Atari History Timelines by Michael Current

A History of
WCI Games / Atari / Atari Games / Atari Holdings

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: 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | Links

1976
July 26: Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) filed a Certificate of Incorporation for the new subsidiary, WCI Games Inc., in the Office of Secretary of State, State of Deleware.  WCI Games Inc. main office: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York NY; California office: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank CA.  Emanuel Gerard was WCI EVP; Steven J. Ross was WCI chairman, president, and CEO; Martin D. Payson was WCI Games Inc. VP and general counsel.

     WCI Games Inc.

September 7: Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) announced it had signed a contract to purchase controlling interest in Atari, Inc.  Warner EVP 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 9/8, NYT 9/8)

September: Atari (Consumer) offered Super Pong (C-140) and Pong (C-100). (Merch. p56)

September: Sears offered Tele-Games Pong (#99716; "1976 version"; $59.99) by Atari (same as Sears #25796 original 1975 version and Atari Pong C-100) and released Hockey Pong (#99721; $69.99) by Atari (same as Atari Hockey Pong C-121), Super Pong (#99736; $79.99) by Atari (same as Atari Super Pong C-140), and Super Pong IV (#99737; $99.99) by Atari (same as Atari Super Pong Ten C-180). (newspaper ads)

October 1: Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) acquired all of the outstanding stock of Atari, Inc. for approximately $12,000,000 in cash and $16,000,000 in debentures.

       WCI Games Inc.                       

Atari chairman Nolan K. Bushnell and president Joseph F. Keenan, as co-CEOs of Atari, would now report to WCI EVP Emanuel Gerard.  Atari VP finance Bill White would report to Bushnell and Keenan, with "dotted-line" indirect reporting to Warner Communications Inc. SVP finance Bert W. Wasserman. (source 4:45)

The Atari board of directors would include chairman Nolan Bushnell, Emanuel Gerard, and WCI SVP and chief technologist Jac Holzman.

October 4: Atari, Inc. was merged with and into WCI Games Inc., which was renamed to: Atari, Inc.  The new Atari, Inc. was authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 a share.

October 12: "Atari" became a registered trademark of Atari. (Reg. No. 1,050,153, filed Nov. 19, 1975)

October 15: Atari officially opened their new 68,988 ft² corporate headquarters building at 1265 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (building owned by Warner Communications Inc. -source); previously: 14600 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos CA).  Administrative offices, marketing research offices, manufacturing offices, international marketing offices and domestic marketing offices would be located on the second floor; the first floor would be the home of Coin-Op engineering and Pinball engineering (to replace temporary neighboring facilities/houses on Division Street in Campbell CA). (CC v1n1; Fun p211; Cash Box 6/19/76 p46-47; Vending Times 7/76, 11/76 p58; source 8:00)  Atari now occupied six buildings with over 275,000 ft² of total space in the Moffett Park industrial park, including the new Corporate Building, Consumer Division headquarters/sub assembly manufacturing at 1195 Borregas Ave. (54,000 ft²; building owned by Warner Communications Inc. -source) Consumer engineering/Microelectronics ("Moffett Engineering") at 155 Moffett Park Dr. (27,000 ft²), a Consumer division warehouse at 360 Caribbean Dr (72,000 ft²), Coin-Op printed circuit board production at 1180 Bordeaux Dr. (20,000 ft²), and a lease for a building under construction at 1173 Borregas Ave (Pinball manufacturing; 51,000 ft²).  Consumer Division final assembly manufacturing and customer service remained at 1280 Reamwood Ave., Sunnyvale CA (125,000 ft²); Coin-Op Division headquarters, manufacturing and customer service remained at 2175 Martin Ave., Santa Clara CA (65,000 ft²); a Pinball prototype production line was established at Atari's former headquarters building in Los Gatos. (source)  Atari would grow to 800 employees.

October: Atari had appointed Sue Elliot, previously of Multi-National Corporation (which had been contracted for managing Atari's international sales/marketing operations since 1973), as the first administrator of Atari's new International Division (sales/marketing, both consumer and coin op), replacing Multi-National founder/president Ronald F. Gordon (Ron Gordon) in the role. (Gordon would establish Friends Amis, Inc. on 11-Jul-78.)  Elliot would report to Eugene J. Lipkin (Gene Lipkin) who remained Atari (corporate) VP marketing (and general manager, Coin-Operated Division (Atari/Kee Games)).  (Vending Times 10/76; Cash Box 10/30/76 p53; TVDigest 10/25/76 p13)    

October: Allan E. Alcorn, previously Atari VP research and development and Pinball Division manager, would remain VP research and development.  Gilbert J. Williams (Gil Williams), previously Atari VP manufacturing (Coin-Op and Consumer), became Atari VP and Pinball Division Manager (replacing Alcorn in the role).  Curt Russell, previously Atari (Coin-Op) purchasing manager, would be promoted to Atari (Coin-Op) director of operations (replacing Williams in the role). (source; source)  Bob Russell, previously of Bally Manufacturing, would join Atari (Pinball) as Manufacturing Operations Manager.  James F. Riordan, previously of FMC Corporation, joined Atari (Pinball) as assembly line supervisor, prototype pinball production (temporary plant at the former Atari corporate headquarters, 14600 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos CA; reporting to mechanical engineering manager Fred Tarver).  Roy Y. Kusumoto, previously consumer plant manager (1280 Reamwood Ave, Sunnyvale CA; reporting to Williams), would become Atari (Consumer) director of international operations (replacing Williams in the role).  Dave Elson would become Atari (Consumer) manufacturing manager (1280 Reamwood Ave; replacing Kusumoto in the role).

October: Edward J. Boasberg joined Atari (Pinball) as Marketing Coordinator. (Fun p416)   

October: Engineer David R. Stubben, previously of Information Storage Systems, Inc. (and before that, Ford Aeronutronic), joined Atari (Coin-Op) (as Sr. electrical engineer?).  (Bob Skyles (Robert W. Skyles) remained engineering manager.)

October: Steve Calfee, previously of National Semiconductor, joined Atari (Coin-Op) engineering (temporary Division Street facility/house, Campbell CA) as Sr. Microprocessor programmer. (source 7:30 for date; 8:00 for descriptions of the Division St. site) (essentially replacing Tom Hogg in the role?)

October: Atari released Night Driver (original upright version).

October: Atari (Consumer) was promoting Super Pong and Pong. (Merch. p37)

October: Michael C. Shea (Michael Shea) remained Atari Consumer Division director of marketing. (Vending Times 10/76 p91)

October 25: Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) established an office of the president, which would be held by four persons: Jay Emmett, Emanuel Gerard, David H. Horowitz (each previously WCI EVPs and directors), and Kenneth S. Rosen (new to WCI).  All four would now be directors of WCI as well.  Steve Ross, previously WCI chairman, president, and CEO, would remain WCI chairman and CEO. (WSJ 10/26)  Atari chairman Nolan K. Bushnell and president Joseph F. Keenan, as co-CEOs of Atari, would continue report to Gerard (source 3:10) who would also remain a director of Atari.  Jac Holzman, previously WCI SVP and chief technologist, would be senior consultant to the Office of the President of WCI (WCI PR 8/19/81) and would remain a director of Atari.

October 25: The Atari C-160 Pong unit (Pong Doubles) had earned FCC approval. (TVDigest 10/25/76 p11)

Fall?: Atari established a Restaurant Operating Division.  Gene N. Landrum, previously Atari assistant to the chairman of the board, would be Restaurant Operating Division General Manager (still reporting to Atari chairman Nolan Bushnell). (Fun p326)  

Fall: Atari VP research and development Al Alcorn additionally became general manager for the Consumer Division, replacing Sheldon Ritter who departed the company.  Engineer Murray John Ellis, previously of National Semiconductor, joined Atari (Consumer) as director of engineering.  Ellis would build a team of engineers that would include engineering manager Wade B. Tuma and engineer Niles E. Strohl who both previously worked with Ellis at National Semiconductor.  Tuma would, in turn, recruit analog engineer Frederick R. Holt (Rod Holt), previously head of engineering at The Hickok Electrical Instrument Co. (and former colleague of Tuma).  Engineering technician Ed Riddle, who previously worked with Holt at Hickok Electronic Instrument, would join Atari (Consumer) (reporting to Tuma). (source)  Synertek engineer/Atari consultant Jay G. Miner (Stella MOS/LSI design), Joseph C. Decuir (Stella logic design), and Larry Wagner (Stella software & systems architecture) would each now report to Atari (Consumer) director of microelectronics Dr. Robert J. Brown (Bob Brown).  Stella mechanical/design engineer Douglas A. Hardy would now report to Atari (Consumer) industrial design manager Frederick W. Thompson (Fred Thompson).  (Stella programmer Larry Kaplan would still report to Wagner.)  (source; source; source)  

November 12-14: At the MOA International Exposition of Music and Games at the Conrad Hilton Hotel in Chicago (booths 16-20, 29-33, Namco/Atari 97A-100A, 100B), Atari introduced Night Driver, released F-1 by Nakamura Seisakusho Co., Ltd. ("Namco") (De Luxe or custom models), and released Sprint 2 by Kee Games. (source)  Atari held a roundtable discussion on solid state pinball games that included 12 operators and Atari representatives Carol Kantor (Manager of Marketing Services), Al Alcorn (VP research and development), and Eddie Boasberg (Pinball Marketing Coordinator), where Atari announced (but did not show --Vending Times 4/77p59) The Atarians, to be the first Atari pinball machine. (CC 1/77; Vending Times 2/77p50)  Also announced to attend from Atari: national sales manager Frank Ballouz, VP marketing Gene Lipkin, western regional sales manager Terry Speizer, president Joe Keenan, chairman Nolan Bushnell, VP engineering (coin operated games) Stephen D. Bristow, coin-op engineering manager Bob Skyles, customer service manager Don Smith, VP finance William L. White, and Gil Williams (formerly VP manufacturing, now VP and general manager Pinball Division). (Vending Times 10/76p83)  Atari introduced the first edition of its new Coin Connection newsletter,"Atari's official monthly newsletter," edited by Atari manager of marketing services Carol Kantor, at the show. (Cash Box 11/6 p51; 11/13 p7)

November: Atari began field testing of The Atarians, to be the first Atari pinball machine. (CC 2/77)

November: Atari (Coin-Op) VP engineering Steve Bristow and Atari's Cyan Engineering unit launched a home consumer electronic board game development project. (Bristow resume)  Bristow established a research & development lab for the project in the "back half" of the building that housed Atari's Stella project development operations, 471 Division St., Campbell CA. (Fun p221 with corrections; Fun p254-255; Stella at 20 t15 21:50) 

November: Commodore International acquired controlling interest in MOS Technology, and MOS Technology became a subsidiary of Commodore. (source)

November 19-21: At the 58th International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA) show at the Rivergate in New Orleans (booths 1322, 1324, 1326, 1328, 1421, 1423, 1425, 1427), Atari introduced Night Driver, introduced F-1 by Nakamura Seisakusho Co., Ltd. ("Namco") (De Luxe or custom models), and introduced Sprint 2 by Kee Games. (source; Vending Times 1/77; CC 3/77)  Atari also previewed Atari Shooting Arcade (never released) at the show. (source)

December 13: The Atari C-200 had earned FCC approval. (TVDigest 12/13/76 p11)

December: Atari announced the availability of the Atari Theatre Kiosk (2-, 3-, or 6-game versions). (Cash Box 12/11 p40; source)  Also, an Atari Theatre Kiosk (6-sided) was installed at the San Francisco Powell Street Station of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) System.  The unit included: Pong Doubles, Space Race, Trak 10, Jet Fighter, Le Mans, Tank.  (Cash Box 5/14/77; Vending Times 2/77 p46; source)

December: Atari announced the promotion of Jean Morosin to administrative assistant to the corporate VP of marketing and coin-operated games division general manager Gene Lipkin. (Vending Times 2/77 p50; CC v1n2 1/77)

December?: Atari (Consumer) analog engineer Rod Holt departed the company (to Apple Computer Company; he would co-found the reorganized Apple Computer Corporation (renamed 11/21/77 as: Apple Computer, Inc.) as VP engineering on 1/3/77 with Mike Markkula, Mike Scott, former Atari engineering technician Steve Jobs, and Steve Wozniak).  (source)

December 17: Atari signed a lease for Moffett Park Building D, 390 Caribbean Dr, Sunnyvale CA (86,000 ft²), to be completed and opened as a Consumer warehouse and distribution building beginning April 1, 1977.

December 21: John Burton Anderson, previously Atari assistant treasurer, became Atari (corporate) VP Administration (personnel, facilities planning, data processing, office services, legal liaison). (CoinConJan77)  John Peterson, previously Atari financial planning manager, became assistant treasurer (replacing Anderson in the role).  Joe Keenan remained Atari president. (Vending Times 3/77 p61; source)

December 21: Malcolm Kuhn remained Atari (Consumer) sales director. (AP)

In 1976 Atari sold more than one million consumer electronic video game units.  (WCI/Knickerbocker acquisition SEC filing, 1977)

1977
January 13-16: Atari introduced Super Pong Ten (C-180; $79.95) and Video Music (C-240; "expected to retail for under $200") at the 5th annual Winter Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held at the Conrad Hilton in Chicago (the last Winter CES held in Chicago). (Merch 1/77 p79; Billboard 1/29/77 p52; TVDigest 1/17/77 p12)  Kerry M. Crosson was Atari (Consumer) new products manager.  The first Video Music presentation and demonstration was conducted at Faces, a Chicago disco, coinciding with the CES. (BB 1/15/77)

January: Programmer Bob Whitehead joined Atari (Consumer) as a Stella project game designer.  He was hired by Atari (Consumer) director of microelectronics Bob Brown. (source)  Whitehead was Atari's second Stella programmer, after Larry Kaplan; Whitehead and Kaplan would both report to Stella software development director Larry Wagner (who reported to Brown).

January: Atari (Coin-Op) engineering vacated their temporary facility/house on Division St in Campball CA, consolidating operations on the first floor at the Atari Corporate Building, 1265 Borregas Ave, Sunnyvale CA. (source 7:30)

January: Don Osborne joined Atari as western regional sales manager, replacing Terry Speizer who departed the company. (CC 2/77)

January: Atari released Dominos (original 1 or 2 player upright version).

January 17-18: Atari held a pinball service seminar for their upcoming first pinball game, The Atarians, at the new Marriott Hotel at Santa Clara CA's "Great America" amusement park. Nearly 35 distributors attended from across the country.  For Atari (Coin-Op): Don Smith was manager of Customer Service, Fred McCord was Customer Service Field Rep.; John Petlansky was Production Manager, Printed Circuit boards.  For Atari (Pinball): Steve Nollan was Pinball engineer, Bob Russell was Manufacturing Operations Manager, Gil Williams was Atari Pinball Division Manager, Eddie Boasberg was Pinball Marketing Coordinator. (CC 2/77; Cash Box 3/19/77 p43; Vending Times 4/77p59; Fun p433)

January 18-20: Gametronics: The Electronic Game Designer's Conference ("First Annual"), sponsored by Electronic Engineering Times, held at the Hyatt House Hotel, Burlingame CA (suburban San Francisco). (source)  Atari chairman Nolan Bushnell received one of the two awards for pioneering efforts in the electronics industry. (source; source)

January 25-27: At the Amusement Trades Exhibition (ATE), Alexandra Palace, London, Atari introduced The Atarians pinball, featured F-1 and Dominos, and also showed the Atari Theatre Kiosk, Night Driver, Sprint 2, Breakout, Le Mans, and Indy 4.  Atari products were also exhibited by the Cherry Group (Atari distributor in the UK) and by Atari-Europe (headquartered at 12, rue de l'Helvétie, Baume-les-Dames, France), which also featured the Jupiter phonograph.  Sue Elliot was Atari International Marketing Administrator. (CC 3/77; Vending Times 3/77p62)

January 29: Engineer Darl Davidson, previously of National Semiconductor, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a manufacturing engineer. (CC 2/83; Cash Box 4/21/79 p49-50)

February 2: Niles E. Strohl was Atari Stella project engineer within the Consumer product engineer group. (Decuir 1977 notes p4) 

February 6-8: Atari released Dominos/4 Cocktail and also featured The Atarians, Sprint 2, Night Driver, Breakout, and Indy 4 at the Association of College Unions-International (ACUI) conference and show in San Diego. (CC 3/77)

February: Programmer Gary Palmer joined Atari (Consumer) as a Stella project game designer. (source)

February 18: The Atarians release event was hosted by Atari distributor C.A. Robinson, marking the imminent arrival of Atari's first pinball machine.  Approximately 300 operators and guests attended, plus representatives from Atari.  Gil Williams remained Atari Pinball Division manager. (CC 3/77; Vending Times 4/77p59)

February 20: Atari had released Super Pong Ten (C-180). (newspaper ad)

February 22: Programmer Alan Miller joined Atari (Consumer) as a Stella project game designer (source), completing Atari's original team of 5 Stella programmers (Wagner (manager), Kaplan, Whitehead, Palmer, Miller).

February/March?: Geoff Harrop (Geoffrey A. J. Harrop) joined Atari (Pinball) as engineering manager, replacing electrical engineering manager Don Lang and mechanical engineering manager Fred Tarver who both departed the company.  Jim Uszack, previously of Teledyne, joined Atari (Pinball) as a manufacturing engineer (reporting to operations manager Bob Russell).  Jim Riordan, previously prototype assembly line supervisor (reporting to Tarver), would also be a manufacturing engineer (reporting to Russell).

February/March?: Colette A. Weil ("wile" (source 12:20) joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a marketing research analyst (source for date), hired by/reporting to marketing services manager Carol Kantor. 

March: John Petlansky remained production manager, Atari printed circuit board testing (PCB Test group). (source)

March: Engineer Noah L. Anglin II, working as an independent consultant since fall 1976 for clients including Atari and Information Terminals Corporation (later known as: Verbatim), and before that, manager, research & development engineering at Memorex (source), would join Atari (Coin-Op) as engineering manager, replacing Bob Skyles who departed the company.  (Skyles would establish Skyles Electric Works on 10/16/78.)  Dave Stubben, previously Sr. electrical engineer?, would become a team leader (one of three), replacing Rich Patak (Richard J. Patak) who would depart the company along with chief draftsman (mechanical engineering/engineering services) Ronald G. Wayne (Ron Wayne) (both to LDF Semiconductors, Inc., which in 1978 would be renamed: Touch Activated Switch Arrays, Inc. (TASA)).  (Lyle V. Rains and Tom Hogg remained team leaders as well; Steve Bristow remained Atari (Coin-Op) VP Engineering.) 

March 20-23: At Atari's Third Annual Distributor Meeting, held at the Del Monte Lodge, Pebble Beach CA, Atari introduced Triple Hunt, introduced Sprint 8 by Kee Games, and also featured The Atarians. Atari awarded a "platinum" Breakout unit to West German distributor Löwen Automaten for outstanding Breakout sales.  Gene Lipkin remained Atari VP marketing. (CC 4/77; Vending Times 4/77p62)

Winter/Spring: Atari included 840 employees. (WCI annual report for 1976)

Winter/Spring: Graphics designer James Kelly joined assistant manager Evelyn Lim (future Evelyn Seto) and production artist Bob Flemate in the expanding Atari (Coin-Op) graphics design group, headed by graphics design manager George H. Opperman. (ArtOfAtari p248)

April 1: The Atari C-202 Pong unit (Super Pong Pro-Am Ten) earned FCC Type Approval. (WeLoveAtariV1p43)

April 4: Engineer Rick Moncrief joined Atari (Coin-Op) (source) as special projects team leader.

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

April: In Japan, the Nakamura Seisakusho Co., Ltd. ("Namco") Atari Japan unit released Night Driver by Atari. (GM 11/29/82)

April: Atari's 51,262 ft² pinball manufacturing facility at 1173 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA was ramping up to mass production of the first Atari pinball game, The Atarians.  Atari Pinball Division personnel included operations manager Bob Russell, plant manager Bob Kolbus (previously headed Atari video manufacturing), and manufacturing engineer Jim Uszack. (CCApr77)

April: C. Marshall Caras, previously general manager at Rowe International, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as Director of Marketing.  Gene Lipkin remained Atari (corporate) VP marketing (CCMay77; Vending Times 5/77p54; St. Pong Revisited 4/77) (and general manager, Coin-Op Division).

April: National TV debut of Coca-Cola "Coke adds life" series ad taking place in an arcade game room and featuring an Atari Pong competition (as a take-off on the recent Bobby Riggs vs. Billy Jean King tennis competition). (CC 4/77; Vending Times 5/77p59)

April: University of Santa Clara student Tom Petit started a part-time job at Atari (Coin-Op) in product development engineering. (CC 11/81; Cash Box 10/21/78 p67)

April: Charlotte Gural, previously Atari general accounting manager, had been promoted to the position of Restaurant Operating Division Controller.  Bruce Eller was Atari's new assistant corporate controller.  (Steve Yeates remained Atari corporate controller.) (St. Pong Revisited 4/77)

April: Craig Hansen had joined Atari as lab supervisor for Consumer Microelectronics; Jim Gebel (James Leo Gebel) had joined Atari as project manager for Consumer Engineering. (St. Pong Revisited 4/77)

May 1: Atari opened a Consumer warehouse and distribution building, Moffett Park Building D, at 390 Caribbean Dr, Sunnyvale CA (86,000 ft²).

May 2-5: At the New York Premium Show held at the Coliseum, Atari introduced Super Pong Pro-Am (C-200; $50; never shipped) (TVDigest 5/9/77) and probably (unconfirmed) also introduced, or at least announced, Super Pong Pro-Am Ten (C-202; $59.95 retail). 

May 3: Private Grand Opening Review of Atari's Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre (initial "prototype" location) for employees of Atari's Coin-Op Division (Building F (1180 Bordeaux Dr) and Santa Clara). (St. Pong Revisited 4/77)

May 4: Private Grand Opening Review of Atari's Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre (initial "prototype" location) for employees of Atari's Corporate Building and Pinball Division. (St. Pong Revisited 4/77)

May 3: Private Grand Opening Review of Atari's Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre (initial "prototype" location) for employees of Atari's Consumer Division (Consumer, Reamwood, Caribbean, and Moffett Engineering). (St. Pong Revisited 4/77)

May 9: World premiere party and press conference celebrating the Grand Opening (which would be May 16) of Atari's Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre, 370 S. Winchester Blvd, San Jose CA, from 6 PM to 9 PM. (Fun p351)  

May 12: Rick Krieger (Richard Krieger) was materials manager and Dave Elson was manufacturing manager for Atari (Consumer). (Electronics 5/12/77 p80-81)

May 15: Atari would shut down operations at 1280 Reamwood Ave, Sunnyvale CA (Consumer Division final assembly manufacturing and the consumer Customer Service Division).  Atari (Consumer) would open a new final assembly manufacturing plant at 1215 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (100,000 ft²; Moffett Park industrial park; building owned by Warner Communications Inc. -source) (Fun p316; TVDigest 4/18/77 p10) and the consumer Customer Service Division would move to 1346 Bordeaux Dr, Sunnyvale CA.  (While 1340 Bordeaux Dr was briefly slated for the role instead of 1346 Bordeaux - see the C-202 manual -- 1340 Bordeaux would instead serve as the home of Consumer chip programming.)

May: Atari released Sprint 8 by Kee Games.

May: Brad Stewart joined Atari (Consumer) as a Rosemary project (game system based on the Signetics 2650 microprocessor; product never introduced) programmer. (source)  Also joining Atari for the project: engineer/programmer R. Scott Scheiman (source; source 5:20, 7:20). Chip engineering technician Steve Smith would join Atari as well ("Video Frog" project; same project?); Smith had been interviewed by lab supervisor Craig Hansen. (source 1:30; 5:35)  (Bob Brown remained Atari (Consumer) director of microelectronics.)

May: For the Atari Coin-Op and Pinball Divisions: Geoff Harrop was (Pinball) engineering manager, Don Osborne was (Coin-Op) Western sales manager, Eddie Boasberg was (Pinball) marketing coordinator, Marshall Caras was (Coin-Op) marketing director, Frank Ballouz was (Coin-Op) national sales manager, Gil Williams was Atari VP and Pinball division manager, and Bob Russell was (Pinball) manufacturing operations manager. (Atari Atarians ad, see WeLoveAtari v1p65)

May 16: Kerry Crosson was new-product manager at Atari. (source)

May 16: Grand Opening of Atari's Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre, located in a 5,000 ft² converted brokerage office at 370 S. Winchester Blvd. in Town and Country Village, 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).  (Mechanical animatronics by Cyan Engineering. -Fun p329)  Gene N. Landrum was Atari Restaurant Operating Division General Manager. (CC 6/77; source) 

May/June?: Atari shipped Super Pong Pro-Am Ten (C-202; $59.95 retail).

May/June?: Sears released the Tele-Games Super Pong IV (#99789; $54.99; uses 4 "C" batteries not included) by Atari (same as Atari Super Pong Pro-Am Ten C-202).  (direct replacement for Super Pong IV #99737)

June 6: The Atari CX-2600 had earned FCC approval. (TVDigest 6/6/77 p12)

June 5-8: At the 11th annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at McCormick Place/McCormick Inn in Chicago, using the slogan "We take fun seriously", Atari introduced the Video Computer System (VCS; $189.95; previously: Stella project; to ship with 2 Joystick Controller units, 1 pair of Paddle Controllers (also to ship separately), and Combat Game Program cartridge), Video Pinball ($74.95), Stunt Cycle ($72.95), Tank II ($64.95; never shipped), Ultra Pong ($42.95), and Ultra Pong Doubles ($52.95).  All of the new systems were expected to ship in July.  To be sold separately for the VCS Atari also introduced the 5 cartridge titles Air-Sea Battle, Space Mission (would ship as: Star Ship), Indy 500 (to ship with Driving Controller), Street Racer, and Video Olympics (for a total of 6 announced titles), and announced that a total of 9 cartridges would comprise the initial library for 1977, with 2 or 3 to be released monthly starting in 1978. (TVDigest 6/13/77 p12)  Distribution in Canada by Paragon Entertainment Products, Inc. (Merch 6/77 p43-54, 88)  Stephen Bristow was Atari VP engineering (electronic board games); Mike Shea was Atari director of marketing. (Merch 7/77 p83)

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

June: In Japan, the name of Nakamura Seisakusho Co., Ltd. (the controlling parent company of Atari Japan Corporation) was changed to Namco Ltd. (GM 11/29/82)

June: In Japan, Namco's Atari Japan unit released Sprint 2 by Kee Games. (GM 11/29/82)

June: Atari (Coin-Op) announced the appointment of Howard Rubin (Howie Rubin), previously of Betson Enterprises, as Eastern regional sales manager.  Frank Ballouz remained national sales manager; Marshall Caras remained director of marketing. (CC 6/77; Vending Times 7/77)

June: Engineer John Ray joined Atari (Coin-Op) as an electronic engineer.

June?: Jerry Jessop joined Atari (Consumer) as a production line rework technician. (source)

June 27: Atari had canceled Tank II, introduced at the CES earlier in the month. (TVDigest 6/27/77 p11)

Months?: In France, Atari-Europe released the Hit-Parade 108, Hit Parade 144, Concerto 120, and Rustica 160 jukeboxes.

July 2: Atari (Coin-Op) international distributors included: Canada: Dale Distributing Ltd. (Rexdale, Ontario; Richmond, B.C. (Vancouver)), Laniel Automatic (Mt. Royal, Quebec), New Way Sales (Toronto, Ontario), Rowe International of Canada Ltd. (Dorval, Quebec; Malton, Ontario; Burnaby, B.C. (Vancouver)); Argentina: Jorge Mochkovsky (Sarmiento); Austria: Env-Vertrieb (Frankfurt); Australia: Leisure & Allied Industries (Perth); Belgium: Brabo Corporation (Antwerp); Brazil: Taito do Brazil (Sao Paulo); Panama: Isthmian Amusement Corporation (Albrook Field AFB); Central America: Alegrias S.A. de C.V. (San Salvador, El Salvador), Plazalegre (San Salvador, El Salvador); England: Cherry Group (London); France: Socodimex (Paris); Germany: Löwen Automaten (Bingen/Rhine), Seevend Automaten (Hamburg); Holland: Vale Automaten Imports (Veldhoven); Hong Kong: Coin & Vending Ltd.; Italy: Fratelli I. Berolino (Torino); Japan: Atari Japan (unit of Namco Ltd.; Ohta-ku, Tokyo); Mexico: Operado Nacional Espectaculos (Avila Camacho); New Zealand: Brian Dowlie (Auckland); Philippines: Bhagwan Ramnani (Palm Village, Makati, Rizal); Puerto Rico: Raymond Amusements (Guaynabo); South Africa: Plankomat (Pty) Limited (Johannesburg), Space Age TV Games Ltd. (Transvaal); Spain: Sega S.A. (Madrid); Scandinavia: Cherryforetagen; Mondial Commercial Corp. (New York); R.H. Belam Companuy, Inc. (New York); Pan American Amusements (Hillside NJ)  (Cash Box 7/2/77 pt.III p13)

July 2: At Atari, Nolan Bushnell remained chairman, Joe Keenan remained president, Gene Lipkin remained (corporate) VP marketing (and general manager, Coin-Op Division), C. Marshall Caras, was director of marketing, Frank Ballouz was national sales manager, Don Osborne was Western regional sales manager, Sue Elliot was head of international sales, Steve Bristow was VP engineering, Gil Williams was VP/general manager Pinball Division, Al Alcorn was VP R&D (and general manager, Consumer Division), Bill White was VP finance, John Anderson was VP administration.  (Cash Box 7/2/77 pt.III p22)

July: Atari released Starship 1.

July: John Petlansky remained production manager of Atari's PC (printed circuit board) facility. (CC 7/77)

July: Steve Hendricks joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a graphics designer (reporting to graphics design manager George Opperman).

July 25: John D. Vurich, previously National Semiconductor product marketing manager (and prior to that, chief engineer at Mirco Games, Inc.), had joined Atari (Consumer) as new product manager (personal computer). (TVDigest 7/25/77 p11)  (Michael Shea remained Atari (Consumer) director of marketing.)

Summer?: Mechanical engineer Mike Hally joined the Atari Pinball Division. (source)

Summer: Industrial designer Mike Quiero, who had worked for Atari (Coin-Op) on a paid internship during fall 1976, joined Atari (Coin-Op).  He would report to industrial design manager Peter L. Takaichi. (source) 

August 1: Atari had begun shipping the Video Computer System (TVDigest 8/1/77 p11; 10/17/77 p10) (VCS; CX-2600; 6 switches; woodgrain; NTSC for U.S. only; VHF channel 3 only; box: "The Super System... with 10 to 50 dynamite game variations per Game Program"; with two CX10 Joystick Controllers, one pair of CX30 Paddle Controllers, and Combat), and had also begun separately shipping the four VCS Game Programs: Air-Sea Battle, Video Olympics, Star Ship (previously: Space Mission) (never released in PAL format), Indy 500 (with two CX20 Driving Controllers)

August 1: Atari Video Pinball (also approved under Sears label) had earned FCC approval. (TVDigest 8/1/77 p11)

August 1: Early newspaper ad by Longs Drug Stores listed the Atari #CX 2600 Video Computer System with Combat for $169.88, and offered "Atari" cartridges Air-Sea Battle or Space Mission (would ship as: Star Ship) for $17.88.

August 9: Atari "Colleen" computer project broad specifications as proposed by Atari Cyan Engineering senior engineer Steve Mayer and Atari (Consumer) engineer Joe Decuir were accepted by Atari decision makers including Synertek engineer/Atari consultant Jay Miner, Atari (Consumer) director of microelectronics Bob Brown, Atari (Consumer) director of engineering M. John Ellis, Atari (Consumer) new product manager (personal computer) John Vurich, and Atari VP research and development (and general manager, Consumer division) Al Alcorn. (Decuir 1977 engineering notes p65-74)  Miner would be Colleen project manager.

August?: Sears published the Wish Book for the 1977 Christmas Season.  On pages 2-3 Sears introduced the Tele-Games Video Arcade (#99743; $178.95) by Atari (same as the Atari VCS CX2600), which shipped with Target Fun by Atari (same as Atari Air-Sea Battle), two Sears-branded joystick controllers by Atari (same as Atari CX10), and a pair of Sears-branded paddle controllers by Atari (same as Atari CX30).  Sears offered 6 Video Arcade (or Atari VCS) game cartridges sold separately: Tank-Plus by Atari (same as Atari Combat), Outer Space by Atari (same as Atari Star Ship), Speedway II by Atari (same as Atari Street Racer), Pong Sports by Atari (same as Atari Video Olympics), and Blackjack by Atari ($19.95 each), plus Race by Atari (same as Atari Indy 500; with two driving controllers (same as Atari CX20); $34.95).  On pages 4-7 Sears introduced the Tele-Games Speedway IV (#99748; $98.95) by Atari, the Tele-Games Motocross Sports Center IV (#99729; $83.95) by Atari (same as Atari Stunt Cycle), the Tele-Games Tank (#99728; $58.95; never shipped) by Atari (same as Atari Tank II), the Tele-Games Pinball Breakaway (#99713; $79.99) by Atari (nearly the same as Atari Video Pinball C-380, but featuring the Sears exclusive Breakaway game in place of the Rebound 1 game of the Atari C-380), the Tele-Games Super Pong (#99788; $39.95; never shipped) by Atari (same as Atari Super Pong Pro-Am C-200 which never shipped), and the Tele-Games Super Pong IV (#99789; $49.95) by Atari (same as Atari Super Pong Pro-Am Ten C-202).  On page 391 Sears offered the Atari Video Music (#99761; $169.95).

August: In Japan, Atari Japan Corporation, operated by Namco Ltd. since their August 1974 purchase agreement with Atari, and majority owned by Namco since late 1975, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Namco, as Namco completed its purchase of the unit.  Hideyuki Nakajima remained Namco VP for Atari Japan (head of the unit). 

August 22: Atari had announced the commencement of video game production (final assembly) at the new Atari (Consumer) building at 1215 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (100,000 ft²; Moffett Park industrial park; building owned by Warner Communications Inc. -source), bringing Atari's total manufacturing area [actually all buildings, not just manufacturing] to 556,000 ft². (TVDigest 8/22/77 p9)  Loren T. Schoof, previously Atari (Consumer) plant manager (1195 Borregas Ave), had been promoted to director of international operations, replacing Roy Kusumoto who had departed the company (and would establish Solectron Corporation on 8/25/77).  James Heller, previously test supervisor (1195 Borregas), had been promoted to consumer manufacturing manager (source; RetroVideogameMagazine #6, pp. 24-29) (reporting to Schoof), replacing Dave Elson who departed the company, and Atari had abandonded the former Consumer division plant at 1280 Reamwood Ave., Sunnyvale CA. 

Summer/Fall?: Atari (Consumer) engineering technician Ed Riddle departed the company (to Dynabyte). (source)

Summer/Fall?: Ian Shepard joined Atari (Consumer) as game designer/programmer.

September 1: Sears had released the Tele-Games Video Arcade (#99743 package with two joysticks, pair of paddles, and Target Fun cartridge; $179.99) by Atari (same as the Atari VCS CX2600). (newspaper ad)

September 3: Newspaper ad from PayLess Super Drug Stores offered Atari Super Pong C-140 for $29.88, offered the Atari VCS for $169.88, and listed all 8 VCS Game Programs: Air-Sea Battle, Video Olympics, Star Ship, Street Racer, Indy 500, Blackjack, Surround, Basic Math

September 7: At Atari (Coin-Op), Lenore Sayers had been promoted to sales representative (previously: sales order processing supervisor); Frank Ballouz remained national sales manager. (Cash Box 9/10/77 p48; Play Meter 10/77 p54)

September 8: Six representatives from Atari were present for a regional Time 2000 hands-on introduction event for operators held in Seattle, including Fred McCord and Don Smith from the customer service department, Geoff Harrop and Bob Russell from Pinball engineering and manufacturing, VP and general manager of the Pinball division Gil Williams, and Don Osborne, Western regional sales manager. (CC 9/77)

September 11: Newspaper ad from Macy's offered the Atari VCS for $180 and Atari Video Pinball (C-380; original "beige" console version featuring the 7 games: Flipper Pinball 1, Paddle Pinball 1, Flipper Pinball 2, Paddle Pinball 2, Rebound 1, Rebound 2, Breakout) for $80.

September 14: Richard (Dicky) B. Derickson had joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a logic designer. (source)

September: Atari announced the release of four new game programs (cartridges) for the VCS : Surround (Sears title: Chase), Basic Math (Sears title: Math), Blackjack, Street Racer (Sears title: Speedway II) (Merch 10/77 p48; Merch 1/78) for a total of 8 available (not counting the pack-in game, Combat). (TVDigest 10/17/77 p10)

September: Gil Williams remained general manager of the Atari Pinball Division. (CC 9/77)

September: David Crane, previously an associate engineer at National Semiconductor, joined Atari (Consumer) as a (VCS) video game designer.

September: Atari released the 2 Game Module (cabinet that houses 2 games facing opposite directions), released Airborne Avenger (pinball), and released Super Bug by Kee Games.

September 18-22: Atari displayed four games in its hospitality suite at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) annual meeting in Toronto: Time 2000 (Atari), Starship 1 (Atari), Drag Race (Atari), Super Bug (Kee Games).  Howard Rubin was Atari Eastern regional sales manager, and Carol Kantor was manager of marketing services. (Vending Times 11/77p62)

September 24: Sears had released the Tele-Games Pinball Breakaway (#99713; $79.99) by Atari. (newspaper ad)

October 2: Sears had released the Tele-Games Speedway IV (#99748; $99.99) by Atari. (newspaper ad)

October 2-5: Atari featured Starship 1, Time 2000, and Super Bug at the Best Western 29th Annual Round-Up, "the world's largest convention of lodging executives," at the New Orleans Hilton.

October 4: Sears had released the Tele-Games Pong Sports IV (#99708; $49.99) by Atari (same as Atari Ultra Pong Doubles C-402(D); direct replacement for Super Pong IV #99789). (newspaper ad)

October 13-16: At the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) show at McCormick Place in Chicago (booth 200), Atari introduced the Vending Kiosk concept (never shipped) and Destroyer and featured Airborne Avenger along with: Time 2000, The Atarians, Super Bug, Starship 1, Breakout, Triple Hunt, Sprint 2

October: Atari released Ultra Pong (C-402(S); $32.88 sale price). (newspaper ads)

October 17: Atari had shipped 90,000 Atari VCS units so far, over 2 1/2 months.  Patrick Kearney was Atari VCS product manager. (TVDigest 10/17/77 p10)  (Kearney had assumed the role from Atari (Consumer) new products manager Kerry Crosson; Mike Shea remained Atari (Consumer) director of marketing.)

October 28-30: At the Amusement & Music Operators of America (AMOA) International Exposition of Games and Music at the Conrad Hilton Hotel in Chicago (booths 16-23 and 26-33), using the "Magic Show" theme, Atari featured Airborne Avenger, introduced Destroyer, Canyon Bomber, and Sprint 4, featured The Atarians, Time 2000, 2 Game Module, and F-1 with a new reinforced canopy, and also showed Super Bug, Sprint 2, Starship 1, Breakout, Triple Hunt.  At Atari, Nolan Bushnell was chairman, Joe Keenan was president, Al Alcorn was VP research and development, Gene Lipkin was Atari VP and general manager Coin-Op, Bill White was VP finance, Steve Bristow was VP engineering, John Anderson was VP administration, Gil Williams was VP and general manager Pinball, Frank Ballouz was national sales manager, Don Osborne was Western regional sales manager, Howie Rubin was Eastern regional sales manager, Lenore Sayers was a sales representative, Eddie Boasberg was pinball marketing coordinator, Carol Kantor was manager marketing services.  (VendingTimes 10/77 p80)

October 30: Sears had released the Tele-Games Pong Sports II (#99707; $39.99) by Atari (same as Atari Ultra Pong C-402(S); direct replacement for Super Pong #99788). (newspaper ad)  

Fall: Jim Huether, previously of GTE-Sylvania, joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer/programmer. (source)

Fall?: Engineer Richard Simone, previously LSI design manager at National Semiconductor, joined Atari (Consumer) as LSI Design Manager. (source)  (Bob Brown remained Atari (Consumer) director of microelectronics.)  Hires by Simone would include (all from National Semiconductor): Douglas G. Neubauer, Steve Stone, Mark Shieu, Delwin Pearson.  (source; source 1:40)  Also: Steve Wright, previously a technician at IBM (RetroGamer #35p84), joined Atari (Consumer) as Manager of LSI Test.

Fall?: Atari and Dorsett Educational Systems reached a licensing agreement that would bring Dorsett's Talk & Teach Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) System to the Atari "Colleen" computer.

Fall: In France, Atari sold its controlling ownership share of Atari-Europe, S.A., including the manufacturing plant at 12, rue de l'Helvétie, Baume-les-Dames.  The name of the Atari-Europe, S.A. would be be changed to, Europe Electronique SA, and the company would continue to manufacture Atari (Coin-Op) games for European distribution for Atari.  The Atari Rustica 160 jukebox would be rebranded as the Europe Electronique 60R.

November 3-6: The $250,000 Tournament Soccer World Championship Foos Festival was held at the Gateway Convention Center in St. Louis MO.  Tournament Soccer, Schlitz, and Atari were the event sponsors.  Alongside the foosball (table football/table soccer) there was a free-play Atari arcade for attendees, Atari provided a Player Appreciation Buffet Dinner, and Atari sponsored a Breakout tournament: the first place winner of an Atari VCS was Bob Curtin from Lansing MI; second and third place winners of Atari Video Music Systems were Paul Wolack of Chicago and Jim Campbell of Davenport IA. (CC 11/77; WeLoveAtari v1p115; Tour ad)

November 12: Atari had released Stunt Cycle (SC-450). (newspaper ad; $68.88)

November: Atari released Canyon Bomber.

November: Programmer Warren Robinett joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer. (source)

November: Larry Nicholson, previously of Nicholson Electronics, joined Atari's Cyan Engineering unit as a software engineer.

November: At Atari Coin-Op / Pinball: Gene Lipkin was VP/general manager Coin-Op; Gil Williams was VP/general manager Pinball; Frank Ballouz was national sales manager; Howard Rubin was Eastern regional sales manager; Don Osborne was Western regional sales manager; Lenore Sayers was a sales rep; Don Smith was head of customer service, West; Dave Tucker was head of customer service, East. (Play Meter 1/78 pD3)

November 17: Atari had released Ultra Pong Doubles (C-402(D)). (newspaper ad; $39.99)

November 19-21: At the IAAPA Exposition at the Rivergate Exhibition Center in New Orleans, using the "Magic Show" theme, Atari introduced Ultra Tank, introduced Wolf Pack (never released), and also featured: Sprint 4, Canyon Bomber, Destroyer, Airborne Avenger, The Atarians, Time 2000

November/December: Atari Pinball Division management would be consolidated into the Coin-Op Division.  Gil Williams, previously Atari VP and general manager, Pinball Division, would become Atari VP Coin-Operated Manufacturing.  Gene Lipkin, previously Atari (corporate) VP marketing and general manager Coin-Operated Division, would become (corporate) VP marketing and general manager, Coin-Operated Group (assuming Pinball general management from Williams).  Curt Russell would remain (Coin-Op) director of operations (now reporting to Williams), assuming pinball manufacturing operations from Bob Russell who would depart the company.  Jim Riordan, previously a Pinball manufacturing engineer, would be promoted to pinball manufacturing engineering manager (reporting to Curt Russell).  Steve Bristow, previously VP engineering for Atari (Coin-Op) and electronic board game development (having completed a working prototype of Conway's Game of Life -Fun p255, 298, 301), became Atari (Coin-Op) VP engineering and Plant Manager Pinball Production, assuming Pinball plant management from Bob Kolbus who departed the company. (Bristow resume)  Loren Schoof, previously Atari (Consumer) director of international operations, would be promoted to VP Consumer Division Operations. 

Programmer Dennis Koble, previously of Atari (Coin-Op), would transfer to Atari (Consumer) to manage electronic board game engineering (replacement for Bristow in the role), with operations at 1364 Bordeaux Dr., Sunnyvale CA (replacement for Bristow's lab at: 471 Division St., Campbell CA.). (Fun p257 for location)  (John Ellis remained Atari (Consumer) director of engineering.)

December 1: Richard Krieger, previously Atari (Consumer) materials manager, had become director of Far East Operations (new position responsible for subcontractor manufacturing in Taiwan - Republic of China (ROC)), and would establish and head an Atari liaison office at 5th floor, 2 Min-Tsu E Rd, Taipei.  David Chiu would be Atari's first local employee in Taiwan, responsible for quality assurance. (source)  Taiwanese contract manufacturers of the Atari VCS would eventually include: TRW Electronics Components Co., Dimerco Electronics, Kingtek Electronics Co.

December: Atari released Sprint 4 (four-player version of Sprint 2).

December: Kenneth Rosen, Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) office of the president, formally resigned his position with WCI.  The position of WCI office of the president would be reduced from four to three persons: Jay Emmett, Emanuel Gerard, and David H. Horowitz.  Gerard remained responsible for Atari.

In 1977 Atari sold some 850,000 consumer game units, of which roughly 40% (340,000) were Video Computer Systems.  (WCI annual report for 1977; TVDigest 4/10/78)

1978
January 1: Atari, Inc. became the exclusive US distributor (sales & service) for the NSM phonograph (jukebox) line, which originated in West Germany and was represented internationally by Löwen Automaten.  Bert Davidson, previously in charge of US sales of NSM products, would remain as a consultant to Atari and Löwen Automaten.  NSM units to be marketed in the U.S. by Atari were to include the 160-selection Prestige, 160- and 120-selection Consul, and 120-selection Hit. Gene Lipkin remained Atari VP marketing (and general manager, Coin-Op division). (Vending Times 12/77p35; source)

January 5-8: At the 6th annual Winter CES, held in Las Vegas, Atari introduced the Game Brain (C-700; $115; to ship in June; never shipped), and for the Game Brain introduced the cartridge games Super Pong, Video Pinball, Stunt Cycle, and Ultra Pong, plus the Video Music cartridge (each cartridge intended to replace existing Atari dedicated units of the same names).  For the VCS ($189) Atari introduced Starship II (would ship as: Space War), Concentration (would ship as: Hunt & Score), Codebreaker, Hangman and Outlaw, for a total library of 13 VCS cartridge titles available/soon available (not counting the pack-in game, Combat).  Concentration and Codebreaker were designed to be used with the new Keyboard Data Entry Controllers (CX50; prototype units labeled "universal keyboard"; would ship as: Keyboard Controllers; to be delivered in June).  Michael Shea was Atari (Consumer) marketing director; Joe Keenan was Atari president. (PR; TVDigest 1/2/78 p12; 1/9/78p9; TVDigest 1/16/78 p9; source)

January 11: Geoff Harrop remained Atari (Coin-Op) pinball engineering manager. (source)

January 11: The Atari "Colleen" computer project had expanded to include "Candy" which would be a console with optional plug-in keyboard. (Decuir 1978 engineering notebook p3)

January: Atari (Coin-Op) opened a 10,600 ft² sales, service, and parts facility at 44 Colonial Dr., Piscataway NJ, headed by Eastern regional sales manager Howard Rubin. Frank Ballouz remained national sales manager. (CC 1/78)  Sales representative Lenore Sayers would also be based at the location. (Cash Box 2/23/80 p43)  Dave Tucker would head customer service at the location.

January: Atari released Sprint One by Kee Games.

January?: Gene Wise joined Atari's Cyan Engineering as a Mechanical Engineer/Design Supervisor.

January 24-26: Atari was represented at the Amusement Trades Exhibition (ATE) at Alexandra Palace in London by the Cherry Group, Atari distributor in Great Britain.  Atari's Sky Raider and Tournament Table were introduced at the show.  Also featured: 2 Game Module, Sprint 4, Ultra Tank, Destroyer, Sprint 1, Middle Earth, Starship 1, Super Bug.  Previewed at the show: Competition 8 (never released).  CC 3/78

January 31: Industrial designer John Hayashi (with previous experience as an Atari (Consumer) project engineer) had joined Atari (Consumer) as director of Industrial Design and Graphics (reporting to VP Consumer engineering John Ellis), replacing industrial design manager Fred Thompson who had departed the company. (Decuir 1978 engineering notes p7; ArtOfAtari p306)  Steve Hendricks, previously of the Atari (Coin-Op) Graphics Design group (where he had reported to graphics design manager George Opperman), would transfer to Atari (Consumer) as art director (reporting to Hayashi).

Winter?: Angela Jones was Atari (Consumer) Special Markets Manager. (source; source)

Winter: Atari acquired the right to port Microsoft BASIC M6502 8K Version to the upcoming Atari personal computers ("Colleen"/"Candy"). (source; source)

Winter?: New production Sears Tele-Games Video Arcade systems by Atari would ship with Pong Sports (#99744 package, replacing the #99743 package that shipped with Target Fun).

Winter?: Paragon Entertainment Products discontinued serving as Atari's Consumer products distributor in Canada.

Winter: Atari (Consumer) established an Advanced Projects group (TCWv1 p478 for name) to investigate algorithms, artificial intelligence applications, robotics, and digital signal processing.  Bob Brown, previously director of microelectronics, would become director of research and head of the new unit.  Larry Wagner, previously director of software development (reporting to Brown), would be manager, advanced projects (still reporting to Brown).  Lab personnel would include Richard (Dicky) Derickson (previously of Atari (Coin-Op)).  John Ellis, previously Atari (Consumer) director of engineering, was promoted to VP engineering (assuming microelectronics from Brown).  Engineer George Simcock, previously of Lockheed, would join Atari (Consumer) as director of software development (replacing Wagner in the role; reporting to Ellis). (source; TCWv1 p461)

Winter: Mark D. Davis (Mark Davis) would be Atari (Consumer) hardware designer for electronic board games. (Fun p256)  Game developer Brian Johnston, previously of Extensys Corporation (consultants to: Bally, Atari), joined Atari (Consumer) as programmer for electronic board games. (source 6:00)  (Dennis Koble remained Atari (Consumer) engineering manager for electronic board games.)

February 6: Atari (Consumer) new products manager Kerry Crosson had been assigned marketing responsibility for the new Atari Professional Products Division. (TVDigest 2/6/78p12)  Crosson would become general manager of Atari (Professional Products), which would be located at: 1183 Bordeaux Dr., Sunnyvale CA.  Atari (Professional Products) would also include: David Salmon, Alfie Gilbert (electronics engineer), Dan Kutsenda (mechanical design engineer), Tom Westberg (programmer). (Fun p498)  Don Thorson would be promoted to Atari (Consumer) product manager, replacing Patrick Kearney who would depart the company.  (Michael Shea remained Atari (Consumer) director of marketing.)

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

February 13: Atari was reconsidering its commitment to the Game Brain console introduced weeks earlier at CES.  Michael C. Shea remained Atari (Consumer) director of marketing (WSJ; TVDigest 2/13/78 p9)

February: Atari released Middle Earth (pinball).

February: Atari released Ultra Tank by Kee Games.  This would be the last Atari product release to carry the Kee Games brand.

February: Ed Logg (George E. Logg), previously of Control Data Corporation (CDC), joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a programmer (replacement for Atari (Consumer) electronic board game engineering manager Dennis Koble in the role). (source; source; Retro Gamer #117 p36; Retro Gramer #29 p76; Old School Gamer #19 p40-44) (source)  Logg had been interviewed by programmer Mike Albaugh. (source 8:10)

February: At Atari (Coin-Op): Bill Bassett, previously in pinball product development, had been appointed International Field Service Manager.  Don Smith remained Customer Service Manager. (CC 2/78)

February: Raymond E. Kassar, founder and president of R.E. Kassar Corporation (importer of men's and women's apparel) since 1975, previously co-founder and president of apparel importer Abraham-Zumsteg, Inc., and before that EVP and a director at Burlington Industries until 1974, was hired by Warner Communcations as a senior marketing and management consultant.  Kassar was to make an evaluation of the state of affairs at Atari, reporting to Manny Gerard, office of the president. (HowTheyAchieved p99 for date) 

February 20: At Atari (Consumer), Donald R. Thompson (Don Thompson), previously eastern zone manager, had been promoted to national sales manager, replacing Malcolm Kuhn who had departed the company (to Mattel). (TVDigest 2/20/78, 3/13/78p12; Merch 4/78)

March 12-15: Atari's fourth annual distributor meeting, held at the Del Monte lodge, Pebble Beach CA.  The Breakout Consolette wall box game concept developed at the former Atari-Europe was displayed at the event. (International Atari personnel in attendance included Serge Lievoux and Jean-François Gaillard from Socodimex and the former Atari-Europe in France, and M. Nakamura and Hide Nakajima from Namco/Atari Japan). (CC 4/78)  Presenters from Atari included: national sales manager Frank Ballouz, field service manager Don Smith, seminars manager Fred McCord, customer service representative Dave Tucker, engineering manager Noah Anglin, Eastern regional sales manager Howard Rubin, Western regional sales manager Don Osborne, marketing services manager Carol Kantor, marketing research analyst Colette Weil, VP marketing Gene Lipkin, president Joe Keenan, and chairman Nolan Bushnell. (CashBox 4/8/78 p39)

March: Ray Kassar, president of R.E. Kassar Corporation and Warner Communications senior marketing and management consultant for several weeks, was named general manager of Atari's Consumer Division (replacing VP research and development Al Alcorn in the role).  The appointment was on a temporary, 6-month basis, and Kassar was free to return to R.E. Kassar Corp. as needed. (NYT 1/5/79, HowTheyAchieved, Merch 6/78) 

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: Peter N. Rosenthal, previously a molecular biologist and cancer researcher, joined Atari (Consumer) as a marketing research associate (personal computers). (for month 1:25; source for year)  (Michael C. Shea remained Atari (Consumer) director of marketing.)

March: Atari (Consumer) hired computer programming consultant David Gjerdrum of PRODATA to port Microsoft BASIC M6502 for the Atari "Colleen"/"Candy" computer project. (source 2:25; Inside Atari DOS p.iv-v)  (Wade Tuma remained Atari (Consumer) engineering manager; consultant Jay Miner remained "Colleen"/"Candy" project chief engineer.)

March 27: Atari was seeking a video games marketing manager who would have "total responsibility for managing a product in the development & mktg. phases." (TVDigest 3/27/78 p11)  (details of this hire wanted!)

April: Atari released Avalanche.

April: Through a new product catalog, for the VCS Atari announced the 4 new titles Home Run, Breakout, Football, and Basketball, and again promised the 5 titles Space War (previously: Starship II), Hunt & Score (previously: Concentration), Codebreaker, Hangman, and Outlaw, for a total library of 17 cartridges available/soon available (not counting Combat).

April: Atari (Coin-Op) pinball game designer Steve Ritchie departed the company (to Williams Electronics).

April 20: Educational technology consultant Liza Loop of the LO*OP Center ("Learning Options Open Portal") gave an invited presentation to the Atari "Colleen"/"Candy" project engineering team. (Decuir 1978 engineering notes p71)  Atari would proceed to hire Loop to write user manuals for the upcoming Atari personal computer systems. She interviewed with Atari (Consumer) engineering manager Wade Tuma. (source 2:25)

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: Löwen Automaten, Atari's distributor in West Germany, had a display of Atari games at the International Coin Machine Exposition in West Berlin, West Germany, featuring: Middle Earth

May 1-4: National Premium Show, New York.  Was Atari there?

May 10: Articles of Incorporation of Pizza Time Theatre, Inc. were executed by Atari chairman Nolan Bushnell, for the purpose of acquiring the Pizza Time Theatre restaurant and concept from Atari.  The initial agent for service of process was Lionel M. (Lon) Allan, who was also outside general counsel for Atari.

May 12: Pizza Time Theatre, Inc. was incorporated by Atari chairman Nolan Bushnell, who would serve as the company's chairman and CEO while remaining Atari chairman as well.

May: Atari Restaurant Operating Division COO Gene Landrum departed the company to become president of Pizza Time Theatre, Inc. (Harvey p605)

May: Atari (Coin-Op) Customer Service had moved to a new building: 1344 Bordeaux Dr., Sunnyvale CA (previously: 2175 Martin Ave., Santa Clara CA, where Coin-Op manufacturing remained).  Don Smith was manager, customer service. (CC 5/78) 

May: George Simcock was Atari (Consumer) director of software development. (source)

May: Atari announced four new VCS titles: Basketball, Capture the Flag (would ship as: Flag Capture), The Maze (would ship as: Slot Racers), Wizard (would ship as: Brain Games) (Merch 6/78)

May 27: In Ireland, Atari Ireland Limited was incorporated. (date of Memorandum and Articles of Association of Atari Ireland Limited)

June 2: In Ireland, Atari established Atari Holdings Limited and Atari Ireland Limited, as Atari moved to establish a new Coin-Op manufacturing site for Europe. 

June 8: Namco Ltd. (of Tokyo, Japan) established Namco-America, Inc.  Namco president Masaya Nakamura would be chairman of Namco-America.  Hideyuki Nakajima, previously Namco VP for Atari Japan (head of the unit), would additionally be Namco EVP international sales and president of Namco-America.  As of June 1, Nakajima had hired Satish Bhutani, previously VP marketing for Project Support Engineering (and formerly with Atari/Kee Games from 1973-1975), to establish and directly manage the new U.S. operations. (source; source)

June 11-14: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced 7 new game program cartridges for the VCS: Breakout, Home Run, Space War (previously: Starship II), Flag Capture (previously: Capture the Flag), Brain Games (previously: Wizard), Basketball, Slot Racers (previously: The Maze) (TVDigest 6/12/78 p13), and again promised Hunt & Score, Codebreaker, Hangman, Outlaw and Football, for a total library of 20 VCS cartridges available/soon available (not counting Combat).

June: Atari released Fire Truck, and released Sky Diver.

June: In Japan, Namco's Atari Japan unit released Super Bug by Kee Games and Starship 1 by Atari. (GM 11/29/82)

June: Atari (Coin-Op) Graphics Design included: Jim Arita (production art), Roger Hector (production art; previously: Atari (Coin-Op) industrial designer), Steve Hendricks (graphics designer), George Opperman (manager, Graphics Design), Gjalt Van Der Wyk (production art), Bob Flemate (production art supervisor), Evelyn Lim (assistant group manager), James Kelly (graphics design) (CC v2n6 6/78; ArtOfAtari p22; source)

June: Atari (Coin-Op) field service engineer Fred McCord was promoted to Field Service Manager.

June: Dennis D. Groth, previously of Arthur Young & Co., joined Atari as VP finance (CFO), replacing Bill White who departed the company.  (Groth would report to Atari co-CEOs Nolan Bushnell and Joe Keenan, with "dotted-line" indirect reporting to Warner Communications Inc. SVP finance Bert Wasserman.) (by June 28; see also TheArthurYoungJournal Sum/Aut78 p53)  Alan S. Henricks, previously management consultant for Arthur Young & Co. (Atari had been one of his clients), would join Atari as controller of the Consumer Division (TheArthurYoungJournal Sum/Aut78 p53) (hired by Groth (source)), replacing the existing division controller (identity unknown) who departed the company.  John Constantine, previously Warner Communications senior auditor (and who had recently performed an audit of Atari for White), joined Atari (Consumer) as general accounting manager (hired by Groth). (source 2:00)

June?: Peter Rosenthal, previously Atari (Consumer) marketing research associate (personal computers), became Atari (Consumer) Manager of Software Planning (personal computers). (source; Fun p475; source)  (John Vurich remained manager of product planning (personal computers); Michael C. Shea (Mike Shea) remained Atari (Consumer) director of marketing.)

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: Opening of new Atari engineering facility, to house Consumer division engineering (upper level) and Coin-Op division engineering (lower level), at 1272 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (78,324 ft²; Moffett Park industrial park; building owned by Warner Communications Inc.). (source; source; source; source; Fun p317 for date; source)  (previously: 155 Moffett Park Dr. (Consumer engineering) and 1265 Borregas Ave. first floor (Coin-Op engineering)). 

June: Pizza Time Theatre, Inc. (PTT), which had just been established by Atari chairman Nolan Bushnell, completed its acquisition of the Pizza Time Theatre prototype restaurant and associated intellectual property (including "Chuck E. Cheese") from Atari for $500,000; Atari would retain minority ownership in PTT.

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

Month?: Rich Adam joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a pinball game programmer.  He was recruited by Sr. Microprocessor programmer Steve Calfee. (source 2:00)

Month?: Greg Rivera, previously of Spectra Medical Systems, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a microprogrammer.

Month?: Harry H. Jenkins, Jr. joined Atari (Coin-Op) (as a mechanical design engineer?).

Month?: Doug Snyder joined Atari (Coin-Op) as an engineering technician.

Month?: Dave Theurer, previously of National Semiconductor, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a programmer/game designer.  He was hired by Sr. Microprocessor programmer Steve Calfee. (source 6:30) 

Month?: John Dunn joined Atari (Consumer) as a programmer/game designer. (source 28:30)

Month?: Atari released a revised Video Pinball (C-380; "dark woodgrain" version, featuring the same 7 games as the Sears Tele-Games Pinball Breakaway #99713: Flipper Pinball 1, Paddle Pinball 1, Flipper Pinball 2, Paddle Pinball 2, Rebound, Breakthru (Sears title: Breakaway), Breakout)

Month?: Steven C. Chiaramonte (employed part-time with Atari since 1974?) joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a senior financial analyst. (Marquis)

July 1: Atari (Coin-Op) international distributors included: Canada: Dale Distributing Ltd. (Rexdale Ontario; Richmond, B.C. (Vancouver)), Laniel Automatic (Mt. Royal, Quebec), New Way Sales (Toronto, Ontario), Rowe Int'l of Canada, Ltd. (Dorval, Quebec; Mississauga, Ontario; Burnaby, B.C. (Vancouver)), J.E. Weatherhead Dist. Ltd. (Burnaby, B.C. (Vancouver)); Central & South America: R.H. Belam Company (New York); Australia & S.E. Asia: Leisure & Allied Industries (Perth, West Australia); Belgium: Brabo Corporation (Antwerp); Brazil: Taito do Brazil (Sao Paulo); England: Cherry Leisure (U.K.) Ltd. (London); France: Socodimex (Paris); Germany: Löwen Automaten (Bingen/Rhine), Seevend Automaten (Hamburg); Holland: Vale Automaten Imports (Veldhoven); Italy: Fratelli Bertolino (Torino); Japan: Atari Japan (unit of Namco Ltd.; Ohta-ku, Tokyo); South Africa: Plankomat (Pty) Limited (Johannesburg); Spain: Sega S.A. (Madrid); Scandinavia: Cherryforetagen (Solna, Sweden)   (Cash Box 7/1/78 pt.III p5)

July 1: Gene Lipkin was Atari (corporate) VP marketing (and general manager, Coin-Op), and at Atari (Coin-Op): Frank Ballouz was national sales manager, Don Osborne was Western regional sales manager, Howie Rubin was Eastern regional sales manager, Lenore Sayers was a sales representative (Eastern region), Sue Elliot was head of international sales.  (Cash Box 7/1/78 pt.III p20)

July: Atari released Smokey Joe (one player version of Fire Truck).

July: Engineer Rich Moore joined Atari (Coin-Op). (source-p40)

July: Atari published a new VCS product catalog, again promising the 11 new titles: Space War, Home Run, Outlaw, Breakout, Hunt & Score, Codebreaker, Hangman, Brain Games, Basketball, Slot Racers, and Flag Capture, for a total library of 20 VCS cartridges available/soon available (including Combat).  Football had been dropped from the list of upcoming titles.

Summer: Engineering student Rob Fulop worked for Atari (Coin-Op) on a 10 week summer internship.  He was hired by Steve Calfee (source) (Sr. Microprocessor programmer).

Summer?: New production Atari VCS units would include a channel selection switch for VHF channels 2 or 3, and would include a new version of the Joystick Controller (CX40) shipped with the systems, replacing the original CX10 Joystick Controller which was discontinued.  Revised VCS box: "The Super System...More Games. More Fun"

Summer?: New production Sears Tele-Games Video Arcade systems (#99743 package with Target Fun, replacing the #99744 package with Pong Sports) by Atari (same as the Atari VCS) would include a channel selection switch for VHF channels 2 or 3, and would include a new version of the joystick controller (same as the new Atari CX40).  (Earlier units output on VHF channel 3 only, except some units modified for channel 4 for television markets with a local station on channel 3. - source).

August: Sears published a Video Arcade Cartridge Tele-Games System catalog featuring 20 titles for the Video Arcade/Atari VCS, all by Atari: Baseball, Basketball, Gun Slinger, Space Combat, Outer Space, Capture, Brain Games, Math, Spelling, Memory Match, Tank-Plus, Race, Spaceway II, Chase, Blackjack, Code Breaker (would ship as: Codebreaker), Maze, Target Fun (included with the Video Arcade), Breakaway IV, Pong-Sports

August: Atari Ireland Limited commenced Coin-Op manufacturing operations at a new facility located in Knockanrawley, Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary, Ireland (modern address: Aherlow Ct, Gortavalla, Co. Tipperary, Ireland).  First game manufactured at the plant: Sprint 2. (AGPCapr86 for date and 1st game)  The operation had been organized, initiated, and was headed by Atari VP Manufacturing, Ireland Gil Williams. (CC 9/78)  Kevin Hayes, previously of W.R. Grace (and before that: Price Waterhouse), joined Atari Ireland as financial controller. (source)  The Atari Ireland management team would also include Tommy Martinez (Tom Martinez; of Atari, Inc.; Thomas D. Martinez?) and (starting 1981?) Phillip Stewart (source) (possibly actually Robert Stewart (Bob Stewart)?)  Pat McCarthy (Patrick J. McCarthy) and Eamonn McGrath would join Atari Ireland in field service, replacing Bill Bassett who would depart from Atari.  For cabinet production Atari Ireland would contract with, and become the exclusive customer of, nearby Murray Kitchens (Ardfinnan) Limited which had operated its 30,000 ft² factory for Murray Kitchens Ltd. at Mill Road, Youghal, Co. Cork since 1974.  Manufacturing for Atari by Europe Electronique (formerly, Atari-Europe) at Baume-les-Dames, France had been discontinued.

August: Carol Shaw joined Atari (Consumer) as a microprocessor software engineer (game designer/programmer). (source)  (George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.)

August: Atari (Consumer) hired Harry B. Stewart of NEOTERIC as a systems software consultant for the "Colleen"/"Candy" project.  Stewart was hired by director of software development George Simcock. (source 11:00; source)  (Consultant Jay Miner remained "Colleen"/"Candy" project chief engineer.)

August/September?: Mary Takatsuno (future Mary Fujihara) and Linda Butcher (future Linda Benzler, Linda Adam) joined Atari (Coin-Op) as marketing assistants, hired by/reporting to manager of marketing services Carol Kantor. (CashBox 9/22/79 p48)  (Colette Weil remained marketing research analyst, also reporting to Kantor.)

Summer/Fall?: Industrial designer Roy Nishi joined Atari (Consumer).  (Nishi would report to Industrial Design and Graphics director John Hayashi.)

September 1: Namco-America, Inc. opened a 10,000 ft² facility at 343 Gibraltar Dr., Sunnyvale CA.  Satish Bhutani was VP operations; Namco Ltd. EVP international sales Hideyuki Nakajima, based in Japan, was president of Namco-America (and also remained Namco VP for Atari Japan). (Cash Box 9/23/78 p53-55)

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

September: R.E. Kassar Corporation president Ray Kassar agreed to continue his temporary position with Atari as Consumer Division general manager through the end of the year. (HowTheyAchieved p98)

September: Bob Polaro, previously a software engineer for Commodore, joined Atari (Consumer) as a software engineer.  (George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.)

September: Atari (Coin-Op) announced that Bob Betters, previously of Casper Instruments, had been hired as Manager of Customer Service (replacing the departed Don Smith).  (CC; Cash Box 10/21/78 p67)

September: Atari (Coin-Op) announced that Tom Petit had joined the company as a sales representative in the western region.  (Don Osborne remained western regional sales manager.) (CC; Cash Box 10/21/78 p67)

September/October: Steve Bristow, previously Atari (Coin-Op) VP Engineering and Plant Manager Pinball Production, became Atari (Consumer) VP engineering, Consumer Game (electronic toys & games) and Home Computer product lines. (Bristow resume)  (John Ellis remained Atari (Consumer) VP engineering.)  Noah Anglin, previously Atari (Coin-Op) engineering manager, would be promoted to Atari (Coin-Op) director of engineering (replacing Bristow in the role).  ????? became pinball plant manager (replacing Bristow in the role; reporting to director of operations Curt Russell).  Lyle Rains, previously an engineering project Team Leader, would become Manager of Electronics Engineering and Game Development (reporting to Anglin).  Steve Calfee, previously Sr. Microprocessor programmer, would become a team leader (replacing Rains in the role).  (Dave Stubben and Tom Hogg remained team leaders as well.)

Reports to Bristow would include Niles Strohl (engineering manager, home computer line) and Dennis Koble (engineering manager, electronic toys & games).

The Atari "Candy" console, the reduced-feature version of the "Colleen" computer project, would be redesigned to incorporate a built-in monopanel keyboard, and would be marketed as a personal computer rather than as a game console.

September/October?: Paul J. Malloy, previously of Quantor Corporation, joined Atari (Consumer) as VP manufacturing (source), replacing Loren Schoof who departed the company. (source)  James Heller, previously manufacturing manager, would be operations manager (reporting to Malloy).

September/October: Atari "Colleen"/"Candy" computer project system monitor/resident firmware and BASIC development efforts were essentially re-started.  Veteran Atari (Consumer) programmers assigned to the new effort would include: Alan Miller, Larry Kaplan, David Crane.  (Harry Stewart remained systems software consultant for Atari; George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development; consultant Jay Miner remained "Colleen"/"Candy" project chief engineer.) (source; source)

October 6: Atari contracted with Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI, headed  by Bob Shepardson) to create both a version of BASIC (would ship as: Atari BASIC) and a File Management Subsystem (FMS) for the upcoming Atari personal computers ("Colleen"/"Candy").  The contract called for delivery by April 6, 1979.

October: Atari released Atari Football.

October: Norm Avellar joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a programmer (pinball).

Fall: Atari announced the VIDCOM I ($299) and VIDCOM II ($499) portable communications system for the non-verbal, including an advertisement (original scan by mc 2013) on page 386 in the Oct/Nov issue of The Volta Review (journal of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing). (see also Atarimuseum's VIDCOM page)  Kerry Crosson was Atari Professional Products division general manager. 

Fall: Richard L. Needleman, previously general manager of Jungle Habitat, the animal theme park operated in New Jersey by Warner Communications Inc. from 1972-1976, joined Atari as manager of leisure facilities, responsible for the development of new markets for video games in amusement and theme parks.  Needleman would be based in Florida. (Cash Box 11/1/80)

Fall: For the VCS Atari released: Hangman (Sears title: Spelling), Outlaw (Sears title: Gunslinger), Space War (Sears title: Space Combat), Breakout (Sears title: Breakaway IV), Home Run (Sears title: Baseball) (never released in PAL format), Basketball, Flag Capture (Sears title: Capture) (never released in PAL format), Slot Racers (Sears title: Maze)

Fall?: In the UK, Atari distributor Cherry Leisure (UK) Ltd. shipped the VCS (new 2600U version for PAL I, UHF approx. channel 34/36; 6 switches; woodgrain; £169.95 with two CX40 Joystick Controllers, one pair of CX30 Paddle Controllers, and Combat). (source)

November 10-12: At the AMOA show in Chicago (exhibits 13-36, West Room, Conrad Hilton), using the theme "StarWorld '78" Atari released Orbit, featured Atari Football, Super Breakout, and Space Riders, and previewed: Superman (pinball), Monza (pinball cocktail; never released), UFO (wall game; never released), Hercules (pinball), Subs. (WeLoveAtari v1p107; source)  Also shown: Middle Earth, Sprint 2, Sit-Down Night Driver, Starship 1, Smokey Joe, Fire Truck.  Also introduced for operators: CTF-1 Video Test Fixture, PBS-1 Pinball Simulator System, Automatic ROM/RAM Tester

November: Atari Ireland Limited reached full production of all current Atari (Coin-Op) games in Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary. 

November: In Japan, Namco's Atari Japan unit released Avalanche by Atari. (GM 11/29/82)

November 18-20: At the IAAPA show in Atlanta, using the theme "StarWorld '78" Atari featured Space Riders, also showed Middle Earth, and previewed the Hercules pinball games, featured Orbit, Atari Football, and Super Breakout, also showed Fire Truck, Starship 1, Sit-Down Night Driver, and the 2 Game Module, and previewed Subs. (CC Nov/Dec 78)

November 28: Warner Communications (WCI) announced that its Atari division was entering the personal-home computer industry with the "general purpose" Atari-400 System (project "Candy"; 57 key monopanel keyboard, single cartridge slot, cassette recorder capability), and the "specialized" Atari-800 System (project "Colleen"; dual cartridge capability, user exapandable RAM to 48KiB, optional peripherals including floppy disk drive and 40-column printer).  A library of software was to consist of applications such as: personal financial management, income tax preparation, household and office record keeping, and computer aided instruction in over 20 subject areas including math, English, history, literature, economics, psychology, and auto mechanics.  Software was also to include games for one to four players such as: basketball, chess, life, kingdom, lemonade stand, fur trader and stock market.  The computers were to be user-programmable using languages including BASIC.  Michael Shea was Atari marketing director; Emanuel Gerard was a member of the Office of the President, WCI. (PR)  Reportedly the 400/800 would retail for $450/$900; the FORTRAN programming language was also planned. (TVDigest 12/4/78 p11)

December 9-10: At Melbourne's first Home Computer Show, held at the Box Hill Town Hall, Atari home consumer products distributor Futuretronics Australia Pty Ltd introduced the Atari VCS to Australia (A$339, including 2 joysticks, paddles, and Combat).

December 11: The New York City premiere of the Warner Bros. feature film Superman also included private previews of Atari Superman pinball and Atari Superman for the VCS.

December 14: Atari held a press conference in New York to unveil two personal computer systems, the Atari-400 ($500; 4KiB RAM) and the Atari-800 ($1,000; with internal 8KiB OS ROM Module, internal 4KiB RAM Module, 410 program recorder, 4 joystick controllers, Basketball cartridge, Atari BASIC cartridge, Atari 800 Operators Manual, Atari BASIC Programming Guide).  Hands-on demonstration: Basketball.  The computers were designed to pass FCC tests for use with home TV, and they were expected to ship August 1, 1979.  Atari said it was studying connecting the computers with the Warner Amex QUBE two-way interactive cable television system in Columbus OH.  In addition to the already designed printer & floppy disk drive, future peripherals including chord music module and drawing pen were planned. (TVDigest 12/18/78 p11; onComputing Fall79 p51-53 with photos; Atari 800 Operators Manual 1978 version)

December: Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI) delivered working versions of Atari BASIC and a disk File Management System (FMS) to Atari. (Project leader: SMI contract programmer Paul Laughton.) (source)  (George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.)

December: For the VCS Atari announced the release of the Keyboard Controllers (CX50) (Merch 1/78 p81), and shipped the first three titles for keyboard controllers: Hunt & Score (Sears title: Memory Match), Codebreaker, Brain Games

December 28: Manny Gerard, office of the president of Warner Communications with responsibility for Atari, instituted a change of leadership at Atari.  Nolan Bushnell, previously Atari chairman and co-CEO, became creative consultant.  Joe Keenan, previously Atari president and co-CEO, became Atari chairman (replacing Bushnell in the role).  Ray Kassar, previously Atari (Consumer) general manager (temporary basis), joined Atari on a permanent basis as president (replacing Keenan in the role) and CEO (replacing Bushnell and Keenan in the role).  (Fun p381 for date; TVDigest 1/1/79p12; NYT 1/4/79 two articles; Cumma Technology Corporation press release 7 Jan 1984; Merch 2/79 p46)  Atari VP research and development Al Alcorn would (again) additionally serve as general manager, Consumer division (replacing Kassar in the role; reporting to Kassar).  The Atari board of directors would now consist of Keenan, Gerard, and Jac Holzman (senior consultant to the Office of the President of WCI).

In 1978 Atari built 800,000 VCS machines, selling about 500,000 but leaving an inventory of about 300,000 unsold machines. (Decuir as quoted in "Design Case History: The Atari Video Computer System," IEEE Spectrum, March 1983 p51)

1979
January 8: Donald D. Kingsborough (of D.K. Associates, Inc., previously Atari (Consumer) sales representative for Northern California (TCWv1 p457)) had joined Atari (Consumer) as director of Sales & Marketing, replacing Don Thompson (sales) and Michael Shea (marketing) who departed the company. (TVDigest 1/8/79p12; Fun p381)  (Thompson would establish Donald R. Thompson Associates, Inc. on 11/1/80, join Arcadia Corporation (later: Starpath Corporation) in 1982, join American Educational Computer, Inc. in 1983, and join Atari, Corp. in 1985.) 

January 6-9: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas (Las Vegas Convention Center, Hilton hotel, and Jockey Club hotel), for the VCS ($189) Atari introduced the 8 new cartridge titles (for a total library of 28 available/soon available): Football (title originally announced April 1978 but dropped July 1978), Human Cannonball, Sky Diver, Miniature Golf, Slot Machine, Canyon Bomber, Bowling, Casino.  (In advance of the show, WCI had announced there would be 10 new titles presented (see Fun p475), but Merch 1/79 article and Atari ad, Merch 4/79 and April 16-June 30 promotion info all support tally of 8 new titles introduced at the show.)

Atari previewed the Atari-400 Personal Computer (8KiB RAM; approximately $500) and the Atari-800 Personal Computer (8KiB RAM; approximately $1,000).  Previewed for the 400/800: cassette tape drive (410; to be sold separately for the 400; to be supplied with the 800).  Previewed for the 800: high speed floppy disc (810), 40-column printer (820).  Software shown or promised included: business & household management applications; over 20 Educational Library subjects including: Algebra, Basic Psychology, Counseling Procedures, Economics, Spelling, Vocabulary Builder, Auto Mechanics, Spanish, Great Classics, Sociology, Accounting, Statistics, U.S. History, Carpentry, Basic Electricity, Zoology; thinking games: Chess, Backgammon, Business Simulations, Fur Trader, Stock Market Simulation, Space Adventure, Superman; action games: Four Player Basketball, Super Bug Driving Game, Game of Life, Fire Truck, Four Player Tank.  Also shown or promised: Atari BASIC (SMI) and Atari Disk BASIC (port of Microsoft BASIC).  Atari (Consumer) programmer Larry Kaplan and chip engineering technician Steve Smith led the live demonstrations of the 400/800 at the show.  Don Kingsborough was Atari (Consumer) Director of Sales & Marketing.  Emanuel Gerard represented the Office of the President, WCI. (CreativeComputing 4/79p16 photo, p62-63 PR; The Intelligent Machines Journal Issue 2, 79 Jan 17; Merch 1/79; source 17:00)

Atari publicly launched the new Electronic Toys & Games product line by introducing the electronic strategy and action games (board games) Pro Darts (never shipped), Pro Coach (never shipped), Pro Ball (never shipped), and Proteus 4 (later: Tronic 2; never shipped) (Fun p258, 475), and privately previewed the hand held electronic game, Touch Me.  (TVDigest 2/12/79p8)

January?: The Atari (Consumer) Advanced Projects group research lab was shut down, and departures from the company would include director of research Bob Brown, advanced projects manager Larry Wagner, and engineer Craig Nelson. (source)  (Wagner would co-found Votan on May 7, 1979.  Brown and Nelson would together join Hitachi Micro Systems, Inc. (HMSI); on 6/11/81 they would co-found Acorn Incorporated, renamed Arcadia Corporation 5/82, renamed Starpath Corporation 10/82. (one source)  "Phony" modem project technology would be sold to U.S. Robotics, who would proceed to introduce their first modem later in 1979. (source; source; source) )

January: Don Kingsborough, previously Atari (Consumer) director of sales & marketing, became VP sales & marketing.  Peter Rosenthal, previously Atari (Consumer) Manager of Software Planning (personal computers), became marketing manager of personal computers (CCv5n8 Aug79p58), replacing John Vurich who departed the company.  Rosenthal would report to Kingsborough. (source; source 2:35)  (Vurich and former Atari chairman and co-CEO Nolan Bushnell would together establish Axlon Incorporated on 3/26/1980).

January: Engineer Ed Rotberg, previously of the MGD Graphics unit of Rockwell International, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a game designer/programmer. (source; TCWv1 p452; Video Invaders p67-70)  He was hired by Steve Calfee. (source 20:20) (team leader, one of four)

January: Jed Margolin joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a hardware engineer; he had been interviewed by Dave Stubben (source), engineering team leader (one of four).

January: In Japan, Namco's Atari Japan unit released Super Breakout by Atari. (GM 11/29/82)

January 19: Atari (Coin-Op) moved into their new 56,800 ft² printed circuit board assembly facility at 1320 Bordeaux Dr, Sunnyvale CA (CC 2/79; building owned by Warner Communications Inc. -source) (previously: 1180 Bordeaux Dr.).  Final product assembly remained at the plant at 2175 Martin Ave., Santa Clara CA.

January 23-25: Atari products were exhibited by the English distributor, Cherry Leisure (UK) Ltd., at the Amusement Trades Exhibition (ATE) in London.  Also finalized at the show, Quintin Flynn Ltd. became Atari distributor for Ireland. (CC 2/79)

January 26: Atari consultant Nolan Bushnell formally contested his December 28, 1978 ouster as Atari chairman to Emanuel Gerard of the Office of the President of Warner Communications, but Bushnell would instead depart the company. (Fun p381 and 413) (Bushnell and former Atari Consumer Division new products manager John Vurich would together establish Axlon Incorporated on 3/26/1980.)

February: Nick Turner joined Atari (Consumer) as a video game designer.

February: Synertek engineer/Atari consultant Jay Miner departed the companies (Atari Inc.: Business is Fun, p. 386; source #2) (to Custom MOS, Inc., which would change its name to ZyMOS in November 1980).

February: Atari (Consumer) hired UC Berkeley doctoral student Ted M. Kahn, who had previously worked with the Learning Research Group at Xerox PARC (under Alan Kay), as a personal computers educational marketing consultant (essentially replacing consultant Liza Loop in the role).  Kahn would report to marketing manager Peter Rosenthal. (source 2:40)  

February: Atari released Video Pinball.

February 18-21: Atari introduced the hand held electronic game Touch Me (BH-100) at the Knickerbocker Toy Co. (fellow Warner Communications Inc. subsidiary) booth at the 76th annual American Toy Fair in New York.  Atari indicated that Pro Coach would be the second game in the Electronic Toys & Games product line, due in the fall (never shipped). (TVDigest 2/26/79)

March 5: Atari announced the release of Superman (pinball).

March 25-27: Atari exhibited at the Association of College Unions-International (ACUI) conference and show in Cincinnati.  Atari introduced Superman (pinball) and also showed: Space Riders, Video Pinball, Atari Football, Sprint 2, Super Breakout

March 26: Atari had asked the U.S. FCC to extend the comments deadline on Texas Instruments' February 1979 petition for a waiver of the Class I TV Device rules, in what was widely seen as an attempt to delay market introduction of the TI home computer.  The FCC agreed to extend the deadline to March 30. (TVDigest 3/26/79)

Winter/Spring?: Atari (Coin-Op) pinball game programmer Eugene Jarvis departed the company. (He would join Williams Electronics within a few months.)

Winter/Spring: Carl J. Nielsen joined Atari (Consumer) as director of LSI chip design (reporting to VP engineering John Ellis), replacing Richard Simone who departed the company (to Maruman Integrated Circuits). (source)  

Winter/Spring: Atari canceled Atari Disk BASIC (port of Microsoft BASIC M6502 8K Version to the Atari-800), and Atari (Consumer) computer programming consultant David Gjerdrum of PRODATA departed the company.

March/April?: In the UK, Ingersoll Electronics Ltd. (subsidiary of Heron Corporation) became the new Atari consumer products (Atari VCS) distributor, replacing Cherry Leisure (UK) Ltd. in the role.  (Cherry Leisure would continue as Atari (Coin-Op) distributor.)  The first VCS cartridge releases from Ingersoll would be, scheduled for May 1979: Codebreaker, Hunt & Score, Brain Games

April 2: Atari had said it had an inventory of 200,000 unsold VCS units; others said the figure was closer to 400,000. (TVDigest 4/2/79p14)

April 9: In joining others including Apple Computer, Interact, Mattel, and Radio Shack, Atari had registered its opposition to Texas Instruments' RF devices waiver request from the U.S. FCC by submitting a 60-page report accompanied by technical data showing that TI standards could cause massive interference in urban areas, and claiming that "TI simply presented the Commission with its self-serving appraisal of what it considered 'reasonable standards' for home computer manufacturers, and asked for authority to produce & market a computer line satisfying its own standards." (TVDigest 4/9/79 p11)

April 9: Roger L. Gerard, previously of Fairchild Semiconductor, had joined Atari as VP administration (TVDigest 4/9/79 p12) replacing John Anderson who departed the company to Pizza Time Theatre, Inc.

April: The Atari (Coin-Op) Video Production Facility operations were moved from 2175 Martin Ave., Santa Clara CA, which Atari would abandon, to Atari's plant at 1215 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (previously: Consumer final assembly / domestic VCS production) (CC 5/79), which would also be the new location for division administrative functions including Coin-Op Marketing Services.  1195 Borregas Ave., previously Consumer division headquarters and sub assembly, would remain Consumer division headquarters.  New Atari VCS units would no longer be produced domestically.

April: Atari (Coin-Op) announced the promotion of Darl Davidson (previously: production manager of the printed circuit board facility) to Manager of Customer Service (replacing the departed Bob Betters).  (Frank Ballouz remained national sales manager.) (CC; TVDigest 7/16/79p12; Cash Box 4/21/79 p49-50)

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.

April: Atari chip engineering technician Steve Smith departed the company (to Custom MOS, Inc.).

April: Engineer Rob Zdybel joined Atari (Consumer) as a game programmer (after interviewing for Atari (Coin-Op) with Owen Rubin). (source 6:30; source)  (George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.)

April 16-June 30: Direct-mail "refund" promotion to all known (US) Atari VCS owners.  Each of "hundreds of thousands" of owners would receive a blank check good for $2 on purchase of any of 28 VCS game programs.  In addition, consumers were asked to answer 3 questions about Atari's new personal computers.  Winners drawn from correct responses would receive Atari 400 & 800 computers and $100 computer merchandise certificates. (TVDigest 3/12/79p12; Merch 4/79)

April 20: For the VCS Atari had shipped: Miniature Golf (Sears title: Arcade Golf), Football (never released in PAL format), Human Cannonball (Sears title: Cannon Man), Sky Diver (Sears title: Dare Diver), Slot Machine (Sears title: Slots), Canyon Bomber (never released in PAL format), Bowling, Casino (Sears title: Poker Plus)  (ad in WashPost)

Spring: Gene Lipkin, previously Atari (corporate) VP marketing and general manager, Coin-Operated Group, became president of Atari (Coin-Op) (new position).  The operations of the former Atari International Division (sales/marketing, both consumer and coin-op) were shifted into the Atari Coin-Op and Consumer divisions.  Sue Elliot, previously head of international sales as International Division administrator (coin-op/consumer), would remain Atari (Coin-Op) head of international sales.  Anton Bruehl, previously a VP of one of the Burlington Industries' international divisions, joined Atari (Consumer) as VP international sales/marketing (assuming the role from Lipkin). (source) (source)

May 7: Votan was established by Ron Stephens (formerly an Arthur D. Little consultant), physicist Stephen Gill, former Atari engineer Larry Wagner, and financial backer Paul Baker. (source)

May 11-13: At the 4th West Coast Computer Faire, held in San Francisco's Civic Auditorium & Brooks Hall, Atari showed/again promised the 400 computer (8KiB RAM; $549.99) and 800 computer (8KiB RAM with 410 program recorder; $999.99).  Again shown/promised for the 400/800: 410 program recorder; for the 800: 810 disk drive ($749.99), 820 printer.  Business & household management software shown/promised (titles not finalized): income tax preparation guide, personal financial management, record keeping, charge account management, personal capital investment management, mailing list/address book, computerized appointment calendar, inventory management, accounts payable, touch-typing trainer, payroll.  Over 20 Educational Library subjects were again shown/promised including: Algebra, Economics, Auto Mechanics, Sociology, U.S. History, Zoology, Counseling Procedures, Vocabulary Builder, Basic Psychology, Spelling, Spanish, Accounting, Carpentry, Great Classics, Statistics, Basic Electricity, World History.  Entertainment software shown/promised: Chess, Backgammon, Business Simulations, Stock Market Simulation, Space Adventure, Four-Player Basketball, Super Bug Driving Game, Game of Life, Super Breakout.  Programming language: Atari BASIC.  Demonstrations were led by Atari (Consumer) programmer Larry Kaplan. (4/79 400/800 flyers; Kilobaud Microcomputing 9/79 p52-54 includes photo; CreativeComputing 8/79p66 photo; Intelligent Machines Journal 79 Jun 11 p8)

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

May: For the VCS Atari announced the 4 new titles Superman, BASIC Programming, Backgammon, and Video Chess, each to ship by summer. (ad in Merch 5/79)

May: In Japan, Epoch released the TV Block, designed around the custom Atari chip found in the Atari C-380 Video Pinball (original "beige" version featuring the 7 games: Flipper Pinball 1, Paddle Pinball 1, Flipper Pinball 2, Paddle Pinball 2, Rebound 1, Rebound 2, Breakout). (for date)

May 21: In response to Texas Instruments' technical reply to the U.S. FCC regarding its Class I waiver request, which said its interference standards exceeded Computer & Business Equipment Manufacturers Association (CBEMA) standards, Atari had filed a follow-up noting that CBEMA standards were for commercial computers up to 30 meters from a TV, enclosing photos of broken-up TV pictures reportedly caused by a home computer with TI standards. (TVDigest 5/21/79 p13)

May/June: Mike Lorenzen joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer/programmer. (source; source 9:40)  (George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.)

June 1: New suggested retail price for the Atari VCS: $179.95 (previously: $189). (Merch 7/79 p103; TVDigest 6/11/79)

June 3-6: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari promised that the 400/800 base units would ship fall 1979, and featured a firmed 400/800 product line including suggested retail prices.  400 system (8KiB RAM) with BASIC cartridge and Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide): $549.99; 800 system (8Kib RAM) with BASIC cartridge, Education System Master Cartridge, Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide), 410 Program Recorder, and Guide to BASIC Programming cassette: $999.99; 810 Disc Drive: $749.99; 820 Printer: $599.99; 410 Program Recorder: $89.99; 8K RAM Memory Module: $124.99; 16K RAM Memory Module: $249.99; Driving Controller Pair: $19.95; Paddle Controller Pair: $19.95; Joystick Controller Pair: $19.95; ROM cartridges: Educational System Master Cartridge, Basketball, Game of Life (would ship as: Video Easel), Super Breakout, Super Bug (never shipped), Atari BASIC, Assembler Debug (would ship as: Assembler Editor), Music Composer, Computer Chess, Home Finance (earlier: Checkbook; never shipped); Educational System cassette programs: U.S. History, U.S. Government, Supervisory Skills, World History (Western), Basic Sociology, Counseling Procedures, Principles of Accounting, Physics, Great Classics (English), Business Communications, Basic Psychology, Effective Writing, Auto Mechanics (never shipped), Principles of Economics, Spelling, Basic Electricity, Basic Algebra; BASIC game and program cassettes: Guide to BASIC Programming (would ship as: An Invitation to Programming 1: Fundamentals of BASIC Programming), BASIC Game Programs (compilation never shipped); diskettes: Blank Diskettes (would ship as: 5 Diskettes), Disk File Manager (would ship as: 810 Master Diskette). (CreativeComputing 8/79p26, launch kit)

For the VCS ($179), Atari introduced Superman, BASIC Programming, Backgammon, and Video Chess (expanding the VCS library of cartridges available/soon available from 28 to 32 titles).

Don Kingsborough was Atari (Consumer) VP sales & marketing. (TVDigest 6/11/79)

June 4-7 Atari did not attend the National Computer Conference (NCC) in New York. (CreativeComputing 8/79p20)

June 15: Atari announced U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Type I approval for the Atari 400 and Atari 800 personal computer systems, along with the Atari Program Recorder (410).  It was the 29th consecutive Atari product approval by the FCC. (PR; source)  

June: Atari microcomputer systems engineer Joe Decuir departed the company. (Fun p387; source #2)  (Decuir had established Standard Technologies Corporation on 7/7/78.)

June: Atari (Consumer) programmer Larry Kaplan departed the company. (Kaplan as citied in TCWv1 p483; note he has also said Aug 79) (He would help form Activision, which would be established on 10/1/79, and would join Activision in December 1979.)

June: Atari (Consumer) programmer/game designer Warren Robinett departed the company. (source)  (He would be a co-founder of The Learning Company, established 8/12/1980.)

June: Atari released Atari Baseball.

June 25: Mark M. Weinstein was Atari, Inc. Assistant Secretary.

June 30: Atari (Coin-Op) sales representative (Eastern region) Lenore Sayers had departed the company (to Cinematronics as Vectorbeam sales manager). (source)

Month?: Georgia A. Marszalek, previously of National Semiconductor, joined Atari (Consumer) as manager of marketing communications (personal computers) (reporting to marketing manager Peter Rosenthal).

Month?: Cyan Engineering Mechanical Engineer/Design Supervisor Gene Wise departed the company.

Month?: Steve Wright, previously Atari (Consumer) manager of quality control (printed circuit boards), became training manager.

July 2: The Atari 400/800 were offered for $549.95/$995.00 on page 774 of the JCPenney Fall And Winter 1979 catalog. (TVDigest 7/2/79; source)

July 2: Atari was out of the dedicated consumer video game business, closing out inventories of Video Pinball, Ultra Pong, Ultra Pong Doubles, and Stunt Cycle. (TVDigest 7/2/79)

July 7: Atari (Coin-Op) international distributors included: Canada: Dale Distributing Ltd. (Rexdale, Ontario; Richmond, B.C.), Laniel Automatic (Mt. Royal Quebec), New Way Sales (Toronto, Ontario), Rowe Int'l of Canada, Ltd. (Dorval, Quebec; Mississauga, Ontario), J.E. Weatherhead Dist. Ltd. (Burnaby, B.C.); Central & South America: R.H. Belam Company (New York NY); Australia: Leisure & Allied Industries (Perth); Belgium: Brabo Corporation (Antwerp); Brazil: Taito do Brazil (Sao Paulo); England: Cherry Leisure (U.K.) Ltd. (London); France: Socodimex (Paris); Germany: Löwen Automaten (Bingen/Rhine); Holland: Vale Automaten Imports (Veldhoven); Italy: Fratelli Bertolino (Torino); Japan: Atari Japan (unit of Namco Ltd.; Ohta-Ku, Tokyo); Republic of Ireland: Quintin Flynn Ltd. (Dublin); Scandinavia: Cherryforetagen (Solna, Sweden)   (Cash Box 7/7/79 ptIII p7)

July 7: At Atari (Coin-Op), Gene Lipkin was president, Frank Ballouz was national sales manager, Don Osborne was western regional sales manager, Howie Rubin was eastern regional sales manager, Lenore Sayers was a [former] sales rep (Eastern region), Tom Petit was a sales rep (Western region), Sue Elliot was head of international sales, Carol Kantor was marketing services manager.  (Cash Box 7/7/79 ptIII p20)

July: Al Alcorn, previously Atari VP research and development and general manager, Consumer division, would remain VP research and development (still reporting to Atari president/CEO Ray Kassar).  Donald Winn, a lawyer, joined Atari as Consumer Division president (replacing Alcorn in the role, though TVDigest 7/30/79p11 reported the role last held by president Ray Kassar).  William F.X. Grubb (Bill Grubb), previously of Black & Decker, joined Atari (Consumer) as video games sales & marketing VP, and Robert A. Hovee, previously of Questor, joined Atari (Consumer) as personal computers sales & marketing VP, together replacing Donald Kingsborough who departed the company (to return to his sales representative business, D.K. Associates; he would establish D.K. Marketing, Inc. on 10/01/1980, and S.K.U., Inc. on 5/11/81). (source; Grubb in Billboard 4/23/83 p. VGM-6 said June, but here says July)  Peter Rosenthal, previously personal computers marketing manager, would be promoted to director of marketing for personal computers (reporting to Hovee).

July: Charles S. Paul (Skip Paul), previously of Cooley, Castro, Huddleson & Tatum, joined Atari as VP and general counsel (source), replacing outside general counsel Lionel M. (Lon) Allan in the role.  Paul would report to Atari president/CEO Ray Kassar, with "dotted-line" indirect reporting to Warner Communications Inc. VP and general counsel Martin D. Payson. (source 4:45)

Summer: Engineer Rob Fulop joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer/programmer.

Summer?: Programmer Rick Maurer, previously of Fairchild, joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer/programmer.

Fall?: In West Germany, new Atari distributor Unicom Consumer Electronics GmbH (Unimex) shipped the Atari VCS (new version 2600P for PAL B/G; woodgrain; 6 switches).

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

August: Atari (Consumer) senior programmer / game designer Alan Miller departed the company. (TCWv1 p483; Frye in Atari 50) (He would co-found Activision on 10/1/79.)

August: Atari (Consumer) senior programmer / game designer David Crane departed the company. (TCWv1 p483; Frye in Atari 50) (He would co-found Activision on 10/1/79.)

August: Tod Frye joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer/programmer. (Frye in Atari 50; source; source)  John Eckstrom joined Atari (Consumer) as a programmer (operating systems, computer line).  (Harry Stewart remained systems software consultant for Atari; George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.)

August: Atari (Consumer) chip design engineer Doug Neubauer departed the company (to Hewlett-Packard). (Compute! #3 Mar/Apr 80 p75)

August?: On pages 650-655 of the Wish Book for the 1979 Holiday Season Sears featured: the Tele-Games Pong Sports IV (#99708) by Atari ($24.95), the Tele-Games Motocross Sports Center IV (#99729) by Atari ($34.95), the Tele-Games Video Arcade (#99743) by Atari ($154.95), and the Atari 400 personal computer system ($549) and accessories.

August 18: Carol Kantor remained Atari (Coin-Op) manager of marketing services. (Cash Box 8/18/79 p46)

August/September: Atari (Consumer) president Don Winn departed the company. (TCWv1 p464)

August/September: Atari (Coin-Op) announced: Frank Ballouz had been promoted to Director of Marketing (replacing the departed C. Marshall Caras), including international marketing; Don Osborne (previously: western regional sales manager) had been promoted to National Sales Manager (replacing the promoted Ballouz in the role); Howie Rubin continued to head the East Coast office and would also work on new special markets; Sue Elliot remained head of international sales as International Sales Manager; Tom Petit, sales representative, would also have increased responsbilities including distributor accounts throughout the U.S.  Gene Lipkin remained president of the Coin-Operated Games Division. (CC Aug/Sep79;  CashBox 9/22/79 p46) 

August/September: Atari (Coin-Op) manager of marketing services Carol Kantor departed the company (and established Business Builders, a marketing services agency to specialize in marketing promotions; first major customer would be Atari). (CashBox 9/29/79 p42)

Summer/Fall: The Atari plant at 1173 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA, previously home of Atari (Coin-Op) pinball production, was repurposed for 400/800 computer line manufacturing; pinball plant manager ????? and pinball manufacturing engineering manager Jim Riordan both departed the company.  (Riordan would work as an independent contractor for clients including Atari.  He would establish Overnight Engineering, Incorporated on 10/1/81, which was renamed Riordan Product Development Inc. on 11/1/88, and renamed The James F. Riordan Company on 7/26/89.)  Brad C. Saville would be Atari (Consumer) manufacturing manager (personal computers).  Atari (Coin-Op) would maintain pinball design operations (for either a new manufacturing plant or outsourced manufacturing), and Geoff Harrop would remain manager of pinball design.

September 4: Chris C. Crawford, previously an instructor with the University of California Extension, and designer of the self-published game Legionnaire for Commodore PET, joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer/programmer. (source)  (Crawford was recommended for hire by Atari (Consumer) programmer Rob Zdybel.) (source 15:00)

September 4: The New York Times reported on p. D7, "Atari Inc., the maker of home video games, will introduce two new personal computer systems in the fall. The inaugural ad campaign, created by Doyle Dane Bernbach, will break in October in 12 national publications. TV commercials will also be aired in Los Angeles in November and December."

September: Raymond E. Kassar, previously Atari president and CEO, would become Atari chairman and CEO, replacing Atari chairman Joe Keenan who announced his departure from the company.  Keenan was named president and COO of Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell's Pizza Time Theatre, Inc. (PTT), replacing Gene Landrum in the role there; Landrum became PTT SVP development.

September?: Dennis Groth, previously Atari VP finance (CFO), became Atari EVP and CFO.

September: Atari opened a factory with 30 employees in an unused building in the Farah Manufacturing plant at 5645 Beacon, El Paso, Texas.  The plant would manufacture home video game cartridges. (El Paso Times 4/5/81) (source) (source)  It was a 38,500 ft² location. (source)  Bill N. Medrano, previously Los Angeles County Dept of Personnel, personnel analyst, regional park superintendent, was personnel manager. (source)

September: Kevin Hayes, previously Atari Ireland Limited financial controller, was promoted to Atari Ireland managing director (replacing Atari VP manufacturing Gil Williams in the role). (source)  Mike Nevin would join Atari Irelend as controller (replacing Hayes in the role).

September?: Atari (Consumer) senior programmer / game designer Bob Whitehead departed the company. (TCWv1 p483) (He would co-found Activision on 10/1/79.)

September?: Dennis Koble, previously Atari (Consumer) engineering manager for Consumer Games (electronic toys & games), became Atari (Consumer) software manager (new position, reporting to director of software development George Simcock). (source; source 7:30, 34:10)  Hardware designer Mark Davis would be promoted to engineering manager for Consumer Games (electronic toys & games; replacing Koble in the role).

September: In Japan, Namco's Atari Japan unit released Atari Football by Atari. (GM 11/29/82)  Atari Football would be the last Atari game to be distributed in Japan by Namco under their August 1974 purchase agreement of Atari Japan Corporation. 

September: In Japan, Sega Enterprises released Atari Basketball by Atari. (GM 11/29/82)  Sega Enterprises Ltd., the Japanese subsidiary of American conglomerate Gulf and Western Industries, Inc., would replace Namco's Atari Japan unit as Atari (Coin-Op) distributor in Japan.  Namco would sue Atari for violating terms of their August 1974 purchase agreement of Atari Japan Corporation.

September 18: In response to petitions from Texas Instruments filed February 1979, and in rejection of expressed opposition from several companies including Atari, the U.S. FCC adopted an Order Granting Waiver in Part which granted Texas Instruments authority to apply for and receive certification of and to market its TI-900 RF modulator, to be effective 30 days after publication. (FCC 79-557; 44 FR 62339)  TI would be able to market its home computer, the TI-99/4, effective November 23, 1979.

September 22: At Atari (Coin-Op), Colette Weil, previously marketing research analyst (reporting to departed manager of marketing services Carol Kantor), had been promoted to Manager of Marketing Research, and Mary Takatsuno and Linda Butcher, previously marketing assistants (both also reporting to Kantor), had been promoted to marketing analyst positions (both reporting to Weil).  Frank Ballouz remained director of marketing. (CC Oct/Nov79; CashBox 9/22/79 p48)

September 24: Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (contract programmer Paul Laughton for SMI) completed the File Management System (FMS) for the Atari personal computers.  (George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.)

September 24: In the U.S., registered buyers of the Atari VCS in the 3rd quarter received 5 LP albums: Diana Ross/Theme from Mahogany, Jefferson Airplane/Flight Log, Crosby & Nash/Live, The Beach Boys/Love You, Ohio Players/Gold.  In the 4th quarter, registered VCS buyers would get five scrip checks (coupons) each worth $2.50 off the price of any of: Flag Capture, Black Jack, Surround, Space War, Basic Math. (TVDigest 9/24/79 p10; Merch 10/79)

October 1: Activision, Inc. was established by former Atari (Consumer) programmers/game designers Alan Miller, David Crane, and Bob Whitehead and former GRT Corp. VP Music Tapes division Jim Levy.

October: Atari shipped the 400 personal computer system (NTSC; 8KiB RAM) and the 800 personal computer system (NTSC; 8KiB RAM), each boxed with the BASIC Computing Language cartridge (Atari BASIC by SMI) and the Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide) book; also supplied with the 800 and also shipped separately (for 400 owners): the 410 program recorder and the Educational System Master Cartridge (Dorsett Educational Systems). (Byte 3/80p110 for date)

October: In Japan, the Atari VCS was released by Atari distributor Epoch. (source; source)  Epoch would also release the TV Block MB, designed around the custom Atari chip found in the Atari C-380 Video Pinball ("dark woodgrain"/Sears Tele-Games version, featuring the 7 games: Flipper Pinball 1, Paddle Pinball 1, Flipper Pinball 2, Paddle Pinball 2, Rebound, Breakthru, Breakout)

October 19: For the VCS Atari had released: Superman  (ad in WashPost 10/19/79)

Fall: Atari shipped (U.S. market) the hand held electronic game Touch Me (BH-100), the first (would be the only) release in the Atari Electronic Toys & Games product line.

Fall: Carla Meninsky joined Atari (Consumer) as an animator.  Dennis Koble remained Atari manager of Consumer software; George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.  (source)

Fall?: Atari (Consumer) game designer/programmer John Dunn departed the company.

Fall?: The Atari (Coin-Op) New Jersey Customer Service Office moved from 44 Colonial Dr, Piscataway NJ to: Cottontail Ln, Somerset NJ (source)

Fall?: Stephen N. Davis joined Atari (Consumer) as a product marketing manager, and Carol Abbott joined Atari (Consumer) as software product manager (each reporting to director of marketing (personal computers) Peter Rosenthal).

November 8: Atari filed a Motion to Stay the effective date (November 23, 1979) of the Order Granting Waiver in Part that the FCC had granted to Texas Instruments on September 18, 1979.

November 9: Dale Yocum, previously of Telesensory, had joined Atari (Consumer) to establish and manage a 400/800 programmers group as Applications Software Manager (personal computers). (source; source 2:02:05)  Yocum had been hired by software manager Dennis Koble (source 9:00), but would report directly to director of software development George Simcock, while Koble would remain software manager for game software (still reporting to Simcock). (source)

November: Sears, the U.S. national retailer, began test marketing the Atari 400/800 in its retail stores throughout California and the 400 in its stores in the Chicago area. (Electronic News, December 10, 1979, p. 83; Byte 4/80p115 for date)  In its retail stores, for the 400/800 Sears offered 8 Computer Program Library cassettes, software developed by The Image Producers: Target Chase (7671), Baseball (7672), Stock Challenge (7673), Memory Maze (7674), Roman Checkers (7675), Oil Wells (7676), Frame Up (7677), Bingo Duel (7678).  These were likely the first third-party products for the 400/800. (source; AtariMania) 

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: 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

November: Michael J. Moone (Mike Moone), previously VP and General Manager of Milton Bradley Co., joined Atari as president of the Consumer Division, replacing the departed Don Winn. (TVDigest 12/17/79p14)

November: Conrad C. Jutson, previously Texas Instruments marketing manager for personal computers, joined Atari (Consumer) as a personal computers sales manager. (Compute#5 p16)  Craig A. Conway would also join Atari (Consumer) as a personal computers sales manager.  (Robert Hovee remained Atari (Consumer) VP sales & marketing for personal computers.) 

November 17: At Atari (Coin-Op): Noah Anglin, previously director of engineering, had been promoted to VP of Engineering and Manufacturing, assuming the additional role from Gil Williams who departed the company.  (Curt Russell remained director of operations, now reporting to Anglin.)  Lyle Rains, previously Manager of Electronics Engineering and Game Development (reporting to Anglin), had been promoted to Director of Engineering (replacing Anglin in the role; still reporting to Anglin).  Technician Dan Van Elderen (with Atari since 12/5/73) had been promoted to Project Office manager (replacing Rains in the role).  Unit managers reporting to Rains (or to Van Elderen on game projects): Dave Stubben (electrical engineering, replacing Rains in the role; previously: one of four team leaders), Geoff Harrop (pinball design), Peter Takaichi (industrial design), George Opperman (graphics design), Hugh Langhans (mechanical engineering), Howard Slade (engineering services).  Reports to Stubben included: chief engineer, electronic design (vacant), Steve Calfee (chief engineer, software; previously: one of four team leaders), Rick Moncrief (chief engineer, special projects), Bill White (components).  Reports to Calfee: Ed Logg (programmers group B), Tom Hogg (computer systems; previously: one of four team leaders). (source) (Cash Box 2/2/80 p41; TVDigest 6/2/80 p12) (CC Apr80) (Cash Box 5/3/80 p39)

November 20: The U.S. FCC denied Atari's Motion to Stay the effective date (November 23, 1979) of the waiver granted to Texas Instruments on September 18, 1979, saying Atari hadn't presented any new evidence. (FCC 79-754; TVDigest 11/26/79)

November 21: Regarding the FCC's November 20 denial of Atari's Motion to Stay the effective date (November 23, 1979) of the waiver granted to Texas Instruments on September 18, 1979, Atari sought judicial review and a court stay from the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit. (Atari v. FCC, No. 79-2376)

November 23: The waiver granted by the FCC to Texas Instruments on September 18, 1979 to sell an independent RF modulator for home computers & video games (and effectively the TI-99/4 computer system) went into effect, and TI began sales of the TI-99/4.  Atari filed a petition with the FCC requesting reconsideration of the TI waiver.

November 25: For the VCS Atari had shipped: Backgammon (ad in WashPost: "just arrived")

November/December: For the 400/800 Atari shipped: Basketball, Super Breakout, Computer Chess, the 810 disk drive with 810 Master Diskette (DOS developed by SMI), and the Talk & Teach Educational System cassettes (Dorsett Educational Systems): U.S. History, U.S. Government, Supervisory Skills, World History (Western), Basic Sociology, Counseling Procedures, Principles of Accounting, Physics, Great Classics, Business Communications, Basic Psychology, Effective Writing, Principles of Economics, Spelling, Basic Electricity, Basic Algebra

November/December?: Lane Winner, previously of Versatec, joined Atari (Consumer) as an applications programmer (personal computers).  Winner would report to applications software manager Dale Yocum. (source 4:00)

November/December: Kathy Forte joined Atari (Consumer) as an applications programmer (personal computers). (source)  Forte would report to application programmers group manager Dale Yocum.

November/December?: Fred M. Gerson joined Atari (Coin-Op) as VP Finance for the division. (CC 6/80)  Gerson was previously an audit manager with Arthur Young & Co., where his clients had included Atari. (The Learning Co. PR 5/31/84)

December 3: Publication date of the Atari internal document, Stella Programmer's Guide by Atari (Consumer) training manager Steve Wright.

December 6: In Atari v. FCC, No. 79-2376, the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit denied Atari's motion for stay.  (Atari's November 23 request for reconsideration by the FCC remained active.)

December 10: "Atari is funneling large quantities of its 400 and 800 personal computers and software to Sears, Roebuck, while retail computer stores have been faced with late hardware deliveries and received very little, if any, software." (Electronic News, December 10, 1979, p. 83.)

December: Chris Crawford, previously an Atari (Consumer) game designer (reporting to software manager Dennis Koble), transferred to the personal computer application programmers group (reporting to applications software manager Dale Yocum). (source)

December: Steve Bristow, previously Atari (Consumer) VP engineering, Consumer Game (electronic toys & games) and Home Computer product lines, would remain VP Engineering, Consumer Game product line (electronic toys & games). (Bristow resume)  John Ellis remained Atari (Consumer) VP engineering, re-assuming computer product line engineering from Bristow.  (Niles Strohl remained engineering manager, computer line, now reporting to Ellis.)  

December?: Atari VP research and development Al Alcorn formed a new corporate Advanced Products Group that would include Roger Hector and Harry H. Jenkins, Jr., both previously Atari (Coin-Op) mechanical design engineers (as of 11/17/79), to explore developing a product that would use holography. (source) (Would be introduced as: Cosmos)

December: In Japan, Sega Enterprises released Lunar Lander by Atari. (GM 11/29/82)

December: Holosonics, Inc. was declared bankrupt, and ownership of more than 150 holography patents reverted to the People's Bank of Seattle and Citibank.

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

Atari sold roughly 600,000 VCS systems in 1979, bringing the installed base to a little over 1.3 million. (TCWv1 p458)

1980
January 2: For the VCS Atari had released: Video Chess (newspaper ad 1/2/80; see also PersonalComputing 11/79 p75 which anticipated a 11/79 release for Video Chess)

January 4: In Hong Kong, Denovo Company Limited was established, to serve as an investment vehicle.

January 5-8: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, for the 400/800 (now $629.95/$1079.95; previously: $549.99/$999.99) Atari introduced the 825 printer, 830 modem, and 850 interface (each due summer 1980), again promised the 820 printer, introduced Video Easel (previously: Game of Life), 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Star Raiders, Assembler Editor (previously: Assembler Debug; April), Music Composer (March), and Personal Finance (previously: Home Finance; July; never shipped), featured Basketball and the Talk & Teach Educational System, again promised Introduction to Programming (previously: Guide to BASIC Programming), and announced Kingdom, Blackjack, Biorhythm, and Hangman. (InterfaceAge 2/80p49; InfoWorld 2/18/80p17 with photos; Merch; C015700 Rev.1; Touch the Future flyers; 12/79 400/800 flyers; price list)  Atari announced a license agreement to market 8 personal capital investment management application programs designed by Control Data Corporation from CDC's Cyberware library, including: bond yield, bond price and interest, bond switch, stock rate of return, stock dividend analysis, stock charting, mortgage analysis, portfolio analysis (WSJ Jan8p37; TVDigest 1/14/80p13) (would ship as the four titles: Mortgage & Loan Analysis, Bond Analysis, Stock Analysis, Stock Charting).

Atari introduced and announced the impending release of the 33rd cartridge in the Game Program library for the VCS ($179), Space Invaders (title by Taito; original arcade release in Japan 6/78 -source), and introduced an additional 5 new cartridges scheduled for spring release: Night Driver, 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Golf, Circus Atari, and Adventure (for a total of 38 titles; Basic Math was renamed Fun With Numbers; Hunt & Score was renamed A Game of Concentration.).  Bill Grubb remained Atari (Consumer) VP marketing and sales for video games. (PR, see WeLoveAtari v1p122)

January?: For the 400/800 Atari shipped 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe.

January: Conrad Jutson, previously an Atari (Consumer) sales manager for personal computers, was promoted to VP Sales & Marketing, Personal Computers, replacing Robert Hovee who departed the company. (TVDigest 1/21/80p14; source)  Craig Conway, previously also an Atari (Consumer) sales manager for personal computers (reporting to Hovee), would become national sales manager for personal computers (reporting to Jutson).

January 17-19: Atari games were exhibited by Löwen/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 21: Atari and Control Data Corporation (CDC) announced an agreement for the repair of Atari personal computers through the nationwide network of Control Data Service Centers.  Under terms of the agreement, CDC would furnish a variety of repair services to owners and distributors of the Atari 400 and 800 personal computer systems, including warranty repair, safety and engineering changes, equipment upgrades and annual service contracts. Repair centers for Atari computers were being established in CDC’s existing nationwide network of field service locations. Approximately 20 centers were open in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Washington, with more scheduled. (Dr. Dobb's Journal; source for date; source)

January 24: Atari announced Space Invaders (title by Taito; never shipped) and Super Breakout (never shipped), to join Touch Me in Atari's hand held Electronic Games (formerly: Electronic Toys & Games) product line.  Michael Moone remained president of the Atari Consumer Division. (source; TVDigest 2/4/80; Fun p303)

January 28: Atari announced that it had signed a license agreement with Taito Corporation of Japan under which Atari was granted the exclusive right to use the name Space Invaders (which was currently the world's most popular video arcade game) in connection with the manufacture or sale of non-coin-operated video games, personal computers, and hand held electronic toys and games.  This was the first such arrangement in the industry.  (The 1978 "Space Invaders" release by Bally for the Bally Professional Arcade home system would no longer be sold under that title.)  Michael J. Moone remained president of Atari's Consumer Division. (source; TVDigest 2/11/80p10)  (Space Invaders would go on to become the "killer application" for the Atari VCS.)

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

Winter: Bob Smith (Robert G. Smith) joined Atari (Consumer) as a programmer.  He was hired by, and would report to, game software manager Dennis Koble. (source; source 1:08; source; source 8:25; source; source)

Winter: Dave Johnson, previously of Interact Electronics, joined Atari (Consumer) as a programmer (hired by director of software development George Simcock; reporting to applications software manager Dale Yocum). (source)

Winter: William (Bill) Kaiser, previously of Xerox, joined Atari (Consumer) in finance.  (Alan Henricks remained division controller.)

February 10: Atari introduced the hand held Electronic Games, Space Invaders (title by Taito; never shipped) and Super Breakout (never shipped) in the opening of their showroom at Toy Center South, 200 5th Avenue, Suite 1357, New York City. (source; Compute#3p75; Fun p303-304)  The opening was timed to coincide with the February 17-20 American Toy Fair.

February 11: Atari had announced a 5% factory price boost on the Atari VCS (previously: $179), effective April 1. (TVDigest 2/11/80p10)

February 11: The Sears spring-summer catalog featured the Atari Video Arcade at $149, the Atari 400 at $549, and the Atari 800 at $999. (TVDigest 2/11/80p10)

February?: For the 400/800 Atari shipped Video Easel and Star Raiders.

February: Raymond A. Kunavich joined Atari Far East Operations (Atari liaison office in Taiwan) as engineering director.  (Richard Krieger remained director of Far East Operations.)  (source)

February: Nearly 200 holography patents came up for sale by the People's Bank of Washington in Seattle and New York's Citibank, which had taken possession of the patents when they foreclosed on loans to the patents' owners, Holosonics Inc.  Atari would acquire the exclusive right to manufacture and market products involving holograms intended primarily for toys and games. (source)  The Atari (corporate) Advanced Products Group (VP research and development Al Alcorn and engineers Roger Hector and Harry Jenkins) would establish the Atari Holoptics Lab.  Holography consultants to Atari would eventually include: Kenneth Haines (founder of Eidetic Images, Inc.), Stephen P. McGrew (Steve McGrew) (previously of Holotron Corporation), and McGrew's assistant, Steven D. Provence (Steve Provence).

February 17-20: Atari featured the hand held Electronic Games, Space Invaders (never shipped), Super Breakout (never shipped), and Touch Me at the 77th annual American Toy Fair in New York.  Atari's showroom at Toy Center South, 200 5th Avenue, Suite 1357, had opened on February 10.

February/March: For the VCS Atari released: Space Invaders (ad in Capital Times 2/28/80 p6; source)

March 6: In West Germany, Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH was established as a subsidiary of WEA Musik GmbH (headed by managing director Siegfried E. Loch (Siggi Loch), itself a subsidiary of Atari parent company, Warner Communications Inc.), to take over the Atari consumer products distribution business of Unimex (Unicom Consumer Electronics GmbH).  The managing director of Atari Elektronik would be Klaus Ollmann, WEA Musik Deputy Managing Director, GOVI Records GmbH (retail store chain) managing director, and Record Service GmbH (record manufacturing) managing director.  Rolf Rehfeldt would be head of sales; Werner Täsler would be head of marketing. (source; source)  Headquarters location (shared with WEA Musik): Arndtstraße 16, 2000 Hamburg 76.  Distribution warehouse (shared with GOVI Records): Gluckstraße 67, 2000 Hamburg 76.  Repair Service (shared with Record Service): Max-Planck-Straße 1-9, 5110 Alsdorf

March 14-16: Atari did not attend the 5th West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco, although Atari retail training staff and support personnel were present
assisting several 400/800 dealers. (Compute #4p6)

March: For the VCS Atari released: Adventure (source)

March?: For the 400/800 Atari shipped: Music Composer

March: Science Research Associates (SRA, the subsidiary of IBM) and Atari announced that SRA would develop educational computer courseware in reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, intended for Atari personal computers used in the home; Atari would have the right to market this software.  Additionally, SRA would have primary responsibility for the sale of Atari personal computers and services to the educational community (public and private, pre-school through university level). (Compute#4p76; InfoWorld 3/31/80p2)

March: Atari (Coin-Op) announced three new international distributors.  The Music Hire Group had joined Cherry Leisure as co-distributors in the UK, Bo Billing was the new exclusive distributor in Sweden, and Raha-Automaattiyhdisys was the new exclusive distributor in Finland.  Sue Elliott remained Atari International Sales Manager. (CC 3/80)

March: In Japan, Taito released T.T. Asteroids by Atari. (GM 11/29/82)  Taito Corporation would join Sega Enterprises as Atari's second distributor in Japan.

March: At Atari: Raymond E. Kassar was chairman and CEO; Eugene J. Lipkin was president, Coin-Operated Games Division; Michael J. Moone was president, Consumer Division; Dennis D. Groth was EVP. (WCI 1979 Annual Report)

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 (ACUI) conference and show in Minneapolis.  At the show Atari introduced Atari Soccer, and also featured: Asteroids, Atari Football, Atari Baseball

March 29: Lenore Sayers, previously VP marketing at Cinematronics, had re-joined Atari (Coin-Op) as regional sales manager for the northeast, northwest and upper midwest regions.  Don Osborne remained national sales manager. (Cash Box 3/29/80 p102)

March/April: Tandy Trower, previously of WICAT (World Institute for Computer-Assisted Teaching), joined Atari (Consumer) as an evaluator of 3rd party software titles (personal computers).  He was hired by Atari (Consumer) director of marketing (personal computers) Peter Rosenthal. (source, including 18:00 for timing; source)

April 1: Atari increased the suggested retail price for the VCS to $199 (previously: $179)  (TVDigest 6/2/80 p11)

April 9: Atari's November 23, 1979 petition to the U.S. FCC to rescind the waiver of Class I TV rules granted to Texas Instruments was rejected by the commission. (FCC 80-191; TVDigest 4/7/80 p11; 4/14/80 p12)  Atari and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) would appeal the FCC's decision to the United States District of Columbia Court of Appeals (Byte 4/80p115), which would reject the appeal. (Byte 5/80p146)

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

April: In Japan, Sega Enterprises released Asteroids by Atari. (GM 11/29/82)

April: For the VCS Atari released: BASIC Programming  (source)

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

April 23: George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.  For the 400/800 product line: Dale Yocum remained applications software manager (reporting to Simcock), Tandy Trower remained an evaluator of 3rd party software titles (reporting to director of marketing Peter Rosenthal), Carol Abbott remained a software product manager (reporting to Rosenthal), Keith Ball was a systems software programmer (reporting to Simcock).  Georgia Marszalek, previously manager of marketing communications (personal computers), had become a software product manager (reporting to Rosenthal).  Brian Johnston, previously an Atari (Consumer) game developer (electronic toys & games), was serving as a systems software programmer on an interim basis (reporting to Simcock). (source)  Sally Bowman, previously a school psychologist for the Scottsdale Unified School District (Arizona), had joined Atari (Consumer) as manager of marketing communications (personal computers; replacing Marszalek in the role).

April 26-30: 6th Annual Atari Distributor Meeting, entitled "The Atari Roundup," was held at The Wigwam in Phoenix AZ.  Over 200 attended. (CC 6/80)

April 28: Activision, Inc. had announced their first releases and the first-ever third-party games for a game console, 4 titles for the Atari VCS to be introduced at the June 1980 CES and to ship in September: Drag Race, Boxing, Checkers, Fishing Derby (TVDigest 4/28/80 p11)

Spring?: James Kelly, previously Atari (Coin-Op) graphics designer (where he had reported to graphics design manager George Opperman), transferred to the Atari (Consumer) industrial design and graphics group as an artist, reporting to art director Steve Hendricks.

Spring: For the 400/800 Atari shipped: An Invitation to Programming 1: Fundamentals of BASIC Programming (Program Design, Inc. (PDI); previously: Introduction to Programming), Kingdom, Blackjack, Biorhythm, Hangman (6/1/80 price list)

Spring: Tom Petit, previously Atari (Coin-Op) sales representative, became Atari (Coin-Op) regional sales manager, Western States (CC 11/81)

May 5-8: At the New York Premium Incentive Show, Atari (Coin-Op) featured Atari Soccer, Football, and Asteroids, and Atari (Consumer) exhibited as well. (CC 6/80)

May 6: In West Germany, Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH was registered for business, with Klaus Ollmann registered as managing director.

May 12: Atari (Consumer) senior layout engineer Steve Stone had departed the company and established Macro Dienamics, Inc. (MDI)

May: David W. Burling, previously an associate at Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott, joined Atari as VP and counsel.  Skip Paul, previously Atari VP and general counsel, would be SVP and general counsel. (source for date 3:40)

May?: Dennis Koble, previously Atari (Consumer) game software manager, was promoted to director of software development, replacing George Simcock who departed the company (retired). (source; source 7:40)  Brian Johnston, previously Atari (Consumer) game developer (electronic toys & games), would become systems software supervisor, computer line (source 7:30) (new position; reporting to Koble).  Systems software consultant Harry Stewart would now report to Johnston (previously: to Simcock).  (Dale Yocum remained applications software manager, computer line, now reporting to Koble.)

May 19: Steve Bristow, previously Atari (Consumer) VP engineering, Consumer Games (electronic toys & games), would become Atari (Consumer) VP engineering, assuming the role from John Ellis who had departed the company.  Mark Davis, previously Atari (Consumer) engineering manager, consumer game product line (reporting to Bristow), would become Atari (Consumer) engineering manager, replacing Wade Tuma who had departed the company.  (Ellis and Tuma together established Compower Corp. on 5/19/80).  (Niles Strohl remained engineering manager, computer line, now reporting to Bristow.)  

May 19: Atari had filed a $20 million suit (in San Francisco) against Activision, Inc., charging the company with theft of video game secrets, unfair competition, and trademark infringement, and asking for an injunction to keep the cartridges off the market. (InfoWorld Aug.4; TVDigest 5/19/80 p15)

May 20-22: Atari featured the 400/800 personal computer systems at the 1980 National Computer Conference's (NCC) Personal Computing Festival at the Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim CA.  Also at the show, Personal Software introduced the Atari 800 version (and the Commodore PET/CBM version) of VisiCalc by Software Arts. (The original Apple II version had shipped Oct. 1979.)  (Byte 5/80p280-281; BostonGlobe5/27)

May 22: Warner Communications Inc. named Bert W. Wasserman EVP and CFO (previously: SVP finance).  

June 4: Atari announced that Joseph Robbins (Joe Robbins), most recently president of Empire Distributing Company, a division of Bally, Inc., had joined the company as co-president, Coin-Op Division, with responsibility for marketing and sales/distribution.  Gene Lipkin remained Coin-Op Division president. (TVDigest 6/16/80 p16; CC 6/80)  (Frank Ballouz remained director of marketing; Don Osborne remained national sales manager.)

June: Atari (Coin-Op) announced the appointment of Shane Breaks (Patrick Shane Gough Breaks), previously of R.H. Belam Export, Inc., as International Marketing Director (new position).  Breaks would be headquartered at Atari's facility in Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, with responsibility for all overseas sales.  Sue Elliot remained International Sales Manager, based at Atari headquarters in California, and would now report to Breaks. (CC 6/80; CashBox 6/28/80)

June: Atari (Consumer) engineering formed an Advanced Technology group to launch project Sylvia (Atari 1000 "Super Stella" game console; later: 3200; never introduced), to be based on a chipset designed by the departed Doug Neubauer.  The Sylvia project group, located at 1349 Moffett Park Dr., Sunnyvale, CA, would include LSI chipset designer Francois Michel and senior engineer Charles Pete Gerrard (and later: programmers Bob Smith and Rob Zdybel).  Steve Bristow remained Atari (Consumer) VP Engineering. (source; Bristow resume for date; source; Stella at 20 t14 4:05; source 9:40)

June: Dona Bailey, previously of General Motors, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a programmer. (source)  Bailey had been hired by programmers group supervisor Ed Logg (source 32:10)

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.

June: In Japan, Sega Enterprises released Missile Command by Atari (up, table, and cockpit versions). (GM 11/29/82)

June: Namco-America, Inc. VP operations Satish Bhutani departed the company (to Data East). (source)  Hideyuki Nakajima, previously based in Japan as Namco EVP international sales, VP for Atari Japan, and president of Namco-America, would now be based in California as Namco international marketing director while continuing as president of Namco-America. (Cash Box 8/29/81 p34; Cash Box 10/17/81 p33; GM 2/15/82 p29)

June 15-18: At the Summer CES in Chicago, for the 400/800 ($630/$1,080) Atari introduced: 815 dual disk drive with DOS 2.0D ($1499.95; fall; never shipped), 822 printer ($449.95; summer), and Light Pen (CX70; $74.95; summer), again promised the 820 printer ($599.95; summer), 825 printer ($999.95; summer), 830 modem ($199.95; summer), and 850 interface ($219.95; summer), introduced Mortgage & Loan Analysis (Control Data Corporation (CDC)), Bond Analysis (CDC), Stock Analysis (CDC), Stock Charting (CDC), An Invitation to Programming 2: Writing Programs One and Two (Program Design, Inc. (PDI)), An Invitation to Programming 3: Introduction to Sound and Graphics (PDI), Astrology (never shipped), Conversational French (EMI / Longman), Conversational German (EMI / Longman), Conversational Spanish (EMI / Longman), Mailing List, Touch Typing, Calculator, Graph It, Statistics I, Energy Czar, States & Capitals, European Countries & Capitals, TeleLink I, Space Invaders (title by Taito), and again promised Assembler Editor.  (No longer promised: Personal Finance.)  Atari also previewed The Atari Accountant series (by BPI; would consist of: General Accounting System; Accounts Receivable System; Inventory Control System; each package in the series would require the 815 dual disk drive; series never shipped).

Also, Atari had modified the 800 personal computer system package.  The 800 would now ship with one CX853 16KiB RAM module installed (previously: one CX852 8KiB RAM module); the 410 program recorder and Educational System Master Cartridge were removed from the package; the BASIC Reference Manual was added to the package. (CC Sep80p30; Compute#5p4-5; TVDigest 6/2/80 p11; 6/1/80 price list)

For the VCS ($199) Atari introduced: Maze Craze, Video Checkers, Dodge 'Em, Pelé's Championship Soccer (Sears title: Soccer).  (Two VCS titles were dropped: Slot Machine and Star Ship, making a total of 40 titles available.)

Atari featured the hand held electronic games Space Invaders and Super Breakout (or at least one of them) as well. (NYT 12/14/80)

Month?: Rick Moncrief was Atari (Coin-Op) Chief Engineer, Special Projects. (WeLoveAtari p170)

Month?: The Atari Professional Products Division was shut down, and Atari Professional Products general manager Kerry Crosson departed the company.

Month?: Mark Bradlee, previously of Black & Decker, joined Atari (Consumer) as national account manager for video games.  (Bill Grubb remained Atari (Consumer) VP marketing and sales for video games.)

Months?: Jeff Burton joined Atari (Consumer) as International Market Manager, and Nancy Garrison, previously of Revlon, joined Atari (Consumer) as international marketing manager for computer software. (Anton Bruehl remained Atari (Consumer) VP international sales/marketing.)

July 1: In the U.S., until September 30, Atari offered free set of Keyboard Controllers for the purchase of A Game of Concentration and Codebreaker for the VCS. (source)

July 5: At Atari (Coin-Op), Gene Lipkin was president, Joseph Robbins was co-president, Frank Ballouz was director of marketing, Don Osborne was national sales director (actually: manager), Sue Elliot was international sales manager. (Cash Box 7/5/80 pt.iii p16)

July 5: Atari (Coin-Op) international distributors included: Canada: Dale Distributing Ltd. (Rexdale, Ontario; Richmond, B.C. (Vancouver)), Laniel Automatic (Mt. Royal, Quebec), New Way Sales (Toronto, Ontario), J.E. Weatherhead Dist. Ltd. (Burnaby, B.C.); R.H. Belam Company (New York, NY); Leisure & Allied Industries (Perth, West Australia); Brabo Corporation (Antwerp, Belgium); Taito do Brazil (Sao Paulo, Brazil); Music Hire Group (Leeds, England); Ruffler & Deith Ltd. (London, England); Socodimex (Paris, France); Löwen Automaten (Bingen/Rhine, West Germany); Fratelli Bertolino (Torino, Italy); Sega Enterprises (Tokyo, Japan); Taito Corporation (Tokyo, Japan); Lars Berg A/S (Trondheim, Norway); Quintin Flynn Ltd. (Dublin, Ireland); Bo Billing/Bally Scandinavia (Solna, Sweden) (Cash Box 7/5/80 pt.iii p23)

July: Date of Atari Lease Agreement for 1196 Borregas Ave, Sunnyvale CA (source) (future home of the future Atari Computer Division).

July: In Japan, Taito released T.T. Missile Command by Atari. (GM 11/29/82)

July 22: In Hong Kong, Atari established Atari Far East Limited.  (Atari (Consumer) general accounting manager John Constantine (based at Atari headquarters in California) set up the new unit.)  (source 5:20)   

July 25: In Hong Kong, Atari and Wong's Industrial (Holdings) Limited (contract manufacturer of the Atari VCS via the subsidiary, The Wong's Electronics Company, Limited (WEC)), established the joint manufacturing venture, Atari-Wong Limited, which would proceed to establish operations at: 2nd Floor, King Yip Building, 59 King Yip St, Kwun Tong, Kowloon (100,000 ft²), with an office next door at: 1st Floor, Liven House, 61-63 King Yip St., Kwun Tong, Kowloon.  Benedict C. M. Wong (Ben Wong Chung-Mat) would be Atari-Wong general manager.

July 29: Warner Amex Cable Communications announced a fall 1980 project in collaboration with Atari, Inc. and CompuServe that would provide a minimum of 100 subscribers to the Warner Amex two-way interactive QUBE service in Columbus, Ohio, with access to data from CompuServe through the use of provided Atari computers. (Warner Amex Cable Communications PR)

Summer: For the VCS Atari released: 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Circus Atari (Sears title: Circus), Night Driver, Golf  (newspaper ads, including Chicago Heights Star 6/29 pS 5)

Summer?: For the 400/800 Atari shipped the 820 printer.

Summer?: Atari (Consumer) game designer Carol Shaw departed the company (to Tandem Computers).

Summer: Dennis Koble, previously Atari (Consumer) director of software development, would remain director of game software development.  John R. Powers, III (John Powers), previously of The Authorship Resource, Inc. (ARI; established by Powers and Joe Miller on 4/1/77 to develop the OS and software for the CyberVision home computer), joined Atari (Consumer) as director of applications and systems software development.  Reports to Powers would include applications manager Dale Yocum and systems software supervisor Brian Johnston.  (Steve Bristow remained Atari (Consumer) VP engineering. (source 10:00))

Summer?: Marilyn Theurer, previously an illustrator for Pioneer Girls (publisher of children's books and magazines), joined Atari (Consumer) as the division's first computer graphics artist (computer animation).  (She had interviewed with industrial design and graphics department head John Hayashi and Jim Kelly from the art department, but would report to the director of software development, Dennis Koble.)  (source)  

Summer: Atari donated 18 Atari 800 computers and 810 disk drives to the Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley CA, for their Math and Computer Project. The donation was arranged by Atari educational marketing consultant Ted Kahn. (AtConn Fal81 p12-15)

August 4: 15-year-old Adam Clayton wrote to Atari, explaining he had found the message "created by Warren Robinett" in the Atari VCS game, Adventure. (source)

August: Atari released Missile Command Cocktail.

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

August: Joe Robbins, previously Atari (Coin-Op) co-president (marketing and sales/distribution), became Atari (Coin-Op) president, replacing Gene Lipkin who departed the company (Fun p388; TCWv1 p452).  

August: Dan H. Kramer, previously of Aertech Industries, joined Atari (Consumer) in engineering (reporting to technicians manager Dan Corona). (source; source; source) 

August?: On pages 655-657 of the Wish Book for the 1980 Holiday Season Sears featured the Video Arcade (#75001; $154.95; with two joysticks, pair of paddles and Target Fun included; previously: #99743) by Atari, along with 28 cartridges. 6 of the titles were listed as new at Sears: Space Invaders, Night Driver, 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Golf, Adventure, Circus

August 12-17: Atari installed an Atari Game Center at Benson Memorial Center, University of Santa Clara, for the free use of Junior Olympic athletes taking part in the Amateur Athletic Union 1980 AAU/USA Junior Olympic Games held at the campus.  Atari also sponsored a Missile Command tournament for the athletes on Aug. 14 and Aug. 16.  Atari regional sales manager Tom Petit supervised the tournament. (CC 9/80)

August 19: Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (contract programmer Paul Laughton for SMI) completed the File Management System (FMS) for Atari DOS II. (source)  (Brian Johnston remained Atari (Consumer) systems software supervisor.)

Summer/Fall?: Atari (Coin-Op) game designer/programmer Rick Maurer departed the company. (Fun p524)

Summer/Fall?: Alan Murphy, previously of InfoWorld, joined Atari (Consumer) as a computer graphics designer/animation artist, hired by/reporting to manager Marilyn Theurer. (source)

September 1: Atari now had 40 cartridges available for its VCS. (TVDigest 9/1/80 p10)

September 9: In Hong Kong, Atari took over Denovo Company Limited (investment vehicle established 1/4/1980), renaming it Atari Hong Kong Company Limited.  (Atari (Consumer) general accounting manager John Constantine executed this step as part of an Atari intention to eventually build a Hong Kong research and development center; Atari would not follow through on this plan.) (source 13:30) 

September 10: Irwin Toy had been named distributor of the Atari VCS product line in Canada.  The VCS was to sell for about C$200. (source; Globe and Mail 9/10, 9/24, 9/27)

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

September: Shane Breaks arrived at Atari Ireland Limited to serve as International Director of Marketing (Coin-Op).

September: Roger H. Badertscher joined Atari to be president of the new Personal Computer Division, which would be spun off from the Consumer Division.  Badertscher was previously VP and general manager of the microprocessor division of Signetics, an electronics semiconductor manufacturer, and he had developed the business plan for the new division. (source; InfoWorld 7/26/82p29 for date)  Bruce W. Irvine, previously of Control Data Corporation (CDC), would join Atari (Personal Computer) as VP software (software engineering; reporting to Badertscher).  Reports to Irvine would include director of applications and systems software development John Powers.  Bill Kaiser, previously of Atari (Consumer), would be Atari (Personal Computer) director of finance.

Niles Strohl, previously Atari (Consumer) engineering manager, computer line, would be Atari (Personal Computer) director of engineering.  Kevin McKinsey, previously Atari (Consumer) industrial designer, would be Atari (Personal Computer) manager of industrial design and graphics.  Brad Saville, previously Atari (Consumer) manufacturing manager (personal computers), would be Atari (Personal Computer) operations manager.  The second floor at 1272 Borregas Ave, Sunnyvale CA would remain home of both Atari (Consumer) and Atari (Computer) engineering departments, with Atari (Coin-Op) engineering remaining on the first floor. (OnceUponAtari p25) 

September: David Staugas, previously of Exidy, joined Atari (Personal Computer) as a systems software programmer (source) (reporting to systems software supervisor Brian Johnston).

September: The Atari Customer Service Department, located at 1346 Bordeaux Dr, Sunnyvale CA, would expand to also occupy 1340 Bordeaux Dr, Sunnyvale CA (previously: Consumer chip programming). (see winter 1981 400/800 software manuals)  Also, the unit began offering Customer Software Support for Atari 400/800 users. (AtariConnection v1n1p24)  Jerry Jessop, previously manufacturing technician (400/800 line), would be Customer Service supervisor (400/800). (source)

September 15-December 31: Atari-sponsored dealer promotion: Free 410 plus Educational System Master Cartridge and choice of one Talk & Teach series title with purchase of 400 computer.  Or, free CX852 8KiB RAM module with purchase of 800 computer (which shipped with one CX853 16KiB RAM module installed).

September 16-18: Wescon/80, Anaheim CA, featured speakers including Peter N. Rosenthal, Atari (Personal Computer) director of marketing. (source; source; source)

September 17: Sears had released a newly repackaged version of the Tele-Games Video Arcade (#75001; previously: #99743) by Atari (same as the Atari VCS), system still supplied with two joysticks, pair of paddles, and Target Fun cartridge. (newspaper ad)

September 29: Atari had appointed SSC&B Inc. to handle its personal computer division. (NYT 9/29)

October 6: In the Sears Christmas catalog, the only video game offered was the Sears Tele-Games Video Arcade (#75001) by Atari.  J.C. Penney's holiday book featured the Atari 800 and VCS. (TVDigest 10/6/80 p15 for date)

October 15: Namco Ltd. and Atari, which were in litigation over exclusive sales rights in Japan, had settled their differences as the result of a meeting in Japan between Namco president Masaya Nakamura and Atari (Coin-Op) president Joe Robbins. (source; GM 10/15/80p5) 

October: Atari (Coin-Op) announced the appointment of Dick Needleman, previously Atari's manager of leisure industries (theme parks, nationwide), as Regional Sales and Promotion Manager for the southeastern U.S. (still based in Florida), and announced the appointment of Howard Rubin, previously Atari East Coast Regional Sales Manager (based in New Jersey), as Special Markets Manager (replacing Needleman in the role), based at Atari headquarters in Sunnyvale.  Don Osborne remained National Sales Manager. (CC 10/80; Cash Box 11/1/80)

October: Dave Ralston joined Atari (Coin-Op) (as an artist?).

October: Jose A. Valdes joined Atari as development engineer.

October: Chris Crawford, previously an Atari (Computer) applications programmer (having completed Energy Czar and SCRAM; reporting to applications software manager Dale Yocum), was promoted to supervisor of a new Software Development Support Group (technical support to outside programmers; reporting to director of applications & systems software development John Powers); the group would eventually include: Lane Winner, Jim Cox, Mike Ekberg, John Eckstrom (previously: operating systems programmer), Kathleen Armstrong/Kathleen Pitta, Gus Makreas, Amy Chen (Amy Liu), Bob Fraser, Jim Dunion  (source; source; source; source; source) 

October: Ken (Charles) Balthaser, previously designer and programmer at The Authorship Resource, Inc. (ARI), was hired as a consultant programmer by Atari (Personal Computer) (speech synthesis peripheral project; never introduced). (source 13:00)  (Niles Strohl remained Atari (Personal Computer) director of engineering.)

October: Atari shipped (Europe) the hand held electronic game, Touch Me (BH-100). (Fun p259)

October 23: Amiro France and Salmon S.A. became Atari (Coin-Op) distributors in France (CC 12/80), replacing Socodimex in the role.

Fall: For the VCS Atari released: Maze Craze, Video Checkers, Dodge 'Em (newspaper ads)

Fall?: For the 400/800 Atari shipped: 822 printer, 825 printer, 830 modem, 850 interface, CX70 Light Pen, Assembler Editor (SMI), TeleLink I (original "small box" release with 1 hour of access to CompuServe), Space Invaders (original cassette/"small box" release), States & Capitals, European Countries & Capitals, Mortgage & Loan Analysis, Energy Czar

Fall: New production Atari 810 disk drives would ship with the newly-completed Disk Operating System Reference Manual. (Analog #1p23)

Fall: Mimi Doggett joined Atari (Consumer) as a computer graphics designer/animation artist, hired by/reporting to graphics & animation group manager Marilyn Theurer. (source)  

Fall: At Atari (Personal Computer): Conrad Jutson, previously Atari (Consumer) VP Sales & Marketing, Personal Computers, was VP Sales & Marketing.  Craig Conway, previously Atari (Consumer) national sales manager for personal computers (reporting to Jutson), would be national account manager (still reporting to Jutson).  Keith E. Schaefer joined Atari (Personal Computer) as National Sales Manager (replacing Conway in the role).

Fall: At Atari (Personal Computer): Christopher P. Bowman, previously director of media services at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, joined the company as national manager of educational marketing. (source)  Robert A. Kahn, previously an educational computer applications consultant (and prior to that, director of the Computer Education Project at the University of California, Berkeley), joined the company as manager, educational software products.  Brenda K. Laurel, previously Manager, Educational Product Design at The Authorship Resource, Inc. (ARI), joined the company as a software specialist for educational applications.  Tandy Trower, previously Atari (Consumer) evaluator of 3rd party software titles (personal computers), became a software product manager.  (Peter Rosenthal remained director of marketing, reporting to VP Sales & Marketing Conrad Jutson.)

Fall: Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI) contract programmer Paul Laughton joined Atari (Personal Computer) as a systems software programmer. (source 16:40)  (Brian Johnston remained Atari (Personal Computer) systems software supervisor. (source 8:10))

Fall: In the Netherlands, WEA Records B.V. ("WEA Benelux" or "WEA Holland"; unit of Atari parent Warner Communications Inc.) established an Atari Consumer Division to market Atari consumer products in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.  "Atari Benelux" would operate at the home of Record Service Benelux B.V. (RSB), the joint distribution firm of record companies WEA and Ariola: Franse Akker 9, Breda. (source; source).  Ben Bunders, founder of the Atari division (source), had been managing director of "WEA Holland" since 1975 (source) and "WEA Belgium" since 1977 (source).  The distributor for the Atari Consumer Division of WEA Records in Belgium and Luxembourg would be Confirmex p.v.b.a.

Fall: The Atari VCS (2600P for PAL B/G) became available in Italy through Atari distributor Melchioni (L. 385.000). (source)

October 31-November 2: At the 1980 AMOA Show in Chicago, using the theme "StarGate 80" Atari introduced Battlezone (both standard upright and Cabaret configurations) and also featured Missile Command.  At a cocktail party on Saturday night Nov. 1, Atari was awarded a 1980 Play Meter Award for Video Game Excellence for Asteroids, voted by U.S. amusement operators as the highest earning video game in 1980. (CC 12/80; source; Fun p536)

November 9: Nova Apparate Gmbh and Company joined Löwen Automaten as an Atari (Coin-Op) distributor in Germany. (CC 12/80)

November 10: Five regional winners from San Jose, Calif., Los Angeles, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Chicago and New York competed in Atari's National Space Invaders Finals from 10 a.m. to noon in the Third Floor Screening Room, Warner Communications, Inc., 75 Rockefeller Center, New York City, for the title of National Space Invaders Champion.  Championship winner Bill Heineman, age 17, of Whittier CA, won a full-size Atari Asteroids arcade unit (but then asked for and received a Missile Command cocktail unit instead). (PR; CC Mar81p44; source)  William F. Grubb was Atari (Consumer) vice president of marketing and sales; Mark Bradlee was national account manager.

November 15: In the U.S., until January 15, 1981, Atari offered $5 rebate coupons on any two of 20 selected VCS game cartridges. (source)

November: Atari released Battlezone (original upright version).

November: In France, Guy Millant, previously sales and new products manager at Maison Brandt Frères (MBF, or "Brandt") for 17 years, departed that company to establish and serve as président-directeur général (PDG) of a subsidiary in France for Atari consumer products.  The unit would be set up as a division of the Warner Communications French subsidiary, Productions et Editions Cinématographiques Françaises SARL (P.E.C.F.), and would be known as P.E.C.F. Atari. (source)  Location: 9-11 rue Georges Enesco, Créteil (near Paris).

November 19-21: Atari did not attend the second annual Comdex (COMputer Dealers' EXhibition) in Las Vegas. (Compute#8p4)

November/December?: For the VCS Atari released: Pelé's Championship Soccer  (newspaper ads; source; source)

November/December?: Atari (Personal Computer) applications programmer Kathy Forte departed the company. (source)

November/December: Jan Soderstrom, previously Senior Director of Sales/Marketing at Hughes Airwest (the airline, which had just been acquired by Republic), would join Atari (Consumer) as director of marketing/sales (source; source), replacing Bill Grubb who departed the company. (TCWv1 p528) (Grubb would establish New West Marketing Company, a manufacturer's representative consultancy, on 12/8/80; he would co-found Imagic on 6/1/81.)  John W. Shields, Jr., previously staff gen. assignments, field and hqtrs., Gen. Electric Co., would join Atari (Consumer) as national sales manager, replacing Mark Bradlee who would depart the company.  (Bradlee would join Imagic shortly after its 6/1/81 founding.)

December 10: Atari Ireland Limited had recently been approved grant assistance to expand its activities in Tipperary Town. It was projected that an additional 63 jobs would be provided, bringing the total employment potential of the project to 151 by 1983. (source)

December: Atari released Battlezone Cabaret.

December 19: Atari established the subsidiary, Atari Caribe, Inc., for consumer electronics distribution, sales, marketing, and manufacturing operations in Puerto Rico. 

Atari reportedly lost $10 million on sales of computer equipment of $13 million in 1980 (InfoWorld 9/14/1981)

Atari had sold 35,000 400/800 computers through 1980. (source?)

The 1980 Play Meter Award for video game excellence would be awarded to Atari, Inc. for Asteroids, voted by U.S. Amusement Operators as the highest earning video game in 1980. (source)

Atari had sold over 1 million VCS units in 1980, nearly doubling the installed base to over 2 million.  Also, 1.25 million VCS Space Invaders cartridges had been sold in 1980. (TCWv1 p466)

1981
January 1: In the U.S., many Class B computing devices (electronic games that use a TV receiver for display; personal computers; and peripherals, terminals, etc. that were capable of being attached to a personal computer) manufactured after January 1, 1981 would now be required certified by the FCC.  Other Class B devices (self contained hand held games that did not use a TV receiver for display; desk top and hand held calculators; digital clocks and watches) would be subject to verification of compliance as of October 1, 1981 for equipment first produced after that date, or as of October 1, 1983 for equipment first produced before October 1, 1981. (FCC 80-148 Order Granting in Part Reconsideration in Docket 20780, adopted March 27, 1980; 45 FR 24154; InfoWorld 1/19/81; InfoWorld 2/1/82; InfoWorld 10/17/83)

January 1: Atari (Consumer) sales representatives included: John W. Smuda (Eastern Regional Manager, 200 5th Ave Ste 1357, New York NY), James R. Croke (Jim Croke) (Mid-Western Regional Manager, 2805 Butterfield Rd Ste 150, Oak Brook IL), Darryl Baygents (James D Baygents) (Southeastern Regional Manager, Peachtree City GA), Phil Quigley (Western Regional Manager, 1265 Borregas Ave, Sunnyvale CA) (price list)

January 5: Atari announced the Cosmos Programmable Game System (EG500; featuring "Holoptics" images; never shipped; see Atarimuseum's Cosmos page, source #2, source #3).  For the Cosmos, Atari also announced 8 cartridge games: Superman, Football, Basketball, Outlaw, Sea Battle (later: Destroyer), Space Invaders (title by Taito), Road Runner, and included with the system: Asteroids. (PR, see Analog #1p4)  In their ad appearing in the January 1981 issue of Merchandising Atari had announced these plus a ninth game no longer planned, Dodge 'Em. (source)

January 5: Atari announced the Remote Control Video Computer System (2700; "R.C. Stella" project; never shipped; see Atarimuseum's 2700 page; source #2). (PR, see Analog #1p4)

January 6: Warner Amex Cable Communications, Atari, and CompuServe jointly announced the availability of the CompuServe Information Service to Columbus OH subscribers of the Warner Amex QUBE two-way interactive cable television system.  An Atari 800 personal computer was lent to the subscriber as part of the service. (source)

January 8-11: At the 1981 International Winter CES, held at Las Vegas Convention Center/Hilton Hotel/Jockey Club, Atari introduced the Remote Control Video Computer System (2700; "R.C. Stella" project; never shipped) and introduced the Cosmos Programmable Game System (EG500; never shipped).  8 cartridges were currently planned for Cosmos, as announced on January 5, 1981.

Atari also introduced four new games for the VCS ($199.95): Othello (February), Video Pinball (March), Warlords (May), Asteroids (July) (Space War and Miniature Golf were dropped, bringing the total number of VCS titles available to 42).

Atari announced that the 400 would now ship in two versions: original 8KiB RAM version at the new list price of $499.95 (previously: $630), or new 16KiB RAM version for $630.  For the 400/800 Atari introduced: Asteroids, Missile Command, SCRAM (A Nuclear Power Plant Simulation), Atari PILOT, Conversational Spanish, Atari Accountant: General Accounting System (BPI; with Business Manager's Companion Guide by Arthur Young & Company; package never shipped), Atari Accountant: Accounts Receivable System (BPI; never shipped), Atari Accountant: Inventory Control System (BPI; never shipped), Atari Word Processor.  Also announced: Personal Fitness Program (ultimately released via APX), Personal Financial Management System.  Again promised: An Invitation to Programming 2, An Invitation to Programming 3, Astrology (never shipped), Conversational French, Conversational German. (CC Mar81p54; Analog#1; 1981 Software Catalog)

January 10: Atari had announced the departure of Coin-Op division president Gene Lipkin.  Joe Robbins was now the sole president of the division. (Cash Box 1/10/81 p38)  Former VP engineering and manufacturing Noah Anglin had also departed the company (to Exidy, where he would be president). (timing: CC 3/81; Marquis; Esquire 2/81)  Also at Atari (Coin-Op): Curtis Russell (Curt Russell) had been promoted to VP operations (previously: director of operations; replacing Anglin in the role), Lyle Rains had been promoted to VP engineering (previously: director of engineering; replacing Anglin in the role), Fred Gerson was VP finance, Frank Ballouz was director of marketing, Don Osborne was national sales manager, and Shane Breaks was international director of marketing. (Cash Box 1/10/81 p38) 

January 11: Howard Scott Warshaw, previously of Hewlett-Packard, joined Atari (Consumer) as a video game engineer.  (Dennis Koble remained director of software development.) (Fun p586; source) 

January 12-15: At the Amusement Trades Exhibition (ATE) at the Olympia in London, Atari was represented by UK distributors Music Hire Group and Ruffler & Deith.  Atari Red Baron and Warlords (cocktail) were introduced at the show.  Also displayed: Asteroids, Missile Command, Battlezone

January: Steve Bristow, previously Atari (Consumer) VP engineering, became Atari VP advanced technology (new consumer electronics product development), remaining head of the Advanced Technology Group formed in June 1980). (Bristow deposition 1982-08-05 p3 for date)  (Ongoing Advanced Technology projects would include Sylvia and the just-introduced 2700.)  Niles Strohl, previously Atari (Computer) director of engineering, would be engineering manager, advanced technology (reporting to Bristow).  Bob Smith, previously an Atari (Consumer) programmer/game designer, would be software manager, advanced technology.  Michel A. Ebertin, previously director of product development for the consumer products division of National Semiconductor, joined Atari (Consumer) as VP Engineering (replacing Bristow in the role).  Mark Davis, previously Atari (Consumer) engineering manager (reporting to Bristow), would be director of electrical engineering (reporting to Ebertin).  Gene B. Rosen (Gene Rosen) would join Atari (Computer) as VP engineering (replacing Strohl in the role). (ComputerWorld 3/16/81p74) 

January: Atari (Computer) marketing established a Users' Group Support Program; Earl Rice would be Manager, Users' Group Support. (link)

January: Tom Thompson, previously plant manager at Ethan Allen furniture, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as plant manager of the wood shop which Atari expcted to open summer 1981 in Milpitas CA. (CC 3/81)  

January: Bob Harvey, previously western regional sales manager for a tailored clothing firm, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a regional sales manager. (CC 10/81)

January 22-25: Löwen Automaten and Nova Apparate, the two Atari (Coin-Op) distributors in West Germany, represented Atari at the international trade show in Frankfurt.

January 25: In El Paso Texas, in support of their nearby manufacturing plant at 5645 Beacon, Atari had established a separate administrative office at 5654 Brown St. (source)

January 27: Heath Zenith director of advanced development Larry Plummer had departed that company. (BUSS #31 p7; source)  Engineer Larry Plummer, previously of Heath Zenith where he had been director of advanced development, Zenith computer business group (and before that, director of computer products, Heath computer engineering group), would join Atari (Computer) as director of electrical engineering (reporting to VP engineering Gene Rosen).

Winter: The Atari (Coin-Op) California Customer Service Office moved from 1344 Bordeaux Dr., Sunnyvale CA to: 1105 N Fair Oaks Ave, Sunnyvale CA.  Atari also established a European Customer Service Office at Atari Ireland Limited, Tipperary Town. (source)

Winter: For the 400/800 Atari shipped: Bond Analysis, Stock Analysis, Stock Charting, Mailing List, Touch Typing, Graph It, Statistics I (Analog#2p47)

Winter: Atari Customer Support released for 400/800 users: Technical User Notes, Atari 400/800 Operating System (OS) listing (with binder), Atari 400/800 Disk Operating System (DOS) listing (without binder). (AtariConnection Spr81p21, Compute #12p80)

Winter?: Brenda Laurel, previously software specialist for educational applications, would remain a software product manager.  Mark O. McCrackin would join the company as a product manager for educational marketing (replacing Laurel in the role). (source)  (Robert Kahn remained Manager, Educational Software Products; Tandy Trower remained a software product manager; Peter Rosenthal remained director of marketing.)

Winter: In Hong Kong (near the site of the new Atari-Wong joint manufacturing venture), Atari Far East Limited established a distribution center at: 6th floor, 10 Shing Yip St, Kwun Tong, Kowloon.  John Constantine, previously Atari (Consumer) general accounting manager, would be Atari Far East Limited general manager. (source 12:50)  Joe Tilmant (Joseph August Tilmant) would be distribution manager.  Alan Henricks, previously controller, was promoted to Atari (Consumer) VP finance.  Jean M. Hackenburg, previously an accounting manager, was promoted to Atari (Consumer) director of finance (reporting to Henricks).  Sol Kershner would join Atari (Consumer) in finance.  Michael Shiu, previously senior auditor for Coopers & Lybrand Consulting, would also join Atari in finance.  Kong King Trading Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Wong's Industrial (Holdings) Limited, would become Atari's VCS line distributor in Hong Kong (source), and Onflo International Limited would become Atari's 400/800 line distributor in Hong Kong. (source; sales flyer)

February 2: Atari had announced that Conrad Jutson, previously Atari (Computer) VP Sales & Marketing, was promoted to (corporate) VP consumer market planning. (TVDigest)  Peter Rosenthal, previously Atari (Computer) director of marketing (reporting to Jutson), would be Atari (Computer) VP business planning (new position). (source, source)  Atari announced that Rigdon Currie, previously of Xerox subsidiary Diablo, had joined the company as VP marketing for the Computer Division (Compute!#11p168; TVDigest) (replacing Jutson in the role).  Mark A. Lutvak, previously product program general manager at Memorex, would join Atari (Computer) as director of product marketing (replacing Rosenthal in the role; reporting to Currie).  Product marketing manager Stephen Davis would depart the company (to Corvus Systems Inc.), and software product manager Carol Abbott would depart the company. (source 15:30)  Tandy Trower, previously a software product manager (reporting to Rosenthal), would be promoted to software marketing manager (replacing Rosenthal in the role; reporting to Currie). (source 17:25)

Jan Soderstrom, previously Atari (Consumer) director of marketing/sales, had been promoted to (corporate) director of advertising (new position reporting to Atari CEO Ray Kassar). (source)  Atari had announced that Ron Stringari (Ronald L. Stringari), previously of Sears (corporate marketing and merchandising of products including the Sears Video Arcade by Atari), had joined Atari (Consumer) as VP Marketing (TVDigest) (replacing the promoted Soderstrom in the role; reporting to division president Michael Moone).  William H. Sobieski (Bill Sobieski) would join Atari (Consumer) as sales director (replacing Soderstrom in the role; reporting to Moone).  Robert K. Faught (Bob Faught), previously of Colgate-Palmolive (national sales manager), would join Atari (Consumer) as national sales manager (source) (reporting to Sobieski), replacing John Shields who would depart the company (to U.S. Repeating Arms Company. Inc. (USRAC)).  John Hayashi, previously director of Atari (Consumer) Industrial Design and Graphics, would remain director of Consumer Graphics (reporting to Stringari).  Industrial designer Roy Nishi would be promoted to manager of the industrial design group (replacing Hayashi in the role).

February 9: Atari (again) announced Cosmos - The Third Dimension, to retail for $99.95 with Asteroids and expected to ship August 1981 (never shipped).  Initially 8 game cartridges were to be available: Space Invaders, Superman, Outlaw, Destroyer (previously: Sea Battle), Asteroids, Road Runner, Football, Basketball. (PR (which announced there would be 8 games but failed to list Basketball); WeLoveAtari v1p152-153)

February 15-17: Atari featured the Cosmos (never shipped) at the 78th annual American Toy Fair in New York.  8 games were planned for the system, as announced on February 9, 1981.

February: In Japan, Sega Enterprises released Battlezone by Atari. (GM 11/29/82)

February?: For the VCS Atari shipped: Othello (source)

February: J. Fred Thorlin had joined Atari (Computer) as director of software product acquisition (new position; reporting to VP software Bruce Irvine).  (Thorlin's first charge: finalize a contract with Microsoft to bring Microsoft BASIC to the Atari product line.)  Dale Yocum, previously Atari (Computer) applications software manager (reporting to director of applications & systems software development John Powers), established and would serve as manager of the new Atari Program Exchange (new position; reporting to Thorlin). (source; source; source)  Ken Balthaser, previously an Atari (Computer) consultant programmer in engineering (speech synthesis peripheral project), joined Atari (Computer) as applications software manager (replacing Yocum in the role; reporting to Powers). (source 13:00)

February: Andrew Soderberg, previously a partner at a computer retailer called Computer Connection, joined Atari (Computer) as an assistant software product manager (reporting to software marketing manager Tandy Trower). (source 5:30) 

February: Atari (Computer) systems software programmer Dave Staugas departed the company (and returned to Exidy). (source)  (Brian Johnston remained systems software supervisor.)

February 28: Colette Weil, previously Atari (Coin-Op) manager of marketing research, had become Atari (corporate) Director, Corporate Market and Consumer Research (reporting to corporate VP consumer market planning Conrad Jutson).  Atari (Coin-Op) had announced the appointment of Mariann Layne, previously of the San Martin Winery, as marketing services supervisor (replacing the departed Carol Kantor in the role).  Laura Burgess, previously assistant to director of marketing Frank Ballouz, would be assistant to Layne.  Addtionally, Mary Takatsuno had been promoted to market research supervisor (replacing Weil in the role), Linda Butcher would continue as market research analyst, and Leslie McFarland had joined the company as junior research assistant. (CashBox 2/28/81 p36-37; CC 3/81)

March 4: For the Atari VCS, Sears had released Tele-Games Steeplechase by Atari and had released Tele-Games Stellar Track by Atari. (newspaper ads; source)

March 7: At Atari (Coin-Op), Dick Needleman, previously Regional Sales and Promotion Manager for the southeastern U.S., would (again) become Manager, Special Markets, replacing Howie Rubin who had departed the company (to Gottileb).  John B. Hill would join Atari (Coin-Op) as southeast regional sales manager (replacing Needleman in the role). (Cash Box 3/7/81 p38; source for name)

March: Atari released Video Pinball for the VCS.

March?: Atari VP research and development Al Alcorn departed the company. (Alcorn would establish Cumma Research, Inc. on 2/2/83.)  The Advanced Products Group's Holoptics Lab would be shut down.  Advanced Products Group industrial/graphics/mechanical designer Roger Hector was promoted to Manager - Advanced Products, replacing Alcorn as head of the unit, and Hector would now report directly to Atari CEO Ray Kassar. (source) 

March: Douglas A. Chorey, previously a senior analyst at Control Data Corporation (CDC), joined Atari (Computer) as System Project Leader. (source)  (Bruce Irvine remained VP software.)

March?: Atari (Computer) published the premier (Spring 1981) issue of The Atari Connection, a glossy magazine started/headed by Atari (Computer) marketing communications manager Sally Bowman in support of the 400/800 computers. (source 7:30)

March: Bill Bartlett, previously of Electronic Data Systems (EDS), joined Atari (Computer) in marketing as a product manager (The Atari Accountant). (source 1:25)

March: Richard Bailey, previously manufacturing operations manager at NCR, joined Atari as plant manager, El Paso Texas operations.

March: Atari (Coin-Op) named Frank Ballouz VP of Marketing (previously: director of marketing), and named Don Osborne VP of Sales (previously: national sales manager).  (CC 3/81)

March: Curt Russell was Atari (Coin-Op) VP manufacturing. (CC 3/81) (actually: VP operations?)

March: Pat McCarthy, previously Atari Ireland field service manager, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as an electrical engineer.  Eamonn McGrath would be promoted to Atari Ireland field service manager (replacing McCarthy in the role).

March: Industrial designer Kenneth Hata (Ken Hata) joined Atari (Coin-Op). (source)  (Peter Takaichi remained industrial design manager.)

March: In France, P.E.C.F. Atari now consisted of 6 people. (source)

March 23: Atari introduced Asteroids Deluxe (standard upright, Cabaret, and cocktail cabinet models) and VCS Missile Command in a national press conference at the Time and Life Building in New York City. (CC Apr/May81; PR; PR; Compute#12p158)  Atari had shipped more than 70,000 units of the original coin-op Asteroids game (cocktail, Cabaret, and standard upright) throughout the world since its fall 1979 release, and it was still in production. (PR)  The addition of Missile Command brought the total number of VCS titles available to 43, including the renamed Pelé's Soccer (previously: Championship Soccer).  The latest VCS catalog also announced, and invited VCS fans to join, the new Atari Game Club ("George Dakota," Founder).

March 28-April 1: Atari's 7th Annual Distributor Meeting, themed "The Atari Classic," was held at Pebble Beach CA.  Atari introduced Asteroids Deluxe, Warlords, and Red Baron at the event. (CC Apr/May81)

March 31-April 1: The Bradley Trainer (or: Army Battlezone), developed by request of the Army by the Atari (Coin-Op) Special Projects group (Rick Moncrief, chief engineer), was demonstrated during the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Commanders' Conference, which was conducted as a satellite videoteleconference originating live from Fort Eustis.  (Conference theme: "Technology in Army Training")  Subsequently, a study group at the Army Training Support Center (ATSC) in Ft. Eustis would be directed to evaluate the effectiveness of the trainer. (source; source; All Volunteer Feb82 p 10-11; source; source) 

Winter/Spring: Atari (Computer) established division headquarters operations (including engineering, previously on the second floor at 1272 Borregas Ave.) in a new building at 1196 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (46,000 ft²; located in the Moffett Park industrial park). (AtariExplorer v1n1 Spr81; source)  (The upper level of 1272 Borregas Ave. remained the home of Consumer engineering.)

March/April: Atari Customer Service (home consumers) established a Regional Service Center at 43 Belmont Dr., Somerset NJ.  1346 Bordeaux Dr., Sunnyvale CA, the existing home of Customer Service, would also serve as a Regional Service Center.

April 1: Rivington F. Hight, Jr. (Riv Hight), previously head of Taito Australia, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as manager of marketing and sales (through local distributors) in Japan, Australia, and the Far East for the division's new "Atari Far East" with an office at: Fukide Building 2 Floor, 4-1-13 Toranomon Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan. (CC Apr/May81, 7/82) 

April 1: In West Germany, Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH commenced operations at its new, consolidated location: Bebelallee 10, 2000 Hamburg 60 (previously: headquarters location shared with WEA Musik GmbH at Arndtstraße 16, 2000 Hamburg 76). (source)  Klaus Ollmann would remain Atari Elektronik managing director; Werner Täsler would remain director of marketing; Rolf Rehfeldt would remain director of sales.

April 2-30: Atari-sponsored dealer promotion: Free $100 subscription to The Source with purchase of Atari Communicator System: choice of 400 or 800 computer with 850, 830, and TeleLink I.

April 3: Adjacent to the 6th West Coast Computer Faire (April 3-5, San Francisco Civic Auditorium and Brooks Hall), at a private hospitality suite for Atari computer users' group officers and their guests, Atari announced the Atari Software Acquisition Program (ASAP), involving the creation of regional software-acquisition centers where freelance programmers would be supported by Atari in developing software for Atari computers.  The first ASAP Center was expected to open in the Sunnyvale CA area in mid-May (it would open in October).  Atari also announced the Atari Program Exchange (APX), a free quarterly mail-order catalog of user-written software (first/Summer Edition due for publication June 1).  Thirdly, Atari announced the ASAP Contest, where programs accepted for the APX catalog would qualify for $100,000 in prizes to be awarded over the coming year, including a grand prize of $25,000 cash.  About 20 persons attended the event, on behalf of about 30 total groups registered with Atari Users' Group Support.  Bruce W. Irvine remained Atari (Computer) VP software. (Compute! #12 5/81 p8 & p150; Computer Business News 5/18/81p22)

April 5: Atari employed nearly 350 at its El Paso manufacturing operation, where Dick Bailey remained general manager and Bill Medrano remained personnel manager.  Construction had just begun on a 128,000 ft² manufacturing-warehouse-office building in the Vista Del Sol Industrial Center on the East Side of El Paso.  The $2.15 million building was scheduled to be finished in August 1981.  Atari also maintained plants in Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Ireland. (El Paso Times 4/5/81)

April 6: Through Atari Caribe, Inc., Atari had opened a new 50,000 (46,000) ft² manufacturing facility at Road 195 K.M. 1.5, Puerto Real Wausi Park, Fajardo Puerto Rico.  It was Atari's fourth manufacturing site outside the continental U.S. (subcontractors in Taiwan since 1977, Atari Ireland since 1978, Atari-Wong in Hong Kong since 1980), complementing Atari's manufacturing plants in Sunnyvale CA and El Paso TX.  The general manager for the plant was William Planas, formerly production manager for Storage Technology Corp.  The site would manufacture VCS cartridges.  Initially 35-40 would be employed at the new location, projected to increase to 150. (source; source)  Atari Caribe would establish a four-building plant for distribution, sales, marketing, and warehouse operations in Canóvanas Puerto Rico.

April 12-15: Atari (Coin-Op) featured Asteroids Deluxe and Battlezone at the Association of College Unions-International (ACUI) conference and show in San Francisco. (CC Apr/May81)

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

April: Atari released Missile Command for the VCS.

April: Paul V. Cubbage, previously of The Wollongong Group, joined Atari (Computer) as acquisition manager (new position; reporting to director of software product acquisition Fred Thorlin). (source) 

April: William Lord, previously of Nimbus Waterbeds, joined Atari (Consumer) (in Sunnyvale CA) as assistant product manager (2600 VCS), international sales & marketing. (Jeff Burton remained International Market Manager; Anton Bruehl remained VP international sales/marketing.)

April: Atari acquired an exclusive sublicense to manufacture and sell versions of Namco's Pac-Man (originally released 8/80 in Japan by Namco as: Puck Man -source) for use on both home video game systems and personal computers from Namco-America. (InfoWorld 12/21/81)  The agreement also covered Galaxian (originally released 10/79 in Japan by Namco -source). (Merch Jan/Feb82)

April: Opening of Future Center at the Capital Children's Museum, featuring "tomorrow's classroom" of 20 Atari 800 computer systems donated by Atari.  With further support from Atari, the project would additionally include the "Communications" hands-on exhibit (November 1981), the SuperBoots educational software development effort, and computer enhancements of other exhibits. (AtConn v1n4 p9-10; AtConn v2n1 p7-8; source)  The project was facilitated by Atari educational marketing consultant Ted Kahn.

April 23-24: An Atari Seminar for developers. The Atari Software Development Support Group (technical support to outside programmers) included: Chris Crawford (graphics), Lane Winner (BASIC, cassette), Mike Ekberg (OS, DOS), Kathleen Armstrong (Kathleen Pitta) (Forth), Jim Cox (graphics & utilities), Gus Makreas (assembly language), John Eckstrom (Pascal)  (source)

April 25-28: At Greenfield Community College (MA), the year-long TEME (Totally Enclosed Modular Environment) project in human ecology culminated in an elaborate 72-hour simulated space flight mission.  Led by instructors Gregg Vouros and Dan LaRose, the team of students had built a full-size flight deck mock-up, habitation module, and observation lab, incorporating an Atari 800 computer system that was donated by Atari, running software designed by student Mike Tepper who had received 3 days of free training at Atari in California. (AtariConnection Summer81 p8-9; Florida Today (Cocoa FL) 4/25/81 p10A)

April/May: Ashley Chamitoff (Al Chamitoff) was VP of quality assurance at Atari Coin-Op.

Spring: First issue of Atari Age, the official newsletter of the Atari Game Club.  "The first national video game club" was set up by Atari for VCS fans, and already had "well over 10,000 members."

Spring: Atari (Consumer) programmer Carla Meninsky departed the company (to Activision?). (source)

Spring: Gary Erickson was Atari Corporate facilities (facilities engineering, planning & design, maintenance, communications) director, with reports including managers Arne Kaufman (planning and design group; California facilities) and Lee Nation (offsite locations, including El Paso, Puerto Rico, and international sites).  While most Atari facilities were leased, several buildings were owned by Atari parent company Warner Communications Inc.: 1272 Borregas Ave, 1265 Borregas Ave, 1215 Borregas Ave, 1195 Borregas Ave, and 1320 Bordeaux Ave, all in Sunnyvale CA. (source)

Spring: Ron Budworth was Atari (Consumer) director of product engineering. (source)  (Paul Malloy remained VP manufacturing.)

Spring: 6-week pilot of the IEC-Atari Mobile Computer Van Project, a collaboration between the Industry-Education Council of Santa Clara County (CA) and new IEC member Atari, serving one community college and 14 schools in 6 school districts.  Atari had supplied 18 complete Atari 800 computer systems (van capacity: 15 systems), and the Atari Advanced Products group had designed and produced portable carrying cases for the systems, and also handled the interior and exterior design of the van.  Curriculum was developed by Computer-Using Educators (CUE).  During fall 1981 the van would serve 49 separate schools, 165 separate classes, and 4,950 students.  The project was facilitated by Atari educational marketing consultant Ted Kahn. (AtConn v2n1 p14-16; source; source)

May 1: Atari's suggested retail price for the 400 with 16KiB RAM, now to be marketed as The Basic Computer, was reduced to $399 (previously: $630).  The 8KiB RAM version of the 400 would no longer be offered.  (The 800 Personal Computer System (with 16KiB RAM) retail price remained $1,080.)

May 1-August 31: Atari offered a free CX853 16K RAM Module ($99.95) with purchase of an Atari 800 personal computer; offered the 825 printer at $800 instead of $1000; and offered the 850 interface at $170 instead of $220

May 4-7: At the National Computer Conference in Chicago, Atari announced that the 8KiB Atari 400 was being discontinued and that the price on the 16KiB version was being reduced to $399 (was $630); also, the Atari BASIC cartridge and Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide) book would no longer be included with the now "mass market packaged" 400.  Atari introduced: The Entertainer ($89.95; June 1981; Joystick Controllers (pair), Star Raiders, Computer Chess (until August 1981) or Missile Command (starting August 1981), The Educator ($144.95; June 1981; 410, BASIC, States & Capitals), The Programmer ($69.95; June 1981; BASIC, BASIC Reference Manual, Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide)), The Communicator ($399.95; July 1981; 850, 830, TeleLink I), Atari 810 Master Diskette II, Personal Financial Management System (PFMS), Conversational Italian (EMI / Longman), Dow Jones Investment Evaluator (never shipped), Atari Microsoft BASIC.  Additionally, new production units of TeleLink I would include one hour of time on each of: Dow Jones Information Service, The Source, CompuServe (previously: CompuServe only).  Again promised: 815 Dual Disk Drive ($1,500), An Invitation to Programming 2, An Invitation to Programming 3, Conversational French, Conversational German, Asteroids, Missile Command, Calculator, Atari Accountant: General Accounting System, Atari Accountant: Accounts Receivable System, Atari Accountant: Inventory Control System, Atari Word Processor (810 or 815 versions; 815 version never shipped), Atari PILOT.  Previewed: Program-Text Editor (would ship as a standalone title via APX), Sorcim Macro Assembler (the latter two titles would ship together as: Macro Assembler and Program-Text Editor). (Compute #13p158)

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

May: At Atari (Coin-Op): Dave Stubben was promoted from electrical engineering manager to director, electrical engineering (Stubben resume) (still reporting to VP engineering Lyle Rains).  Reports to

May: Atari (Coin-Op) published The Book, compiled by Field Service staff. (CC AprMay 81)

May: Stephanie Mott joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a programmer, Special Projects group. (Rick Moncrief remained special projects group chief engineer)

May: Atari (Computer) software development support group Manager, Compilers (Pascal) John Eckstrom departed the company.

May: Industrial engineer Michael Baughman joined Atari (Consumer).

May: At Atari (Consumer), Steve Wright, previously training manager, would become director of software development, replacing Dennis Koble who departed the company. (source) (Koble would co-found Imagic on 6/1/81.)  

May: William Carris (Bill Carris), previously Director of Atari Technical Services (customer service), became Atari (Computer) national sales training manager. (source; source; source)  Jon D. Ebbs joined Atari as director of Customer Service (source) (replacing Carris in the role; reporting to Atari EVP Dennis Groth?).  Atari would phase out its partnership with Control Data Corporation (CDC) for 400/800 service at Control Data Service Centers and would launch a new nationwide network of Authorized Atari Computer Service Centers and Independent Service Centers (VCS service).  The Atari Regional Service Centers at 1346 Bordeaux Dr, Sunnyvale CA and at 43 Belmont Dr, Somerset NJ would continue to operate as support for the service network. (AtariConnection v1n3p21; Analog #4p9; source; Compute 9/81p145) James W. Prather would join Atari Customer Service as manager of field service.  David S. Wilson would join Atari Customer Service as manager of Customer Support.  John H. Hahn would join Atari Customer Service as manager of Technical Support.  Jerry Jessop, previously supervisor, Customer Service home computers group, would join Atari (Consumer) engineering as a Senior Technical Associate. (source) 

May 31-June 3: At the Summer CES in Chicago, for the VCS ($199.95; 6-switch units displayed) Atari featured Asteroids (not yet released) and Video Pinball. (source)

June 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Software Catalog Summer Edition 1981, introducing for the 400/800: Newspaper Route Management Program, The Computerized Card File, Text Formatter (FORMS), Lemonade, Mugwump, Avalanche, Outlaw/Howitzer, Preschool Games, Roman Checkers, Space Trek, Castle, Wizard's Gold, Sleazy Adventure, Alien Egg, Chinese Puzzle, Sultan's Palace, Anthill, Centurion, Tact Trek, Comedy Diskette, Graphics/Sound Demonstration, FIG FORTH (also known as "Coin-Op Forth" or "Colleen Forth"; never shipped), Sound Editor, BASIC Program Compressor (MASHER), BASIC Cross-Reference Utility (XREF), BASIC Renumber Utility (RENUM), Disk Fixer (FIX), Variable Changer, Character Set Editor, Extended WSFN, Supersort. APX also introduced several hardware products: DE-9S with DE51218 Shell (controller plug), 5-pin DIN connector, 13-pin I/O plug, 13-pin I/O socket, DA-15P with DA110963-2 Shell (850 printer plug), DE-9P with DE110963-1 Shell (850 serial plug), 2716 EPROM cartridge.  APX location: 155 Moffett Park Dr., Sunnyvale CA

June 1: Imagic was established by William Grubb (former Atari (Consumer) VP Marketing & Sales), Dennis Koble (former Atari (Consumer) director of software development), Jim Goldberger (formerly of Mattel), and Brian Dougherty (formerly of Mattel). (source)

June: Atari (corporate) established the Atari Institute for Educational Action Research, which would award grants of Atari home computer products, cash stipends, and/or consulting services to selected individuals and non-profit institutions or organizations interested in developing new educational uses for computers in schools, community programs, or in the home.  Ted M. Kahn, previously Atari (Computer) educational marketing consultant, who had written the business plan for the Institute at the request of Atari EVP Dennis Groth, joined Atari as the Institute's executive director; Groth would serve as the Institute's chairman.  The Executive Committee would eventually include Groth, Atari chairman and CEO Raymond E. Kassar, Atari VP and chief scientist Alan Kay, Atari (Home Computer) president Roger Badertscher, Atari (Home Computer) VP research and development Steve Mayer, Atari (Home Computer) VP business planning Peter Rosenthal, and Warner Communications VP corporate affairs Roger Smith.  The Board of Advisors would include: Dean Brown, Judy Collins, Hugh Downs, Marian Wright Edelman, Roger C. Faxon, W. Tim Gallwey, Sam Gibbon (consultant, Children's Television Workshop and Bank Street College of Education), Herbert Kohl, Paul Trachtman, Heinz von Foerster, William (Sandy) Wagner (founder of Computer-Using Educators), Karl Zinn. (Atari Action v1n1 Fall82; source; Compute 10/81 p174) 

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

June?: In the U.S., new production Atari VCS units would be the new 4-switch, woodgrain 2600A (NTSC) model, replacing the original 6-switch 2600 (NTSC) version. (6/24/81 newspaper ad showing 4-switch model.)  Systems would continue to ship with two joysticks, one pair of paddles and Combat.  (Atari would continue to ship the 6-switch Sears Video Arcade (#75001) version of the VCS and internationally, Atari would continue to ship the 6-switch woodgrain 2600U, 2600P, and 2600PN versions of the VCS.)

June: Atari released Warlords for the VCS. (source)

June?: Atari (Coin-Op) president Joe Robbins departed the company (to lead the recently-established Amusement Device Manufacturers Association (ADMA)). (TCWv1 p453)

June?: The Atari (Consumer) programmers group moved from the upper level of 1272 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA, which would remain the home of Consumer engineering, to a new building at 275 Gibraltar Dr., Sunnyvale CA (34,500 ft²). 

June: Engineer Jess Jessop, previously of Commodore, joined Atari (Computer) to head a new test & repair group (diagnostics and repair strategies).

June: Leslie Wolf joined Atari (Computer) in marketing as a data processing specialist. (source; source 3:25)

June: Dan Hitchens joined Atari (Consumer) as a game programmer.

June 18: For the VCS Atari had released the Action Pak (PRO-500; free Air-Sea Battle with purchase of Atari Street Racer and Atari Bowling). (newspaper ad)  Likely also at about this time, Atari also offered: free Atari Home Run with purchase of Atari Golf and Atari Bowling. And another offer: free Atari Home Run with purchase of Atari Golf and Atari Basketball.  (source including pictures)

June 21: Atari was establishing an Advanced Development Laboratory in New York City, to pursue "advanced consumer products for the education, entertainment and professional markets."  Projects were anticipated in areas including computer graphics, system architecture, telecommunications, and computer languages. (NYT 6/21/81 pF41) 

June 23-25: Atari attended COMDEX/SPRING held at the New York Coliseum. (Comdex PR 6/3)

June 30: In Japan, Epoch released the Cassette Vision. (source)   Epoch would no longer serve as distributor of the Atari VCS in Japan, and Atari would abandon the Japanese consumer electronics market..

June/July: Rob Zdybel, previously an Atari (Consumer) game designer/programmer, became Atari software manager, advanced technology, replacing Bob Smith who departed the company (to Imagic).  Atari (Consumer) game designer/programmer Rob Fulop departed the company (to Imagic).  (Steve Bristow remained Atari VP advanced technology; Steve Wright remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.)

June/July: Programmer Mike Lorenzen transferred from Atari (Consumer) to the Atari (Personal Computer) operating systems software group. (source 10:30)  (Brian Johnston remained systems software supervisor.)

Month?: Dennis Harper joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a Designer / Programmer.

Month?: John Salwitz joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a programmer.

Month?: Robert Stewart (Bob Stewart) joined Atari (Coin-Op) in manufacturing.

Month?: Engineer Roy J. Machamer joined Atari (Coin-Op) as director of research & development (new position, reporting to VP engineering Lyle Rains).  The new unit would eventually include: Robert (Bob) Sava, Peter Whyte, Mike Querio.  Separately, Rick Moncrief, previously special projects group chief engineer (reporting to electrical engineering director Dave Stubben) would be remain head of applied research (still reporting to Stubben).

Month?: John Seghers, previously of Litton Mellonics, joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer/programmer.

Month?: Engineer Tim McGuinness, previously of MDS Quantel, joined Atari (Computer) where he would be a senior electronics test and design engineer. (source)

Month?: Jeffrey Sarnoff joined Atari (Computer) as a software architect.

Month?: In West Germany, Steve Molyneux, previously of American Express Military Banking, joined Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH as (computer) software development manager.  He was recruited by Atari (Consumer) international marketing manager for computer software Nancy Garrison.

Month?: Alan Stratton joined Atari as Plan Controller, El Paso Texas (manufacturing plant financial functions).

Month?: Dave Menconi joined Atari Customer Service as a technical support specialist (source 4:40 and 7:50; AtariExplorer Fall81p21 for title) (reporting to manager of technical support John Hahn).

July 4: At Atari (Coin-Op), Frank Ballouz was VP marketing, Don Osborne was VP sales, Sue Elliot was international sales manager.  (Cash Box 7/4/81 pt.iii p22)

July 4: Atari (Coin-Op) international distributors included: Canada: Dale Distributing Ltd. (Rexdale, Ontario; Richmond, B.C. (Vancouver)), Laniel Automatic (Mt. Royal, Quebec), New Way Sales (Rexdale, Ontario), J.E. Weatherhead Dist. Ltd. (Burnaby, B.C.); Central & South America: R.H. Belam Company (Lake Success, NY); Argentina: Florencia SA (Sarminento); Australia: A. Hankin & Company (Newcastle), Leisure & Allied Industries (Perth); Belgium: Brabo Corporation (Antwerp); Chile: Entretenimientos Electronicos Ltda. (Santiago), Geyger Mailath e Hijos (Santiago); Finland: Raha Auto (Helsinki); France: Amiro France (Geneuille); Germany: Löwen Automaten (Binger/Rhein), Nova Apparate Gmbh & Co. (Hamburg); Holland: Hommerson Amusements (Scheveningen); Italy: Fratelli Bertolino (Torino); Japan: Sega Enterprises (Tokyo), Taito Corporation (Tokyo); Malaysia & Singapore: Rosan Sdn. Bhd. (Penang); Norway/Denmark: Lars Berg A/S (Trondheim, Norway); Republic of Ireland: Quintin Flynn Ltd. (Dublin); South Africa: Lewlesal (Pty) Ltd. (Johannesburg), Plankomat (Pty) Ltd. (Johannesburg); Spain: Sega SA (Madrid); Sweden: Bally Scaninavia/Bo Billing (Solna); Switzerland: Amiro Automaten AG (Muenchenstein/B.L.); Taiwan: ATA Electronics Ltd. (Taipei); United Kingdom: Music Hire Group (Leeds), Ruffler & Deith Ltd. (London)  (Cash Box 7/4/81)

July 10: Centipede (upright) had become the first Underwriters Laboratories (UL)-approved coin-operated video game. (CC 9/81)

July 11: Warner Bros./WEA had launched an extensive promotional campaign in the U.S. featuring a retail display contest offering Atari VCS cartridges and Atari 400 computers in support of the album "Computer World" by the German electronic music band Kraftwerk.  (Cash Box 7/11p14)

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

July: In Japan, Sega Enterprises released Warlords by Atari (game stand). (GM 11/29/82)

July: Michael A. Cooper-Hart, previously director of design at Exidy, joined Atari where he would be Cyan Engineering Product Concept Manager.

July: Atari acquired Amplifone Corporation, expanding the component manufacturing capabilities of Atari (Coin-Op). (Brownsville Herald 2/24/83 p10B)  (Amplifone was originally founded 12/30/1950, incorporated in Illinois.)  Location: Brownsville Compress, Bldg. No. 900, Brownsville TX.  Michael Smith would be plant manager.

July 17: Imagic, which had been established on 6/1/81, commenced operations with nine employees, including former Atari (Consumer) employees Bill Grubb, Dennis Koble, Rob Fulop, Bob Smith; former Mattel employees Jim Goldberger, Dave Durran, Brian Dougherty; former Intel employee Pat Ransil; former Versatec employee Gary Kato. (source; source)  Former Atari (Consumer) employee Mark Bradlee would join the company within weeks. (source)

July 23: Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) had named Bert W. Wasserman, the company's CFO and a director, to the office of the president, replacing Jay Emmett who departed the company.  Additionally, Emanuel Gerard and David H. Horowitz, the other members of the office of the president, had been additionally named to the newly created positions of co-chief operating officers (co-COOs) of the company.  Steven J. Ross remained WCI chairman and CEO. (source)   Gerard remained responsible for Atari.

July 27: Steve Wright was director of software development at Atari (Consumer), and Ed Rotberg was a software engineering supervisor at Atari (Coin-Op). (InfoWorld 7/27/81 p42-43)

Summer: Carla Meninsky (previously of Activision?), formerly an Atari (Consumer) programmer from 1979 to earlier in 1981, re-joined Atari (Consumer) as a programmer. (source)

Summer?: In France at P.E.C.F. Atari, Christian Paternot, previously division director at Doyle Dane Bernbach and board member of Peyrat Paternot Garnier DDB, would be director of marketing; Antoine Gallozzi, previously Marketing Manager of Maison Brandt Frères (MBF), joined the company as sales director; Peter Brookhouse Richards, previously of Telex Computers and Memorex, joined the company as financial controller (CFO).  Guy Millant remained P.E.C.F. Atari président-directeur général (PDG).

Summer?: J. Peter Nelson joined Atari (Computer) as public relations manager. (source)

Summer?: Stanford MBA student Kenneth R. Wirt began working for Atari (Computer) in sales. (Marquis)

Summer: Atari sold the rights to their 400/800 Talk & Teach series of educational software titles, plus the Educational System Master Cartridge, back to the developer, Dorsett Educational Systems.

Summer: By mid-1981 Atari had sold over 50,000 400/800 computers to date. (InfoWorld 9/14/1981)

Summer: Second and final issue of Atari Age, the official newsletter of the Atari Game Club, which had expanded to support fans of Atari coin-operated games in addition to Atari home video game enthusiasts.  (A reformulated Atari Club and a new Atari Age magazine would return in spring 1982.)

Summer: For the 400/800 Atari shipped: Atari 810 Master Diskette II (DOS II version 2.0S developed by SMI/Atari), Conversational Spanish, Conversational French, Conversational German, An Invitation to Programming 2, An Invitation to Programming 3, SCRAM (A Nuclear Power Plant Simulation), Missile Command, Asteroids, Atari Word Processor, plus TeleLink I new "large box" version with one hour of time on each of: Dow Jones Information Service, The Source, CompuServe

July/August: Atari released Asteroids for the VCS.  (source)

August 1: In the UK, Atari distributor Ingersoll Electronics shipped the Atari 400/800 computers (new UK versions for PAL I; £345/£645 incl. VAT; both with 16KiB RAM). (source)

August 3: Jewel Savadelis joined Atari (Consumer) as Video Software Product Manager (new position, reporting to VP marketing Ron Stringari). (Savadelis case study)  (Don Thorson, previously product manager, remained hardware product manager?)

August 12: Atari announced the appointment of Young & Rubican, New York, to handle advertising for the company's corporate communications projects and personal computer products.  Doyle, Dane, Bernbach, New York would continue to handle advertising for the company's home video game products through the Atari Consumer Electronics Division.  SSC&B, a division of Interpublic, had previously handled advertising for Atari's Computer Division. (PR)

August: The Atari Advanced Technology Group (Steve Bristow, VP advanced technology) discontinued project Sylvia (Atari 1000 "Super Stella" game console; intended to be marketed as: 3200) and would move on to other projects.  Atari (Consumer) launched project PAM (would ship as: 5200), while Atari (Computer) launched project Z800 (later: Sweet-16; would lead to: 1200XL computer).  Rob Zdybel, previously Atari software manager, advanced technology, would be Atari (Consumer) system software manager, PAM project.

August?: In response to Atari's legal complaint, General Computer (GCC) of Boston received a restraining order from Judge Robert E. Keeton of the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, to temporarily prevent them from manufacturing, advertising or selling their Super Missile Attack kit (released June 1981) for Atari Missile Command.  (Atari and GCC would settle, and GCC would go on to develop many products published by Atari including 2 coin-op games, the 3600/7800 hardware platform, and numerous 2600, 5200, and 7800 games.)

August: James Alan Cook (Jamie Cook) joined Atari (Computer) as VP and Counsel. (date)  David Burling, previously Atari VP and counsel, would be Atari (Consumer) VP and counsel. (source 15:30)  (Skip Paul remained Atari SVP and general counsel (including the Coin-Op division.)

August: Sears published a Video Arcade Cartridges catalog (Sears part number version / Atari part number version) featuring 34 titles for the Sears Video Arcade or Atari VCS, all by Atari: Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Golf, Arcade Golf, Pong Sports, Bowling, Warlords, Gunslinger, Tank Plus, Video Chess, Checkers, Othello, 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Backgammon, Arcade Pinball, Adventure, Breakaway IV, Target Fun (included with the Video Arcade), Circus, Canyon Bomber, Super Breakout (Sears exclusive through 1981), Night Driver, Dodge Cars, Maze Mania, Race, Speedway II, Poker Plus, Space Invaders, Asteroids, Missile Command, Steeplechase (Sears exclusive), Stellar Track (Sears exclusive)

August: During corporate planning meetings in Sonoma CA, the Atari Consumer Electronics Division proposed further investigation of a new business in advanced consumer telecommunications products and services. (source)  (would lead to: Project Falcon)

August: Suki Lee joined Atari (Consumer) as a video game designer/programmer.

August 17: Michael L. Sherrard, previously associate patent counsel at National Semiconductor, had joined Atari as patent counsel. (WashPost 8/17/81 pA18)  (Skip Paul remained Atari SVP and general counsel.)

August 19: Warner Communications Inc. announced that Jac Holzman, senior consultant to the Office of the President (and a director of Atari), had renewed and expanded his involvement with WCI, with increased responsibilities primarily in high technology areas applicable to WCI's businesses, such as Atari, Warner/Amex Cable, Warner Home Video and Panavision, while continuing his supervision of WCI long-range planning as it related to new technologies, with particular emphasis on the application of those technologies to video, computers and the recorded music areas of WCI. (WCI PR)

Summer/Fall: Atari (Consumer) international sales and marketing operations were spun off to form a new Atari division, Atari International.  Anton Bruehl, previously Atari (Consumer) VP international sales/marketing, would be president of Atari International.  Claude Nahum, who had recently joined Atari (Consumer) as manager of international financial planning & analysis, would be the new division's director of finance.  Jeff Burton remained Market Manager; William Lord remained assistant product manager (2600 VCS); Nancy Garrison remained marketing manager for computer software.

Summer/Fall: Artist Hiro Kimura joined Atari (Consumer). (ArtOfAtari p215)

Summer/Fall: Designer Christopher B. Wright, previously of Gillette, joined Atari as part of the Advanced Technology group.  (Steve Bristow remained Atari VP advanced technology.)

September 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Software Catalog Fall Edition 1981, introducing for the 400/800: Data Management System, Financial Asset Management System, Decision Maker, Banner Generator, Personal Fitness Program (previously announced for Atari's main 400/800 product line), Blackjack Tutor, Mapware, Video Math Flashcards, Dice Poker, 747 Landing Simulator, Eastern Front (1941), CodeCracker, Domination, Terry, Bumper Pool, Reversi, Minotaur, Lookahead, Babel, Wizard's Revenge, Chameleon CRT Terminal Emulator, Diskette Librarian, Disk Fixer (FIX) Rev. 2, BASIC Utility for Renumbering Programs (BURP), BASIC Utility Diskette, Screen Dump Utility, Load 'n Go, BLIS, Developer's Diskette. APX also announced their full software product line for sale via download from CompuServe MicroNET. One hardware product was modified: DE-9S with DE110963-1 Shell (controller plug).

September 3-7: Atari computer distributor Adveico launched the Atari 400/800 (new PAL versions for PAL B/G; L. 985.000 / L. 1.990.000) in Italy at SIM-Hi.Fi in Milan. (MCmicrocomputer #1 back page; #2 p19-20 for prices)

September 10-12: Atari distributor Ingersoll Electronics introduced the Atari 400/800 and featured the Atari VCS at The 4th Personal Computer World Show at the Cunard Hotel, Hammersmith, London.

September 14: Barry K. Berghorn, previously of Memorex, had joined Atari (Computer) as sales & marketing VP, replacing Rigdon Currie who had departed the company. (ComputerWorld 9/14/81 p84; TVDigest 1981p.dxxx/530)

September 15: Art Gemmell, future Atari SVP administration, remained Pizza Hut Inc. VP personnel.

September: Atari released Centipede Cocktail 19".

September: Atari opened their Advanced Development Laboratory at: 300 E. 42nd St., New York NY ("Atari NY Lab"; later: WCI Labs).  Steven T. Mayer, previously Atari Cyan Engineering senior engineer, became Atari VP research and development (replacement for the departed Al Alcorn), and had transferred from Cyan Engineering to establish and head the new unit. (WCI PR 7/13/84 except year; source)  (Lawrence D. Emmons remained director of Cyan Engineering.)  Advanced Development Group/Atari NY Lab/WCI Labs personnel would eventually include: Robert Ayoub, Peter Beninato, Mitchell Balsam (source), Glenn Boles, Robert (Bob) Card (hardware engineer; previously of Racal Vikonics), Andrew Cheng, Michael Cook, Kittrick Davis, Philippe des Rioux, Sanford A. Dreskin (source), Pennie Eng, Maureen Fisher (director, business development, WCI Labs), John Glaberson, Mark R. Hahn (source), Jim Hannon (general manager), Richard Keller, Timothy J. Kidder, Walt Klappert, Linda Kopp, James E. Korenthal (Corenthal? Correnthal?), Helen Kritzler, Jonathan Lentz, Saul J. Malamud, Nancy Mayer, Joel Moskowitz, Galen M. Motin, Judith Oksner, Angela Pesce, Steven Ray (previously of Racal Vikonics), Steve Radosh (manager of software engineering), Risa Rosenberg, Joel Ryan (digital audio workstation), Gary Schober (VP WCI Labs), Gregg Squires (manager of hardware engineering; previously of Racal Vikonics), Rachel Watstein, Margarita Wisniewski, John R. Zeno

September: Atari (Consumer) programmer Brad Stewart had departed the company (and joined Imagic). (source)

September 18-23: At SMAU in Milan, Atari computer distributor Adveico continued the launch of the Atari 400/800 in Italy. (MCmicrocomputer #1 back page)

September 25: There were 16 video game programmers working for Atari in the Consumer Division's engineering software department. (Savadelis article in Career Development)

September 25: Atari (Consumer) hardware product manager Don Thorson had departed the company. (Savadelis article in Career Development, p354)  Thorson would continue to serve as marketing consultant for Atari into 1982. (source; source)

September/October: Steve Wright, previously Atari (Consumer) director of software development (reporting to VP engineering Michel Ebertin), became director of Special Projects, a new development group which would be chartered to develop a video game simulator for rapid game prototyping/development (software, non-real-time solution; still reporting to Ebertin).  The Special Projects group would hire consultant Paul Hughett of Hughett Research as system architect for software development, and would establish operations at 292 Gibraltar, Sunnyvale CA.  Atari (Consumer) software product manager Jewel Savadelis (who reported to VP marketing Ron Stringari) additionally became acting director of software development (replacing Wright and reporting to Ebertin in the role).

September/October?: At Atari (Computer) in software: John Powers, previously director of applications and systems software development, would remain director of applications & development systems (still reporting to VP software Bruce Irvine).  Lou R. Tarnay, formerly of GTE Sylvania, joined Atari (Computer) as systems development manager (operating systems and telecommunications; assuming the role from Powers).  Brian Johnston, previously systems software supervisor (reporting to Powers) became a product coordinator (reporting to product coordination manager Paul E. Liniak).  Paul Laughton, previously a systems software programmer (reporting to Johnston), would be promoted to operating systems supervisor (replacing Johnston in the role; reporting to Tarnay). (source; source) 

September/October?: At Atari (Computer) in software: Fred Thorlin, previously director of software product acquisition (including ASAP and APX), became director of product review and research (new position; still including APX).  T.J. Gracon (Tom Gracon), formerly of Control Data Corporation (CDC), joined Atari (Computer) as director of software product acquisition (replacing Thorlin in the role).  Paul Cubbage, previously acquisition manager (reporting to Thorlin), would be product review manager (still reporting to Thorlin). (source)  (Bruce Irvine remained Atari (Computer) VP software.)

October 1: Date of the "Nonexclusive Sublicense Agreement for Home Video Game Devices" between Atari and Magnavox, which broadened and supplemented their June 8, 1976 "Non-Exclusive Cross License for Video Games" patent agreement to include overseas rights. (source)

October 3: For the Atari VCS Sears had released Tele-Games Super Breakout by Atari (Sears exclusive title through 1981). (newspaper ad)

October 4-8: Atari (Coin-Op) attended the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) annual meeting in Reno NV.

October 14: Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) had named Deane F. Johnson to the office of the president; he would become a WCI director as well.  Johnson would join Emanuel Gerard (also WCI Co-COO), David H. Horowitz (also WCI Co-COO), and Bert W. Wasserman (also WCI CFO) in the office of the president, which would now (once again) consist of four people instead of three.  Steven J. Ross remained WCI chairman and CEO.  (WSJ 10/14)  Gerard remained responsible for Atari.

October 15: Atari Advanced Products Group engineer Harry Jenkins would be promoted to Manager - Advanced Products (head of the unit; reporting directly to Atari CEO Ray Kassar (Zap! p105)), replacing Roger Hector who departed the company; Atari (Coin-Op) electronic engineer John Ray would be promoted to electronic engineers supervisor (reporting to director, electrical engineering Dave Stubben), replacing Howard Delman (Wendi Allen) who departed the company; and Atari (Coin-Op) programmer Ed Rotberg departed the company. (source; Video Invaders p76-70; source)) (Hector, Delman and Rotberg would establish Videa, Inc. on 1/18/82; in winter 1983 the business of Videa would be acquired by the Pizza Time Theatre subsidiary, Sente Technologies, which would be established on 1/28/83. (source)

October: Dr. Alan Kay, previously a Xerox Fellow at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), joined Atari as VP/Chief Scientist. (InfoWorld 5/21/84 for date)  

October: Atari (Coin-Op) Marketing Services included manager Mariann Layne, coordinator Laura Burgess, and assistant Linda Summer.  Market Research included manager Mary Takatsuno, Linda Butcher, and assistant Mike Friedman. (CC 10/81)  

October: Atari (Coin-Op) international distributors included: Canada: Dale Distributing Ltd. (Richmond, B.C. (Vancouver)), Laniel Automatic (Mt. Royal, Quebec), New Way Sales (Rexdale, Ontario), J.E. Weatherhead Dist. Ltd. (Burnaby, B.C.); Central & South America: R.H. Belam Company (Lake Success, NY); Argentina: Florencia SA (Sarminento); Australia: A. Hankin & Company (Newcastle), Leisure & Allied Industries (Perth); Belgium: Brabo Corporation (Antwerp); Chile: Entretenimientos Electronicos Ltda. (Santiago); Finland: Raha Automattiyhdistys (Helsinki); France: Amiro France (Geneuille); Germany: Löwen Automaten (Binger/Rhein), Nova Apparate Gmbh & Co. (Hamburg); Holland: Hommerson Amusements (Scheveningen); Italy: Fratelli Bertolino (Torino); Japan: Sega Enterprises (Tokyo), Taito Corporation (Tokyo); Malaysia & Singapore: Rosan Sdn. Bhd. (Penang); Norway/Denmark: T. Stigum & Company (Trondheim, Norway); Republic of Ireland: Quintin Flynn Ltd. (Dublin); South Africa: Lewlesal (Pty) Ltd. (Johannesburg), Plankomat (Pty) Ltd. (Johannesburg); Spain: Sega SA (Madrid); Sweden: Bally Scaninavia/Bo Billing (Solna); Switzerland: Amiro Automaten AG (Muenchenstein/B.L.); Taiwan: ATA Electronics Ltd. (Taipei); United Kingdom: Music Hire Group (Leeds), Ruffler & Deith Ltd. (London).  "Atari/East" (New Jersey Customer Service Office) had recently moved to: 12 A World's Fair Dr., Somerset NJ (previously: Cottontail Ln, Somerset NJ).  (source)

October: Atari announced that the promised Atari Accountant small business accounting system and 815 dual disk drive (which was to be required for the accounting system) were both cancelled.  A new home accounting system for the Atari 800 (would ship as: The Bookkeeper) would be designed expressly for the home market, would work with the 810 disk drive, and was to be ready for delivery in the first quarter of 1982. (InfoWorld 10/19p37; Compute 11/81p167)

October: Atari (Computer) software marketing manager Tandy Trower departed the company (to Microsoft, to manage the company's range of BASIC products). (source)  Brenda Laurel, previously an Atari (Computer) software product manager (reporting to Trower), would be promoted to manager, software strategy and marketing (essentially replacing Trower in the role, but reporting directly to division president Roger Badertscher). (source 6:00)

October: Engineer Mark Filipak, previously a system programmer at ATC Medical Technology, joined Atari (Consumer) in engineering. (source; source)  (Hired by/reporting to director of electrical engineering Mark Davis.)  Filipak would be assigned to design a 6502 game prototyping/development system (hardware, real-time solution).

October: Ken Nussbacher, joined Atari as associate general counsel for intellectual property (copyright and trademark; continuation of his role for Atari as Warner Communcations IP counsel since November 1980).  (Skip Paul remained Atari SVP and general counsel.) 

October: At WEA Records B.V. in the Netherlands, Hans Tonino would be promoted to managing director of "WEA Holland"/"WEA Benelux" (replacing Ben Bunders in the role; Bunders became managing director of the new WEA Spain). (source)  Toine Stapelkamp, previously WEA Records B.V. promotion manager, would become product manager Atari division (replacing Bunders as head of "Atari Benelux").

October: In Japan, Atari (Coin-Op) (via Atari Holdings Limited (Ireland)) established the new wholly owned subsidiary, Atari Far East Japan K.K. (The Japan Economic Journal, 12/29/81-1/5/82)

October 15-18: The third annual Northeast Computer Show (NCS) at the Hynes Auditorium, Boston MA was attended by 50,000.  For the 400/800 Atari featured Missile Command, Asteroids, the Atari Word Processor, Personal Financial Management System, States & Capitals, Conversational Italian, Conversational French, Conversational Spanish.  "The Future of Personal Computers" forum on Oct. 15, sponsored by the Boston Computer Society, featured panelists including Atari (Computer) VP business planning Peter Rosenthal (standing in for Atari (Computer) president Roger Badertscher), Microsoft president William H. Gates (Bill Gates), Commodore president H.E. James Finke, Radio Shack VP Jon Shirley, IBM Personal Computers director Philip Estridge, and Apple Computer president A.C. (Mike) Markkula. (Infoworld 11/9/81p1,6; BCS PR 10/6, 10/13)

October 20: At Atari (Computer), direct reports to VP software Bruce Irvine included: T.J. Gracon (software product acquisition), Paul E. Liniak (product coordination), Fred Thorlin (product review and research (APX)), J.P. Romanos (Jim Romanos) (product test), John Powers (applications & development systems), Lou Tarnay (systems development), vacant (international).  (Also: Leslie Wolf, word processing specialist.)  Reports to Thorlin included product review manager Paul Cubbage and APX manager Dale Yocum.  Reports to Powers included Ken Balthaser (applications) and Chris Crawford (development support for outside programmers).  Reports to Tarnay included Paul Laughton (acting supervisor, operating systems).  (source) 

October 26: Atari had opened its first regional software-acquisition center (earlier: ASAP Center). (InfoWorld 10/26/81 p1; ComputerBusinessNews 10/19/81p8)  The center was managed by Steven H. Gerber, and was located in the 4,000 ft² location that also housed the Atari Program Exchange (APX): 155 Moffett Park Dr., Sunnyvale CA.  (Bruce Irvine remained Atari (Computer) VP software.)

October 29-31: At the AMOA at the Conrad Hilton in Chicago, using the theme "The Atari Era" Atari released Tempest Upright (original version; Atari's first game to feature their QuadraScan Color vector monitor display system) and featured Centipede.

October 29-November 1: The Atari World Championships, co-sponsored by Atari, was one of five events held as part of the Tournament Games Spectacular (other events: Tournament Soccer, Tournament Eight Ball, Tournament Mark Darts, Tournament Hockey) organized by Tournament Games, Inc. (TGI) and held at Expocenter/Chicago.  Winners of the Atari event (coin-operated Centipede): Eric Ginner (open singles), Ok-Soo Han (women's singles). (source)  Mariann Layne was Atari (Coin-Op) Manager of Marketing Services.

Fall: At Atari (Computer), Keith Schaefer was promoted from National Sales Manager to sales VP (TVDigest 1981p.dcclxv) and Don Kurtz (of the Kurtz & Tarlow agency) would be hired as director of marketing services (see AtariConnection Sum82), together replacing VP sales & marketing Barry Berghorn who departed the company (to Via Video, Inc.).

Fall: Gary Furr, previously of GTE Sylvania, joined Atari (Computer) as a software product manager. (source 4:40)

Fall: Mark Cator joined Atari (Computer) as a marketing specialist, users' group support.  (Earl Rice remained Manager, Users' Group Support.) (source; source p4) 

Fall: Sally Bowman, previously Atari (Computer) manager, marketing communications, would become manager, direct marketing (and would remain responsible for The Atari Connection magazine).  Ted Richards joined Atari (Computer) as Editor of The Atari Connection (new position, reporting to Bowman).

Fall: In West Germany, Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH shipped the Atari 400/800 (PAL versions for PAL B/G).

Fall: In France, P.E.C.F. Atari shipped the VCS 2600S (SECAM; woodgrain; 4 switches; original UHF version), marking the launch of Atari consumer product sales in that country.

Fall?: Arthur J. Gemmell, previously Pizza Hut Inc. VP personnel, joined Atari as VP administration, replacing Roger Gerard who departed the company to Intel.

Fall: Gary Blondefield, formerly product marketing manager for National Semiconductor's game components, joined Atari (Consumer) as hardware product manager (replacement for the departed Don Thorson; reporting to VP marketing Ron Stringari). (source; source; Savadelis case study for title/date)

Fall: Atari acquired the 167,000 ft² manufacturing facility (including 330,000 ft² land parcel) at 31 Min-Chu Road, Chu-Wei, Tamsui District, Taipei County, Taiwan - ROC (planted opened by Philco-Ford in December 1966 and acquired by GTE-Sylvania in February 1975) from Sylvania-Philco, and Sylvania-Philco Taiwan Corp. (established June 15, 1966 as Philco Taiwan Corp.) became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atari (source; source) (to become: Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC)).  Richard Krieger, previously Atari (Consumer) materials manager (based in Taiwan), would be promoted to Atari VP and general manager, Far East operations (Taiwan and Hong Kong; still based in Taiwan).  John Constantine, previously general manager, Atari Far East Limited (in Hong Kong), would be tasked with setting up an Atari subsidiary in the United Kingdom (would be: Atari International (U.K.) Inc.).  Jim Chang would join Atari as financial controller, Far East operations.  Roddy Chan would join Atari Far East as marketing manager, and would establish an office at: Suite 605, Wing On Plaza, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong

November 1: For the 400/800, Atari 810 disk drives began shipping with DOS II version 2.0S (replacing the original Atari DOS I).

November 8-11: Atari exhibited Centipede and Tempest at the 32nd National Licensed Beverage Association (NLBA) Annual Convention and Trade Show at the MGM Grand Hotel in La Vegas NV.

November 12: Namco, Ltd. of Tokyo announced that it had granted Atari the exclusive rights to manufacture and sell Namco's newest video game (not yet introduced as: Dig Dug) in the U.S. and Canada, among other territories.  Additionally, Namco announced that it had granted Atari the rights to produce the home video versions of Galaxian and Pac-Man.  (GM 12/15/81)  Namco would also (again) become a distributor for Atari (Coin-Op) products in Japan (joining Sega Enterprises and Taito Corporation in the role).

November 14: The Atari International Asteroids Tournament Final was held at the International Club in Washington, D.C.  16 finalists competed on Asteroids for the VCS, game number 6, difficulty A.  The championship 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.  Phil Quigley was Atari's director of merchandising.

November: Chemical Bank began testing their prototype Pronto electronic home banking system in about 200 homes in the New York area.  Homes were provided Atari computers with prototype client software developed with Atari as part of the project.

November: Tom Petit was Atari (Coin-Op) Regional Sales Manager for the Western States. (CC 11/81)

November: Jerome Domurat joined Atari (Consumer) as a computer graphics designer/animation artist, hired by/reporting to graphics & animation group manager Marilyn Theurer.

November 17-20: Atari distributor Ingersoll Electronics featured the Atari 400/800 at Compec '81 (Computer Peripheral and Small Computer Systems Exhibition), Grand Hall, Olympia, London. (source)

November 18: Atari, Inc. and Midway Mfg. Co. filed a Federal lawsuit against North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp. and Park Television, d/b/a/ Park Magnavox Home Entertainment Center, alleging that the "K.C. Munchkin" game for the Magnavox Odyssey² infringed the copyright in the "Pac-Man" video arcade game. (NAP PR 12/2)

November/December: For the 400/800 Atari shipped the Starter Kits The Communicator, The Entertainer, The Programmer, and The Educator, and shipped: Conversational Italian, Calculator, Atari PILOT (Educators' Package and Home Package).  Space Invaders, previously released on cassette, was now re-released on cartridge ("large box" version).

December 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Software Catalog Winter Edition 1981, introducing for the 400/800: Bowler's Database, Family Cash Flow, Weekly Planner, Enhancements to Graph It, Hydraulic Program (HYSYS), Keyboard Organ, Morse Code Tutor, Player Piano, Atlas of Canada, Hickory Dickory, Letterman, Mathematic-Tac-Toe, My First Alphabet, Number Blast, Presidents of the United States, Quiz Master, Stereo 3-D Graphics Package, Attank!, Blackjack Casino, Block 'Em, Caverns of Mars, Dog Daze, Downhill, Memory Match, Pro Bowling, Reversi II, Solitaire, Source Code for Eastern Front (1941), Space Chase, Atari Program-Text Editor (also released in Atari's main product line in package with Macro Assembler), Dsembler, Extended fig-FORTH, Insomnia (A Sound Editor), Instedit, Supersort Rev. 3, T: A Text Display Device, Ultimate Renumber Utility, Word Processing Diskette (Text Formatter (FORMS) + Atari Program-Text Editor).  APX sales via CompuServe MicroNET had been discontinued.  Dale Yocum was APX Manager.

December 4: In Atari, Inc. and Midway Mfg. Co. vs. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp. and Park Television, d/b/a/ Park Magnavox Home Entertainment Center, filed on November 18, 1981, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division ruled in favor of Philips, denying the motion for preliminary injunction against the continued marketing by Philips of K.C. Munchkin for the Magnavox Odyssey² due to the game's claimed infringment of the copyright held by Atari and Midway for Namco's Pac-Man.  (Atari and Midway would appeal the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.)

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

December 14: Bill Carris was Atari (Computer) national sales training manager. (InfoWorld)

December?: Steve Gerber, previously manager of Atari's lone regional software-acquisition center (located at APX headquarters, Sunnyvale CA) was promoted to Atari (Computer) director of software product acquisition (reporting to VP software Bruce Irvine), replacing T.C. Gracon who departed the company (to co-manage the entertainment and learning center, Computer Capers, with Helen Gracon).

December: Atari Corporate Research (headed by Atari VP/Chief Scientist Alan Kay) established a Games Design Research Group.  Chris Crawford, previously Atari (Computer) Software Development Support Group supervisor (development support for outside programmers), became Manager, Games Design Research Group. (source)  (John Powers remained Atari (Computer) director, applications & development systems, reporting to VP software Bruce Irvine.)

December?: Linda S. Gordon, previously of Hellman, Jordan Management Company, joined Atari (corporate) as VP special projects (assistant to the president; reporting to Atari chairman/CEO Kassar). (source)

December: Atari had agreed to settle all pending litigation against Activision, Inc. (initiated May 1980). (InfoWorld 12/21/81)

December: Steven T. Mayer was VP of research and development at Atari. (NYT 12/24/81 pD2; NYT 12/31/81 pD2)

December 15: Atari established the subsidiary, Atari Sales Co. (MA filing for name)  Purpose: Service contracts with consumers.

December 23: Atari Clubs, Inc. (Atari Age magazine) was established as a joint venture between Atari and The Franklin Mint (the fellow Warner Communications subsidiary). (source)  The Atari Club would replace the earlier Atari Game Club (Atari Age newsletter).

December 30: Atari said that it would cut the retail price for the 800 home computer (with 16KiB RAM and newly "mass market packaged") to $899 from $1,080.

Atari claimed to have sold 300,000 400/800 computers in 1981. (InfoWord 6/14/82 p.57)

Atari sold an estimated 3.1 million VCS units in 1981. (TCWv1 p518)

Atari (Atari International) sold 800,000 VCS units overseas (outside the U.S.) in 1981 (ChiTribune 2/21/82s5p6)

1982
January 1?: The Atari Computer Division would now be known as the Atari Home Computer Division (HCD), and it adopted the advertising slogan, "We've brought the computer age home."  The Atari Consumer Division would now be known as the Atari Consumer Electronics Division (CED). 

January 5: In advance of the opening of the Winter CES on January 7, for the 400/800 Atari (Home Computer) announced: Pac-Man (title by Namco; 2nd quarter 1982), Centipede (2nd quarter 1982), Caverns of Mars (originally developed for APX; 1st quarter 1982), The Bookkeeper, The Home Filing Manager.  J. Peter Nelson was Atari (Home Computer) spokesperson. (PR)

January 6: Atari announced the publication, Atari Special Editions, a catalog of more than 400 products for the Atari computers from 117 vendors.

January 6: In advance of the opening of the Winter CES on January 7, Atari introduced their new "Supergame System" (Video System X; "PAM" project; $349.95; due in the second half of 1982; would ship as: 5200). 

January 7: The name of Atari Sales Co. was changed to: Atari Sales Corp.  Joan Pincus was assistant secretary. (MA filing)

January 7-10: At the 1982 International Winter CES (25th) in Las Vegas (booth #610), using the major theme of "Have You Played a Game From Atari Today?" for the VCS ($199.95) Atari introduced Super Breakout (to ship in January; previously released as a Sears exclusive), Haunted House (February), Pac-Man (title by Namco; March), Yars' Revenge (May), and Defender (title by Williams Electronics; June).  With the additional re-release of Space War, and the discontinuation of Blackjack, Flag Capture, Fun With Numbers, and Surround, for the first half of the year Atari now offered a library of 45 game program cartridges for the VCS (previously: 43).  Also for the VCS Atari announced Hot Rox (April; would ship as: Demons to Diamonds), Math Grand Prix (July), Berzerk (title by Stern; August), Star Raiders (September), Adventure I (October; would ship as: SwordQuest: EarthWorld), and Adventure II (November; would ship as: SwordQuest: FireWorld).  The Remote Control Video Computer System (2700) was confirmed cancelled. (PR; PR; Video Take-Out) 

Atari and DC Comics (fellow subsidiary of Warner Communications Inc.) announced a series of comic books featuring characters from the video game world of Atari and created by DC Comics.  Initially three comic books were planned, to ship with Defender in June, with Berserk in August, and with Star Raiders in September. (PR)

Atari previewed their new "Supergame System" (Video System X; "PAM" project; $349.95; due in the second half of 1982; would ship as: 5200).  At least 10 games were to be immediately available with the launch of the system, including: Super Breakout, Space Invaders (title by Taito), Missile Command, Asteroids (never shipped), Pac-Man (title by Namco), Galaxian (title by Namco). Star Raiders, Baseball (would ship as: RealSports Baseball), Football, Soccer, Skiing (never shipped). (PR; Analog #5 p9; Fun p665; Merch Jan82; Merch Apr82 p99)  Ron Stringari remained Atari (Consumer) VP marketing; Michael Moone was president of Atari's Consumer Electronics Division.

For the 400 ($399/16KiB RAM) and 800 ($899/16KiB RAM) Atari introduced Pac-Man (title by Namco; to ship in May -Analog#6p13), Centipede (June -Analog#6p13), and Caverns of Mars (which had only just been added to the APX product line as of December 1981; it would be the first APX title to be transferred into Atari's main product line), announced The Bookkeeper, The Home Filing Manager, the CX85 Numerical Keypad (price tba), The Bookkeeper Kit (price tba) and The Home Manager Kit (price tba), and again promised: Dow Jones Investment Evaluator (never shipped), Personal Financial Management System, Atari Macro Assembler and Program-Text Editor, Atari Microsoft BASIC.  Following the 400 packaging theme introduced in 1981, the 800, 810, and 410 would now ship in silver/full color packaging.

January: Jewel Savadelis, previously Atari (Consumer) software product manager and acting director of software development, would remain software product manager (still reporting to VP marketing Ron Stringari). (Savadelis B for date; another timing clue)  George Kiss joined Atari (Consumer) as director of software development (replacing Savadelis in the role; reporting to VP engineering Michel Ebertin).  Donald S. Teiser, previously VP acquisitions and administration at Trans Union Financial Corp., would join Atari (Consumer) as software manager (reporting to Kiss). (source; source; AtariLife v2n2)

January: Mike Marshall, previously of Calma, joined the Atari (Consumer) Special Projects group.  (Steve Wright was director, Atari (Consumer) Special Projects.)

January: Atari released Super Breakout for the VCS.

January: Atari opened their new two-building, 185,000 ft² home video game manufacturing plant at 11460 Pellicano Dr., El Paso Texas. (source)  Atari's original El Paso factory at 5645 Beacon (38,500 ft²), which had employed 350, had been shut down. (source)  Richard Bailey remained Atari plant manager, El Paso Texas. 

January?: Atari Consumer Product Service (CPS; previously: Customer Service; still headed by Jon Ebbs) had opened two new Regional Service Centers at 5400 Newport Dr Ste 1, Rolling Meadows IL and at 2109 E Division St, Arlington TX.  Operations at 1340/1346 Bordeaux Dr, Sunnyvale CA (home of Customer Support and a Regional Service Center) would move to 1312 Crossman Ave, Sunnyvale CA.  (A fourth Regional Service Center remained at 43 Belmont Dr, Somerset NJ.) (source)  Dave Wilson (previously: manager of Customer Support) would be manager of Customer Relations (representatives and specialists; still reporting to Ebbs).  Bill Bartlett, previously an Atari (Home Computer) product marketing manager, would be supervisor of customer relations specialists (reporting to Wilson). (source; source; source)  Dave Menconi, previously a Customer Service technical support specialist (reporting to manager of technical support John Hahn) became a software analyst, Atari (Home Computer) Users' Group Support (reporting to group manager Earl Rice). (source) 

January: The Atari Coin-Operated Games Division marketing, sales, finance, personnel, final assembly, and silkscreen facilities, previously located at 1215 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA, and the division's woodshop, previously located in Milpitas CA, were consolidated to a new 58,162 ft² new facility at 790 Sycamore Dr., Milpitas, CA, USA.  Construction of the new Atari (Coin-Op) engineering building across the street (1501 McCarthy, Milpitas) was underway. (CC v6n2Mar82) 

January 16: Atari held its first annual Star Award ceremony at San Francisco's Maxwell's Plum restaurant in Ghiradelli Square.  The Star Award and ASAP Contest $25,000 grand prize went to Fernando Herrera for his APX title, My First Alphabet.  Star Award of Merit winners: Ronald Marcuse & Lynn Marcuse, Sheldon Leemon, Greg Christensen (AC Spr82p12; source)

January 18: Mark Cerny joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a programmer/designer. (source)

January 18-21: At the Amusement Trades Exhibition (ATE) at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham England, with their own exhibition stand for the first time, Atari featured Tempest. (CC Dec/Jan 81/82)

January 21: Bob Harvey remained Atari (Coin-Op) regional sales manager. (CC 3/82)

January 19-22: Atari distributor Ingersoll Electronics featured the 400/800 at the third annual Which Computer? Show, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England. (source)

Winter: Charles S. Paul (Skip Paul) was Atari SVP legal and general counsel.

Winter: Franz Lanzinger, previously of Advanced Decision Systems, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a software engineer.

Winter: Alan Henricks, previously Atari (Consumer) VP finance, was promoted to SVP finance.  Jean Hackenburg, previously Atari (Consumer) director of finance (reporting to Henricks), was promoted to VP finance (source) (still reporting to Henricks).  Erwin N. Lenowitz, previously general manager of Revlon Vision Care International, would join Atari (Consumer) as director of financial planning (replacing Hackenburg in the role).

Winter: Leland L. Moyer, previously assistant to the vice chairman of the board at Cannon Mills (and prior to that, EVP and general manager for corduroy at Burlington Sportwear Fabrics, a division of Burlington Industries), was named SVP and general manager of the Consumer Electronics Division of Atari, Inc. (newly-created position). (source)

Winter?: For the 400/800 Atari shipped Atari Microsoft BASIC (programmer at Microsoft: Ric Weiland (source 15:50; source)) and the software development package, Macro Assembler and Program-Text Editor. (Macro Assembler developed for Atari by Sorcim; Program-Text Editor also released via APX)

Winter?: Artist Warren Chang joined Atari (Consumer).

Winter?: W. Chris Jeffers, formerly of Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), joined Atari as manager of Administration for Corporate Research (Update 4/2/84; source) (reporting to VP/chief scientist Alan Kay).

February: Atari VP/chief scientist Alan Kay, with manager of Administration for Corporate Research W. Chris Jeffers (source 4:55), founded the Atari Sunnyvale Research Laboratory (ASRL) (one source for date), which would serve as the primary home of Atari Corporate Research.  Location: 1196 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (initially to remain the Home Computer division headquarters as well).  ASRL administrative manager: Jan D. Dekema.  Systems Research (2nd floor -source 23:00; source 10:15) would eventually include: Philip E. Agre, Susan E. Brennan, William M. Bricken, Donald Dixon, Jim Dunion, Scott S. Fisher, Steve Gano, John Glaberson, Eric Gullichsen, Robert W. Hon, Kristina Hooper (director of Systems Research, 1983-84; director of ASRL, 1984; later: Kristina Hooper Woolsey), Eric A. Hulteen, Brenda K. Laurel (previously: Atari (Home Computer) Manager, Software Strategy and Marketing), Michael Liebhold (director of Systems Research, 1982-83), Michael Naimark, Jeffrey Sarnoff (previously: Atari (Home Computer) software architect), Ted Selker, Bob Stein, Rachel Strickland, Craig Taylor, Randal Walser, Stephen Weyer, Kathleen S. Wilson.  The recently-established Games Design Research Group would be housed in the new lab, and would eventually include: Chris Crawford (group manager), Valerie Atkinson, Douglas Crockford, Bob Fraser, Randall Smith, Larry Summers, Kim Whitmore, Aric Wilmunder.  The Interactive Animation Group would include Ann Marion (Principal Investigator / Program Manager), Valerie Atkinson, Kurt Fleischer, Wayne Harvey (source), Mark Vickers.  Research Engineering (1st floor -source 23:00; source 10:15; home of the Sierra and GUMP (Fun p753) experimental computer projects, including Rainbow (Silver + Gold) GPU chip/chipset and Amy digital audio chip) would eventually include: Bob Alkire (GPU; source), Douglas Crockford (GPU), Scott H. Foster (digital audio), Joel Gluck (GPU), Jess Jessop (hardware), Jim Leiterman, Tim McGuinness (previously: Atari (Home Computer) senior electronics test and design engineer), Sam Nicolino (digital audio), John Howard Palevich (Jack Palevich) (GPU, digital audio; source), Gary C. Phipps, David Sampson (hardware), Steve Saunders (GPU group manager; source), Gary Sikorski (Digital Audio group manager; director of Research Engineering, 1983-84), Dale Yocum (director of Research Engineering, 1982-83; previously: APX Manager), Thomas G. Zimmerman (digital audio; source).

Atari (Home Computer) director of product review and research (including APX) Fred Thorlin would additionally become APX general manager (replacing Yocum in the role).

February: Atari announced that Kenneth K. Harkness had joined the company as Atari president Coin-Op Division (replacing the departed Joe 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. (CC 2/82)

February: Atari released Haunted House for the VCS.

February: Dave Joly joined Atari (Consumer) as a games animator, hired by/reporting to graphics & animation group manager Marilyn Theurer.  Others in the group included Jerome Domurat, Alan Murphy, and Mimi Doggett. (source; source)  

February 16: Atari introduced Space Duel (original upright version) to distributors in a meeting in San Francisco.  Ken Harkness was Coin-Operated Games Division president. (CC 3/82)

February 16: Jeff Hoff was an Atari spokesman. (NYT)

February 18: Atari introduced Space Duel (original upright version) to distributors in a meeting in Chicago.

February 18: Atari and Centuri, Inc. announced a four-year contract whereby Atari would have rights to all current and future Centuri coin-operated video games in all product categories, with the exception of coin-operated video games.  Atari's initial plans were to release for the VCS: Phoenix, Vanguard, Challenger. (WCI PR)

February 18: Atari established the subsidiary, Atari International (U.K.) Inc., to assume the Atari consumer products business from distributor Ingersoll Electronics.  John Constantine was financial controller.  Anthony Jones, previously of Ingersoll (where he had headed the 400/800 marketing group since its inception), would be the founding Managing Director.  (Operations would launch in April.)

February 19: Atari introduced Space Duel (original upright version) to distributors in a meeting in New York.

February 20-22: 79th annual American Toy Fair in New York, Atari announced that their new "Supergame System" (Video System X; would ship as: 5200) would wholesale for $240, with a retail price possibly as low as $279 (previously announced: $349).  Michael Moone was Atari (Consumer) president. (Merch Mar82) 

February 22: The Atari board of directors consisted of: Raymond Kassar (chairman), Emanuel Gerard (WCI office of the president and co-COO), Jac Holzman (senior consultant to the Office of the President of WCI). (MA filing)

March 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Software Catalog Spring Edition 1982, introducing for the 400/800: Family Budget, Diskette Mailing List, Isopleth Map-Making Package, RPN Calculator Simulator, Advanced Musicsystem, Sketchpad, Cubbyholes, Musical Computer--The Music Tutor, Starware, Wordmaker, Block Buster, Atari Pascal Language System (by MT MicroSYSTEMS for Atari), Extended fig-FORTH Rev. 2, GTIA Demonstration Diskette, Instedit (Microsoft BASIC version), Keypad Controller, Speed-O-Disk. APX also introduced the book, De Re Atari.  (Dale Yocum had still been APX Manager at printing date.)

March 2: In Atari, Inc. and Midway Mfg. Co. vs. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp. and Park Television, d/b/a Park Magnavox Home Entertainment Center (672 F.2d 607), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit accepted the appeal of Atari and Midway of the December 4, 1981 decision of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, and directed the lower court to enter a preliminary injunction against the continued infringement of Atari's rights to Namco's Pac-Man by Philips through the sale of K.C. Munchkin for the Magnavox Odyssey². (WCI PR 3/4)  (Philips would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.)

March 9: Atari announced the March 12-15 dedications of two newly-upgraded manufacturing facilities with a combined employment of 1400 people.  In Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Atari Caribe, Inc. was inaugurating a second building comprising a 71,000 ft² expansion of its 46,000 ft² plant. (source)  Although designed to manufacture both the VCS and game cartridges, the two-building plant (110,000 ft²) would initially be dedicated totally to the production of game cartridges.  William Planas remained general manager, Atari Caribe.  In El Paso, Atari was inaugurating a $7 million home video game cartridge manufacturing plant at 11460 Pellicano Dr. (replacement for the previous plant at 5645 Beacon Ave.).  Employing more than 700, the two-building (185,000 ft²) facility would also serve as a "proving ground" for new assembly and manufacturing techniques; Richard Bailey remained plant manager.  Paul Malloy remained Atari (Consumer) SVP of manufacturing and operations. (source; source) (PR 3/9)

March 12: At Atari (Home Computer) in software, Lou Tarnay remained systems development manager.  Reports to Tarnay included telecommunication supervisor (acting) John Curran, operating systems supervisor Paul Laughton, and software architecture consultant Harry Stewart.  The telecommunication group included Joseph B. Miller III (Joe Miller; formerly of The Authorship Resource, Inc.(ARI)), Vincent Wu, and Gin Pao Lu.  (source)

March 15: Atari had announced Atari Computer Camps, "the first effort by a major home computer manufacturer to fully sponsor summer camps for 10 to 18-year-olds interested in computers."  Atari was to conduct eight camp sessions during summer 1982, two in each of four locations: Pennsylvania (East Stroudsburg State College), North Carolina (Asheville School), Wisconsin (Lakeland College) and southern California (University of San Diego).  Each session would last four weeks.  While Atari would provide the computer expertise and have ultimate oversight over the camps, day-to-day operation would be handled for Atari by Specialty Camps, Inc., an organization which had run both theme (Weight Watchers) and traditional camps for 25 years.  Linda Gordon was Atari (corporate) VP of special projects; Atari (Home Computer) Educational Software Products Manager Robert A. Kahn was Atari Computer Camps Curriculum Director; Ray Kassar remained Atari chairman and CEO; Peter Nelson was manager of public relations for Atari's home computer division.  (AtariAge My/Jn82p6; DrDobbsMy82p14; InfoWorld 3/15/82p43; Interface Age 6/82 p26; source)

March: Atari (corporate) launched Project Falcon (as proposed in August 1981).  Steve Bristow, previously Atari VP Advanced Technology (new consumer electronics product development), became VP engineering, Project Falcon (reporting to Atari EVP Dennis Groth).  (Bristow resume for date)  Niles Strohl, previously Advanced Technology engineering manager, would be engineering manager, Project Falcon.  Chris Wright would be product designer, Project Falcon.  Project Falcon operations: 1349 Moffett Park Dr., Sunnyvale CA.  Steve Mayer, previously Atari VP research and development, became VP research and product development (assuming other new consumer electronics product development from Bristow).

March: Atari (Home Computer) formed a special projects engineering group.  Engineer Ajay Chopra, previously of Burroughs Corporation, would join Atari (Home Computer) as a special projects engineer.  Jim Tittsler, previously director of software development at International Remote Imaging Systems (and before that, a software engineer at Heath Company, where he had reported to Larry Plummer), joined Atari (Home Computer) as a special projects engineer. (source 2:40; source for month; source)  (Larry Plummer remained Atari (Home Computer) director of electrical engineering.)

March: Atari released Pac-Man for the VCS.

March: Engineer Eric Hoh joined Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC).

March: Atari Star Raiders for the 400/800 was awarded Computer Game of the Year by Electronic Games magazine. (EG 3/82 p49)

March: At Atari (Consumer): Alan Henricks remained SVP finance, Paul J. Malloy remained SVP operations, and Lee Moyer remained SVP and general manager; Michael Moone remained president of the Division. (WCI Annual Rpt 1981)

March 16: In Atari, Inc. and Midway Mfg. Co. vs. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp. and Park Television, d/b/a Park Magnavox Home Entertainment Center, as directed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on March 2, 1982, Federal judge George N. Leighton, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, reversed the December 4, 1981 stay of the injunction against North American Phillips, manufacturer of the home video game "K.C. Munchkin."  The ruling enjoined North American Phillips from selling, advertising or offering for sale in any manner the "K.C. Munchkin" home video game cartridge for Odyssey² because it was too similar to Namco's Pac-Man, the U.S. home market rights to which were exclusively held by Atari. (Atari PR 3/17; UPI 3/18)  (Philips would appeal the March 2 appeals court judgement to the U.S. Supreme Court.)

March 19: Date of initial release version of the "PAM OS" operating system, programmed by Rob Zdybel, for the Atari (Consumer) "PAM" project (Video System X; would ship as: 5200).

March 19-21: At the 7th West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco, Atari held their second annual invitational hospitality suite for Atari computer users' group officers and their guests, where Atari introduced APX Atari Pascal Language System.  About 80 persons attended, on behalf of 15 of the 200 total groups registered with Atari Users' Group Support.  At Atari (Home Computer), Don Kurtz was director of marketing services; Earl Rice was manager of the users' group support program; Bonnie Umphreys was Pascal's product manager.  (AtariConnection v2n2p1)

March 23: Jeff Hoff remained an Atari spokesman. (WashPost)

March 26: Atari established the subsidiary, Atari Special Projects, Inc. (joint ventures with Club Méditerranée SA and/or with Specialty Camps Corp.), with offices at 1196 Borregas Ave, Sunnyvale CA (also home to the Home Computer division and Corporate Research).  Atari (corporate) VP special projects Linda Gordon would additionally be president of Atari Special Projects, Inc.

Winter/Spring: The Atari Advanced Products Group became the Design Research Group (environmental design projects; would lead to Atari Video Adventure and Atari Adventure concepts), and group manager Harry Jenkins would now report to Atari VP/chief scientist Alan Kay (previously: to Atari CEO Ray Kassar). (Zap! p105)  The Design Research Group would eventually include: Michael Barry, John Bell, Rich Caselli, Randy Horton, Sherman Kennedy, Joe McArtle, Dave McDonald, Michael T. MacKay, Brad Nemeth, Dave Willis, freelance software engineer Stan Osborne, consultant Ed Tannenbaum. (source)  

Winter/Spring: John S. Farrand, previously president of Music Hire Group (based in England), joined Atari (Coin-Op) as president of international operations. (CC Ap/My82; Play Meter 11/15/84 p15)  Shane Breaks, previously international director of marketing, would be promoted to VP international marketing and sales.

Winter/Spring: Programmer and software consultant Condon Freeman Brown joined Atari (Consumer) in software engineering.  (George Kiss remained director of software development.)

Winter/Spring?: Artist Terry Hoff joined Atari (Consumer).

March/April: Perry D. Odak, previously general manager at Jovan, Inc., the fragrance and cosmetics company (and before that, SVP of Worldwide Operations at Armour-Dial, Inc.) joined Atari in the new position of president of the Consumer Products Group.  Reports to Odak would include Atari (Consumer) president Michael Moone and Atari International president Anton Bruehl. (source for March date; source for April date)  Garry Sellers, previously of Resource Planning (and before that, Armour-Dial) would join Atari as VP of HR, Consumer Products Group. (source)  Angelo M. Pezzani, previously VP-Law, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Chromalloy American Corp., joined Atari as Consumer Products Group VP and general counsel. (source; source)  (Skip Paul remained Atari SVP and general counsel.)

April 3: In the U.S., Atari marked the release of Pac-Man for the VCS by widely promoting the day as Atari National Pac-Man Day.  Atari arranged for Pac-Man to appear via life-sized costumes in 27 cities.

April 9: In Tokyo Japan, Atari (Coin-Op) officially opened Atari Far East Japan Ltd., which remained at: Fukide Building 2 Floor, 4-1-13 Toranomon Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan.  Rivington Hight, who had provisionally established the office in April 1981, was Atari Far East Japan president.  Atari Far East Japan would be responsible for Atari (Coin-Op) sales (through local distributors) in Japan, Australia, and the Far East, as well as liaison with video game developers primarily in Japan.  The office was also slated to conduct a research study of the market for home video games in Japan. (CC 7/82) 

April: Atari released Dig Dug by Namco (original Upright version and European upright versions; had been released 3/82 by Namco in Japan -source), and released Space Duel Cocktail.

April: For the VCS, Hot Rox was now slated to ship in July (previously: June). (Video Take-Out 4/82)

April: W.Sean Hennessy, previously of Gremlin, joined Atari (Consumer) as a video game software engineer.

April: For the 400/800 Atari shipped Caverns of Mars (cartridge). (Video Take-Out 4/82)

April: Bob Fournier (Robert J. Fournier) was Atari (Home Computer) entertainment product manager. (source)  (Brenda Laurel remained Manager, Software Strategy and Marketing.)

April: Thomas M. McDonough joined Atari as VP marketing in Atari's home computer division (NYT 12/19/82 for date), replacing director of marketing services Don Kurtz who departed the company (remaining with the Kurtz & Tarlow agency).

April: Atari 8th annual distributor meeting and 10th anniversary ceremony was held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu HI. (one source)

April: Atari launched the subsidiary, Atari International (U.K.) Inc., taking over the Atari consumer products business from distributor Ingersoll Electronics. (source; source)  The unit had been set up by financial controller John Constantine and founding managing director Anthony Jones.  Graham Daubney would be product manager; product support would be headed by Jon Norledge. (source)  Location (shared with WEA Records, fellow subsidiary of Warner Communications): Windsor House, 185-195 Ealing Road, Alperton, Wembley, Middlesex 

 April 16: "The Electronic and Computer Technician Vocational Education Incentive Grants Act" hearing before the Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education of the Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, included testimony by Steven Mayer, Atari VP research and product development.

April 21: Grand opening of the Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC) (formerly: Sylvania-Philco Taiwan Corp.) facility in Taipei, Taiwan which Atari had acquired in fall 1981.  Employment at the plant was scheduled to reach 1,500 by the middle of 1982.  Pelé (the celebrity soccer player) participated in the ceremony. (source; Byte v7n11 p192-14 ad; source)  (Richard Krieger remained Atari VP and general manager, Far East operations.)

April 24: At the Hotel Okura in Tokyo Japan, Atari and Sun Electronics Inc. announced a coin-operated and consumer products licensing agreement for Kangaroo, a new video game developed by Sun Electronics.  Atari, in both California and Ireland, would manufacture the coin-operated version for markets except for Japan and West Germany, and would produce consumer product versions of the game.  (The agreement had been brokered by Joe Robbins, chairman of the Amusement Device Manufacturers Association (ADMA) and former president of the Atari (Coin-Op) division.)  (GM 5/15/82)

April/May: Atari (Coin-Op) named John S. Farrand, previously president of international operations, as EVP (sales and marketing, worldwide).  Don Osborne, previously VP sales, had been promoted to VP sales and marketing (assuming marketing from the departed Frank Ballouz).  Ken Harkness remained division president. (CC)  (Shane Breaks remained VP international marketing and sales.)

April/May: For the 400/800 Atari shipped, then promptly pulled from the market for further development, Personal Financial Management System. (see Analog #9p118, plus C017535revC)

Spring?: Atari (Home Computer) applications programmer Dave Johnson departed the company (to Axlon). (source)

Spring?: Atari (Home Computer) software product coodinator Brian Johnston departed the computer (to Fox Video Games). (source 11:10)   (Paul Liniak remained manager of product coordination/software conversion.)

May 1: Atari Special Projects, Inc. began supplying both equipment and instructor training for the Club Méditerranée computer classroom at Club Med Ixtapa in Mexico (replacing Computer Camp of Santa Barbara CA, which had the role since the classroom opened in November 1981).  (Atari did not take on the other existing Club Med computer classroom at Club Med Kamarina, Sicily, which had opened in May 1981.)  A second Atari computer classroom was planned for Club Med Eleuthera, the Bahamas. (InfoWorld 7/12/82 p14-16) 

May 1: In Taiwan, Richard Krieger remained "vice president of a U.S. invested company". (source)  (Atari VP and general manager, Far East operations)

May 3: Jan Soderstrom was Atari VP corporate advertising. (Broadcasting 5/3/82)

May 12-13: Initial meetings between Atari chairman Ray Kassar and Rick Trow of Rick Trow Productions (RTP). (source 19:00)  Would lead to "Computers: Expressway to Tomorrow" traveling multimedia assembly program for schools, under a contract covering the 1982-83 (including fall 1982 focus group / touring unit and winter 1983 national launch) and 83-84 school years, with an option for the 84-85 school year. (source)

May 13: Atari International (U.K.) Inc. introduced Pac-Man for the VCS with a reception at the top of the London Hilton.

May 14: Atari International (U.K.) Inc. (established on 2/18/82) was registered for business in the UK.

May: Atari released Yars' Revenge for the VCS.

May: For the 400/800 Atari shipped Pac-Man (Roklan). (multiple sources; but note also Video Take-Out 4/82 explicitly indicated a June arrival)

May: Atari opened its second regional software-acquisition center, managed by Jerry Connelly, at: 57 John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge MA.  Bruce Irvine remained Atari (Home Computer) VP software.  While plans for additional centers were not announced, Atari was considering opening a "satellite facility" in New York City in the near future. (InfoWorld 5/24/82 p9)

May: Sun Microsystems shipped the Sun-1 Workstation.  The Atari (Home Computer) special projects group (engineers Ajay Chopra and Jim Tittsler) would engage in a project to develop a combination Atari 800/SUN workstation. (source; 1st comment)  (Larry Plummer remained Atari (Home Computer) director of electrical engineering.)

May?: Robert A. Kahn, previously Atari (Home Computer) Educational Software Product Manager, became Atari Director of Special Projects (Atari Computer Camps and Club Med initiatives; reporting to Atari (corporate) VP special projects Linda Gordon.)  Dr. Sueann Ambron, Ed.D, previously assistant professor of educational psychology at Stanford University, joined Atari (Home Computer) as manager of educational software products (replacing Kahn in the role). (link; source)  (Brenda Laurel remained Manager, Software Strategy and Marketing.)

May: Ken Wirt (Kenneth R. Wirt), previously of PBS (and more recently working full time for Atari on an internship while a second-year Stanford MBA student), joined Atari (Home Computer) as a sales manager. (source; Sales&Marketing Management 12/03 p56)  (Keith Schaefer remained VP sales.)

May: Engineer Rich Pasco, previously a researcher at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), joined Atari (Home Computer) as Manager of VLSI Development.

May: William Lord, previously Atari International assistant product manager, 2600 VCS, became Atari (Consumer) manager of project control, software development.  (Jeff Burton remained Atari International market manager.)

May: In the Netherlands, the Atari division ("Atari Benelux") of WEA Records B.V. ("WEA Holland";"WEA Benelux") was spun off to form Atari International (Benelux) B.V.  Peter Woodward, previously EVP of Casablanca Records (PolyGram), would be managing director of the new "Atari Benelux" which remained at (location shared with Record Service Benelux B.V.): Franse Akker 9, Breda.  Ruud Van Nispen would join the company in sales.  (source; source; CashBox 7/3/82 p39; source)

May: Atari (Coin-Op) international distributors included: Canada: Dale Distributing Ltd. (Richmond, B.C. (Vancouver)), Laniel Automatic (Mt. Royal, Quebec), New Way Sales (Rexdale, Ontario), J.E. Weatherhead Dist. Ltd. (Edmonton, Alberta), J.E. Weatherhead Dist. Ltd. (Burnaby, B.C.); Central & South America: R.H. Belam Company (Lake Success, NY); Argentina: Florencia SA (Sarminento); Australia: Leisure & Allied Industries (Perth); Belgium: Brabo Corporation (Antwerp); Chile: Entretenimientos Electronicos Ltda. (Santiago); Finland: Raha Automattiyhdistys (Helsinki); France: Amiro France (Geneuille), C.C.F.E.A. (Begles), Sovada (Chenove); Germany: Löwen Automaten (Binger/Rhein), Nova Apparate Gmbh & Co. (Hamburg); Holland: Hommerson Amusements (Scheveningen); Israel: Colombus (Tel Aviv); Italy: Fratelli Bertolino (Torino); Japan: Namco, Ltd. (Tokyo), Sega Enterprises (Tokyo), Taito Corporation (Tokyo); Lebanon: Hashim's Est. (Antelias); Malaysia & Singapore: Rosan Sdn. Bhd. (Penang); Mexico: Operadora Nacional de Espectaculos (Mexico, D.F.); Norway/Denmark: Compu-Game (Esbjerg, Denmark), T. Stigum & Company (Trondheim, Norway); Northern Ireland: Joyland Amusements (Antrim); Republic of Ireland: Coin-Operated Amusements, Ltd. (Kildare), Quintin Flynn Ltd. (Dublin); South Africa: Austrojoy (Pty.) Ltd.  (Johannesburg), F.B.O. Import & Export (Johannesburg), Lewlesal (Pty) Ltd. (Johannesburg), Plankomat (Pty) Ltd. (Johannesburg); Spain: Sega SA (Madrid); Sweden: Bally Scaninavia/Bo Billing (Solna); Switzerland: Amiro Automaten AG (Muenchenstein/B.L.); Taiwan: ATA Electronics Ltd. (Taipei); United Kingdom: Music Hire Group (Leeds), Ruffler & Deith Ltd. (London). (source)

May 17: Atari Consumer Product Service (CPS) would fold Atari's nationwide network of Authorized Atari Computer Service Centers, Independent Service Centers (VCS service), and four Regional Service Centers together under the new Atari Service Factory Authorized Network branding. (source; source)

May 22-26: Atari exhibited at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago.  Dick Needleman was Atari Manager, Special Markets and Operations. (operations = Atari Video Adventure, location to open July 1982)

May 23: Jim Chang was financial controller at Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC) (source)

May 25: Paul Cubbage remained Atari (Home Computer) Manager, Product Review.

May/June: First issue of Atari Age, the glossy magazine published by Atari Clubs, Inc. for The Atari Club (project of Atari (corporate) VP special projects Linda Gordon).  Editor: Steve Morgenstern; Design Director: Tony Prizzi; Club Director: Parker Jerrell. 

June 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Product Catalog Summer Edition 1982, introducing for the 400/800: Bowler's Database Rev. 2, Data Base/Report System, Family Vehicle Expense, Recipe Search 'n Save, Calculator (moved from Atari's main product line), Astrology, Blackjack Tutor Rev. 1.1, Going to the Dogs, Algicalc, Elementary Biology (by MECC), Frogmaster, Instructional Computing Demonstration (by MECC), Metric and Problem Solving (by MECC), Music I--Terms & Notation (by MECC), Polycalc, Three R Math System, Block 'Em Rev. 2, Castle Rev. 1.1, Checker King, Galahad and the Holy Grail, Jax-O, Jukebox #1, The Midas Touch, Pushover, Rabbotz, Salmon Run, Seven Card Stud, BLIS Rev. 1.1, Cosmatic Atari Development Package, Insomnia (A Sound Editor) Rev. 1.1, Instedit Rev. 1.1, Microsoft BASIC Cross-Reference Utility, Player Generator, Utility Diskette II.  Fred Thorlin was APX general manager; product review: Paul Cubbage.

June 5: WEA (the music distributor) had been appointed a non-exclusive distributor for Atari (Consumer) games and software in the U.S., with distribution to commence later in the month.  Bill Sobieski had been promoted to Atari (Consumer) VP Sales. (Billboard)

June 6-9: At the Summer CES in Chicago, for the VCS ($199.95) Atari introduced/again promised Defender (June), Demons to Diamonds (previously: Hot Rox; July), Math Gran Prix (July), Berzerk (August), and Star Raiders with Video Touch Pad (CX21) controller (September), for a library of 49 Game Program Cartridges (previously: 45), and also announced or previewed: Baseball (tentative title; would ship as: RealSports Baseball; September), Volleyball (tentative title; would ship as: RealSports Volleyball; September), Football (tentative title; would ship as: RealSports Football; October), Adventure I (tentative title; would ship as: SwordQuest: EarthWorld; October), Adventure II (tentative title; would ship as: SwordQuest: FireWorld; November), Frog Pond (November; never shipped), Combat (Combat Two; tentative title; later: Failsafe; December; never shipped), Raiders of the Lost Ark (December) (source)

For the 400 ($349/16KiB RAM; previously: $399) and 800 ($899/16KiB RAM), Atari introduced Atari Speed Reading (title by Otto & Kamm), announced Music Tutor I (would ship as: AtariMusic I), Juggles' Rainbow (by The Learning Co.), Juggles' House (by The Learning Co.), and TeleLink II (never shipped as a standalone release; would ship as part of The Communicator II kit only) and introduced The Bookkeeper Kit ($249.95; Bookkeeper program plus CX85 Numerical Keypad), The Communicator II kit (price tba; new 835 modem with TeleLink II), The Home Manager Kit (price tba; Personal Financial Management System + The Home Filing Manager).  The APX title, My First Alphabet would be re-released as part of Atari's standard product line.  Again promised: The Bookkeeper (standalone program), The Home Filing Manager, Personal Financial Management System (PFMS now to ship winter 1983), Centipede.  Atari also introduced the Electronic Retail Information Center (ERIC; an Atari 800 home computer linked to a videodisc player), one of several models of point of purchase merchandising displayers for retailers.  Keith Schaefer was VP of sales for Atari's Home Computer division. (source)

June 6: Atari and Lucasfilm Ltd. announced that the two companies had joined creative forces for the purpose of developing and marketing video games for coin-operated games, home video games and home computers. (PR 6/7)  Helen M. Gray, previously executive director of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, had joined Atari as VP Corporate Communications (having replaced Jeff Hoff who had departed the company?).

June 8: At the Summer CES in Chicago, Atari introduced the 5200 Home Entertainment System (previously: "PAM" or "Supergame System" or Video System X), to ship with two 5200 Controller (CX52) units and Super Breakout (announced as the pack-in game at the show, separately from the press release) for the package price of $299.95.  The system was to ship in October along with 9 games to be sold separately (for a total of 10 launch titles): Asteroids (never released), Missile Command, Space Invaders (title by Taito), Star Raiders, Galaxian (title by Namco), Football, Pac-Man (title by Namco), Baseball (would ship as: RealSports Baseball), Soccer.  Another 4 games were to ship later in the fall (for a total library of 14 games by Christmas): Tank (would ship as: Countermeasure), Qix (title by Taito), Centipede, Defender (title by Williams Electronics).  Atari also announced three 5200 add-on devices planned for 1983 release: a Trak-Ball Controller (CX53), a Voice Synthesizer module (never released), and an adapter to allow all VCS game cartridges to be played on the Atari 5200 (would ship as: VCS Cartridge Adapter (CX55)). (PR; AtariAge Sep/Oct82p8)

June 13: Richard Krieger remained VP and general manager of Atari's Far East operations. (source)

June: (early month): Kaneko Seisakusho Co., Ltd. of Tokyo granted manufacturing rights on its video game Fly-Boy to Atari concerning overseas markets.  Atari would manufacture and sell the game, as Fast Freddie, in Europe, and would authorize Universe Affiliated International (UAI) to sell it exclusively in the U.S. market. (GM 11/15/82)

June: James Heller, previously Atari (Consumer) operations manager, became remanufacturing operations manager (at Atari headquarters in Sunnyvale CA).  Tim Chodera, previously Section Head - Corporate PC Materials/Capacity Planning at Signetics (Philips Semiconductor), joined Atari (Consumer) as operations manager (replacing Heller in the role).

June: Atari released Kangaroo by Sun Electronics (standard Upright cabinet and "European" cabinet), released Dig Dug by Namco in Cocktail and Cabaret versions, and released Gravitar.

June: John Hill was Atari (Coin-Op) regional sales manager (CC 6/82)

June: Atari released Defender for the VCS.

June: Atari and the Children's Computer Workshop (CCW) began collaborating to bring educational software based on Sesame Street to the Atari VCS. (AtariAge v1n5p11)  Carla Meninsky was Atari (Consumer) software development group manager, kids' games. (source)

June: Jac Holzman, previously senior consultant to the Office of the President of WCI and a director of Atari, became chairman of Panavision, Inc., the wholly-owned subsidiary of Warner Communications. (source)  Norman Smothers would join Atari as Manager of Corporate Strategic Planning (source) (essentially replacing Holzman in the role). 

June: Steve Mayer, Atari VP research and product development, would additionally serve as Atari (Home Computer) VP research and development (acting head of the division) (source), replacing Atari president Home Computer Division Roger Badertscher who departed the company (NYT 8/25/82) as would VP software (software engineering) Bruce Irvine.  (Badertscher and Irvine would co-found Mindset Corporation on 9/27/82.)  John Hagel III, previously of The Sequoia Group (founder and CEO), would join Atari (Home Computer) as VP strategic planning (reporting to Mayer).  Chris J. Horseman, previously of Thorn EMI (and independent developer as Centaursoft), would join Atari (Home Computer) as VP software engineering (replacement for Irvine in the role). (Antic 7/83 for title)  Lou Tarnay, previously director of systems development (reporting to Irvine), would become director of software development (reporting to Horseman), assuming applications development from John Powers who would depart the company (to Convergent Technologies).  Doug Chorey, previously executive assistant to the VP of software, would be software support supervisor (new sound engineering and video graphics group; reporting to Horseman).  Reports to Chorey would include sound engineer Brad Fuller.  Thomas McDonough, previously Atari (Home Computer) VP marketing, would become SVP sales and marketing (assuming responsibilities for sales and software marketing).  Brenda Laurel, previously Atari (Home Computer) Manager, Software Strategy and Marketing (reporting to Badertscher), would join Atari Corporate Research in Systems Research.  Bill Carris, previously Atari (Home Computer) director of sales training, would become Atari (Home Computer) director of software marketing (replacing Laurel in the role; reporting to McDonough).  Carris would assume responsibility for the Atari (Home Computer) Software Development Support Group (development support for outside programmers; previously: reported to Powers).  VP sales Keith Schaefer would now report to McDonough.

June: Dennis Groth, previously Atari EVP and CFO, would remain Atari EVP.  James A. Heisch, previously an audit partner with Arthur Young & Co., joined Atari as SVP finance and CFO (replacing Groth in the role). (source)  (Heisch would report to Atari CEO Ray Kassar, with "dotted-line" indirect reporting to Warner Communications Inc. office of the president and CFO Bert Wasserman.)

June: David Burling, previously Atari (Consumer) VP and counsel, would be Atari International VP and counsel. (source 26:40)  Paul Jakab joined Atari (Consumer) as VP and counsel (replacing Burling in the role).  (Angelo Pezzani remained Consumer Products Group VP and general counsel; Skip Paul remained Atari SVP and general counsel.)

June: Bennet R. Goldberg joined Atari International as hardware product manager (video game consoles and accessories) (source) and Stephen M. Race (Stephen Race), previously a consultant for Arthur D. Little Inc., would join Atari International as hardware product manager (computers and accessories) (for date), together replacing Jeff Burton who departed the company (to Electronic Arts).  (Nancy Garrison remained marketing manager for computer software.)

June 17: Centuri, Inc. announced a licensing agreement with Atari, Inc. whereby Centuri had exclusive worldwide rights to manufacture and distribute Tunnel Hunt by Atari, set for a July 1982 introduction.  The agreement marked the first time that Atari had licensed a game concept to another manufacturer.  Ken Harkness was president of Atari's coin-operated game division.  (Centuri PR)

June 25: At Atari (Coin-Op), Rick Moncrief was head of Applied Research; Dave Stubben remained Atari (Coin-Op) director, electrical engineering. (source)  

June 25-27: Atari and distributor C.A. Robinson Co. sponsored 10 play-free games (five Centipede units and five Dig-Dug units) at the hospitality area of the Special Olympics event held at UCLA (Los Angeles).  A contingent of 15 from Atari helped staff the event. (Cash Box 7/3/82 p40)

June 28: Engineer John Skruch joined Atari (Home Computer) in software product engineering (manufacturing). (source)

June/July: Dave Stubben, previously Atari (Coin-Op) director, electrical engineering (reporting to VP engineering Lyle Rains), became Atari (Home Computer) VP engineering, replacing Gene Rosen who departed the company. (Stubben resume; timing: source; source)  Steve Calfee, previously Atari (Coin-Op) Manager of Software Engineering (reporting to Stubben), would be promoted to (Coin-Op) director, electrical engineering and software (replacing Stubben in the additional role; reporting to Rains). 

June/July?: At Atari (Home Computer), Kevin McKinsey, previously manager of Industrial Design and Graphics, would remain manager of industrial design (reporting to VP engineering Dave Stubben).  John Fox Haag would become manager of publications and packaging design (source) (assuming the role from McKinsey), reporting to SVP of sales and marketing Thomas M. McDonough.

Month?: At Atari (Coin-Op), Peter L. Takaichi was promoted from industrial design manager to director of industrial design (RePlay 7/97 pA61) (remaining head of the unit).

Month?: Atari (Coin-Op) programmer Dona Bailey departed the company (to Videa). (source; source)

Month?: Keithen Hayenga joined Atari (Consumer) as a game developer.

Month?: Steve Woita, previously an electronic engineering technician at Apple Computer, joined Atari (Consumer) in software development. (source)

Month?: Steve A. Baker joined Atari (Consumer) as a software designer/programmer.

Month?: Frank Hausman, previously of Intel, joined Atari (Consumer) as a software designer/programmer.

Month?: Stephen D. Arnold (Steve Arnold) joined Atari (Home Computer) as a software product manager (reporting to director of software marketing Bill Carris).

Month?: Richard D. Arroyo joined Atari International as director of advertising.  (Anton Bruehl remained president of Atari International.)

Month?: In West Germany, Wolfgang Blödorn joined Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH as advertising manager. (source)  

Month?: In Hong Kong, Edward Tsui (Edward Tsui Ying-Chun) joined Atari-Wong Limited as general manager for corporate administration.  (Ben Wong remained general manager).

July 1-31: In Canada, through the month of July only, exclusive Atari distributor Irwin Electronics offered a free Pac-Man cartridge by mail for the purchase of a new VCS system.

July 3: At Atari (Coin-Op), Ken Harkness was president, John Farrand was EVP, Don Osborne was VP sales & marketing, Mariann Layne was manager-marketing services, Bob Harvey was midwest regional sales manager, John Hill was southeast regional sales manager, Tom Petit was western regional sales manager, Dick Needleman was manager-special markets, Lenore Sayers was manager-operations (having replaced Needleman in the role). (Cash Box 7/3/82 pt.iii p14)

July 9: Release of the Walt Disney feature film TRON, with sound effects design and synthesis by Frank Serafine, Serafine FX Studios, who derived some of the sound effects from sounds generated by an Atari 800. (source; Atari Connection v2n2 Sum82 p9-10; Compute! #28 9/82 p18-22; source)

July 12: Theodore N. Voss (Ted Voss), previously group VP at Polaroid, arrived at Atari as (corporate) SVP advertising/marketing (NYT 7/19/82; source), a new position reporting to Atari CEO Ray Kassar.  Reports to Voss would include Jan Soderstrom (VP corporate advertising) and Robert Lindsey (director of corporate marketing).

July 14: In what was believed to be the largest single order for home computers by a school system, Dade County (Florida) had placed an order for 426 Atari 800 Home Computers and peripherals.  "This order brings the total number of Atari Home Computers in use in Dade County schools to approximately 650," said Thomas McDonough, SVP of sales and marketing for Atari's Home Computer Division. (PR)

July 15: "Measures to Address the Impact of Computer Technology on Lesser Developed Countries" hearing before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and the Subcommittee on Science, Research and Technology of the Committee on Science and Technology of the U.S. House of Representatives, included testimony by Atari VP/chief scientist Alan Kay.

July: Atari Corporate Research established the Atari Cambridge Research Laboratory at Five Cambridge Center, 8th floor, Cambridge MA (Kendall Square district; adjacent to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)).  The lab's Director would be Cynthia Solomon, previously VP, Research & Development/Co-Founder of Logo Computer Systems, Inc.; administrative manager: James Russell Davis; business manager: Greg Gargarian.  Researchers at the 35-person lab would eventually include: Max Behensky, Peter Cann, Susan Cotten, Jim Davis (James Raymond Davis), Lisa Delpit, Gary Drescher, Annette Dula, Michael Grandfield, Mark Gross, Ken Haase, Stephen Hain, Edward F. Hardebeck, Jay Jones, Susan Kroon, Jaron Lanier (source; source), David Levitt, Dan Melnechuk, Henry Minsky, Julie Minsky, Margaret R. Minsky, Bill St. Clair (Jan84-Mar84 (source)), Nancy Smith, Tom Trobaugh, Lauren Young. (source)  Chief consultant: Marvin Minsky (source 10:08)

July: Centuri, Inc. released Tunnel Hunt by Atari.  (GM 11/29/82)

July: Through Atari Ireland Limited, Atari established European Operations (consumer products) in Limerick.  Temporary facilities on Ballysimon Road (41,000 ft²; previously: temporary facility for Wang Laboratories (source)) would be used to house Manufacturing, Materials and Administration while a new plant on Ennis Road in the Raheen Industrial Estate, also in Limerick, would be constructed. (source; source; source)  Atari (Consumer) Industrial engineer Michael Baughman was Project Manager (for both sites); Norman A. Newton would be Atari Managing Director of European Operations (consumer products). (source)

July: Richard O'Keefe joined Atari (Consumer) as a programmer (not a game programmer).

July: Graham Daubney, previously Atari International (U.K.) Inc. product manager, would remain software manager. (source)  Les Player, previously of Digital Microsystems. joined Atari International (U.K.) Inc. as Technical Services Manager (service, repair, and technical training; assuming the role from Daubney).  Player would establish a network of Atari Independent Service Centres across the UK, plus an Atari Service Centre (incorporating national Customer Support/Product Support) which would be managed by George West and located at the subsidiary's headquarters in Slough.

 July: Opening of the Atari Video Adventure game room at Marriott's Great America theme park in Santa Clara CA, featuring 88 Atari video games "showcased in a space age arcade of lights, mirrors and high-tech architecture."  The location was designed and built by the Design Research Group, Atari Corporate Research (Harry Jenkins, group manager); Dick Needleman was Atari (Coin-Op) special markets manager. (RePlay 7/97pAt24; AtariLife v2n14; AtariAge Jul/Aug83 v2n2p7)  Lenore Sayers was Atari (Coin-Op) manager of operations.

July: Atari released Math Gran Prix and Demons to Diamonds for the VCS.

July: For the 400/800 Atari shipped Centipede. (Video Take-Out 4/82)

July?: Industrial designer Regan L. Cheng transferred from Atari (Consumer) (where he reported to manager Roy Nishi) to the Home Computer division (where he would report to manager Kevin McKinsey). (source)

July 26: In the U.S. Atari had cut the retail price for the Atari 400 (16KiB RAM) to $299 (previously: $349). (InfoWorld 7/26/82p22; ChangingTimes 8/82p26; Compute 9/82p6)

July 26: InfoWorld estimated between 250,000 and 300,000 Atari 400/800 computers had been sold to date. (source)

Summer: First year of Atari Computer Camps, held at 3 locations: "Camp Atari--San Diego" at the University of San Diego (CA), "Camp Atari--Ashville" at the Asheville School (Asheville, NC), and "Camp Atari--East Stroudsburg" at East Stroudsburg State College (PA). (Camp was canceled at the fourth announced site, "Camp Atari--Sheboygan" at Lakeland College in Sheboygan WI. - source)  Pricing: $1590/4 weeks or $2790/8 weeks. (source)

Summer: Jewel Savadelis, previously Atari (Consumer) software product manager, would be promoted to director of software product marketing (source) (still reporting to VP marketing Ron Stringari).  Joel S. Oberman would join Atari (Consumer) as a software product manager (reporting to Savadelis). (source)

Summer: At Atari (Home Computer): Jeff Schwamberger (formerly of The Authorship Resource, Inc. (ARI)) was Manager of the Software Standards Group.  (Atari Connection Summer82 p13) 

Summer: Jim Paige was Atari (Home Computer) national education sales manager (Atari Connection Summer82 p23) as Atari had taken the sale of Atari personal computers and services to the educational community in-house (previously: outsourced to Science Research Associates (SRA)).  (Keith Schaefer remained Atari (Home Computer) VP sales.)

Summer: The Atari (Home Computer) Software Development Support Group (development support for outside programmers) had been renamed, the Atari I/O Seminar Services Group. (AtariConnection Sum82p2,4)  (Bill Carris remained director of software marketing.)

Summer?: For the VCS Atari released: Action Pak (PRO810; Breakout, Othello, Dodge 'Em), Racing Pak (PRO811; Indy 500, Slot Racers, pair of Driving Controllers), Back to School Pak (PRO812; BASIC Programming, Brain Games, pair of Keyboard Controllers)

Summer: Atari Consumer Product Service (CPS) Technical Support operations (John Hahn, manager) were moved from 1312 Crossman Ave, Sunnyvale CA (which would remain home to Customer Relations and a Regional Service Center) to: 845 W Maude Ave, Sunnyvale CA

August 11: Approximately 1,370 Atari Home Computers and peripherals, valued at more than $3 million, had been ordered by the U.S. Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) under a competitive Request for Proposal.  Thomas M. McDonough was Atari (Home Computer) SVP of sales and marketing. (PR)

August: Atari released Berzerk for the VCS.

August: At Atari (Consumer), artist James Kelly would be promoted to art director (reporting to graphics director John Hayashi), replacing Steve Hendricks who departed the company.

August: Atari commenced commercial production of the 5200 (source) at the Atari (Consumer) plant (formerly, division headquarters) at 1195 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA. (AtariAge v1n6)

August: Richard C. Frick, previously VP data products at United States Leasing, joined Atari (Consumer) as software development manager for a new ColecoVision game development group that would eventually include: Raymond Carpenter, David Cartt, Larry Clague, Jim Eisenstein (previously of Exidy), Lewis Harp, Michael Hendricks, Matthew Householder (previously of Gottlieb), Chris Markle. (source 1:02:50; source; source; clue)  (Games produced by the group would be incorporated into the future AtariSoft product line.  George Kiss remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.)

August?: Software engineer David Staugas, previously of Exidy (and prior to that with Atari (Computer)), joined Atari (Consumer) as a game programmer. (source; source; clue for year) 

August: Namco Ltd. granted exclusive manufacturing/sales rights for its video game, Pole Position (released 8/82 in Japan -source), for the territories of North and South America and Europe. (GM 12/15/82)

August: Richard Bailey, previously Atari plant manager, El Paso Texas, became Atari Caribe, Inc. general manager (manufacturing at Fajardo and distribution/sales/marketing at Canóvanas), replacing William Planas who departed the company.  Gary D. Weaver would join Atari as El Paso plant manager (replacing Bailey in the role).

August: Industrial designer Tom Palecki, previously of Xerox, joined Atari (Home Computer).  (He would report to industrial design manager Kevin McKinsey.) (source)

August: Ted Toal, previously of Speech Plus, joined Atari's Cyan Engineering unit as a software developer.

August: In West Germany, Michael Anders, previously marketing and sales director at CBS Schallplatten GmbH, joined Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH as marketing director, replacing Werner Täsler who departed the company.  (CashBox 1/8/83 p10; source)

August?: On pages 642-647 of the 1982 Christmas Wish Book Sears featured the new Tele-Games Video Arcade II by Atari (#75000; $189.99; "Cindy" project; Sears exclusive version of the Atari 2600), supplied with two Sears All-In-One-Controller units by Atari and Space Invaders cartridge by Atari, and also featured the Tele-Games Video Arcade (new package #75005; $149.99; new Atari 2600A series version with 4 switches; previously: #75001 version with 6 switches; new package still supplied with two joysticks, pair of paddles, and Target Fun) by Atari.

August 15-October 15: "Taste The Thrill Of Atari At McDonald's" promotion.  50 grand prize deluxe packages would each include a 5200, an 800 with peripherals, and a Centipede coin-operated game.

August 16: Jan Soderstrom remained Atari VP for advertising. (source)

August 18: Atari, Inc. and Merchandising Corp. of America announced an agreement under which Atari was granted worldwide exclusive rights to market coin-operated and home video games based on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the film directed by Steven Speilberg. (PR)

August 24: John C. Cavalier was named Atari president Home Computer Division (replacing the departed Roger Badertscher). (NYT 8/25)  Cavalier was previously VP and general manager of American Can's Dixie and Dixie/Marathon unit, makers of consumer paper products.  The new Home Computer Division headquarters would be located at 30 E. Plumeria Dr. (69,000 ft²).  (The previous division headquarters, 1196 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA, would remain the expanded home of the Atari Sunnyvale Research Laboratory (ASRL), Corporate Research.)

August 27: Children's Computer Workshop, a for-profit subsidiary of Children's Television Workshop, and Atari, Inc. announced they had agreed to jointly produce home video game cartridges to be made for play on Atari home video game systems for release in mid-1983.  Some of the games were to feature versions of Jim Henson's popular Sesame Street characters.  Michael Moone was president of Atari's Consumer Electronics Division. (PR)  Atari (Consumer) software development manager (kids' games) Carla Meninsky had departed the company (to Cadlinc).  The new Atari (Consumer) Special Programs group (Steve Wright, director; group previously known as: Special Projects) would develop the software in collaboration with the CCW; the Special Programs group would eventually include: Michael Callahan, Samuel W Comstock, Robert Coppock, Richard Dobbis, Robert Ellis, Patricia Gracie, Michael Gurganus, Nannie Te-Yin Liu, Mike Marshall, Chris Omarzu, Vicki Parish, Bruce Poehlman, Gary Stark, Eric Weaver, Bruce Williams.  (Development of software in the Peanuts line would also be assigned to the Special Programs group. -AtariLife v2n2))

August 29-December 31: "Atari Announces Discount Fares to the Computer Age.  Save up to $60" promotion.  In the U.S., for the purchase of an Atari 400 ($299/16KiB), Atari offered a rebate of $10 for each purchase of up to six additional Atari computer products.

August 30: Atari had announced their Advanced Development Laboratory in New York City.  Dedicated to the exploration of microprocessor-based products in electronic publishing and transactional services for home computers, the lab would be responsible for development of advanced products for Atari, and also function as a focus for joint research projects with other subsidiaries of Warner Communications Inc.  Opened in September 1981, the Atari NY Lab, home of the Atari Advanced Development Group, had been established and was headed by Steven T. Mayer, Atari VP research and product development.  Atari employed 30 at the site. (source; source; InfoWorld 9/13/82 p9)

Summer/Fall?: The Warner Communications L.A. Lab R&D unit (QUBE cable television system development), located at 3701 Oak St., Burbank, CA ("Fantasy Trailer" on the Warner Bros. Ranch), was shifted to Atari Corporate Research.  Engineer Steven J. Davis would remain director of the Atari L.A. Lab, now as Atari director of advanced research (reporting to VP/chief scientist Alan Kay).  Others at the L.A. Lab would eventually include: Todor Fay, H. Robert Newman (Rob Newman), Jim Wiefel

Summer/Fall: For the 400/800 Atari shipped The Bookkeeper Kit and My First Alphabet.

August/September: The Atari Consumer Product Service (CPS) Regional Service Center previously at 43 Belmont Dr, Somerset NJ was moved to: 12 B World's Fair Dr., Somerset NJ (source; source) (co-located with the Atari (Coin-Op) New Jersey Customer Service Office at 12 A World's Fair Dr., Somerset NJ).

August/September: At Atari (Home Computer), engineer Ajay Chopra would be reassigned from the special projects group to the Sweet-16 project (with engineer Dave Sovey and director of electrical engineering Larry Plummer). (source)  Engineer Carl Goy, previously of Heath Zenith where he had been manager of Heathkit & printer engineering, Zenith computer business group (and before that, engineering hardware manager, Heath computer engineering group, reporting to director of computer products Larry Plummer), joined Atari (Home Computer) as a special projects engineer (replacing Chopra in the role). (source)  The special projects unit (Goy and Jim Tittsler) would abandon efforts to develop a combination Atari 800/SUN workstation to instead launch an effort to develop a combination Atari 800/IBM PC compatible computer (project Shakti/25601; later: 1600; would become a joint venture with Toshiba).  (Larry Plummer remained Atari (Home Computer) director of electrical engineering.)

September 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Software Catalog Fall Edition 1982, introducing for the 400/800: Family Cash Flow Rev. 2, Message Display Program, Stock Management, Text Analyst, Calculus Demon, Counter, Easygrader, Flags of Europe, Math*UFO, Spelling Genie, Word Search Generator, Cribbage, Dog Daze Rev. 1.1, Mankala, Snark Hunt, Dunion's Debugging Tool (DDT), FORTH Turtle Graphics Plus, fun-FORTH, Keypad Controller Rev. 2, Mantis Boot Tape Development System, Mapmaker.  Fred Thorlin was APX general manager; product review: Paul Cubbage.

September 2: For the VCS Atari (Consumer) had completed Pepsi Invaders, a modified version of Space Invaders commissioned for private use by executives of The Coca-Cola Company.

September 3-5: Atari exhibited in the Technology Fair at the US Festival organized by Unuson Corporation (Steve Wozniak) at Glen Helen Regional Park, San Bernardino County, CA. (SoftSide #36p14-16; Unuson PR 8/10, 8/17, 8/23, 8/31)

September 4: The Who released It's Hard, cover art featuring Space Duel supplied by Atari.

September 8: Chemical Bank announced it would provide the first major home banking and information system commercially available in the country, called Pronto.  Pronto would initially require an Atari home computer system, but programs would be developed for most major personal computers on the market.

September 10-12: Atari featured the 400/800 at the 5th Personal Computer World (PCW) show at the Barbican, London.

September: Atari released Star Raiders (with Video Touch Pad (CX21) controller) for the VCS.

September: Atari (Consumer) engineering was moved from the upper level of 1272 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA, to 30 E. Plumeria Dr., San Jose CA (which would also remain the new headquarters for the Home Computer Division, including engineering). (source for date)  Internally, Atari's Project Falcon was formalized into a new division, AtariTel (Communications Daily 4/30/86 for date), with division headquarters at 1349 Moffett Park Dr., Sunnyvale CA and engineering operations (headed by Steve Bristow, VP Engineering, AtariTel Division) to move/expand into 1272 Borregas Ave.  Atari EVP Dennis Groth would serve as interim head of the division.

September: Malcolm Lewis joined Atari Ireland Limited at Atari's European Operations (consumer products) temporary site on Ballysimon Road in Limerick. (source)

September 18: The Atari Pac-Man World Championship was held at Captain Video, Paris France (moved from Monte Carlo just two days prior), organized by the Atari International division.  There were 33 participants, winners of national Atari VCS Pac-Man championship tournaments held by Atari subsidiaries around the world (except North America).  Under-25 championship winner: Craig Heap (Salford, Manchester, England, UK); Over-25 championship winner: Johann Beiderbeck (West Germany).  (source; source)

September 18: Atari International (U.K.) had established a Coin-Op sales office (David Smith, European sales manager) at 121 Parkway, London, NW1 7PS England (Cash Box 9/18/82 bc), assuming the Atari business from distributors Music Hire Group and Ruffler & Deith Ltd.

September 22-October 1: At the SICOB (Salon international d'Informatique, télématique, Communication, Organisation du bureau et Bureautique) show (stand 162-163) at the CNIT in Paris/La Défense, P.E.C.F. Atari launched the 800 (6 500 F/16KiB; 7 500 F/48KiB; PAL version modified for Péritel) and introduced the 400 (3 800 F) in France. (L'OrdinateurIndividuel #40p6, #42p80, #46 for prices)

September 24: Richard Krieger, previously Atari VP and general manager, Far East operations (Taiwan and Hong Kong), would become VP and general manager, Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC).  Loren R. Wolter (L.R. Wolter), previously RCA Taiwan Ltd. president and general manager, would join Atari as VP and general manager, Far East operations (replacing Krieger in the role; based in Taiwan).  In Hong Kong, Atari gained a controlling 51% ownership in Atari-Wong Limited, Atari's joint manufacturing venture with The Wong's Electronics Company, Limited (WEC, the subsidiary of Wong's Industrial (Holdings) Limited) (NYT 6/1/84), and the name of Atari-Wong Limited was changed to Atari International (Hong Kong) Limited.  John Constantine, previously Atari International (U.K.) Inc. financial controller, would be managing director, Atari International (Hong Kong) (reporting to Wolter; with an office at Suite 605, Wing On Plaza, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong).  Sol Kershner, previously Atari (Consumer) general accounting manager, would be Atari International (U.K.) Inc. financial controller (replacing Constantine in the role).

The Atari-Wong venture (Ben Wong, general manager) would now operate as Atari-Wong Co., a division of Atari International (Hong Kong).  The Atari-Wong liaison office, previously located at 1st Floor, Liven House, 61-63 King Yip St., Kwun Tong, Kowloon (next door to the Atari-Wong plant), would be moved to: 3rd Floor, Wongs Industrial Building, 42 Hung To Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon (home of several units of Wong's Industrial (Holdings) Limited, including local Atari International distributor Kong King Trading Co., Ltd.).

Atari would consolidate Far East purchasing (5th floor, 2 Min-Tsu E Rd, Taipei, Taiwan) and distribution (6th floor, 10 Shing Yip St, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong) to a single regional purchasing and distribution center under Atari International (Hong Kong) at: 4th floor, 10 Shing Yip St, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.  Theodore Leno joined Atari International (Hong Kong) as Director of Far East Purchasing.  (Joe Tilmant remained director of distribution and Jim Chang remained financial controller.)

September 29: Atari had announced it had formed Atari Semiconductor Group (ASG), to be responsible for all the company's semiconductor design, development and test operations. (NYT)  Gary J. Summers, most recently an independent consultant for several firms including Atari since 1981, and before that head of Commodore Semiconductor Group (CSG, the former MOS Technology) had written the business plan for the new division, and had joined Atari as VP semiconductor development and General Manager ASG.  Carl Nielsen, previously Atari (Consumer) director of LSI design and test (Zap! p162), would be ASG VP (reporting to Summers).  ASG location: 275 Gibraltar Dr., Sunnyvale CA (location shared with the Consumer division programmers)

September/October: Atari announced the appointment of John Farrand, previously Atari (Coin-Op) EVP, as Atari president Coin-Op Division, replacing Ken Harkness who departed the company.

October 1: Florida National Banks of Florida, Inc. announced that it would test Pronto, the in-home banking and information system, licensed from Chemical Bank of New York, in selected markets beginning in the first quarter of 1983.  Atari home computers had been utilized for initial Pronto testing, though eventually the software would be adaptable to most of the personal computers on the market. (PR)

October 1: Richard Krieger remained VP and general manager, Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC). (source)

October 4: In North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp. et al. v. Atari, Inc., et al. (459 U.S. 880), the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the March 2, 1982 decision of the C.A. 7th Cir. (672 F. 2d 607) in favor of Atari and against the appeal of Philips regarding the resemblance of K.C. Munchkin for the Magnavox Odyssey² to Namco's Pac-Man.

October 10: Sears had shipped the Tele-Games Video Arcade II by Atari (#75000; $189.99; "Cindy" project; Sears exclusive version of the Atari 2600), supplied with two Sears All-In-One-Controller units by Atari and Space Invaders cartridge by Atari. (newspaper ad)

October 11: Atari had announced plans to produce home computers in Hong Kong and Taiwan, beginning January 1983.  Production would take place at facilities already producing games for Atari.  Employment at Atari's plant in Hong Kong would grow from 700 to 1000.  Atari said computers produced in the Far East would be marketed there, while the U.S. market would be served from its home facilities in Silicon Valley. (Electronics News 11-Oct-82)

October 11: Atari filed a suit in the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York against Commodore Business Machines, contending that the Commodore joystick (VIC-1311) infringed on its patents (CX40). (NYT 11/9/82)

October 13: In Ireland, Omnitech, a division of Thor, had been set up for the sale and distribution of Atari (Consumer) video games and systems. (InfoWorld 10/30/82 p60)

October: Larry Kaplan, most recently with Hi-Toro (which he had co-founded in June 1982), re-joined Atari as Consumer division VP product development (new position, reporting to division president Michael Moone). (source for date; source; for title: Stella at 20 t25 9:20)  Director of software development George Kiss would now report to Kaplan (previously: to Consumer division VP engineering Michel Ebertin).

October: Ron Stringari, previously Atari (Consumer) VP marketing, would become Atari Consumer Products Group VP of sales, merchandising and administration (new position, reporting to Consumer Products Group president Perry Odak). (source)  David N. Ruckert joined Atari (Consumer) as VP marketing (replacing Stringari in the role).  Ruckert was previously VP of marketing at the Bristol-Myers Co. where he was employed for 16 years.  (Atari PR 10/10/83; source)

October: Win Weber (Winston Weber), previously president of The Drackett Co., joined Atari (Consumer) as SVP sales, replacing Bill Sobieski who departed the company (to Alphacom).  Lee Henderson joined Atari (Consumer) as VP field sales (NYT 12/19/82) (reporting to Weber), replacing national sales manager Bob Faught who departed the company (to Activision). (source)   

October?: Atari released Fast Freddie by Kaneko Seisakusho (manufactured and sold by Atari in Europe; imported and distributed in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and South America by Universe Affiliated International (UAI); known as Fly-Boy in Japan).

October: For the 2600 Atari released: RealSports Baseball, RealSports Volleyball

October: For the 2600 Atari released SwordQuest: EarthWorld (earlier: Adventure I), announced SwordQuest: FireWorld (earlier: Adventure II; now to ship early 1983), SwordQuest: WaterWorld (to ship later in 1983) and SwordQuest: AirWorld (to ship late 1983 or in 1984; never shipped), and announced the $150,000 SwordQuest Challenge.  See the SwordQuest Revisited site by Scott Stilphen at Atari Compendium.

October: Atari shipped the 5200 Advanced Video Entertainment System (original 4-port model; previously: 5200 Home Entertainment System) with two 5200 Controller (CX52) units and Super Breakout, and separately for the 5200 shipped: Galaxian, Missile Command, Space Invaders, Star Raiders

October?: Atari International (U.K.) Inc. moved from Windsor House, 185-195 Ealing Road, Alperton, Wembley, Middlesex (headquarters location shared with WEA Records, fellow subsidiary of Warner Communications) to: Inter City House, Railway Terrace, Slough, Berkshire (32,000 ft²).  While the owner of the newly-constructed facility, Sardan Limited, had named it Inter City House, the building would soon be officially renamed Atari House, as Atari was leasing the entire site.  Anthony Jones, previously Atari International (U.K.) managing director, would become a group product manager for Atari Inc. (Sunnyvale CA headquarters).  Graham Clark, previously of Rank Xerox, would join Atari International (U.K.) as managing director (replacing Jones in the role); Eric Salamon, previously of Mars Confectionery, would join the company as marketing director. (source)

October: Atari established a Software Development Centre at Atari International (U.K.) Inc.  (Graham Daubney remained software manager for Atari International (U.K.))  Jon Norledge, previously product support manager (reporting to Atari Service Centre head George West), would be development manager (reporting to Daubney). (I/O #4 p4)  Shamus Kelly would become product support manager (replacing Norledge in the role; reporting to West). (source)

October 16: Roddy Chan was marketing manager of Atari Far East (Billboard 10/16/82 p39)

October 22-December 31: In the U.S. Atari offered two 16KiB RAM modules free with the purchase of an Atari 800 computer system ($899/16KiB standard; 48KiB RAM total with the additional modules). (InfoWorld 11/8/82p15; VGU 11/82)

October 22: Peter C. Wensberg had said he was resigning as EVP of Polaroid Corp. to become president of a new division at Atari, which was code named "Project Falcon" according to Dennis Groth, Atari EVP. (WSJ 10/22 p35)  Wensberg would replace Groth as head of the undisclosed AtariTel division.

October 24-27: Atari (Coin Video Games) presented at the Congress of Recreation and Parks at the Commonwealth Convention Center, Louisville KY.

October 28: Atari established the subsidiary, Atari Adventure Corp., for Atari (Coin-Op) arcade game room operations, so far comprised of one location, Atari Video Adventure at Marriott's Great America in Santa Clara CA (opened July 1982), with more locations planned.  Joan Pincus was Atari Adventure Corp. assistant secretary.  Dick Reynolds, previously of Aladdin's Castle, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as manager of operations for Atari Adventures (Play Meter 6/1/83 p20) (replacing Lenore Sayers in the role). 

October 30: Atari had announced that its Hong Kong distributor, Onflo International, had been awarded a contract to supply 300 Atari 800 computer systems to Hong Kong secondary schools. (NYT 10/30)

Fall: In movie theaters, Atari ran an elaborate two-minute commercial trailer named "The Fly" that was produced by Robert Abel and Associates, promoting 2600 Yars' Revenge, Asteroids, and Star Raiders, and promising the upcoming E.T. video game. (source; video)

November 4: Dry Dock Savings Bank of New York and Atari jointly announced that Dry Dock would offer depositors the opportunity to receive Atari 800 computer systems in place of cash interest or to purchase the Computer systems at specially reduced prices.  The offer would begin Nov. 8th and run through the end of the year. (PR)

November 7: Jan Soderstrom remained Atari VP corporate advertising. (Chicago Tribune)

November 8: Sears had shipped the Tele-Games Video Arcade (new package #75005; $149.99; new Atari 2600A series version with 4 switches; previously: #75001 version with 6 switches; new package still supplied with two joysticks, pair of paddles, and Target Fun) by Atari. (newspaper ad)

November 9: Regarding the suit filed by Atari on October 11, 1982, Atari had said it had won a temporary injunction against Commodore Business Machines that prevented Commodore from making and selling joystick controllers for video games and home computers (VIC-1311) that were imitations of the one made by Atari (CX40).  A preliminary injunction had been granted by Judge Richard Owen in the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York.  (NYT 11/9)  (Commodore would withdraw their infringing joystick from the market and release a different one (1311).)

November 10: Date of the internal Atari (Home Computer) document, "Atari Logo: A Proposed Plan" by Bonnie A. Umphreys, software product manager. (source)

November 10: Norm Smothers was Atari Manager of Corporate Strategic Planning; Peter Whyte was in Atari (Coin-Op) research & development. (source)

November: Atari released Raiders of the Lost Ark for the 2600.

November: For the 5200 Atari shipped: Pac-Man, Soccer (VGU 12/82)

November: Opening of Atari Lifestyle, "the retail store of the future," comprising the Phase II expansion of the Atari Video Adventure at Marriott's Great America theme park in Santa Clara CA.  The store featured "an electronic product showroom and self-service shopping area," plus the first deployment of ERIC, the Atari Electronic Retail Information Center.  The site was designed and built by the Design Research Group, Atari Corporate Research (Harry Jenkins, group manager). (RePlay 7/97pAt24; AtariLife v2n14; AtariAge Jul/Aug83 v2n2p7) 

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. (CC 11/82; RePlay 12/82p103; NYT 7/11/82 pF44 job ad)

November?: Ron Grubman joined Atari as director of patents, replacing Michael Sherrard who departed the company (to Apple Computer). (source)  (Skip Paul remained Atari SVP and general counsel.)

November: In Atari (Coin-Op): Lyle Rains, previously VP engineering, was promoted to the newly-created position of VP of creative development (small team to facilitate creativity in game development).  Dan Van Elderen, previously project office manager, was promoted to VP engineering (replacing Rains in the role). (RePlay 12/82p103; source)  (Reports to Van Elderen would include director of research & development Roy Machamer.)

November?: Atari (Home Computer) programmer Mike Lorenzen departed the company (to Activision). (for month: source; for year: source; source 10:30)

November 15: Atari announced they had obtained an exclusive worldwide license for the development, manufacture and distribution of Nintendo's "Donkey Kong" and "Donkey Kong, Jr." video games for Atari's Home Computer.  John Cavalier remained president of the Atari Home Computer Division; Keith Schaefer remained Home Computer Division VP sales; Helen Gray remained Atari VP corporate communications. (PR)

November 15: The Youth Activities Department of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (LAOOC) announced the Atari Olympic Youth Volleyball Program sponsored by Atari.  Southern California youths between the ages of 12 and 17 would attend a series of instructional clinics beginning November 13 until the middle of January.  Separate boys' and girls' leagues would then be formed in three age groups: 12-13, 14-15 and 16-17.  League play would lead to an Atari Olympic Youth Volleyball Tournament Feb. 26 and 27 at Long Beach City College. (PR)

November 15-December 24: For the purchase of a VCS Atari offered a $25 coupon book containing five $5 coupons redeemable toward the purchase of VCS cartridges or accessories from Atari through May 31, 1983.

November 16-19: Atari featured the 400/800 at Compec '82, Olympia hall, London.

November 18-20: At AMOA, held at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, using the theme "The Next Decade" Atari released Millipede (original upright version), Pole Position by Namco (both Upright and Sit-Down), Liberator, and Quantum (GCC).  Atari also introduced the Atari Coin Executive coin accounting system (ACE; never shipped), which incorporated an Atari 800.

November 18-20: IAAPA was held at Bartle Hall in Kansas City MO.

November 20: Dick Maslana (Richard Maslana), previously of Centronics Data Computer Corporation, Xerox Corporation's Diablo Systems Division, and Memorex Corporation, had joined Atari (Coin-Op) as VP manufacturing (Cash Box 11/20/82 p66) having replaced Curt Russell who had departed the company.

November 20: Atari filed a copyright infringement suit against the Imagic Corporation in Federal District Court in San Francisco.  Atari claimed that Imagic's game Demon Attack was a copy of Centuri, Inc.'s arcade game Phoenix, which Atari had exlusive rights to produce for the home game market. (NYT 11/30/82, 1/5/83)

November/December?: Atari Computer Camps literature for 1983 (c1982) mentioned: Atari VP/Chief Scientist Alan Kay, Atari Computer Camps Executive Director and (corporate) VP Special Projects Linda Gordon, Atari Software Consultant Wayne Harvey, Atari Educational Consultant Patricia Tubbs, Atari Computer Camps Executive Director Dan Schliftman, Atari Computer Camps Camp Administration Coordinator Illeen Berg, Atari Computer Camps Executive Director Mike Sparber, Atari Business Manager Robin Bernheim, Special Projects Director Robert Kahn, Atari Computer Camps Personnel and Camper Records Director Flip Shulman, and Computer Camps Site Selection and Facility Director Tony "Big T" Sparber.

December 1: Atari Ireland Limited commenced manufacturing (2600 units for Europe) at the Atari European Operations (consumer products) temporary facility on Ballysimon Road, Limerick. (source; source)  

December 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Product Catalog Winter Edition 1982-83, introducing for the 400/800: FOG Index, Real Estate Cash Flow Analysis, Text Analyst Rev. 2, Astrology Rev. 1.1, Earth Science (by MECC), Easygrader Rev. 1.1, Geography (by MECC), I'm Different!, The Magic Melody Box, The Market Place (by MECC), Monkey Up a Tree, Music II--Rhythm & Pitch (by MECC), Music III--Scales & Chords (by MECC), Prefixes (by MECC), Typo Attack, Air-Raid!, Game Show, Gridiron Glory, Melt-Down, Phobos, Pushky, Quarxon, Rabbotz Rev. 1.1, Yahtman, BASIC/XA, Deep Blue C Compiler, Deep Blue Secrets, Disk Fixer/Load 'n Go, Diskmenu, Music Player.  Product review: Paul Cubbage.  Fred Thorlin, previously Atari (Home Computer) director of product review and research (reporting to VP software engineering Chris Horseman), was now APX Director (previously: APX General Manager; still reporting to Horseman).  APX operations had been moved from 155 Moffett Park Dr., Sunnyvale CA to 3281 Scott Blvd, Santa Clara CA.

December 1?: Sherwin Gooch, previously Associate Director, Center for Music Research, Florida State University, joined the Atari (Home Computer) communications products group (reporting to manager John Curran).

December 1: By an order adopted by the U.S. FCC on September 1, 1982 (FCC 82-407; 47 FR 42744), all coin-operated electronic video games manufactured after December 1, 1982 were required to be verified for compliance with the FCC's regulations for Class A computing devices. (CoinConnection 2/83)

December 2: Atari, Inc., had signed a long-term working agreement with Destron, Inc., of Chicago, the companies announced.  According to the terms of the agreement, Atari acquired the option to market Destron products (coin-operated amusement and vending equipment) for its home video game and computer systems.  Michael Moone was president of Atari's Consumer Electronics Division. (PR)  

December 2: At Atari (Home Computer), Lou Tarnay was director of software development (reporting to VP software engineering Chris Horseman).  Direct reports to Tarnay included Paul Laughton (systems products), John Curran (communications products), Ken Balthaser (entertainment and education products), Joseph B. Miller (advanced development).  Reports to Laughton included Scott Scheiman (operating systems development) and Jim Cox (advanced consumer product development).  Reports to Balthaser included Clyde Grossman (entertainment product development) and Vincent H. Wu (amusement product development).  (source) 

December 3: Atari Research and the Columbia University Computer Science Department sponsored a free one-day public seminar on the diverse future of video games, "Video Games: Serious Business?" at the school's campus in New York City.  Guest speakers included Steve Mayer (Atari), Chris Crawford (Atari), Chris Cerf ("Sesame Street" writer, composer, and computer aficionado), and Warren Robinett (The Learning Company, and formerly of Atari). (RePlay 1/83p38; InfoWorld 12/20/82)

December 6: Atari announced that Parisian, Inc., a chain of nine stores in Alabama with headquarters in Birmingham, was substituting an "electronic catalog" for its Christmas catalog to promote its holiday selection as well as to help make the public more familiar with home computers.  Approximately 1,700 gift suggestions had been programmed into Atari 800 computers.  Store employees would help customers key in responses to four questions asked by the electronic catalog about the person the customer is shopping for, and the catalog would suggest three Christman gifts and a stocking stuffer, each tailored to suit the tastes of the gift recipient.  Two to four of the systems had been installed in each of Parisian's nine stores. (PR)

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 8: Atari announced that Perry Odak had been relieved of all his responsibilities as president of Atari's Consumer Products Group.  (Odak would be a partner at Catalyst Technologies where he would start and launch ETAK, Inc.)  Michael Moone, president of the domestic consumer electronic division, and Anton Bruehl, president of Atari's international consumer electronic division (Atari International), would now report directly to Atari CEO Ray Kassar.  (Helen Gray remained Atari VP of corporate communications.) (PR)  Ron Stringari, previously Atari Consumer Products Group VP of sales, merchandising and administration (reporting to Odak), would become Atari (Consumer) EVP sales & marketing (new position reporting to Moone; reports would include SVP marketing David Ruckert and SVP sales Win Weber).

December 8: Atari announced that it had filed suit in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division against Coleco Industries, charging patent infringement and unfair competition under State and Federal law.  Atari's lawsuit sought a preliminary and permanent injunction against the manufacture and sale of Coleco's Expansion Module No. 1 which was intended to allow Atari's VCS compatible cartridges to be played on the Colecovision home video game unit.  Atari claimed that the Coleco cartridge adapter infringed two basic video game patents held by Atari--U.S. Patent No. 4,112,422 covering motion objects commonly referred to as players, missiles or sprites and U.S. Patent No. 4,314,236 relating to digital generation of sound and noise especially suitable to video games. (PR)  Coleco said it would file a counterclaim charging violations of antitrust law by Atari.

December 9: Rick Krieger remained "factory manager for Atari Taiwan." (Fun p623)  (VP and general manager, Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC))

December 13: At the Plaza Hotel in New York City Atari introduced the 1200XL home computer ("well under $1,000"), 1010 program recorder ($99; winter 1983), 1020 printer/plotter ($299; winter 1983), and 1025 printer ($549; spring 1983), promised the 835 modem apart from The Communicator II kit (spring 1983), and again promised the CX85 Numerical Keypad (spring 1983), The Home Manager kit (The Home Filing Manager + Family Finances; winter 1983), and The Communicator II kit.  The Programmer kit was updated to include the new Inside Atari BASIC book (instead of Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide)), and the Entertainer kit was updated to include Pac-Man (instead of Missile Command).  The 800 would now ship with 48KiB RAM standard, and the 400 computer, 410 program recorder, 810 disk drive, 830 modem, and 850 interface module were to remain available as well.  For 400/800/1200XL Atari introduced VisiCalc (by Software Arts for VisiCorp; previously released by Personal Software, the earlier name for VisiCorp), Galaxian (title by Namco), and Defender (title by Williams Electronics), again promised Atari Speed Reading (to ship imminently), Juggles' House (January), Juggles' Rainbow (January), and TeleLink II (again promised apart from The Communicator II kit), and announced: E.T. Phone Home! (March), Qix (title by Taito; February), Dig Dug (title by Namco; April), AtariWriter (earlier: Word-Wise, see ANALOG #9p17; March), Family Finances (enhanced combination of the two APX titles, Family Cash Flow and Family Budget; replacement for the canceled Personal Financial Management System; March), Timewise (RLM Micro Systems for Atari; based on Weekly Planner from APX; March), Eastern Front (1941) (updated version on cartridge; previous version released by APX), Star Trux (never shipped), Superman III (never shipped), AtariMusic I (previously: Music Tutor I), Microsoft BASIC II.  Atari also announced the Disney Education Series, to consist of 5 programs developed & published by Disney, and distributed by Atari, featuring Mickey Mouse, Peter Pan, and the Cheshire Cat.  Keith Schaefer was VP of sales and John Cavalier was Atari president Home Computer Division. (source; source; source; source; Analog#9 p 17, 117-118; VGU 1/83; PR)

December 13: Cynex Manufacturing Corporation announced that it had entered into an agreement to produce its Game Mate 2 cordless joystick for Atari, Inc. on an exclusive basis. (PR)  (would ship as: CX42)

December 14: Atari established the subsidiary, Atari International (Italy) Inc. for international consumer products operations in Italy and to replace Atari 2600 distributor Melchioni and Atari computer distributor Adveico.  Until a dedicated location and full operations could be established, the nascent Atari International (Italy) Inc. would operate out of the office of WEA Italiana, Via Milano 16, 20090 Redecesio di Segrate (MI)

December 14: In the U.S., Atari International established the subsidiary, Atari International (Nippon) Inc.  The new subsidiary, being set up by director of finance Claude Nahum, would replace former distributor Epoch (until summer 1981) for sales/marketing of Atari consumer electronics in Japan.

December 15: In Hong Kong, Ben Wong remained General Manager, Atari-Wong Co. (source)

December 15: Atari (corporate) VP advertising Jan Soderstrom presented "Using the New Media to Reach the Atari Generation" at Researching the New Electronic Media: What We Need to Know, Current Projects, Future Possibilities : an Advertising Research Foundation Key Issues Workshop, New York Hilton.

December: For the 2600 Atari released E.T..

December: For the 5200 Atari released: Football

December: For the 400/800/1200XL Atari shipped: Galaxian, Defender, Atari Speed Reading (Learning Multi-Systems, Inc.)

December?: Opening of the Atari Adventure game room at Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim CA, located in the marina in the "Seaports of the Pacific" waterfront shopping bazaar and entertainment attraction, featuring 63 video games.  Frank Verkich was the room's coordinator; Dick Reynolds was Atari (Coin-Op) manager of operations for Atari Adventures (now consisting of two locations; the first was Atari Video Adventure at Marriott's Great America in Santa Clara CA, with more planned). (source; source)

December: Helen Gray, previously Atari VP corporate communications, would become Atari VP public affairs/public relations.  Bruce Entin, previously of the San Jose Mercury News, joined Atari as VP corporate communications/press relations (replacing Gray in the role).

December: Atari announced the gifts of over 200 coin video games to San Francisco Bay Area charities and other special organizations.  Recipients included the Christmas Exchange of Santa Clara County, the Holiday Project, the Veterans Administration in Menlo Park, and several area YMCAs.  Separately, Atari gave 250 games to the "Magic Me" project of the Community Foundation of the Greater Baltimore Area in Maryland. (RePlay 1/83p92)

December: Eric Knopp and Alan R. Merrell, previously of Gebelli Software (and before that, Sirius Software), joined Atari (Consumer) as a software designer/programmers.

December: In support of both VCS and 400/800 products, Atari International (U.K.) Inc. had established a network of Independent Service Centres, supported by the Atari Service Centre at company headquarters in Slough, using the Atari Service Factory Authorised Network branding. (source; source; source; source)

December: Atari signed a 50-50 joint venture agreement with PCI Pte Ltd, the Singapore manufacturing unit (and primary base of operations) of PCI Inc. ("Printed Circuits International"), for the manufacture of software cartridges for Atari home computers and video games, with production to start in April 1983.  The cartridges were currently made by Atari in the U.S. (Business Times 1/22/83)

December 19: Atari (Consumer) VP field sales Lee Henderson had departed the company. (NYT 12/19/82)  (Win Weber remained SVP sales.)

December 19: Atari (Home Computer) SVP of sales and marketing Thomas M. McDonough had departed the company (NYT 12/19/82) (to Kenyon & Eckhardt).  Keith Schaefer, previously Atari (Home Computer) VP sales, would be promoted to SVP sales, replacing McDonough in part.

December 26: Sears had shipped the new Tele-Games Video Arcade #75006 package by Atari, which like the previous #75005 package included two joysticks, pair of paddles, and Target Fun, but additionally included Pac-Man. (newspaper ad)

Atari sold approximately 12 million 2600 VCS units in 1982, and the 400/800 led the home computer market in 1982. (InfoWorld Nov. 28, 1983, p. 157)

Atari sold 400,000 of its 400 and 800 computers in 1982, according to The Yankee Group, a Boston-based computer consulting firm, accounting for 17 percent of all home computer sales. (Washington Post 5/24/1983 pD7)

1983
January 1: In West Germany, Renate Knüfer, previously of Casio, joined Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH as Public Relations Officer. (source)

January 3: In West Germany, Hans-Ueli Hasler would join Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH as marketing director, replacing Michael Anders who had departed the company (to RCA Schallplatt GmbH).  (CashBox 1/8/83 p10; source)

January 5: The suit filed by Atari against Imagic on Nov. 20, 1982 had been settled. The suit charged that Imagic's Demon Attack game for Intellivision infringed the copyrights of Atari's version of Centuri, Inc.'s Phoenix arcade game, which was to be released soon. Imagic said it would continue to sell its version of the game, but the companies did not disclose settlement terms. (NYT 1/5/83)

January 5: At a press event held prior to the Winter CES, Atari introduced several games for the 2600 VCS that were part of the new Atari Kid's Library, Alpha Beam, Cookie Monster Munch, Big Bird's Egg Catch, Grover's Music Maker, and Oscar's Trash Race, each due in May or June, along with a special controller designed for kids (CX23) also due in the spring.  The Sesame Street games were developed in conjunction with the Children's Computer Workshop (CCW), an activity of the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), producer of the Sesame Street television show.  Atari also announced its intention to develop home video games based on characters in the Peanuts comic strip, The Muppets, as well as Walt Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse.  In all, Atari planned more than 25 new cartridges for the 2600 and 5200 for the first half of 1983.  Atari would also show (preview) a streamline joystick called "Proline" (Pro-Line) for the 2600 VCS (CX24) as well as Trak-Ball controllers for the VCS and the 5200 (CX22/CX53) at the CES.  Bruce Entin was Atari VP for corporate communications/press relations. (PR) 

January 6-9: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, for the 5200 Atari previewed the Trak-Ball Controller (CX53) and introduced or again promised 13 games scheduled for release during the first half of 1983: Defender (January), Centipede (February), Qix (March), Kangaroo (title by Sun Electronics; spring), Dig Dug (title by Namco; spring), Jungle Hunt (title by Taito; spring), Pole Position (title by Namco; spring), Space Dungeon (title by Taito; spring), Vanguard (title by Centuri; spring), Countermeasure (previously: Tank; February), RealSports Tennis (April), RealSports Basketball (never shipped), RealSports Baseball (earlier: Baseball; April) (source; VGU 2/83 p6,16; source; PR 1/5)

Atari introduced new "sleeker, and in black" casing for the 2600 console (silver format 2600A package, 2600A console with 4 switches and black front instead of woodgrain), announced the system's price was now $169.95 (previously: $199.95), and announced the 2600 would now ship with both Pac-Man and Combat (source) (while still including two joysticks and a pair of paddles).  For the 2600 Atari previewed the Trak-Ball Controller (CX22; June (VGU 2/83 p6)), and the Pro-Line Joystick (CX24; June (VGU 2/83 p6)), and introduced or again promised: Vanguard (title by Centuri; January), SwordQuest: FireWorld (February), Ms. Pac-Man (title by Namco; February 14), Phoenix (title by Centuri; February), Centipede (March), Galaxian (title by Namco; March), RealSports Football (April), RealSports Tennis (April), RealSports Soccer (April), RealSports Basketball (April; Roklan; never shipped), SwordQuest: WaterWorld (June), Dig Dug (title by Namco; June), and Jungle Hunt (title by Taito), plus five Children's Computer Workshop (CCW; later: Sesame Street Library) games in the new Atari Kid's Library (each to ship May/June): Cookie Monster Munch, Alpha Beam (would ship as: Alpha Beam with Ernie), Oscar's Trash Race, Big Bird's Egg Catch, and Grover's Music Maker (never released), along with the Action Control Base Keypad (CX23; spring; would ship as: Kid's Controller).  Atari now offered a library of 70 Game Program Cartridges for the 2600 VCS.  Additional "Coming Attractions" due summer/fall 1983: Gravitar, SwordQuest: AirWorld (never released), Kangaroo (title by Sun Electronics). (source) (source) (source) (source)  Also reportedly announced: Dukes of Hazzard (April; never shipped). (VGU 1/83)

For the 400 ($299/16KiB RAM), 800 ($679/48KiB RAM/no longer with Atari BASIC cartridge and books; previously: $899/16KiB RAM standard with Atari BASIC cartridge and books) and 1200XL (not yet shipped; $899) Atari introduced Mickey in the Great Outdoors by Walt Disney Productions, Paint (SuperBoots Software from Capital Children's Museum via Reston), and Donkey Kong (title by Nintendo), and featured or again promised: 1010 program recorder, 1020 printer/plotter, 1025 printer, Juggles' House (to ship imminently), Juggles' Rainbow (to ship imminently), AtariMusic I, AtariWriter, Family Finances, Timewise, VisiCalc, Dig Dug, Eastern Front (1941) (cartridge), E.T. Phone Home!, Qix, Star Trux (never shipped), Superman III (never shipped), Microsoft BASIC II, The Home Manager kit, The Communicator II kit. (see 2/1/83 price list)  Atari hired two teenagers, Robert Allbritton and John Dickerson (via family connections with Atari CEO Ray Kassar), to help pitch Atari computers at the show.

January 10-13: Atari exhibited at the 39th Amusement Trades Exhibition (ATE), Olympia Hall in London, showing 5 games; Atari introduced Xevious by Namco (licensed to Atari for manufacture/sales in North and South America and Europe), introduced Popeye by Nintendo (licensed to Atari for manufacture/sales outside of the U.S., Canada, and Japan), introduced Time Pilot by Konami (licensed to Atari for sales in Europe and the Middle East), and featured Pole Position and Millipede.  Don Osborne remained VP sale and marketing; Shane Breaks remained VP international marketing and sales; Bob Harvey remained U.S. northeastern regional sales manager; David Smith was European sales manager. (CC 2/83)  Also at Atari (Coin-Op): Tad Chase was Middle East Sales Manager, Sue Elliott was Sales Manager for Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean; Riv Hight was Managing Director of Atari Far East Japan, Nathalie Favre-Gilly was Sales Administrator for France. (CC 1/83) (GM 2/15/83; GM 1/1/83)

January 15: At the 2nd annual Atari Star Award banquet, held at San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel, Atari awarded the Atari Star Award and $25,000 Grand Prize to David Buehler for his APX title, Typo Attack.  Star Special Award of Merit winners: Douglas Crockford, Harry Koons & Art Prag, Lee Actor.  Paul Cubbage, head of the APX Software Review team, represented APX, and Atari (Home Computer) SVP sales Keith Schaefer made the announcement and presented the award. (AC Spr83p10)

January: Norm Smothers, previously Atari Manager of Corporate Strategic Planning, became Atari (Coin-Op) director of business development.  John Hagel, previously Atari (Home Computer) VP strategic planning, became Atari (Corporate) VP strategic planning (replacing Smothers in the role). (source; source)

January: Jeffrey A. Heimbuck, previously SVP marketing for wine operations at Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, joined Atari (Home Computer) as SVP marketing and software engineering (replacement for the departed Thomas M. McDonough, in part). (LATimes 10/11/83 for date)  VP software engineering Chris Horseman would now report to Heimbuck.  Peter Rosenthal, previously Atari (Home Computer) VP business planning, would become Atari (Home Computer) VP product development and business planning (reporting to Heimbuck). (source)  Paul Laughton, previously Atari (Home Computer) systems products manager, would be promoted to director of software development (reporting to Horseman), replacing Lou Tarnay who departed the company (to Fox Video Games).

January: Atari Consumer Product Service (CPS) management included: Jon D. Ebbs (Atari VP for CPS), James W. Prather (manager, field service operations), David S. Wilson (manager, customer relations), Ronald R. Elliot (manager, materials & parts distribution), Julie B. Naughton (controller, CPS), John H. Hahn (manager, technical support & publications), William B. McPhetridge (manager, international & special markets services), Janis H. Pepper (manager, service marketing). (source)  

January: Through Atari Sales Corp., Atari began offering U.S. consumers Atari Service Contracts on all Atari hardware (video game and home computer systems). (source) 

January: Atari published the Atari Computer Educational Software Directory (first edition). (p48 for date)  The back page of the catalog announced Atari Logo, being developed by Logo Computer Systems, Inc. of Montreal, Canada, to be exclusively manufactured for and distributed by Atari and to be available fall 1983.

January: In France, P.E.C.F. Atari shipped the 400 (PAL version modified for Péritel). (L'Ordinateur Individuel #51 9/83p160)

January?: In West Germany, David Evans joined Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH as product director. (source)  (Software development manager Steve Molyneux would now report to Evans.)

January: For the 400/800/1200XL Atari shipped Juggles' House and Juggles' Rainbow.

January: Atari commenced production of the 1200XL at its plant at 1215 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA.  Additionally, 400 (and 800?) production commenced at Atari's plant in Hong Kong, while 400/800 production would continue at 1173 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA.  (Brad Saville remained Atari (Home Computer) operations manager.) 

January: Atari employed about 7,000 people. (NewsBytes)

January: At Atari (Coin-Op): Lyle Rains was VP creative development, John Farrand was president, Dick Maslana was VP operations; Don Osborne was VP sales and marketing, Dan Van Elderen was VP engineering. (CC 1/83) 

January?: At Atari (Coin-Op): engineering and graphics completed a move from the lower level of 1272 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA to the new 133,000 ft² Coin-Op engineering building at 1501 McCarthy Blvd, Milpitas, CA. (source; modern real estate listings)  Some Atari Consumer Product Service (CPS) operations (headquarters, materials & parts distribution) would move into 1272 Borregas Ave. (which was also the home of AtariTel division engineering).

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 (previously: manager of customer service) (CC 2/83), assuming the role of field service manager Fred McCord who had departed the company.

January: Atari released Vanguard (GCC) for the 2600.

January: For the 5200 Atari released: Defender (VGU 1/83)

January: Atari commenced production of the 5200 at its 11460 Pellicano Dr, El Paso TX plant.  Nearby, Atari had established a Distribution facility at 11500 Rojas Dr, El Paso TX.  (5200 production also continued at the 1195 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA plant.) (source)

January 16: John Brown, previously national sales manager of Johnson & Johnson's McNeill Consumer Products Division, was the new Atari (Consumer) VP of national accounts. (ArcExp v1n12b p5)  (Win Weber remained Atari (Consumer) SVP sales.)

January 18: At the Volvo Masters' tennis championship in New York's Madison Square Garden, Atari's Home Computer Division and the Association of Tennis Professionals unveiled the Atari-ATP Computer Ranking System.  Also, the Atari 800 was now the official computer of the ATP.

January 18-21: Atari featured the 400/800 at the Which Computer? show at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre, England.

January 20: Logo Computer Systems, Inc. (LCSI) and Atari jointly announced Atari Logo for the 400/800/1200XL.

January 25-26: Atari Soccer 6, a 6-a-side indoor football championship organized by The Football League, held at the Birmingham International Arena, National Exhibition Centre, England.  Birmingham City won the event.  Graham Clark was Atari International (U.K.) Inc. managing director.

January 31: Atari announced the appointment of Dr. Marcian E. Hoff, Jr. (Ted Hoff), with Intel since 1968 and previously Intel manager of applications research, as (corporate) VP of research and development, a newly created position to lead research efforts for Atari's three divisions: home computers, home video games and coin-operated video games.  Hoff would report directly to Atari's chairman, Raymond E. Kassar. (NYT 2/1/83; WSJ 2/1/83; source)  Reports to Hoff would include Alan Kay (VP/chief scientist, corporate research) and Gary Summers (VP semiconductor development and General Manager, Atari Semiconductor Group).  Steve Mayer, previously Atari VP research and product development, would be Atari SVP engineering (remaining head of the Atari NY Lab; still reporting to Kassar). (source; source; source) 

Winter: Atari Clubs, Inc. (Atari Age magazine) oversight would be shifted from Atari (corporate) special projects (Linda Gordon, VP special projects) to Atari (Consumer) marketing. (source)  Harv Johnson became the new director of The Atari Club (replacing Parker Jerrell). (source)  

Winter?: John T. Thompson, previously of The Williams Companies, joined Atari as (corporate) director of organization development. (source)  

Winter: Skip Paul remained Atari SVP and general counsel. (source)

Winter: Internationally, new production Atari VCS units would be versions of the new woodgrain 4-switch 2600AP model (PAL I, PAL B/G, and PAL N versions, to replace the 6-switch 2600U, 2600P, and 2600PN models, respectively) except in France, where P.E.C.F. Atari would ship the new VHF version of the VCS 2600S model (SECAM; 4 switches; woodgrain), to replace the original UHF version of the 2600S.  2600AP/2600S systems would continue to ship with two joysticks, pair of paddles, and one game.

February 1: Sears had shipped the new Tele-Games Video Arcade II #75007 package by Atari, which was the same as the previous #75000 package with Pac-Man additionally included. (newspaper ad)

February 1: Atari assumed exclusive distribution rights to the Cynex Game Mate 2 cordless joystick controller, to be available from Atari beginning March 1 (would ship as: CX42).

February 7: "Customer Day" held by Atari (Coin-Op) at company headquarters for distributors and trade press.  Atari introduced Xevious by Namco to the U.S., introduced Black Widow (to be available in March in the form of a conversion kit for Atari Gravitar units), and introduced Millipede cocktail version.  Tommy Thompson was director of operations at Atari's woodshop and silkscreening building; Carl Nielsen was VP Atari Semiconductor Group (ASG).  Also at Atari (Coin-Op): Don Osborne, previously VP of sales and marketing, was now VP of marketing; Jerry Marcus, previously president of Bally Midwest Distributing Company, had joined the company as EVP of Sales (replacing Osborne as head of sales). (CCMar83) (RePlay 2/83pp10,14, 3/83p103-106)

February 7: Atari had announced that they were now shipping VisiCalc for the 800/1200XL. (source)

February 7-16: At the 80th annual American International Toy Fair in New York, Atari announced the 2600 Computer, to be marketed as My First Computer (never shipped), add-on for the 2600.  The 2600 Computer would include 8KiB RAM, expandable to 32KiB, and would sell for "under $90." (NYT Feb 10, 1983, pg. D4; PR; source)  Bill Simmeth was project manager for My First Computer. (Compute 5/83p46)  Atari also introduced: 2600 Kid's Controller (CX23; previously: Action Control Base Keypad) (VGU 3/83 p7), 2600 Pro-Line Track-Ball (CX22; June), 2600 Pro-Line Joystick (CX24; July), 2600 Pro-Line Remote Control Wireless Joystick (CX42; February), and 5200 Pro-Line Trak-Ball (CX53; May), and for the 5200 again promised: Countermeasure, Centipede, Qix, RealSports Tennis, Space Dungeon, Pole Position (spring), Vanguard (spring), RealSports Baseball (spring), Dig Dug (summer), Jungle Hunt (summer), Kangaroo (summer), RealSports Basketball (fall; never shipped) (for a total library of 21 titles, including Super Breakout); Football would be re-released as RealSports Football, and Soccer would be re-released as RealSports Soccer (spring).

February 9: A.J. Sekel (Andy Sekel), previously of Pizza Hut, had joined Atari (Home Computer) as manager of press relations (NYT), having replaced J. Peter Nelson who had departed the company.

February: Atari launched the "Computers: Expressway to Tomorrow" traveling multimedia assembly program, produced by Rick Trow Productions (RTP), offered free of charge to junior and senior high schools in the U.S.  Using two 16-millimeter screens (J. Charles Sterin (Chuck Sterin), filmmaker) and a live actor, the program featured an exploration of the past, present and future of computers in society.  The show would be presented to 1.2 million students at nearly 1400 public and private schools through June 1983, with plans to reach 4000 schools and 3.8 million students by December 1984.  RTP had dedicated 9 of its 15-20 touring units to the Atari program. (source 29:20)  Chris Bowman was Atari (Home Computer) national manager of educational marketing. (VGU 1/83p4; AtariConnection v3n1p11; AtariAge v2n1p9; PersonalComputing 9/83p32-34; source; source; Review: A Catalog of Atari Learning Systems p3; InfoWorld 6/13/83p22)

February?: For the 400/800/1200XL Atari shipped: Numerical Keypad (CX85)

February: For the 400/800/1200XL Atari shipped: Qix (VGU)

February: For the 2600 Atari released: RealSports Football, Ms. Pac-Man (GCC), Phoenix (GCC), SwordQuest: FireWorld (VGU)

February: For the 5200 Atari released: Countermeasure, Centipede (VGU)

February 15: Dick Maslana was Atari (Coin-Op) VP manufacturing. (CCv7n3) 

February 22: Atari announced that manufacturing for its Home Computer Division and its Consumer Products Group would be consolidated mainly in Hong Kong and Taiwan, where Atari already manufactured consumer electronics products, and announced 1,700 layoffs.  Atari said that 600 workers were laid off effective immediately, and that another 1,100 would lose their jobs over the next four months.  (100 of the 1,700 would be cut at Atari's El Paso TX plant. --source)  "Manufacturing for home computers and video games will come to a virtual halt here in the United States by July," Atari said.  Atari said it would continue manufacturing coin-operated arcade games, design prototypes of new products and maintain its corporate headquarters in California.  Before the layoffs, Atari employed about 7,000 people in the South San Francisco Bay Area and 11,000 worldwide. It had about 2,000 employees in the Far East and planned to increase this by about 1,000 to meet the new production demands.  (AP 2/22; NYT 2/23; UPI 2/23; UPI 5/28)  Atari said it would double the size of its plant in Hong Kong to 150,000 ft², and double the workforce there to about 2,000. (Economic World)

February 24: Amplifone Corporation, the wholly owned subsidiary of Atari, employed 275.  Michael Smith was Amplifone plant manager. (Brownsville Herald 2/24/83 p10B)

February 25: The Glaziers and Glass Workers Union, an AFL-CIO affiliate that had been working to organize Atari's 3,000 assembly workers at plants in Sunnyvale (1173 Borregas Ave., 1195 Borregas Ave., 1215 Borregas Ave) and San Jose (790 Sycamore, Milpitas) for more than a year, charged the company with shifting its jobs overseas to avoid unionization and announced it would file an injunction with the National Labor Relations Board to block additional layoffs.

February 26: James P. (Jim) Newlander, previously of D.Gottlieb & Co., had joined Atari (Coin-Op) as Eastern regional sales manager (based at Atari's Somerset, N.J. facility), reporting to national sales director Alan Van Campen.  Jerry Marcus remained Atari (Coin-Op) EVP sales.  (Cash Box 2/26/83 p33)

March 1: Elaine Shirley became Atari Coin Video Games Division Customer Service Manager (previously: office and materials manager), replacing the promoted Darl Davidson.

March 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Product Catalog Spring Edition 1983, introducing for the 400/800/1200XL: Atspeller, Typit, Fingerspelling, Escape to Equatus, Math Mission, My Spelling Easel, Teasers by Tobbs, Three R Math Classroom Kit, Catterpiggle, Diggerbonk, Getaway!, Impact, Microsailing, Chameleon CRT Terminal Emulator (New Version), Hex-A-Bug.  Fred Thorlin was APX director; product review manager: Paul Cubbage.

March 4: At Atari Special Projects, Inc., Linda S. Gordon was president, Mark M. Weinstein was VP, Steven Yeates was treasurer, James A. Cook was secretary, Teresa Marando was assistant secretary.  Principal office: 1265 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (Atari headquarters).  The Atari Special Projects board of directors consisted of: James A. Cook, Robert Kahn, Linda S. Gordon, Dennis Groth.  (MA filing)

March 7: Jim Romanos, previously Atari (Home Computer) software product test manager, had been promoted to director of software development (reporting to VP software engineering Chris Horseman), replacing Paul Laughton who had departed the company (to Fox Video Games). (source 10:00)  Direct reports to Romanos: Ken Balthaser (applications), John Curran (systems and telecommunications), Doug Chorey (software support: sound and video graphics).  Reports to Balthaser: Clyde Grossman (entertainment applications), Jim Cox (advanced home applications).  Reports to Curran: Scott Scheiman (systems), Sherwin Gooch (telecommunications, replacing Curran in the role).  Technical staff reporting to Romanos: Joe Miller, Greg Riker, Lane Winner.  (source) 

March 8: Kamalu Bruns was Atari (Home Computer) software support group manager (internal support section and test department).  Direct reports to Bruns: Fred A. Terzian (support section manager), Jack Quinn (test department manager).  Reports to Quinn: test supervisors Carla Furr, Lisa Reinbold  (source)

March 8: Penril Corp., a Rockville-based electronics firm, had won a $4 million contract to provide low-cost communications modems to Atari.  Penril was expected to ship roughly 100,000 modems (Atari 1030) by the middle of 1984, with delivery beginning July 1983. (Washington Post 3/8)

March 8: The name of Atari International's distributor in Hong Kong was changed from Kong King Trading Company Limited to Wong's Kong King Limited (WKK, remaining a subsidiary of Wong's Industrial (Holdings) Limited)

March 8-April 4: Atari featured the 400/800 at the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition, Earls Court, London.

March 10: Direct reports to Atari (Home Computer) VP software engineering Chris Horseman included Jim Romanos (director internal development), Paul Liniak (director software conversion), Kamalu Bruns (manager, support group: internal support section and test department).  Reports to Liniak included Vincent Wu (development manager).  (source) 

March 10: In West Germany, the "Press Meets Atari" event was held at Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH headquarters. (source)  

March 11: Atari Inc. and Coleco Industries announced they had settled their December 1982 lawsuits against each other.  Under their settlement, the companies said Coleco could continue making and selling its ColecoVision Expansion Module No. 1 and also could ship its planned Atari 2600-compatible Gemini Video Game System.  However, Coleco would do so as a licensee of Atari's patents, and would pay a royalty to Atari.

March 11: At Atari Sales Corp., Raymond E. Kassar was president, Charles S. Paul was SVP, Mark M. Weinstein was VP, Dennis Groth was treasurer, Joan Pincus was assistant secretary. Principal office: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York NY (Warner Communications headquarters).  The Atari Sales Corp. board of directors consisted of: Emanuel Gerard, Raymond E. Kassar, Jac Holzman.  (MA filing)

March 11: Date of REV A (second release) of the "PAM OS" operating system, programmed by Rob Zdybel, for the Atari 5200.

March 15: Richard Glosman, previously director of media and programming at Bristol-Myers Co., had joined Atari (NYT), where he would be (corporate) director of media (new position; see PR 10/10/83 for title).  Glosman would establish a media office for Atari at: 3 E. 54th St. Fl 11, New York NY.  (Ted Voss remained Atari SVP advertising/marketing.) 

March 15: John Peeke-Vout would join Atari International (U.K.) Inc. as software manager, replacing Graham Daubney who had departed the company (to CentreSoft). (HomeComputingWeekly #2 p6)  

March: Donald Teiser, previously Atari (Consumer) software manager (reporting to director of software development George Kiss), would be promoted to director of product development, replacing Larry Kaplan who departed the company. (source; source; source)  Condon Brown would be promoted to software manager (replacing Teiser in the role; reporting to Kiss). 

March?: Russ Haft, previously of Mattel, joined Atari (Consumer) to establish and manage a research & development office at 122 Lincoln Blvd Ste 203, Venice CA (suburban Los Angeles) which would develop games for Intellivision.  The group would eventually include programmers Mark Kennedy, Mike Winans, Eric Wels, Andy Sells, and Eddie Dombrower, each previously of Mattel, and Peter Farson and Gavin Claypoole, previously of APh Corporation (Intellivision developer). (source)  (Games produced by the group would be incorporated into the future AtariSoft product line.)

March: Atari (Home Computer) director of finance Bill Kaiser departed the company (to Electronic Arts).

March: Atari shipped the 1200XL, suggested retail price $899 (Kassar in Across The Board, 6/83 p26 for month), and shipped the 1010 program recorder.

March?: For the 400/800/1200XL Atari shipped: Timewise

March: Dan Miller joined AtariTel as director-planning & business development.

March: Atari released Food Fight (GCC).

March?: For the 2600 Atari shipped the Remote Control Wireless Joysticks (CX42). (VGU 3/83 p7)

March: Atari released Centipede (GCC) for the 2600 (VGU) and released Crazy Climber for the 2600 (Roklan; title by Nihon Bussan; released exclusively to Atari Club members)

March: Atari released Qix (GCC) for the 5200. (VGU)

March?: In West Germany, Detlev Driemeier, previously of Akai, would join Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH as sales manager (source), replacing Rolf Rehfeldt who departed the company.

March 17: Atari announced that it would enter the home telecommunications market with a line of microprocessor-based systems.  Plans called for marketing to begin in the United States early in 1984, with sales and distribution through telephone operating companies as well as traditional consumer electronics channels.  Peter Wensberg was president of the newly-formed AtariTel Division. (PR; source)

March 18-20: At the 8th Annual West Coast Computer Faire at the Brooks Convention Hall and Civic Center in San Francisco, for the 400/800/1200XL, Atari introduced the 1050 disk drive (with DOS 2.0S; spring 1983), again promised the 1020 printer/plotter (spring 1983), 1025 printer (spring 1983), 835 modem, and The Communicator II kit, featured the 1010 program recorder (1200XL sales flyer), featured Dig Dug, E.T. Phone Home!, Qix, and AtariWriter, and introduced Atari Logo (Brian Silverman of LCSI for Atari).  Atari announced a $50 rebate, starting April 15, for the purchase of a 400 computer, and hinted that the 400 was soon to be replaced by a new model (presumptive name: 600XL).

March 21-22: Two-day first (only) meeting of the Atari Youth Advisory Board (YAB), held at Atari headquarters in Sunnyvale and San Jose.  The 20 teenagers selected by Atari from across the country included: Robert Allbritton (veteran of the January 1983 Atari CES booth), Tina Bartschat, Todd Bridges, Stephen Cohen, Tracey Cullinan, John Dickerson (veteran of the January 1983 Atari CES booth), Julia Graz, Kerrie Holton, Daniel Janz, Matthew Labyorteaux, David Lurie, Musa Mustafa, Yoon Park, Maria Smith, Paul Sunshine, Meilin Wong, Anneke Wyman. (group photo)  YAB Project coordinator for Atari was Noreen Lovoi; Helen Gray was Atari's vice president of public relations/public affairs. (source, source, source, KR Wire story; source)  

March 23: In the Netherlands, Atari International (Benelux) B.V. expanded to a new headquarters at: Atoomweg 480, Utrecht.  Sales/Distribution/Atari Service Centrum would remain at Franse Akker 9, Breda (location shared with Record Service Benelux B.V.). (source; source)

March 25-27: Atari featured the games Xevious, Food Fight, Pole Position, and Millipede, plus the Atari Coin Executive (ACE), at the Amusement Operators Expo '83 (AOE '83) at the O'Hare Exposition Center in Chicago.  (This was the 4th annual AOE, and Atari's first AOE.)

March 26: Jack Perron had become Acting Manager, Product Review, APX, replacing Paul Cubbage who departed the company (to Mindset).

March 31: Larry Plummer remained Atari (Home Computer) director of electrical engineering. (source)

March 31: In the Netherlands at Atari International (Benelux) B.V., W.L. van Oyen (Ludo van Oyen) had been appointed marketing director, P.C.W. Norp (Pieter Norp) had been appointed financial controller, and W.J.A. Spaans had been appointed sales director. (NRC 3/31/83)

Winter/Spring: Peter Whyte, previously of Atari (Coin-Op) research & development (reporting to director Roy Machamer), was promoted to Atari (Coin-Op) VP of new product development (new position, reporting directly to division president John Farrand), and the new unit launched the Gaza (later: 1650XLD) computer / graphics workstation project (including new "Snowcap" operating system).  The project team would include: Tom Hogg, Bill Galcher, Bruce Merritt, Paul Resch. (source; source; source)

Winter/Spring?: Peter R. Ateshian, previously of Reticon, joined Atari (Home Computer) in engineering (digital circuit design). (source)

Winter/Spring: Atari software consultant (Atari Computer Camps) Wayne Harvey formally joined Atari Special Projects. (source)

April 1?: Mark Davis, previously Atari (Consumer) director of electrical engineering, became Atari (Home Computer) director of electrical engineering, replacing Larry Plummer who departed the company (to Convergent Technologies). (for timing: source; source; source)  (Dave Stubben remained Atari (Home Computer) VP engineering.)  J. David Remson would be promoted to Atari (Consumer) director of electrical engineering (replacing Davis in the role). (source)  (Michel Ebertin remained Atari (Consumer) VP engineering.)

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 (subsidiary established 1/28/83) of Pizza Time Theatre, and his business purchases (Videa, Inc.) were attempts to lure customers from Atari, a violation of the agreement.

April 9: In Singapore, Atari-PCI Enterprises Pte. Ltd. was established. (source)   The joint manufacturing venture between Atari and PCI would launch operations at the PCI Displays Pte Ltd plant at Blk 73, Ayer Rajah Crescent, Ayer Rajah Industrial Estate.  PCI corporate materials manager Jerry Hayes had assisted with forming the joint venture.  In Taiwan, Raymond Kunavich, previously engineering director, Atari liaison office, would become ATMC managing director, replacing Richard Krieger who departed the company (to PCI as executive VP).  ATMC would establish a Liaison Office at: 2nd floor, 217 Chang-Kuo North Road, Taipei.  (Loren R. Wolter (L.R. Wolter) remained Atari VP and general manager of Far East operations.)

April 11: Atari was one of the major sponsors of the 55th Annual Academy Awards television special. (source; VGU 5/83)

April 11: Bill Carris was Atari (Home Computer) director of software marketing. (source)

April 12: In Japan, Atari International (Nippon) announced the 2800 (variant of the Sears Video Arcade II by Atari, designed for the Japanese market), to become available to Japanese consumers for ¥24,800 on May 10 (would ship with two All-In-One Controller units (CX28); some units would ship with Missile Command) along with 25 cartridge titles to be available at launch: Phoenix, Vanguard, Yars' Revenge, Missile Command, Asteroids, Star Raiders, Space Invaders, Defender, Centipede, Berzerk, Super Breakout, Circus Atari, Realsports Baseball, Golf, Realsports Volleyball, SwordQuest: EarthWorld, SwordQuest: FireWorld, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Haunted House, Math Gran Prix, Demons to Diamonds, Warlords, Night Driver, Air-Sea Battle.  Another 25 titles for a total library of about 50 titles were planned for the 2800 by the end of the year.  Akira Uechi was president of Atari International (Nippon). (GM 6/15/83; source)  (Additional existing title that would eventually be released for the 2800: Pac-Man.)

April 13: Sears had shipped the new Tele-Games Video Arcade #75003 package by Atari, which like the previous #75006 package included two joysticks, pair of paddles, and Pac-Man, but also included Asteroids (instead of Target Fun). (newspaper ad)

April 14: Atari Inc. and Williams Electronics Inc. had jointly announced a long term agreement whereby Atari would have right of first refusal to market home video and computer games based on Williams' coin-operated amusement games. Financial details were not disclosed. (The Globe and Mail (Canada) 4/14/83)  The first games Atari planned under the agreement were: Moon Patrol and Joust (WSJ 4/14) plus Robotron: 2084 (VGU 5/83).

April: Atari released RealSports Tennis (GCC) and RealSports Soccer for the 2600 (VGU 5/83)  (Both titles would also eventually be released in Japan for the 2800.)

April: Atari released RealSports Tennis for the 5200 (VGU 5/83).

April: Alan Van Campen remained National Sales Director at the Atari Coin Video Games Division.

April: "3,000 of Atari's 10,000 employees work on assembly lines in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Ireland and Puerto Rico." (Multinational Monitor Apr83)

April: Atari discontinued 5200 production at its manufacturing plant at 1195 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA, and commenced both 5200 and 1200XL production by Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC).  5200 production would also continue at Atari's El Paso TX plant, and 1200XL production would also continue at the 1215 Borregas Ave. plant in Sunnyvale.

April: Atari (Consumer) graphics & animation group manager Marilyn Theurer departed the company. (source)

April: Donald Kingsborough (of D.K. Associates, D.K. Marketing, and S.K.U., Inc., and previously with Atari in 1979) rejoined Atari (Consumer) as EVP sales & marketing (NYT 6/1/83; WSJ 5/18/84p47 for month), replacing Ron Stringari who departed the company.  (Michael Moone remained Atari (Consumer) division president.)

April: Atari (Home Computer) software product manager (including AtariWriter) Gary Furr departed the company (to Datasoft, developers of AtariWriter). (source 14:30)

April?: In the Netherlands at Atari International (Benelux) B.V., Han Van Egdom joined the company as product manager home computers, and Jan Henk den Adel joined the company as chief accountant.

April 15: Start date for several Atari computer rebate offers: $50 for the purchase of a 400, or $100 for the purchase of an 800 or 1200XL. (newspaper ads)

April 17: In Brazil, Atari announced that Polyvox from IGB Group (Industrias Gradiente Brasileira) would launch Atari videogames in Brazil in August, 1983. (source; see also ArcExp 6/19/83)

April 22: The Milton Bradley Company and Atari, Inc., announced that they had entered into an agreement by which Milton Bradley would manufacture a plug-in peripheral containing voice synthesis and voice recognition for Atari's VCS 2600 and 5200 video game consoles.  This plug-in would be sold with a headset/microphone which would enable the consumer to voice control video game action.  (2600 Voice Commander never shipped.)  Milton Bradley would also develop a total of 18 Atari cartridges over a three-year period; most of these would incorporate the use of voice capabilities.

April 26: Atari had announced that Michael J. Moone would leave his post as president of its Consumer Electronics Division to head a newly-created products development unit. (Washington Post 4/26)  The unannounced new division would be known as Electronic Distribution.  The unit would include Steven W. Bengston (marketing; previously: Atari (Consumer) Manager of Marketing Administration) and Emory V. Anderson, III (director of finance).  Location: 1346 Bordeaux, Sunnyvale CA.  (Early R&D in electronic publishing had been conduducted at the Atari NY Lab; ongoing R&D for the initiative would now be conducted at the Atari L.A. Lab.) 

April: (late month) Atari announced the acquisition of 42 coin-operated game rooms operating as "Space Port" from The Magna/Fun Company.  Atari expected to retain the services of the firm's two principals, Mark Rodstein and James J. Ginsberg (who had owned/managed the company since establishing it on 4/23/1970).  (Play Meter 6/1/83 p19-20; CashBox 11/26/83 p32; WCI 10-K 12/31/83)  Space Port operations would continue as a business of the Atari (Coin-Op) operating subsidiary, Atari Adventure Corp.

April/May: Atari (Consumer) SVP finance Alan Henricks departed the company (to Maxim Integrated Products).  (Henrick's direct report Jean Hackenburg remained division VP finance.)

Spring: For the 400/800/1200XL Atari shipped: The Home Manager kit, Mickey in the Great Outdoors (Walt Disney Telecommunication & Non-Theatrical Company), Eastern Front (1941) (cartridge), Paint, Microsoft BASIC II, Family Finances, AtariWriter (Datasoft)

Spring: There were now eight Atari computer classrooms in Club Med villages: Eleuthera in the Bahamas; La Caravelle in French Guadeloupe; Ixtapa in Mexico; Copper Mountain in the Colorado Rockies near Denver; Dom Miguel in Marbella, Spain; Chateau Royal in Noumea, New Caledonia; Les Almadies, Senegal; and Cherating, Malaysia.  Linda Gordon was Atari (corporate) VP Special Projects. (Atari Connection Spr83 p40-41) 

Spring: Atari (corporate) research & development launched a LaserDisc-based coin-op game project (would ship as: Firefox).  Atari (Coin-Op) Engineer Mike Hally would be project leader. (source)   

Spring: Philip G. Baker (Phil Baker), previously with engineering and management positions at Polaroid, joined AtariTel as director of product management. (source p34)

May 2: Seven finalists participated in the SwordQuest Challenge: EarthWorld Segment contest finals, held at Atari headquarters, 1265 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA.  Winner of the EarthWorld Talisman (a gold pendant/medallion decorated with 12 diamonds and 12 other precious stones, valued at $25,000): Steven Bell

May 2: Mattel filed a $40 million lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Atari and three Atari employees who previously worked for Mattel: Eric S. Wels, Russell A. Haft (Russ Haft) and Michael S. Winans.  Mattel alleged misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, breach of contract and breach of their fiduciary duty to keep Mattel Intellivision related secrets confidential. (NYT, UPI)

May 4: Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) established the subsidiary, WCI Labs Inc.  The Atari Advanced Development Laboratory (Atari NY Lab) at 300 E. 42nd St. Fl 6/10, New York NY, home of the Atari Advanced Development Group, would become the facility of WCI Labs, which would serve Atari as well as other units of WCI.  Steve Mayer, previously Atari SVP engineering (reporting to Atari chairman/CEO Ray Kassar), would be president of WCI Labs and senior executive consultant to the office of the president of WCI.

An Atari (Consumer) development group for the Atari My First Computer add-on for the 2600 would be spun-off from the former Atari NY Lab to a separate location: One Madison Avenue 14th Floor, New York NY.  The group would include: James E. Korenthal (manager), Mitchell Balsam, Mark Hahn (source 28:10)

May 8: Dr. Alfred L. Moyé, formerly the U.S. Dept. of Higher Education's Deputy Assistant Secretary during the Carter administration, would join Atari (Home Computer) as national educational sales manager, responsible for sales programs targeted at elementary, high school and college educators (ArcadeExpress v1n20), replacing Jim Paige who departed the company.  Educational sales would adopt the branding: AtariEd.  (Keith Schaefer remained Atari (Home Computer) SVP sales.) 

May 8-14: At Atari's 9th annual distributor meeting, a week-long event held at the Buena Vista Palace near Disney World in Orlando FL, Atari introduced Star Wars (Standup and Cockpit), Arabian by Sun Electronics, and Food Fight cocktail.  Also, Mary Fujihara (previously: Mary Takatsuno) had been promoted to director of marketing research, and John Farrand remained president of Atari (Coin-Op). (PlayMeter 7/1/83 p10-12)

May 10: Atari Inc. and MCA Video Games Inc. (formed by MCA Inc. in 1982) announced the formation of a joint venture called Studio Games.  Under the terms of the agreement, Studio Games would create coin-operated videogames, home videogames and computer software based on motion pictures, television and other properties developed and proposed by MCA.  Studio Games would have headquarters in Sunnyvale and operate an office in Universal City, and would be headed by: James N. Fiedler, president of MCA Video Games; Raymond E. Kassar, chairman and chief executive officer of Atari; Stanley Newman, vice president of MCA; and Charles Paul, senior vice president of Atari. (PR)  

May?: At Atari Consumer Product Service (CPS): Dave Wilson, previously manager of customer relations, was promoted to director of customer relations (still reporting to VP for CPS Jon Ebbs).  Bill Bartlett, previously supervisor of customer relations specialists, was promoted to manager of product support for customer relations (still reporting to Wilson).  Users' Group Support Manager Earl Rice, previously of the Atari Home Computer division in marketing, would now report to Bartlett in CPS. (source 13:40)  Robert H. Levrini would be promoted to Supervisor, product specialist group (replacing Bartlett in the role; reporting to Bartlett). (source)

May?: Atari (corporate) VP special projects Linda Gordon assumed responsibility for educational marketing of Atari computers (InfoWorld 2/27/84 p105), which would adopt the branding: Atari Instructional Material Service (AIMS).  Michael T. Knoblauh would join Atari (corporate) as manager, AIMS (head of educational software acquisition and development) (AtariConnection Wint84 p29; source) (reporting to Gordon), replacing both Atari (Home Computer) manager of educational software products Sueann Ambron who departed the company (to Human Engineered Software (HesWare) as well as Atari (Home Computer) national manager of educational marketing Chris Bowman who departed the company (to Apple Computer). 

May?: Marketing consultant Don Thorson, formerly of Atari (Consumer) from 1977-1981 (source), would return to the company as Atari (Home Computer) director of hardware marketing (source) (reporting to SVP marketing and software engineering Jeffrey Heimbuck), replacing Mark Lutvak who departed the company (to Durango Systems).  Andrew Soderberg, formerly a software product manager, would become product manager for Atari XL computers (reporting to Thorson).

May?: Steve Gerber, previously Atari (Home Computer) director of software product acquisition, joined Atari International (U.K.) Inc. as director of the Software Development Centre, assuming the role from software manager John Peeke-Vout who would join Atari (Home Computer) as director of external software development (replacing Gerber in the role).  Atari's two regional software-acquisition centers (at 155 Moffett Park Dr., Sunnyvale CA and at 57 John F Kennedy St., Cambridge MA) would be shut down.

May?: Robert D. Cory, previously of the Boston Consulting Group (and before that, the Standard Research Institute), would join Atari (Home Computer) as director of computer business development, in part replacing VP product development and business planning Peter Rosenthal who departed the company (to DesignWare, Inc.). 

May: Gary Blondefield, previously Atari (Consumer) hardware product manager, would be director of game business development.  Philip C. Restaino, previously of Bristol-Myers Co., joined Atari (Consumer) as hardware product manager (replacing Blondefield in the role). (PR 10/10/83 for date) 

May?: Atari (Home Computer) group product manager (until recently, manager, direct marketing, including Atari Connection magazine) Sally Bowman departed the company (to DesignWare, Inc.).  (Ted Richards remained Editor of Atari Connection magazine).

May: Atari (Consumer) video game designer Nick Turner departed the company.

May: Atari discontinued production of the 400 (both at 1173 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA and at Atari's plant in Hong Kong).  Atari also discontinued domestic production of the 800, and Atari's plant at 1173 Borregas Ave. would be repurposed.  800 production would commence (continue?) at the Hong Kong plant (for the short-term).

May: Atari discontinued domestic production of the 1200XL, and Atari's plant at 1215 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA would now serve as headquarters for consumer manufacturing offices.  1200XL production would continue by Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC). 

May?: Production of the Atari 1050 disk drive commenced in Singapore by Atari-PCI Enterprises Pte. Ltd.

May: For the 400/800/1200XL Atari shipped: E.T. Phone Home! (VGU)

May: Video Game Update reported that Atari had canceled RealSports Basketball for the 5200, and had canceled Dukes of Hazzard for the 2600. (VGU 5/83)

May 15-20: At the Twenty-Fourth Annual Conference of the Australian College of Education held in Sydney Australia, Atari International marketing manager for computer software Nancy Garrison revealed that the 1200XL would not be released in Australia.  Rather, a new range of more powerful machines was to debut at the upcoming (June) CES in the U.S.  Futuretronics remained the distributor for Atari International in Australia.  (SydneyMorningHerald 5/30/83)

May 18: In the U.S., Atari established the subsidiary, Atari International (Belgium) Inc.  The new unit would be set up to replace Confirmex as the distributor for Atari International (Benelux) B.V. in Belgium.

May 18-September 12: In Paris, at the Forum of the Pompidou Centre, the Au temps de l'espace (In Space Time) exhibit by the Centre de création industrielle (CCI; Industrial Creation Center) included components (including Atari 800 and software) from the ongoing TEME (Totally Enclosed Modular Environment) project in human ecology at Greenfield Community College (MA), with financial support from Atari via the Atari Institute for Educational Action Research.  485,270 would visit the exhibit over 85 days. (Antic v2n6; source)

May 20: Atari announced it would cut its payroll by 225 workers effective May 27, this beyond the 1,700 ongoing layoffs as announced on Feb. 22 but not yet fully enacted.  The new reduction involved employees ranging from production workers to supervisors in video-game manufacturing.  Atari had about 5,000 employees in California and in manufacturing plants in Puerto Rico (Atari Caribe, Inc.), Taiwan (Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC), Hong Kong, and El Paso, Tex.  (AP 5/21/83)

May 20: Atari launched Atari International (Italy) Inc. with a press conference held at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan.  The new subsidiary was Atari's fifth in Europe (France, West Germany, the United Kingdom, and Holland), and would replace Italian Atari 2600 distributor Melchioni and computer distributor Adveico.  Representing Atari at the event: Anton Bruehl (president of Atari International), Alan Kay (Atari VP/chief scientist), Manlio Allegra (assistant to Bruehl), and Massimo Ruosi (Direttore Generale (general manager) for Italy; previously of Proctor & Gamble in Italy).  Atari International (Italy) Inc. location: Via Cherubini 6, 20145 Milano.  Also for Atari International (Italy) Inc.: Vittorio Vitaletti would be sales director, and Ernesto Zanzi would be Direttore amministrativo (controller). (source; MCmicrocomputer #21 p14-16; source; source)  

May 22-24: "Video games and human development : a research agenda for the 80's" symposium, sponsored by Atari, held at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge MA.

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.

May 29: For the VCS Sears had released Tele-Games Submarine Commander by Atari. (newspaper ad)

June 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Product Catalog Summer Edition 1983, introducing for the 400/800/1200XL: Home Inventory, Home Loan Analysis, Strategic Financial Ratio Analysis, Drawit, Piano Tuner, Video Kaleidoscope, Circuit Lab, Morsecode Master, Punctuation Put-on, Three R Math Home System, Wordgo, The Bean Machine, Bootleg, Can't Quit, Dandy, Ennumereight, Smasher. APX also introduced the 48K RAM Expansion Kit (for the 400 computer, 8KiB or 16KiB versions).  Fred Thorlin was APX director; product review manager: Jack Perron.

June 1: Atari announced the consolidation of its Consumer Products Group (Consumer and Atari International divisions) and Home Computer division into three new business units: Atari Products Co. (domestic and international marketing and engineering), Atari Sales & Distribution Co., and Atari Manufacturing Co.  John Cavalier, previously Home Computer Division president, would be president of Atari Products Co.; Donald Kingsborough, previously Consumer Division EVP sales & marketing, would be president of Atari Sales & Distribution Co.; Paul Malloy, previously Consumer Division SVP operations, would be president of Atari Manufacturing Co.  Cavalier, Kingsborough, and Malloy would each report to Atari chairman and CEO Raymond Kassar (as would the heads of the two other product divisions not affected by the reorganization - Coin-Op and AtariTel. (NYT 6/2pD5, WSJ 6/2p20, timing clue)

The finance units of the former Consumer and Home Computer divisions would be consolidated into Atari's corporate finance unit.  Jean Hackenburg, previously Atari (Consumer) VP finance, would be (corporate) VP business planning.  Erwin Lenowitz, previously Atari (Consumer) director of financial planning, would be (corporate) VP financial planning.  Sol Kershner, previously Atari International (U.K.) Inc. financial controller, would be (corporate) VP and chief accounting officer.  (James Heisch remained Atari SVP finance/CFO.)

Reports to Cavalier would include Jeffrey Heimbuck (SVP domestic and international marketing and engineering - except entertainment software marketing) and David Ruckert (SVP entertainment software marketing).  Reports to Heimbuck would include: Don Thorson (director of computer hardware marketing), Philip Restaino (director of game hardware marketing), Fred Simon (VP software: marketing and engineering of home applications and children's software for Atari home computers and game systems; previously: VP of the software division of Walt Disney Telecommunications and Non-Theatrical Company), John Constantine (VP international marketing), Michel Ebertin (VP engineering), Dave Stubben (VP advanced engineering).  Reports to Ruckert would include Jewel Savadelis (director of video game marketing) and West Shell III (director of computer game marketing; previously: a product director at Johnson & Johnson). (ArtofAtari p313; for date) 

Reports to Simon would include Colette Weil (Director, Marketing, Home Applications and Children's Software; previously: Director, Corporate Market and Consumer Research), Fred Thorlin (director, APX), John Peeke-Vout (director, external software development) and Steve Arnold (director, Atari Software Publishing (later: AtariSoft; PC Mag 3/20/84p49; source); previously: an Atari (Home Computer) software product manager).  (Others involved with the AtariSoft product line would eventually include: Robert Lindsey (director, 1984), Bryan Kerr (group product manager), Richard Frick (development for ColecoVision), Russ Haft (development for Intellivision), Ken Wirt (sales), John Skruch (operations manager).  Atari research analyst Bob Fournier (previously: Atari (Home Computer) entertainment product manager) had developed the original business plan for Atari Software Publishing. (source; source)

Reports to Stubben in the new Advanced Engineering unit (new game machines, new computers, interactive video disks, optical products and other new hardware systems) would include new product development managers John De Santis (game machines) and Donald Teiser (computers and optical ROM products); the unit would inherit the 3600 project (would be introduced as: 7800) and the Shakti/25601/1600 computer project (Mark Davis, project leader), and the unit would soon launch an Optical ROM Project (Paul J. Wehrenberg, project leader).  Others in the unit would include: Jim Tittsler and Carl Goy, Eric Breeze, Mark Filipak, Richard O'Keefe, Horace Arlen Olive, Gilbert Chan, Glen C. Hoag, Der-Chang Hsieh, Wai-Hon Lee.

Reports to Kingsborough would include: Keith Schaefer (SVP computer sales), Win Weber (SVP game sales), Anton Bruehl (EVP international sales), Conrad Jutson (VP planning).  Alfred Moyé remained National Educational Sales Manager (head of AtariEd).  Ken Wirt would be sales manager, Atari Software Publishing product line (later: AtariSoft).  Craig Conway, previously Atari (Home Computer) national account manager, departed the company (to Digital Research).

Atari would establish an Advanced Games Group (game development for coin arcades, home computers, and home video game systems), to be directed by Chris Horseman (previously: Home Computer Division VP software engineering).  Horseman would report to Atari (Coin-Op) VP creative development Lyle Rains, and the unit would eventually include: Jim Morris, Robert Weatherby, Michael Gurganus, Jack C. Ritter, Dave Menconi, Steve Englehart, Aric Wilmunder, Dan Oliver, Rita Pless. (source) (source)  

Bill Carris, previously Atari (Home Computer) director of software marketing (reporting to Heimbuck), transferred to Atari (Coin-Op) in marketing/special projects (Atari Adventure concept?). 

Departures from Atari (Consumer) would include: graphics director John Hayashi, art director James Kelly, industrial design group manager Roy Nishi.

June 2: Atari had named W. Thomas Bayha (William T. Bayha), previously of Sterling Drug International, as managing director of its Hong Kong subsidiary (Atari International (Hong Kong) Limited, Suite 605, Wing On Plaza, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon), replacing John Constantine who was to join Atari's international marketing staff in Sunnyvale CA (WSJ 6/2p20) (as VP international marketing, reporting to Atari Products Co. SVP domestic and international marketing and engineering Jeffrey Heimbuck).  (Loren R. Wolter (L.R. Wolter) remained Atari VP and general manager, Far East operations.)

June 5-8: At the Summer CES held at McCormick Place in Chicago, where Atari also hosted a nearby reception for customers at The First Chicago Center, One First National Plaza on Sunday night, June 5, Atari introduced the 600XL home computer ($199; to ship in July), the 800XL home computer (price to be announced; August), the 1400XL home computer (price to be announced; September; never shipped), and the 1450XLD home computer (price to be announced; October; never shipped) with DOS III (later: DOS 3).  The 1050 disk drive, currently shipping with DOS 2.0S, was to ship with DOS III by the end of summer.  Also introduced: 1027 printer, 1030 modem (fall) with ModemLink.  Three computer expansion devices were introduced (each due in the fall): CP/M Module with CP/M 2.2 (never shipped), Atari Expansion Box (later: 1090 XL Expansion System; never shipped), 64K Memory Module (for the 600XL; would ship as: 1064 Memory Module). (PR)  Also featured: 1020 printer/plotter, 1025 printer.  Accessories introduced: Touch Tablet (CX77; fall) with graphics tablet cassette program (would ship as: AtariArtist on cartridge), Trak-Ball (CX80; fall), Light Pen (CX75).  Announced for future introduction: Superjoystick / Ultimate Joystick (CX60; never introduced).  The 2600 Remote Control Wireless Joysticks (CX42) package was to be updated for marketing for Atari home computers (package never updated).  Also featured: Numerical Keypad (CX85).  Atari announced three All-In-One-Pak kits (each due in the fall): the Writing System (would ship as: AtariWriter System), the Programming System (never shipped) and the Entertainment System (never shipped).  Five Add-A-Pak kits were featured or announced: The Communicator II (July; the 835 modem was no longer promised to ship separately), the Atari Accountant (new name for The Bookkeeper kit; never shipped under the new name), the Home Manager, the Arcade Champ (August), the BASIC Tutor I (August).  Software introduced: Tennis, Soccer (never shipped), Football, Pole Position (title by Namco), Joust (title by Williams Electronics), Donkey Kong Junior (title by Nintendo), Ms. Pac-Man (title by Namco), Pengo (title by Sega Enterprises), Robotron: 2084 (title by Williams Electronics), AtariMusic II: Major Scales and Keys.  Announced/previewed:  The Mysteries of Wonderland (Disney; never shipped), Peter Pan's Daring Escape (Roklan for Walt Disney Productions; never shipped).  Announced/simulated: Battlezone (title would be shipped by Atari Corporation in 1988), Tempest (never shipped), Xevious (title by Namco; never shipped).  Again promised: AtariMusic I, TeleLink II (again promised apart from The Communicator II kit), Superman III, Atari Logo.  (No longer promised: Star Trux.)  Atari also introduced Alan Alda as spokesperson for Atari computers, in an arrangement to extend for the next 5 years. (source; CN 7/83 p3-7; Analog #13) 

Also for Atari home computers, Atari Instructional Material Service (AIMS) courseware titles to be released fourth quarter 1983 included: Math Arcademics (Arcademic Skill Builders by DLM), Atari Sentences, and a multi-program Trigonometry and Algebra course from CONDUIT (University of Iowa).  Previewed at the show: AtariLab (previously: ScienceLab) series (by Dickinson College), including AtariLab Starter Set with Temperature Module (September); future modules: Timekeeper, Light, Biofeedback, Mechanics, Lie Detector (Analog #13 p36; see also InfoWorld 7/4/83 p13)

Atari announced the new Atari Software Publishing product line (later: AtariSoft) with plans to release, by September 1, software such as Pac-Man, Centipede, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong and Defender for non-Atari computer systems including Apple II, IBM PC, TI-99/4A, VIC-20, Commodore 64 (C-64), and (tentatively) Radio Shack Color Computer.  Plus, for the TI-99/4A, Atari planned to release the Synapse titles: Shamus, Protector, Slime, and Picnic Paranoia. (ComputerEntertainer Jul83p59; ArcExpress 6/19/83; SoftLine JulAug83 p46; Globe&Mail 6/10; WSJ 6/6)  (AtariSoft public launch event would be October 26, 1983.)  

Atari again promised The Graduate (previously: 2600 Keyboard; earlier: My First Computer; never shipped), with built-in Microsoft BASIC, showing a working prototype (source 26:20), and for The Graduate introduced 6 peripherals: I/O Module+8K RAM, Printer, Modem, 16K RAM, Cassette, Micro Disk (wafertape); and 9 programs: An Introduction to Programming, Children's Introduction to Programming, The Home Filing Manager, Family Finances, Typo Attack, Monkey Up a Tree, Donkey Kong (title by Nintendo), Robotron: 2084 (title by Williams Electronics), Caverns of Mars. (PR)  (all never shipped)  See Atari's publicity photo for The Graduate (Creative Computing 9/83 p.202), and also see Atarimuseum's CX3000 page.  John Cavalier was named Atari Products Co. president.

Atari demonstrated the Voice Controller voice synthesis and recognition device (Milton Bradley; earlier: 2600 Voice Commander; due October 1983; never released), with 2600 RealSports Baseball. (PR)

Atari announced the introduction of 28 new games for the 2600 VCS and the 5200 SuperSystem (including 9 games for both platforms, 10 2600 exclusives, and 9 5200 exclusives). (PR)  David Ruckert was Atari SVP of marketing (entertainment software). (ArcadeExpress 7/3)

For the 2600 VCS Atari introduced the Space Age Joystick (CX43; July (VGU 7/83 p57)), again promised the Trak-Ball Controller (CX22), Kid's Controller (CX23), and Pro-Line Joystick (CX24), and introduced or again promised 17 games: Pole Position (title by Namco; due Sept.), Jungle Hunt (July), Kangaroo (title by Sun Electronics; Aug.), Dig Dug (Oct.), Joust (title by Williams Electronics; Oct.), Moon Patrol (title by Williams Electronics; Oct.), Battlezone (Sept.), Cookie Monster Munch (Oct.), Alpha Beam with Ernie (Oct.), Big Bird's Egg Catch (Oct.), Dumbo's Flying Circus (previously: Dumbo Flies Home; Oct.; never released), Donald Duck's Speedboat (Sept.; never released), Sorcerer's Apprentice (Nov.), Snoopy and the Red Baron (July), Miss Piggy's Wedding (Nov.; never released), Pigs In Space (Nov.), Krull (Sept.). (another source)  Also featured/promoted: Ms. Pac-Man, Vanguard.  Separately announced for future introduction: Good Luck, Charlie Brown (never released).

Atari announced a price reduction on the 5200 to $199.00, and that Pac-Man would now be included with the system (previously: Super Breakout).  Also, the joystick had been enhanced with self-centering and a more durable boot (VGU 7/83 p60) (CX52L; never shipped).  New production 5200 units would feature 2 controller ports (previously: 4 ports).  For the 5200 Atari introduced the VCS Cartridge Adaptor (CX55), again promised the Trak Ball Controller (CX53), and introduced or again promised 18 games: Pole Position (due Aug.), Jungle Hunt (Sept.), Kangaroo (Aug.), Ms. Pac-Man (title by Namco; Sept.), Dig Dug (Oct.), Joust (title by Williams Electronics; Oct.), Moon Patrol (title by Williams Electronics; Nov.), Battlezone (Nov.; never shipped), Vanguard (Oct.), Space Dungeon (July), Pengo (title by Sega Enterprises; Sept.), Road Runner (Nov.; never shipped), Sport Goofy (Nov.; never shipped), Tempest (Nov.; never released), Robotron: 2084 (title by Williams Electronics; Dec.), Xevious (title by Namco; fall; never released); "first games with self-contained voice synthesis": RealSports Baseball (Oct.), Berzerk (title by Stern; fall).

Finally, Atari promoted the new AtariTel division at the show ("The Wraps Are About to Come Off.").  Product introductions were promised for late 1983, with products to ship in early 1984.  Dick Mier was VP marketing, AtariTel. (source; source)

June 6: Atari (Coin-Op) opened an Atari Adventure game room at the San Francisco Airport North Terminal.  Design by the Atari Design Research Group (Harry Jenkins, group manager). (AtariDesign p175)

June 6: Atari Adventure Corp. was registered for business in Missouri. (future Atari Adventure locations near St. Louis)

June 6-8: Atari demonstrated the AtariLab series at NECC/5, the National Educational Computing Conference 1983, held at Towson State University, Baltimore MD. (InfoWorld 10/10/83 p28) 

June 7: Atari Adventure Corp. was registered for business in Florida. (Atari Adventure location at 208 Duval St., Key West FL)

June 9-14: At the 17th International Exhibition of Music, High Fidelity, Video and Consumer Electronics (SIM-HI.FI-IVES '83) in Milan, Atari International (Italy) Inc. introduced the 600XL, 800XL, and 1450XLD to Italy.  Estimated pricing: L. 500.000, L. 750.000 - 1 million, and L. 2.9 - 3 million, respectively.  Also featured/promised: 1010, 1050, 1020, 1027, CP/M Module, Touch Tablet (CX77), Light Pen (CX75), Remote Control Wireless Joysticks (CX42), Track-Ball, Expansion Box (see the picture), and much software. (MCmicrocomputer #21 p14-16)

June 11-Sept 10: Expanding upon the Atari computer classroom concept already offered in at least eight other Club Med locations, "Club Med-Atari Village" was featured at Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (Les Villages 4/83 v3n1)  (The Atari Village included custom hardware and software developed at the Atari L.A. Lab).

June 15: Atari announced an exclusive license with Nintendo Co. of Japan to manufacture and distribute home video and computer games based on Nintendo's "Mario Bros." coin-operated video game (except in Japan).  Atari already home computer rights (but not home video game system rights) to the first two titles in the series, Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr.  Atari said Donkey Kong Junior was expected to be available for Atari computers in the fall of 1983. Mario Bros. was to ship for Atari home video games (2600/5200) by Christmas and for Atari home computers in early 1984. (PR; WSJ 6/17)

June: The total installed base of Atari 400/800/1200XL computers was estimated by Future Computing, Inc. to be about 950,000.

June?: Atari discontinued production of the 800 (late production units made at Atari's plant in Hong Kong).

June?: For Atari home computers Atari shipped: 1020 printer/plotter, 1025 printer, 1050 disk drive (with DOS 2.0S)

June: For Atari home computers Atari shipped: Dig Dug, Donkey Kong (VGU)

June: Atari released Galaxian (GCC) for the 2600. (VGU 7/83)  (Would also eventually be released in Japan for the 2800.)

June: Fred Gerson, previously Atari (Coin-Op) VP finance, was promoted to Atari (Coin-Op) SVP manufacturing, replacing Dick Maslana who departed the company (to SyQuest as VP operations -source). (The Learning Co. PR 5/31/84 for date)  Steven Chiaramonte, previously Atari (Coin-Op) director of finance, would be promoted to Atari (Coin-Op) VP finance and CFO (replacing Gerson in the role).

June: George Opperman remained Atari (Coin-Op) director of visual communications (graphics design); Bob Flemate remained visual communications supervisor (production art; reporting to Opperman). (VideoGames v1n9 6/83 p30)

June 16-19: At the Tokyo Toy Show, held at the Fair Grounds, Harumi, Tokyo, Atari International (Nippon) featured the Atari 2800 and 25 games for the 2800.  About 100,000 attended the show. (GM 8/1/83)

June 17: Debut of the Warner Bros. feature film Superman III, which included 26 seconds of computer graphics animation developed for the project by the Atari Special Programs group (Steve Wright, director) over nearly four months in 1982-83, completed in February 1983.  Film credit: "Video Game Computer Animation by Atari Inc." (source)  Contributors to the project for Atari included: software manager/Atari consultant Pat Cole, programmer Vicki Parish, programmer Mike Marshall, film art director/Atari consultant Larry Wright, graphic artist/Atari consultant Richard Sachs, software system architect/Atari consultant Paul Hughett. (IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications 9/83 p7-10; source; Cinefantastique 9/83 p101)  Carl Rosendahl/Pacific Data Images (PDI) also consulted on the project. (source)

June 27: Opening of the first Atari Center, a retail computer training center concept, at The Oaks Shopping Center in Cupertino CA, with Sara Armstrong, director of the Terra Nuova Montessori School in Hayward CA, hired as the location's manager.  For the Atari Center program: operations were the responsibility of the Picodyne Corporation (Dean Brown, president; Alan O'Neill, contract manager, Atari Center program) with funding and advertising by Atari. (InfoWorld 9/5/83 p14-15)

June 28-29: In connection with the consolidation of the Consumer and Home Computer divisions, Atari was in the process of laying off about 1,000 Silicon Valley white-collar employees.  About 500, particularly in engineering and marketing, received notice late the previous week and the rest would be notified throughout the summer.  With the latest cutbacks, Atari employment in California's Santa Clara County would total about 4,000 primarily white-collar workers, down from 7,000 (5,000 white-collar and 2,000 blue-collar) employees at the beginning of the year. (UPI 6/28; Globe&Mail 6/29; ArcadeExpress 7/31)

June 30: Opening of the Atari Adventure Center (2,000 ft²) at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas NV, featuring 60 coin videogames from Atari and other manufacturers, as well as displays of Atari home computers, peripherals and software. (Hollywood Reporter 7/1/83p7)  Design by the Atari Design Research Group (Harry Jenkins, group manager).

Months?: 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)

Month?: Atari (Coin-Op) Sr. Software Engineer Rich Adam departed the company (to Sente Technologies).

Month?: Bill Aspromonte, previously of Fox Video Games, joined Atari Products Co. as a game designer (2600).

Month?: Engineer Charles S. Meyer (Chuck Meyer) joined the Atari Cyan Engineering unit as a staff engineer. (Marquis)

Month?: Atari industrial designer Regan Cheng departed the company.

Month?: In France, Jean Richen joined P.E.C.F. Atari as director of marketing, replacing Christian Paternot who departed the company. (one source for date)

July 2: An Atari Center (the second location; the first had opened 6/27/83 in Cupertino CA) was opened at the corner of Fifth Ave. and 48th St. in Manhattan, New York NY; educator Seth Greenberg would be the location's manager. (InfoWorld 9/5/83 p14-15)

July 2: At Atari (Coin-Op), John Farrand was president, Jerry Marcus was VP sales, Don Osborne was VP marketing, Mariann Layne was manager-marketing services, Sue Elliott was manager-international sales, Bob Harvey was midwest regional sales manager, John Hill was southeast regional sales manager, Jim Newlander was northeast regional sales manager, Mary Fujihara was manager-market research (actually: director -source).  Division headquarters/manufacturing: 790 Sycamore Dr., Milpitas, CA. (Cash Box 7/2/83 pt.iii p2)

July 7: Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) announced that Ray Kassar had resigned as Atari chairman and CEO, and that Kassar's replacement would be James J. Morgan, currently EVP marketing for U.S. cigarette operations at Philip Morris Inc.  Morgan was expected to begin at Atari on Sept. 6.  Emanuel Gerard, WCI office of the president and co-COO, a director, and responsble for Atari, would serve as Atari interim CEO until Morgan's arrival.  Kassar was to remain a consultant to WCI. (source) 

July 14: Atari (Coin-Op) opened an Atari Adventure game room at the San Francisco Airport Central Terminal.  Design by the Atari Design Research Group (Harry Jenkins, group manager). (AtariDesign p175)

July 15: For exclusive use by member stations during summer 1983, The United Stations radio network released the promotional 4-LP box set: Atari Presents: Hot Summer Rock, featuring four hour-long programs highlighting The Tubes, A Flock of Seagulls, Def Leppard, and The Stray Cats, each program also featuring advertisement spots from Atari. (source)

July?: Atari (corporate) director of organization development John T. Thompson departed the company (to David Powell, Inc.).

July: Production of the Atari 1200XL computer ended (later units made by Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC)).

July: Peter H. Friedman joined Atari Products Co. as product marketing manager for the Shakti/25601 project.  The new computer would be planned for introduction as the Atari 1600 (never introduced).

July: Atari released Crystal Castles (original upright version).

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.

July: Opening of Phase III of the Atari Video Adventure attraction at Marriott's Great America theme park in Santa Clara CA, featuring five zones including: two Video Kaleidoscopes, the Computer Painting studio, the Tone Tunnel, the Sound & Color Room, and The Host.  The site was designed and built by the Design Research Group, Atari Corporate Research (Harry Jenkins, group manager). (RePlay 7/97pAt24; AtariLife v2n14; AtariAge Jul/Aug83 v2n2p7)

July: For the 2600 Atari released: Jungle Hunt (GCC), Kangaroo (GCC) (VGU 8/83 p80)  (Jungle Hunt would also eventually be released in Japan for the 2800.)

July: Atari released Atari Video Cube for the 2600 (GCC; released exclusively to Atari Club members; later (1984) slightly altered and released as: Rubik's Cube)

July 20: Linda Gordon remained Atari VP special projects. (WSJ)

July 22: Milton Bradley announced that the previously announced agreement between Milton Bradley and Atari, to manufacture a plug-in peripheral (Voice Controller) for Atari's VCS 2600, had been terminated.

July 25-29: At ACM/SIGGRAPH '83 in Detroit, the evening computer-generated film and video shows included a presentation of "Superman III, Let the Games Begin" (2 minutes) produced by Atari Special Programs, credited to: Paul Hughett, Vicki Parish, Steve Wright, Pat Cole and Mike Marshall. (source/source, source)

Summer?: Atari planned to release 11 new peripherals for Atari XL home computers by the end of the year (including the Expansion Box). (source)

Summer: Second year of Atari Computer Camps, held at 7 locations: Camp Atari-New England (Jerome Singer, director) at the Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Greenfield MA; Camp Atari-Poconos (Robert Werner, director; Cyndi Heller, computer director; Steve Mandl, assistant director) at East Stroudsburg State College in PA; Camp Atari-Chesapeake (Leonard Fagen, director) at the Oldfields School in Glencoe MD; Camp Atari-Smokey Mountains (Jeffrey Wolfe, director) at the University of North Carolina at Asheville; Camp Atari-Midwest (William Merriman, director; Laurie D. Edwards, computer director) at the Shattuck School in Faribault MN; Camp Atari-Old West (Marlene and Don Applebaum, directors) at the Athenian School in Danville CA; Camp Atari-Pacific (Marianne and William Kravitz, directors) at the University of San Diego in CA. (source; source; source) 

Summer: Atari Products Co. director of electrical engineering David Remson departed the company. (source/clue)

Summer: At Atari Products Co., Condon Brown, previously game software development manager, would be promoted to director of game development (reporting to VP engineering Michel Ebertin), replacing George Kiss who departed the company (to Coleco). (source) 

Summer: At Atari Clubs, Inc. (Atari Age magazine), the new manager of The Atari Club was Jules Yingling (replacing Harv Johnson).

Summer: In the U.S., new production Atari 2600 systems would ship in the new silver format 2600AR package, including 4-switch black/no woodgrain 2600A console (NTSC), two CX40 joysticks, and both Combat and Pac-Man (paddles no longer included).

Summer: Atari consolidated the AtariTel division headquarters from 1349 Moffett Park Dr., Sunnyvale CA with the division's engineering operations at 1272 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA

Summer: Atari shipped the 5200 Pro-Line Trak-Ball Controller (CX53), the 2600 Pro-Line Trak-Ball Controller (CX22; preliminary version without trackball mode), and the 2600 Pro-Line Space Age Joystick (CX43). (see VGU 6/83 p48; VGU 9/83 p87)

Summer: Internationally (including Canada), new production Atari 2600 systems would ship in the new silver format 2600GP package, including 4-switch black/no woodgrain 2600A console (NTSC, PAL I, PAL N, PAL B/G, or PAL M version) or 2600AS console (SECAM), two CX40 joysticks, and one game (paddles no longer included).  NOTE: A small number of these systems shipped in Canada in similar Atari "2400" boxes which were designed for Canada/Mexico/Japan (English/French/Spanish/Japanese), with the imprint of Canadian Atari distributor, Irwin Electronics (pictures); these systems shipped with one joystick (no paddles and no game included).

Summer: Sears discontinued the Sears Tele-Games Video Arcade (#75003) and Video Arcade II (#75007) systems and cartridge product lines by Atari. (Sears would instead carry the standard Atari branded 2600 and games, and would also now carry the Atari 5200 system and games.)

Summer: The Software Development Centre at Atari International (U.K.) Inc. was actively recruiting programmers for conversions of software to platforms including Spectrum, Dragon, BBC and Commodore. (Personal Computer News 6/29, 7/20, 8/24)  (For the Centre: Jon Norledge remained development manager; Steve Gerber remained director.) (source; source; source)

Summer: At Atari International (U.K.) Inc., Jon Dean had been promoted to head of the Product Support group (reporting to Atari Service Centre head George West), replacing Shamus Kelly who had departed the company. (source)

August 2: Milton Bradley Co. filed a $43 million lawsuit against Atari Inc. in U.S. District Court, alleging Atari illegally backed away from an agreement to buy large numbers of voice synthesis recognition units for Atari's 2600 and 5200 game consoles. The suit alleged Atari originally agreed April 6 to buy 450,000 units for $48 each for the first 250,000 units and $46 each for the rest. Milton Bradley alleged Atari gave it a verbal order for 128,000 units, but that the final order was for only 60,000 units, leading to the termination of the agreement.  (NewsBytes)

August 3: In the UK, Atari was donating more than 100 Atari 800 systems for 40 one-week day camps held in Kentish Town, Greenwich, Edmonton, Westminster, Haringey, Leytonstone, and the docklands.  The original idea came from the national charity Inter-Action Trust. (Personal Computer News 8/3/83p5)

August 12: Philip Morris Inc. EVP marketing for U.S. cigarette operations James J. Morgan departed that company in advance of joining Atari. (source) 

August: For the 2600 Atari released: Battlezone (GCC), Pole Position (GCC) (VGU 9/83)  (Both titles would also eventually be released in Japan for the 2800.)

August: For the 5200 Atari released: Kangaroo (GCC), VCS Cartridge Adaptor (CX55) (VGU 9/83)

August: Atari launched the 600XL PAL version (for Europe, except France) in West Germany.  Also promoted: Touch Tablet (CX77; Nov), 1025, 1010, 1050 (Oct; DOS III due winter 84), 1027 (Nov), Numerical Keypad (CX85), 1020, 1064 Memory Module (Oct), Trak-Ball (CX80; Dec), Joysticks (CX40), Super Controller (CX24; Oct), 1060 CP/M Module.  New software promised: Pole Position (Oct), Donkey Kong Junior (Oct), Pengo (Oct), Robotron (Oct), Superman III (Oct; never shipped), Fussball (Soccer; Nov; never shipped). (source)

August: For the Atari home computers Atari shipped Atari Logo. (LCSI PR 12/12/83)

August: Atari Products Co. game product manager Joel Oberman would be promoted to director of video game marketing (reporting to SVP entertainment software marketing David Ruckert), replacing Jewel Savadelis who departed the company.

August: Atari Products Co. product marketing manager for XL computers Andrew Soderberg departed the company (to ViMart).  (Don Thorson remained director of computer hardware marketing.)

August: Sherwin Gooch, previously Atari Products Co. manager, Telecommunications Products Group, was promoted to manager, Applications Software and Telecommunications Products Group, assuming the role of Ken Balthaser who departed the company (to Mindset).  (Fred Simon remained VP software.)

August: Keith Schaefer, previously Atari Sales & Distribution Co. SVP computer sales, was promoted to EVP sales, assuming game sales from Win Weber who departed the company (to Schering-Plough; Weber would also remain a consultant to Atari for about 6 months).  (Donald Kingsborough remained president of Atari Sales & Distribution Co.)  

August: Atari SVP finance/CFO James Heisch departed the company (to Businessland).  (Sol Kershner remained Atari VP and chief accounting officer.)

August: Bennet Goldberg, previously Atari Products Co. international hardware product manager (video game consoles and accessories), became Atari International (Italy) Inc. marketing manager. (source)  Stephen Race, previously international hardware product manager (computers and accessories), would be promoted to director of marketing (assuming hardware product management for video game consoles and accessories from Goldberg).  (John Constantine remained Atari Products Co. VP international marketing.)

August 15: A class-action suit against Atari, seeking lost wages of $3.6 million, $10 million in punitive damages and unspecified compensatory damages, was filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court by attorney Linda Krieger on behalf of Maria Carson, Rudolfo Villanueva, and the other 600 workers who lost their jobs and claimed they weren't given advance notice of the layoffs announced on Feb. 22, when they had been assured their jobs were safe.

August 16: The U.S. Centipede Championship Playoffs were held by Atari for 10 finalists in the Atari Centipede Bug-Off Contest (5 top scores from both the 2600 and 5200 Centipede divisions) at 10:00 a.m. at the Insect Zoo in San Francisco CA.  Grand prize (two awards: one each for the 2600 and 5200 divisions): an Atari Millipede arcade game.  2600 division winner: Doug Leighty; 5200 division winner: John Hnat.  A final play-off between the two grand prize winners, combining scores on both the 2600 and 5200 Centipede versions, would determine who would represent the U.S. in the Atari World Video Championship Competition in Munich, West Germany, on September 14, 1983. Winner: Doug Leighty. (PR; source)

August 17: Atari announced it had been named the official home computer of the 1984 Olympic Games.  As part of its major sponsorship of the event, Atari's home video games and coin-operated video games also were named as official products of the Olympic Games.  Atari also would be a major sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team and the U.S. Women's Volleyball Team.  Under terms of Atari's contract with the LACOC, Atari could use the "Star-in-Motion" logo of the 1984 Summer Olympics, and the "Sam the Olympic Eagle" mascot to promote and advertise its products until the close of the Summer Olympics in 1984.  Atari announced plans to launch its most aggressive television advertising campaign ever during the Summer and Winter Olympic Games on ABC Sports, which would broadcast the Games.  The sponsorship agreement also allowed Atari to establish video game arcades at the Olympics sites for the exclusive use by athletes and the news media. (PR)

August 20: In the UK Atari had cut the price of the 2600 by £20 to £69.99, and had added Pac-Man to the package (which also included joystick and paddle controllers).  Eric Salamon remained marketing director, Atari International (U.K.) Inc. (source)

August 29: Time Delaware Incorporated was established by Time, Inc., publisher since 11/28/1922.  (This corporate entity would be known as Time Warner Inc. from July 1989 to 10/10/1996.  It was then named Time Warner Companies Inc. until 2/24/2009 when it was finally merged into Historic TW Inc.)

August 31: In the U.S., Atari established the subsidiary, Atari Benelux Holding, Inc. (speculation: new corporate parent for Atari International (Benelux) B.V. in the Netherlands, Atari International (Belgium) Inc., and any future Atari subsidiary in Luxembourg)

August 31: In the U.S., Atari established the subsidiary, Atari Germany Holding, Inc. (speculation: new corporate parent for Atari Elektronik Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH in West Germany and any future Atari subsidiaries in Austria and/or Switzerland)

August/September?: Atari released an updated Atari Computer Educational Software Directory (reprint of the 1/83 edition with updated cover pages).  New titles available through AtariEd (Atari educational sales) were to include: Alien Addition (Arcademic Skill Builders by DLM), AtariLab Starter Set with Temperature Module, AtariLab Curriculum Modules (never shipped), AtariLab Light Module (would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1985), Atari Logo in the Classroom: A Teacher's Manual (book by Donna Bearden, would be published by Reston in 1984), Atari/PLATO (would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1986 as: The Learning Phone), Atari Sentences (never shipped?), CONDUIT Algebra Part I & II (never shipped?), CONDUIT Trig Part I & II (never shipped?), Concentration, Demolition Division (Arcademic Skill Builders by DLM), Denver Pascal (never shipped), Department of Defense Dependent Schools Student Scheduling Program (never shipped), Division Drill (School and Home CourseWare), Geoterms Part I & II (Marc Ed, Inc.; never shipped?), Green Globs & Other Trig Diversions (never shipped?), Math Facts and Games (never shipped?), Math Mysteries (never shipped?), Meteor Multiplication (Arcademic Skill Builders by DLM; never shipped?), Peter and the Wolf (never shipped?).

September 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Product Catalog Fall Edition 1983, introducing for Atari home computers: Atspeller Rev. 2, AtariWriter Printer Drivers, Color Alignment Generator, Advanced Fingerspelling, Excalibur, Musical Pilot, Puzzler, Ringmaster, Spelling Genie Rev. 2.0, Ion Roadway, Kangaroo (GCC; title by Sun Electronics), Moon Marauder, Saratoga, Space War, Cartoonist, Eastern Front (1941) Scenario Editor, Eastern Front Scenarios 1942/1943/1944, Mathlib for Deep Blue C.  Fred Thorlin was APX director; product review manager: Jack Perron.

September 6: James Morgan arrived at Atari as chairman and CEO (replacing the departed Ray Kassar). (InfoWorld 8/1/83 p3)  

September 6: Andy Sekel (A.J. Sekel) was manager of press relations for Atari Products. (Syracuse Post-Standard)

September 7: Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) and Atari announced plans to consolidate most of Atari's Silicon Valley facilities to a new office and research complex on 65 acres of land owned by WCI at River Oaks Park in San Jose CA.  WCI had named Wolff-Comstock as joint venture partner and lead developer of the property.  Development and construction costs were expected to total approximately $60 million.  Atari was to occupy approximately 400,000 ft² of office space for research and development, marketing and administration purposes at the new site by 1985.  Atari now employed 3,400 people at its 52 sites in Santa Clara County. Atari's plant in Milpitas, with 1,000 employees, would not be moved into the new facilities. (UPI 9/8; Fun p750)

September 8: Atari announced 380 layoffs, to take effect Sept. 16, at its El Paso TX plant, and that it would shift its El Paso manufacturing and assembly operations (including domestic 5200 production) to plants in Taiwan and elsewhere in the Far East.  The cuts would leave 270 employees at the El Paso plant.  Atari said the El Paso plant would be changed from a manufacturing facility for video games and home computers to a plant for repair of defective parts. (UPI)  Gary Weaver was Atari plant manager in El Paso. (source)  (Atari's remanufacturing operations, previously located in Sunnyvale CA and headed by James Heller, were being moved to the El Paso plant.)  Atari's El Paso administrative office at 5654 Brown St. would be closed.  (Amplifone Corporation, Atari's division in Brownsville TX, where Gil Gilbert was plant manager (having replaced the departed Michael Smith), would not be affected.) (Brownsville Herald 9/9/83 p8A)  

September 8: Richard Mier, previously AtariTel VP of marketing, had been promoted to AtariTel general manager, replacing AtariTel president Peter Wensberg who "was being reassigned to a corporate post." (NYT) (Wensberg would shortly depart the company and co-found Uniform Software Systems, Inc.)  Roy L. Elkins would be the new AtariTel VP marketing (replacing Mier in the role).

September 12: Jeffrey Heimbuck, previously Atari Products Co. SVP domestic and international marketing and engineering, would remain Atari Products Co. SVP marketing and engineering.  Atari had re-established a separate division, Atari Products International, to assume international sales and marketing of consumer products from the Atari Sales & Distribution Co. and Atari Products Co. business units.  Anton Bruehl, previously Atari Sales & Distribution Co. EVP international sales, would be president of Atari Products International. (source)  John Constantine, previously Atari Products Co. VP international marketing (reporting to Heimbuck), would be Atari Products International VP sales administration and distribution (based in New York; reporting to Bruehl).  Atari Products International had named: Christopher P. Deering (previously of Gillette Europe, based in London (see RCA/Columbia PR 4/5/85)) as VP marketing (Marketing and Product Management (source for title); essentially replacing Constantine in the role); John C. Beuttell (Jack Beuttell) as VP sales for Canada, Africa, Central/South America, the Middle East and parts of Europe; Steven T. Henick as VP sales for Asia and the Pacific region; Dumarsais (Dumas) M. Siméus as VP new business development (previously: division VP strategic planning (source)). (WSJ p48)  Deborah Lee would join Atari Products International as assistant counsel.

September 14: Atari World Centipede Video Game Championship at 4 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel in Munich, West Germany.  Competition platform: 2600 Centipede (PAL version).  Contestants competed for six (three in each of two age groups) seven-day, all-expense paid trips for two to the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and an Atari 800XL home computer.  The three victors in the 18-and-under age category were Championship winner (World Centipede Champion) Stewart Murray, 14, of Aberdeen, Scotland, with 323,512 points; Shiu Fan Or, 14, of Hong Kong, with 318,881 points; and Michel Minet, 17, of Vise, Belgium, who scored 311,516 points.  In the 18-and-over age category, the three top scorers were Championship winner (World Centipede Champion) Andrew Brzezinski, 19, from Greenford, Middlesex, England, with 322,044 points; the U.S. champion, Doug Leighty, 21, of Carlisle, Pa., with 290,986 points; and Thomas Magnusson, 19, of Malmo, Sweden, with 273,195 points. (PR; source)

September: Linda Gordon, previously Atari (corporate) VP special projects, would be Atari Products Co. SVP education (Education Group), remaining responsible for educational software acquisition and development (Atari Instructional Material Service, AIMS), Atari Computer Camps, and the Atari Club Med project, while additionally assuming responsibility for educational sales (AtariEd) and the Atari Institute for Educational Action Research.  AIMS and AtariEd would be combined as Atari Learning Systems, with operations at 1399 Moffett Park Dr, Sunnyvale CA.  Alfred Moyé, previously National Educational Sales Manager, would become director of the Atari Institute for Education Research, replacing Ted Kahn who departed the company (to Picodyne). (source; source)  Robert D. Hall (Bob Hall) would become director of Educational Division sales (replacing Moyé in the role). (ScientificAmerican Jan84pC6)  Mike Knoblauh, previously manager of AIMS, would be director of Educational Division marketing.

September?: Erwin Lenowitz, previously Atari (corporate) VP financial planning, would become VP financial and business planning, assuming the additional role from Jean Hackenburg who departed the company.  (Hackenburg would join Mad Computer Inc. in 1984.). (for titles: Telco System PR 9/12/85 and source)  (Sol Kershner remained Atari VP and chief accounting officer.)

September: Atari had cancelled The Graduate for the 2600. (VGU 9/83; WSJ 9/12/83p1/21)  Atari's Research & Development location dedicated to software development for The Graduate, One Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, New York NY, would be shut down, and departures from Atari would include group manager Jim Korenthal. (source 29:00)

September: Atari Consumer Product Service (CPS) shut down the Regional Service Centers at 2109 E Division, Arlington TX and at 5400 Newport Dr Ste 1, Rolling Meadows IL, leaving two remaining: 1312 Crossman Ave, Sunnyvale CA (also home to Customer Relations) and 12 B World's Fair Dr, Somerset NJ (source; source)  

September: For the 5200 Atari released: Pole Position (GCC), Jung Hunt (title by Taito), Space Dungeon (with controller holder), Ms. Pac-Man (GCC) (VGA 10/83)

September: At Atari (Coin), Frank Becker had become the national Field Service Manager (previously: regional field service manager), reporting to director of technical services Darl Davidson. (CC 9/83)

September: Atari consumer manufacturing industrial engineer Michael Baughman departed the company (to Apple Computer).

September: In France, Denis Friedman joined P.E.C.F. Atari where he would be Software Manager. (source)