Atari Panther
 | |
 Contributor sketch based on Panther design diagrams at the Wayback Machine (archived December 2, 2003) | |
| Developer | Atari Corporation |
|---|---|
| Type | Home video game console |
| Generation | Fourth generation |
| Release date | Cancelled |
| Media | Cartridge |
| CPU | Motorola 68000 |
| Graphics | Panther |
| Predecessor | Atari XEGS |
| Successor | Atari Jaguar |
The Atari Panther is a cancelled 32-bit video game console from Atari Corporation that was going to be the successor to the Atari 7800 and the Atari XEGS. It was developed by the same ex-Sinclair team, Flare Technology, who were previously responsible for two cancelled console projects: the Flare One and the Konix Multisystem. The Panther was planned to be a combination of the Atari ST and the Atari Transputer Workstation Blossom video hardware.
Work started in 1988 with a planned release in 1991 to directly compete with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Genesis. Atari abandoned the project in favor of the 64-bit Jaguar, however, after the team at Flare convinced them they should create a 3D Graphics hardware instead.
Hardware
The system features three chips, consisting of a Motorola 68000 running at 16 MHz, an object processor called the Panther, and an Ensoniq sound processor called Otis, featuring 32 sound channels (presumably an ES5505). The Panther was never manufactured as the design was eclipsed by that of the Jaguar.[1]
Games
Three games were planned for the Panther's release:
All of the above games were later rewritten for the Atari Jaguar upon the Panther's demise.
References
- ↑ "Zogging Hell!!! Atari Panther". Zhell.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-07-23.