A History of AT Games / Atari Games / Midway Games West

Information presented here is derived as directly as possible from sources published or produced in the original time period. While also consulted extensively, modern historical retrospectives (including books, oral histories, and especially websites) are utilized chiefly as pathways to primary sources.

1985
January 10: Articles of Incorporation of AT Games Inc. were executed by incorporator Victoria C. Phelps (of Latham & Watkins?) for Namco Ltd. (of Japan) and Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) for the purpose of taking over the business of the Coin-Operated Games division of the Atari Games, Inc. subsidiary of WCI. Total number of shares authorized to issue: One Million (1,000,000).

January 11: AT Games Inc. was established by Namco Ltd. (of Japan) and Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) for the purpose of taking over the business of the Coin-Operated Games division of the Atari Games, Inc. subsidiary of WCI.

February 4: Date of agreement between Namco Ltd. (of Japan) and Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) under which Namco would acquire majority ownership and take over the management of the Coin-Operated Games Division of Atari Games Inc. from WCI. (GM 3/1/85)

February 5: Steven J. Ross, chairman of Warner Communications Inc. (WCI), and Masaya Nakamura, president of Namco Ltd. (of Japan) (at the press event, WCI representatives included Emanuel Gerard and Martin D. Payson, EVP and general counsel) announced that they had signed a definitive agreement (dated Feburary 4, 1985) under which Namco had acquired controlling interest of the Coin-Operated Games Division of Atari Games, Inc. (the subsidiary of WCI) (through the newly-created company, AT Games Inc., to operate as "Atari Games"). (Namco would hold about 45% interest in the business and WCI would hold closer to 40%, with about 20% held by Atari Games officers (GM 7/1/90 p34; GM 6/1/90 p30).) Internationally, the coin-op businesses of Atari Ireland Limited (manufacturing plant at Tipperary) and Atari International (U.K.) Inc. (sales) were included in the transaction. Terms were not announced (reportedly a little over $10 million). (WSJ 2/6; NYT 2/6; GM 3/1/85)

The sale included the right to use the "Atari Games" trademark on coin-operated arcade games. (The rights to the "Atari" trademark outside of coin-operated arcade environments had already been purchased by Atari, Corp. effective June 30, 1984.)

The sale included the derivative coin-operated arcade market rights to legacy Atari coin-operated arcade game properties created before June 30, 1984. (The underlying rights to those properties had already been purchased by Atari, Corp. effective June 30, 1984.)

The sale also included the full rights (both coin-op and consumer markets) to legacy Atari Games, Inc. games properties created since June 30, 1984. This included: Return of the Jedi and Marble Madness

AT Games ("Atari Games") main location (offices, engineering, warehouse): 1272 Borregas Ave, Sunnyvale, CA, USA (94,000 ft²); domestic manufacturing/customer service: 735/737 Sycamore Dr, Milpitas CA (46,000 ft²).

In Ireland, Namco and WCI jointly took over Pedherton Investments Limited (investment vehicle, incorporation executed September 17, 1984, incorporated October 15, 1984), which would take over and acquire the Atari Games business (Tipperary plant) of Atari Ireland Limited (the WCI subsidiary), and executed a change of name of the company to: Newco Ireland Limited. Manufacturing/customer service: Knockanrawley, Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary, Ireland (modern address: Aherlow Ct, Gortavalla, Co. Tipperary, Ireland); cabinet manufacturing: Ardfinnan village (R665), Co. Tipperary (30,000 ft²)

Namco president Masaya Nakamura would additionally be chairman of AT Games. (GM 3/1/85) Hideyuki Nakajima ("Hide", pronounced HEE-day; with the company since Namco's August 1974 acquisition of Atari Japan), Namco international marketing director (since June 1980) and president of Namco-America (since its June 1978 inception), would additionally be president of AT Games and president of Newco Ireland Limited. (GM 10/15/85) Dennis Wood, vice president and general counsel for Namco-America since 1/1/1982 (source), would additionally serve in the same capacity for AT Games. The board of directors of AT Games was expected to consist of 4 directors from Namco and 2 from WCI. (GM 3/1/85)

AT Games retained most "Atari Games" division staff (about 210). Continuing with the company: Dave Stubben as SVP engineering (product development from concept through production); Lyle V. Rains as VP engineering (game design team leader); Dan Van Elderen as VP engineering (game design team leader); Kevin Hayes as VP manufacturing; Shane Breaks as VP sales (worldwide); Bob Harvey as director of sales (domestic); Mary Fujihara as director of marketing; Peter L. Takaichi as design services director; Elaine Shirley as customer service manager. The 70 employees of Atari Ireland Limited would be hired by Newco Ireland Limited, including Mike Nevin who would remain managing director.

John H. Klein, previously of Family Vision Centers, would join the company as VP finance/CFO.

February 19: Certificate of amendment of Articles of Incorporation of AT Games executed by AT Games president and secretary Hideyuki Nakajima, changing the name of the company from AT Games Inc. to Atari Games Corporation. The total number of outstanding shares of Atari Games was 910,000.

March 1-3: Amusement Showcase International (ASI) at Expocenter/Chicago. Atari Games introduced Paperboy and The Empire Strikes Back (conversion kit for Star Wars upright or cockpit units) and featured Marble Madness at the show. (Cash Box 3/16)

March 5: In Ireland, the name of Pedherton Investments Limited (jointly held by WCI/Namco) was registered changed to: Newco Ireland Limited

March 13: In the U.K., Atari Games Corporation established Atari Limited. Atari Limited would take over the Coin-Op division sales business of Atari International (U.K.) Inc. (the Warner Communications Inc. subsidiary). David Smith, previously Atari Games European sales manager based at Atari International (U.K.) (located at 24 Kingston Rd., Staines, Middlesex), would be Atari Games sales director-international sales and head of Atari Limited, with an office at: 7 York Street, Luton LU2 OEZ Bedfordshire

March 15: Atari Games, Inc. (the Warner Communications subsidiary) filed a certificate of amendment with the office of Secretary of State, State of Delaware, changing its corporate title to Atari Holdings, Inc.

March 26: In Japan, at Namco's private show for about 250 of its distributors and operators held at the Hotel Pacific, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Namco announced that it would now be the exclusive distributor for Atari Games products in Japan (previously: combination of Taito Corp., Sega Enterprises Ltd., and Namco Ltd.), and introduced Atari Games Marble Madness and Atari Games Paperboy. Hideyuki Nakajima was president of Atari Games and Namco-America Inc., Masaya Nakamura was president of Namco Ltd., and Shane Breaks was VP sales of Atari Games. (GM 5/1/85 p12)

March 27: Atari Games announced 30 layoffs, as well as 5% to 20% pay cuts for management. The company now employed about 180 people. (UPI)

April: Atari Games SVP engineering Dave Stubben departed the company. Lyle Rains, previously Atari Games VP engineering, and Dan Van Elderen, previously Atari Games VP engineering, would both be promoted to the title of SVP engineering (and would remain game design team leaders).

April: Atari Games director of sales (domestic) Bob Harvey departed the company (to Panavision). Shane Breaks, previously Atari Games VP sales (worldwide), would be promoted to SVP sales (worldwide; assuming the role of Harvey).

April?: Atari Games programmer/designer Mark Cerny departed the company (to Sega Enterprises Ltd. in Japan).

Spring: Engineer Max Behensky (previously of the the Atari Cambridge Research Laboratory) joined the Atari Games Applied Research team as a programmer, reporting to unit director Rick Moncrief. The group also included technician Erik Durfey, hardware engineer Jed Margolin, and programmer Stephanie Mott. The unit would set out to develop a driver training simulator. (source; source)

May 1: In Ireland, Newco Ireland Limited passed a resolution to change the name of the company to: Atari Games Ireland Limited

May 17: In Ireland, the name of Newco Ireland Limited was changed to: Atari Games Ireland Limited

July: Atari Games released Peter Pack Rat (System I hardware platform, or conversion kit for System I units), and released Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (System I hardware platform, or conversion kit for System I units).

July 27: Atari Games headquarters remained at 1272 Borregas Ave, Sunnyvale, CA, USA (Cash Box 7/27/85 pt.iii p48)

September 20: Sega Enterprises Ltd. (of Japan) announced that European production of its video game Hang-On (ride-on, sitdown and upright versions) would be licensed to Atari Games Ireland Limited, with Sega Europe Ltd. handling the marketing and sales. (GM 10/15/85)

October 2-3: At Japan's Amusement Machine Show (JAMMA Show) held at the Tokyo Ryutsu center (TRC), Namco featured Atari Games Paperboy and introduced Atari Games Peter Pack Rat, Atari Games Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Atari Games Gauntlet. (GM 11/1/85 p26)

October 31-November 2: At the Amusement & Music Operators Association AMOA Expo '85 show held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago, Atari Games introduced Gauntlet and featured Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. (source)

November 27: Atari Games director of visual communications (Graphics Group / art department) George H. Opperman passed away. (ArtOfAtari p.34)

November/December: Atari Games offices/engineering/warehouse were moved to new facilities (83,000 ft²) at 675 Sycamore Drive, Milpitas, CA, USA (previously: 1272 Borregas Ave, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Next door, manufacturing/customer service remained at 735/737 Sycamore Dr. (46,000 ft²)

1986
January: First issue of Atari Games Players Club (replacement for Coin Connection)

February: Mark S. Pierce, most recently a contract designer-animator for Silicon Beach Software, joined Atari Games as a game designer.

March 7-9: At the American Coin Machine Exhibition (ACME) in Chicago, Atari Games introduced Super Sprint (and on behalf of Namco introduced Robo Soccer), and also featured: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Gauntlet (APGCapr86)

March 11: Atari Games engineers Rich Moore and Chris Downend had been promoted to engineering directors (source) (game design team leaders, replacing SVP engineering Lyle Rains and SVP engineering Dan Van Elderen in the roles).

April 3: In the UK, the name of Atari International (U.K.) Inc. (the Warner Communications Inc. subsidiary), was registered changed to Atari Games International (UK) Inc., would now be a subsidiary of Atari Games Corporation, and would take over the business of Atari Limited (the Atari Games Corporation subsidiary). David Smith would remain Atari Games sales director-international sales as head of Atari Games International (UK) Inc., with an office at: 7 York Street, Luton LU2 OEZ Bedfordshire

April: Pat McCarthy (Patrick J. McCarthy) was Atari Games senior electrical engineer; Lyle Rains and Dan Van Elderen were both SVP engineering. (APGCapr86)

May 21-23: At the Atari Games "Reunion Meeting" for distributors from the U.S. and Europe, held at the Mark Hopkins in San Francisco CA, Atari Games released Gauntlet (2-player version) and introduced Road Runner, and also introduced the Vend-A-Ticket kit for Road Runner units. Hide Nakajima was Atari Games president, Masaya Nakamura was Namco president and Atari Games chairman, Geoff Holmes was VP of Warner Communications, and Mary Fujihara was Atari Games marketing director. (Cash Box 6/28/86)

June 3: In the UK, the name of Atari Limited (the former Atari Games Corporation subsidiary) was changed to: Salitron Limited

Month?: Atari Games Senior Microprogrammer Engineer Greg Rivera departed the company (to GE SSTD, Graphicon Division).

July: At Atari Games, Hide Nakajima was president, Shane Breaks was SVP sales, Mary Fujihara was director of marketing. (Cash Box 7/5/86 p44)

July: Atari Games released Road Runner (System I hardware platform, or conversion kit for System I units).

July: Electronic Arts released Marble Madness, title by Atari Games, for Amiga. (CE 8/86 p14)

August: Atari Games released Gauntlet II (new unit, conversion kit for Gauntlet 4-player, or conversion kit for Gauntlet 2-player).

September: Atari Games released Championship Sprint (System II hardware platform, or conversion kit for System II units).

September: Electronic Arts released Marble Madness, title by Atari Games, for C-64/128. (CE 9/86 p14)

October: Atari Games had announced that Frank Cosentino, previously of Memetron, had joined the company as sales manager for the Midwest region of the U.S. (based in Chicago). Jim Newlander (Atari sales manager since 1983) would be sales manager for the Eastern region, and Greg Rice (who had joined Atari Games recently from Kodak) would be the Western regional sales manager. Dick Needleman, previously Southeast regional sales manager, would be retiring but had agreed to continue working with Atari Games as a consultant (still based in Florida) for the new market development program, starting January 1, 1987, for at least one year. Shane Breaks remained SVP sales. (Play Meter 10/86 p22; Cash Box 11/8/86 p31; Cash Box 11/22/86 p34)

October 30: Shane Breaks, previously Atari Games SVP sales (worldwide), would (again) become VP international sales. Mike Taylor, previously of Ryan-McFarland (RMC), joined Atari Games as Vice President of Sales (domestic) (replacing Breaks in the role). (source)

Fall: In Europe, Melbourne House released Marble Madness Construction Set, title by Atari Games, for Spectrum 48/128 and for Amstrad/Schneider CPC.

Fall: In Europe and the UK, Elite Systems released Paperboy, title by Atari Games, for: Spectrum, Amstrad/Schneider, C64/128, C16, BBC/Electron

November 6-8: At AMOA Expo '86 in Chicago, Atari Games introduced 720° (APGCdec86) and introduced 720°: The Ultimate Aerial Experience "(Original sound track from the Hit game)", a 7" 33 ⅓ RPM Eva-Tone Soundsheets flexidisc. (source)

December?: In the UK and Europe, U.S. Gold released Gauntlet, title by Atari Games, for Amstrad/Schneider CPC, C64/128, Atari XL/XE, Atari ST, Spectrum, MSX

December 22-23: Certificate of amendment of articles of incorporation of Atari Games Corporation executed by Atari Games president Hideyuki Nakajima and secretary (and general counsel) Dennis Wood, regarding a 1-for-10 split of company stock. The total number of common shares now authorized to be issued: 10,000,000

1987
January 31: Seeburg Phonograph Corporation had given Atari Games exclusive European marketing rights for their Laser Music compact disc phonograph, and exclusive European manufacturing by Atari Games Ireland. Also, Atari Games VP international sales Shane Breaks would move from California to head up European sales based at Atari Games International (UK) Inc. with David Smith (who remained Atari Games sales director-international sales). (Cash Box 1/31/87 p33)

February 2: Ed Rotberg, previously VP software at Bally Sente (and veteran of Atari, Inc. (Coin-Op) from 1979-1981), joined Atari Games as a senior staff level Software Engineer.

February: Electronic Arts released Marble Madness, title by Atari Games, for Apple IIe/IIc. (CE 3/87 p14)

February 15-18: At the American International Toy Fair in New York, Matchbox Toys announced they had entered into a licensing agreement with Atari Games to develop a coin-operated game entited RoadBlasters. (source)

March: Atari Games released RoadBlasters (System I hardware platform, conversion kit for System I units, or Sit-Down version)

April 25: Atari Games and Sega Enterprises Ltd. (of Japan) had announced a licensing agreement for Sega's new 4-player basketball game, Dunk Shot. Unde the agreement, Atari Games would manufacture and market Dunk Shot in the United States and Europe on an exclusive basis. Hide Nakajima was president of Atari Games. (Cash Box 4/25/87)

June 3-5: At their annual distributor meeting, held at Hilton Head SC, Atari Games introduced APB. (source)

May 30-June 2: At the Summer CES in Chicago, Mindscape announced that on May 29, 1987, it had signed an exclusive agreement with Atari Games to publish home computer versions of Atari Games video arcade games. The first two titles were to be Gauntlet (Atari XE/XL, C-64/128) and Paperboy (C-64/128). Additional titles included in the agreement: RoadBlasters, Gauntlet II, 720°, Rolling Thunder, Road Runner (CE 6/87 p10)

June: Electronic Arts released Marble Madness, title by Atari Games, for PC. (CE 6/87 p14)

Month?: Programmer Gark Stark, previously of Bally Sente (and veteran of Atari, Inc. (Consumer) from 1982-1984) joined Atari Games. He was hired by Ed Rotberg. (source)

July: Atari Games released APB (All Points Bulletin; System II hardware platform), and released Dragon Spirit by Namco.

July 17: At Warner Communications Inc.: Geoffrey W. Holmes had been named a senior vice president with interests in movies, records and cable television. Mr. Holmes, formerly a vice president, remained in charge of the company's Licensing Co. of America division and its investor relations department. He also would be involved in mergers and acquisitions activities. (WSJ 7/17)

July 18: At Atari Games: Hide Makajima was president, Mike Taylor was VP sales, Mary Fujihara was marketing director, and Elaine Shirley was customer service manager. (Cash Box)

July 29: On behalf of Atari Games, the law firm of Irell & Manella established the new Atari Games subsidiary, Atari Operations, Inc., for the purpose of acquiring the assets of Barrel of Fun, Inc. Kristi Dykstra was the incorporator. John H. Klein was Atari Games assistant secretary.

July 30: Date of agreement between Atari Games Corporation (an affiliated company of Namco Ltd. of Japan) and Barrel of Fun, Inc. of Savannah, Georgia whereby Barrel of Fun's entire chain of arcades would be sold to a new subsidiary of Atari Games (Atari Operations, Inc.) effective September 1, 1987. Barrel of Fun was founded 12/9/1977 by Herbert C. Skinner (chairman) and Richard W. Adams (President and CEO). Purchase price was not announced, but was estimated at about $10 million. (Cash Box 8/29/87 p34; GM 10/1/87 p22)

August: Peter L. Takaichi remained Atari Games design services director. (source)

September 1: Per their July 30, 1987 agreement, through their newly-established Atari Operations subsidiary, Atari Games acquired all assets of Barrel of Fun, Inc., owner/operator of 21 arcades primarily in six southeastern U.S. states under the name of "Barrel of Fun" or "2001 Entertainment Center".

Barrel of Fun president Richard W. Adams (Dick Adams), three vice-presidents and about 100 employees would now serve Atari Operations, with Adams reporting directly to Atari Games president Hide Nakajima (as Atari Games VP of Atari Operations). Masaya Nakamura remained president of Namco Ltd. and chairman of Atari Games. (Cash Box 8/29/87 p34; GM 10/1/87 p22)

September: Atari Games released Atari R.B.I. Baseball by Namco (conversion kit for Nintendo VS. System units).

September: Mindscape released Gauntlet and released Paperboy, titles by Atari Games, for C-64/128. (CE 10/87 p14)

October: Mindscape released Gauntlet, title by Atari Games, for Atari ST. (CE 11/87 p7)

Fall: In the UK and Europe, Electric Dreams Software released Super Sprint, title by Atari Games, for C64/128, Amstrad CPC, and Atari ST, and in the UK for ZX Spectrum 48K/128K/+

Fall: In the UK and Europe, U.S. Gold released Gauntlet II, title by Atari Games, for Spectrum 48/128K, C64/128, Atari ST, and Amstrad/Schneider

December: Mindscape released Gauntlet, title by Atari Games, for Atari XL/XE. (CE 12/87 p14)

December 21: Atari Games established the wholly-owned subsidiary, Tengen Inc., for the purpose of marketing games for home video game systems (where exclusive use of the "Atari" name and "Fuji" logo was owned by Atari Corporation). Dennis Wood (Atari Games general counsel) was the incorporator.

Randall Broweleit (Randy Broweleit), previously of Strategic Simulations, Inc., would join Tengen as SVP Operations (COO). Tengen would be headquartered at: 1901 McCarthy Blvd, Milpitas CA. Atari Games headquarters would remain at 675 Sycamore Drive, Milpitas CA.

1988
January 1: Kevin Hayes, previously Atari Games VP manufacturing, became Executive Vice President of Atari Operations, Inc. (AOI) (head of the unit). Richard Adams, previously VP of AOI (head of the unit), became VP AOI for the U.S. Southern Region (now reporting to Hayes). Satish Bhutani, most recently of Bhuzac International and All American Amusement Company (and formerly with Atari/Kee Games from 1973-1975), re-joined Atari Games as VP AOI for the U.S. Western Region. (source; CashBox 6/11/88 p29) Atari Games manufacturing manager Robert Stewart (Bob Stewart) would be acting director of manufacturing (assuming the role from Hayes on an interim basis). (source)

January 7-10: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, Tengen previewed Gauntlet for NES and R.B.I. Baseball for NES. Also, Mindscape announced Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, title by Atari Games, for NES. (CE 1/88 p10; Famitsu 3/4/88 for pic with original Tengen logo) And, Milton Bradley announced Marble Madness, title by Tengen, for NES. (CE 2/88 p1)

January: The January 1988 issue of Computer and Video Games shipped with a free 720° (by Atari Games) / OutRun (by Sega) soundtrack cassette. "Original soundtrack music from the arcade machine." (source) Both game soundtracks had been previously released; Atari Games had released the 720° soundtrack in November 1986.

January 18: Tengen formally became a Nintendo licensee, clearing the way for Tengen to produce Nintendo-approved games for the NES.

January 28: A Virginia law firm filed an affidavit in the U.S. Copyright Office on behalf of Atari Games, indicating that a copy of Nintendo's 10NES computer code, the software part of the NES lock-out security system that enforced Nintendo's policy that only Nintendo could produce cartridges for the NES, was required for pending proceedings under way in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California. While no such suit had been filed against Atari Games, the 10NES source code was nevertheless delivered to Atari Games.

Winter? Steve Calfee (veteran of Atari, Inc. from 1976-1984) joined Tengen as Vice-President of Product Development.

Winter: The Atari Games Applied Research team (directed by Rick Moncrief) would divert its driver training simulator development efforts into the development of an arcade game (would ship as: Hard Drivin'). (source)

Winter: In Europe, Domark released Star Wars, title by Atari Games, ports by Vektor Grafix, for Spectrum 48K, Commodore 64/128, Amstrad CPC, BBC 'B' Micro (+Electron and Master), Atari ST

February: Mindscape released Gauntlet, title by Atari Games, for PC. (CE 2/88 p14)

March: Atari Games repurposed a portion of the warehouse space at 675 Sycamore Dr., Milpitas CA for expanded manufacturing operations. (source)

March: Mindscape released Gauntlet, title by Atari Games, for Apple IIgs. (CE 4/88 p14)

March: Mindscape released Gauntlet: The Deeper Dungeons, title by Atari Games, for C-64/128 (CE 4/88 p14) and would release the title for Atari XL/XE as well.

April: Atari Games released Galaga '88 by Namco (new unit, or JAMMA conversion kit), and released Vindicators.

April: Mindscape released Gauntlet and released Paperboy, titles by Tengen, for Apple IIe/IIc. (CE 4/88 p14)

April: Mindscape released Paperboy, title by Tengen, for Apple IIgs. (CE 4/88 p14)

May 10: Atari Games had purchased 15.6 acres of land in North San Jose where it planned to build a new headquarters. Atari Games expected the facility to house 400 workers when complete in 1990. (NewsBytes) (Future Tengen headquarters: 1623 Buckeye Drive, Milpitas CA)

May 10: In the UK, Legibus 1194 Limited was established (as an investment vehicle).

May: Atari Games acquired worldwide exclusive rights to the Soviet video game, Tetris, from Mirrorsoft. (Most of Mirrorsoft's legal authority to sublicense rights to Tetris would not hold up in court. Atari Games would ultimately be left with only the coin-operated arcade rights to Tetris.)

May: At their distributor meeting Atari Games released Pot Shot (redemption / non-video), and released Final Lap (original Sit-Down version) by Namco. (Cash Box 7/23/88)

May: Engineer John Ray, previously of Finial Technology (and veteran of Atari, Inc. (Coin-Op) from 1977-1984), joined Atari Games as an engineering director (third game design team leader, joining Rich Moore and Chris Downend in the role).

June 4-7: At the Summer CES in Chicago, Tengen introduced/released R.B.I. Baseball for NES, introduced Gauntlet for NES, introduced Pac-Man (title by Namco) for NES, and announced Tetris (title by AcademySoft Elorg, licensed to Andromeda Software, sublicensed to Mirrorsoft and Sphere) for NES. (CE 6/88 p13) Separately, Mindscape introduced Road Runner, title by Atari Games, for C-64/128, Atari ST, and NES (NES version never shipped by Mindscape); Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, title by Atari Games, for C-64/128, Atari ST, and NES; 720°, title by Atari Games, for C-64/128 and NES (CE 6/88 p7-8); and Paperboy, title by Tengen, for NES. Brøderbund announced Star Wars, title by Lucasfilm and Tengen, for C64/128, Amiga, or ST). And, Milton Bradley again promised Marble Madness, title by Tengen, for NES. (CE 6/88 p12)

June 6: Mike Taylor, previously Atari Games VP sales (domestic), had been transferred to Tengen (as director of sales?). Satish Bhutani, previously vp Atari Operations, Inc. for the U.S. Western Region, had become Atari Games VP sales (replacing Taylor in the role). The three regional sales managers for Atari Games, Greg Rice for the West, Frank Cosentino for the Midwest, and Jim Newlander for the East, would now each report to Bhutani. (Cash Box 6/11/88 p29) David Bishop would be promoted to Atari Operations VP U.S. Western Region, replacing Bhutani in the role.

June 15: At the Atari Games Corporation annual shareholders meeting, Masaya Nakamura, president of Namco and chairman of Atari Games, resigned from the Atari Games board of directors, as did Namco executive director Kunio Kawakami. The remaining board of directors would be composed of representatives from Warner Communcations Inc. (WCI, the other major shareholder of Atari Games) and representatives from the management of Atari Games, led by Atari Games president Hide Nakajima. While Namco and Masaya Nakamura would no longer have direct involvement in the operation of Atari Games, Namco retained its status as major shareholder, and the business relationship between the two companies would remain unchanged. (GM 8/1/88 p22; Cash Box 8/6/88 p29)

June: Atari Operations launched the Atari Expo family amusement center name/concept. (USPTO TESS--1st use of service mark)

June: Mindscape released Road Runner, title by Atari Games, for C-64/128 and then for Atari ST. (CE 7/88 p14)

June 16: At the annual shareholders meeting of Namco-America, Hideyuki Nakajima (president of Namco-America and president of Atari Games Corporation) and Dennis Wood (SVP and general counsel for Namco-America and for Atari Games) resigned from the Namco-America board of directors and from their roles as officers of Namco-America. (Yasuhiko Asada, Namco Ltd. director of R&D, was appointed to the board of directors and additionally became president of Namco-America.) (GM 8/1/88 p22)

Month?: Nick Stern, previously of Industrial Light & Magic, joined Atari Games as a senior animator.

Month?: Steve Woita (formerly of Atari (Consumer) from 1982-1984) joined Tengen as a programmer.

July 3: Atari/Ragtimes Enterprises, a joint-venture between Atari Operations and Orlando Businessman Bob Snow, opened the Commander Ragtime's video game parlor and bar (Commander Ragtime's Midway of Fun, Food & Games) in 21,000 ft² on the third floor of the Church Street Exchange shopping emporium in downtown Orlando FL. Kevin Hayes was executive vice president of Atari Operations, which operated entertainment centers, primarily in the Southeastern U.S., under the names 2001 and Barrel of Fun.

July: Mindscape released Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, title by Atari Games, for Atari ST (CE 7/88 p14) and for C-64/128. (CE 8/88 p14)

July 16: At Atari Games: Hide Nakajima was president, Mike Taylor was VP sales (wrong - should have listed Satish Bhutani), Mary Fujihara was marketing director, Elaine Shirley was customer service manager. (Nakajima was also president of Namco-America, Inc.) (Cash Box 7/16/88 p57-58)

July 28: Certificate of amendment of Articles of Incorporation of Atari Games Corporation executed by president Hideyuki Nakajima and secretary (and general counsel) Dennis Wood regarding, in part, increasing the total number of company shares authorized to issue by 500,000, to 10,500,000. The total number of outstanding shares of the company was 9,480,100.

August: Robert A. Sheffield, previously VP/CFO at Televideo Systems, Inc., joined Atari Games as controller. (John Klein remained Atari Games VP finance/CFO.)

Summer/Fall: In the U.K., Domark released The Empire Strikes Back, title by Lucasfilm and Tengen, ports by Vektor Grafix, for: Spectrum (48K, 128K/+2, +3), Commodore 64/128, Amstrad, Amiga, Atari ST, BBC

September: Engineer Andrew Burgess, previously of DocuPro/ViewTech, had joined Atari Games.

September: Berry Kane joined Atari Games as associate general counsel. (Dennis Wood remained general counsel.)

Septebmer 14-18: At the Personal Computer Show (PC Show) at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, Domark announced a 3-year deal with Atari Games to publish and distribute Tengen titles in Europe. (source)

September 23: In the U.K., Atari Games took over Legibus 1194 Limited (established 5/10/1988) to establish: Atari Overseas Services Limited. (Tengen international sales/distribution?)

October 21: Atari Games announced the new wholly-owned subsidiary, "Tengen Japan" (Tengen Ltd.), located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and headed by Kazuo Matsunaga, President, who was most recently responsible for the engineering R&D efforts at Namco Limited. (source)

October 25: Atari Games announced the departure of Satish Bhutani, Vice President of Sales. On an interim basis, the role was to be covered by Shane Breaks, Vice President of International Sales. (source)

October 28: Atari Games regional sales manager (West region) Greg Rice departed the company. (source)

December 12: Tengen introduced the first independently produced and manufactured Nintendo-compatible video game cartridges: new releases of the Tengen's Pac-Man (title by Namco), Gauntlet, and R.B.I. Baseball. All future Tengen releases for the NES would also ship without authorization by Nintendo. Tengen NES cartridge industrial design: Peter L. Takaichi

December 12: Atari Games filed a suit for $100 million against Nintendo of America Inc. and its Japanese parent, Nintendo Co. Ltd., charging that Nintendo had monopolized the U.S. market for video game cartridges that will play on Nintendo's home entertainment systems.

December: Mindscape released Paperboy, title by Tengen, for NES. (CE 1/89 p14)

1989
January 5: Nintendo announced a countersuit against Atari Games, filed in federal district court in San Francisco, for breach of contract, violation of trademark laws and unfair competition. They also charged conspiracy and RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations). Nintendo also revoked its licensing agreement with Atari Games.

January 7: At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Tengen introduced its first titles for home computers (PC, C64/128, Amiga, ST): Blasteroids, Rolling Thunder (title by Namco), R.B.I. Baseball (would ship as: R.B.I. Baseball Two), RoadBlasters, Pac-Mania (title by Namco). For the NES Tengen introduced Super Sprint, Rolling Thunder (title by Namco) and Vindicators, and also showed/again promised Tetris. (CE 1/89 p11) Milton Bradley introduced Marble Madness, title by Tengen, for NES. (CE 1/89 p6,9) Mindscape introduced Gauntlet, title by Tengen, for Macintosh (CE 2/89 p1), introduced 720°, title by Atari Games/Tengen, for C64/128 (CE 2/89 p1), and for the NES Mindscape introduced 720°, title by Atari Games/Tengen, and Road Runner (title by Atari Games/Tengen; never shipped by Mindscape; title would be shipped by Tengen). (CE 1/89 p9) Commodore featured Brøderbund Star Wars, title by Lucasfilm and Tengen, for Amiga. (CE 1/89 p3)

January: At the Amusement Trades Exhibition International (ATEI) show at Olympia in London, Atari Games introduced Tetris (title by AcademySoft Elorg, licensed to Andromeda Software, sublicensed to Mirrorsoft and Sphere), introduced Splatterhouse by Namco, featured Cyberball, and introduced Hard Drivin'. (TheGamesMachine #16 3/89 p68)

January: Mindscape released 720°, title by Atari Games/Tengen, for C64/128. (CE 1/89 p14)

January: Brøderbund released Star Wars, title by Lucasfilm and Tengen, for C64/128 and PC. (CE 2/89 p14)

January 24: Date of letter sent by Nintendo to video game and toy retailers in the U.S. theatening legal action against any retailer currently selling or having ordered Tengen products. (GM 3/15/89 p22)

Winter: In the U.K., Domark released Return of the Jedi, title by Lucasfilm and Tengen, ports by Consult Computer Systems, for: Spectrum (cassette, disk), Commodore (cassette, disk), Amstrad (cassette, disk), Amiga, Atari ST, BBC Micro

February 2: Nintendo of America filed a patent-infringement suit against competitor Atari Games in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Nintendo accused Atari Games of patent violation by marketing unlicensed home video-game cartridges for play on the Nintendo Entertainment System. The suit claimed Atari Games infringed on Nintendo's patented software-security chips (U.S. Patent No. 4,799,635) designed to allow only Nintendo-licensed games to play on Nintendo Entertainment System hardware. The charge was an amended complaint to Nintendo's Jan. 5 lawsuit charging Atari Games and Tengen with trademark infringement, breach of contract and unfair competition.

February 13: Atari Holdings, Inc. transferred ownership of 184 U.S. Patents to Atari Games Corporation. Notably included: 3,793,483, 4,445,114

February 15: Atari Games and Tengen amended and expanded their Dec. 12, 1988 anti-trust lawsuit against Nintendo of America and its Japanese parent, Nintendo Company Ltd. to include additional anti-trust claims and claims for patent infringement, tortious interference with business relations and trade libel. The new legal complaints, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, called for an immediate injunction against all future sales of Nintendo products, as well as an injunction against Nintendo's wrongful interference in the business operations of Atari Games and Tengen. The complaint also sought $100 million in treble anti-trust damages, as well as unspecified and substantial patent and punitive damages. Awarded patent damages would be trebled according to federal statutes. The Atari Games/Tengen lawsuit alleged that Nintendo utilized patented technology in the development of its Nintendo Entertainment System. The technology covered in U.S. Patent No. 4,445,114, "Apparatus for Scrolling a Video Display," (Patent 114) issued to David R. Stubben (of Atari, Inc.) on April 24, 1984, plays an integral role in the function of the NES. Atari Games/Tengen also alleged in the suit that Nintendo had intentionally misled and deceived existing and potential customers by stating that the sale of Tengen products is a violation of the law and may nullify Nintendo warranties. (GM 3/15/89 p22)

February 23-25: Atari Games released Tetris Kit (original release, for JAMMA units), released Hard Drivin' (original Deluxe Cockpit version; game developed by the Atari Games Applied Research group), released Splatterhouse by Namco (Printed Circuit Board for JAMMA units), and released Vindicators Part II (conversion kit for Gauntlet units) at ACME '89 (American Coin Machine Exposition), Bally's Hotel, Reno NV.

March 3: U.S. District Judge Fern Smith in San Francisco granted Atari Games and Nintendo preliminary injunctions against each other, prohibiting Nintendo from filing patent infringement suits against retailers that carry Atari Games' Tengen software, and banning Atari Games from filing patent infringement suits against producers of Nintendo products. The injunction would be in place until legal disputes between the two companies would be resolved.

March 4: Time Incorporated and Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) (Atari Games Corporation major shareholder) announced plans to merge, where Time would acquire WCI to form Time Warner Inc., subject both to the approval of the shareholders of Time Inc. and WCI and to regulatory approval. (PR)

March: Mindscape released Road Runner, title by Tengen, for PC. (CE 4/89 p14)

March: Brøderbund released Star Wars, title by Lucasfilm and Tengen, for Atari ST. (CE 4/89 p14)

March 30: Tengen selected Keye/Donna/Pearlstein, Los Angeles, as its first advertising agency. The account would bill $10 million annually.

March 31: Tengen revenues for its 1988 fiscal year (ending March 31) totaled about $39 million.

Winter/Spring?: At Atai Games, Shane Breaks, previously Vice President of International Sales (based at Atari Games International (UK) Inc.), (again) returned to California as VP sales (replacing the departed Satish Bhutani in the role). David Smith remained Atari Games sales director-international sales, based at Atari Games International (UK) Inc.

April 3: Randall Broweleit, previously Tengen SVP Operations (COO), became Tengen SVP sales and marketing. (Mike Taylor remained Tengen director of sales?) Dan Van Elderen, previously Atari Games SVP Engineering (title also held by Lyle Rains), became Tengen COO and EVP (administration, finance, engineering) (assuming the roles from Broweleit). Lyle Rains would remain SVP engineering (new project development). Richard Moore, previously Atari Games engineering director (design team leader, one of three), was promoted to VP Engineering (replacing Van Elderen and Rains in the role). Robert Sheffield was promoted to Atari Games VP Finance and CFO (previously: controller), replacing John Klein who departed the company. Hide Nakajima remained president of Atari Games. (source; Cash Box 6/10/89 p25) Chris Downend, previously Atari Games engineering director (design team leader, one of three), would become director of electrical engineering (reporting to Moore). John Ray, previously Atari Games engineering director (design team leader, one of three), would become director of electrical design (reporting to Moore).

April 14: Elaine Shirley had been promoted to Director of Customer Service (previously: customer service manager). (source; Cash Box 6/10/89 p25)

April 6: Nintendo announced it would offer the first ever video game developed in the Soviet Union and predicted that the game, called Tetris, would become one of its biggest sellers. Tetris had already sold more than 100,000 copies for use on home computers in the US and won numerous industry awards. Nintendo of America said the company had entered into a worldwide exclusive licensing agreement with Elektronorgtechnica (Elorg), the Soviet Foreign Trade Association, to market Tetris.

April: Mindscape released Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, title by Atari Games, for Amiga and for PC. (CE 4/89 p14; 5/89 p14)

April: Milton Bradley released Marble Madness, title by Tengen, for NES. (CE 5/89 p14)

April: Brøderbund released Star Wars, title by Lucasfilm and Tengen, for Amiga. (CE 5/89 p14)

April 18: Atari Games/Tengen filed a lawsuit charging Nintendo of America and its Japanese parent with infringing Tengen's copyrights in its new home-video game, Tetris. According to the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Tengen had the exclusive right to manufacture and distribute Tetris cartridges for use on Nintendo's video-game players, having acquired the rights to Tetris from Mirrorsoft in May 1988.

Spring: Atari Operations opened two new locations in San Jose CA: Atari Expo #22 at Eastridge Mall, managed by Jeff Trotto, and Atari Expo #23 in Westgate Mall, managed by Feff Pippin. (AtariLife Apr90 p6)

Spring: In Europe, Domark released Vindicators, title by Tengen, for Spectrum, Commodore, Amstrad, Amiga, Atari ST

May: Atari Corporation was joined as a co-plaintiff in the patent infringement action against Nintendo, now entitled Atari Games Corporation, Tengen Inc., and Atari Corp. v. Nintendo of America, Inc., et al. (Case No. C88-4805 FMS). In its complaint, Atari joined Atari Games in alleging that Nintendo had infringed upon U.S. Patent No. 4,445,114, "Apparatus for Scrolling a Video Display," issued to David R. Stubben (of Atari, Inc.) on April 24, 1984.

May: Mindscape released Gauntlet, title by Tengen, for Macintosh. (CE 1/89 p14)

May 17: Tengen celebrated the release of Tetris for the NES by holding a lavish reception at the Russian Tea Room in New York, NY.

May 25: Nintendo of America filed a countersuit in federal court in San Francisco charging Atari and its subsidiary Tengen of infringing on the rights to the Soviet game, Tetris. The court action sought to enforce Nintendo's rights and those of ELORG, a Soviet government agency that licensed Nintendo to distribute Tetris. U.S. District Judge Vern Smith denied the motion by Nintendo for a preliminary injunction against Atari and Tengen regarding Tetris. At the same time, the judge denied Tengen's motion to dismiss the suit. A June 15 hearing regarding the Tetris matter was scheduled.

In another decision, Judge Smith rejected motions by Atari Games and Tengen to dismiss Nintendo's claims of trademark infringement and patent infringement in earlier (Feb. 2) legal action.

June: At the Summer CES in Chicago, Tengen introduced APB and Xybots, titles by Atari Games, both to be released for Apple IIgs, Amiga, ST, PC and C64/128 (CE 7/89 p2) (both titles never shipped by Tengen, but both titles would be released in Europe by Tengen distributor Domark for most of these platforms and more). For NES Tengen featured the recently-released Tetris, showed the upcoming releases Super Sprint, Vindicators, and Xybots (title by Atari Games; never shipped), and announced Police Academy (never shipped). (CE 6/89 p10) Mindscape introduced Gauntlet II, title by Atari Games/Tengen, for PC, ST, Amiga, and C64/128. (CE 6/89 p5) For the NES Mindscape featured/again promised the Atari Games/Tengen titles RoadBlasters, 720°, Road Runner. (CE 6/89 p12)

June: Atari Games released Hard Drivin' (Compact Upright version; game developed by the Atari Games Applied Research group), and released Escape From the Planet of the Robot Monsters (new unit, or Universal Kit for JAMMA units)

June 21: Tengen had moved from 1901 McCarthy Blvd, Milpitas CA to: 1623 Buckeye Drive, Milpitas CA

June 21: U.S. District Court Judge Fern Smith issued a preliminary injunction that barred Atari Games' Tengen Inc. subsidiary from marketing or distributing its version of Tetris for NES. U.S. retailers who had ordered Tengen's Tetris would be asked to remove the product from their shelves. Detailed that emerged from the ruling: Nintendo had negotiated directly with Elorg, a Soviet agency, to get a license to make a video-cartridge version of the game. Tengen had received a license earlier from the British company Mirrorsoft, which had obtained a Soviet license for a computer-game version. The trial regarding the Tetris matter would begin on November 13.

Month?: Atari Games senior hardware engineer Doug Snyder departed the company (to Adobe Systems).

Month?: Franz Lanzinger (Atari (Coin-Op) software engineer from 1982-1984) joined Tengen as a programmer and designer. (source)

Month?: Chuck Eyler, previously of Colossal Pictures, joined Atari Games as an animator.

Month?: The Murray Kitchens (Ardfinnan) Limited plant at Mill Road, Youghal, Co. Cork, exclusively dedicated to supplying Atari with game cabinets since 1978 (and originally opened in 1974), was closed and the 15 remaining staff there were transferred to the Atari Games Ireland Limited plant in Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary. Total employment at Atari Games Ireland was 60 people. (The Irish Times 10/18/96 supp p4)

July 5: Atari Games announced their new division, Sho Graphics, and the division's ShoView external graphics coprocessor for PC and compatibles with SCSI interface. Rich Moore was Atari Games Vice President/Engineering.

July 9: Atari Games had established a new Electrical Design department, and Pat McCarthy was promoted to Supervisor, Electrical Design (reporting to director, electrical design engineering John Ray). (source)

July: Atari Operations established Atari Expo #25 in Cloverleaf Mall in Hattiesburg MS, managed by Wayne Flurry. (AtariLife Apr90 p6)

July 24: Pursuant to a tender offer, Time Inc. acquired a controlling majority of the outstanding stock of (Atari Games Corporation major shareholder) Warner Communications Inc. (59.3%), and the name of Time Incorporated was changed to Time Warner Inc.

July 31-August 4: Atari Games' Sho Graphics division introduced ShoView at the SIGGRAPH '89 Conference in Boston. ShoView was to ship with the HOOPS graphics software from Ithaca Software, and sell for under $12,000. Jim Morris was Sho Graphics staff engineer. (source)

Summer: In Europe, Domark released Xybots, title by Atari Games via Tengen, ports by Teque Software developments, for: Spectrum (cassette or disk), Commodore (cassette or disk), Amstrad (cassette or disk), Amiga, Atari ST (source)

August 12: At Atari Games: Hide Nakajima was president, Shane Breaks was VP sales, Mary Fujihara was marketing director, Elaine Shirley was customer service director. (Cash Box 8/12/89)

August: Mindscape released Gauntlet II, title by Atari Games/Tengen, for Atari ST, C64/128, Amiga, and IBM/Tandy. (CE 8/89 p14) In the UK/Europe, U.S. Gold released Gauntlet II, title by Atari Games, for Amiga

Summer/Fall: In Europe, Domark released APB, title by Atari Games via Tengen, ports by Walking Circles, for: Spectrum (cassette or disk), Commodore (cassette or disk), Amstrad (cassette or disk), Amiga, Atari ST, IBM PC (source)

Summer/Fall: In Europe, Domark released Dragon Spirit, title by Namco via Tengen, ports by Consult Software, for: Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64 (cassette or disk), Amstrad (cassette or disk), Spectrum +3, Spectrum 48/128 (source)

September 11-13: At AMOA Expo '89, Las Vegas NV Hilton, Atari Games previewed Four Trax by Namco. (Cash Box 1/20/90 p29)

September: Atari Games released 1-Screen Cyberball 2072, and released S.T.U.N. Runner (Spread Tunnel Underground Network Runner).

September: Mindscape released Paperboy, title by Tengen, for Amiga. (CE 10/89 p14)

September: Brøderbund released Star Wars, title by Lucasfilm and Tengen, for Macintosh. (CE 10/89 p14)

October 11: Atari Operations opened Atari Expo #26, managed by Donavan Duckworth, as part of the grand opening of the Aiken Mall, Aiken SC. (one source: AtariLife Apr90 p6)

October?: Atari Operations opened Atari Expo #28 in Manchester Centre in Fresno CA. (AtariLife Apr90 p6)

October: Atari Games released 2-Screen Tournament Cyberball 2072 Conversion Kit for Cyberball units.

October: For the NES Tengen had announced for 1989 release: After Burner (title by Sega Enterprises), Alien Syndrome (title by Sega Enterprises), Shinobi (title by Sega Enterprises), Fantasy Zone (title by Sega Enterprises), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (title previously licensed to Mindscape), Road Runner (title previously announced but unshipped by Mindscape), and Toobin' (title by Atari Games) and again promised Rolling Thunder and Vindicators; and for 1990 release: Xybots (never shipped), Police Academy (never shipped). Tengen also planned four to five games for Genesis for 1990 release, starting with Cyberball (never shipped by Tengen; would be shipped by Sega). (CE 10/89 p10)

October: For the NES Tengen released Road Runner (CE 10/89 p14), Rolling Thunder (CE 11/89 p14), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

October: Mindscape released Paperboy, title by Tengen, for Atari ST. (CE 10/89 p14)

Fall: In Europe, Domark released Hard Drivin', title by Atari Games via Tengen, for: IBM PC, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amstrad, Spectrum

Fall: In Europe, Domark released Toobin', title by Atari Games via Tengen, ports by Teque Software developments, for: IBM PC, Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64 cassette or disk, Amstrad cassette or disk, Spectrum +3, Spectrum 48/128

November: Atari Games released 1-Screen Cyberball 2072 Universal Kit (for JAMMA units), and released Skull & Crossbones (new unit, or Universal Kit for JAMMA units).

November 13: U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Judge Fern M. Smith, cancelled the Tetris trial, instead announcing a summary judgment in Nintendo's favor. Nintendo was ruled to have exclusive rights to the game of Tetris on the NES, as secured from ELORG. Tengen's license to Tetris on the NES via Mirrorsoft was ruled to be invalid, and hence Tengen had no right to manufacture or market its version of the game. The courts ordered all the Tengen Tetris games destroyed. Atari Games said it intended to appeal the ruling. (It did not.)

November 29: U.S. District Court Judge Fern Smith of San Francisco allowed Nintendo of America to file additional copyright and patent infringement claims against Atari Games and Tengen. Nintendo's amended complaint alleged that Atari Games fraudulently and unlawfully obtained the copyrighted NES security program from the U.S. Copyright Office and used it in the manufacture of cartridges compatible for play on the NES. Nintendo's amended complaint alleged that after Atari Games failed in an effort to lawfully reverse engineer the NES security software, the company obtained a copy of Nintendo's security system computer program from the U.S. Copyright Office by falsely representing that it was engaged in copyright litigation with Nintendo involving the program. Nintendo's amended complaint also charged Atari Games with willful infringement of a second security system patent recently issued by the U.S. Patent Office (U.S. Patent No. 4,865,321). Nintendo said it would seek injunctive relief preventing Atari Games, or anyone acting in concert with it, from manufacturing or selling cartridges for play on the NES that contained microprocessors which infringed Nintendo's copyrighted computer program.

December: Mindscape released 720°, title by Atari Games/Tengen, for NES. (CE 12/89 p14)

1990
January 6-9: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, Tengen promoted their line-up of 19 available / soon available games for NES: Toobin', R.B.I. Baseball 2 (title by Atari Games), Xybots (April; never shipped), Police Academy (April; never shipped), Alien Syndrome, Fantasy Zone, License to Kill (June; never shipped), Skull & Crossbones (title by Atari Games), Ms. Pac-Man (title by Namco), After Burner, Hard Drivin' (title by Atari Games; never shipped), Rolling Thunder, Shinobi, Vindicators, Road Runner, Super Sprint, Pac-Man, R.B.I. Baseball, Gauntlet. (EGM #9 p70, p2-3) For Genesis, Tengen previewed Paperboy (title by Atari Games; June), Hard Drivin' (title by Atari Games; June), Xybots (title by Atari Games; June; never shipped). (EGM #9 p73) Adjacent to the show, Atari Corporation announced an agreement with Atari Games Corporation that would bring up to 35 Atari Games arcade titles to the Lynx from Atari Corporation.

January 8-11: At the Amusement Trades Exhibition International (ATEI) show at Olympia in London, Atari Games introduced Badlands, introduced Klax, and introduced Four Trax by Namco. (AtariLife Apr90 p3)

January 10: Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) (major shareholder of Atari Games Corporation) became a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. Use of the Warner Communications brand would be discontinued.

January: Atari Games released Badlands (Universal Kit for JAMMA units), and released 2-Screen Tournament Cyberball 2072 VS. Kit (for Nintendo VS. DualSystem upright cabinets).

February: Atari Games released Klax (standard upright version, Cabaret version, or Universal Kit for JAMMA units).

February: Atari Games designer/programmer Dave Theurer departed the company. (source)

March 7: In (897 F.2d 1572) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington D.C. vacated the March 3, 1989 preliminary injunction previously granted against both Atari Games/Tengen and Nintendo by the U.S. District Court in Northern California which enjoined lawsuits against third-parties who dealt in products which may infringe the rights of the patent holder. As a result, Atari Games was free to sue retailers who sold infringing Nintendo product, and Nintendo was free to sue retailers who sold unauthorized NES Cartridges.

March: Over the previous 12 months, Atari Operations, Inc. had opened 9 new arcades for a total of 34 operating locations. 2 more new locations were expected to open by the end of the month, for a total of 36 locations. (AtariLife Apr90 p6)

March: Namco Ltd. (of Japan), via Namco-America, Inc., took over the Funtasia games arcade at San Francisco's PIER 39. The arcade would be among the first, if not the first, to adopt the Namco CyberStation Amusement Zone concept. The location featured bumper cars and more than 100 games. (source)

Winter/Spring: Tengen released for NES: After Burner, Alien Syndrome, Shinobi, Toobin'

April 30: Theodore Hoff, previously a Korn/Ferry International management consultant, had been named SVP sales and marketing at Tengen, replacing Randall Broweleit who had departed the company (to form a marketing consulting and licensing firm) (AdWeek; source) Dan Van Elderen remained Tengen COO.

Spring: In the UK, Domark released Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters, title by Atari Games via Tengen, ported by Teque, for Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, SAM Coupé, ZX Spectrum

Spring: In Europe, Domark released Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters, title by Atari Games via Tengen, ports by Teque Software developments, for Atari ST, Amiga, IBM PC 35." & 5.25", Commodore 64 (cassete, disk), Amstrad (cassette, disk), Spectrum +3, Spectrum 48/128

Spring: In Europe, Domark released Cyberball, title by Tengen, ports by Quixel, for IBM PC, Atari ST, Commodore 64 cassette & disk, Amstrad cassette & disk, Spectrum +3, Spectrum 48/128

Spring: In Europe, Domark released Klax, title by Atari games via Tengen, ports by Teque Software developments, for Atari ST, Amiga, IBM PC 3.5" & 5.25", Commodore 64 (cassette, disk), Amstrad (cassette, disk), Spectrum +3, Spectrum 48/128, SAM Coupé

May 2: Namco Ltd. (of Japan) (Atari Games major shareholder) announced that effective June 28, 1990, Masaya Nakamura would be promoted from president to chairman; Tadashi Manabe would be promoted from representative managing director to president (replacing Nakamura in the role), and Namio Ichikawa would be promoted from representative managing director to vice-president. (GM 6/1/90 p30; GM 7/1/90 p34)

May 3: "Possible Violations of U.S. Antitrust Laws by Foreign Corporations" hearing before the Subcommittee on Economic and Commercial Law of the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, included testimony by Tengen EVP and COO Daniel N. Van Elderen.

May 7: For the Lynx Atari Corporation announced the release of Gauntlet: The Third Encounter (title by Atari Games via Tengen).

May: Atari Games Applied Research group senior software engineer Stephanie Mott departed the company.

May 22: Shographics, Inc. was established as a spin-off of the former Atari Games division, Sho Graphics.

May 23: Tengen announced that revenues for its 1989 fiscal year (ending March 31) totaled more than $41 million. Tengen had 14 titles available on the NES (including Gauntlet, Shinobi, Afterburner, and Pac-Man). Tengen announced new titles (to ship summer 1990) would include R.B.I. Baseball 2, Ms. Pac-Man, Fantasy Zone, and Klax. Dan Van Elderen remained Tengen COO; Theodore M. Hoff (Ted Hoff) was Tengen SVP, sales and marketing. (PR)

June 2-5: At the Summer CES in Chicago Tengen introduced Klax for NES (initial release), Genesis, TurboGrafx, and home computers. Also for NES Tengen introduced Skull & Crossbones and Pac-Mania (title by Namco), promoted the new releases R.B.I. Baseball 2, Fantasy Zone, and Ms. Pac-Man, and promoted the recent releases After Burner, Shinobi, Rolling Thunder, and Toobin'. Also for Genesis Tengen introduced Hard Drivin' (title by Atari Games), previewed RoadBlasters (title by Atari games) and R.B.I. Baseball 2 (title by Atari Games; never shipped for Genesis), and again previewed Paperboy (title by Atari Games), . (source p127) Also at the show, for Genesis, Sega introduced Cyberball (title by Atari Games via Tengen; previously announced but never shipped by Tengen), and for Sega Master System Sega introduced Gauntlet (title by Atari Games via Tengen (would be released in Europe only), and Paperboy (title by Atari Games via Tengen). (EGM #13 p.2-3, 54, 66, 81, 91-92) For Lynx, for summer/fall 1990 release, Atari Corporation introduced: Klax (title by Atari Games via Tengen; summer), Paperboy (title by Atari Games via Tengen; fall), and RoadBlasters (title by Atari Games via Tengen; fall), and announced for 1991 release: Tournament Cyberball 2072 (title by Atari Games via Tengen; would ship as: Tournament Cyberball), Vindicators (title by Atari Games via Tengen; never shipped), APB (title by Atari Games via Tengen). For the 7800 Atari Corporation introduced Klax (title by Atari Games via Tengen; fall; never shipped), and for the 2600 Atari Corporation introduced Klax (title by Atari Games via Tengen; winter 1991).

June 6: Date of agreement between Namco Ltd. (of Japan) (Atari Games Corporation major shareholder) and Atari Games whereby all stocks of Atari Games owned by Namco, 4.6 million shares or 43.8% of the total outstanding shares of Atari Games, would be sold to Atari Games management. The transaction would include Namco's interest in Atari Games Ireland Limited. Also under the agreement, through Namco-America, Namco would acquire Atari Operations, Inc., the wholly-owned subsidiary of Atari Games which operated about 40 arcade in the West and Southeast of the U.S. The transactions were to be implemented by July 10, 1990. (GM 7/1/90 p34) A spokesman for Atari Games valued the transaction at $20 million. (SFChron 6/26) The transaction would leave Time Warner (through Warner Communications Inc.) as the only major outside shareholder of Atari Games. (Cash Box 8/25/90 p28) Hide Nakajima remained president of Atari Games.

June 14: Namco Ltd. (of Japan) announced that it would dissolve its capital connection with Atari Games, as well as acquire the Atari Operations subsidiary of Atari Games, under an agreement reached with Atari Games on June 6, 1990, with implementation by July 10, 1990. (GM 7/1/90 p34; Cash Box 7/28/90 p29)

June: Atari Games released Gumball Rally (redemption / non-video) and released Hydra (Mini-upright cabinet, or Universal Kit for JAMMA units).

July: Mindscape released Paperboy, title by Atari Games via Tengen, for Game Boy.

July 17: Internally, Atari Games announced that the sale of Atari Operations, Inc. to Namco (under the agreement of June 6, 1990) had been finalized. (source) Atari Games EVP Atari Operations Kevin Hayes, along with Atari Operations VPs Richard Adams and David Bishop, would depart the company to Namco-America as part of the transaction. See: A History of Namco Operations (Atari Expo operator)

July 26: Robert Stewart (Bob Stewart), previously Atari Games acting director of manufacturing (since winter 1988 - 18 months), had been promoted to director of manufacturing (replacement for the departed Kevin Hayes). (source; Cash Box 10/6/90 p26)

Summer: Tengen released for NES: R.B.I. Baseball 2, Fantasy Zone, Ms. Pac-Man (EGM #13 p.2-3)

Summer?: Sega released Cyberball, title by Atari Games via Tengen, for Genesis.

Summer?: Tengen programmers Franz Lanzinger and David O'Riva departed the company. (source) (Together they would develop Krazy Kreatures for NES for American Video Entertainment, and they would incorporate as Bitmasters Incorporated on July 9, 1991.)

Summer?: Tengen programmer Steve Woita departed the company (to Activision, after assisting fellow former Tengen programmers Franz Lanzinger and David O'Riva with the game design for their game, Krazy Kreatures). (source)

August 5-8: At the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) '90 convention in Las Vegas, Tengen announced the video game industry's first-ever "rent & sell" program. Commtron Corp., the nation's largest pre-recorded video distributor, agreed to carry Tengen's full line of video games by fall 1990 for more than 25,000 video rental stores. Ted Hoff was Tengen's SVP of sales and marketing. Tengen remained at 1623 Buckeye Drive, Milpitas, Calif. (PR)

August: Atari Games released (3-player) Pit-Fighter (original release), and released Race Drivin' (original Deluxe Sitdown version; game developed by the Atari Games Applied Research group), introducing the two games to worldwide distributors in the private Warner Brothers screening room at the New York headquarters of Warner Communications. Ed Hamowy was Time Warner SVP; Mary Fujihara was Atari Games marketing director. (Cash Box 8/25/90 p28)

August 16: Annual meeting of shareholders of Atari Games Corporation, Milpitas CA (the first such meeting since the company had repurchased its shares held by Namco Ltd. Four executives of Atari Games were elected to the board: Hide Nakajima (president), Dennis Wood (general counsel), Dan Van Elderen (SVP Tengen), Robert Sheffield (CFO). Five executives of major shareholder Time Warner were elected to the board: Martin Payson (VP and general counsel), Geoffrey Holmes (SVP), Ed Hamowy (SVP), Robert Pittman (president of Time Warner Enterprises), Mark Mitzner (CFO of Time Warner Enterprises). (Cash Box 10/13/90)

September 1: At Atari Games: Hide Nakajima was president, Shane Breaks was VP sales, Mary Fujihara was marketing director, Elaine Shirley was customer service director, Robert Stewart was director of manufacturing. (Cash Box 9/1/90)

September 5: Atari Games senior staff engineer Jim Morris departed the company. (to Shographics, Inc.)

September 7?: In Japan, Namco released Klax, title by Atari Games via Tengen (Tengen Inc./Tengen Ltd.), for Mega Drive.

September?: Mindscape released Gauntlet II, title by Atari Games via Tengen, for NES (U.S. release).

October 2: At Atari Games, Brad Fuller was promoted to Manager of Audio Development.

October: Atari Games released Race Drivin' (Deluxe Sitdown) Kit for Hard Drivin' Deluxe Cockpit units (game developed by the Atari Games Applied Research group).

Fall: For Sega Master System, Sega released Gauntlet (U.S. Gold) (Europe) and released Paperboy (U.S. Gold).

Fall: In Europe, Domark released Badlands, title by Atari Games via Tengen, ports by Teque London, for Amiga, Atari ST, IBM PC 3.5" & 5.25", Commodore 64 (cassette, disk), Amstrad (cassette, disk), Spectrum +3, Spectrum 48/128

Fall?: In Europe, Domark released S.T.U.N. Runner, title by Atari Games via Tengen, ports by The Kremlin, for IBM PC 3.5" & 5.25", Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64 (cassette, disk), Amstrad (cassette, disk), Spectrum +3, Spectrum 48/128

Fall: In Europe, Domark released the TNT action pack, featuring Hard Drivin', Toobin', APB, Dragon Spirit, and Xybots, titles by Tengen, for Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64 (cassette, disk), Amstrad (cassete, disk), Spectrum +3, Spectrum 48/128

Fall: In Europe, Domark released the Wheels of Fire compilation, featuring Turbo OutRun, Chase H.Q., Hard Drivin' (title by Atari Games via Tengen), and Power Drift, for: Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64 (cassette or disk), Amstrad (caseete or disk), Spectrum +3, Spectrum 48/128

November: Atari Games released Tetris (Cabaret version), and released Shuuz (new unit, or conversion Kit for JAMMA units)

November 19: Tengen announced that its more than 20 titles for Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Sega Genesis System and NEC TurboGrafx were now available at more than 40,000 video rental stores nationwide. In addition, Tengen offered a $5 rebate on all Tengen games through January 31, 1991. Ted Hoff was Tengen's SVP of sales and marketing. Tengen remained at 1623 Buckeye Drive, Milpitas, Calif. (PR)

November/December: Tengen headquarters were consolidated from 1623 Buckeye Drive, Milpitas CA into the Atari Games offices/engineering facility at: 675 Sycamore Dr, Milpitas CA

December 3: Tengen announced that two of its video games, "R.B.I. Baseball 2" and "Klax," were given a seal of approval by the Parents' Choice Foundation. Ted Hoff was Tengen's SVP of sales and marketing. Tengen was headquartered at 675 Sycamore Dr., Milpitas, CA (PR)

December 14?: In Japan, Hudson Soft released Klax, title by Atari Games via Tengen Inc./Tengen Ltd., for Famicom. (source)

December: Atari Games released Race Drivin' (Compact Upright version; game developed by the Atari Games Applied Research group).

December?: Tengen released Hard Drivin' for Genesis (USA) (Sterling Silver Software). (source)

December 21: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released Hard Drivin' for Mega Drive (Sterling Silver Software). (source)

December/January: For the Lynx Atari Corporation shipped: RoadBlasters (source; source)

1991
January 4: Atari Games Corporation transferred ownership of U.S. patent 4,445,114 to Atari Corporation.

January 7-10: At the ATE show in London, Atari Games introduced Rampart, introduced Mad Dog McCree (original 45" screen version) by American Laser Games (licensed to Atari Games for UK/Europe only), and featured Race Drivin'. (K #26 Marzo 1991 p87; source)

January 10-13: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, Tengen again showed Police Academy for NES (never shipped), introduced Airball for NES (title by Microdeal; never shipped), and for Genesis introduced R.B.I. Baseball 3 (title by Atari Games) and previewed Ms. Pac-Man (title by Namco) and Pit-Fighter (title by Atari Games). (EGM #20 p94,103) Also at the show, Atari Corporation announced plans to release for Lynx by June: Xybots (title by Atari Games via Tengen), Vindicators (never shipped), APB, Tournament Cyberball 2072. Also previewed by Atari Corporation for Lynx: S.T.U.N. Runner (title by Atari Games via Tengen)

January: In Japan, Altron released Paperboy, title by Atari Games via Tengen Inc./Tengen Ltd., for Famicom. (source)

February 4: Jim Flack, previously of ARGOSystems, a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, joined Atari Games as Director of Simulation Products, charged to develop new simulator business using the Atari Games (Applied Research) Hard Drivin' technology. (source) Flack would establish and head a new division of Atari Games: AGC Simulation Products, which would eventually include sales manager Beth Dutton and product manager Larry Graves.

February 9: At Atari Games: Chris Downend was electrical engineering director, and Linda Benzler (former Linda Butcher, future Linda Adam; with Atari since 1978) was a product manager. (Cash Box 2/9/91)

February 15: Domark announced the released of Hard Drivin' II (title by Atari Games via Tengen) for Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, and IBM PC. (NewsBytes)

March: Atari Games released 2-player Pit-Fighter (Universal Kit for JAMMA units).

March 19: Atari Corporation again promised for Lynx: Tournament Cyberball (title by Atari Games via Tengen; previously: Tournament Cyberall 2072)

March 27: Judge Fern Smith of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco granted Nintendo's request for a preliminary injunction against Atari Games, and ordered Atari Games to halt marketing, distribution, and sales of its NES-compatible cartridges. The court also required that Atari Games recall the cartridges. The Court concluded that Atari Games lied to the U.S. copyright office to obtain a copy of Nintendo's software to assist in making its own version of the program. She said Atari Games told the authorities that it needed the software to defend against a copyright-infringement suit, when in fact Nintendo had not yet sued it on those grounds. Atari Games would appeal.

April: Atari Games released Batman (Universal Kit for JAMMA units), released 2-player Rampart (Universal Kit for JAMMA units), and released Race Drivin' (Compact Upright) Kit for Hard Drivin' Compact Upright units (game developed by the Atari Games Applied Research group).

April 11: Judge Fern Smith granted Atari Games a temporary stay of her March 27 ruling to let Atari Games present more information on the financial impact of the decision.

April 13: Recent NES games introduced by Atari's Tengen subsidiary included Klax and Skull & Crossbones. Among other popular Tengen titles were the three R.B.I. Baseball games, Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, and Hard Drivin'. (Billboard)

Spring: In Europe, Domark released Skull & Crossbones, title by Atari Games via Tengen, for Amiga, Atari ST, IBM PC 3.5" & 5.25", Commodore 64, Spectrum, Amstrad

Spring: In Europe, Mindscape released Gauntlet II, title by Atari Games via Tengen, for NES.

May: Atari Games released Race Drivin' (Panorama version; game developed by the Atari Games Applied Research group).

May 21: U.S. District Judge Fern Smith suspended enforcement of her March 27 ruling against Atari Games and Tengen for six months or until the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on the case, after Atari Games said it would close down Tengen and lay off 39 employees unless Smith stayed her order.

May 23: In an Atari Games internal meeting, Jim Flack, Director of Simulation Products, presented an overview of recent activities related to simulator based driver training for police organizations. (source)

June 1-4: At the Summer CES in Chicago, for Genesis, Tengen again previewed Pit-Fighter, introduced Rampart (title by Atari Games), Paperboy (title by Atari Games), RoadBlasters (title by Atari Games), and Pac-Mania (title by Namco), again promised R.B.I. Baseball 3, and Ms. Pac-Man, and also promoted Klax and Hard Drivin'. For NES, Tengen introduced R.B.I. Baseball 3 (title by Atari Games) and Rampart (title by Atari Games; never shipped by Tengen; would be shipped by Jaleco), again promised Police Academy (never shipped), and promoted: Gauntlet, Ms. Pac-Man, Klax, Skull & Crossbones, Pac-Man, Pac-Mania. (EGM #25; Zero #23 p71) Also at the show, for NES, T•HQ announced Race Drivin' (title by Atari Games; never shipped) and Pit-Fighter (title by Atari Games; never shipped). (Zero #23) Mindscape announced Paperboy 2, title by Atari Games via Tengen, for SNES (source) (and probably NES and Game Boy?) From a suite at the nearby Barclay hotel, Atari Corporation announced/previewed for the Lynx: Rolling Thunder (title by Namco via Atari Games via Tengen; never shipped), Hard Drivin' (title by Atari Games via Tengen), S.T.U.N. Runner, Tournament Cyberball, Xybots

Spring/Summer: In Europe, Domark released Hydra, title by Atari Games via Tengen, ports by ICE Software, for Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Spectrum, Amstrad

Spring/Summer: In Europe, Domark released R.B.I. Baseball Two, title by Atari Games via Tengen, ports by The Kremlin, for Amiga, Atari ST, IBM PC 3.5" & 5.25", Commodore 64, Spectrum, Amstrad

Months?: Atari Games released Who Shot Johnny Rock? (45" screen or 33" screen versions) by American Laser Games (UK/Europe only), and also released Mad Dog McCree (33" screen version) by American Laser Games.

July 17: Atari Games established a Game Design Group (a new Service/Support Department, also incorporating playtest), and designer Mark Pierce was promoted to Game Design Supervisor (reporting to electrical engineering director Chris Downend). (source)

July 12?: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released Popils, developed by MTJ, for Game Gear. (source)

July 30: Atari Games announced the promotion of Mike Nevin to Managing Director/Vice President Operations of Atari Games Ireland Limited (Tipperary plant; previously: Managing Director of Atari Games Ireland Limited since 1984). (source)

August 6: Mike Taylor, previously Tengen director of sales, (again) became Atari Games VP Sales, replacing Shane Breaks who departed the company (to Namco, to establish Namco Europe Ltd). (Ted Hoff remained Tengen SVP sales and marketing.) (Cash Box 9/7/91 p21)

August: Atari Games central regional sales manager Frank Cosentino departed the company (to Namco-America). (Cash Box 9/7/91 p21)

August?: Through a new Lynx product catalog, Atari Corporation announced for the Lynx: 720° (Jun 92; title by Atari Games via Tengen; never shipped), Pit-Fighter (Mar 92; title by Atari Games via Tengen), Hydra (Mar 92; title by Atari Games via Tengen)

August: In Japan, Altron released Super Sprint, title by Atari Games via Tengen Inc./Tengen Ltd., for Famicom. (source)

September 3: Tengen Inc. announced that U.S. District Court Judge Fern Smith had agreed to extend a stay of her preliminary injunction against the company, allowing Tengen to continue making Nintendo-compatible video-game cartridges until it completed an appeal of the ruling. Smith's earlier stay, issued in May, was due to expire in mid-November. Tengen said that it expected to complete the appeal by spring 1992.

October: Atari Games game maker John Salwitz departed the company (to Electronic Arts).

October: Atari Games engineering (Rich Moore, VP engineering) had established a new Simulation Training research & development group, headed by engineering director John Ray, acting Simulation Training R&D Manager. The group would include Norm Copperman (software manager), Alan Gray (reporting to Copperman), and Matt Kendall, who would split time between the Simulation Training and Applied Research groups. (The separate Atari Games Applied Research group was to continue to design and develop display systems for use in Coin-Op, Simulation Training, and other appropriate new markets.) (source) (Jim Flack remained director of Simulation Products business development.) (Electrical Design supervisor Pat McCarthy would now report to director of electrical engineering Chris Downend (previously: to Ray)).

October 30: Atari Games and Sega of America announced a strategic alliance. Atari Games and Sega said they would manufacture and market more than 40 software products for Sega video games systems in the United States and Europe over the next two years. The games would be developed under Atari Games' Tengen software label. They would be compatible with Sega products including its Sega Master System, Genesis/Mega-Drive, and hand-held Game Gear units, plus the upcoming Sega CD/Mega-CD. Dan Van Elderen was Tengen COO.

Fall: Tengen released for Genesis (USA): Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, Pit-Fighter (Sterling Silver Software, credited as: Lee Actor and Dennis Koble)

Fall: Mindscape released Paperboy 2, title by Atari Games via Tengen, for SNES, NES (port by Eastridge Technology), and for Game Boy. (source)

Fall: Mindscape released Gauntlet II, Klax, and Marble Madness, titles by Atari Games via Tengen, for Game Boy. (source p34-35)

Fall: In Europe, Domark released Pit-Fighter, title by Atari Games via Tengen, ports by Teque London, for Atari ST, Amiga, Spectrum, Commodore 64/128, Amstrad, IBM PC

Fall: In Europe, Domark released ThunderJaws, title by Atari Games via Tengen, ports by The Kremlin, for Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64 cass & disk, Amstrad cass & disk, Spectrum

November: For the Lynx Atari Corporation shipped: Hard Drivin' (NuFX), S.T.U.N. Runner (title by Atari Games via Tengen)

November: In Japan, Konami released Rampart, title by Atari Games via Tengen Inc./Tengen Ltd., for Famicom.

December: For the Lynx Atari Corporation shipped: Tournament Cyberball, Xybots

1992
January 9-12: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, Tengen introduced or announced, for Game Gear: Marble Madness (title by Atari Games; May), Paperboy (title by Atari Games; April), Popils (previously released by Tengen Ltd. in Japan), Rampart (title by Atari Games; October; never shipped); for Genesis: Paperboy (February), Rampart (May), R.B.I. Baseball 3, R.B.I. Baseball 4 (title by Atari Games), Road Riot 4WD (title by Atari Games; September; never shipped), RoadBlasters, Steel Talons (September). (source; source) Also at the show: Atari Corporation announced Steel Talons (title by Atari Games via Tengen) for the Lynx; T•HQ announced/introduced Pit-Fighter, title by Atari Games, for SNES and Game Boy. (source)

January?: Tengen released for Genesis: R.B.I. Baseball 3, RoadBlasters (Sterling Silver Software)

February: Jaleco released Rampart, title by Atari Games via Tengen, for NES. (source)

February: Electronic Arts released Marble Madness, title by Atari Games, for Genesis.

February: For Mega Drive (Europe) Tengen released: Pac-Mania, Klax, Hard Drivin' (Sterling Silver Software) (source)

February: For Sega Master System (Europe) Tengen released: Klax, Ms. Pac-Man (source)

February 28: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released RoadBlasters (Sterling Silver Software) for Mega Drive. (source)

Winter/Spring?: For the 2600, in PAL version for Europe only, Atari Corporation shipped Klax (DeFrisco Entertainment for Axlon)

March 2: At Atari Games: Elaine Shirley, previously customer service manager, became Regional Sales Manager, responsible for the western half of the country. Jim Newlander would continue to handle the eastern half (divided roughly at the Mississippi River). (Mike Taylor remained VP sales.) Holly LaMontagne, previously of Wyse Technology (and formerly of Atari (Coin-Op) from 1974-1984 in manufacturing and inventory planning groups) returned to the company as Customer Service Manager (replacing Shirley in the role.). (source; Cash Box 4/11/92)

March: Atari Games senior staff level software engineer Ed Rotberg departed the company (to Apple Computer).

March?: Tengen released Pit-Fighter (Sterling Silver Software) for Mega Drive (Europe).

March 27: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released Pit-Fighter (Sterling Silver Software) for Mega Drive. (source)

April 1: At Atari Games, Anne Hayes was appointed as Import/ Export Manager in the newly created International Business Department. Reporting directly to Atari Games president Hide Nakajima, she would be responsible for sales in the Far East, Australia and South America, and would handle all import and export sales activities for licensed product. (source; Cash Box 4/11/92)

April 27: Tengen announced it would be the exclusive U.S. distributor of Domark Ltd. entertainment software titles for play on the Sega Genesis and Sega Game Gear video game systems. Tengen would market the products in the U.S. under the Domark brand name as part of its affiliated label program. Domark was currently serving as sales and marketing representative for Tengen titles on Sega video game systems in Europe and Australia. In addition, Domark had published Tengen video game titles, such as Hard Drivin', Pit-Fighter and the R.B.I. Baseball series, for personal computer systems in Europe since 1987. Ted Hoff was Tengen's SVP of sales and marketing. (PR)

April/May?: Tengen released Dragon's Fury (Naxat via Technosoft) for Genesis/Mega Drive (USA/Europe) (localized version of Devil Crash for Mega Drive (Japan) by Technosoft, itself a version of Devil's Crush by Naxat for TurboGrafx-16).

May: Robert W. Pittman was one person serving on the board of directors of Atari Games.

May 29-June 1: At the Summer CES in Chicago, Tengen announced Pit-Fighter II for Sega CD (Polygames; title by Atari Games; never shipped) and introduced/featured, for Genesis: MiG-29 Fighter Pilot by Domark, James Bond 007 The Duel by Domark, R.B.I. Baseball 4, Rampart, Road Riot 4WD (never shipped), Steel Talons, Race Drivin' (title by Atari Games); for Game Gear: Prince of Persia by Domark (title by Brøderbund), Super Space Invaders by Domark (title by Taito), Paperboy, Marble Madness, Rampart. (source; source) Also at the show, Electronic Arts introduced Rampart (title by Atari Games) for SNES; T•HQ introduced Race Drivin' (title by Atari Games) for SNES and Pit-Fighter for Game Boy; Jaleco introduced Cyberball and Rampart (titles by Atari Games via Tengen) for NES; Jaleco introduced Rampart (title by Atari Games) for Game Boy. Also during the show, from their suite in a nearby downtown Chicago hotel, Atari Corporation promised for Lynx for June release: Rampart (title by Atari Games via Tengen), Road Riot 4WD (title by Atari Games via Tengen; never shipped)

June: For the Lynx Atari Corporation shipped Rampart (title by Atari Games via Tengen) and Hydra (NuFX).

June: Electronic Arts released Marble Madness, title by Atari Games via Tengen, for Sega Master System.

Month?: Atari Games released (UK/Europe only) Space Pirates (45" screen) by American Laser Games. (ALG also released Gallagher's Gallery, but did Atari Games distribute it in the UK/Europe?)

Month?: In the UK, Mindscape released Paperboy 2, title by Atari Games via Tengen, for Amstrad CPC/ZX Spectrum (dual release; ports by Probe Software).

July: Atari Games released Guardians of the 'Hood Universal Kit (for JAMMA units), and released Moto Frenzy (original full-motion Deluxe version, 1-player).

Summer?: In the UK, Mindscape released Paperboy 2, title by Atari Games via Tengen, for Amiga and for Atari ST.

August: Tengen released Rampart for Genesis/Mega Drive (USA/Europe). (source)

August: Electronic Arts released Rampart (Bitmasters), title by Atari Games, for SNES and for PC.

Summer/Fall: Atari Games senior engineer Andrew Burgess departed the company (to Atari Corporation).

September 10: Mike Hally, previously an Atari Games contract employee, had re-joined Atari Games as senior game designer (Game Design Group, reporting to group head Mark Pierce).

September 10: In the copyright infringement suit brought by Nintendo of America Inc. against Atari Games Corporation and its Tengen unit (975 F.2d 832), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C. ruled that "reverse engineering" is a legitimate business practice, but that Atari Games had nevertheless infringed on Nintendo's copyrights through other actions. The federal appeals court ordered Atari Games to stop making and selling its unauthorized Tengen game cartridges for the NES, as originally ruled by the district court on March 27, 1991. (The district court's order had been stayed since April 11 1991, pending the appeal.)

September 15: Atari Games Applied Research group hardware engineer Jed Margolin departed the company.

September?: Tengen released Prince of Persia by Domark, title by Brøderbund, for Game Gear (USA distribution). (GamePro #36 Jul92 p89)

October: T•HQ released Race Drivin' (Imagineering), title by Atari Games via Tengen, for SNES.

October 30: Atari Games Corporation transferred ownership of 6 U.S. patents to Atari Corporation: 3,793,483, 4,054,919, 4,045,789, 4,016,362, 4,116,444, 4,102,532

Fall: Tengen released Steel Talons (Polygames) for Genesis/Mega Drive (USA/Europe). (source)

Fall: Tengen released Klax, title by Atari Games, and Paperboy, both for Game Gear (US and Europe).

Fall: Tengen released Popils, developed by MTJ/Tengen Ltd., for Game Gear (USA, Europe).

Fall: Accolade released Tengen's Arcade Hits by Domark, for PC and for Amiga, featuring the Tengen titles: APB (Walking Circles), Escape From the Planet of the Robot Monsters (Teque), Hard Drivin' II (Jurgen Friedrich), Klax (Teque), and Toobin' (Teque)

Fall?: In Europe, Domark released TNT 2: Double Dynamite (compilation), featuring the Tengen titles: Hydra, Skull & Crossbones, Hard Drivin' II, Badlands, and S.T.U.N. Runner, for Amiga, Atari ST

Fall?: In Europe, Domark released TNT 2: Double Dynamite (compilation), featuring the Tengen titles: Hydra, Skull & Crossbones, Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters, Badlands, and S.T.U.N. Runner, for Commodore 64 cass & disk, Amstrad cass & disk, Spectrum

November: T•HQ released Road Riot 4WD (Equilibrium), title by Atari Games via Tengen, for SNES.

November 16-20: At the fall COMDEX in Las Vegas, Atari Corporation showed/previewed four games commissioned by Atari for the Falcon030 including Steel Talons (Koveos; title by Atari Games via Tengen; would be shipped by 16/32 Systems)

November 18: Atari Corporation announced it had shipped Steel Talons (NuFX) for the Atari Lynx.

November 20: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reversed a trial judge's ruling against Atari Games and said the Copyright Office had lacked a "rational basis" for refusing to issue a copyright for the game, Breakout, to Atari Games. Breakout had been created by Atari in 1975 and released in 1976. Atari Games had sought to formally register Breakout with the US Copyright Office on Feb. 6, 1987, but the Copyright Office refused to register the copyright on the basis that the work "did not contain at least a minimum amount of original pictorial or graphic authorship, or authorship in sounds." Atari Games' move to register Breakout with the Copyright Office was necessitated by their legal action for copyright infringement against Romstar for Romstar's 1986 Breakout-like arcade game, Arkanoid by Taito.

December 1: Tengen announced a line of video game accessories that would include: A.C. Adapter for Game Boy, Genesis, SNES, Game Gear; Control Pad for Genesis, NES, SNES; Control Pad by High Frequency for Genesis, NES, SNES; Magnifier by High Frequency for Game Gear; Night Sight by High Frequency for Game Boy; Power Clip w/adaptor by High Frequency for Game Boy; Power Clip by High Frequency for Game Gear; R.F. Switch; Night Sight for Game Boy; Power Clip w/A.C. adaptor for Game Boy; Power Clip for Game Boy. Ted Hoff was Tengen's VP of sales and marketing. (PR; sec filing for titles)

December: In Europe, Domark released Pit-Fighter, title by Atari Games via Tengen, ported by The Kremlin, for Sega Master System.

December 18: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released R.B.I. Baseball 4 for Mega Drive. (source)

1993
January 7-10: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, Tengen featured/again promised MiG-29 Fighter Pilot by Domark for Genesis (Summer '93) (source; source p123), James Bond 007 The Duel by Domark for Genesis (March), James Bond 007 The Duel by Domark for Game Gear (May; never shipped by Tengen; would be shipped by Domark in Europe only), Race Drivin' for Genesis (Summer '93), Road Riot 4WD for Genesis (May; never shipped). (source p123) Also, from a nearby hotel suite showroom, Atari Corporation announced for the Atari Lynx: Relief Pitcher (title by Atari Games via Tengen; never shipped)

January: American Laser Games entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Atari Games which called for Atari Games to exclusively distribute the ALG product line throughout Europe, Australia, Japan and all of the Asian countries, with manufacturing for Europe and Australia by Atari Games Ireland Ltd. The latest ALG title, Mad Dog II: the Lost Gold (45" or conversion kit) was now available. Earlier ALG titles included: Mad Dog McCree, Who Shot Johnny Rock?, Space Pirates and Gallagher's Gallery. (Cash Box 2/20/93)

January?: Tengen released Paperboy 2 for Genesis/Mega Drive (USA/Europe). (source)

January?: Tengen released Super Space Invaders by Domark, title by Taito, for Game Gear (USA distribution). (GamePro #41 Dec92 p99)

January: AGC Simulation Products ran an advertisement for the AGC Mobile Operations Simulator (AMOS) on page 48 of the January 1993 issue of Law and Order ("The Magazine for Police Management").

January 18: In the UK, Atari Games International (UK) Inc. was registered dissolved.

January 21: Geoffrey W. Holmes, previously Time Warner Inc. SVP, became SVP, Technology (for date: DEF 14A 3/30/94), responsible for interactive multimedia throughout Time Warner (including the Quantum project at TW's New York City Cable Group, and Time Warner's interest in 3DO Inc. (17.6% owned by TW)) and also serve as chairman of Warner New Media. Atari Games, a 78 percent owned subsidiary (result of new additional investment by major shareholder TW), also reported to Holmes. Holmes would report to Time Warner Chairman and CEO Gerald M. Levin. (PR; NYT 1/28; LATimes 2/4)

March 11-13: At the American Coin Machine Exposition 1993 (ACME 1993) in Las Vegas Atari Games released Knuckle Bash by Toaplan (Universal Kit for JAMMA units).

March?: Tengen released James Bond 007 The Duel by Domark for Genesis (USA distribution). (GamePro #45 Apr93 p123)

March 24-30: At CeBIT '93 in Hanover, Germany, Atari Corporation introduced/showed games commissioned by Atari Corporation for the Falcon030 including Road Riot 4WD (Koveos; title by Atari Games via Tengen; would be shipped by 16/32 Systems).

April 2: Tengen announced the signing of Dick Vitale to a multi-year contract to develop video games designed and endorsed by the basketball announcer. The first of these games, code-named "Dick Vitale's Awesome Baby Basketball," (would ship as: Dick Vitale's "Awesome, Baby" College Hoops) was planned for release by Christmas 1993 for Genesis. Ted Hoff was Tengen's SVP of sales and marketing.

April: Atari Games hired independent consultant Dave Stubben (previously of Atari from 10/76 – 4/85) for development of a texture mapped 3-D video graphics system. (Stubben resume)

April 24: Atari Games had announced the promotion of David Smith to VP international sales (previously: sales director-international sales). Mike Nevin remained managing director of Atari Games Ireland; Hide Nakajima remained president of Atari Games. (Cash Box 4/24/93p26)

April/May?: Tengen released R.B.I. Baseball '93, title by Atari Games, for Genesis. (source)

May 1: Atari Games had announced the promotion of Bob Stewart to VP manufacturing (previously: director of manufacturing). Hide Nakajima remained president of Atari Games. (Cash Box 5/1/93p25)

May 14: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released James Bond 007 The Duel for Mega Drive. (source)

May?: Tengen released MiG-29 Fighter Pilot by Domark for Genesis (USA distribution). (GamePro #47 Jun93 p146)

May 17: U.S. District Court Judge Fern Smith issued a summary judgment in favor of Nintendo and against Atari Games, ruling that it infringed on a Nintendo patent and copyrighted program by improperly circumventing a security system intended to prevent unlicensed software developers from producing game software for play on Nintendo's home entertainment console, the NES. The Court accepted Nintendo's accusation that Atari Games had illicitly obtained details of Nintendo's security system from the US Copyright Office in 1987. Atari Games said they would appeal. The ruling set the stage for several trials to settle: Atari Games' claim that Nintendo's security system patent was invalid, Atari Games' claim that Nintendo's business violated U.S. antitrust laws, and Nintendo's claim that Atari Games' patent infringement was willful.

May 28: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released Snow Bros. Nick & Tom by Toaplan for Mega Drive. (source)

June 3-6: At the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, Tengen promoted for Sega CD: Robo Aleste (by Compile); for Genesis: Davis Cup Tennis,(Loriciel), Race Drivin', Pit-Fighter II (Polygames; title by Atari Games; never shipped), Road Riot 4WD (never shipped), Dick Vitale's "Awesome, Baby" College Hoops, Awesome Possum Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt!, Grind Stormer (title by Toaplan; original Japanese arcade title: V-V), Search for Ramses II (never shipped), Gauntlet IV (title by Atari Games), Dragon's Fury II (would ship as: Dragon's Revenge), Prince of Persia (by Domark; title by Brøderbund); for Game Gear: Paperboy 2 (title by Atari Games), Tengen World Cup Soccer (localized version of Kick & Rush by Sims), PGA Tour Golf (title by Polygames and Electronic Arts), Off the Wall (title by Atari Games; never shipped), Dragon's Fury II (never shipped). (MeanMachinesSega #10 p12,24-25,29)

May 28: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released Slap Fight MD by Toaplan for Mega Drive. (source)

June: Atari Games released World Rally by Gaelco (Universal Kit for JAMMA units).

June?: Tengen released for Game Gear: Paperboy 2 (USA; port by Manley & Associates), Tengen World Cup Soccer (USA/Europe) (source)

June?: Mindscape released Papberboy 2, title by Atari Games via Tengen, port by Manley & Associates, for PC.

June 25: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released Steel Talons (Polygames) for Mega Drive. (source)

Spring/Summer?: Atari Games laid off 25 employees (The Business Journal 4/18/94 p4), reducing its employee count from about 185 to about 160.

Months?: Atari Games released (Europe/Asia only) Crime Patrol (45" or conversion kit) by American Laser Games and Crime Patrol 2: Drug Wars (new unit or conversion kit) by American Laser Games.

Month?: Dave Menconi, previously of Three-Sixty Pacific, Inc. (and veteran of Atari, Inc. from 1981-84), joined Atari Games as a game developer / lead engineer.

Month?: Atari Games senior animator Nick Stern became acting animation dept. manager.

July 29: In a trial held before U.S. District Court Judge Fern Smith in San Francisco, an eight-person federal jury unanimously held that Nintendo's patent related to a security system, granted in 1989, was valid. Damages weren't set. Atari Games said it would appeal. The jury rejected a claim by Nintendo that Atari had infringed its packaging trademarks. At least two additional trials to settle legal disputes between the two companies remained in the works.

August 13: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released Marble Madness for Mega Drive. (source)

August: Mark Pierce, previously Atari Games Game Design Supervisor, was promoted to executive producer, VP engineering, replacing VP engineering Rich Moore who departed the company (to Capcom). (Cash Box 12/25/93 p26; source) Brad Fuller, previously Atari Games director of audio, would be promoted to director of engineering (reporting to Pierce). Director of electrical engineering Chris Downend would depart the company (to 3DO).

August/September?: Tengen released Davis Cup Tennis for Genesis (USA) / Davis Cup World Tour for Mega Drive (Europe).

September: Tengen had released Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck, by Virgin Games and Core Design, for Game Gear (USA distribution). (source)

September: CGI Graphics Producer Wayne Fielding joined Atari Games as a producer.

September 17: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released Gauntlet for Mega Drive. (source)

October: Atari Games released the Showcase 33 (universal cabinet for kits up to four players).

October: In the UK, the Guild of Experienced Motorists (GEM) teamed with Welcome Break service stations to sponsor a driving simulator (AMOS) by AGC Simulation Products that was set up in nine locations throughout the month. (TheTimes Oct 1, 1993, p41)

October: David March, previously of Startoons, Inc., joined Atari Games as an animator.

Fall: Tengen released PGA Tour Golf (title by Polygames and Electronic Arts) for Sega Master System (Europe).

November 4: Atari Games announced that they would be using the Jaguar by Atari Corporation as a board for arcade games (hardware would be known as: CoJag).

November: Tengen released Gauntlet IV for Genesis/Mega Drive (USA/Europe), released Awesome Possum Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt! for Genesis (USA), and released Formula One by Domark for Genesis (USA distribution).

November: Left Field Entertainment released Steel Talons (Panoramic), title by Atari Games via Tengen, for SNES.

November: Atari Games sr. programmer Bob Flanagan departed the company (to Electronic Arts).

November 26: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released MiG-29 Fighter Pilot for Mega Drive. (source)

December 10: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released Dragon's Revenge for Mega Drive. (source)

December: Tengen released PGA Tour Golf for Game Gear (USA/Europe), released Desert Strike by Domark for Game Gear (USA distribution), released F1 by Domark for Game Gear (USA distribution), released Dragon's Revenge for Genesis/Mega Drive (USA/Europe), and released Race Drivin' (Polygames) for Genesis (USA).

December 25: David Macias had joined Atari Games as a product manager, and Jackie Sherman had been promoted to marketing communications supervisor. Mary Fujihara remained Atari Games marketing director. (Cash Box 12/25/93 p26)

December 25: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released Awesome Possum for Mega Drive. (source)

1994
January 6-9: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, Tengen promoted for Genesis: Prince of Persia, Grind Stormer, R.B.I. Baseball '94 (title by Atari Games), Dick Vitale's "Awesome, Baby" College Hoops, Interplanetary Lizards of the Texas Plains (never shipped). (MeanMachinesSega #17 p15-16)

Winter: Robert Daley, previously a producer at Accolade, joined Atari Games as a producer.

Winter?: Atari Games released (Europe/Asia only) The Last Bounty Hunter (45" or conversion kit) by American Laser Games. Atari Games, U.K. (David Smith, VP international sales) remained at: 7 York Street, Luton, LU2 OEZ, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom. (source)

February 25: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released Davis Cup Tennis for Mega Drive. (source)

March 24: Nintendo of America and Atari Games jointly announced that they had settled all litigation between them concerning alleged patent and copyright infringements and antitrust violations. Most terms of the settlement were confidential, however, both parties announced the following: (1) All of the claims of the parties were dismissed, including judgments of patent infringement and copyright infringement previously awarded to Nintendo against Atari Games; (2) Nintendo would receive certain payments in connection with the settlement as well as certain patent licenses from Atari Games; and (3) Atari Games would again become a Nintendo licensee.

March 24: Date of Stock Purchase Agreement between Atari Corporation and Atari Games Corporation, where Atari was to issue to Atari Games an aggregate of 70,000 shares of its Common Stock in settlement of royalty payments owed by Atari to Atari Games for ports of Atari Games games to the Atari Lynx (18 titles), ST (3 titles), 7800 (5 titles), and 2600 (1 title) through December 31, 1993.

March 25: In Japan, Tengen Ltd. released V-V (title by Toaplan) for Mega Drive (same game as Tengen Grind Stormer for Genesis). (source)

Winter/Spring: Mark Pierce, previously executive producer, VP engineering, became VP product development. Lyle Rains, previously Atari Games SVP engineering (new project development), became Atari Games Chief Corporate Engineer/Senior Producer (replacing Pierce as head of engineering). (Brad Fuller remained director of engineering, now reporting to Rains.)

April 10-12: At the European Computer Trade Show at the Business Design Centre in London, Tengen showed Lawnmower Man for Mega Drive and R.B.I. Baseball '94 for Mega Drive. (source p18) Also, the three Time Warner game and multimedia units, Time Warner Interactive Group (TWIG; known as Warner New Media from 1984-1993; developer of CD-ROM titles and interactive TV applications), Atari Games Corp. (coin-operated arcade games), and Tengen Inc. (the subsidiary of Atari Games and publisher of video games for home consumer game systems) announced plans to operate under the common name, Time Warner Interactive. TW executive chairman Geoff Holmes would be chairman of the new Time Warner Interactive. Craig Moody, previously TWIG EVP, would become Time Warner Interactive EVP. Ted Hoff, previously Tengen's SVP of sales and marketing, would be Time Warner Interactive SVP-marketing and sales. Robert Sheffield, previously Atari Games VP Finance and CFO, would be Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive VP new business development. The existing TWIG headquarters in Burbank CA were expected to be the headquarters for the new TWI. Dennis Wood, senior vice president (and general counsel) of Atari Games, said the decision wouldn't cause any reductions among the combined 210 employees of Atari Games and Tengen. New products from Time Warner Interactive in 1994 were to include Tengen cartridge games R.B.I. Baseball '94, Kawasaki Super Bike Challenge and Dick Vitale's ''Awesome, Baby!'' College Hoops; and Atari Games coin-op releases Primal Rage, Metal Maniax (never shipped) and T-Mek. (PR) (SJMN 4/12) (Cash Box 4/23/94 p30) (Cash Box 6/4/94 p30)

April 18: Atari Games employed about 160; Tengen employed about 40; the former Time Warner Interactive Group employed about 70; the new Time Warner Interactive altogether employed about 270. Ted Hoff was Atari Games [Tengen] SVP marketing and sales; Dennis Wood was Atari Games SVP (and general counsel). (The Business Journal)

April 19: Pursuant to their agreement of March 24, 1994, Atari Corporation issued to Atari Games 70,000 shares of Atari Corporation Common Stock. There were now approximately 58,793,862 shares of Atari Common Stock outstanding, so Atari Games now owned 0.12% of Atari Corporation.

May 7: Atari Games remained the exclusive licensee of American Laser Games to manufacture, sell and distrbute ALG arcade games (including Mad Dog McCree, Crime Patrol, Drug Wars, and The Last Bounty Hunter, among others) throughout all of Europe and in South Africa. Atari Games International (David Smith, VP international sales) was now located at: 128 High Town Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, Lu2 ONG, United Kingdom. (Cash Box 5/7/94 p30)

May?: Atari Games engineer/game designer Ed Logg departed the company (to Electronic Arts). (source; OldSchoolGamer #19p44)

May?: Pat Pickham became the new Managing Director of Atari Games Ireland Limited (Tipperary plant), replacing Mike Nevin who departed the company (to Namco Europe Ltd).

May: Left Field Entertainment released Relief Pitcher, title by Atari Games via Tengen, for SNES.

May: Independent consultant Dave Stubben concluded his contract work for Atari Games (started April 1993). (Stubben resume)

May 23: Time Warner Interactive SVP marketing and sales Theodore M. Hoff had departed the company and had been named SVP and general manager of the new Twentieth Century Fox interactive multimedia division. (WSJ 5/23/94; Advertising Age 5/23)

May 27: A Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation was executed by Tengen VP Dan Van Elderen and Tengen secretary Dennis Wood, changing the name of Tengen Inc. to: Time Warner Interactive (California) Inc.

May/June?: Tengen released Bubba 'n' Stix by Core Design, for Genesis (USA distribution)

June 13: At the Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage CA, Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive introduced T-MEK (due in July) and Primal Rage (due August 8) to distributors. For Atari Games: David Macias was T-MEK product manager; Derryl DePriest was Primal Rage product manager; Mark Pierce was VP product development; Mary Fujihara was (newly promoted to) VP marketing; Mike Taylor was VP sales; other sales people included: Jim Newlander, Elaine Shirley, Dave (UK) Smith (David Smith, VP international sales, based in the UK). Hide Nakajima remained president of Atari Games (in Japan on medical leave); Geoff Holmes was chairman of Time Warner Interactive. (RePlay 7/94 p55-60)

June: Tengen released R.B.I. Baseball '94 for Mega Drive (Europe). (source p68)

June?: In Japan, the name of the Atari Games Corporation wholly owned subsidiary, Tengen Ltd., was changed to: K.K. Time Warner Interactive

June 22: In Chicago, Time Warner Interactive (TWi) officially unveiled its new logo at a party held the night before the Summer CES was to open. The new logo would be used by both Time Warner Interactive Inc. (based in Burbank CA; previously: Time Warner Interactive Group Inc.), which would now do business as the TWi Entertainment division, and by Time Warner Interactive (California) Inc. (TWIC; based in Milpitas CA; previously: Tengen Inc.), which would now do business as the TWi Games division. While also now considered part of Time Warner Interactive, Atari Games Corporation would continue to use the Atari Games brand and logo.

June 23-25: At the Summer CES in Chicago (the final Summer CES to be held), Time Warner Interactive (Tengen/Games) promoted Sylvester & Tweety in Cagey Capers for Genesis (title just acquired from its developer, TecMagik), Generations Lost for Genesis, Interplanetary Lizards for Genesis (never shipped), Kawasaki Super Bike Challenge for Genesis, Road Rash II (title by Electronic Arts) for Game Gear (never shipped/shipped as?: Kawasaki Super Bike Challenge), R.B.I. Baseball '94 (title by Atari Games) for Game Gear, PGA Tour Golf II (title by Polygames and Electronic Arts) for Game Gear. (MeanMachinesSega #23 p14) Time Warner Interactive (Atari Games) featured Primal Rage, T-MEK and Metal Maniax (never shipped). Geoff Holmes was chairman, Time Warner Interactive. Craig Moody, previously Time Warner Interactive EVP, was Time Warner Interactive Entertainment Division COO.

June 28: The name of Tengen Inc. was changed to: Time Warner Interactive (California) Inc. (TWIC; would do business as: Time Warner Interactive Games division)

Month?: Robert Daly, previously of Accolade, joined Time Warner Interactive (Games) as a senior producer.

Month?: American Laser Games released Fast Draw Showdown, but did Atari Games distribute it in Europe/Asia?

July 11: Passing of Atari Games Corporation president Hideyuki Nakajima. (source)

July 12: Atari Corporation announced that it had signed an agreement with the coin-operated game division of Time Warner Interactive, Inc. (dba Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive). Under the terms of the agreement, the Atari Corporation Jaguar technology engine would be made available for Time Warner Interactive arcade games, and all software titles developed on the Jaguar platform by Time Warner Interactive would also be made available on the Jaguar home video system. (PR)

August: Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive released Deluxe Showcase 33in. Primal Rage (original release). Dennis Harper was the game's producer, and Jason Leong was the game's lead animator. (Cash Box 8/27/94 p30)

August: Time Warner Interactive (Games) released Sylvester & Tweety in Cagey Capers for Genesis/Mega Drive (USA/Europe).

Summer/Fall: Time Warner Interactive (Games) released Dick Vitale's "Awesome, Baby" College Hoops for Genesis/Mega Drive (USA/Europe).

September 6: Time Warner Interactive (Games) announced Rise of the Robots, developed by Mirage, for PC CD-ROM and for PC SVGA Floppy Disk in North America, and for a total of 10 platforms in Europe. Dan Van Elderen remained president, Time Warner Interactive Games Division.

September 6: WCI Games Corporation was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Communications Inc.

September 12: In the UK, the name of Atari Overseas Services Limited was changed to: Time Warner Interactive Ltd.

September: Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive released 25in. Upright Primal Rage.

September: Masao Ohata, previously of Jaleco, joined Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive as director of international business (arcade video games; Far East and South America; reporting to VP new business development Robert Sheffield). (Cash Box 12/17/94 p30)

September 16: Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive VP operations Robert Stewart (Bob Stewart) had departed the company (and established Streak Technology, Inc.).

September 20: Date of Agreement of Merger by and between Atari Games Corporation (4,877,100 shares outstanding) and the wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Communications Inc., WCI Games Corporation (100 shares outstanding)

September 23: WCI Games Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Communications Inc. (WCI), the Atari Games Corporation majority shareholder, was merged into Atari Games Corporation. Issued and outstanding shares of Atari Games not held by WCI (21% share held by employee-owners or by the estate of former Atari Games president Hide Nakajima) were converted into the right to receive $3.75 per share in cash; shares already owned by WCI (79% share) were cancelled. Issued and outstanding common stock shares of WCI Games became common stock shares of Atari Games. Existing directors and officers of Atari Games would remain in place. Result: Atari Games became a wholly owned subsidiary of WCI, itself a unit of Time Warner Inc. Dennis Wood was Atari Games senior VP (and general counsel), Berry Kane was Atari Games assistant secretary (and associate general counsel); Peter R. Haje was WCI Games president, Marie N. White was WCI Games assistant secretary.

October: Time Warner Interactive (Games) released Battlecorps by Core Design for Sega CD.

November: Time Warner Interactive (Games) released The Lawnmower Man by SCi for Sega CD and Genesis/Mega Drive (USA/Europe), released Rise of the Robots for PC CD-ROM and for PC floppy, released Generations Lost for Genesis, released Red Zone (by Scavenger team Zyrinx) for Genesis/Mega Drive (USA/Europe), released Marko by Domark for Genesis (USA distribution), released PGA Tour Golf II for Game Gear (USA), and released R.B.I. Baseball '94 for Game Gear.

November 19: Tom Keil, previously of SNK Corporation, had joined Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive as a regional sales manager (based in Charlotte NC), joining existing regional sales managers Jim Newlander and Elaine Shirley. Mike Taylor remained VP sales. (Cash Box 11/19/94 p30)

November 21: Time Warner Interactive announced the signing of Wayne Gretzky to an exclusive three-year, multi-platform license for a line of interactive hockey products, and announced a license had been signed with The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) to provide the game with real player names, profiles and statistics. Both licenses provided that Time Warner Interactive develop and distribute for all arcade and consumer systems including upcoming CD-ROM-based platforms. Dan Van Elderen remained President of Time Warner Interactive, Games Division. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive.

November 22: In Japan, K.K. Time Warner Interactive released Tama: Adventurous Ball in Giddy Labyrinth for Saturn (launch title for Saturn in Japan).

December 3: In Japan, K.K. Time Warner Interactive released Tama: Adventurous Ball in Giddy Labyrinth for PlayStation (launch title for PlayStation in Japan).

December 5: Time Warner Interactive, Inc., Games Division announced shipment of Red Zone for Genesis. Mark Beaumont was Sr. Vice President Product Development and Marketing, Time Warner Interactive, Games Division. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive, Games Division

December 12: Time Warner Interactive, Inc., Games Division announced shipment of Generations Lost for Sega Genesis. Mark Beaumont remained Sr. Vice President, Product Development and Marketing, Time Warner Interactive, Games Division. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive.

December: Time Warner Interactive (Games) released Soul Star by Core Design for Sega CD, released Rise of the Robots for Game Gear, and released PGA Tour Golf II for Game Gear (Europe).

1995
January 6-9: During the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the Time Warner Interactive, Inc., Games Division announced and previewed at the nearby St. Tropez Hotel: Kawasaki SuperBike Challenge by Domark for Genesis, SNES, and Game Gear (all versions due March 1995), Power Drive Rally by Rage Software for Jaguar (earlier: Rage Rally; expected May 1995), Striker '95 by Rage Software for PC CD-ROM or floppy (expected April 1995), Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars for Genesis (expected April 1995; SNES, PC CD-ROM, Jaguar and arcade versions expected fall 1995), Payne Stewart Pro Golf for Genesis (expected spring 1995; never shipped), R.B.I. Baseball '95, title by Atari Games, for Sega CD and 32X (spring 1995; Sega CD version never shipped). Mark Beaumont remained SVP Product Development and Marketing, Time Warner Interactive, Games Division. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive, Games Division.

January: Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive released Primal Rage Universal Kit (for Showcase 33 units, or 2-player upright JAMMA units).

February: Time Warner Interactive (Games) released BC Racers by Core Design for Sega CD.

March: Time Warner Interactive (Games) released Mega SWIV for Mega Drive (Europe).

March 21: Time Warner Interactive, Games Division announced shipment of Kawasaki SuperBike Challenge, title by Domark, for Genesis (USA; also for Mega Drive for Europe), and Game Gear (USA distribution), with SNES version to ship June 1995. Mark Beaumont remained Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Development at Time Warner Interactive, Games Division. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive.

April 11: Time Warner Interactive, Inc., Consumer Games Division (TWi) announced Primal Rage for eleven platforms, to ship August 25, 1995 for Genesis, SNES, Game Gear, Game Boy and PC CD-ROM, and to ship November 14, 1995 for Saturn, 32X, 3DO (3DO version would be shipped by LG/Goldstar), Playstation, Jaguar, and Macintosh CD-ROM. Mark Beaumont remained Senior Vice President, Marketing and Product Development at TWi. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive, Consumer Games Div.

April 7: Geoff Holmes resigned as chairman of Time Warner Interactive. Time Warner Interactive would now be overseen by a five-member Time Warner corporate board managed by Home Box Office (HBO) EVP John K. Billock.

April 18: LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc., formerly Goldstar U.S.A., Inc., announced an agreement with Time Warner Interactive (TWi) to license Primal Rage for 3DO, due out in November 1995. Mark Beaumont remained senior vice president of marketing/product development for Time Warner Interactive.

May 8: Time Warner Interactive, Inc. (TWi) announced the appointment of Dan Van Elderen as President and Chief Operating Officer (C.O.O.) over world wide operations for the newly-consolidated Games Division, which consisted of the TWi coin-operated Arcade Games Division (dba Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive) and the TWi Consumer Games Division (Time Warner Interactive (California) Inc.). Based in Milpitas CA, the TWi Games Division employed about 400 people world-wide, including locations in New York, London, Tipperary Ireland, Paris, and Tokyo. John Billock was the Time Warner executive responsible for overseeing the recently restructured Time Warner Interactive.

May 8: Time Warner Interactive, Inc. (TWi), announced that Warner Music Group (WMG) would manufacture and distribute all of TWi's computer software beginning June 1, 1995. Warner Elektra Atlantic Corp. (WEA), a WMG company, would provide these services within the U.S. for all future computer software titles, including CD-ROM formats for IBM and compatible computers and Macintosh systems. Dan Van Elderen was President and C.O.O., TWi, Games Division. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive, Games Division.

May 11-13: At the (first-ever) Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), held the Los Angeles Convention Center, Time Warner Interactive, Inc. (TWi), Consumer Games Division promoted Primal Rage for 8 platforms, to ship August 25 for Genesis, SNES, Game Gear, Game Boy and PC CD-ROM, and to ship November 14 for Saturn, 32X, 3DO, PlayStation, Jaguar, and Macintosh CD-ROM; Power Drive Rally for Jaguar, to ship in June; T-MEK for PC CD-ROM and for 32X, both to ship in October (32X version would be shipped by Sega; PC version/USA release would be shipped by WizardWorks); V.R. Virtua Racing for Saturn, to ship in Japan in June and in the U.S. for the Saturn's launch on September 2; Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars for PC CD-ROM, Jaguar, and SNES, with the initial Genesis version to ship May 26. TWi also announced that they had signed an agreement with Prolific Publishing, Inc. for the world-wide rights to publish Return Fire (title by Silent Software) for PC CD-ROM (late fall 1995 release) and for Playstation and Saturn (early 1996 release; Saturn version never shipped). Mark Beaumont remained Senior Vice President Marketing and Product Development Time Warner Interactive, Games Division. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive Games Division.

June 1: The Time Warner Interactive Inc. Consumer Games Division announced the shipment of R.B.I. Baseball '95, title by Atari Games, for 32X, and the shipment of Super R.B.I. Baseball, title by Atari Games, for SNES. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive, Games Division.

June 12: Time Warner Interactive, Consumer Games Division (TWi) announced the shipment of Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars for Genesis/Mega Drive (USA/rest of world). An SNES version was to ship in early fall, with Jaguar and DOS CD-ROM versions following in late 1995. Mark Beaumont remained Senior Vice President Product Development and Marketing at Time Warner Interactive, Games Division. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive, Games Division.

June: Time Warner Interactive (Consumer Games) released Striker '95 by Rage Software for PC CD-ROM or floppy (both Europe only), and released Rise of the Robots for PC floppy, for Amiga, and for Game Gear (all Europe only).

Month?: Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive Chief Corporate Engineer/Senior Producer Lyle Rains departed the company (to Leisure Video Research. In 1996 he would join LBE Technology Inc.; in 1996 the company would be renamed: LBE Technologies, Inc.; in 1998 it would be renamed: Silicon Entertainment, Inc.) (Brad Fuller remained director of engineering.)

Month?: The Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive Applied Research group was shut down, and its director Rick Moncrief departed the company (to LBE Technology Inc. as VP and CTO (source); in 1996 the company would be renamed: LBE Technologies, Inc.; in 1998 it would be renamed: Silicon Entertainment, Inc.)

Month?: Rob Rowe, previously Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive video production engineer, was promoted to Senior Producer.

Month?: Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive game developer / lead engineer Dave Menconi departed the company (to Rocket Science Games).

Month?: Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive acting animation dept. manager Nick Stern departed the company (to The Learning Company).

Month?: Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive senior animator Chuck Eyler departed the company (to Electronic Arts/Sims).

July: Time Warner Interactive (Consumer Games) released Striker '95 by Rage Software for PC CD-ROM (rest of world).

July: Masao Ohata was promoted to Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive VP new business development, replacing Robert Sheffield who departed the company (consultancy; he would join Asante Technologies, Inc. in March 1996).

August 1-24: A preview version of Primal Rage by Time Warner Interactive (Consumer Games) was offered on Sega Channel (for Genesis).

August 4?: In Japan, K.K. Time Warner Interactive released Race Drivin', title by Atari Games, for Saturn.

August 25: "Primal Rage Day." Time Warner Interactive, Consumer Games Division (TWi) announced the release of Primal Rage for Genesis (USA), SNES, Game Gear, Game Boy, and PC CD-ROM. A full version of the Sega Genesis game was available over the Sega Channel for 24 hours. November 14 was the scheduled release date for Primal Rage for Saturn, 32X, 3DO, Playstation, Jaguar, and Macintosh CD-ROM. Mark Beaumont remained Senior Vice President Marketing and Product Development. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager, of Time Warner Interactive, Consumer Games Division.

August 26: Time Warner Interactive Primal Rage "Show Down" Promotion, where a special version of the game could be accessed by Sega Channel subscribers for a chance to play and win prizes. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive.

September: Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive released Hoop It Up (redemption / non-video).

September: Time Warner Interactive (Consumer Games) released Primal Rage for PC CD-ROM (USA & rest of world), for Game Boy (rest of world), and for Mega Drive (rest of world).

September 16: Time Warner Interactive's "National 'Primal Rage' Video-Game Tournament" held at Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington, Texas; property managed by another unit of Time Warner)

October: Time Warner Interactive Inc., otherwise known as the TWi Entertainment division located in Burbank CA, along with another Time Warner unit, WarnerActive, would be rolled into a third Time Warner unit, Inscape, a CD-ROM joint venture created by Home Box Office, Warner Music Group and Nash New Media. Atari Games Corporation and its Time Warner Interactive (California) subsidiary, together known as the TWi Games division (with about 300 employees in Milpitas CA), would continue to do business as Time Warner Interactive.

October 9: Time Warner Interactive (TWi) announced the release of Power Drive Rally for Jaguar. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager, of Time Warner Interactive.

November 6: Time Warner Interactive announced the release of V.R. Virtua Racing, title by Sega, for Saturn (USA and rest of world). Mark Beaumont remained Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Development at TWi.

November 8: Time Warner Interactive (TWi) announced the imminent release of Last Gladiators Digital Pinball, licensed from KAZe of Japan, for Saturn. Mark Beaumont remained Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Development at TWi. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive.

November 13: Time Warner Interactive (TWi) announced the promotion of Stephen Wahid to Director of Product Development for the company's European operation located in Manchester, England. Dan Van Elderen remained President and C.O.O. of Time Warner Interactive.

November: Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive released Area 51, developed by Mesa Logic (33" Showcase, 25", and OEM Kit versions) (incorporating CoJag hardware based on Jaguar by Atari Corporation).

November: Sega released T-MEK by Time Warner Interactive, title by Atari Games, conversion by BITS, for 32X. (source; source for date)

November 1?: Ed Logg, previously of Electronic Arts (and veteran of Atari, Inc. (Coin-Op) and Atari Games from 1978-1994), was hired by Time Warner Interactive (Consumer Games) as a programmer (specifically to port the upcoming coin-op game, The NHLPA & NHL Present Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey, to the upcoming N64). (source)

November 20: Time Warner Interactive (TWi) announced the imminent release in North America of Zero Divide, developed by Zoom in Japan, for PlayStation. Mark Beaumont remained Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Development for TWi.

December 4: Nintendo of America annoucned that Time Warner Interactive would release a 3-D hockey game starring Wayne Gretzky for Nintendo Ultra 64 in the fall of 1996. The game would be based on Time Warner Interactive's coin-op hockey game to be launched in arcades during spring 1996. Dan Van Elderen remained president of Time Warner Interactive.

December: Time Warner Interactive released Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars for SNES, released Kawasaki Superbike Challenge for SNES, released Last Gladiators Digital Pinball for Saturn.

December 12: Time Warner Interactive (TWi) announced the release of Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars for PC CD-ROM. (The Genesis and SNES versions were released previously.) Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive.

December 13: The Wall Street Journal reported that Time Warner wanted to sell Time Warner Interactive (Atari Games Corporation, both Arcade Games and Consumer Games divisions).

December 19: Time Warner Interactive announced the release of Primal Rage for PlayStation, and that the Jaguar version would ship on December 21. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of Time Warner Interactive.

December 19: Time Warner Interactive (TWi) announced the release in the U.S. of Zero Divide by Zoom for PlayStation. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Manager of TWi.

December 20: Time Warner Interactive (TWi) donated $15,000 worth of Sylvester and Tweety Bird stuffed animals to CityTeam Ministries. Dan Van Elderen remained TWi's President and Chief Operating Officer.

1996
Winter: Time Warner Interactive released T-MEK, title by Atari Games, conversion by BITS, for PC CD-ROM (Europe).

Winter: Time Warner Interactive released Return Fire by Silent Software, co-produced by Prolific Publishing, licensed to Time Warner Interactive, for PlayStation (USA). (source)

February 12: At the 93rd American International Toy Fair in New York, Playmates Toys introduced its line of "Primal Rage" action figures, properties liceised from Time Warner Interactive. Other Primal Rage licensed products would include: handheld games from Tiger Electronics, novels from Berkley Books, comic books from Sirius Entertainment, apparel from SeaBell and Logotel, watches from Innovative Time, children's footwear from Foot-Tec Industries, and pre-paid phone cards from GTI Telecom. Derryl DePriest was TWi Product Manager. Tracy Egan was Public Relations Director of Time Warner Interactive.

February: Atari Games/Time Warner Interactive released Area 51 Universal Kit (Conversion Kit for Two-Player Upright Games), developed by Mesa Logic.

February 15: WMS Industries established the wholly owned subsidiary, Williams Interactive Inc.

February 23: Warner Communications agreed to sell all of the outstanding stock of Atari Games (dba Time Warner Interactive) to Williams Interactive Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WMS Industries, Inc.

March 5: WMS Industries Inc. announced that one of its affiliates (Williams Interactive Inc.) had entered into an agreement to acquire Atari Games Corporation (dba Time Warner Interactive), the indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Neil D. Nicastro, President and Co-CEO of WMS Industries, became Chairman and CEO of Atari Games. Louis J. Nicastro was Chairman and Co-CEO of WMS Industries.

At Atari Games: Dan Van Elderen remained president and COO; SVP and general counsel Dennis Wood departed the company. Steve Calfee, previously VP product development (Consumer Games), would be VP New Technology (replacement for the departed Lyle Rains). Mark Pierce would be SVP product development (coin games). Bill Hindorff, previously senior programmer (Consumer Games), would be VP product development (Consumer Games) (replacing Calfee in the role). The AGC Simulation Products division would be shut down, and Director of Simulation Products Jim Flack would depart the company. John Ray, previously Engineering Director for the AGC Simulation Products group, would become engineering director / Sr. Staff Producer (reporting to Calfee), replacing director of engineering Brad Fuller who departed the company. (source 58.20) (The AGC Simulation Products technology, including the AGC Mobile Operations Simulator (AMOS), would be sold to Doron Precision Systems, Inc.)

Domestic Atari Games manufacturing would shift from California (735 Sycamore Dr, Milpitas) to the Williams Electronics Games (fellow subsidiary of WMS) plant in Waukegan, Illinois. Atari Games offices and engineering would remain at 675 Sycamore Dr., Milpitas CA.

April: David O'Riva, previously of Bitmasters (and before that with Tengen from 1988-1990), re-joined Atari Games as a software engineer.

April 23: GT Interactive Software Corp. announced that GT Interactive and WMS Industries, Inc. had entered into agreements whereby GT Interactive had obtained exclusive options to publish a variety of PC and 32- and 64-bit next-generation games system versions of Atari titles. Separately, GT Interactive and WMS had also expanded the territories of their existing agreements whereby GT Interactive had secured options to PC versions of a variety of WMS' coin-operated video games and WMS' 32- and 64-bit products to include Japan. Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed. Under the agreements, GT Interactive expected to publish its first WMS-licensed Atari title later in 1996. Area 51, T-Mek and Return Fire were among the titles GT Interactive were expected to option from WMS.

May: Atari Games hardware designer Pat McCarthy departed the company (to Winnov).

May 16-18: At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Williams Entertainment introduced 12 new video game titles, including Area 51, title by Atari Games, for Saturn and PlayStation, as Williams welcomed Atari Games Corporation into the company mix. Byron Cook was President of Williams Entertainment.

June 6-9: At the '96 Tokyo Toy Show, K.K. Time Warner Interactive introduced Shinrei Jusatsushi Tarōmaru for Saturn. (EGM#85 p51)

June: Steve Ritchie, previously of Williams/Bally-Midway (and with Atari from 1974-1978), joined Atari Games as senior staff producer. (RePlay 7/97 pA63)

June: Atari Games associate general counsel Berry Kane departed the company.

June?: GT Interactive Software Corp. released Return Fire by Williams Entertainment, title by Silent Software, co-produced by Prolific Publishing, licensed to Atari Games, for PC CD-ROM (USA).

June?: In Europe, Warner Interactive released Return Fire by Silent Software, co-produced by Prolific Publishing, licensed to Time Warner Interactive, for PlayStation and for PC CD-ROM. (source for date)

June 21: GT Interactive Software Corp had confirmed it had acquired The WizardWorks Group (WizardWorks, CompuWorks, MacSoft).

June 26: Neil Nicastro became (sole) CEO, and remained president, of WMS Industries. Louis Nicastro remained chairman of WMS Industries.

June 28: In Japan, K.K. Time Warner Interactive released Race Drivin' a Go! Go!, title by Atari Games, for PlayStation.

Month?: Atari Games Senior Staff Producer Dennis Harper departed the company (to THQ).

Month?: Atari Games animnator David March departed the company (to The Learning Company).

Month?: Atari Games artist Sharon Plotkin departed the comapny (to 3DO).

July 1: WMS Industries transferred 100% of the stock of Midway Interactive Inc. (formerly Williams Interactive Inc.), including wholly owned Atari Games Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Atari Games Ireland Limited, Time Warner Interactive (California) Inc. (the former Tengen Inc.), and K.K. Time Warner Interactive (Japan) (the former Tengen Ltd.), to the WMS Industries subsidiary, Midway Games, Inc.

Additionally, WMS Industries transferred out of its Midway Games subsidiary all of the operating assets and liabilities relating to the Bally pinball business previously conducted by Midway Games; WMS Industries transferred the coin-operated video game operating assets and liabilities not previously part of Midway Games from other WMS Industries subsidiaries in to Midway Games; and, WMS Industries transferred 100% of the stock of Midway Home Entertainment Inc. (formerly Williams Entertainment Inc.) in to Midway Games.

Neil Nicastro was President and Co-CEO of Midway Games. Louis Nicastro was Chairman and Co-CEO of Midway Games. Dan Van Elderen remained president/COO of Atari Games.

July 26: Neil Nicastro became chairman and (sole) CEO, and also remained president, of Midway Games.

August 21: A Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation of Time Warner Interactive (California) Inc. was executed by VP finance and treasurer Harold H. Bach, Jr. and VP and secretary Barbara M. Norman, changing the name of the company to: Tengen, Inc.

September 10: The name of Time Warner Interactive (California) Inc. (the wholly own subsidiary of Atari Games Corporation) was changed to: Tengen, Inc. (There were no new plans to use the Tengen brand, however.)

September 11: GT Interactive Software Corp. announced Area 51 by Williams Entertainment, title by Atari Games, for PC, to ship fall 1996.

September?: WizardWorks (the subsidiary of GT Interactive) announced T-MEK by Williams Entertainment, title by Atari Games, for PC. (source)

October 14: 3Dfx Interactive announced that The NHLPA & NHL Present Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey, developed by Atari Games, would run on 3Dfx Interactive's graphics accelerator, Voodoo Graphics, a first for Atari Games.

October: Atari Games released The NHLPA & NHL Present Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey (new unit, or Universal Kit for JAMMA units). Robert Daly was the game's producer; Mary Fujihara was Atari Games VP marketing. (Cash Box)

October 16: Effective date of the change of name of Atari Games Ireland Limited to Namco Ireland Limited.

October 18: Media report that Atari Games Ireland Limited, the Atari Games European manufacturing facility in Tipperary, Ireland, in operation since it had been established by Atari, Inc. back in 1978, had been purchased from WMS by Namco Ltd. Atari Games would contract with Namco to continue to supply the Atari Games product to Europe on its behalf. 50 people were employed at the plant. (The Irish Times 10/18/96 supp p4)

October 20: Midway Games completed an Initial Public Offering of 5,100,000 common shares of stock at $20.00/share, for $93,700,000. Parent company WMS Industries still held 33,400,000 common shares, or 86.8%, of Midway Games.

November 4: 3Dfx Interactive announced that Atari Games' new arcade game, San Francisco RUSH Extreme Racing, was developed based on its 3D graphics accelerator Voodoo Graphics. Mary Fujihara was Atari Games VP marketing.

November 14?: Midway Home Entertainment released The NHLPA & NHL Present Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey developed by Atari Games for N64.

November/December: Midway Home Entertainment released Area 51, title by Atari Games, conversions by Tantalus and Perfect Entertainment, for PlayStation and for Saturn.

November/December: GT Interactive released Area 51 by Midway, title by Atari Games, conversion by Tantalus and Perfect Entertainment, for PC CD-ROM.

December: Atari Games released San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing.

December 20?: Midway Home Entertainment released Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Atari Collection 1, compilation by Atari Games, developed by Digital Eclipse, for PlayStation, featuring: Asteroids, Battlezone, Centipede, Missile Command, Super Breakout, and Tempest (all properties licensed from Atari Corporation).

1997
January 15: Namco registered the name change of its newly-acquired Atari Games Ireland Limited subsidiary to: Namco Ireland Limited

January 17: In Japan, K.K. Time Warner Interactive released Shinrei Jusatsushi Tarōmaru for Saturn.

March: Atari Games released Maximum Force (Showcase 39") developed by Mesa Logic (incorporating CoJag hardware based on Jaguar by Atari Corporation).

April 15: Agreement between Midway Interactive (formerly Williams Interactive) and Warner Communications settling final terms of the purchase of Atari Games as originally agreed on 2/23/96 and executed on 3/29/96.

April: Atari Games released Maximum Force (Standard 25") developed by Mesa Logic (incorporating CoJag hardware based on Jaguar by Atari Corporation).

April 28: MultiGen, Inc., announced that MultiGen's family of tools was a core technology of Atari Games and their new PC game, San Francisco RUSH Extreme Racing. SF RUSH had been available in arcades since November 1996 and was to be released for the PC and Playstation in third quarter 1997. (It was never released for PC.)

May: Atari Games released Mace: The Dark Age (original 25" Dedicated Game release).

May?: WizardWorks (the subsidiary of GT Interactive) released T-MEK by Midway, title by Atari Games, conversion by BITS, for PC CD-ROM (USA). (source for date)

June 16: Atari Games released Mace: The Dark Age (Universal Kit).

June 19-21: At E3 in Atlanta, Midway Home Entertainment introduced Mace: The Dark Age for the Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation; never shipped on PlayStation (due Sept 97), Maximum Force for Sony PlayStation (due Sept 97), and The NHLPA & NHL Present Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98 for the Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation (due Nov 97).

Month?: Atari Games product manager David Macias departed the company (to Sun Microsystems).

July 14?: Midway Home Entertainment released Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Atari Collection 1, compilation by Atari Games, developed by Digital Eclipse, for Saturn, featuring: Asteroids, Battlezone, Centipede, Missile Command, Super Breakout, and Tempest (all properties licensed from Atari Corporation).

July: At Atari Games: Dan Van Elderen remained president, Mary Fujihara remained VP marketing, Mark Pierce remained SVP product development / executive producer, Masao Ohata remained VP international business, Mike Taylor remained VP sales (domestic), Steve Calfee remained VP new technology (electrical and software engineering), Peter Takaichi remained design services director, Elaine Shirley remained regional sales manager (Dallas TX), Tom Keil remained Eastern regional sales manager (Charlotte NC), Rob Rowe remained senior producer, Steve Ritchie remained senior staff producer, and Al Vernon remained a customer service representative. Atari Games employed about 160, including about 100 in coin-op product development, 20 in consumer product development, and 40 divided evenly over marketing, sales, finance, administration, and customer service. (RePlay 7/97)

July 29: In the UK, Time Warner Interactive Ltd. (the former Atari Overseas Services Limited) was dissolved.

August?: Midway Home Entertainment released Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Atari Collection 1, compilation by Atari Games, developed by Digital Eclipse, for SNES, featuring: Asteroids, Battlezone, Centipede, Missile Command, Super Breakout, and Tempest (all properties licensed from Atari Corporation).

August: Atari Games producer Wayne Fielding departed the company (to Diva).

August: Atari Games senior programmer Norm Avellar departed the company.

August: Atari Games released Maximum Force (Universal kit for JAMMA units).

September 26: Midway Games Inc. wholly owned subsidiaries included Atari Games Corporation and its two wholly owned subsidiaries, Tengen, Inc. and K.K. Time Warner Interactive (Japan). (source)

October 1?: Midway Home Entertainment released Mace: The Dark Age developed by Atari Games for N64.

October: Atari Games released San Francisco Rush the Rock: Alcatraz Edition (new unit).

October/November?: In Japan, the Atari Games Corporation wholly owned subsidiary K.K. Time Warner Interactive was dissolved.

November 8?: Midway Home Entertainment released San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing developed by Atari Games for N64.

November: Atari Games released San Francisco Rush the Rock: Alcatraz Edition (conversion kit for San Francisco Rush units).

November 17?: Midway Home Entertainment released Maximum Force by Atari Games, developed by Mesa Logic, converted by Perfect Entertainment, for PlayStation and for Saturn.

December: Midway Home Entertainment released The NHL & NHLPA Present Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98 by Atari Games for N64 and for PlayStation.

December 16: At Tengen, Inc., Neil D. Nicastro remained CEO and sole director, Orrin J. Edidin remained VP and secretary, and Joseph (Mickey) Lynch remained CFO. The unit's official address remained 625 Sycamore Drive, Milpitas CA.

1998
January: Atari Games VP New Technology Steve Calfee departed the company. (John Ray remained engineering director / Sr. Staff Producer.)

February 10: Midway Home Entertainment announced the February 18, 1998 release of Olympic Hockey Nagano '98 by Atari Games for N64. Byron Cook was president of Midway Home Entertainment.

February: Atari Games released the Area 51/Maximum Force Duo Kit (Universal kit for JAMMA units, including Area 51 and Maximum Force units) developed by Mesa Logic (incorporating CoJag hardware based on Jaguar by Atari Corporation).

February: Atari Games released Surf Planet by Gaelco (Universal Kit).

March: Atari Games released California Speed (Deluxe 33", Classic 25", OEM Kit, 25" Kit, and 33" Kit versions)

April 1: Midway Home Entertainment announced the release of Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Atari Collection 2, compilation by Atari Games, developed by Digital Eclipse, for PlayStation (USA), featuring Millipede (title licensed from Atari Corporation), Crystal Castles (title licensed from Atari Corporation), and the Atari Games titles: Paperboy, Gauntlet, RoadBlasters, Marble Madness

April 6: Midway Home Entertainment announced the release of San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing developed by Atari Games, ported by Climax Development, for PlayStation.

April 6: WMS Industries completed its spin off to shareholders of its entire stake of Midway Games, making Midway Games, Inc. an independent entity. Atari Games remained a division of Midway Games. Neil Nicastro continued as chairman, president, and CEO of Midway Games. Dan Van Elderen continued as president/COO of Atari Games.

May 28-30: Midway Home Entertainment exhibited at the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) in Atlanta.

June 2: Midway Home Entertainment's announced Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA for N64 and PC, to ship winter 1998/99.

June: Atari Games released Radikal Bikers by Gaelco.

June: GT Interactive Software Corp. released Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Atari Collection 2 by Midway, compilation by Atari Games, developed by Digital Eclipse, for PlayStation (Europe), featuring Millipede (title licensed from Atari Corporation), Crystal Castles (title licensed from Atari Corporation), and the Atari Games titles: Paperboy, Gauntlet, RoadBlasters, Marble Madness

July: Atari Games released Vapor TRX developed by Blue Shift.

September 28: Quantum3D announced the release of the Raven 3D/2D graphics accelerator by Quantum3D for PC, bundled with three games for PC: NFL Blitz by Midway Home Entertainment, San Francisco Rush the Rock: Alcatraz Edition by Midway Home Entertainment (title by Atari Games), and GEX: Enter the Gecko by Crystal Dynamics.

October 4: Cyrix Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Semiconductor Corporation, announced that Atari Games Corporation had designed the MMX-enhanced MediaGX processor into a new video arcade game, Site4. Mary Fujihara was VP marketing for Atari Games.

September: Atari Games released Area 51 Site 4 developed by Mesa Logic (Showcase 39" or Standard 25" versions).

September: Atari Games marketing communications manager Jackie Sherman departed the company (to NCS Learn/Pearson Education/Computer Curriculum).

October: Atari Games released Gauntlet Legends (Deluxe Showcase 39" or Showcase 27" versions).

October: At Tengen, Inc., Neil D. Nicastro remained CEO and sole director, Orrin J. Edidin remained VP and secretary, and Joseph (Mickey) Lynch remained CFO. The unit's official address remained 625 Sycamore Drive, Milpitas CA.

November 10?: Midway Home Entertainment released Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA developed by Atari Games for N64.

December: Atari Games released the Area 51 Site 4 conversion kit developed by Mesa Logic.

1999
Winter: Midway Home Entertainment released Arcade's Greatest Hits: The Atari Collection 2, compilation by Atari Games, developed by Digital Eclipse, for PC, featuring the Atari Games titles: Paperboy, Gauntlet, RoadBlasters, 720°, Marble Madness, Vindicators

February: Atari Games released War: Final Assault.

March 4: Midway Home Entertainment announced the release of 720˚, title by Atari Games, converted by Digital Eclipse, for Game Boy Color.

March 17: Midway Home Entertainment announced the release of California Speed, developed by Atari Games, for N64.

March 17: Atari Games and Sega Enterprises announced that they had entered a patent cross-license agreement. For undisclosed financial terms, Atari Games had granted Sega Enterprises a worldwide non-exclusive license to its force feedback steering technology for use in Sega's arcade games and Sega's home video game systems. Sega had also granted Atari Games a non-exclusive worldwide license to its "viewpoint changeover" technology. Mary Fujihara was Atari Games VP Marketing.

April 1: Midway Home Entertainment announced the release of KLAX, developed by Digital Eclipse, title by Atari Games, for Game Boy Color (the first Game Boy title incompatible with the original Game Boy).

April: Atari Games released the Gauntlet Legends conversion kit.

April: Atari Games Marketing VP Mary Fujihara departed the company.

April: Derryl DePriest, previously Atari Games senior product marketing manager, became a Midway Games senior product marketing manager.

May 13-15: At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, Midway Home Entertainment introduced Paperboy, title by Atari Games, for N64 and PlayStation, to ship fall 1999, and for Game Boy Color, to ship May 1999; and also introduced Gauntlet Legends, title by Atari Games, for N64 and PlayStation, to ship fall 1999.

May: Atari Games released Road Burners.

May: Atari Games VP product development (consumer games) Bill Hindorff departed the company (to 3DO).

May 21: Namco Ireland Limited (the former Atari Games Ireland Limited) announced the closure of the manufacturing plant at Tipperary.

June: Atari Games released the War: Final Assault conversion kit.

June 25: Atari Games announced San Francisco Rush 2049.

June 30: A Certificate of Dissolution of Tengen, Inc. was executed by Tengen sole director, chairman and CEO Neil D. Nicastro. Tengen intellectual property rights would be inherited by Tengen's corporate parent, Atari Games Corporation.

Month?: Atari Games software engineer David Akers departed the company.

Month?: Atari Games senior producer Rob Daly departed the company (to Digital Eclipse).

August: Atari Games released San Francisco Rush 2049.

Summer/Fall?: Atari Games VP sales Mike Taylor departed the company (to Global VR).

September: Midway Home Entertainment released Gauntlet Legends developed by Atari Games for N64.

September 22: The Tengen, Inc. subsidiary of Atari Games was dissolved.

November 4: Midway Home Entertainment announced the release of Paperboy, developed by High Voltage Software, title by Atari Games, for N64.

November 17?: Midway Home Entertainment released Arcade Party Pak, developed by Digital Eclipse, for PlayStation, featuring Rampage, Smash TV, and the Atari Games titles: 720°, KLAX, Toobin', Super Sprint

November 19: Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation executed for Atari Games Corporation by CEO Neil D. Nicastro and secretary Orrin J. Edidin, changing the name of the company to: Midway Games West Inc. Use of the Atari Games brand would be discontinued, in favor of the Midway brand. The number of outstanding shares of the company was 100.

Midway Games West Inc.

2000
Winter: Midway Games released Gauntlet: Dark Legacy by Midway Games West (25" or 39" Game Cabinet versions), and released Skins Game developed by Midway Games West.

February 28: Midway Games West announced that Mark Beaumont had joined the company as Senior Vice President, Business Development. He was most recently Executive Vice President and General Manager of Psygnosis U.S.

March 30: Midway Home Entertainment released Gauntlet Legends by Midway Games West for PlayStation.

April: Midway Games West Senior VP Product Development / executive producer Mark Pierce departed the company. (Pierce would establish Super Happy Fun Fun Inc. in June 2000.)

April: Midway Games West programmer Bruce Rogers departed the company (and would co-found Cryptic Studios, Inc. on 6/9/2000).

May 11-13: At Electronic Entertainment Expo 2000 (E3), Midway Games introduced Gauntlet Legends for Dreamcast, and introduced San Francisco Rush 2049 (N64, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color), Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Volumes 1 & 2 (volume 2 games: Gauntlet, Paperboy, 720°, Spy Hunter, Moon Patrol, Rampage), Toobin' (Game Boy Color). Coin-Op games featured included, each by Midway Games West: San Fransicso Rush 2049, Skins Game, Gauntlet Dark Legacy

May 18: Midway Home Entertainment released Toobin' by Midway Games West, developed by Digital Eclipse, for Game Boy Color.

June 6: Midway Home Entertainment released Gauntlet Legends developed by Midway Games West for Dreamcast.

Spring/Summer?: Midway Games released the Gauntlet: Dark Legacy conversion kit developed by Midway Games West (for Gauntlet Legends and JAMMA units).

July: Midway Games West Senior Staff Engineer Mike Albaugh, with Atari since March 1976, departed the company.

September 5: Midway Home Entertainment released San Francisco Rush 2049 developed by Midway Games West for N64, for DreamCast, and for Game Boy Color (GBC conversion by Hand Held Games).

September: Midway Games West Senior Staff Producer Steve Ritchie departed the company.

2001
January: Midway Games West vice president of international business (outside the Americas and Europe) Masao Ohata departed the company.

March 6: Midway Games reduced its coin-operated video game work force by approximately 60 employees.

Winter/Spring?: Team Play released the coin-operated Classic Arcade Centipede/Missile Command/Millipede (25" upright) developed by Cosmodog; titles by Infogrames Interactive, Inc., used under license from Midway Games West, Inc.

May 1: Midway Home Entertainment released Gauntlet Dark Legacy by Midway Games West for PS2.

May 17-19: At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Midway Games featured Gauntlet Dark Legacy, title by Midway Games West, for PS2, and previewed Area 51, title by Midway Games West, for PS2.

June 22: Midway Games announced its exit from the coin-operated arcade video game market; it would now develop and publish software exclusively for home systems through its subsidiary, Midway Home Entertainment. As a result of the decision, Midway Games West canceled all development work on new coin-operated games (including Hot Rod Rebels), but would continue operations as a development studio for Midway Home Entertainment.

August 23: HyperWare, Inc. announced the upcoming release of the Midway Smash Pack 1 gamepack (would ship as: Midway Smash Pack add-on game pack) for UltraCade, featuring the 8 games: Asteroids, Defender, Defender II, Joust, KLAX, Robotron: 2084, Tapper, Toobin' (source)

September: Midway Games West senior / lead animator Hector Fajardo departed the company (to Z-Axis).

September 18: Midway Games announced several syndication agreements whereby it would license classic videogames for play on a variety of emerging gaming mediums, including websites, handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones and interactive television. Companies signed into licensing agreements with Midway included iWon, Heavy, RuneCraft, Index, Pocket Express, Terra Mobile-iobox

October 1: Happ Controls acquired assets of Midway Amusement Games' Midway and Atari Games coin-operated videogame parts and service business, and assumed warranty repair operations and all warranty obligations. See http://www.happcontrols.com/midway/midway.htm

November 15?: Midway Home Entertainment released Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits 2 for Dreamcast, featuring: Gauntlet, Paperboy, 720°, Spy Hunter, Moon Patrol, Rampage

2002
January 30: Midway Games announced that Mark Beaumont had been promoted from his position at the helm of Midway Games West to the position of Senior Vice President - Publishing for Midway Games.

February: Midway Games West software engineer David O'Riva departed the company.

March 5: Midway Home Entertainment released Gauntlet Dark Legacy by Midway Games West, converted by Big Ape Productions, for GameCube.

April 23: Midway Home Entertainment released Gauntlet Dark Legacy by Midway Games West, converted by Big Ape Productions, for Xbox.

May 22-24: At E3 in Los Angeles, Midway Games announced Dr. Muto by Midway Games West for PS2, Xbox, and GameCube, Nitrocity developed by Midway Games West (never shipped), and Gladiator: The Crimson Reign developed by Midway Games West (never shipped) for PS2, Xbox, and GameCube.

Month?: Midway Games West game producer/designer Mike Hally departed the company.

August 2: Midway Games announced that a re-make of Area 51 by Midway Games West for PS2, Xbox, and GameCube (never shipped for GameCube), was in development in collaboration with Stan Winston Studio.

October: Midway Games West engineering director / Sr. Staff Producer John Ray departed the company.

October/November: Team Play released the coin-operated Retrocade Centipede/Millipede/Missile Command/Let's Go Bowling (25" upright, 19" Cabaret, or Kit), developed by Cosmodog; Centipede/Millipede/Missile Command titles by Infogrames Interactive, Inc., used under license from Midway Games West, Inc. (new game Let's Go Bowling developed by Cosmodog)

November 11: Midway Home Entertainment released Dr. Muto by Midway Games West for PS2 and for Xbox.

November: Midway Games West Producer / Sr. Composer / Sr. Sound Designer Don Diekneite departed the company (to Sonaural).

November 25: Midway Home Entertainment released Gauntlet Dark Legacy by Midway Games West for Game Boy Advance.

December 17: Midway Home Entertainment released Dr. Muto by Midway Games West for GameCube.

2003
January: Midway Home Entertainment released Dr. Muto by Midway Games West for Game Boy Advance.

February 7: Product development at Midway Games West (including previously announced titles Nitrocity and Gladiator: The Crimson Reign) was halted, the remaining 30 employees at the unit (including: President and COO Dan Van Elderen (with Atari since 12/5/74); programmer Ed Logg (with Atari 1978-94 and since 1995); programmer Dave Shepperd (with Atari since 2/2/76) would be let go, and the Midway Games West office at 675 Sycamore Dr., Milpitas CA would be closed.

May 7: Midway Games announced that David F. Zucker had been named CEO and president. Zucker would succeed Neil D. Nicastro, Midway's chairman who also stepped down as COO. Nicastro would continue as chairman of Midway's board of directors. Zucker joined Midway from Playboy Enterprises, Inc., where he was president and COO.

May 14-16: Midway Games exhibited at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Month?: Team Play released Retrocade Classic Edition: Centipede/Missile Command/Millipede/Let's Go Bowling (25" Upright, 19" Cabaret, or Kit), developed by Cosmodog, 1st three properties by Atari Interactive via Infogrames Interactive, used under license from Midway Games West. ("Bonus Game" Let's Go Bowling developed by Cosmodog)

July 3: Midway Games announced Midway Arcade Treasures, to ship in fall 2003.

July 11: Midway Games announced that the previously-announced re-make of Midway Games West's Area 51 for PS2 and Xbox was to ship in 2004.

Summer: UltraCade Technologies released the Trackball Classics Add-On Game Pack for UltraCade, featuring: Centipede, Crystal Castles, Gimme a Break, Marble Madness, Millipede, Missile Command, Quantum, Rampart, Tempest, Tempest Tubes (source; source)

September 9: Midway Games announced that Chris Vrenna would score the music for the re-make of Midway Games West's Area 51, to ship in 2004 for PS2 and Xbox.

November 18: Midway Home Entertainment announced the release of Midway Arcade Treasures (1), developed by Digital Eclipse, for PlayStation 2, featuring: Spy Hunter, Defender, Defender II, Gauntlet, Joust, Joust 2, Paperboy, Rampage, Robotron 2084, Smash TV, Bubbles, RoadBlasters, Blaster, Rampart, Sinistar, Super Sprint, Marble Madness, 720°, Toobin', KLAX, SPLAT!, Satan's Hollow, Vindicators, Root Beer Tapper

November 24: Midway Home Entertainment released Midway Arcade Treasures (1), developed by Digital Eclipse, for Xbox, featuring: Spy Hunter, Defender, Defender II, Gauntlet, Joust, Joust 2, Paperboy, Rampage, Robotron 2084, Smash TV, Bubbles, RoadBlasters, Blaster, Rampart, Sinistar, Super Sprint, Marble Madness, 720°, Toobin', KLAX, SPLAT!, Satan's Hollow, Vindicators, Root Beer Tapper

December 17: Midway Home Entertainment released Midway Arcade Treasures (1), developed by Digital Eclipse, for GameCube, featuring: Spy Hunter, Defender, Defender II, Gauntlet, Joust, Joust 2, Paperboy, Rampage, Robotron 2084, Smash TV, Bubbles, RoadBlasters, Blaster, Rampart, Sinistar, Super Sprint, Marble Madness, 720°, Toobin', KLAX, SPLAT!, Satan's Hollow, Vindicators, Root Beer Tapper

2004
February 16: JAKKS Pacific announced that the company had signed a worldwide licensing agreement with Midway to produce a version of JAKKS' TV Games based on classic Midway titles, including the Midway Games West titles: Paperboy, Marble Madness, Super Sprint. (Jakks Pacific Midway Mortal Kombat shipped only)

April 26: Midway Games announced Midway Arcade Treasures 2, to ship fall 2004 for PS2, Xbox, and GameCube.

May 12-14: At the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) Midway Games introduced Area 51, title by Midway Games West, for PS2 and Xbox, and Midway Arcade Treasures 2 for PS2, Xbox, and GameCube.

June 4: Midway Games announced that Neil D. Nicastro would resign as Chairman of the Midway board immediately following the June 10 annual meeting of Midway stockholders.

June 14: Midway Games announced that Kenneth D. Cron was the new Chairman of the Board, replacing Neil D. Nicastro. David F. Zucker remained president and CEO.

Month?: UltraCade Technologies released the Blast Pack for Arcade Legends units, featuring 7 Midway Games titles: Defender, Defender II, Joust, KLAX, Robotron: 2084, Tapper, Toobin'

August 26: Midway Games announced that the re-make of Midway Games West's Area 51, to ship in 2005 for PS2 and Xbox, would include the voice talents of David Duchovny, Powers Boothe, and Marilyn Manson.

September: Encore Software released Midway Arcade Treasures (1) by Midway Home Entertainment, developed by Digital Eclipse, for PC, featuring: Spy Hunter, Defender, Defender II, Gauntlet, Joust, Joust 2, Paperboy, Rampage, Robotron 2084, Smash TV, Bubbles, RoadBlasters, Blaster, Rampart, Sinistar, Super Sprint, Marble Madness, 720°, Toobin', KLAX, SPLAT!, Satan's Hollow, Vindicators, Root Beer Tapper

October 11: Midway Home Entertainment released Midway Arcade Treasures 2 (Digital Eclipse) for GameCube, for PlayStation 2, and for Xbox, featuring: Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, Gauntlet II, Spy Hunter II, Xybots, NARC, APB, Cyberball 2072, Timber, Total Carnage, Pit-Fighter, Wizard of Wor, Xenophobe, Primal Rage, Arch Rivals, Rampage World Tour, Kozmik Krooz'r, Championship Sprint, Hard Drivin', Wacko

2005
February 16: Midway Games announced Midway Arcade Treasures 3, to ship fall 2005, for PS2, Xbox, and GameCube.

February 16: Midway Games announced that the re-make of Midway Games West's Area 51, developed by Midway Studios Austin, would ship for PC in addition to the previously-announced PS2 and Xbox versions, all in April 2005.

February 17: Midway Games announced Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows, under development by Midway Games San Diego, title by Midway Games West, for PS2, Xbox, and PC, to ship winter 2006.

April 25: Midway Home Entertainment released Area 51 by Midway Studios - Austin, title by Midway Games West, for PS2 and for Xbox.

May 18-20: At E3 in Los Angeles, Midway Games featured: Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows (PS2, Xbox; Winter 2005), Midway Arcade Treasures 3 (PS2, Xbox, GC; Fall 2005), Midway Arcade Treasures (PSP; would ship as: Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play; Winter 2005)

May 23: Midway Home Entertainment released Area 51 by Midway Studios - Austin, title by Midway Games West, for PC.

August 16?: DSI Games released Marble Madness / KLAX, developed by Frame Studios Interactive, titles by Midway Games West, for Game Boy Advance.

August 19: Mark Beaumont departed from his primary position as senior vice president--entertainment at Midway Games, also departing from his position as senior vice president--business development for Midway Games West.

August 21?: DSI Games released Paperboy / Rampage, Rampage title by Midway Games West, for Game Boy Advance.

September 26: Midway Home Entertainment announced the release of Midway Arcade Treasures 3 for PlayStation 2 and for Xbox, featuring: Badlands, Off Road Thunder, Race Drivin', San Francisco Rush The Rock: Alcatraz Edition, S.T.U.N. Runner, Super Off Road, Hydro Thunder, San Francisco Rush 2049

October 24: Midway Home Entertainment released Midway Arcade Treasures 3 for GameCube, featuring: Badlands, Off Road Thunder, Race Drivin', San Francisco Rush The Rock: Alcatraz Edition, S.T.U.N. Runner, Super Off Road, Hydro Thunder, San Francisco Rush 2049

November 3?: DSI Games released Gauntlet / Rampart, developed by EC Interactive Games, titles by Midway Games West, for Game Boy Advance.

November/December: Midway Games released Gauntlet, developed by Digital Eclipse, title by Midway Games West, on Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360 (as part of the platform launch).

November/December: UltraCade Technologies released the Midway Arcade Treasures 1 Pack for Arcade Legends/Ultimate Arcade units. 23 games included: 720°, Blaster, Bubbles, Defender, Defender II, Gauntlet, Joust, Joust2, KLAX, Marble Madness, Paperboy, Rampage, Rampart, RoadBlasters, Robotron 2084, Rootbeer Tapper, Satan’s Hollow, Sinistar, Splat!, Spy Hunter, Super Sprint, Toobin’, and Vindicators (source; source) (source; source)

December 12: Midway Home Entertainment announced the release of Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play for PSP, featuring: 720°, Arch Rivals, Championship Sprint, Cyberball 2072, Defender, Gauntlet, Joust, KLAX, Mortal Kombat, Marble Madness, Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, Paperboy, Rampage, Rampart, Sinistar, Spy Hunter, Toobin', Wizard of Wor, Xenophobe, Xybots

December 12: Midway Home Entertainment released Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows, title by Midway Games West, for PS2 and for Xbox.

2006
February 15: Midway Home Entertainment released of Midway Arcade Treasures: Deluxe Edition, developed by Digital Eclipse, for PC, featuring: Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, Gauntlet II, Spy Hunter II, Xybots, NARC, APB, Cyberball 2072, Timber, Total Carnage, Pit-Fighter, Wizard of Wor, Xenophobe, Primal Rage, Arch Rivals, Rampage World Tour, Kozmik Krooz'r, Championship Sprint, Hard Drivin', Wacko, Badlands, Hydro Thunder, Off Road Thunder, Race Drivin', San Francisco Rush the Rock: Alcatraz Edition, San Francisco Rush 2049, S.T.U.N. Runner, and Super Off Road

May 10-12: At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, Microsoft announced that Midway Games would bring a suite of classic arcade titles to Xbox Live Arcade, including the Midway Games West title Paperboy.

November 7: Midway Games West business address: 10110 Mesa Rim Rd., San Diego CA. Midway Games West officers: CEO David F. Zucker, secretary Deborah K. Fulton, CFO Thomas E. Powell. (CA Statement of Information)

2007
January 29: Midway Games announced BlackSite: Area 51, title by Midway Games West, under development by Midway Studios-Austin, for PS3, Xbox 360, and for PC, to ship summer 2007.

February 14: Midway Games released Paperboy, developed by Digital Eclipse, title by Midway Games West, on Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360.

May/June: Sony Online Entertainment released Gauntlet II, Championship Sprint, and Rampart, titles by Midway Games West, for PS3

July 11-13: At the E3 Business & Media Summit in Los Angeles, Midway Games introduced BlackSite: Area 51, title by Midway Games West, for PS3, Xbox, and PC, to ship in September.

Summer: Global VR released Global Arcade Classics (coin-operated multi-game cabinet; 81 games, including titles by Midway Games West: 720°, Gauntlet, Marble Madness, Paperboy, Rampart, RoadBlasters, Super Sprint, Toobin', Vindicators

September 5: Midway Games released Cyberball 2072, developed by Digital Eclipse, title by Midway Games West, on Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360.

November 12: Midway Home Entertainment announced the release of BlackSite: Area 51, title by Midway Games West, for Xbox 360 and for PC, and that the version for PS3 would ship in December.

December 21: Midway Games announced that Shari E. Redstone was the new company chairman, replacing the departed Kenneth D. Cron. (David F. Zucker remained president and CEO.)

2008
February 14: Midway Games West address: 10636 Scripps Summit Court Suite 100, San Diego CA. Midway Games West officers: CEO David F. Zucker, secretary Deborah K. Fulton, CFO Ryan G. O'desky. (CA Statement of Information)

March 20: Midway Games named Matthew V. Booty Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, in place of the departing David F. Zucker.

June 2: Midway Games released Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows, title by Midway Games West, on Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360.

July 11: Midway Games announced the launch of the online gaming site www.midwayarcade.com. The initial online game lineup included: APB, Arch Rivals, Cyberball, Defender, Gauntlet 2, Rampage, Rootbeer Tapper, Spy Hunter, Joust, Primal Rage, Super Offroad, Total Carnage, Wizard of Wor, Robotron: 2084

July 15-17: Midway Games exhibited at at the 2008 E3 Business & Media Summit in Los Angeles.

October 30: Midway Games announced that Matthew V. Booty had been appointed as President and CEO. Mr. Booty had served as interim president and CEO of Midway Games since March, 2008.

November 7: Midway Games announced that Peter C. Brown was the new Chairman, replacing the departing Shari E. Redstone.

December 1: National Amusements (headed by investor Sumner Redstone) sold its 87% stake in Midway Games to investor Mark Thomas for $100,000 and $70 million in receivables.

2009
January 29: Midway Games announced its president and CEO Matthew V. Booty was now also the new Chairman, replacing the departed Peter C. Brown.

February 12: Midway Games announced that the company and its U.S. subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

May 20: Midway Games agreed to sell most of its U.S. assets, including its Mortal Kombat video game franchise and its development studios in Seattle and Chicago, to Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., a division of Time Warner Inc., for $33 million, subject to adjustment.

July 1: A Delaware bankruptcy judge approved the $33 million sale of most of the assets of Midway Games to Warner Bros. Entertainment.

July 10: Pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement dated May 20, 2009, Midway Games completed their sale of substantially all of their assets to Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. The aggregate gross purchase price was approximately $49 million including the assumption of certain liabilities. The transaction included the entire library of Midway Games West properties (including 41 U.S. patents).

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. would remain the corporate entity holdings the ownership rights to intellectual properties that originated with the Atari Coin-Operated Games division of Atari Games, Inc. or with Atari Games Corporation / Midway Games West Inc. for many years to come.

Atari History Timelines by Michael Current

A History of
AT Games / Atari Games / Midway Games West

Links

Atari History Timelines by Michael Current

A History ofAT Games / Atari Games / Midway Games West

Links

A History of
AT Games / Atari Games / Midway Games West