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Jaguar
2 was Atari's next video-game console. Though
a final design was never reached, initial prototypes were assembled,
yielding the following information:
* Main chipset (codename "Midsummer") developed by Motorola.
* Fully backwards compatible with the existing Jaguar. Would have
been able to play all Jaguar games and use all Jaguar peripherals.
* Uses new "Oberon" and "Puck" chips. "Oberon" was the next
generation of the Jaguar's "Tom" chip, and "Puck" was a redesigned
"Jerry" (Jerry II).
* "Oberon" was so large that it required a dedicated cooling fan,
powered by a separate power supply. It's uncertain if this
inefficiency was simply due to the unfinished nature of the chip or not.
* Processing speed "two to four times faster than the Sony
PlayStation."
* Full C/C++ development package available.
The following is one set of proposed specifications for the Jaguar
II:
Size: 10.5" X 12" X
3.5"
Controls: Power on/off
Display: Resolution up to 1600 X 600
pixels (50 Hz/interlace)
32-bit "Extended True Colour" display with 16,777,216
colours simultaneously (additional 8 bits of supplemental
graphics data support possible)
Multiple-resolution, multiple-colour depth objects
(monochrome, 2-bit, 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit) can be
used simultaneously
Ports: Cartridge
slot/expansion port (64 bits)
RF video output
Video edge connector (video/audio output)
(supports NTSC and PAL; provides S-Video, Composite, RGB
outputs, accessible by optional add-on connector)
Four controller ports
Digital Signal Processor port (includes high-speed
synchronous serial input/output)
Joy: Eight-directional joypad
Size 5" X 4.5" X 1.5", cord 7 feet
Six fire buttons (A, B, C, D, E, F)
Pause and Option buttons
12-key keypad (accepts game-specific overlays
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