also bought the system and games for cheaper than normal. I bought it right before it got discontinued, or it being discontinued seemed inevitable. Even then, I still got GoAtari flyers in the mail. I never bought much from them 'til later, in the 2000s though, spare controllers and such. Even after Jaguar was discontinued I rememebr it got at least 1 more game for it, Towers 2, but I wasn't interested in that.

At the time, before I bought a Jaguar, I had a clerk at a Video Game Exchange (I'm not sure what happened to VGE) try to talk me into spending my money on a Sega Saturn, when he heard I was going to buy a Jaguar. I forget what the difference in cost was, but I told him no, I want the Jaguar. He felt my money would be better spent on a Sega Saturn, but by that point, I mentioned before, consoles were moving more into 3D, I had a PC for the newer games, so Jaguar became the last console I bought, until about 10 years later, when I bought a PS2, when it dropped to $99. I bought the PS2 for "retro-gaming" purposes, though (Capcom Collection, Metal Slug anthology, Activision collection, etc).


You have to know what you're getting into with the Jaguar. I knew, and for the money I spent, I'm OK with it.

.

[vestcoat]

You have to know what you're getting into with the Jaguar.

Yes: what you're getting into is a system that sucks.


"Sucks" =/= absolute waste-of-space garbage. Sure, the Jag has some decent games. There are some legitimate reasons to buy one and play it. It's not the worst console ever. Jaguar appreciation is within the realm of human experience. None of that means it's a good system.

Face the facts! Unburden yourself, brother! I have a soft spot for the 32X, but I'm happy to admit that it sucks. There's no shame in enjoying the five good games on a terrible console.

[MrFulci]

You have to know what you're getting into with the Jaguar.

Yes: what you're getting into is a system that sucks.


"Sucks" =/= absolute waste-of-space garbage. Sure, the Jag has some decent games. There are some legitimate reasons to buy one and play it. It's not the worst console ever. Jaguar appreciation is within the realm of human experience. None of that means it's a good system.

Face the facts! Unburden yourself, brother! I have a soft spot for the 32X, but I'm happy to admit that it sucks. There's no shame in enjoying the five good games on a terrible console.

I still wouldn't say it sucks. If you knwo what's youre getting, it doesn't suck. Same goes for 32X, Odyssey 2, etc.

I can think fo thigns that suck about Jaguar though. Lack of a first party rotary controller.

Turbo Grafx. 1 controller port and forcing me to buy a, "Tap" for multiplayer?

32X - WTF Sega, 3 AC Adapters? Why not leave it at Sega CD.

Virtual Boy. Mario Tennis, that Pinball game, the Wario game, yeah, nice fun and all, but it's still all red, and what am I supposed to do, set this up on a table each time I want to play.

I think it sucks when the Turbo Grafx slows down with, "Bullet Time" in Bloody Wolf, and Air Zonk, Oh, and some bosses in the Neutopia games, it left me thinking years ago, "Why in the world would they release the game like this, with the slow down. Someone must have noticed this......."

Jaguar trounces PC Engine/Turbo Grafx there. I never saw slow down on a Jaguar cart game! It had 2 controller ports already built-in, also!

 

[MrFulci]

gunboat and falcon do 3D at higher FPS than Jaguar. Did you ever try the Jag's driving games? You can't spot the slowdown because there is never any "speed up".

I played Checkered flag for a moment or two years ago, then decided I did not have to waste anymore of my time there.

I'm just kidding around, but there is some truth to what I typed earlier. Each system has it's downs, and if someone went on here talking about their enjoyment of Virtual Boy, I'd let them at it. N64, I can see how others enjoyed it, but for me, I'd not like one, ever. I am sure other people feel similar about the Jaguar. They would either never want one, or if it, "Fell into their lap", they'd flip-it immediately.

Nearly every system I can appreciate. It just depends on if there is anything on it that interests me, and I keep in mind others are the same way about whatever they enjoy, such as N64, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, 3DO, Vectrex, etc. Being neutral and mellow like that doesn't make for interesting posts, though.