Atari: 40 Years of Fun

The grandfather of modern video games turns 40.

Nintendo deserves credit for saving the video game industry, but Atari deserves credit for inventing it. From 1972 until 1983, when the video game market crashed, Atari defined computer entertainment. Its two greatest successes were PONG, one of the first and most commercially successfully arcade video games, and the groundbreaking home console Atari Video Computer System (later renamed Atari 2600), which laid the groundwork for all modern consoles. Yet despite all its ingenuity, commercial success, and influence on the market, Atari experienced a fall almost as precipitous as its ascent. By 1985 the video game giant was in dire straits: the market crash was a financial disaster; the rise of Japanese consoles created new competition; and Warner Communications, which owned the company, decided to sell. Atari survived for some time after that, actually turning a profit with its third-generation console Atari 7800 (1984-1992). The company released its last system, the Jaguar, in 1993. Despite its advanced technology, the console was a commercial failure. Its discontinuation in 1996 prompted Atari to leave the home video game console for good.

Since 1996, Atari has been structured and restructured, sold and resold. Atari, Inc. is now owned by Infogrames Entertainment, SA, which formally changed its name to Atari, SA in 2009. Most recently, Atari released two apps for the iPhone and iPad: Circus Atari and Centipede: Origins. To honor its fortieth anniversary, the company released an infographic highlighting its major milestones and a promotional video, shown below.

Jim Wilson, CEO of Atari, had this to say:

“Over its 40 years of operation, Atari has become one of the most iconic and recognized brands around the world, responsible for mainstreaming video games with blockbuster franchises including Asteroids®, Breakout® and Centipede®. Today, we aim to keep the tradition alive through new and creative development efforts based on what made us great in our early days – offering our devoted and growing fan base fun but challenging games on mobile and online platforms.”

It's strange to think of Atari, the company that reigned over the so-called "golden age" of video games, making mostly mobile apps.

Interesting Atari trivia:

*Steve Jobs worked as a technician for Atari in 1974.
*Call of Duty publisher Activision was formed by four disgruntled Atari employees in 1979.
*Atari co-creator Nolan Bushnell founded Chuck E. Cheese's.