Games conference pulls award for Atari founder after outcry

A prominent video game industry conference is pulling an award for Atari founder Nolan Bushnell after online protesters pointed to public examples of sexist behavior.

In a statement Wednesday on Twitter, the Game Developers Choice Awards Advisory Committee, which works with the annual Game Developers Conference, said it no longer would give out its Pioneer Award — for individuals who "developed a breakthrough technology, game concept, or gameplay design" — to Bushnell.

"They believe their picks should reflect the values of today's game industry and will dedicate this year's award to honor the pioneering and unheard voices of the past," the statement posted by GDC on Twitter reads.

Bushnell founded Atari, one of the most important names in the video games business and a pioneer of the home gaming system. Bushnell also founded the kid-friendly restaurant chain Chuck E. Cheese’s.

GDC originally planned to award Bushnell during a ceremony in March. Backlash to the honor appeared through the Twitter hashtag #notnolan, detailing public examples of sexist behavior.

Among them: a 2012 profile of Bushnell in Playboy magazine, which describes how he would hold meetings from the hot tub in his home, then tried to get a woman staffer sent to deliver documents to the meeting to join them in the tub. Also, the code name for hit Atari arcade video game Pong was "Darlene," an employee Bushnell described as "stacked and had the tiniest waist."

Many critics questioned the timing of Bushnell's honor with the rise of #MeToo, a movement that has shed light on inappropriate sexual behavior or misconduct in the workplace. This behavior can include characterizing women as sex objects, contributing to a culture that keeps women from advancing or choosing an industry altogether. New research from Google in December found while women make up half of mobile gamers, game developers and the games themselves are still mostly male.

"Nolan Bushnell’s inappropriate behaviour towards women is no secret — and we give him awards," Jennifer Scheurle, a game design lead at games company Opaque Space, said via Twitter.

In a statement Wednesday, Bushnell said he applauded the GDC for its decision. "If my personal actions or the actions of anyone who ever worked with me offended or caused pain to anyone at our companies, then I apologize without reservation."

.@ubm can you explain to me why in the year of #metoo, you would give the Pioneer Award at #GDC2018 to Nolan Bushnell? Whose engineers named their code projects after women in the office they wanted to sleep with? Who thinks women play 'chat rooms' as games? pic.twitter.com/BWIqmyJwaf — Jen Allaway (@AllawayJ) January 30, 2018

While other industries are distancing themselves from the abusive and sexist behaviors of powerful men, GDC is giving a pioneer award to one of them. I only hope @ubm reverses their decision to honor Nolan Bushnell, whose sexually harassing behavior is well documented. #notnolan — Gillian Smith (@gillianmsmith) January 30, 2018

So many journalists kept trying to dig out our MeToo stories in the past months. This one is out there in plain sight, in a book for everybody to read. You don’t have to dig hard for it, Nolan Bushnell’s inappropriate behaviour towards women is no secret - and we give him awards. https://t.co/3CA6ImSFQI — Jennifer Scheurle (@Gaohmee) January 30, 2018

A statement from me pic.twitter.com/OfsrgaCmgW — Nolan K Bushnell (@NolanBushnell) January 31, 2018

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.