Atari History Timelines by Michael Current

A History of
HIAC XI / Atari Interactive

https://mcurrent.name/atarihistory/hiac_xi.html
Compiled and Copyright (c) 2008-2024 by Michael D. Current

Additions/suggestions/comments/corrections to:
michael@mcurrent.name

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.

Jump to: 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | Links


1998
February 12: HIAC XI, Corp. was established by Hasbro, Inc. for the purpose of acquiring the Atari assets of JTS Corporation.

Hasbro logo -1998         Hasbro Interactive logo      HIAC XI

February 23: JTS sold substantially all of the assets of its Atari Division, consisting primarily of the Atari intellectual property rights and license agreements, to HIAC XI, Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive (which had been established December 8, 1995 as a subsidiary of toy company Hasbro, Inc.), for $5 million.

Tom Dusenberry was President of Hasbro Interactive.

March 3: Hasbro Inc. announced that it was forming a new Hasbro Games Campus, effective by late summer 1998, consolidating the global marketing and product development teams from Hasbro's Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers and Hasbro Interactive units to 50 Dunham Road, Beverly MA (facility constructed in 1976 as the new headquarters for Parker Brothers).

March 11: Activision released Battlezone for PC, title licensed from Atari/JTS.

March 13: JTS Corporation announced the completion of the sale of the company's Atari Division assets to HIAC XI Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive, Inc. for $5 million in cash.

March 16: Hasbro Interactive, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. announced that a subsidiary had acquired copyrights, trademarks, patents and other intellectual property assets of the Atari Division of JTS Corporation. The Atari properties and assets included over 75 game properties including the titles Centipede, Missile Command, Pong, Breakout and Tempest. Hasbro Interactive planned to release its first Atari title in the fall with Centipede for both the PC and Sony Playstation game console.

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

April 3: Activision announced Asteroids for PlayStation and for PC, to ship fall 1998.

April 4-5: At the Atari Messe in Stadthalle Neuss, Germany, Milan Computersysteme launched the Milan 040 computer (Atari ST/TT/Falcon compatible, running Atari TOS/MilanTOS 4.08), shipping June 1998. (source; source; source; source)

April 30: Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of HIAC XI, Corp. was executed by VP and secretary Lawrence M. Kranseler, changing the name of the company to: Atari Interactive, Inc.

May 7: The name of HIAC XI, Corp. was changed to: Atari Interactive, Inc.

Hasbro logo -1998         Hasbro Interactive logo    Atari logo 1998

May: Kathy Butters, previously of Psygnosis (subsidiary of Sony), joined Atari Interactive as VP Intellectual Property, Business Development & Affairs Group.

May 21: Hasbro Interactive announced Centipede by Atari Interactive. Tom Dusenberry was President of Hasbro Interactive.

May 28-30: At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, Hasbro Interactive introduced Centipede by Atari Interactive, for PC CD-ROM and for Sony PlayStation, to ship fall 1998.  Centipede would be the first title to be released by Hasbro Interactive under the Atari label. 

Also at E3, Activision introduced Asteroids, title licensed from Atari Interactive, for PC and for PlayStation, to ship fall 1998.

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

June: 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).

June 16: At Atari Interactive, Inc., Ron Parkinson (Hasbro VP finance) was president and treasurer, Lawrence M. Kranseler was VP and secretary.  Principal office: 50 Dunham Road, Beverly MA (Hasbro Games Campus).  The Atari Interactive board of directors consisted of: Adam Klein, John T. O'Neill, Dan D. Owen.   (MA filing)

October 15: Activision announced the November 10, 1998 release date for Asteroids, title licensed from Atari Interactive, for both PC and PlayStation.

November 12: Hasbro Interactive announced the release of Centipede by Atari Interactive, developed by Leaping Lizard Software, for PC.

November?: Majesco released Centipede, title licensed from Atari Interactive, for Game Boy Color and for Game Boy (separate releases).

November 16: Activision announced the release of Asteroids, developed by Syrox Developments, title licensed from Atari Interactive, for PC and for PlayStation.

December?: Majesco released Super Breakout, developed by Morning Star Multimedia, title licensed from Atari Interactive, for Game Boy Color.

1999
January 19: Take-Two Interactive Software announced it had become the exclusive European distributor of ten Game Boy Color titles for Majesco Sales Inc. The titles included: Monopoly, Millipede, Frogger, Centipede, Breakout, Battleship, Missile Command, and three unnamed titles. Majesco was the exclusive Game Boy Color publisher for all of the above listed games (with the exception of Frogger for which it was the exclusive distributor).  Hasbro Interactive, the division of Hasbro Inc. licensed each property to Majesco. Take-Two planned to launch these titles in Europe between February and September of 1999.

February 8: Activision announced Asteroids, developed by Syrox Developments, title licensed from Atari Interactive, for Game Boy/Game Boy Color, to ship spring 1999.

April 9: Infogrames Entertainment S.A. of France established the wholly owned subsidiary, California U.S. Holdings, Inc. ("Infogrames U.S.").

May 1: Jayson Hill joined Hasbro Interactive as manager of public relations for Atari Interactive. (source 15:10)

May 10: Hasbro Interactive announced it had signed a license agreement with Sony Signatures, consumer products division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, to bring Q*Bert to the PC and PlayStation.

May 13-15: At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, Hasbro Interactive introduced, all under the Atari label: Pong, title by Atari Interactive; Missile Command, title by Atari Interactive; The Next Tetris, developed by Blue Planet Software, title by Elorg/The Tetris Company; and Q*Bert, title by Columbia Pictures Industries, all for PlayStation and for PC, all to ship by fall 1999.

Hasbro logo 1998-       Hasbro Interactive logo       Atari logo 1998-2001

Also at E3, Tiger Electronics (another subsidiary of Hasbro) introduced Centipede, title by Atari Interactive, for the Tiger Game.com (handheld) and the new Tiger game.com Pocket Pro handheld.

Additionally, Take-Two Interactive Software featured Centipede and Super Breakout, developed in conjunction with Majesco, for Game Boy Color.

May 14: Hasbro Interactive announced it had released all of its rights to the Atari Jaguar hardware platform, allowing software developers to create and publish software for the Jaguar without having to obtain a licensing agreement with Hasbro Interactive.  Richard Cleveland was head of marketing for Hasbro Interactive's Atari Business Unit. (PR, see WeLoveAtariV2p283)

June: Hasbro Interactive released Centipede by Atari Interactive, version by Real Sports Games, for PlayStation.

June 30: Hasbro Interactive announced the release of Atari Arcade Hits: Volume 1, developed by Digital Eclipse, for PC, featuring: Asteroids, Super Breakout, Centipede, Pong, Tempest, Missile Command (all by Atari Interactive).

Month?: Valerie C. Walls joined Atari Interactive as associate counsel.

September 8: Hasbro Interactive announced Centipede by Atari Interactive, developed by Leaping Lizard Software, for Dreamcast, to ship fall 1999.

September: Majesco released Missile Command, developed by The Code Monkeys, title by Atari Interactive, for Game Boy Color.

September 29: Activision announced the imminent release of Asteroids, developed by Syrox Developments, title by Atari Interactive, for Game Boy/Game Boy Color.

September: Telegames released Yars' Revenge, title licensed from Atari Interactive, for Game Boy Color.

Fall: Activision released Battlezone Gold Pack for PC, featuring Battlezone (1998, title licensed from Atari Interactive), Battlegrounds Authorized Level Pack (1998) by Macmillan Digital Publishing, and The Red Odyssey Authorized Mission Pack (1999) by Macmillan Digital Publishing, developed by Team Evolve.

Fall: Activision released Battlezone II: Combat Commander, developed by Pandemic Studios, for PC, Battlezone title licensed from Atari Interactive.

October 28: Hasbro Interactive announced the release, all under the Atari label, of: Pong, title by Atari Interactive, developed by Supersonic, for PC and PlayStation; Missile Command, title by Atari Interactive, developed by Meyer/Glass Interactive, for PC and PlayStation; Q*bert, title by Konami, developed by Artech Studios, for PC and PlayStation; Centipede, title by Atari Interactive, developed by Leaping Lizard Software, for Sega Dreamcast; Glover, developed by Interactive Studios, for PlayStation (1998 releases of Glover for N64 and PC were under the Hasbro Interactive label); Nerf ArenaBlast, developed by Visionary Media, for PC.

Also, Frogger, released under the Hasbro Interactive label for PC and for PlayStation in November 1997, was now considered part of the Atari product line.  And, Hasbro Interactive announced they would release, under the Atari label, a sequel to Frogger in 2000.

November 11: Majesco Sales, Inc. announced Pong, title licensed from Atari Interactive, for Game Boy Color, to ship in December, and also promoted their other current Game Boy Color titles licensed from Atari Interactive: Missile Command, Centipede, Super Breakout

December 14?: Crave Entertainment released Asteroids Hyper 64, Asteroids title licensed from Atari via Activision, for N64.

November 15: Date of purchase agreement whereby, through its California U.S. Holdings, Inc. ("Infogrames U.S.") wholly owned subsidiary, Infogrames Entertainment S.A. would acquire a controlling ownership share of GT Interactive Software Corp. (which had been established by GoodTimes Entertainment on September 1, 1992).  GT Interactive included several units, including WizardWorks and its subsidiary, MacSoft.

December 16: Through its California U.S. Holdings, Inc. wholly owned subsidiary ("Infogrames U.S."), Infogrames Entertainment S.A. acquired a controlling ownership share of GT Interactive Software Corp.

December 17: Closing of the 11/15/1999 purchase agreement whereby, through its California U.S. Holdings, Inc. ("Infogrames U.S.") wholly owned subsidiary, Infogrames Entertainment S.A. had acquired a controlling ownership share of GT Interactive Software Corp.

2000
February 11: Under the Atari label, Hasbro Interactive announced Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge, title by Konami, for PC and for PlayStation, to ship Sept. 2000; and announced Pac-Man, title by Namco, for PC, to ship Oct. 2000.  (Pac-Man would not ship with the Atari label.)

March 23: MacSoft announced Asteroids by Activision, conversion by Metis International, for Macintosh, title licensed from Atari Interactive, expected to ship April 2000.

April 1?: Hasbro Interactive released Atari Arcade Hits: Volume 2, developed by Digital Eclipse, for PC, featuring: Asteroids Deluxe, Battlezone, Crystal Castles, Gravitar, Millipede, Warlords (all by Atari Interactive)

April 19: Hasbro Interactive announced it had reached a settlement with two defendants in an intellectual property suit involving several of its games. Acknowledging Hasbro Interactive's rights to games such as Centipede, Missile Command, and Tetris, GT Interactive Software Corp. and Varcon Systems agreed to cease sales of titles based on these and other properties Hasbro Interactive owned or licensed.

Spring: Crave Entertainment released Battlezone: Rise of the Black Dogs, developed by Climax Entertainment, for N64, based on Activision's Battlezone (1998), Battlezone title licensed from Atari Interactive.

May 10: At E3 in Los Angeles, under the Atari label, Hasbro Interactive introduced Galaga: Destination Earth, developed by King of the Jungle, title licensed from Namco, for PlayStation, Game Boy Color, and for PC, to ship fall 2000.  It would ship under the Hasbro Interactive label rather than the Atari label.  Hasbro Interactive also introduced Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge for PC and PlayStation, to ship fall 2000.

May 10: The name of GT Interactive Software Corp., majority owned by Infogrames Entertainment S.A. via California U.S. Holdings, Inc. ("Infogrames U.S."), was changed to: Infogrames, Inc.

June: Sarah Robb O'Hagan, previously of Virgin Atlantic Airways/Virgin Entertainment Group, joined Atari Interactive as VP marketing.

Month?: Mike MacConnell joined Atari Interactive as brand manager.

September 7: Hasbro Interactive announced it had reached a favorable settlement in the intellectual property lawsuit against software companies distributing 'knock-off' versions of several Atari games. eGames, MVP Software and Webfoot Technologies consented to a federal court judgement that acknowledged Hasbro Interactive's copyrights to popular properties, such as Centipede, Missile Command, and Asteroids, and prohibited the sale of games cited in the suit. The settlement also included a payment to Hasbro Interactive for an undisclosed amount.

September 21: Hasbro Interactive announced the release of Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge, developed by Blitz Games, title by Konami, for PC, Dreamcast, PlayStation, and Game Boy Color.  Only early releases for PC and PlayStation would carry the Atari label.

October: Under the Atari label, Hasbro Interactive released Breakout, title by Atari Interactive, developed by Supersonic, for PC and for PlayStation.

October?: Activision released Blast Pack for PC, featuring: Asteroids (1998 release by Activision)  Space Invaders, Atari 2600 Classics (30 titles by Activision)

Fall?: Hasbro Interactive released Atari's Greatest Hits, developed by Digital Eclipse, for PC, featuring: Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe, Battlezone, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Gravitar, Millipede, Missile Command, Pong, Super Breakout, Tempest, Warlords (all titles by Atari Interactive)

December 6: Infogrames Entertainment S.A. (France; founded June 1983) and Hasbro, Inc. jointly announced that they had entered into an agreement comprised of three main elements: 1) The acquisition by Infogrames Entertainment S.A. of Hasbro Interactive (including subsidiary Atari Interactive); 2) a long-term licensing agreement giving Infogrames Entertainment S.A. exclusive rights to develop and publish digital interactive games based on current and future Hasbro properties on all existing and future digital interactive formats; and 3) the acquisition by Infogrames Entertainment S.A. of Games.com.  Infogrames Entertainment S.A. would purchase 100% of the common stock of Hasbro Interactive and Games.com for $100 million - comprised of $95 million in Infogrames Entertainment S.A. securities (approximately 4.5 million common shares) and $5 million in cash. In addition, Hasbro would receive an annual guarantee from Infogrames Entertainment S.A. based on sales generated from the licensing agreement.

2001
January 23: The pending deal that would include the acquisition of Hasbro Interactive by Infogrames Entertainment, as announced 12/6/2000, was unanimously approved at a general meeting of Infogrames Entertainment shareholders. Also, the name of Hasbro Interactive, Inc. was changed to: Infogrames Interactive, Inc.

Infogrames logo     Infogrames Interactive, Inc.       Atari logo 1998-2001

January 26: Infogrames Entertainment S.A. and Infogrames, Inc. entered into a letter agreement whereby Infogrames Entertainment S.A. had agreed to pay Infogrames, Inc. a total one-time fee of $1.0 million in consideration for Infogrames, Inc.'s services rendered to Infogrames Entertainment S.A. in connection with the purchase of Hasbro Interactive, Inc., Games.com, Inc., Atari Interactive, Inc. and certain other companies.

January 29: Hasbro, Inc. announced the completion of the previously announced agreement by which Infogrames Entertainment S.A. had acquired 100% of the common stock of Hasbro Interactive and Games.com for approximately 4.5 million common shares of Infogrames Entertainment S.A. and $5 million in cash.  In addition, Infogrames had gained the rights to develop and publish interactive games based on current and future Hasbro properties through a long-term licensing agreement.  (Hasbro Interactive had been renamed Infogrames Interactive, Inc. as of January 23.  Atari Interactive, Inc. remained a wholly-owned subsidiary of Infogrames Interactive, Inc.)

March 20: At Atari Interactive, Inc., David Fremed was VP and Leslie C. Park was assistant secretary. (MA filing)

April 26: Infogrames, Inc. announced Splashdown, developed by Rainbow Studios, for PS2.

May 17-19: At E3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Infogrames featured 38 new video game titles for PC, Mac, Xbox, PS, and PS2, including TransWorld Surf for Xbox, and MXrider and Splashdown for PS2.  

May/June: MacSoft released Centipede by Atari Interactive, developed by Leaping Lizard Software, ported by Westlake Interactive, for Macintosh.

June: MacSoft released Pong by Atari Interactive, developed by Supersonic, for Macintosh.

June 18: "Infogrames Entertainment S.A. might change its brand name to Atari to raise its profile in the United States and Europe, chief financial officer Thomas Schmider said."  (Hollywood reporter)

July: UK wireless game developer iFone had signed a deal with French consumer game publisher Infogrames to release mobile phone versions of 12 classic video games. iFone programmers were reproducing games such as Atari's Asteroids and Frogger and Infogrames' Driver, in formats that would run on Java and Epoc-enabled devices. (AB Europe)

July 18: Infogrames announced the release of Atari Anniversary Edition by Infogrames Interactive and Atari Interactive, developed by Digital Eclipse, for PC and for Dreamcast, featuring: Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe, Battlezone, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Gravitar, Millipede, Missile Command, Pong, Super Breakout, Tempest, Warlords (all by Atari Interactive)

July 18?: MacSoft released Breakout by Atari Interactive, developed by Supersonic Software, ported by Varcon Systems, for Macintosh.

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 (coin-operated multi-game), featuring the 8 games: Asteroids, Defender, Defender II, Joust, KLAX, Robotron: 2084, Tapper, Toobin'  (source)

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

October 2: Infogrames announced that Splashdown and MXRider, both for PlayStation 2, would ship within weeks, and that they would be the first two titles under its "reinvented" Atari brand.

The Atari logo as used by Infogrames took a new form (left) in NTSC markets, but retained its Hasbro-designed form (right) in PAL markets.  Both forms were often used horizontally (logo, then name), in additional to these more traditional vertical forms:

Atari logo 2001-2002          Atari logo 1998-2001

October 4: The Manchester-based developer iFone had already created Java versions of Atari classics Asteroids, Pong and Breakout. (The Guardian (London))  They were expected to be available for download beginning January 2002. (The Mirror October 6)

October: MacSoft released Q*Bert by Atari Interactive, properties licensed from Columbia Pictures Industries, developed by Artech Studios, for Macintosh.

October 17-18: At X01 in Cannes, France, Infogrames introduced TransWorld Surf, to be released under the Atari brand, for Xbox.  (Xbox was to be released in Europe on March 14, 2002.)

October 31: Infogrames, Inc. announced that it had shipped MXrider, developed by Paradigm Entertainment, for the Sony PlayStation 2 the week of October 22, and that Splashdown, developed by Rainbow Studios, for PS2 was shipping the week of November 5th.  The two titles were the first being released under the reinvented Atari brand, and both were shipping globally (US/Europe).

November 15: Infogrames, Inc. announced it had shipped, under the reinvented Atari brand, TransWorld Surf, developed by Angel Studios, for Xbox

November 19: Come January 2002, the Motorola Accompli and Siemens SL45i would be the first two Java handsets to go on sale in Europe, and iFone's Atari collection would be available for download to those phones. (The Guardian)

November 20: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release of Combat, developed by Magic Lantern, title by Atari Interactive, for PC.

December 13: Infogrames, Inc. announced the spring 2002 release, under the Atari brand, of TransWorld Surf, developed by Angel Studios, for the PlayStation 2.

2002
January 16: At Atari Interactive, Inc.: Denis Guyennot was president, David Fremed was treasurer, Lisa Rothblum was clerk, Leslie C. Park was assistant secretary, and there were three directors: Bruno Bonnell, Denis Guyennot, Thomas Schmider. (MA filing)

March 15: Sony Ericsson had announced a partnership with iFone that would allow Sony Ericsson to offer downloadable colour games from its mobile internet portal by the end of 2002. As part of the deal, iFone would lend its classic games, such Atari's Asteroids, to Sony Ericsson phones.

March 25: Sarah Buxton was Infogrames, Inc. vp of marketing for the company's Atari division. (AdWeek)

March 26: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release of Atari Anniversary Advance by Infogrames Interactive, developed by Digital Eclipse, for Game Boy Advance, featuring: Asteroids, Battlezone, Centipede, Missile Command, Super Breakout, Tempest (titles by Atari Interactive)

April 2: Infogrames, Inc. announced the summer 2002 release, under the Atari brand, of Splashdown, developed by Rainbow Studios, for Xbox.

May 10: Infogrames, Inc. announced the summer 2002 release, under the Atari brand, of V-Rally 3, for PS2 (version developed by Eden Studios) and for Game Boy Advance.

May 10: Infogrames released Atari Revival by Infogrames Interactive for PC ("3 Arcade Legends Reborn for the PC"), featuring: Missile Command (1999), Warlords (new), Combat (2001) (all titles by Atari Interactive)

May 14: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari brand, of TransWord Surf, developed by Angel Studios, for PS2.

May 14: JAKKS Pacific, Inc. announced that the company's subsidiary Toymax International has entered into a worldwide licensing agreement with Infogrames Interactive, Inc. to develop and market the Atari 10-In-1 TV Games, expected to ship third quarter 2002.

May 17: Motorola Inc. and iFone (an entertainment content provider for mobile phones and wireless devices) announced the signing of a global distribution deal to bring iFone's Java games, including Atari video game titles licensed from Infogrames, to Motorola's network operators, wireless portals, retail partners, and a selection of Motorola handsets.

May 22-24: At E3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Infogrames, Inc. featured more than 40 new titles for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PC, and Macintosh.  New titles to ship under the Atari brand included: Test Drive (PS2), Neverwinter Nights (PC), Stuntman (PS2), Spashdown (Xbox), Unreal Tournament 2003 (PC), Terminator: Dawn of Fate (Xbox, PS2), Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee (GameCube), Transworld Snowboarding (Xbox), Superman: The Man of Steel (Xbox), Unreal Championship (Xbox), Fugitive Hunter (PS2), Superman: Shadow of Apokolips (PS2, GameCube)

May 31: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari brand, of Test Drive, developed by Pitbull Syndicate, for PS2, and that it would also ship shortly (June) for Xbox.

June 11: Infogrames, Inc. announced the imminent release (June 18), under the Atari label, of Neverwinter Nights, developed by Bioware, for PC (and later for Linux).

June: T-Motion began offering iFone's Infogrames-licensed Atari Classics (Asteroids, Pong and Breakout) to their customer base in Germany.

June 25: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of Stuntman, developed by Reflections Interactive, for PS2.

July 3: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of Splashdown, developed by Rainbow Studios, for Xbox.

July 12: Infogrames, Inc. announced the October 2002 release, under the Atari brand, of Godzilla: Domination, developed by WayForward Pocket Team, for GameBoy Advance.

Summer: Infogrames adopted a new look for its Atari brand, licensed from Atari Interactive, Inc. (the wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment S.A.).  Often, the logo would be used rotated 90° counterclockwise from this:

Infogrames logo  Infogrames Interactive, Inc.     Atari logo 2002-2003

August 28: mmO2 launched 'the O2 games arcade' - the first commercial Java games service in the U.K. - bringing pictures, colour, sound and an arcade feel to mobile gaming. All O2 games arcade games would be free to U.K. customers for one month from 1 to 30 September 2002. The service would launch across the other O2 territories (Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands) starting in October. Games offered within the O2 games arcade at launch included Atari classics Asteroids, Pong and Breakout, licensed from Infogrames via iFone.

September 9: mmO2 and Motorola, Inc. announced Motorola's Mobile Services Cafe, a new downloadable entertainment service that provided consumers with the ability to personalize and differentiate their mobile phones.  Content would be shared with O2's new commercial games service, the O2 games arcade, including mobile games such as retro classics Breakout, Asteroids and Pong from top brand Atari, licenses from Infogrames via iFone.

September 13: Infogrames, Inc. released a trial demo version, under the Atari label, of Unreal Tournament 2003, developed by Digital Extremes in conjunction with Epic Games, for PC.

September?: Infogrames, Inc. released, under the Atari label, Superman: Shadow of Apokolips, for PS2.

September 27: Infogrames released Atari Anniversary Edition Redux by Infogrames Interactive and Atari Interactive, developed by Digital Eclipse, for PlayStation, featuring: Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe, Battlezone, Black Widow, Centipede, Gravitar, Missile Command, Pong, Space Duel, Super Breakout, Tempest, Warlords (all by Atari Interactive)

September 28: Infogrames, Inc. released, under the Atari label, Unreal Tournament 2003, developed by Digital Extremes and Epic Games, for PC. (PR 11/4/02)

October 2: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of The Terminator: Dawn of Fate, developed by Paradigm Entertainment, for PS2 and Xbox.

October: Atari Interactive VP marketing Sarah Robb O'Hagan departed the company.

October 15: Infogrames, Inc. announced the spring 2003 release, under the Atari label, of TransWorld Surf: Next Wave, developed by Angel Studioes, for GameCube. 

October 16: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee, developed by Pipeworks Studios, for GameCube.

October 25: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of TransWorld Snowboarding, developed by Housemarque, for Xbox.

October 25: Infogrames, Inc. announced the March 2003 release, under the Atari label, of APEX, developed by Milestone, for Xbox.

October/November: Team Play released the coin-operated Centipede/Millipede/Missile Command/Let's Go Bowling Retrocade Classic Edition (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 12: David Fremed was Atari Interactive SVP and CFO. (IP security agreement)

November 13: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of Superman: The Man of Steel, developed by Circus Freak Studios, for Xbox.

November 15: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of Godzilla: Domination!, developed by WayForward Pocket Team for GameBoy Advance.

November: Infogrames released, under the Atari label, Micro Machines for PS2 and for Xbox. (PAL/Europe only)

November 22: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of Unreal Championship, developed by Digital Extremes in collaboration with Epic Games, for Xbox.

November 27: Infogrames, Inc. announced the spring 2003 release, under the Atari label, of Neverwinter Nights: Shadows Of Undrentide (Expansion Pack for Neverwinter Nights), being co-developed by BioWare Corp. and FloodGate Entertainment.

December 19: Infogrames, Inc. announced the March 2003 release, under the Atari label, of Fugitive Hunter, developed by Black Ops Entertainment, for PS2.

2003
January 9: iFone and Sprint announced a partnership that would exclusively launch iFone's Atari Classics wireless games within the U.S. by bringing Atari games such as Asteroids, Centipede, Pong, and Missile Command to PCS Vision handsets. 

January: Infogrames released, under the Atari label, Micro Machines for GameCube. (PAL/Europe only)

January 21: Infogrames, Inc. announced the spring 2003 release, under the Atari label, of Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee, developed by Pipeworks Software, for Xbox.

January 27: Infogrames, Inc. announced the April 2003 release, under the Atari label, of Ikaruga, developed by Treasure, for GameCube.

January 27: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of Battle Engine Aquila, developed by Lost Toys, for PS2 and Xbox.

January 30: Infogrames, Inc. announced the February 4 release, under the Atari label, of Unreal II: The Awakening , developed by Legend Entertainment in conjunction with Epic Games, for PC.

January 30: Infogrames, Inc. announced that it had sold its Macintosh publishing operations, MacSoft, to Destineer, Inc. 

February 1: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of Fugitive Hunter, developed by Black Ops Entertainment, for PS2.

February 12: JAKKS Pacific announced the Atari 10-in-1 TV Games device, properties licensed from Atari Interactive.  Games: Gravitar, Asteroids, Real Sports Volleyball, Centipede, Adventure, Pong, Missile Command, Breakout, Yars' Revenge, Circus Atari

February 13: At 3GSM in London, Cash-U Mobile Technologies featured a iFone Atari Classic Breakout tournament utilizing remotely hosted high-score games tables.  iFone provided exclusive content, including Atari arcade classics such as Pong, Breakout and Asteroids, to a number of mobile operators worldwide, including Hutchison 3G, Vodafone, O2, Deutsche Telecom, M1 and Far EasTone.

February 21: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of APEX, developed by Milestone, for Xbox.

March 7: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of Grand Prix Challenge, developed by Infogrames Melbourne House, for PS2.

March 12-19: At CeBIT in Hannover Germany, Motorola featured nine producers/publishers of mobile entertainment and productivity applications, including iFone which featured their line of Atari classic titles.

March?: Infogrames, Inc. released, under the Atari label, Superman: Shadow of Apokolips, for GameCube.

March 26: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of V-Rally 3, developed by Eden Studios, for Xbox.

March 27: Infogrames, Inc. announced the fall 2003 release, under the Atari label, of Horizons, developed by Artifact Entertainment, for PC.

March 28: Infogrames, Inc. announced the fall 2003 release, under the Atari label, of Dead Man's Hand, developed by Human Head, for Xbox.

March 28: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of Furious Karting, developed by Babylon Software, for Xbox.

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)

April 9: Infogrames, Inc. announced the fall 2003 release, under the Atari label, of Kya: Dark Lineage, developed by Eden Studios, for PS2.

April 11: Infogrames, Inc. announced the June 2003 release, under the Atari label, of Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II, developed by WebFoot Technologies, for Game Boy Advance. 

April 15: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of Ikaruga, developed by Treasure, for GameCube.

April 15: Infogrames, Inc. announced the release, under the Atari label, of Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee, developed by Pipeworks Software, for Xbox.

April 18: Infogrames, Inc. announced the May 15, 2003 release, under the Atari label, of Enter The Matrix, developed by Shiny Entertainment, for PS2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC.  The release date would coincide with the theatrical release of the Warner Brothers movie, "The Matrix Reloaded."

April 21: Infogrames, Inc. announced the April 29, 2003 re-release, under the Atari label, of Test Drive for Xbox, as part of Microsoft's "Platinum Hits" program.

April 21: Infogrames, Inc. announced the April 29, 2003 re-release, under the Atari label, of Test Drive for PS2, and the June 26, 2003 re-release, under the Atari label, of Stuntman for PS2, as part of Sony Computer Entertainment America's "Greatest Hits" program.

April 23: Infogrames, Inc. announced the fall 2003 releases, both under the Atari label, of Deer Hunter, developed by Coresoft, for PS2, and of Deer Hunter 2004, developed by Southlogic Studios, for PC.

April 24: Infogrames, Inc. announced the fall 2003 release, under the Atari label, of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, developed by Black Ops Entertainment, for "all major console gaming systems."

April 29: A new Atari, Inc. was established.  (The purpose of this corporate entity is unknown, it does not seem to have been used.)

April 30: The name of Infogrames, Inc. (the former GT Interactive Software Corp., majority owned by California U.S. Holdings, Inc. ("Infogrames U.S."), the wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment S.A.) was changed to Atari, Inc. -- Atari name licensed from the wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment S.A.,  Atari Interactive, Inc.

April 30: Certificate of Ownership and Merger merging Atari Interactive, Inc. with and into Infogrames Interactive, Inc. was executed by president Denis Guyennot.

May 6: Atari Interactive, Inc. (established Feb. 12, 1998 as HIAC XI, Corp.) was merged with and into its parent company, Infogrames Interactive, Inc. (established Dec. 8, 1995 as Hasbro Interactive, Inc.), which was renamed to: Atari Interactive, Inc. 

May 7: Infogrames Entertainment S.A. adopted the Atari brand, licensed from its wholly owned subsidiary, Atari Interactive, Inc., for all operations.

Atari Interactive, Inc. would remain the corporate entity holding the ownership rights to many intellectual properties that originated with Atari, Inc., Atari Corporation, Hasbro Interactive, Inc., or Infogrames Interactive, Inc. for many years to come.


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Last updated: 2024.03.11