 | |
 Jaguar CD atop the console with the ProController | |
| Manufacturer | Atari Corporation |
|---|---|
| Type | Video game consoleperipheral |
| Generation | Fifth |
| Release date | September 21, 1995; 29 years ago (September 21, 1995) |
| Introductory price | US$149.95 (equivalent to $310 in 2024) |
| Discontinued | 1996 (1996) |
| Units sold | < 20,000 |
| Media | CD-ROM |
| Online services | AtariNet |
TheAtari Jaguar CD is aCD-ROM peripheral for theJaguarvideo game console. Only 13 games were released for the Jaguar CD during its lifetime. However, previously unfinished andhomebrew games have since been released.
Atari announced a CD-ROM drive for the Jaguar before the console's November 1993 launch.[1][2]Codenamed Jaguar II during development,[3] the Jaguar CD was released on September 21, 1995 forUS$149.95 (equivalent to about $310 in 2024).[4][5] It was originally scheduled for launch during the 1994 holiday shopping season, with multiple delays.[6] In mid-1994 Atari andSigma Designs signed an agreement to co-develop aPC board that would allow Jaguar CD games to be played on home computers, with a scheduled release by the end of 1994.[7] However, it was never released.
The drive fits into theROM cartridge slot atop the console, with its own pass-through cartridge slot to optionally run software that uses cartridge only or that uses cartridge and CD in tandem.[8]The Memory Track cartridge storessaved game position and high scores. Several publications have criticized the Jaguar CD's design for resembling atoilet.[9][10][11][12]
The Jaguar CD has a double-speed (2×) drive[13] and built-in VLM (Virtual Light Machine) software byJeff Minter, using aspectrum analyzer for a sophisticated video light show foraudio CDs.[8] It is bundled withBlue Lightning,Vid Grid, theTempest 2000 soundtrack CD, and aMyst demo disc. Every startup screen is unique, using the VLM for a random light show.
Jaguar CDs can store up to 790MB,[14] more than conventional CD-ROMs. Its proprietary CD format is based on theaudio CD format, instead of standard CD-ROM data formats. It allows for more storage, and its incompatibility foils casualpiracy, at the expense of reducederror correction.
