Atari Qwak Prototype lives!
May/04/09 21:01
I had an hour last week to spend working on some games.
I was able to get this QWAK prototype working. It has
been sitting for 4 years, but I finally got it working
after 45 minutes of concentrated effort. It’s a
touchscreen game from the very early 80’s. This game
was never released, and there is a joystick version of
the board floating around. I still need to repair the
touch screen. Hopefully I will have it working for the
2009 California Extreme show (www.caextreme.org).
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Prototype Controls
May/04/09 20:56
Here are some prototype controls that I came across
this weekend, while cleaning up the warehouse. The all
black joystick is for Foodfight, the gold joystick is
from the unreleased Warp Speed vector game. The clear
handle joystick, is from an early version of Star Wars.
The black and pink ‘boobs’ are from Gotcha.
Atari TANK 8 FOUND!
May/04/09 20:32
After a 15 year search, I have finally located an Atari
Tank 8 game. This was produced in very small numbers,
and it appears that not many have survived the last 30+
years. It’s a huge 4 foot x 4 Foot, 8 player tank game.
I am working on restoring it, and it should be ready to
play at California Extreme 2009 (www.caextreme.org).
Check the photo section for pictures of the electronics
and canopy.
Bally/Midway Service Notes
Jan/10/09 16:33
Indiana Jones Laserdisc Game Proposal
Sep/09/08 00:03
Here is a document that describes an Indiana Jones
Laserdisc game. I doubt any work was ever done on this,
but it's interesting reading.
indylasergameplay
indylasergameplay
UPDATE: CAX 2006 Atari Panel Discussion - Both parts now online.
Mar/08/08 09:51
UPDATE- Both parts are now available in the Video section of the website.
Here is the first installment of the California Extreme 2006 Atari Panel Discussion video. The video features Al Alcorn, Eujene Jarvis, Ed Rotberg, Steve Ritchie and Dave Sheppard. Look for part two in a couple of days. Watch part one in the 'Videos' section.
Food Fight Concept Sketches
Mar/08/08 00:09
Atari's Winchester Building
Mar/07/08 00:58
Atari's Second Building
Mar/07/08 00:22
Atari started in a small workshop building, and needed
a place to build Pong machines. They found this old
Roller Rink in Santa Clara. It's on Martin Ave, near
Scott Blvd. Al Alcorn, who designed Pong, said "When we
got it it was an old roller skating rink. I
remember the hardwood floors. Before we moved in
I took my Triumph 650 motorcycle for a spin inside.
I almost fell due to the film of dust on the
slick hardwood floor." It's currently for sale for $3.8
Million.
Atari's First Building - Where it all started.
Feb/29/08 09:46
I lived in Silicon Valley for 30 years, and I passed
this intersection all the time. I finally stopped by
this week, and got some pictures of the first building
Atari occupied. This is the building where Pong was
born. It has a small office in the front, with a
workshop and roll-up door in the back. It's the office
on the corner of the building. 2962 Scott Blvd in Santa
Clara. Currently it's a machine tool service facility
for a large Japanese company. Nothing special, but I
figured some people would like to see it.
Centipede Memos!!
Jan/20/08 21:38
Atari Programmers Reference Guide
Jan/20/08 11:04
So you wanted to be a game programmer at Atari? Well,
here is a programmers reference manual for working on
Atari hardware. Check it out in the Documentation
Library.atariprogramref
Primal Rage Model Pictures
Jan/20/08 00:24
Marble Man- Marble Madness 2 -Operators Manual
Jan/20/08 00:23
Marble Madness Design Document
Jan/20/08 00:21
Marble Madness II field test report.
Jan/15/08 09:42
Atari Breakout Prototype Box
Jan/13/08 21:12
Atari Promotional Items
Jan/13/08 18:23
BMX Heat Prototype Pictures
Jan/13/08 13:48
New Documents from the 70's era posted.
Dec/22/07 23:18
ATARI 4x4 PINBALL PROTOTYPE PICTURES
Jan/03/07 22:36
Back for More...Part 2
Jan/03/07 14:40
Back for More
Jan/01/07 13:41
1/1/07 -WOW, 2006
has come and gone. I had hoped to make more
progress on the website, but I just ran out of time
last year. To kick off the new year, I put
together an update that I hope you will enjoy.
It’s a bunch of historic photos from the Atari
factory in December of 1973 and the 1983 AMOA show in
New Orleans. Check them out in the photo area
.
.
SAD NEWS: Kelly Turner, November 6, 1961-September 18, 2005
Sep/24/05 13:45
(Updated 9/24/05) I just heard the terrible news, that
Kelly Turner has passed away. Kelly had been an
invaluable source of information for the web site, for
many years. Kelly had provided me with invaluable video
tapes, documentation and information in my research on
Atari Games. Kelly was also featured in the Atari Panel
discussions at California Extreme 2003 and 2004. He was
always willing to help out, and he had some great
stories to tell. He will be missed....
Kelly started programming computer games in 1976. His first job in the game industry came in 1984 when he joined Atari Coin-op. Kelly spent 10 years at Atari and was involved in programming , game design , and producing. Some of his coin-op achievements include : Super Sprint , Championship Sprint , Vindicators , Tetris , Batman , Badlands , and Off the Wall.
After Atari , Kelly spent a year at P.F. Magic and another two at Virgin. Along the way he picked up some experience in the Special FX field of the film industry and at an L.A. based company , Rhythm & Hues. Kelly also worked at 3DO and was known for the Army Men series of games.
Kelly Turner passed away today after a brief and completely unexpected illness. He was rushed to Irvine Medical Center on September 5th with an extremely high temperature, extremely low blood pressure, and possible organ damage. He remained in Intensive Care for several days while doctors attempted to stabilize him and figure out what had happened. Despite their best efforts, including dialysis to take the load off his organs, he fell into a persistent vegetative state on September 13th, with no brain activity. He had a Living Will and left explicit instructions that extraordinary measures should not be taken to preserve his life, so life support was withdrawn yesterday afternoon, in the presence of his family, in accordance with his wishes. He passed peacefully in his sleep this morning in the arms of his life partner.
Video game producer Kelly Turner died of multi-systemic organ failure Sept. 18 in Irvine, Calif. He was 43. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., San Diego.
Turner started in the game industry as a programmer at the coin-op division of Atari in 1984. Over the last 20 years, he worked in virtually every aspect of development and production at companies that included, in addition to Atari, P.F. Magic, Virgin Interactive, Rhythm& HuesRhythm & Hues, The 3DO Company and Eidos. He most recently joined videogame maker Point of View in Irvine, Calif.
Turner had been involved with the Producers Guild of America New Media Council for two years, most recently as Vice Chair.
He is survived by his partner, Tom Grissinger; his mother, a sister and a brother.
Donations may be made to the Producers Guild of America, Kelly Turner Memorial Fund.
Kelly started programming computer games in 1976. His first job in the game industry came in 1984 when he joined Atari Coin-op. Kelly spent 10 years at Atari and was involved in programming , game design , and producing. Some of his coin-op achievements include : Super Sprint , Championship Sprint , Vindicators , Tetris , Batman , Badlands , and Off the Wall.
After Atari , Kelly spent a year at P.F. Magic and another two at Virgin. Along the way he picked up some experience in the Special FX field of the film industry and at an L.A. based company , Rhythm & Hues. Kelly also worked at 3DO and was known for the Army Men series of games.
Kelly Turner passed away today after a brief and completely unexpected illness. He was rushed to Irvine Medical Center on September 5th with an extremely high temperature, extremely low blood pressure, and possible organ damage. He remained in Intensive Care for several days while doctors attempted to stabilize him and figure out what had happened. Despite their best efforts, including dialysis to take the load off his organs, he fell into a persistent vegetative state on September 13th, with no brain activity. He had a Living Will and left explicit instructions that extraordinary measures should not be taken to preserve his life, so life support was withdrawn yesterday afternoon, in the presence of his family, in accordance with his wishes. He passed peacefully in his sleep this morning in the arms of his life partner.
Video game producer Kelly Turner died of multi-systemic organ failure Sept. 18 in Irvine, Calif. He was 43. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., San Diego.
Turner started in the game industry as a programmer at the coin-op division of Atari in 1984. Over the last 20 years, he worked in virtually every aspect of development and production at companies that included, in addition to Atari, P.F. Magic, Virgin Interactive, Rhythm& HuesRhythm & Hues, The 3DO Company and Eidos. He most recently joined videogame maker Point of View in Irvine, Calif.
Turner had been involved with the Producers Guild of America New Media Council for two years, most recently as Vice Chair.
He is survived by his partner, Tom Grissinger; his mother, a sister and a brother.
Donations may be made to the Producers Guild of America, Kelly Turner Memorial Fund.
(this article has been compiled from various sources on the internet)
HOT ROD REBELS PROTOTYPE FOOTAGE
Sep/19/05 13:46
(9/19/05) Here is a short movie clip, featuring the
game play of the unreleased Hot Rod Rebels game. This
was to be the sequel to Rush 2049. This is the last
game that Atari worked on, before they closed down the
coin-op division. The game was never finished, but this
clip will give you a taste for what could have been.
Watch it
here.
You can also learn more about the game
here.
ATARI MEANSTREAK PROTOTYPE
Sep/18/05 15:22
Here is another game that Atari was working on in
1997-98. Steve Ritchie was the producer for this game,
and this was after California Speed had been released.
The game is very much, a modern day Roadblasters. The
game is not tuned, and it had a long way to go before
the 'fun' would have been there. The coolest thing
about this demo, is the level layout. The multi level
freeway is awesome! Watch a clip of this
game here.
SENTE MOONQUAKE PROTOTYPE
Sep/17/05 15:23
Okay, I know this is not an Atari proto, but it is from
a company that was started by ex- Atari employees. This
game is built upon the Amiga 500 hardware platform. It
has a I/O sound interface, and the ROM daughter card
added to the base Amiga system. The game uses two
joysticks, just like Robotron. One to move, one to
fire. You movements are restricted to jumping one
square at a time, like Qbert. You can fire in four
directions. There is an additional button, which
activates your Jet Pack. The Jet Pack allows you to
jump more than one square at a time, and also allows
you to jump up onto platforms and obstacles. Several
enemies try to kill you including some blob looking
creatures, a tornado, and an atom particle. You goal is
to get from one end of the level to the other, while
avoiding the enemies. You can also collect gems along
the way, which raises your payload meter. When you are
hit or shot by an enemy, you lose some portion of your
shield. When your shield is worn down, you die. You can
also die, by falling off the platforms. You can
recharge your shield, by jumping on a square that
contains 'radiation'. A radiation meter, helps you
locate those squares.
This is a very cool game. I finally got this working, and it will be at California Extreme 2006. Here are some pictures of the boards and some game play: pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6 pic7 pic8 pic9 pic10
This is a very cool game. I finally got this working, and it will be at California Extreme 2006. Here are some pictures of the boards and some game play: pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 pic6 pic7 pic8 pic9 pic10
