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When most individuals see that Atari has carried out one thing, they suppose to themselves “hey look! Atari did one thing!” However very like the subset of people that stay in a relentless state of anticipation to let folks know that Tremendous Mario Bros. 2 was initially a distinct recreation referred to as Doki Doki Panic, there’s an unavoidable crowd of parents on the market who’re ever-at the able to right anybody who has something to say about Atari with a press release alongside the traces of “That’s not Atari. That’s just a few firm calling itself Atari.”
And very like these Tremendous Mario Bros. 2 of us ( who you might be), there’s little doubt a level of reality to what they insist on telling you. The Atari of at the moment is decently far-removed from the corporate that introduced video video games to the lots again within the late 70s. Nonetheless, to say that the corporate that’s publishing video games like Atari 50 isn’t Atari at the moment is fairly disingenuine. So what’s the story, in an extremely simplified vogue? Let’s dig in.
Formally integrated in 1972, the unique iteration of Atari is the one which sure folks declare is the one Atari there ever was. After all, that’s a bit murky itself as properly, however there’s no denying that this unique recipe was certainly Atari in its purest kind. The corporate created client electronics to entertain the lots. They launched Pong, Asteroids, Missile Command, and dozens of different arcade classics, in addition to launched the Atari Video Pc System, AKA the Atari VCS (no, not the present Atari VCS), AKA the Atari 2600.
In 1976, the corporate was bought to Warner Communications, and that is the place issues begin to get bizarre as a result of whereas the corporate stayed Atari via a lot of years and {hardware} releases, 1984 modified issues significantly.
It was round this time, a 12 months into the well-known North American online game market crash, the place Atari Inc. grew to become two completely different corporations, Atari Corp. and Atari Video games. So when you have been going to be a stickler about what the “actual” Atari is, that is the primary main hurdle, as a result of each of those corporations technically lay equal declare to the time period. The Atari Corp taste of Atari lasted till 1996, and might be most well-known for his or her {hardware} releases. They launched the Atari 7800 (a few years too late), and have been ultimately behind Atari’s tried 90s revitalization that includes the cat-themed Lynx and Jaguar platforms, neither of which have been all that profitable.
Atari Video games, however, had a moderately completely different life. They have been briefly owned by Namco, and had some authorized troubles with Nintendo after they launched unlicensed NES video games below the Tengen label, however finally what it’s good to find out about this model of Atari is that they have been ultimately absorbed by Halfway, who formally disbanded the corporate in 2003. For this reason so many Atari arcade classics like Marble Insanity, Gauntlet, and Paperboy aren’t in any trendy Atari compilations. They have been made by a very completely different Atari, and sadly the rights to these video games are in varied states of possession by Warner Bros. Interactive, of all corporations. All of it got here full circle!
However oh, it doesn’t cease there! In 1998, Hasbro purchased the Atari title and a bunch of its related property, which they then ultimately bought off to the french firm Infogrames, who glided by Atari Interactive for a time.
Hasbro’s involvement caught round till about 2001, and it was after this regime that you just’d see Atari’s title slapped on all types of licensed fare like Enter the Matrix and Dragon Ball Z: Budokai. Atari was not an organization making video games, a lot as an alternate title a distinct firm had bought. This taste of Atari is the primary that I’d genuinely say is definitely only a firm that calls itself Atari. Happily for us all, that ultimately modified, however not earlier than going via some severe rising pains.
This firm obtained concerned in making an attempt to grow to be extra of a way of life model than only a title used to assist promote video games they wished to publish. They created a line of speaker hats and tried to get into Crypto and resorts. Then they launched a Kickstarter to create an ill-advised console referred to as the Atari VCS, which was, in opposition to all odds efficiently launched again in 2020, which is greater than you may say for the Coleco Chameleon and Intellivision Amico.
In 2021, they obtained a brand new CEO in Wade Rosen, and that is the place “the corporate calling itself Atari” I believe grew to become Atari correct as soon as once more. Underneath his management, they as soon as once more discovered focus. The assorted facet hustles took a again seat to working their finest at discovering and creating new video games worthy of the Atari title. They’ve gone out of their approach to buy lots of their outdated IP again, and made some daring investments into strengthening the model itself like buying AtariAge and recreation growth studio Digital Eclipse. They’ve launched a lot of unique titles that modernize their classics in fascinating methods like Haunted Home, Akka Arrh, and their Recharged collection. They’ve additionally dedicated themselves to creating the weird Atari VCS platform value its weight in salt for many who personal one, with plans sooner or later to make it into one thing greater than a small handful of individuals would really need to personal.
Once more, and I can’t stress this sufficient, that is an EXTREMELY simplified model of the historical past of this bizarre little firm. If you wish to be taught extra, there are quite a few books and web sites on the market that may break all of it down in rather more element, and it’s a captivating story so I like to recommend doing so when you’re . However the level right here is, calling this present Atari simply “an organization calling itself Atari” could have been correct for a time, however I consider is unwarranted at the moment. Atari is probably going by no means going to be the powerhouse it was on the delivery of the house online game scene, but it surely would not should be. I personally suppose they’re doing a fantastic job, and have greater than earned the precise to name themselves Atari.
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