About the Atari Lynx

The Atari Lynx: The Colorful Underdog of Handheld Gaming

Gather around, retro gaming enthusiasts, and let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the late ’80s and early ’90s, a time when portable gaming was just starting to color our world—literally. Today, we’re diving into the story of the Atari Lynx, a handheld console that may not have taken the world by storm, but certainly made its mark in the annals of gaming history.

Release Date

The Atari Lynx was first introduced to the world on September 1, 1989, which coincidentally was right around the same time that Nintendo’s Game Boy was cementing its place as the king of handheld gaming. It was a classic David versus Goliath scenario, though this time, David came armed with some pretty impressive tech.

Overall Popularity

While the Atari Lynx didn’t dethrone the Game Boy, it carved out a niche for itself among gamers who appreciated its advanced features. Over its lifespan, the Lynx sold approximately 3 million units—not too shabby, but certainly dwarfed by the Game Boy’s massive sales. It was the cool kid on the block that not everyone knew about, but those who did, knew it was something special.

Technical Details

Let’s geek out over some specs because the Atari Lynx was a technical marvel for its time:

• Display: The Lynx boasted a 3.5-inch color LCD screen. That’s right, folks—color! While the Game Boy was still rocking its monochrome display, the Lynx offered a rainbow of possibilities.
• Processor: It featured a custom 16-bit CPU called the “Mikey” running at 4 MHz, coupled with a 16-bit graphics chip called the “Suzy.” These were some seriously advanced guts for a handheld device in the late ’80s.
• Memory: The Lynx came with 64 KB of RAM, which was quite respectable for the era.
• Power: The system required six AA batteries, which provided about 4-5 hours of gameplay. Sure, it was a bit of a power hog, but that was the price you paid for all those fancy colors.
• Sound: The Lynx had a 4-channel stereo sound system, delivering an audio experience that was pretty impressive for a handheld.

The Company Behind the Magic: Atari

Atari, a name synonymous with the golden age of arcade games, was the company behind the Lynx. Founded in 1972, Atari had already revolutionized gaming with hits like Pong and the Atari 2600. By the late ’80s, they were looking to break into the handheld market, and the Lynx was their bold attempt to do so. The Lynx was originally developed by Epyx, but due to financial difficulties, Epyx partnered with Atari to bring the console to market.

Other Noteworthy Tidbits

• Game Library: The Lynx had a library of about 76 games, ranging from arcade ports like “Rampage” and “Robotron: 2084” to original titles like “Blue Lightning” and “California Games.” While it didn’t have the sheer volume of the Game Boy’s library, it offered a solid selection of quality games.
• Design: The original Lynx was a bit of a beast in terms of size, earning it the affectionate nickname “The Switchboard” due to its large, rectangular shape. In 1991, Atari released the Lynx II, a more compact and ergonomic redesign with improved battery life and a backlit display.
• Connectivity: The Lynx was ahead of its time with built-in networking capabilities, allowing up to 17 units to be connected for multiplayer games using the ComLynx cable. How many people actually managed to get 17 friends with Lynxes together? That’s another story.

Fun Facts

• Firsts: The Lynx holds the title of the first handheld console with a color LCD screen and hardware support for zooming and sprite scaling. It was like having a mini arcade in your hands.
• Reversible Design: The Lynx was ambidextrous! It had a unique reversible design, allowing left-handed gamers to flip the console and play just as comfortably as right-handed players.
• Durability: The Lynx was built like a tank. It could withstand a fair amount of abuse, making it a great companion for rough-and-tumble kids of the ’90s.

Wrapping It Up

The Atari Lynx was a pioneering piece of technology that offered features well ahead of its time. It may not have achieved the commercial success of its rivals, but it earned a dedicated fan base and left a lasting legacy in the world of handheld gaming. So, if you ever come across an old Lynx, give it a whirl and appreciate the vibrant, colorful window it offers into a unique chapter of gaming history. In the grand game of consoles, the Lynx may have been the underdog, but it certainly had a heart of gold—and a screen full of color.