A History of Atari / Atari Games / Atari Holdings

Most information presented here is verifiable from public primary sources, such as magazine and newspaper articles, press releases, annual reports, and SEC filings. I have no special access to inside information.

Syzygy

September/October? Nutting Associates employees Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, along with fellow former Ampex engineer Larry Bryan, decided to call themselves "Syzygy Engineering." Bryan was the first to come up with the name. However, when it came time to contribute $100 each to the cause Bryan opted out. Syzygy Engineering would consist of Bushnell and Dabney, after the two contributed $250 each in establishing the new engineering firm.

November: Nutting Associates introduced Computer Space by Syzygy Engineering (Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney) at the Amusement & Music Operators Association (A.M.O.A.) trade show in Chicago. This was the first commercial production coin-operated video arcade game.

1972
April: Magnavox Co. introduced the Odyssey home video game system, developed by Ralph Baer of Sanders Associates.

May: Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney departed from working directly for Nutting Associates, and determined to formally go into business themselves as Syzygy.

May/June?: Syzygy agreed to design a two-player version of Computer Space for Nutting Associates. While Syzygy retained the design rights to the original one-player Computer Space, Nutting successfully negotiated for sole ownership of the proposed two-player Computer Space.

May/June?: Syzygy secured a tentative contract to design a driving video game for Bally. As Bushnell focused on video game design, Dabney established a coin operated game service business as a more steady source of income for the company.

May/June: In preparing to incorporate their business, Bushnell and Dabney learned from the California Secretary of State that the name Syzygy was already in use by another California company. Another name would be needed. Subsequently, in their incorporation application to the Office of the California Secretary of State, Bushnell and Dabney offered a prioritized list of three choices of names for the company: 1) Sente, 2) Atari, or 3) Hanne. They would learn of the final name when the incorporation process was completed.

June: Syzygy hired engineer Al Alcorn (employee #3), formerly of Ampex. Alcorn would become a 10% owner of the company.

Atari (an independent company)

Summer: Atari established a business office at the address: 2962 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA, USA

September: The Pong prototype (conceived by Nolan Bushnell and engineered by Al Alcorn), while envisioned as a home video game system, was placed in a cabinet and location-tested as a coin-operated game at the Andy Capp's tavern in Sunnyvale, CA. It proved highly popular.

Fall: With the success of the Pong field test, Atari determined that rather than designing video games for other companies to manufacture and sell, Atari would launch a coin operated video game manufacturing and distribution business of its own.

Fall: Atari established a manufacturing facility (in a former roller skating rink) at: 1600 Martin Ave., Santa Clara, CA

Fall: Numerous hires at Atari for the purpose of manufacturing coin operated video games included Dan Van Elderen.

November: Magnavox Co. shipped the Magnavox Odyssey, the first home video game system.

December: George Opperman, a freelance artist working with Atari, created the "fuji" Atari symbol. "George tells us that the corporate logo basically represents a stylized letter 'A' to stand for 'Atari.' He did have an added inspiration in designing the symbol, though. Back in 1972, Atari's claim to fame was 'Pong,' and George says the two side pieces of the Atari symbol represent two opposing video game players, with the center line of the 'Pong' court in the middle." --Atari Age, vol. 1 no. 5, Jan./Feb. 1983, p. 6.

1973
March: Allied Leisure released Paddle Battle, one of the first and most important of many unlicensed (yet legal) Pong clones produced by opportunistic competitors.

April: Midway Manufacturing released Winner. Unlike most Pong clones, Winner was produced under license and in cooperation with Atari.

June: Atari (both offices and manufacturing) moved to: 14600 Winchester Blvd., Los Gatos, CA, USA

Month?: Another licensed Pong clone released was Barrel-Pong by Hunter Electronics Pty. Ltd. of Sydney, Australia.

August: Atari had established international operations, with Ron Gordon as International Marketing Director.

September: Atari released Pong Doubles. Manufactured by Atari France as Coupe Davis.

Fall: Nolan Bushnell bought out Ted Dabney's share of Atari, making Bushnell the sole majority owner. Atari's coin operated game operations servicing business was sold to Dabney.

Fall: John C. Wakefield (M.D., psychiatry) was hired as Atari president, and was also a founding Atari board member.

Fall: Nolan Bushnell created Kee Games to create the impression of a viable competitor to Atari.

(Next door neighbor) Joseph F. Keenan, previously of Applied Logic, was the new company's namesake, and would also serve as president of Kee games. Steve Bristow and Gil Williams "left" Atari to help form Kee Games.

Fall?: Atari established Atari Japan. A Japanese-American businessman formed the subsidiary in Tokyo. Hideyuki Nakajima ("Hide", pronounced HEE-day), a 17 year veteran of Japan Art Paper Company, was hired as general manager of the unit. Atari Japan's primary business would be the manufacture and sales of Atari coin-operated video games in the Japanese market.

October: Atari released Gotcha, and released Gotcha Color, a limited-run color version of the game that used real color (rather than the colored cellophane overlays used to mimic color in other games)

Winter/Spring: Eugene J. Lipkin, previously of Allied Leisure, joined Atari as vice-president for marketing.

March: Kee Games released Spike (the same game as Rebound by Atari).

March: Atari released Quadrapong (the same game as Elimination! by Kee Games), and released Gran Trak 10.

April: Kee Games released Formula K (the same game as Gran Trak 10 by Atari).

April: Atari France released Coupe du Monde (= "World Cup" and the same game as Pong Doubles) (upright and cocktail versions) (Europe only).

April 17: Report that Magnavox Co. had filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Atari Inc., Bally Manufacturing Corp., Empire Distributing Inc. (a Bally subsidiary), Chicago Dynamic Industries Inc., and Allied Leisure Inc. Magnavox alleged that the coin-operated arcade video games manufactured and distributed by the five companies infringed on patent rights associated with the Magnavox Odyssey home video game system. (WSJ, p.15) The Magnavox patent originated with Ralph Baer of Sanders Associates.

Month?: Atari Europe (France) released Coup Franc (cocktail configuration, Europe only; the same game as ?????), and released Quadrapong cocktail (Europe only; the same game as Elimination! by Kee Games).

August: Atari released Gran Trak 20 (the same game as Twin Racer by Kee Games), released Puppy Pong, and released Trak 20.

Fall?: Atari sold the Atari Japan subsidiary to Nakamura Manufacturing Ltd. of Japan (doing business as Namco since 1971) for US$500,050. Terms of the sale allowed Nakamura Manufacturing to be the exclusive representative for Atari products in Japan for ten years. General manager Hide Nakajima committed to continue as head of the unit under Nakamura Manufacturing for six months. See: A History of the Former Atari Japan

November: Kee Games introduced Tank at the Music Operators of America (MOA) Show

December: Kee Games was merged into Atari. Joe Keenan became president of Atari (replacing John Wakefield), Steve Bristow became head of engineering, and Al Alcorn would be head of R&D. Nolan Bushnell remained Atari chairman and CEO.

1975
January: Atari completed Dodgeball (minimal production/very rare, apparently).

February: Atari introduced the home version of Pong at the American Toy Fair in New York. Atari's first product designed for the home consumer market. Atari found no buyers until after the show, when Sears ordered 50,000 (eventually, 150,000) units in exchange for exclusive distribution through 1975.

April: Atari released Hi-Way (cockpit) (USA version of Highway) and Highway (upright cabinet) (Europe version of Hi-Way).

May: Kee Games completed Crossfire (minimal production/very rare, apparently), and released Tank II.

June: Atari released Anti-Aircraft (also known as Anti-Aircraft II, as in 2-players)

The Horror Games label was reportedly used on Shark Jaws to help deflect potential legal issues with the unlicensed use of the Jaws movie tie-in.

October: Atari released Steeplechase, released Crash 'N' Score (released as Stock-Car in Europe?), and released Jet Fighter (original upright version).

November?: At the MOA show Atari introduced Tank cocktail and Computer Portrait (released as Compugraph Foto in 1976), and also featured: Crash 'N' Score, Steeplechase, Jet Fighter, Shark JAWS

November 20: The logo design "consisting of a stylized representation of Mount Fujiyama" formally became a registered trademark of Atari, Inc.

Winter?: Atari established a Consumer Division. Early heads of the new Consumer division included Michael C. Shea, vice president/director of marketing, and Malcolm Kuhn, vice president/director of sales.

Winter?: Atari (Consumer) shipped Pong (C-100; 2 players), the first Atari product marketed by Atari to the home consumer market.

Spring?: Atari shipped Hockey Pong (C-121; 1-2 players; 4 game variations).

Spring?: Sears shipped Tele-Games Pong IV by Atari (2-4 players; same as the unreleased Atari Pong Doubles), and shipped Tele-Games Hockey Pong by Atari (same as Atari Hockey Pong).

June: With the patent infringement lawsuit filed by Magnavox in April 1974 against Atari and several of Atari's competitors about to go to trial, Atari and Magnavox settled. Atari would pay Magnavox $100,000 per year to be a licensee of Magnavox video game patent technology. The Magnavox patent originated with Ralph Baer of Sanders Associates.

Month?: Atari Europe (Baume-les-dames, France) purchased the jukebox manufacturer, Elektro-Kicker, makers of the Jupiter jukeboxes.

Months?: Atari Europe released the jukebox models: Concerto 120, Rubis, and Rubis II.

Summer?: Atari (Consumer) shipped Super Pong (C-140; 1-2 players; 4 game variations).

Summer?: Sears shipped Tele-Games Super Pong by Atari (same as Atari Super Pong) and Tele-Games Super Pong IV (#99737) by Atari (1-4 players version of Super Pong).

July: Atari released Breakout Cocktail, released Cops n' Robbers, and released Flyball.

September 7: Warner Communications, Inc. (WCI) announced it had signed a contract to purchase controlling interest in Atari, Inc. Warner exec vp Emanuel Gerard anticipated it would eventually acquire "all or virtually all" Atari shares for purchase price of approximately $28 million in cash and debt. The contract was subject to approval by at least 66.7% of each class of Atari shareholders and by the California Commissioner of Corporations. (WSJ, NYT, 9/8/76)

Atari, a division of Warner Communications

October 1: Atari, Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warner Communications, Inc. (WCI). One term of the sale was that Warner would fund one restaurant featuring Bushnell's concept of a novel mixture of games, pizza, and electronic animals. Another term of sale was that Nolan Bushnell and Joe Keenan agreed not to compete with Atari in the development and sale of video games before October 1983.

Bushnell continued as Atari Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, and Joe Keenan continued as Atari President and Co-Chief Executive Officer.

Fall?: Atari (Consumer) shipped Super Pong Ten (C-180; 1-4 players; 10 game variations).

Fall?: Sears shipped Tele-Games Speedway by Atari, and Tele-Games Speedway IV by Atari.

October/November: At Atari, Carol Kantor was Manager of Marketing Services; Al Alcorn was Vice President of Research and Development; Eddie Boasberg was Pinball Marketing Coordinator. Gene Lipkin was marketing director.

November: Atari released F-1 by Namco, and released The Atarians, the first Atari pinball machine.

December 21: John Anderson was promoted to vice president-administration at Atari.

December?: Atari's Theatre Kiosk, a series of six pie-shaped video game units was installed for the first time at the San Francisco Powell Street Station of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) System. Games available for the Theatre Kiosk included: Space Race, Trak-10, Tank, Quiz Show, Flyball, Jet Fighter, Pong Doubles, Stunt Cycle, and Le Mans. Also soon to be available for the Theatre Kiosk: Sprint 2, Breakout, and Night Driver.

1977
January: Atari (Consumer Products Division) introduced Video Music (C-240) at the January Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Chicago (the last winter CES held in Chicago). Kerry Crosson was Atari's Manager of New Consumer Products.

January 25-27: The Atari games/products The Atarians, F-1, the Kiosk, Night Driver, Sprint 2, Breakout, Le Mans, and Indy 4 were exhibited at the Amusement Trade Exhibition (A.T.E.), Alexandra Palace, London. Atari Europe presented French built versions of Atari products together with the Jupiter phonograph. Sue Elliot was International Marketing Administrator at Atari.

Winter?: Atari (Consumer) shipped Super Pong Pro-Am (C-200; 1-2 players; 5 game variations) and Super Pong Pro-Am Ten (C-202; 1-4 players; 10 game variations)

Winter?: Sears shipped Tele-Games Super Pong IV (#99789) by Atari (same as Atari Super Pong Pro-Am Ten).

February 6-8: Atari introduced Dominos/4 and also showed The Atarians, Sprint 2, Night Driver, Breakout, and Indy 4 at the Association of College Unions Trade Show in San Diego.

February: Atari released Dominos/4 Cocktail (4-player version of Dominos).

February: Edward J. (Eddie) Boasberg was Operations Manager/Marketing Coordinator, Pinball Division at Atari. Frank Ballouz was National Sales Manager, coin-operated products division.

March: Gil Williams was Pinball Division Manager at Atari. Additional pinball division leaders included: Bob Russell, operations manager; Bob Kolbus, plant manager; Jim Uszack, manufacturing engineer

April: Atari released Triple Hunt (Hit the Bear, Witch Hunt, Raccoon Hunt), released Triple Hunt single cabinet, and released Sit Down Night Driver .

April: C. Marshall Caras, previously of Rowe International, joined Atari as Director of Marketing.

May 16: Atari opened the initial "prototype" Pizza Time Theatre in San Jose, California. The family pizza and entertainment concept featured the computer-animated characters Chuck E. Cheese, Crusty (the cat), Jasper T. Jowls (hillbilly country singing dog), Pasqually (Italian opera-singing chef), and The Warblettes (three soul-singing magpies). The project was led by Nolan Bushnell (Atari chairman), Joe Keenan (Atari president), and Restaurant Operating Division General Manager Gene N. Landrum.

June: At the 12th annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Chicago, Atari (Consumer Division) introduced the Video Computer System (VCS), Video Pinball, Stunt Cycle, Tank II (never shipped), Ultra Pong, and Ultra Pong Doubles. Atari also introduced six Game Program cartridges for the VCS: Combat (to ship with the VCS), Indy 500, Space Mission (would ship as Star Ship), Video Olympics, Street Racer, Air-Sea Battle

June: Atari released Time 2000 (pinball), released Pool Shark, and released Drag Race.

Month?: Atari Europe sold off its jukebox business, resulting in the creation of Europe Elèctronique SA. Or, was this a matter of Atari breaking ties with Atari Europe? It would be interesting to find details of these events..

September: Gil Williams was vice president and general manager of the Pinball division at Atari.

September: Atari released 2 Game Module (cabinet that houses 2 games facing opposite directions), and released Airborne Avenger (pinball).

October 13-16: Atari exhibited at the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) Convention in Chicago.

October 28-30: Atari exhibited at the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA) Exposition in Chicago.

Fall: Atari (Consumer) shipped Video Pinball (C-380), Stunt Cycle (SC-450), Ultra Pong (C-402S), and Ultra Pong Doubles (C-402D).

Fall?: Sears shipped Tele-Games Pinball Breakaway by Atari (same as Atari Video Pinball), Tele-Games Motocross by Atari (similar to Atari Stunt Cycle), Tele-Games Pong Sports II by Atari (same as Atari Ultra Pong), and Tele-Games Pong Sports IV by Atari (same as Atari Ultra Pong Doubles).

November: Atari shipped the Video Computer System (VCS). The VCS shipped with Combat, along with two joystick controllers and a pair of paddle controllers. 4 other VCS titles shipped separately: Air-Sea Battle, Indy 500 (with Steering controllers), Street Racer, Video Olympics

November: Sears shipped the Tele-Games Video Arcade by Atari (same as the Atari VCS). The Sears Video Arcade shipped with Tank Plus by Atari (same as Atari Combat), along with two joystick controllers and a pair of paddle controllers. Sears also shipped 4 other Video Arcade/VCS titles: Target Fun by Atari (same as Atari Air-Sea Battle), Race by Atari (same as Atari Indy 500), Speedway II by Atari (same as Atari Street Racer), Pong Sports by Atari (same as Atari Video Olympics)

November 19-21: Atari exhibited at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Exposition in New Orleans. Atari introduced Sprint 4, Canyon Bomber, Ultra Tank and Wolf Pack (Wolf Pack was never released.), and also showed: Destroyer, Airborne Avenger, The Atarians, Time 2000

1978
January: At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (the first held in Las Vegas) Atari introduced four new game programs (cartridges) for the VCS (for a total of 9 available): Star Ship (previously introduced as Space Mission), Surround, Basic Math, Blackjack. Atari also showed the VCS ($199.95), Stunt Cycle ($72.95), Ultra Pong ($42.95), Ultra Pong Doubles ($52.95), and Video Pinball ($89.95)

January 24-26: Atari products were on display with The Cherry Group, Atari distributor in Great Britain, at the Amusement Trades Exposition (ATE) at Alexandra Place in North London. Atari introduced Sprint 1, Sky Raider, Tournament Table, Middle Earth, Ultra Tank, and Competition 8 (Competition 8 was never released) and also showed: 2 Game Module, Sprint 4, Destroyer, Starship 1, Super Bug

February: Kee Games released Ultra Tank. This was the last release under the Kee Games label.

February 12-14: Atari exhibited at Show West '78 in San Diego, a trade show for movie theater owners.

February: Bill Bassett was appointed International Field Service Manager at Atari.

Winter?: Atari shipped the VCS titles: Star Ship, Surround, Basic Math, Blackjack

Winter?: Sears shipped the Video Arcade/VCS titles: Outer Space by Atari (same as Atari Star Ship), Chase by Atari (same as Atari Surround), Math by Atari (same as Atari Basic Math), Blackjack by Atari (same as Atari Blackjack)

March: Atari released Sky Raider, and released Tournament Table (12 games: Breakout, Soccer I, Soccer II, Foozpong, Hockey I, Hockey II, Hockey III, Quadrapong, Handball, Volleyball, Basketball I, Basketball II)

March?: Manny Gerard at Warner Communications arranged for Raymond E. Kassar, who had recently departed from his executive vice president position at fabric maker Burlington Industries, to work with Atari as a consultant.

Gerard then had Kassar installed into the new position of president of the Atari Consumer Division.

Gene Lipkin was promoted to Atari vice president and general manager of the Atari Coin-Operated Games division.

April: Atari announced 9 new VCS Game Programs (for a total of 18): Space War, Home Run, Outlaw, Breakout, Hunt & Score, Codebreaker, Hangman, Football (this version never released), Basketball

April 23-26: Atari and New Way Sales exhibited Atari games at the Canadian Restaurant-Hotel-Motel Show in Toronto, Canada, featuring: Middle Earth, Sky Raider

April 26-29: Lowen Automaten, Atari's distributor in Germany, had a display of Atari games at the International Coin Machine Exposition in Berlin, Germany, featuring: Middle Earth

June?: Atari displayed products at the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago, including: Avalanche, Sprint 1, Starship 1, Sky Raider, Tournament Table, Middle Earth, Airborne Avenger, The Atarians, 2 Game Module. Prototype game design concepts, Wall Unit and Game Booth were shown by Atari as well.

June 11-14: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced four new VCS titles: Basketball (previously announced in April), Capture the Flag (would ship as Flag Capture), The Maze (would eventually ship as Maze Craze), Wizard (never shipped)

June: Nolan Bushnell bought the Pizza Time Theatre restaurant and associated intellectual property (Chuck E. Cheese) from Atari for US$500,000, planning to enlist franchisees to establish additional locations. Atari retained minority ownership in Bushnell's new company, Pizza Time Theatre, Inc. Bushnell would now serve as chairman of both Atari and Pizza Time Theatre. See: A History of the Former Atari Restaurant Operating Division

June 26-28: Atari's latest video and pinball games were on display at the Bowling Proprietor's trade show (BPAA), including: Fire Truck, Sky Diver, Avalanche, Sprint 4, Middle Earth

July: Atari announced 3 new VCS Game Programs (and un-announced Football, for a total of 20): Brain Games, Slot Racers, Flag Capture (previously announced as Capture the Flag)

September: Atari released Super Breakout, and released Space Riders (pinball).

September: Atari announced the opening of Atari Ireland Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary and a manufacturing facility located in Tipperary, Ireland. The facility was headed by Gil Williams, Atari vice president of manufacturing.

September: Atari announced that Bob Betters had been hired as Manager of Customer Service at Atari Coin-Op.

November 10-12: Atari exhibited at the AMOA in Chicago, using the theme "STARWORLD '78." Atari introduced Orbit, Subs, UFO (wall game), Hercules, and Monza (never released), and also showed: Atari Football, Space Riders, Super Breakout, Middle Earth, Sprint 2, Sit Down Night Driver, Starship 1, Smokey Joe, Fire Truck

November?: Atari exhibited at the IAAPA, using the theme "STARWORLD '78." Atari introduced Orbit, Subs, UFO (wall game), Hercules, and Monza (never released), and also showed: Space Riders, Middle Earth, Atari Football, Super Breakout, Fire Truck Starship 1, Sit Down Night Driver, 2 Game Module

December: Manny Gerard at Warner Communications appointed Ray Kassar President and CEO of Atari, and Joe Keenan replaced company founder Nolan Bushnell as Chairman. Bushnell remained on the Atari executive board as a director.

1979
January: Atari (Consumer Division) introduced the 400 and 800 Personal Computer Systems at the Winter CES in Las Vegas. Coverage of the introduction of the Atari 400/800 from Creative Computing magazine: http://mcurrent.name/atari1979/ .

Also at the show, Atari introduced 8 new VCS titles, including: Football, Sky Diver, Superman, BASIC Programming, Video Chess, Backgammon. The suggested retail price for the VCS remained US$189. At Atari (Consumer), Michael Shea remained director of marketing; Donald Thompson was director of sales.

January 23-25: Atari products were displayed at the Cherry Leisure Booth at the Amusement Trades Exposition (ATE) in London

January: Atari founder Nolan Bushnell departed from his remaining role at Atari as a director.

February: Atari (Consumer) showed Touch Me at the 1979 Toy Fair in New York.

March 25-27: Atari exhibited at the Associated College Union Show in Cincinnati. Atari introduced Superman and also showed: Space Riders, Video Pinball, Atari Football, Sprint 2, Super Breakout

April: Atari released Hercules (pinball -- the largest pinball machine ever made (93" long, 39" wide, 83" high), and also the last Atari production pinball machine), and released Atari 4-Player Football.

May: Atari released Atari Basketball, and released Subs (2 players, 2 monitors).

June: At the summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced the VCS titles (for a total of 32 available): Bowling, Canyon Bomber, Casino, Human Cannonball, Miniature Golf, Slot Machine. Don Kingsborough was director of sales and marketing for Atari (Consumer).

August: Atari released Lunar Lander. Atari's first game to feature their QuadraScan vector monitor display system.

Fall: Atari released for the VCS: Bowling, Canyon Bomber, Casino, Human Cannonball, Miniature Golf, Slot Machine

August/September: Gene Lipkin, now president of Atari's Coin-Operated Games Division, announced a reorganization of sales staff. Frank Ballouz was promoted to Director of Marketing. Don Osborne was promoted to National Sales Manager. Sue Elliot was promoted to International Sales Manager.

September: Atari chairman Joe Keenan announced his resignation from the company. Keenan was named president and COO of Atari founder Nolan Bushnell's Pizza Time Theatre, Inc.

October/November: Colette Weil was promoted to Manager of Marketing Research at Atari Coin-Op.

November: Atari released Asteroids (original upright version). Asteroids was the first video game to allow players to personalize their high scores with their initials.

November: Michael J. Moone became president of the Consumer Division at Atari (home video games and computers), replacing Atari president and CEO Ray Kassar in that role.

November: Atari exhibited at the AMOA. Using the theme, "The Atari Adventure...the games of the future" Atari introduced Asteroids, Atari Soccer, and Monte Carlo, and also featured Lunar Lander, Atari 4-Player Football, Atari Baseball, Atari Football, Hercules.

November?: Atari exhibited at the IAAPA. Atari introduced Asteroids, Atari Soccer, and Monte Carlo, and also featured: Lunar Lander, Atari 4-Player Football, Atari Baseball, Atari Football, Hercules

Four of the top ten money-making coin games of 1979 were by Atari: Atari Football, Sprint 2, Super Breakout, Video Pinball

1980
January: At the Winter CES in Chicago, for the 400/800 Atari introduced the 825 printer, 830 modem, and 850 interface. For the VCS Atari introduced 6 new titles: Space Invaders, Adventure, 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Golf, Night Driver, Circus Atari (for a total of 38 available; Basic Math was renamed Fun With Numbers; Hunt & Score was renamed A Game of Concentration.). Bill Grubb was vice president-marketing and sales for Atari (Consumer).

January 17-19: Atari games were exhibited by Lowen/MSM at the IMA German Trade Association Show in Frankfurt, West Germany. Atari Soccer and Asteroids Cocktail Table were introduced. Also shown: Asteroids, Lunar Lander

January: Atari released Space Invaders for the VCS (title licensed from Taito, notably the first such arrangement in the industry, and notably the first "killer application" for the VCS) and Circus Atari for the VCS.

January 29-31: At the Amusement Trades Exhibition (ATE) in London Atari was represented by distributors Cherry Leisure and The Music Hire Group. Games displayed included Asteroids.

Winter: Atari president and CEO Ray Kassar assumed the role of chairman and CEO of Atari, replacing the departed Joe Keenan.

Winter?: Atari released Adventure for the VCS. Adventure contained the first Easter Egg known to appear in any video game.

March 20-22: Atari exhibited at the Amusement Operators Exposition in New Orleans.

March 23-26: Atari exhibited at the Association of College Unions' International Show in Minneapolis. At the show Atari introduced Atari Soccer, and also featured: Asteroids, Atari Football, Atari Baseball

April: Atari released Asteroids Cocktail, released Atari Soccer, and released Monte Carlo.

April: Lyle Rains was named as Director of Engineering for Atari's Coin-Operated Games Division. He succeeded Noah Anglin, who was now Vice President of Engineering and Manufacturing for the division.

April 18-20: Atari exhibited at the International Coin Machine Trade Show in New York City.

June 4: Joseph (Joe) Robbins, most recently president of Empire Distributing Compuany, a division of Bally, Inc., was named Co-President of the Coin-Op Division of Atari, joining Eugene (Gene) Lipkin in that role.

June: Shane Breaks was appointed International Marketing Director for the Coin-Operated Games Division of Atari. Breaks would be headquartered in Tipperary, Ireland. Sue Elliot remained International Sales Manager and would now report to Breaks.

June: Fred Gerson was named as Vice President, Finance for the Coin-Operated Games Division of Atari.

June 15: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced the VCS titles: Maze Craze, Video Checkers, Dodge 'Em, Championship Soccer (later re-released as Pelé's Soccer). (Two VCS titles were dropped: Slot Machine and Star Ship, making a total of 40 titles available.)

June: Atari released Asteroids Cabaret (the introduction of the Cabaret mini-cabinet concept), and released Missile Command (original upright version). Missile Command was the first Atari game to default to 50 cents per play, rather than the standard 25 cents.

August?: Atari products were displayed by distributor Leisure and Allied Industries at the Australian AMOA, including: Asteroids, Missile Command

September: Atari released Missile Command Cabaret and Missile Command sit-down versions.

Fall?: Sears released Tele-Games Steeplechase by Atari and Tele-Games Stellar Track by Atari.

October 21: Roger H. Badertscher was named president of the newly established Computer Division at Atari. He was previously vice president and general manager of the microprocessor division of Signetics, an electronics semiconductor manufacturer.

October/November: Atari exhibited at the 1980 AMOA Show in Chicago using the theme, "StarGate 80". Atari introduced Battlezone, and also featured Missile Command. Atari Asteroids received the Play Meter Award for video game excellence as the highest earning video game of 1980.

November: Atari released Battlezone (original standard upright version).

December: Anton "Tony" Bruehl, with Atari since 1979, had been promoted to president - International Consumer Division at Atari.

1981
January 8-11: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced the Remote Control Video Computer System (2700; never shipped; see Atarimuseum's 2700 page).

Atari also introduced four new games for the VCS: Asteroids, Warlords, Video Pinball, Othello (Space War and Miniature Golf were dropped, bringing the total number of VCS titles available to 42).

January: Atari introduced the Cosmos at the New York Toy Fair. It never shipped, leading to the departure of Cosmos lead developer and original Atari engineer Al Alcorn. See Atarimuseum's Cosmos page.

Winter/Spring: Gene Lipkin departed from Atari as co-president of the Coin-Operated Games Division, leaving Joe Robbins as the sole President of Coin-Operated Games.

April: Atari released Asteroids Deluxe Cabaret (original release), released Warlords Upright, and released Warlords Cocktail.

May: Atari launched the Atari Program Exchange (APX), a user-written software distribution unit within the Atari Computer Division. Guided by Fred Thorlin since its inception in February 1981.

May: Atari released Asteroids Deluxe Upright, released Asteroids Deluxe Cocktail, and released Red Baron Sitdown (original version).

June: Atari released Centipede (original Upright version), released Red Baron (upright version), and released Battlezone open face upright version.

July 10: Centipede (upright) became the first Underwriters Laboratories (UL)-approved coin-operated video game.

July: Atari released Centipede Cocktail 14", and released Centipede Cabaret.

August?: The General Computer Corporation (GCC) of Boston (students at MIT) received a retraining order from Judge Robert E. Keeton of the U.S. district Court, District of Massachusetts, to temporarily prevent them from manufacturing, advertising or selling "Super Missile Attack", their product (release June 1981) designed to "enhance" the game play on Missile Command. (Atari and GCC would settle, and GCC would go on to contract with Warner Communications to develop several Coin-op, VCS, and 7800 games for Atari, and would also contribute heavily to the design of 7800 ProSystem.)

October: Atari released Tempest Upright (original version). Atari's first game to feature their QuadraScan Color vector monitor display system.

October 29-31: Atari exhibited at the AMOA at the Conrad Hilton in Chicago, using the theme "The Atari Era." Atari introduced Tempest and featured Centipede at the show.

October/November 29-1: Atari sponsored the $50,000 Atari World Championships (Centipede tournament) as part of the Tournament Games Spectacular $400,000 Weekend at the Chicago Expocenter, a production of Tournament Games, Inc. Mariann Layne, Atari's Manager of Marketing Services, organized the Atari Tournament.

November 8-11: Atari exhibited Centipede and Tempest at the National Licensed Beverage Association (NLBA) Annual Convention and Trade Show in La Vegas.

November 12: The finals of the 1981 International Atari Asteroids Championships were held at the International Club in Washington, D.C. 16 finalists competed on Asteroids for the VCS, game number 6, difficulty A. The winner was 15-year-old Andy Breyer of Arlington Heights IL, who was presented a check for $5,000 from Atari chairman and CEO Ray Kassar. Second place went to Gary Wong, and third place to Dirk Mueller.

December: Atari released Tempest Cocktail, and released Tempest Cabaret.

1982
January: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced 6 VCS titles: Super Breakout, Haunted House, Pac-Man, Yars' Revenge, Defender, Berserk

January: Atari announced that Alan Kay had joined the company (late in 1981) as a vice president and Chief Scientist, a new post. Kay was previously a Xerox Fellow at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC).

January: Atari (Coin-Op) exhibited at the Amusement Trades Exhibition (ATE) in London for the first time. (In previous years, Atari was represented at ATE by their UK distributor(s).

Winter: John S. Farrand joined Atari as president of International Operations for Coin-Op. Prior to joining Atari, Farrand spent 16 years at Music Hire Group, the 2nd largest private operating company in the World, based in England, where he eventually became president of the company.

February: Atari announced that Kenneth K. Harkness was the new President of the Coin-Operated Games Division of Atari (replacing co-presidents Lipkin and Robbins). Harkness was previously president and CEO of Revell, one of the largest toy companies in Europe. Before that, he spent ten years at the Racquet Sports Division of Wilson Sporting Goods, ultimately as president of the division.

February: New address for Atari Coin-Operated Games: 790 Sycamore Dr., Milpitas, CA, USA.

March: Atari released Pac-Man (title by Namco, sublicensed via Bally Midway) for the VCS.

April: Perry Odak became president of the new Consumer Products Group of Atari. The new Group consisted of the Consumer Electronics Division (still headed by Michael Moone) and the International Consumer Division (still headed by Anton Bruehl).

April: Atari released Dig Dug by Namco (original Upright version and European upright versions), and released Space Duel Cocktail.

April/May: Atari announced that John Farrand, president of International Operations for Coin-Op for several months, was promoted to executive vice president of the Coin Operated Games Division of Atari. Ken Harkness remained president of the Coin-Op Division. Don Osborne, previously vice president of sales, was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing at Atari Coin-Op.

May?: Atari launched the "Atari Video Adventure" center at Marriott's Great America theme park in Santa Clara, CA, featuring an arcade with all the latest coin video releases and a store with every Atari game and accessory.

May 22-26: Atari exhibited at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago.

June 8: Atari announced the 5200 Home Entertainment System. Suggested retail price: US$299.95, to be available in October along with 10 game cartridges, with another 4 to be available by Christmas. The 14 5200 titles announced: Pac-Man, Super Breakout, Space Invaders, Asteroids (never released), Missile Command, Star Raiders, (RealSports) Baseball, (RealSports) Football, (RealSports) Soccer, Centipede, Qix, Defender, Galaxian, Tank (never released). Atari also announced a 5200 Voice Synthesizer module (never released) and an adapter to allow all VCS game cartridges to be played on the Atari 5200 (released as the VCS Cartridge Adapter).

June: At the Summer CES in Chicago, Atari introduced the VCS titles: Demons to Diamonds, Math Gran Prix, Star Raiders, RealSports Baseball, RealSports Football, RealSports Volleyball, Frog Pond (never released), Combat Two / Fail Safe (never released), Raiders of the Lost Ark (to ship in December), and the SwordQuest series: EarthWorld (to ship in October), FireWorld, WaterWorld (to ship in 1983), AirWorld (to ship in 1983; never released)

June: Atari released Kangaroo by Sun Electronics, released Dig Dug by Namco (Cocktail), released Dig Dug by Namco (Cabaret), and released Gravitar.

June: Roger Badertscher resigned from his position as president of Atari's Home Computer Division.

August 24: John C. Cavalier was named president of Atari's Home Computer Division. His most recent job was vice president and general manager of American Can Company's Dixie and Dixie/Marathon unit, makers of consumer paper products.

October?: Atari released Fast Freddie by Kaneko Seisakusho (Europe only; released outside Europe by Kaneko as Fly-Boy).

October: Atari shipped the 5200 SuperSystem with Super Breakout. Initial titles available separately included: Galaxian (title by Namco, sublicensed via Bally Midway), Missile Command, Space Invaders (title by Taito), Star Raiders, RealSports Soccer, Pac-Man (title by Namco, sublicensed via Bally Midway)

October: Atari released RealSports Baseball for the 2600 and released RealSports Volleyball for the 2600.

November: Atari released Millipede (original upright version), released Liberator, released Quantum, released Pole Position by Namco (Upright), and released Pole Position by Namco (Sit-Down).

November: Atari announced that Alan B. Van Campen was the new Director of National Sales for the Coin Video Games Division. Van Campen was previously a regional sales manager with Kawasaki Motors.

November 18-20: The Coin Games Division of Atari exhibited at AMOA '83 in Chicago using the theme, "The Next Decade." Atari introduced: Liberator, Millipede, Pole Position

December 8: Atari announced that Perry Odak had departed as president of the Consumer Products Group. The vacant position would not be filled. Michael Moone, president of the domestic Consumer Electronics Division, and Anton Bruehl, president of the International Consumer Division, would now both report directly to chairman and CEO Ray Kassar.

December 8: Atari corporate parent Warner Communications (WCI) announced that current quarter sales earnings would be dramatically lower than Wall Street's expectations, citing a very sudden and severe slump in sales at Atari.

December 13: Atari introduced the 1200XL home computer at a press conference at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

December: Atari released RealSports Football for the 2600, released E.T. for the 2600, released Defender (title by Williams Electronics) for the 5200, and released RealSports Football for the 5200.

December: Atari opened the second "Atari Adventure" center in Seaports of the Pacific, Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, CA. This was a unique underwater location. Frank Verkich was the room's coordinator. Dick Reynolds was manager of operations for Atari Adventure.

In 1982 Atari had peaked with over 5,000 workers in Silicon Valley, and US$323.3 million in profits on US$2 billion in sales.

1983
January: At the Atari Coin Video Games Division: John Farrand was President (he had replaced Ken Harkness); Dick Masiana was Vice President of Operations; Lyle Rains was Vice President of Creative Development; Dan Van Elderen was Vice President of Engineering; Don Osborne remained Vice President of Sale and Marketing; Shane Breaks was Vice President of International Marketing and Sales.

January 6-9: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, Atari announced the 5200 titles: Countermeasure, Dig Dug, Galaxian, Jungle Hunt, Kangaroo, Pole Position, RealSports Basketball (never released), RealSports Tennis, Space Dungeon, Vanguard

For the 2600, Atari announced five Children's Television Workshop games: Oscar's Trash Race, Cookie Monster Munch, Big Bird's Egg Catch, Grover's Music Maker (never released), Alpha Beam with Ernie; Atari announced three Disney games: Mickey and the Beanstalk (never released), Mickey and the Great Outdoors (never released), Dumbo Flies Home (later renamed Dumbo's Flying Circus; never released); and Atari announced many other games for the 2600: Ms. Pac-Man, Centipede, Dig Dug, Kangaroo, Jungle Hunt, Phoenix, Vanguard, Galaxian, RealSports Tennis, RealSports Soccer

January 10-13: Atari exhibited at the ATE in London, where it showed 5 games, including Pole Position, Millipede, and the introduction of the Europe-only Time Pilot by Konami.

January: In the Atari Coin Video Games Division, Customer Service and Field Service were combined to form a new Technical Service Department. Darl Davidson was the new Director of Technical Service.

Winter: Atari purchased the Magna Fun Company, operator of 42 coin-operated video game rooms known as "Space Port" located throughout the U.S. Through the rest of 1983, Atari opened 5 new game rooms under the name "Space Port" or "Atari Adventure". (WCI 10-K for 12/31/83)

February 9?: At the 80th annual American Toy Fair in New York, Atari announced the My First Computer (later, The Graduate; it never shipped) add-on for the 2600. My First Computer would include 8K RAM, expandable to 32K, and would sell for under $90. It and about a dozen programs would be available beginning in the fall. "We think this is the missing link between Atari video games and the home computer," Michael J. Moone, president of the company's consumer electronics division, said. (NYT Feb 10, 1983, pg. D4.)

February: Ron Stringari was vice president of sales, merchandising and administration for the Atari Consumer Products group.

February: Atari released Xevious by Namco, released Black Widow, and released Millipede (cocktail version).

February: Atari released Ms. Pac-Man (title by Namco, sublicensed via Bally Midway) for the 2600 and SwordQuest FireWorld for the 2600, and released Countermeasure for the 5200.

February 22: Atari announced 1,700 layoffs as part of a shift to consolidate manufacturing overseas, mainly in Hong Kong and Taiwan. All the layoffs would take place in the Silicon Valley (Calif.), where Atari employed about 7,000 of its 11,000 worldwide total. The reduction would affect the Home Computer Division and the Consumer Products Group (Consumer Electronics and International Consumer Divisions).

Winter/Spring: "Computers: Expressway to Tomorrow" was an Atari-produced assembly program for junior and senior high schools in the U.S., offering both entertainment and computer education using films, slides, music, and a live host to explore the role of computers in society. (MC's note: I remember that this came to my school!)

March 1: Elaine Shirley was promoted to Customer Service Manager at Atari's Coin Games Division, reporting to Darl Davidson.

March: Atari released Centipede for the 2600, released Crazy Climber for the 2600 (title by Nihon Bussan; released exclusively to Atari Club members), and released Qix (title by Taito) for the 5200.

March 17: Atari announced the new division, AtariTel, developing upcoming consumer telecommunications products. The president of the new AtariTel was Peter C. Wensberg. Prior to joining AtariTel, Wensberg served as executive vice president and director of technical and industrial photography at Polaroid Corporation.

April 7: Atari, Inc. filed suit in Santa Clara Superior Court against Nolan Bushnell and Joe Keenan for violation of the non-competition agreement, to expire October 1, 1983, that was a component of the 1976 sale of Atari by Bushnell and Keenan to Warner Communications. Atari claimed that Bushnell's public comments regarding the new Sente Technologies division of Pizza Time Theatre, and his business purchases (Videa Inc.) were attempts to lure customers from Atari, a violation of the agreement.

April?: Atari (Coin) exhibited at Amusement Operators Exposition (AOE) '83 in Chicago, Atari's first exposure at the annual show. Atari introduced the already-released Xevious and Food Fight, and also showed Pole Position and Millipede.

April?: At the Atari Coin Games Division: Jerry Marcus was Executive Vice President of Sales. Don Osborne was vice president of Marketing.

April?: Atari changed the pack-in game for the 5200 from Super Breakout to Pac-Man.

April: Atari released Galaxian (title by Namco, sublicensed via Bally Midway), RealSports Tennis, and RealSports Soccer for the 2600, and released RealSports Baseball and RealSports Tennis for the 5200.

April: Atari announced that Michael Moone would no longer serve as president of the Consumer Electronics Division, as the division would soon be consolidated with the Home Computer Division.

May: Atari released Arabian by Sun Electronics, released Star Wars Standup, released Star Wars Cockpit, and released Food Fight cocktail.

May 24: Atari announced plans to lay off an additional 225 workers beyond the 1,700 that was announced on Feb. 22. Atari had about 5,000 employees in California and in manufacturing plants in Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Hong Kong and El Paso, Tex.

May 26: Atari and Nolan Bushnell announced they had reached an out-of-court settlement of Atari's lawsuit aimed at postponing Bushnell's return to the video game market. The agreement gave Atari the sole right to develop home versions of all arcade video games developed by the Sente Technologies division of Bushnell's Pizza Time Theatre. No dollar value to the agreement was announced.

June 1: Atari consolidated the businesses of the Home Computer Division with the Consumer Electronics (home video games) Division. There would now be three Divisions for both home computers and home video games:

Atari introduced the 600XL, 800XL, 1400XL (never shipped), and 1450XLD (never shipped) home computers. Atari also introduced Alan Alda as spokesperson for Atari computers, in an arrangement to extend for the next 5 years.

For the 2600 Atari introduced: The Graduate (previously announced in Feb. as "My First Computer"); 6 peripherals for The Graduate: I/O Module+8K RAM, Printer, Modem, 16K RAM, Cassette, Micro Disk (wafertape); and 9 software titles for The Graduate: Typo Attack, Monkey up a Tree, Donkey Kong, Robotron, Stargate, Sport Goofy, Caverns of Mars, Introduction to Programming, Children's Introduction to Programming. The Graduate and associated hardware and software all never shipped. See Atari's publicity photo for The Graduate (Creative Computing 9/83 p.202), and also see Atarimuseum's CX3000 page.

Also for the 2600 Atari announced: Pole Position, RealSports Basketball (never released), Donald Duck's Speedboat (never released), Dumbo's Flying Circus (never released), Sorcerer's Apprentice, Joust, Krull, Moon Patrol, Good Luck Charlie Brown (never released), Snoopy and the Red Baron, Miss Piggy's Wedding (never released), Pigs In Space and the 2600 Voice Commander (never released).

For the 5200 Atari announced: Joust, Moon Patrol, Pengo, Robotron:2084, Ms. Pac-Man, Tempest (never released), Sport Goofy (never released)

Atari also launched AtariSoft, a new brand for publishing games licensed by Atari on the hardware platforms of other companies. 12 AtariSoft titles were introduced: Centipede (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20, TI-99/4A, ColecoVision, Intellivision), Defender (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20, TI-99/4A, ColecoVision, Intellivision), Dig-Dug (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20, TI-99/4A. never released for ColecoVision), Donkey Kong (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20, TI-99/4A), Pac-Man (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20, TI-99/4A, Intellivision. never released for ColecoVision), Robotron:2084 (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20, TI-99/4A), Stargate (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20 never released, TI-99/4A never released), Picnic Paranoia (TI-99/4A), Protector II (TI-99/4A), Shamus (TI-99/4A), Super Storm (TI-99/4A; never released), Galaxian (ColecoVision)

June/July: Atari released Jungle Hunt (title by Taito) for the 2600 and released Kangaroo (title by Sun Electronics) for the 2600.

Summer?: The final phase of the Atari Video Adventure center at Marriott's Great America opened in Santa Clara CA, featuring a "video kaleidoscope", Computer Painting, Tone Tunnel, and more.

Month?: Atari released Dragon's Lair and Space Ace both by Magicom, licensed from Cinematronics (both Europe only), and released Mazer Blazer by Stern Electronics (Europe only)

July 7: Warner Communications announced that Atari chairman Ray Kassar had resigned, to be replaced by James J. Morgan. Morgan was previously executive vice president of Philip Morris USA, handling the company's US$4.3 billion cigarette operations. Until Morgan's arrival, Emanuel Gerard would serve as interim chairman and CEO.

July?: Atari released Atari Video Cube for the 2600 (released exclusively to Atari Club members), and released the VCS Cartridge Adaptor for the 5200.

July: Atari (Coin Video Games) and the Young & Rubicam advertising agency received a CLIO Award in the Cinema Advertising Category for "Dig Dug Screenvision" which played in major first-run theaters nationwide during the summer of 1982.

August: Atari Chairman-to-be James Morgan instituted another major management reorganization at Atari. Atari Sales and Distribution Company and Atari Manufacturing Company were both dissolved, their functions to be merged into the Atari Products Company division (home computers and home video game systems), with 5 divisions of its own:

August: Atari released Battlezone for the 2600, and released Kangaroo (title by Sun Electronics) for the 5200.

August?: Frank Becker was promoted to National Field Service Manager at Atari (Coin), reporting to Darl Davidson.

September 6: James Morgan arrived at Atari as chairman and CEO.

Atari froze all product development and product introductions for 30 days while Morgan evaluated the current situation. The Graduate for the 2600 was cancelled, as was the 1400XL. The 600XL/800XL were ultimately committed to manufacture, but the delay meant that appropriate mass production quantities could not be reached in time for Christmas 1983.

September 8: Peter Wensberg had departed from his position as president of the AtariTel division of Atari. Work on the AtariTel product line would continue under general manager Richard Mier who was promoted from AtariTel vp of marketing.

September: Atari released Krull for the 2600, released Cookie Monster Munch for the 2600, released Alpha Beam with Ernie for the 2600, released Pole Position (title by Namco) for the 5200, released Jung Hunt (title by Taito) for the 5200, released Space Dungeon (title by Taito) for the 5200, and released Ms. Pac-Man (title by Namco, sublicensed via Bally Midway) for the 5200.

Fall: Sears shipped the Tele-Games Video Arcade II by Atari (same as the Atari 2800).

October 7: John Cavalier departed from his position as president of the Management (marketing) division of the Atari Products Company. David Ruckert, senior vp of entertainment software marketing, was promoted to replace Cavalier.

October: Atari launched Atari Learning Systems, a new division dedicated to product development, sales, and support for K-12 educators in the U.S.

October: Atari released Dig Dug (title by Namco) for both the 2600 and 5200, released Joust (title by Williams Electronics) for both the 2600 and 5200, released Gravitar for the 2600 (released exclusively to Atari Club members), released Moon Patrol (title by Irem, sublicensed via Williams Electronics) for the 2600, released SwordQuest WaterWorld for the 2600, and released Sorcerer's Apprentice for the 2600.

October 28-30: Atari introduced TX-1, Pole Position II, and Major Havoc at the 35th Annual AMOA International Exposition of Games and Music in New Orleans. (Atari was unable to introduce Firefox as planned, it was not quite ready.)

November: Atari opened the Atari Adventure center in St. Louis, MO. The concept combined a traditional video game arcade with a hands-on public computer classroom/lab featuring Atari XL computers, along with a new technology display area. Barnie Sullivan was vice president of Atari Adventure.

November: Atari released Major Havoc (full name: The Adventures of Major Havoc), released Pole Position II by Namco, and released Crystal Castles cocktail.

December?: Atari released Cloak & Dagger Kit (conversion kit for the Williams units Defender, Stargate, Robotron:2084, or Joust).

January 7-10: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced 6 new AtariSoft titles: Joust (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20 never released, TI-99/4A), Battlezone (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20), Pole Position (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20, TI-99/4A), Ms. Pac-Man (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20, TI-99/4A), Moon Patrol (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20, TI-99/4A), Jungle Hunt (Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20, TI-99/4A, ColecoVision); plus Galaxian, previously introduced for ColecoVision, was introduced in new conversions for: Apple II, IBM PC, C-64, VIC-20

For the 2600 Atari introduced (UNCONFIRMED): Mario Bros., Millipede, Crystal Castles, Taz, Stargate, Gremlins, Pengo, Rubik's Cube, Track & Field.

January 23: Atari chairman and CEO James Morgan announced another management reorganization at Atari. John Farrand was promoted to president of Atari, and Farrand would also now serve as president and COO of the Atari Products Company. Skip Paul would replace Ferrand as president of the Coin-Operated Games division, which would now be grouped under Atari Products Company under Farrand. The new structure:

Winter: Atari released: Mario Bros. (title by Nintendo) for the 2600 and for the 5200, Pigs in Space for the 2600, Quadrun for the 2600 (released exclusively to Atari Club members), Snoopy and the Red Baron for the 2600, Big Bird's Egg Catch for the 2600, Pengo (title by Sega) for the 5200, Moon Patrol (title by Irem, sublicensed via Williams Electronics) for the 5200, Robotron:2084 (title by Williams Electronics) for the 5200, Berzerk (title by Stern Electronics) for the 5200

March: Atari released Millipede for the 2600, and released Oscar's Trash Race for the 2600.

March 24: Atari said it was laying off about 200 white-collar workers from its Sunnyvale, Calif., headquarters in an effort to ''focus our marketing and development efforts.'' The company also said it had decided to cease its direct-mail software sales operations.

April: Atari released Crystal Castles for the 2600 and released Taz for the 2600.

April: Alan Kay departed from his position as chief scientist at Atari. He had held the position since joining Atari in 1981.

May 8: In an elaborate press event, Atari and Lucasfilm introduced Ballblazer and Rescue on Fractalus!, developed by Lucasfilm, to be shipped by Atari on cartridge for the 400/800 computers and the 5200 SuperSystem. (The Atari computer versions were finally shipped on disk by Epyx (USA) and Activision (UK) in 1985. The 5200 versions were finally released by Atari Corp. in 1986.)

May 21: Atari announced the 7800 ProSystem, to ship in July, and announced 13 games for the 7800: 3-D Asteroids (released as Asteroids), Ballblazer, Centipede, Desert Falcon, Dig Dug, Food Fight, Galaga, Joust, Ms. Pac-Man, Pole Position II (to be built into the system beginning in Sept.), Robotron:2084, Xevious. Atari also announced the 7800 High Score Cartridge (never released) and the 7800 Computer Keyboard (never released). Atari additionally announced a 7800 ProSystem Game Adapter for the 5200 (never released).

May 22: Atari disclosed that the 5200 was no longer in production. More than 1 million 5200's had been sold to date. (Washington Post, May 22, 1984, C3)

May/June: Atari released Stargate (title by Williams Electronics) for the 2600, released Gremlins for the 2600, released Pengo (title by Sega) for the 2600, released Rubik's Cube (nearly identical to Atari Video Cube) for the 2600, and released Choplifter! (by Broderbund) for the 5200.

June 1: Atari said it had begun another major round of layoffs. Industry reports put the figure at 800 to 1,000, nearly half of the headquarters staff. Atari was also withdrawing from a joint manufacturing venture in Hong Kong with Wong Electronics, which was 51 percent owned by the company. Atari said Wong would end production of the 800XL home computer, which it had supplied to Atari. Company officials said that the move was an effort to consolidate operations in Taiwan.

June 3: Atari motto at the Summer CES in Chicago: "June 3, 1984--The Day The Future Began."

For the 2600 Atari introduced: (Dr. Salk's) Peek-a-Boo (never released), Elevator Action (never released), Jr. Pac-Man, Garfield (never released), The Last Starfighter (released by Atari as Solaris in 1986).

Atari introduced the 7800 ProSystem (announced May 21), and for the 7800 introduced: 3-D Asteroids (released as Asteroids), Ballblazer, Centipede, Desert Falcon, Dig Dug, Food Fight, Galaga, Joust, Ms. Pac-Man, Pole Position II, Rescue on Fractalus! (never released), Robotron:2084, Xevious. Atari also introduced the 7800 High Score Cartridge (never released) and the 7800 Computer Keyboard (never released). Atari additionally introduced a 7800 ProSystem Game Adapter for the 5200 (never released).

Atari introduced 6 new AtariSoft titles: Gremlins (C-64, IBM PC, Apple II), Crystal Castles (IBM PC, Apple II, C-64 version never released), Donkey Kong Jr. (IBM PC, Apple II, C-64 version never released), Mario Bros. (IBM PC, Apple II, C-64 version never released), Track & Field (C-64, IBM PC, Apple II), Typo Attack (IBM PC, Apple II, IBM PCjr, C-64 and VIC-20 versions never released). And several of the earlier Atarisoft titles were newly announced for the IBM PCjr: Ms. Pac-Man, Centipede, Donkey Kong, Moon Patrol

Atari Games Inc., a division of Warner Communications

July 2: In a deal consummated in New York City at 5:30 a.m. Monday morning, July 2, effective Saturday June 30, the assets of the Atari home computer and home video game businesses were sold by Warner Communications to Tramel Technology Ltd., which had been formed on May 17, 1984 by its chairman and CEO Jack Tramiel (pronounced truh-MELL), the founder and former president of Commodore International. The transaction included exclusive use of the "Atari" name and "Fuji" logo in the home computer and home video game markets, along with the intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, and copyrights) owned by Atari in conjunction with its home computer and home video game businesses. The home computer and home video game rights to Atari coin-operated arcade games developed to date were included as well. Tramel Technology would adopt the new name, Atari Corp. See: A History of Atari Corp. / Atari Interactive

Warner received no cash, but received US$240 million in long-term notes and warrants for a 32 percent interest in Tramiel's new venture. Tramiel, in return, received warrants giving him the right to purchase one million shares of Warner common stock at US$22 a share.

Atari, Inc. adopted the new name, Atari Games, Inc.

The Coin-Operated Games division of Atari Games, Inc., would now operate as "Atari Games" as stipulated in the terms of the sale.

John Farrand continued as president and COO of Atari Games, Inc. Charles "Skip" Paul continued as president of the Coin-Operated Games division.

July 6: Atari Games, Inc. chairman and CEO James Morgan would be "taking a leave of several months'' according to WCI. (He did not return.)

July 13: Warner Communications announced the sale of 78% of its WCI Labs subsidiary (internal co-developer of the Atari XL computers) to WCI Labs' management. As a result of the transaction, which was made effective retroactive to June 1, 1984, a new privately held company, the Take One Company, was formed, with Steven T. Mayer as chairman and chief executive. Warner Communications initially retained 22% ownership of Take One.

September: Charles "Skip" Paul departed as president of the Coin-Operated Games division of Atari Games, Inc.

September: Atari Games, Inc. repurchased certain accounts receivable from Atari Corp. for US$10.1 million in cash.

Fall: Atari Games, Inc. released Crowns Golf by Sega (Europe only).

December: Atari Games, Inc. released Marble Madness (System I hardware platform).

December?: Roy L. Elkins, who headed the AtariTel videophone project at Atari, sought financing from sources outside WCI to continue the work. Stan Zawadowicz, acting on behalf of MEDAMA, Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric (of Japan), bought the patent rights, engineering designs and prototypes for the AtariTel Videophone from WCI, and pulled together the original engineering team, including Elkins, to complete the development work. See: A History of the Former Atari Videophone Project

Atari Holdings, a division of Warner Communications

February 6: WCI announced that Namco Ltd. of Japan would acquire the assets of the Atari Coin-Operated Games ("Atari Games") division of its Atari Games, Inc. unit. Namco established Atari Games Corp. WCI would retain minority ownership (40%) in Atari Games Corp. See: A History of Atari Games / Midway Games West

April: With its significant minority stake in the company, Atari Holdings entered into a court approved settlement in the bankruptcy proceedings of Pizza Time Theatre, Inc.

May: Showbiz Pizza Place, Inc. purchased substantially all of the operating assets of Pizza Time Theatre, including all Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre locations. Showbiz Pizza Place issued 4,000,000 shares of Showbiz Pizza Place Common Stock and 500,000 shares of Showbiz Pizza Place Preferred Stock to the creditors of Pizza Time Theatre. As a result, Atari Holdings, an unsecured creditor of Pizza Time Theatre, received 121,551 shares of Showbiz Pizza Place Common Stock and 16,011 shares of Showbiz Pizza Place Preferred Stock.

July: A group of New York and California investors, Adventure Properties Ltd., bought the string of 44 Space Port video arcades from Atari Holdings Inc., for an undisclosed price. The arcade chain, which has its headquarters in Huntingdon Valley, was [previously] an independent company called Magna/Fun Corp. (The Philadelphia Inquirer, (PA), July 12, 1985, Page D13) "Atari Adventure" locations were included in this transaction. See: A History of the Former Atari Adventure Corp.

1986
August: As a result of a stock buyback by Showbiz Pizza Time, the 16,011 shares of Showbiz Pizza Time Preferred Stock held by Atari Holdings that had previously constituted 3.6% of the outstanding Showbiz Pizza Time Preferred Stock now represented 32.3% of the outstanding Showbiz Pizza Time Preferred Stock.

August 29: Atari Corp. and Warner Communications (WCI) agreed that, in consideration for: the net assets Atari Corp. acquired in the July 1984 transaction; accrued interest on the purchase obligation at 17%; and the repayment of WCI's $24.7 million advanced to Atari Corp., including accrued interest thereon at 10.5%, Atari Corp. would issue to WCI 7,100,000 shares of Atari Corp. Common Stock, and would pay to WCI approximately $36.1 million, upon consummation of a public offering of Atari Corp. Common Stock. The IPO would occur on November 7.

November 7: Initial public offering of shares of Atari Corp. common stock on the American Stock Exchange, under ticker symbol ATC. Atari Corp. sold US$50.6 million worth of stock, or 4.5 million shares at US$11.25 each. As agreed on Aug. 29, 1986, Warner Communications thereupon beneficially acquired 7,100,000 shares of Atari Corp. Common Stock and received approximately $36.1 million. Jack Tramiel and his associates retained collective controlling ownership of Atari Corp.

1987
June 19: A 2-for-1 split of Atari Corp. Common Stock was effected in the form of a 100% common stock dividend distributed to all Atari Corp. shareholders. As a result, WCI now owned 14,200,000 shares of Atari Corp. Common Stock.

1988
October 17: Associated entities of WCI (comprised of AIL Holdings Limited, AIL Ireland Limited, Atari International Hong Kong Ltd. ("AIHK"), WEA Musik Neue Medien and Elektronik GmbH ("WEA Musik") approved the transfer of the 14,200,000 shares of Atari Corp. Common Stock they collectively owned to Atari Holdings, Inc.

October 18: Atari Holdings, Inc. declared a dividend of the 14,200,000 shares of Atari Corp. Common Stock to its parent WCI, completing the two-day stock-shuffling maneuver at WCI.

Atari Holdings, a division of Time Warner

July 25: Time, Inc. acquired controlling interest (59.3%) in Warner Communications, Inc. (WCI). Upon the purchase, Time was renamed Time Warner Inc., and WCI became a unit of Time Warner.

August 30: Atari-related holdings of the newly-merged Time Warner still included:

October 19: Showbiz Pizza Time effected a one-for-ten reverse stock split of Showbiz Pizza Time Common Stock.

October: (after Oct. 19) Atari Holdings sold the entire 12,551 shares of Showbiz Pizza Time Common Stock it held (as adjusted by the October 19 reverse stock split) for an aggregate sales price of $138,645 in open market transactions. (Atari Holdings still held 16,011 shares of Showbiz Pizza Time Preferred Stock.)

1990
January 10: Time Warner, already holding controlling interest in Warner Communications Inc., now acquired 100% ownership of WCI.

June 26: Atari Games (on behalf of Time Warner) announced that it would repurchase the entire 43.8% share of the company held by one of its two largest outside shareholders, Namco America. In return, Namco would receive ownership of Atari Games' Atari Operations subsidiary, which operated more than 40 video game arcades in the Western and Southeastern U.S. See: A History of the Former Atari Operations

The controlling majority shareholder after the transaction, with about an 80% share of the company, would be Warner Communications, itself now a unit of Time Warner Inc. See: Atari Games, a division of Time Warner

1992

Time Warner, owner of certain remnants of Atari investment

June 26, 1992: Atari Holdings, Inc., including its minority-interest 16,011 shares of Showbiz Pizza Time Preferred Stock, was merged with and into its parent company, the Warner Communications Inc. unit of Time Warner Inc.

Atari-related holdings of Time Warner included:

Showbiz Pizza Time Inc., the Irving, Texas, restaurant, entertainment and coin-operated game concern: 32.3 percent or 16,011 class A preferred shares
Atari Corp., the Sunnyvale, Calif., computer game and software company: 24.6 percent or 14.2 million common shares
Atari Games Corp., the privately-held coin and home video game company: approximately 80 percent

1994
March 24: Atari Corp. announced that it would sell 1.5 million shares of its common stock to Time Warner Inc. at a price of $8.50 per share for an aggregate investment of $12.8 million. The transaction would increase Time Warner's interest in Atari Corp. from approximately 25% to approximately 27%.

Month?: The Atari Games employee-owners group, led by president Hide Nakajima, sold their 21% share in the company to the Warner Communications unit of Time Warner, already the owner of the other 79% share. Atari Games became a wholly-owned (100%) subsidiary of the Warner Communications unit of Time Warner.

April 11: Time Warner Interactive Group, Atari Games and Tengen announced plans to integrate their operations and operate under the common name, Time Warner Interactive.

Use of the Tengen brand would be discontinued in favor of the Time Warner Interactive brand.

The Atari Games brand (as developer/manufacturer) would be used side-by-side with the Time Warner Interactive brand (as publisher/distributor) for coin-operated releases.

See: Atari Games, a division of Time Warner

1996
March 29: Williams Interactive, Inc., a subsidiary of WMS Industries, Inc., acquired the entire 100% of Atari Games owned by the Warner Communications unit of Time Warner. See: Atari Games, a division of WMS Industries

Atari-related holdings of Time Warner still included:

Showbiz Pizza Time Inc., the Irving, Texas, restaurant, entertainment and coin-operated game concern: 16,011 class A preferred shares
Atari Corp., the Sunnyvale, Calif., computer game and software company: approx. 27 percent or 15.7 million common shares

1998
June 25: ShowBiz Pizza Time, Inc. adopted the new name, CEC Entertainment, Inc. Time Warner still held its minority-interest 16,011 shares of CEC Entertainment Preferred Stock.

2001
January 11: AOL purchased Time Warner, forming AOL Time Warner

2003
October 16: AOL Time Warner adopted the new name, Time Warner Inc.

October 31: In response to CEC Entertainment's Notice of Redemption dated September 26, 2003, Time Warner surrendered their 16,011 shares of CEC Preferred Stock for an aggregate redemption price of $60.42 per share, or approximately $967,000.

Links/Sources

Atari History Museum (Curt Vendel)
1972 Nutting Associates Computer Space
Al Alcorn Interview
PONG Story
Allied Leisure Industries - Designer, Jack Pearson
If Atari Isn't a Japanese Company, Why Does it Have a Japanese Name?
Atari Inc . 10-Q . For 5/1/96 . EX-10.2
This is the source used for most arcade release dates.
The History of Atari: 1971-1977 By Steve Fulton @ Gamasutra, November 6 2007
Atari: The Golden Years -- A History, 1978-1981 By Steve Fulton @ Gamasutra, August 21 2008.
This is a key source used for 1978-1980 VCS game release dates.
Atari Video Adventure
ShowBiz Pizza.com
The Atarisoft FAQ
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/
Atari jukeboxes
Digitpress Library: Newsletters
http://arcarc.xmission.com/Newsletters/
VC&G Interview: Nolan Bushnell, Founder of Atari, December 12th, 2007 by Benj Edwards
Montfort, Nick and Ian Bogost. Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 2009.
Merchandising magazine (an incredibly rich source! Find it in your local research library.)

Last updated: 2010.06.29

Atari History Timelines by Michael Current

A History of Atari Inc. /
Atari Games Inc. /
Atari Holdings Inc.

Syzygy

Atari (an independent company)

Atari, a division of Warner Communications

Atari Games Inc., a division of Warner Communications

Atari Holdings, a division of Warner Communications

Atari Holdings, a division of Time Warner

Time Warner, owner of certain remnants of Atari investment

Links/Sources

Atari History Timelines by Michael Current

A History of Atari Inc. / Atari Games Inc. / Atari Holdings Inc.

Syzygy

Atari (an independent company)

Atari, a division of Warner Communications

Atari Games Inc., a division of Warner Communications

Atari Holdings, a division of Warner Communications

Atari Holdings, a division of Time Warner

Time Warner, owner of certain remnants of Atari investment

Links/Sources

A History of Atari Inc. /
Atari Games Inc. /
Atari Holdings Inc.