History of Computers - Atari

Page created by Kate Clarke

Introduction

Atari is a company originally founded in 1972 that became a major player in the video and arcade game industry.

Overview

Atari is a global producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and all interactive game platforms including consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, advanced smartphones, Personal Computers, web and online. Its games are sold in more than 60 countries through an international distribution network and direct to consumers via The Atari Website

Atari was one of the first major entertainment companies in the area of computers and video game technology. The original Atari Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. The Atari company was a pioneer in arcade games, home video game consoles, and home computers. Atari founded many popular products in its time such as the well known Pong game and the Atari 2600.

The 'Atari Museum' claims:

• During the 70's and up to the mid 80's, Atari was the recognized leader in all area's of videogames. Starting out and establishing the Video Arcade industry, Atari set the stage for the 10 billion dollar industry with the release of PONG.

In later years Atari would enter the home with Home Pong and would ignite a fever never before seen with the release of its VCS (Video Computer System) and the release of a home version of Space Invaders for the VCS.

Atari continues to make video games, releasing hits such as Roller Coaster Tycoon. It launched a rebranding project in 2001, releasing Splashdown, MX Rider, and TransWorld surf. Atari is currently working on a new console, the Ataribox, which will support both new and classic Atari games.

Significance

Atari is significant to the history of computers due to its massive contributions to the computer entertainment world. Atari's creation of PONG was an instant success throughout America, and by the year of 1964, the Atari company was able to churn out new games every six weeks. Atari is also mostly responsible for the North American Video Game Crash of 1983.

Atari's VCS system was also of great significance to the history of computer. The VCS was the first widely successful video game system, selling more than twenty million units throughout the 1980s. The VCS used the 8-bit MOS 6507 microprocessor and was designed to be connected to a home television set. When the last of Atari’s 8-bit game consoles were made in 1990, more than 900 video game titles had been released. Significant because it was the start to a new generation of console gaming systems to be hooked up to the television.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_video_game_crash_of_1983

External Links

• http://www.atari.com/us/corporate
• http://www.atarimuseum.com/videogames/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari