Atari's Fourth Employee

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Written by Administrator | 14 March 2010
Posted in Document Library - News Articles

This issue's star employee has been with Atari longer than there's been an Atari. When the company celebrated its tenth anniversary on June 27, Cynthia Russell celebrated ten years and one day of service at Atari, and she's only 27 years old.

Cynthia has the longest service record of any employee at Atari. If Atari badges had been assigned in sequence, hers would be #4 (Nolan Bushnell's was #1). Because of coding procedures, however, her badge number is 254.

How did Cynthia get in on the ground floor of Atari? "I used to baby-sit for Nolan Bushnell's children," she explains. "A week after I graduated from high school, he asked me if I wanted a job as his receptionist."

Missile Command II

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Written by Administrator | 14 March 2010
Posted in Site Updates - Atari News

In 1980 Atari was riding high on the wave of the Arcade revolution.  Most everything they released, turned to gold.  Missile Command had just been released into the Arcades, and it was performing very well.  Atari figured it should start working on a sequel as soon as possible.  Missile Command II  was to have some changes that  introduced two player simultaneous  gameplay.  This would allow operators to make twice as much money per play.  The development team struggled along during 1980-81, and was finally cancelled in 1981 due to cabinet configuration issues.  It was designed to be played in a 'Football' style cabinet, but operators did not like that configuration because it took up too much valuable floor space.  An upright cabinet like 'Basketball' was tried, but that also failed.  Finally the project was cancelled.

I have posted a several new documents in the document section, that will give you more information. These documents include the original proposal document, two field test reviews, the entire project schedule with notes and some miscellaneous project memos.

The picture above shows a test configuration with mirrors and a vertical monitor.  Each player only has one fire button, because there is only one missile base, instead of the original's three bases.

Clint Eastwood "Flies" Again at FIREFOX Press Conference

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Written by Administrator | 14 March 2010
Posted in Document Library - News Articles

Clint Eastwood pilots the first mission of FIREFOX, Atari's new action-packed laserdisc arcade game based on Eastwood's movie of the same name. The first video game to use actual movie footage, the game puts the player in Eastwood's role as the American fighter pilot assigned to steal a Russian warplane and fly it out of enemy territory.

"Why don't you move over and let the real pilot fly this machine," said Clint Eastwood as he took over the controls of FIREFOX from Atari Director of Sales Bob Harvey, who had been demonstrating game play to the crowd. Assuming center stage is nothing new to Eastwood, except he wasn't filming at the time but lending his presence and video game playing skill to a major media press conference, held March 15 at The Burbank Studios in southern California. Attending the event were national and local newspeople, including crews from CBS Morning News, NBC Today Show, Cable News Network and Entertainment Tonight. Coverage by the LA Herald Examiner, Newsweek, Tiger Beat, Daily Variety, People, Hollywood Reporter and Business Week was also noted.

Atari Carnival Trailer

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Written by Administrator | 14 March 2010
Posted in Document Library - News Articles

The Atari Carnival Trailer!  The attraction you take to the Action.

Atari, originators of video game technology now bring you the Atari Entertainment Trailer.  It's a totally new concept that brings the excitement of highly popular video amusement games to your action markets — fairs, carnivals, amusement parks — any high traffic location.

A Distinctive Environment.  Trailers are offered in 32' x 8' units, custom designed to meet your specifications with either 18 or 26 games.  The trailers are all steel and aluminum, 3-axle, with openings on all sides for high player visibility and operator access.

Games are fully built in and spaced for maximum use and profitability.  The overall trailer can also be designed to tie in with a consistent visual theme.

Sophisticated games appeal to all ages. Atari's advanced, coin operated video skill games, challenge everyone's competitive spirit again and again.  The trailer features our all-time money winner Pong, The Gran Trak 10 driving game. complete with realistic race car sounds. Get more information on this crowd drawing, high-income attraction.

It's your move!  Start playing with the future now by calling or writing:

Special Projects Division Marketing Department

Atari, Inc.

14600 Winchester Blvd. Los Gatos, CA 95030