A History of

WCI Games / Atari / Atari Games / Atari Holdings

https://mcurrent.name/atarihistory/wci_games.html

Compiled and Copyright (c) 2008-2020 by Michael D. Current



Information presented here is derived as directly as possible from sources published or produced in the original time period. While also consulted extensively, modern historical retrospectives (including books, oral histories, and especially websites) are utilized chiefly as pathways to primary sources.

Jump to: 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | Links

1976

Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) filed a Certificate of Incorporation for the new subsidiary, WCI Games Inc., in the Office of Secretary of State, State of Deleware. WCI Games Inc. main office: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York NY; California office: 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank CA. Emanuel Gerard was WCI EVP; Steven J. Ross was WCI chairman, president, and CEO; Martin D. Payson was WCI Games Inc. VP and general counsel.

WCI Games Inc.

September 7: Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) announced it had signed a contract to purchase controlling interest in Atari, Inc. Warner EVP Emanuel Gerard anticipated it would eventually acquire "all or virtually all" Atari shares for purchase price of approximately $28 million in cash and debt. The contract was subject to approval by at least 66.7% of each class of Atari shareholders and by the California Commissioner of Corporations. (WSJ 9/8, NYT 9/8)

Atari (Consumer) offered Super Pong (C-140) and Pong (C-100). (Merch. p56)

Sears offered Tele-Games Pong (#99716; "1976 version"; $59.99) by Atari (same as Sears #25796 original 1975 version and Atari Pong C-100) and released Hockey Pong (#99721; $69.99) by Atari (same as Atari Hockey Pong C-121), Super Pong (#99736; $79.99) by Atari (same as Atari Super Pong C-140), and Super Pong IV (#99737; $99.99) by Atari (same as Atari Super Pong Ten C-180). (newspaper ads)

October 1: Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) acquired all of the outstanding stock of Atari, Inc. for approximately $12,000,000 in cash and $16,000,000 in debentures.

WCI Games Inc.

Atari chairman Nolan K. Bushnell and president Joseph F. Keenan, as co-CEOs of Atari, would now report to WCI through Emanuel Gerard, who was now responsible for Atari on behalf of WCI. Atari VP finance Bill White would report to Bushnell and Keenan, with "dotted-line" indirect reporting to Warner Communications Inc. SVP finance Bert W. Wasserman. (source 4:45)

October 4: Atari, Inc. was merged with and into WCI Games Inc., which was renamed to: Atari, Inc. The new Atari, Inc. was authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 a share.

"Atari" became a registered trademark of Atari. (Reg. No. 1,050,153, filed Nov. 19, 1975)

Atari officially opened their new 60,000 ft2 corporate headquarters at 1265 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA, housing administrative, engineering (Coin-Op), marketing research, and manufacturing departments along with international marketing and domestic marketing (previous headquarters: 14600 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos CA). (The Atari international marketing department worked closely with Atari-Europe, 12, rue de l'Helvétie, Baume-les-Dames, France, providing manufacturing, distribution and service support.) (CC v1n1; Fun p211 for date) Atari now occupied six buildings with over 275,000 ft2 of total space in the Moffett Park industrial park (including Consumer Division/manufacturing at 1195 Borregas Ave., new Pinball Division/manufacturing facility at 1173 Borregas Ave., and 3 warehouses). (Cash Box 6/19/76 p46-47; Vending Times 7/76, 11/76 p58) Coin-Op Division manufacturing and customer service remained at 2175 Martin Ave., Santa Clara CA (65,000 ft2); Consumer Division primary manufacturing remained at 1280 Reamwood Ave., Sunnyvale CA (125,000 ft2). Atari would grow to include 800 employees.

October: Atari released Night Driver (original upright version).

Atari had appointed Sue Elliot, previously of Multi-National Corporation (which had been contracted for managing Atari's international sales/marketing operations since 1973), as the first administrator of Atari's new International Division (sales/marketing, both consumer and coin operators), replacing Multi-National founder/president Ronald F. Gordon (Ron Gordon) in the role. (Gordon would establish Friends Amis, Inc. on 11-Jul-78.) Elliot would report to Gene Lipkin who remained Atari VP marketing (and general manager, Coin-Operated Division (Atari/Kee Games)). (Vending Times 10/76; Cash Box 10/30/76 p53; TVDigest 10/25/76 p13)

Atari Pinball engineering operations were moved to the new Pinball Division headquarters at 1173 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (50,000 ft2; located in the Moffett Park industrial park). Atari VP Manufacturing Gil Williams would additionally be Pinball Division Manager (assuming the role from VP research and development Allan E. Alcorn). Edward J. Boasberg joined Atari (Coin-Op) as Pinball Marketing Coordinator. (Fun p416 for month) Bob Russell, previously of Bally Manufacturing, would join the company as Pinball Manufacturing Operations Manager; John Petlansky would join the company as Plant Manager. James F. Riordan, previously production line supervisor, would remain a Pinball mechanical engineer.

Engineer David R. Stubben, previously of Information Storage Systems, Inc. (and before that, Ford Aeronutronic), joined Atari (Coin-Op).

Atari (Consumer) was promoting Super Pong and Pong. (Merch. p37)

Michael C. Shea (Mike Shea) remained Atari Consumer Division director of marketing. (Vending Times 10/76 p91)

Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) established an office of the president, which would be held by four persons: Jay Emmett, Emanuel Gerard, David H. Horowitz (each previously WCI EVPs and directors), and Kenneth S. Rosen (new to WCI). All four would now be directors of WCI as well. Steve Ross, previously WCI chairman, president, and CEO, would remain WCI chairman and CEO. (WSJ 10/26) Atari chairman Nolan K. Bushnell and president Joseph F. Keenan, as co-CEOs of Atari, would continue report to WCI through Emanuel Gerard, who remained responsible for Atari on behalf of WCI. (source 3:10)

The Atari C-160 Pong unit (Pong Doubles) had earned FCC approval. (TVDigest 10/25/76 p11)

Atari established a Restaurant Operating Division. Marketing consultant Gene N. Landrum, previously (until August 1975) General Manager of the Novus (consumer products) division, National Semiconductor, and author of the May 26, 1976 ""Product Plans and Strategy: Consumer Video Games" marketing plan for Atari, joined Atari where he would be Restaurant Operating Division General Manager. Landrum would report directly to Atari chairman Nolan Bushnell. (Fun p326)

Atari VP research and development (including Consumer division engineering) Al Alcorn (re-)assumed general management responsibility for the Consumer Division, replacing Sheldon Ritter who departed the company. Engineer Murray John Ellis, previously of National Semiconductor, joined Atari (Consumer) as director of engineering (replacing Alcorn in the role). Ellis would build a team of engineers that would include electrical engineering manager Wade B. Tuma and engineer Niles E. Strohl who both previously worked with Ellis at National Semiconductor. Tuma would, in turn, recruit analog engineer Frederick R. Holt (Rod Holt), previously head of engineering at The Hickok Electrical Instrument Co. (and former colleague of Tuma). Engineering technician Ed Riddle, who previously worked with Holt at Hickok Electronic Instrument, would join Atari (Consumer) (reporting to Tuma). (source) Atari Stella project development, previously directly managed by Alcorn, was shifted from 471 Division St., Campbell CA to 155 Moffett Park Dr. Synertek engineer/Atari consultant Jay G. Miner (Stella MOS/LSI design), Joseph C. Decuir (Stella logic design), and Larry Wagner (Stella software & systems architecture) would each now report to Atari (Consumer) director of microelectronics Dr. Robert J. Brown (Bob Brown). Stella mechanical/design engineer Douglas A. Hardy would now report to Atari (Consumer) industrial design manager Frederick W. Thompson (Fred Thompson). (Stella programmer Larry Kaplan would still report to Wagner.) (source; source; source)

November 12-14: At the MOA International Exposition of Music and Games at the Conrad Hilton Hotel in Chicago (booths 16-20, 29-33, Namco/Atari 97A-100A, 100B), Namco/Atari released F-1 (De Luxe or custom models), designed by Nakamura Seisakusho Co., Ltd. ("Namco", the parent company of Atari Japan), and Atari released Sprint 2 by Kee Games. (source) Atari held a roundtable discussion on solid state pinball games that included 12 operators and Atari representatives Carol Kantor (Manager of Marketing Services), Al Alcorn (VP research and development), and Eddie Boasberg (Pinball Marketing Coordinator), where Atari announced (but did not show --Vending Times 4/77p59) The Atarians, to be the first Atari pinball machine. (CC 1/77; Vending Times 2/77p50) Also announced to attend from Atari: national sales manager Frank Ballouz, VP marketing Eugene J. Lipkin, western regional sales manager Terry Speizer, president Joe Keenan, chairman Nolan Bushnell, VP engineering (coin operated games) Stephen D. Bristow, coin-op engineering manager Bob Skyles, customer service manager Don Smith, VP finance William L. White, and VP manufacturing Gilbert J. Williams. (Vending Times 10/76p83) Atari introduced the first edition of its new Coin Connection newsletter,"Atari's official monthly newsletter," edited by Atari manager of marketing services Carol Kantor, at the show. (Cash box 11/6 p51; 11/13 p7) Atari announced Compugraph Foto (previously: Computer Portrait; never shipped) and again promoted the Theatre Kiosk (never shipped).

Atari launched a new Electronic Board Game Division. Steve Bristow, previously VP engineering (coin operated games), became Atari VP engineering, Electronic Board Game Division and Coin Operated Games. Atari (Electronic Board Game) would eventually include: Dan Corona (engineering), Joel Anderson (Graphics art and design), Dave Salmon, Dennis Koble (programmer), Mark Davis (hardware design), Randy Hall (mechanical design) (Fun p257)

Mechanical engineer Noah L. Anglin II, previously manager, research & development engineering at Memorex (source), was hired by Atari as a consultant. (Project unverified. Speculation: Hired to work with Atari VP engineering, Electronic Board Game Division and Coin Operated Games Steve Bristow on preliminary electronic board games research & development.)

November 19-21: Atari exhibited at the 58th International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA) show at the Rivergate in New Orleans (booths 1322, 1324, 1326, 1328, 1421, 1423, 1425, 1427). Atari featured F-1 (Vending Times 1/77; CC 3/77) and previewed Atari Shooting Arcade (never released) at the show. (source)

The Atari C-200 had earned FCC approval. (TVDigest 12/13/76 p11)

December: An Atari Theatre Kiosk (6-sided) was installed at the San Francisco Powell Street Station of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) System. The unit included: Pong Doubles, Space Race, Trak 10, Jet Fighter, LeMans, Tank. (Cash Box 5/14/77; Vending Times 2/77 p46)

Atari announced the promotion of Jean Morosin to administrative assistant to the VP of marketing and coin-operated games division general manager Gene Lipkin. (Vending Times 2/77 p50; CC v1n2 1/77)

Atari (Consumer) analog engineer Rod Holt departed the company (to Apple Computer Company; he would co-found the reorganized Apple Computer, Inc. as VP engineering on 1/1/77 with Mike Markkula, Mike Scott, former Atari engineering technician Steve Jobs, and Steve Wozniak). (source)

December 21: John Burton Anderson, previously Atari assistant treasurer, became Atari (corporate) VP Administration (personnel, facilities planning, data processing, office services and legal liaison). (CoinConJan77) John Peterson, previously of Arthur Young & Co. (where he had served as an auditor on the Atari account), would join Atari as assistant treasurer (replacing Anderson in the role). Joe Keenan remained Atari president. (Vending Times 3/77 p61)

Malcolm Kuhn remained Atari (Consumer) sales director. (AP)

In 1976 Atari sold more than one million consumer electronic video game units. (WCI/Knickerbocker acquisition SEC filing, 1977)

1977

January 13-16: Atari introduced Super Pong Ten (C-180; $79.95) and Video Music (C-240; "expected to retail for under $200") at the 5th annual Winter Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held at the Conrad Hilton in Chicago (the last Winter CES held in Chicago). (Merch 1/77 p79; Billboard 1/29/77 p52; TVDigest 1/17/77 p12) Kerry M. Crosson was Atari (Consumer) new products manager.

Programmer Bob Whitehead joined the Atari (Consumer) Microelectronics group as a Stella project game designer. He was hired by Atari (Consumer) director of microelectronics Bob Brown. (source) Whitehead was Atari's second Stella programmer, after Larry Kaplan; Whitehead and Kaplan would both report to Stella software development director Larry Wagner (who reported to Brown).

Don Osborne joined Atari as western regional sales manager, replacing Terry Speizer who departed the company. (CC 2/77)

January: Atari released Dominos (original 1 or 2 player upright version).

Atari held a pinball service seminar for their first pinball game, The Atarians, at the new Marriott Hotel at Santa Clara CA's "Great America" amusement park. Nearly 35 distributors attended from across the country. Don Smith was Atari manager of Customer Service; Steve Nollan was Pinball engineer, Fred McCord was Customer Service Field Rep., Bob Russell was Manufacturing Operations Manager, John Petlansky was Plant Manager, Gil Williams was Atari Pinball Division Manager, Eddie Boasberg was Pinball Marketing Coordinator. (CC 2/77; Cash Box 3/19/77 p43; Vending Times 4/77p59; Fun p433)

January 25-27: At the Amusement Trades Exhibition (ATE), Alexandra Palace, London, Atari introduced The Atarians pinball, featured F-1 and Dominos, and also showed the Theatre Kiosk, Night Driver, Sprint 2, Breakout, Le Mans, and Indy 4. Atari products were also exhibited by the Cherry Group (Atari distributor in the UK) and by Atari-Europe, which also featured the Jupiter phonograph. Sue Elliot was Atari International Marketing Administrator. (CC 3/77; Vending Times 3/77p62)

Niles E. Strohl was Atari Stella project engineer within the Consumer product engineer group. (Decuir 1977 notes p4)

February 6-8: Atari released Dominos/4 Cocktail and also featured The Atarians, Sprint 2, Night Driver, Breakout, and Indy 4 at the Association of College Unions-International (ACUI) conference and show in San Diego. (CC 3/77)

February: Programmer Gary Palmer joined the Atari (Consumer) Microelectronics group as a Stella project game designer. (source p18)

The Atarians release event was hosted by Atari distributor C.A. Robinson, marking the imminent arrival of Atari's first pinball machine. Approximately 300 operators and guests attended, plus representatives from Atari. Gil Williams (Atari VP manufacturing) remained Atari Pinball Division manager. (CC 3/77; Vending Times 4/77p59)

Atari had released Super Pong Ten (C-180). (newspaper ad)

February 22: Programmer Alan Miller joined the Atari (Consumer) Microelectronics group as a Stella project game designer (source p18), completing Atari's original team of 5 Stella programmers (Kaplan, Miller, Palmer, manager Larry Wagner, Whitehead).

Geoff Harrop (Geoffrey A. J. Harrop) joined Atari (Coin-Op) as Pinball engineering manager (replacement for Don Lang in the role).

Colette A. Weil joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a marketing research analyst (source for date), hired by/reporting to marketing services manager Carol Kantor.

Mechanical engineer Noah L. Anglin II, working as a consultant since 1976 for clients including Atari and Information Terminals Corporation, and before that manager, research & development engineering at Memorex (source), would join Atari (Coin-Op) as engineering manager, replacing Bob Skyles who departed the company (Skyles would establish Skyles Electric Works on 10/16/78.). Atari (Coin-Op) product development engineer Ronald G. Wayne (Ron Wayne) would also depart the company (to LDF Semiconductors, Inc.) (Wayne p114). (Steve Bristow remained Atari (Coin-Op) VP Engineering.)

At Atari's Third Annual Distributor Meeting, held at the Del Monte Lodge, Pebble Beach CA, Atari introduced Triple Hunt, introduced Sprint 8 by Kee Games, and also featured The Atarians. Atari awarded a "platinum" Breakout unit to West German distributor Löwen Automaten for outstanding Breakout sales. Gene Lipkin remained Atari VP marketing. (CC 4/77; Vending Times 4/77p62)

Atari included 840 employees. (WCI annual report for 1976)

Graphics designer James Kelly joined assistant manager Evelyn Lim and production artist Bob Flemate in the expanding Atari (Coin-Op) graphics design group, headed by graphics design manager George H. Opperman. (ArtOfAtari p248)

Engineer Rick Moncrief joined Atari (Coin-Op). (source)

Atari released Triple Hunt (Hit the Bear, Witch Hunt, Raccoon Hunt), released Triple Hunt single cabinet, and released Sit Down Night Driver.

Atari's 50,000 ft2 pinball manufacturing facility at 1173 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA was ramping up to mass production of the first Atari pinball game, The Atarians. Atari (Coin-Op) Pinball Division personnel included (manufacturing) operations manager Bob Russell, plant manager Bob Kolbus (having replaced John Petlansky in the role; previously headed Atari video manufacturing), and manufacturing engineer Jim Uszack (previously of Teledyne). (CCApr77)

April: C. Marshall Caras, previously general manager at Rowe International, joined Atari (Coin-Op) as Director of Marketing. Gene Lipkin remained Atari VP marketing (CCMay77; Vending Times 5/77p54) (and general manager, Coin-Op Division).

National TV debut of Coca-Cola "Coke adds life" series ad taking place in an arcade game room and featuring an Atari Pong competition (as a take-off on the recent Bobby Riggs vs. Billy Jean King tennis competition). (CC 4/77; Vending Times 5/77p59)

University of Santa Clara student Tom Petit joined Atari as schedule coordinator for the VP of manufacturing. (CC 11/81)

At the New York Premium Show held at the Coliseum, Atari introduced Super Pong Pro-Am (C-200; $50; never shipped) (TVDigest 5/9/77) and probably (unconfirmed) also introduced, or at least announced, Super Pong Pro-Am Ten (C-202; $59.95 retail).

World premiere party and press conference celebrating the Grand Opening (which would be May 16) of Atari's Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre, 370 S. Winchester Blvd, San Jose CA, from 6 PM to 9 PM. (Fun p351)

Opening of new Atari (Consumer) building at 1215 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (100,000 ft2; Moffett Park industrial park). (Fun p316; TVDigest 4/18/77 p10) The building was slated to replace the Consumer products manufacturing plant at 1280 Reamwood Ave., Sunnyvale CA.

May: Atari released Sprint 8 by Kee Games.

Brad Stewart joined the Atari (Consumer) Microelectronics group as a Rosemary project (product never introduced; game system based on the Signetics 2650 microprocessor) programmer. Also joining Atari for the project: engineer/programmer R. Scott Scheiman. (source; source 5:20, 7:20) Bob Brown remained Atari (Consumer) director of microelectronics.

At Atari (Coin-Op): Geoff Harrop was engineering manager (Pinball), Don Osborne was Western sales manager, Eddie Boasberg was marketing coordinator (Pinball), Marshall Caras was marketing director, Frank Ballouz was national sales manager, Gil Williams was VP and Pinball division manager, Bob Russell was manufacturing operations manager (Pinball). (Atari Atarians ad, see WeLoveAtari p65)

Kerry Crosson was new-product manager at Atari. (source)

Grand opening of Atari's initial "prototype" Pizza Time Theatre in a 5,000 ft2 converted brokerage office at 370 S. Winchester Blvd. in Town and Country Village, San Jose, California. The family pizza and entertainment concept featured the computer-animated characters Chuck E. Cheese, Crusty (the cat), Jasper T. Jowls (hillbilly country singing dog), Pasqually (Italian opera-singing chef), and The Warblettes (three soul-singing magpies). (Mechanical animatronics by Cyan Engineering. -Fun p329) Gene N. Landrum was Atari Restaurant Operating Division General Manager. (CC 6/77; source)

Atari shipped Super Pong Pro-Am Ten (C-202; $59.95 retail).

Sears released the Tele-Games Super Pong IV (#99789; $54.99; uses 4 "C" batteries not included) by Atari (same as Atari Super Pong Pro-Am Ten C-202). (direct replacement for Super Pong IV #99737)

The Atari CX-2600 had earned FCC approval. (TVDigest 6/6/77 p12)

June 5-8: At the 11th annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at McCormick Place/McCormick Inn in Chicago, using the slogan "We take fun seriously", Atari introduced the Video Computer System (VCS; CX-2600; $189.95; previously: Stella project; to ship with 2 Joystick Controller (CX10) units, 1 pair of Paddle Controllers (CX30; also to ship separately), and Combat Game Program cartridge), Video Pinball ($74.95), Stunt Cycle ($72.95), Tank II ($64.95; never shipped), Ultra Pong ($42.95), and Ultra Pong Doubles ($52.95). All of the new systems were expected to ship in July. To be sold separately for the VCS Atari also introduced the 5 cartridge titles Air-Sea Battle, Space Mission (would ship as: Star Ship), Indy 500 (to ship with CX20 Driving Controller), Street Racer, and Video Olympics (for a total of 6 announced titles), and announced that a total of 9 cartridges would comprise the initial library for 1977, with 2 or 3 to be released monthly starting in 1978. (TVDigest 6/13/77 p12) Distribution in Canada by Paragon Entertainment Products, Inc. (Merch 6/77 p43-54, 88) Stephen Bristow was Atari VP engineering (coin operated games); Mike Shea was Atari director of marketing. (Merch 7/77 p83)

June: Atari released Time 2000 (pinball), released Pool Shark, and released Drag Race.

Atari (Coin-Op) announced the appointment of Howard Rubin (Howie Rubin), previously of Betson Enterprises, as Eastern regional sales manager. Frank Ballouz remained national sales manager; Marshall Caras remained director of marketing. (CC 6/77; Vending Times 7/77)

Engineer John Ray joined Atari (Coin-Op) as an electronic engineer.

Atari SVP engineering Steven T. Mayer, Atari chairman Nolan Bushnell, and Atari president Joe Keenan determined to launch a follow-up project to the Atari VCS. (Fun p253) (would lead to: "Colleen" project)

Atari had canceled Tank II, introduced at the CES earlier in the month. (TVDigest 6/27/77 p11)

Months?: In France, Atari-Europe released the Hit-Parade 108, Hit Parade 144, Concerto 120, and Rustica 160 jukeboxes.

In Japan, the name of Nakamura Seisakusho Co., Ltd. (the parent company of Atari Japan) had been changed to Namco Ltd. (Cash Box 7/2/77 pt.III p10)

Atari (Coin-Op) international distributors included: Canada: Dale Distributing Ltd. (Rexdale, Ontario; Richmond, B.C. (Vancouver)), Laniel Automatic (Mt. Royal, Quebec), New Way Sales (Toronto, Ontario), Rowe International of Canada Ltd. (Dorval, Quebec; Malton, Ontario; Burnaby, B.C. (Vancouver)); Argentina: Jorge Mochkovsky (Sarmiento); Austria: Env-Vertrieb (Frankfurt); Australia: Leisure & Allied Industries (Perth); Belgium: Brabo Corporation (Antwerp); Brazil: Taito do Brazil (Sao Paulo); Panama: Isthmian Amusement Corporation (Albrook Field AFB); Central America: Alegrias S.A. de C.V. (San Salvador, El Salvador), Plazalegre (San Salvador, El Salvador); England: Cherry Group (London); France: Socodimex (Paris); Germany: Löwen Automaten (Bingen/Rhine), Seevend Automaten (Hamburg); Holland: Vale Automaten Imports (Veldhoven); Hong Kong: Coin & Vending Ltd.; Italy: Fratelli I. Berolino (Torino); Japan: Atari Japan (Ohta-ku, Tokyo); Mexico: Operado Nacional Espectaculos (Avila Camacho); New Zealand: Brian Dowlie (Auckland); Philippines: Bhagwan Ramnani (Palm Village, Makati, Rizal); Puerto Rico: Raymond Amusements (Guaynabo); South Africa: Plankomat (Pty) Limited (Johannesburg), Space Age TV Games Ltd. (Transvaal); Spain: Sega S.A. (Madrid); Scandinavia: Cherryforetagen; Mondial Commercial Corp. (New York); R.H. Belam Companuy, Inc. (New York); Pan American Amusements (Hillside NJ) (Cash Box 7/2/77 pt.III p13)

At Atari, Nolan Bushnell remained chairman, Joe Keenan remained president, Gene Lipkin remained VP marketing (and general manager, Coin-Op Division), C. Marshall Caras, was director of marketing, Frank Ballouz was national sales manager, Don Osborne was Western regional sales manager, Sue Elliot was head of international sales, Steve Bristow was VP engineering, Gil Williams was VP/general manager Pinball Division, Al Alcorn was VP R&D, Bill White was VP finance, John Anderson was VP administration. (Cash Box 7/2/77 pt.III p22)

July: Atari released Starship 1.

Steve Hendricks joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a graphics designer (reporting to graphics design manager George Opperman).

John D. Vurich, previously National Semiconductor product marketing manager (and prior to that, chief engineer at Mirco Games, Inc.), had joined Atari (Consumer) as new product manager (personal computer). (TVDigest 7/25/77 p11)

Mechanical engineer Mike Hally joined Atari the (Coin-Op) Pinball Division. (source)

Industrial designer Mike Quiero, who had worked for Atari (Coin-Op) on a paid internship during fall 1976, joined Atari (Coin-Op). He would report to industrial design manager Peter L. Takaichi. (source)

Atari had begun shipping the Video Computer System (TVDigest 8/1/77 p11) (VCS; CX-2600; 6 switches; woodgrain; NTSC for U.S. only; VHF channel 3 only; box: "The Super System... with 10 to 50 dynamite game variations per Game Program"; with two CX10 Joystick Controllers, one pair of CX30 Paddle Controllers, and Combat), and had also begun separately shipping the four VCS Game Programs: Air-Sea Battle, Video Olympics, Star Ship (previously: Space Mission) (never released in PAL format), Indy 500 (with two CX20 Driving Controllers)

Atari Video Pinball (also approved under Sears label) had earned FCC approval. (TVDigest 8/1/77 p11)

Early newspaper ad by Longs Drug Stores listed the Atari #CX 2600 Video Computer System with Combat for $169.88, and offered "Atari" cartridges Air-Sea Battle or Space Mission (would ship as: Star Ship) for $17.88.

As the follow-up project to the Atari VCS, Atari "Colleen" broad specifications as proposed by SVP engineering Steve Mayer and Atari (Consumer) microelectronics engineer Joe Decuir were accepted by Atari decision makers including Synertek engineer/Atari consultant Jay Miner, Atari (Consumer) director of microelectronics Bob Brown, Atari (Consumer) director of engineering M. John Ellis, Atari (Consumer) new product manager (personal computer) John Vurich, and Atari VP research and development Al Alcorn. (Decuir 1977 engineering notes p65-74) Miner would be Colleen project manager.

Sears published the Wish Book for the 1977 Christmas Season. On pages 2-3 Sears introduced the Tele-Games Video Arcade (#99743; $178.95) by Atari (same as the Atari VCS CX2600), which shipped with Target Fun by Atari (same as Atari Air-Sea Battle), two Sears-branded joystick controllers by Atari (same as Atari CX10), and a pair of Sears-branded paddle controllers by Atari (same as Atari CX30). Sears offered 6 Video Arcade (or Atari VCS) game cartridges sold separately: Tank-Plus by Atari (same as Atari Combat), Outer Space by Atari (same as Atari Star Ship), Speedway II by Atari (same as Atari Street Racer), Pong Sports by Atari (same as Atari Video Olympics), and Blackjack by Atari ($19.95 each), plus Race by Atari (same as Atari Indy 500; with two driving controllers (same as Atari CX20); $34.95). On pages 4-7 Sears introduced the Tele-Games Speedway IV (#99748; $98.95) by Atari, the Tele-Games Motocross Sports Center IV (#99729; $83.95) by Atari (same as Atari Stunt Cycle), the Tele-Games Tank (#99728; $58.95; never shipped) by Atari (same as Atari Tank II), the Tele-Games Pinball Breakaway (#99713; $79.99) by Atari (same as Atari Video Pinball), the Tele-Games Super Pong (#99788; $39.95; never shipped) by Atari (same as Atari Super Pong Pro-Am C-200 which never shipped), and the Tele-Games Super Pong IV (#99789; $49.95) by Atari (same as Atari Super Pong Pro-Am Ten C-202). On page 391 Sears offered the Atari Video Music (#99761; $169.95).

Atari had announced the commencement of final production of video games at the new Atari (Consumer) building at 1215 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (100,000 ft2; Moffett Park industrial park), bringing Atari's total manufacturing area [actually all buildings, not just manufacturing] to 556,000 ft2 (TVDigest 8/22/77 p9) The new building replaced the Consumer products manufacturing plant at 1280 Reamwood Ave., Sunnyvale CA (which Atari would abandon). Loren T. Schoof, previously Atari (Consumer) plant manager, had been promoted to VP, Consumer Division Operations, replacing Roy Y. Kusumoto who had departed the company (and would establish Solectron Corporation on 8/25/77). James Heller, previously test supervisor, had been promoted to manufacturing manager (replacing the promoted Schoof in the role; still reporting to Schoof). (source; RetroVideogameMagazine #6, pp. 24-29)

Atari (Consumer) engineering technician Ed Riddle departed the company (to Dynabyte). (source)

Sears had released the Tele-Games Video Arcade (#99743 package with two joysticks, pair of paddles, and Target Fun cartridge; $179.99) by Atari (same as the Atari VCS CX2600). (newspaper ad)

Newspaper ad from PayLess Super Drug Stores offered Atari Super Pong C-140 for $29.88, offered the Atari VCS for $169.88, and listed all 8 VCS Game Programs: Air-Sea Battle, Video Olympics, Star Ship, Street Racer, Indy 500, Blackjack, Surround, Basic Math

Six representatives from Atari were present for a regional Time 2000 hands-on introduction event for operators held in Seattle, including Fred McCord and Don Smith from the customer service department, Geoff Harrop and Bob Russell from Pinball engineering and manufacturing, VP and general manager of the Pinball division Gil Williams, and Don Osborne, Western regional sales manager. (CC 9/77)

Newspaper ad from Macy's offered the Atari VCS for $180 and Atari Video Pinball (C-380) for $80.

Atari announced the release of four new game programs (cartridges) for the VCS : Surround (Sears title: Chase), Basic Math (Sears title: Math), Blackjack, Street Racer (Sears title: Speedway II) (Merch 10/77 p48; Merch 1/78) for a total of 8 available (not counting the pack-in game, Combat). (TVDigest 10/17/77 p10)

September: Gil Williams remained general manager of the Atari (Coin-Op) Pinball Division. (CC 9/77)

David Crane, previously an associate engineer at National Semiconductor, joined the Atari (Consumer) Microelectronics group as a (VCS) video game designer.

September: Atari released the 2 Game Module (cabinet that houses 2 games facing opposite directions), released Airborne Avenger (pinball), and released Super Bug by Kee Games.

Atari displayed four games in its hospitality suite at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) annual meeting in Toronto: Time 2000 (Atari), Starship 1 (Atari), Drag Race (Atari), Super Bug (Kee Games). Howard Rubin was Atari Eastern regional sales manager, and Carol Kantor was manager of marketing services. (Vending Times 11/77p62)

Sears had released the Tele-Games Pinball-Breakaway (#99713; $79.99) by Atari. (newspaper ad)

Sears had released the Tele-Games Speedway IV (#99748; $99.99) by Atari. (newspaper ad)

Atari featured Starship 1, Time 2000, and Super Bug at the Best Western 29th Annual Round-Up, "the world's largest convention of lodging executives," at the New Orleans Hilton.

Sears had released the Tele-Games Pong Sports IV (#99708; $49.99) by Atari (same as Atari Ultra Pong Doubles C-402(D); direct replacement for Super Pong IV #99789). (newspaper ad)

October 13-16: At the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) show at McCormick Place in Chicago (booth 200), Atari introduced the Vending Kiosk concept (never shipped) and Destroyer and featured Airborne Avenger along with: Time 2000, The Atarians, Super Bug, Starship 1, Breakout, Triple Hunt, Sprint 2

October: Atari released Ultra Pong (C-402(S); $32.88 sale price). (newspaper ads)

Steve Smith joined the Atari (Consumer) Microelectronics group as a chip engineering technician. He had been interviewed by Craig Hansen. (source, but the interviewer's correct name may have been Craig Nelson)

Atari had shipped 90,000 Atari VCS units so far, over 2 1/2 months. Patrick Kearney was Atari VCS product manager. (TVDigest 10/17/77 p10)

October 28-30: At the Amusement & Music Operators of America (AMOA) International Exposition of Games and Music at the Conrad Hilton Hotel in Chicago (booths 16-23 and 26-33), using the "Magic Show" theme, Atari featured Airborne Avenger, introduced Destroyer, Canyon Bomber, and Sprint 4, featured The Atarians, Time 2000, 2 Game Module, and F-1 with a new reinforced canopy, and also showed Super Bug, Sprint 2, Starship 1, Breakout, Triple Hunt. At Atari, Nolan Bushnell was chairman, Joe Keenan was president, Al Alcorn was VP research and development, Gene Lipkin was Atari VP and general manager Coin-Op, Bill White was VP finance, Steve Bristow was VP engineering, John Anderson was VP administration, Gil Williams was VP and general manager Pinball, Frank Ballouz was national sales manager, Don Osborne was Western regional sales manager, Howie Rubin was Eastern regional sales manager, Lenore Sayers was sales representative, Eddie Boasberg was pinball marketing coordinator, Carol Kantor was manager marketing services. (VendingTimes 10/77 p80)

Sears had released the Tele-Games Pong Sports II (#99707; $39.99) by Atari (same as Atari Ultra Pong C-402(S); direct replacement for Super Pong #99788). (newspaper ad)

Jim Huether, previously of GTE-Sylvania, joined the Atari (Consumer) Microelectronics group as a game designer/programmer. (source)

Engineer Richard Simone, previously LSI design manager at National Semiconductor, joined the Atari (Consumer) Microelectronics group as LSI Design Manager. (source) (Bob Brown remained Atari (Consumer) director of microelectronics.) Hires by Simone would include (all from National Semiconductor): Douglas G. Neubauer, Steve Stone, Mark Shieu, Delwin Pearson. (source; source 1:40) Also: Steve Wright, previously a technician at IBM (RetroGamer #35p84), joined the Atari (Consumer) Microelectronics group as Manager of LSI Test.

Atari and Dorsett Educational Systems reached a licensing agreement that would bring Dorsett's Talk & Teach Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) System to the Atari personal computer systems.

In France, Atari sold its controlling ownership share of Atari-Europe, S.A., including the manufacturing plant at 12, rue de l'Helvétie, Baume-les-Dames. The name of the Atari-Europe, S.A. would be be changed to, Europe Electronique SA, and the company would continue to manufacture Atari (Coin-Op) games for European distribution for Atari. The Atari Rustica 160 jukebox would be rebranded as the Europe Electronique 60R.

The $250,000 Tournament Soccer World Championship Foos Festival was held at the Gateway Convention Center in St. Louis MO. Tournament Soccer, Schlitz, and Atari were the event sponsors. Alongside the foosball (table football/table soccer) there was a free-play Atari arcade for attendees, Atari provided a Player Appreciation Buffet Dinner, and Atari sponsored a Breakout tournament: the first place winner of an Atari VCS was Bob Curtin from Lansing MI; second and third place winners of Atari Video Music Systems were Paul Wolack of Chicago and Jim Campbell of Davenport IA. (CC 11/77; WeLoveAtari v1p115; Tour ad)

Atari had released Stunt Cycle (SC-450). (newspaper ad; $68.88)

November: Atari released Canyon Bomber.

Programmer Warren Robinett joined the Atari (Consumer) Microelectronics group as a game designer. (source)

Larry Nicholson, previously of Nicholson Electronics, joined Atari's Cyan Engineering unit as a software engineer.

November 17: Atari had released Ultra Pong Doubles (C-402(D)). (newspaper ad; $39.99)

November 19-21: At the IAAPA Exposition at the Rivergate Exhibition Center in New Orleans, using the "Magic Show" theme, Atari introduced Ultra Tank, introduced Wolf Pack (never released), and also featured: Sprint 4, Canyon Bomber, Destroyer, Airborne Avenger, The Atarians, Time 2000

Steve Bristow, previously VP engineering, Electronic Board Game Division and Coin Operated Games, became (Coin-Op) VP engineering and Plant Manager Pinball Production, assuming Pinball plant management from Bob Kolbus who departed the company. Gil Williams, previously Atari VP and general manager, Pinball Division, would (again) become Atari VP Coin-Operated Manufacturing. Gene Lipkin, previously Atari VP marketing and general manager Coin-Operated Division, would become Atari VP marketing and general manager Coin-Operated Group (assuming Pinball general management from Williams). Atari (Consumer) director of engineering John Ellis would additionally assume responsibility for the Electronic Board Games division from Bristow, and the latter division would adopt the new name: Electronic Toys & Games

December: Atari released Sprint 4 (four-player version of Sprint 2).

Kenneth Rosen, Warner Communications Inc. (WCI) office of the president, formally resigned his position with WCI. The position of WCI office of the president would be reduced from four to three persons: Jay Emmett, Emanuel Gerard, and David H. Horowitz. Gerard remained responsible for Atari.

In 1977 Atari sold some 850,000 consumer game units, of which roughly 40% (340,000) were Video Computer Systems. (WCI annual report for 1977; TVDigest 4/10/78)

1978

Atari, Inc. became the exclusive US distributor (sales & service) for the NSM phonograph (jukebox) line, which originated in West Germany and was represented internationally by Löwen Automaten. Bert Davidson, previously in charge of US sales of NSM products, would remain as a consultant to Atari and Löwen Automaten. NSM units to be marketed in the U.S. by Atari were to include the 160-selection Prestige, 160- and 120-selection Consul, and 120-selection Hit. Gene Lipkin remained Atari VP marketing. (Vending Times 12/77p35)

At the 6th annual Winter CES, held in Las Vegas, Atari introduced the Game Brain (C-700; $115; to ship in June; never shipped), and for the Game Brain announced the 5 cartridge titles: Super Pong, Video Pinball, Stunt Cycle, Ultra Pong, Video Music (each intended to replace existing Atari dedicated units of the same names). For the VCS ($189) Atari introduced the Keyboard Data Entry Controllers (CX50; prototype units labeled "universal keyboard"; would ship as: Keyboard Controllers; to be delivered in June) and, to require the new keyboard controllers, the 2 VCS cartridge titles Concentration (would ship as: Hunt & Score) and Code Breaker (would ship as: Codebreaker). Atari also introduced 2 more VCS titles, Hangman and Starship II (would ship as: Space War), for a total library of 12 VCS cartridges available/soon available, not counting Combat). (TVDigest 1/2/78 p12, 1/9/78p9) Michael Shea was Atari (Consumer) marketing director. (TVDigest 1/16/78 p9)

Geoff Harrop remained Atari (Coin-Op) pinball engineering manager. (source)

Atari opened a 10,600 ft2 sales, service, and parts facility at 44 Colonial Dr., Piscataway NJ, headed by Eastern regional sales manager Howard Rubin. Frank Ballouz remained national sales manager. (CC 1/78)

January: Atari released Sprint One by Kee Games.

Gene Wise joined Atari's Cyan Engineering as a Mechanical Engineer/Design Supervisor.

January 24-26: Atari was represented at the Amusement Trades Exhibition (ATE) at Alexandra Palace in London by the Cherry Group, Atari distributor in Great Britain. Atari's Sky Raider and Tournament Table were introduced at the show. Also featured: 2 Game Module, Sprint 4, Ultra Tank, Destroyer, Sprint 1, Middle Earth, Starship 1, Super Bug. Previewed at the show: Competition 8 (never released). CC 3/78

Angela Jones was Atari Special Markets Manager. (source)

Atari acquired the right to port Microsoft BASIC M6502 8K Version to the upcoming Atari personal computers. (one source)

New production Sears Tele-Games Video Arcade systems by Atari would ship with Pong Sports (#99744 package, replacing the #99743 package that shipped with Target Fun).

Atari (Consumer) new products manager Kerry Crosson had been assigned marketing responsibility for the new Atari Professional Products Division. (TVDigest 2/6/78p12) Crosson would become general manager of Atari (Professional Products), which would be located at: 1183 Bordeaux Dr., Sunnyvale CA. Atari (Professional Products) would also include: David Salmon, Alfie Gilbert (electronics engineer), Dan Kutsenda (mechanical design engineer), Tom Westberg (programmer). (Fun p498)

February 12-14: Atari exhibited at Show West '78 in San Diego, a trade show for movie theater owners.

Atari was reconsidering its commitment to the Game Brain console introduced weeks earlier at CES. Michael C. Shea remained Atari (Consumer) director of marketing (WSJ; TVDigest 2/13/78 p9)

February: Atari released Middle Earth (pinball).

February: Atari released Ultra Tank by Kee Games. This would be the last Atari product release to carry the Kee Games brand.

George E. Logg (Ed Logg) joined Atari as a video game designer. (source; Retro Gamer #117 p36) He was hired by Mike Albaugh.

February: Bill Bassett, previously in product development for Atari (Coin-Op) Pinball Division, had been appointed International Field Service Manager at Atari. Don Smith remained Customer Service Manager. (CC 2/78)

David Gjerdrum joined the Atari (Consumer) Microelectronics group as a software engineer. He would be assigned to the project to port Microsoft BASIC M6502 for the Atari Colleen project.

Raymond E. Kassar, founder and president of R.E. Kassar Corporation (importer of men's and women's apparel) since 1975, previously co-founder and president of apparel importer Abraham-Zumsteg, Inc., and before that EVP and a director at Burlington Industries until 1974, was hired by Warner Communcations as a senior marketing and management consultant. Kassar was to make an evaluation of the state of affairs at Atari, reporting to Manny Gerard, office of the president. (HowTheyAchieved p99 for date)

At Atari (Consumer), Donald R. Thompson (Don Thompson), previously eastern zone manager, had been promoted to national sales manager, replacing Malcolm Kuhn who had departed the company (to Mattel Elecronics). (TVDigest 2/20/78, 3/13/78p12; Merch 4/78)

Atari's fourth annual distributor meeting, held at the Del Monte lodge, Pebble Beach CA. The Breakout Consolette wall box game concept developed at the former Atari-Europe was displayed at the event. (International Atari personnel in attendance included Serge Lievoux and Jean-François Gaillard from Socodimex and the former Atari-Europe in France, and M. Nakamura and Hideyuki Nakajima from Namco/Atari Japan). (CC 4/78) Presenters from Atari included: national sales manager Frank Ballouz, field service manager Don Smith, seminars manager Fred McCord, customer service representative Dave Tucker, engineer Noah Anglin, Eastern regional sales manager Howard Rubin, Western regional sales manager Don Osborne, marketing services manager Carol Kantor, marketing research analyst Colette Weil, VP marketing Gene Lipkin, president Joe Keenan, and chairman Nolan Bushnell. (CashBox 4/8/78 p39)

March: Ray Kassar, president of R.E. Kassar Corporation and Warner Communications senior marketing and management consultant for several weeks, was named general manager of Atari's Consumer Division (replacing VP research and development Al Alcorn in the role). The appointment was on a temporary, 6-month basis, and Kassar was free to return to R.E. Kassar Corp. as needed. (NYT 1/5/79, HowTheyAchieved, Merch 6/78) Alcorn would recruit Atari (Coin-Op) mechanical engineers Roger Hector and Harry H. Jenkins, Jr. to form the Atari (corporate) Advanced Products Group.

March: Atari released Sky Raider, and released Tournament Table (12 games: Breakout, Soccer I, Soccer II, Foozpong, Hockey I, Hockey II, Hockey III, Quadrapong, Handball, Volleyball, Basketball I, Basketball II)

Peter N. Rosenthal, a molecular biologist and cancer researcher, joined Atari (Consumer) as a marketing research associate (personal computers). (for month 1:25; source for year) (Michael C. Shea remained Atari (Consumer) director of marketing.)

Atari was seeking a video games marketing manager who would have "total responsibility for managing a product in the development & mktg. phases." (TVDigest 3/27/78 p11) (details of this hire wanted!)

Atari (Consumer) established a research laboratory to investigate algorithms, artificial intelligence applications, robotics, and digital signal processing. Bob Brown, previously director of microelectronics, would become director of research and head of the new unit. Larry Wagner, previously director of software development (reporting to Brown), would be research manager (still reporting to Brown). John Ellis, previously Atari (Consumer) director of engineering, was promoted to VP engineering, assuming Brown's previous areas of responsibility (Microelectronics). Atari (Consumer) engineering manager Wade Tuma would be promoted to director of engineering (replacing Ellis in the role). George Simcock would join Atari (Consumer) as director of software development (replacing Wagner in the role). (source)

April: Atari released Avalanche.

Through a new product catalog, for the VCS Atari announced the 5 new titles Home Run, Outlaw, Breakout, Football, and Basketball, and again promised the 4 titles Hunt & Score (previously: Concentration), Codebreaker (previously: Code Breaker), Hangman, and Space War (previously: Starship II), for a total library of 17 cartridges available/soon available (not counting Combat).

Atari (Coin-Op) Pinball game designer Steve Ritchie departed the company (to Williams Electronics, Inc.).

Educational technology consultant Liza Loop of the LO*OP Center ("Learning Options Open Portal") gave an invited presentation to the Atari Colleen project engineering team. (Decuir 1978 engineering notes p71) Atari would proceed to hire Loop to write user manuals for the upcoming Atari personal computer systems. She interviewed with Atari director of consumer engineering Wade Tuma

April 23-26: Atari and New Way Sales exhibited Atari games at the Canadian Restaurant-Hotel-Motel Show in Toronto, Canada, featuring: Middle Earth, Sky Raider

April 26-29: Löwen Automaten, Atari's distributor in West Germany, had a display of Atari games at the International Coin Machine Exposition in West Berlin, West Germany, featuring: Middle Earth

Dennis D. Groth, previously of Arthur Young & Co., joined Atari as VP finance, Consumer division. (by June 28; see also TheArthurYoungJournal Sum/Aut78 p53) Groth was hired by Atari (Consumer) general manager Ray Kassar. (source)

Programmer Dennis Koble, previously of Atari (Coin-Op), transferred to Atari (Electronic Toys & Games).

National Premium Show, New York. Was Atari there?

Articles of Incorporation of Pizza Time Theatre, Inc. were executed by Atari chairman Nolan Bushnell, for the purpose of acquiring the Pizza Time Theatre restaurant and concept from Atari. The initial agent for service of process was Lionel M. (Lon) Allan, who was also outside general counsel for Atari.

Pizza Time Theatre, Inc. was incorporated by Atari chairman Nolan Bushnell, who would serve as the company's chairman and CEO while remaining Atari chairman as well.

Atari Restaurant Operating Division COO Gene Landrum departed the company to become president of Pizza Time Theatre, Inc.

Atari (Coin-Op) Customer Service had moved to a new building: 1344 Bordeux Dr., Sunnyvale CA (CC 5/78) (previously: 2175 Martin Ave., Santa Clara CA, where Coin-Op manufacturing remained)

George Simcock was Atari (Consumer) director of software development. (source)

Atari announced four new VCS titles: Basketball, Capture the Flag (would ship as: Flag Capture), The Maze (would ship as: Slot Racers), Wizard (would ship as: Brain Games) (Merch 6/78)

In Ireland, Atari Ireland Limited was incorporated. (date of Memorandum and Articles of Association of Atari Ireland Limited)

In Ireland, Atari established Atari Holdings Limited and Atari Ireland Limited, as Atari moved to establish a new manufacturing site for Europe.

Namco Ltd. (of Tokyo, Japan) established Namco-America, Inc. Namco EVP for Atari Japan Hideyuki Nakajima would additionally be president of Namco-America. As of June 1, Nakajima had hired Satish Bhutani, previously VP marketing for Project Support Engineering (and formerly with Atari/Kee Games from 1973-1975), to establish and directly manage the new U.S. operations. (source; source)

June 11-14: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced 7 new game program cartridges for the VCS: Breakout, Home Run, Space War (previously: Starship II), Flag Capture (previously: Capture the Flag), Brain Games (previously: Wizard), Basketball, Slot Racers (previously: The Maze) (TVDigest 6/12/78 p13), and again promised Hunt & Score, Codebreaker, Hangman, Outlaw and Football, for a total library of 20 VCS cartridges available/soon available (not counting Combat).

June: Atari released Fire Truck, and released Sky Diver.

Atari (Coin-Op) Graphics Design included: Jim Arita (production art), Roger Hector (production art; formerly Atari (Coin-Op) industrial designer), Steve Hendricks (graphics designer), George Opperman (manager, Graphics Design), Gjalt Van Der Wyk (production art), Bob Flemate (production art supervisor), Evelyn Lim (assistant group manager), James Kelly (graphics design) (CC v2n6 6/78; ArtOfAtari p22; source)

June: Atari (Coin-Op) field service engineer Fred McCord was promoted to Field Service Manager.

Alan S. Henricks, previously management consultant for Arthur Young & Co. (Atari had been one of his clients), would join Atari as controller of the Consumer Division. (TheArthurYoungJournal Sum/Aut78 p53) Henricks was hired by Atari (Consumer) VP finance Dennis Groth. (source) John Constantine, previously Warner Communications senior auditor (and who had recently performed an audit of Atari for Atari VP finance Bill White), would join Atari as general accounting manager, Consumer division. He was hired by Atari (Consumer) VP finance Dennis Groth. (source 2:00)

Peter Rosenthal, previously Atari (Consumer) marketing research associate (personal computers), became Atari (Consumer) Manager of Software Planning (personal computers). (source; Fun p475; source) (John Vurich remained manager of product planning (personal computers); Michael C. Shea remained Atari (Consumer) director of marketing.)

June?: Atari displayed products at the National Restaurant Association show in Chicago, including: Avalanche, Sprint 1, Starship 1, Sky Raider, Tournament Table, Middle Earth, Airborne Avenger, The Atarians, 2 Game Module. Prototype game design concepts, Wall Unit and Game Booth were shown by Atari as well.

Opening of new Atari engineering facility, to house Consumer division engineering and Coin-Op division engineering departments, at 1272 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (77,000 ft2; Moffett Park industrial park). (source; Fun p317 for date) (previously: 155 Moffet Park Dr. (Consumer engineering) and 1265 Borregas Ave. (Coin-Op engineering))

June: Pizza Time Theatre, Inc. (PTT), which had just been established by Atari chairman Nolan Bushnell, completed its acquisition of the Pizza Time Theatre prototype restaurant and associated intellectual property (including "Chuck E. Cheese") from Atari for $500,000; Atari would retain minority ownership in PTT.

June 26-28: Atari's latest video and pinball games were on display at the Bowling Proprietor's trade show (BPAA), including: Fire Truck, Sky Diver, Avalanche, Sprint 4, Middle Earth

Rich Adam joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a Pinball division programmer.

Dave Theurer joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a programmer/game designer.

In the UK, Atari distributor Cherry Leisure (UK) Ltd. shipped the VCS (new 2600U version for PAL I; 6 switches; woodgrain).

In Taiwan, Atari established an Atari Taipei Liaison Office ("Atari Far East (Taiwan)"), to facilitate contract manufacturing of the Atari VCS, at: 5th Floor, 2 Min Tsn East Road, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. Richard Krieger (Rick Krieger) would be Materials Manager for Atari. Taiwanese contract manufacturers of the Atari VCS would eventually include: TRW Electronics Components Co., Dimerco Electronics, Kingtek Electronics Co.

Game developer Brian Johnston, previously of Extensys Corporation (consultants to: Bally, Atari), joined Atari (Electronic Toys & Games). (source)

Steven C. Chiaramonte joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a financial analyst. (Marquis)

Atari (Coin-Op) international distributors included: Canada: Dale Distributing Ltd. (Rexdale Ontario; Richmond, B.C. (Vancouver)), Laniel Automatic (Mt. Royal, Quebec), New Way Sales (Toronto, Ontario), Rowe Int'l of Canada, Ltd. (Dorval, Quebec; Mississauga, Ontario; Burnaby, B.C. (Vancouver)), J.E. Weatherhead Dist. Ltd. (Burnaby, B.C. (Vancouver)); Central & South America: R.H. Belam Company (New York); Australia & S.E. Asia: Leisure & Allied Industries (Perth, West Australia); Belgium: Brabo Corporation (Antwerp); Brazil: Taito do Brazil (Sao Paulo); England: Cherry Leisure (U.K.) Ltd. (London); France: Socodimex (Paris); Germany: Löwen Automaten (Bingen/Rhine), Seevend Automaten (Hamburg); Holland: Vale Automaten Imports (Veldhoven); Italy: Fratelli Bertolino (Torino); Japan: Atari Japan (Ohta-ku, Tokyo); South Africa: Plankomat (Pty) Limited (Johannesburg); Spain: Sega S.A. (Madrid); Scandinavia: Cherryforetagen (Solna, Sweden) (Cash Box 7/1/78 pt.III p5)

Gene Lipkin was Atari VP marketing (and general manager, Coin-Op), and also at Atari (Coin-Op): Frank Ballouz was national sales manager, Don Osborne was Western regional sales manager, Howie Rubin was Eastern regional sales manager, Lenore Sayers was sales representative, Sue Elliot was head of international sales. (Cash Box 7/1/78 pt.III p20)

Atari released Smokey Joe (one player version of Fire Truck).

Engineer Rich Moore joined Atari (Coin-Op). (source-p40)

Atari published a new VCS product catalog, again promising the 11 new titles: Space War, Home Run, Outlaw, Breakout, Hunt & Score, Codebreaker, Hangman, Brain Games, Basketball, Slot Racers, and Flag Capture, for a total library of 20 VCS cartridges available/soon available (including Combat). Football had been dropped from the list of upcoming titles.

Engineering student Rob Fulop worked for Atari (Coin-Op) on a 10 week summer internship. He was hired by software manager Steve Calfee. (source) (Calfee role at this time: Team Leader)

New production Atari VCS units would include a channel selection switch for VHF channels 2 or 3, and would include a new version of the Joystick Controller (CX40) shipped with the systems, replacing the original CX10 Joystick Controller which was discontinued. Revised VCS box: "The Super System...More Games. More Fun"

Industrial designer John Hayashi (with previous experience as an Atari (Consumer) project engineer, joined Atari (Consumer) as director of Industrial Design and Graphics (reporting to VP Consumer engineering John Ellis), replacing industrial design manager Fred Thompson who departed the company. (ArtOfAtari p306) Steve Hendricks, previously of the Atari (Coin-Op) Graphics Design group (where he had reported to graphics design manager George Opperman), would transfer to Atari (Consumer) as art director (reporting to Hayashi).

New production Sears Tele-Games Video Arcade systems (#99743 package with Target Fun, replacing the #99744 package with Pong Sports) by Atari (same as the Atari VCS) would include a channel selection switch for VHF channels 2 or 3, and would include a new version of the joystick controller (same as the new Atari CX40). (Earlier units output on VHF channel 3 only, except some units modified for channel 4 for television markets with a local station on channel 3. - source).

Sears published a Video Arcade Cartridge Tele-Games System catalog featuring 20 titles for the Video Arcade/Atari VCS, all by Atari: Baseball, Basketball, Gun Slinger, Space Combat, Outer Space, Capture, Brain Games, Math, Spelling, Memory Match, Tank-Plus, Race, Spaceway II, Chase, Blackjack, Code Breaker (would ship as: Codebreaker), Maze, Target Fun (included with the Video Arcade), Breakaway IV, Pong-Sports

August: Atari Ireland Limited commenced operations at new manufacturing facility located in Tipperary Town (Aherlow Ct.), Co. Tipperary, Ireland. First game manufactured at the plant: Sprint 2. (AGPCapr86 for date and 1st game) The operation had been organized, initiated, and was headed by Atari VP Manufacturing Gil Williams. (CC 9/78) Kevin Hayes, previously of W.R. Grace, joined Atari Ireland as financial controller. (source) The Atari Ireland management team would also include Tommy Martinez and Phillip Stewart. (source) Eamonn Mcgrath would also join Atari Ireland (as European Field Service Manager, replacing Bill Bassett who departed from Atari?). For cabinet production Atari Ireland would contract with, and become the exclusive customer of, nearby Murray Kitchens (Ardfinnan) Limited which had operated its 30,000 ft2 factory for Murray Kitchens Ltd. at Mill Road, Youghal, Co. Cork since 1974. Manufacturing for Atari by Europe Electronique (formerly, Atari-Europe) at Baume-les-Dames, France was discontinued.

Carol Shaw joined the Atari (Consumer) as microprocessor software engineer (game designer/programmer). (source)

Atari (Consumer) hired NEOTERIC consultant Harry B. Stewart to oversee and document "Colleen" project systems software development. Stewart was hired by director of software development George Simcock.

Mary Takatsuno and Linda Butcher joined Atari (Coin-Op) as marketing assistants, hired by/reporting to manager of marketing services Carol Kantor. (CashBox 9/22/79 p48) (Colette Weil remained marketing research analyst, also reporting to Kantor.)

Industrial designer Roy Nishi joined Atari (Consumer). (Nishi would report to Industrial Design and Graphics director John Hayashi.)

Namco-America, Inc. opened a 10,000 ft2 facility at 343 Gibraltar Dr., Sunnyvale CA. Satish Bhutani was VP operations; Hideyuki Nakajima, based in Japan, was president (and also remained Namco Ltd. EVP for Atari Japan). (Cash Box 9/23/78 p53-55)

September: Atari released Super Breakout, and released Space Riders (pinball).

R.E. Kassar Corporation president Ray Kassar agreed to continue his temporary position with Atari as Consumer Division general manager through the end of the year. (HowTheyAchieved p98)

Dennis Groth, previously Atari (Consumer) VP finance, would become Atari VP finance (CFO), replacing Bill White who departed the company. (Groth would report to Atari co-CEOs Nolan Bushnell and Joe Keenan, with "dotted-line" indirect reporting to Warner Communications Inc. SVP finance Bert Wasserman.) Alan Henricks, previously Atari (Consumer) controller, would be promoted to Atari (Consumer) VP finance (replacing the promoted Groth in the role).

George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development. (source)

Bob Polaro, previously a software engineer for Commodore, joined Atari (Consumer) as a software engineer (hired to develop games and applications for the "Colleen" computer).

September: Atari announced that Bob Betters, previously of Casper Instruments, had been hired as Manager of Customer Service at Atari Coin-Op (replacing the departed Don Smith).

Steve Bristow, previously Atari (Coin-Op) VP Engineering and Plant Manager Pinball Production, became VP Engineering, Consumer division (personal computers) (assuming the role from VP Consumer engineering John Ellis). Gil Williams, previously Atari (Coin-Op) VP Manufacturing but now residing in Ireland heading Atari Ireland Limited, would become Atari VP Manufacturing, Ireland. Noah Anglin, previously Atari (Coin-Op) engineering manager, would become Atari (Coin-Op) director of engineering (replacing Bristow as head of engineering, and replacing Williams as head of domestic manufacturing). Lyle V. Rains, previously an Atari (Coin-Op) Project Team Leader (one of several), would become (Coin-Op) Manager of Electronics Engineering and Game Development (reporting to Anglin). Dave Stubben, previously a Team Leader, would become chief engineer, electronic design (reporting to Rains). Steve Calfee, previously a Team Leader, would become chief engineer, software (reporting to Rains). Jim Riordan, previously Pinball manufacturing engineer, would be promoted to Pinball manufacturing engineering manager (replacing Bristow in the role; reporting to Anglin).

Paul J. Malloy, previously of NCR Corp., joined Atari (Consumer) as VP manufacturing (source), replacing Loren Schoof who departed the company. (source) James Heller, previously manufacturing manager, would be promoted to operations manager (now reporting to Malloy.)

October: Atari released Atari Football.

Atari announced the VIDCOM I ($299) and VIDCOM II ($499) portable communications system for the non-verbal, including an advertisement (original scan by mc 2013) on page 386 in the Oct/Nov issue of The Volta Review (journal of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing). (see also Atarimuseum's VIDCOM page) Kerry Crosson was Atari Professional Products division general manager.

For the VCS Atari released: Hangman (Sears title: Spelling), Outlaw (Sears title: Gunslinger), Space War (Sears title: Space Combat), Breakout (Sears title: Breakaway IV), Home Run (Sears title: Baseball) (never released in PAL format), Basketball, Flag Capture (Sears title: Capture) (never released in PAL format), Slot Racers (Sears title: Maze)

November 10-12: At the AMOA show in Chicago (exhibits 13-36, West Room, Conrad Hilton), using the theme "StarWorld '78" Atari released Orbit, featured Atari Football, Super Breakout, and Space Riders, and previewed: Superman (pinball), Monza (pinball cocktail; never released), UFO (wall game; never released), Hercules (pinball), Subs. (WeLoveAtari v1p107; source) Also shown: Middle Earth, Sprint 2, Sit-Down Night Driver, Starship 1, Smokey Joe, FireTruck. Also introduced for operators: CTF-1 Video Test Fixture, PBS-1 Pinball Simulator System, Automatic ROM/RAM Tester

Atari Ireland Limited reached full production of all current Atari (Coin-Op) games in Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary.

November 18-20: At the IAAPA show in Atlanta, using the theme "StarWorld '78" Atari featured Space Riders, also showed Middle Earth, and previewed the Hercules pinball games, featured Orbit, Atari Football, and Super Breakout, also showed Fire Truck, Starship 1, Sit-Down Night Driver, and the 2 Game Module, and previewed Subs. (CC Nov/Dec 78)

At Melbourne's first Home Computer Show, held at the Box Hill Town Hall, Atari home consumer products distributor Futuretronics Australia Pty Ltd introduced the Atari VCS to Australia (A$339, including 2 joysticks, paddles, and Combat).

The New York City premiere of the Warner Bros. feature film Superman also included private previews of Atari Superman pinball and Atari Superman for the VCS.

Warner Communications introduced the Atari 400 ($500) and Atari 800 ($1000) personal computers at a New York news conference. The computers would each ship with 8K RAM, and support "optional Atari-designed floppy disc & printer units. Atari plans over 25 cartridges, including games, home financial management, mini-courses, etc. User can record own programs on audio cassettes with BASIC & FORTRAN cartridges." According to Atari, the 400/800 were expected to ship August 1, 1979; they had been in development for 18 months; they were designed to pass FCC tests for use with home TV, unlike computers from other companies. Atari said it was studying connecting the 400/800 with the Warner Amex QUBE two-way interactive cable television system in Columbus OH. (TVDigest 12/4/78 p11; 12/18/78 p11)

For the VCS Atari announced the release of the Keyboard Controllers (CX50) (Merch 1/78 p81), and shipped the first three titles for keyboard controllers: Hunt & Score (Sears title: Memory Match), Codebreaker, Brain Games

December 28: Manny Gerard, office of the president of Warner Communications with responsibility for Atari, instituted a change of leadership at Atari. Nolan Bushnell, previously Atari chairman and co-CEO, became creative consultant. Joe Keenan, previously Atari president and co-CEO, became Atari chairman (replacing Bushnell in the role). Ray Kassar, previously Atari (Consumer) general manager (temporary basis while remaining president of R.E. Kassar Corporation), joined Atari on a permanent basis as president (replacing Keenan in the role) and CEO (replacing Bushnell and Keenan in the role). (Fun p381 for date; TVDigest 1/1/79p12; NYT 1/4/79 two articles; Cumma Technology Corporation press release 7 Jan 1984; Merch 2/79 p46)

Atari sold 800,000 VCS units in 1978 (InfoWorld Nov 28, 1983 p. 157), but had an inventory of 200,000 unsold VCS units. (TVDigest 4/2/79p14)

1979

Donald D. Kingsborough of D.K. Marketing had joined Atari (Consumer) as Director of Sales & Marketing, replacing Don Thompson (sales) and Michael Shea (marketing) who departed the company. (TVDigest 1/8/79p12; Fun p381) (Thompson would establish Donald R. Thompson Associates, Inc. on 11/1/80, join Arcadia Corporation (later: Starpath Corporation) in 1982, join American Educational Computer, Inc. in 1983, and join Atari, Corp. in 1985.)

At the Winter CES in Las Vegas (Las Vegas Convention Center, Hilton hotel, and Jockey Club hotel), for the VCS ($189) Atari introduced the 8 new cartridge titles (for a total library of 28 available/soon available): Football (title originally announced April 1978 but dropped July 1978), Human Cannonball, Sky Diver, Miniature Golf, Slot Machine, Canyon Bomber, Bowling, Casino. (In advance of the show, WCI had announced there would be 10 new titles presented (see Fun p475), but Merch 1/79 article and Atari ad, Merch 4/79 and April 16-June 30 promotion info all support tally of 8 new titles introduced at the show.)

Atari featured the new Atari-400 Personal Computer and the Atari-800 Personal Computer. The 400 would come with 8KiB of RAM and was expected to retail for approximately $500. The 800 would ship with 8KiB of RAM, expandable to 48KiB, and would sell for approximately $1,000. Peripherals announced/previewed: custom tape cassette recorder (410), high speed floppy disc (810), 40-column printer (820). Software applications promised: "personal financial management, income tax preparation, household and office record keeping, computer aided instruction in over 20 subject areas including math, English, history, literature, economics, psychology, auto mechanics, and many others." Games promised: Basketball, Chess, Life, Kingdom, Lemonade Stand, Fur Trader, Stock Market. Programming language promised: BASIC. Availability dates were not announced. Atari (Consumer) programmer Larry Kaplan and chip engineering technician Steve Smith led the live demonstrations of the 400/800 at the show. Don Kingsborough was Atari (Consumer) Director of Sales & Marketing. Emanuel Gerard represented the Office of the President, WCI. Coverage of the introduction of the Atari 400/800 from Creative Computing magazine: http://mcurrent.name/atari1979/ (see also The Intelligent Machines Journal Issue 2, 79 Jan 17; Merch 1/79)

Atari publically launched the new Electronic Toys & Games Division by introducing the electronic strategy and action games (board games) Pro Darts (never shipped), Pro Coach (never shipped), Pro Ball (never shipped), and Proteus 4 (later: Tronic 2; never shipped) (Fun p258, 475), and privately previewed the handheld Touch Me. (TVDigest 2/12/79p8)

The Atari (Consumer) research lab was shut down, and departures from the company would include director of research Bob Brown, research manager Larry Wagner, and engineer Craig Nelson. (source) (Wagner would co-found Votan on May 7, 1979.) (Brown and Nelson would together join Hitachi Micro Systems, Inc. (HMSI); on 6/11/81 they would depart HMSI to co-found Acorn, later known as Arcadia, later known as Starpath Corporation). (one source)

Don Kingsborough, previously Atari (Consumer) director of sales & marketing, became VP sales & marketing. Peter Rosenthal, previously Atari (Consumer) Manager of Software Planning (personal computers), became director of marketing (personal computers), assuming the role of manager of product planning (personal computers) John Vurich who departed the company. Rosenthal would report to Kingsborough. (source; source 2:35) (Vurich and former Atari chairman and co-CEO Nolan Bushnell would together establish Axlon Incorporated on 3/26/1980).

Engineer Ed Rotberg joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a game designer/programmer. (source)

Jed Margolin joined Atari (Coin-Op) as a hardware engineer; he had been interviewed by chief engineer Dave Stubben. (source) (Stubben full title: chief engineer, electronic design)

Atari (Coin-Op) moved into their new 56,800 ft2 printed circuit board assembly facility at 1320 Bordeux, Sunnyvale CA. (CC 2/79) Final product assembly remained at their plant at 2175 Martin Ave., Santa Clara.

January 23-25: Atari products were exhibited by the English distributor, Cherry Leisure (UK) Ltd., at the Amusement Trades Exhibition (ATE) in London. Also finalized at the show, Quintin Flynn Ltd. became Atari distributor for Ireland. (CC 2/79)

January 26: Atari consultant Nolan Bushnell formally contested his December 28, 1978 ouster as Atari chairman to Emanuel Gerard of the Office of the President of Warner Communications, but Bushnell would instead depart the company. (Fun p381 and 413) (Bushnell and former Atari Consumer Division new products manager John Vurich would together establish Axlon Incorporated on 3/26/1980.)

Atari committed to shipping the 400/800 with the BASIC developed for Atari by SMI, abandoned efforts to port Microsoft BASIC to the 400/800, and Atari (Consumer) senior software engineer (personal computers) David Gjerdrum departed the company.

Synertek engineer/Atari consultant Jay Miner departed the companies (Atari Inc.: Business is Fun, p. 386; source #2) (to Custom MOS, Inc., which would change its name to ZyMOS in November 1980).

Atari (Consumer) hired UC Berkeley doctoral student Ted M. Kahn, who had previously worked with the Learning Research Group at Xerox PARC (under Alan Kay), as a personal computers educational marketing consultant (essentially replacing consultant Liza Loop in the role). Kahn would report to director of marketing (personal computers) Peter Rosenthal. (source 2:40)

February: Atari released Video Pinball.

February 18-21: Atari introduced the handheld Touch Me (BH-100) at the Knickerbocker Toy Co. (fellow Warner Communications Inc. subsidiary) booth at the 76th annual American Toy Fair in New York. Atari indicated that Pro Coach would be the second game in the Electronic Toys & Games Division product line, due in the fall (never shipped). (TVDigest 2/26/79)

March 5: Atari announced the release of Superman (pinball).

March 25-27: Atari exhibited at the Association of College Unions-International (ACUI) conference and show in Cincinnati. Atari introduced Superman (pinball) and also showed: Space Riders, Video Pinball, Atari Football, Sprint 2, Super Breakout

Atari had asked the U.S. FCC to extend the comments deadline on Texas Instruments' petition for a waiver of Class I rules on RF modulators, in what was seen as an attempt to delay market introduction of the TI home computer. (TVDigest 3/26/79)

Carl J. Nielsen joined Atari (Consumer) as director of LSI chip design (reporting to VP engineering John Ellis), replacing Richard Simone who departed the company (to Maruman Integrated Circuits). (source)

March/April?: In the UK, Ingersoll Electronics Ltd. (subsidiary of Heron Corporation) became the new Atari Consumer products (Atari VCS) distributor, replacing Cherry Leisure (UK) Ltd. in the role. (Cherry Leisure would continue as Atari (Coin-Op) distributor.) The first VCS cartridge releases from Ingersoll would be, scheduled for May 1979: Codebreaker, Hunt & Score, Brain Games

In joining others including Apple, Interact, Mattel, and Radio Shack, Atari formally opposed Texas Instruments' RF devices waiver request from the U.S. FCC by submitting a 60-page report accompanied by technical data showing that TI standards could cause massive interference in urban areas, and claiming that "TI simply presented the Commission with its self-serving appraisal of what it considered 'reasonable standards' for home computer manufacturers, and asked for authority to produce & market a computer line satisfying its own standards." (TVDigest 4/9/79 p11)

Roger L. Gerard, previously of Fairchild Semiconductor, had joined Atari as VP administration (TVDigest 4/9/79 p12) replacing John Anderson who departed the company to Pizza Time Theatre, Inc.

The Atari (Coin-Op) Video Production Facility operations were moved from 2175 Martin Ave., Santa Clara, which Atari would abandon, to Atari's plant at 1215 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale (previously: Consumer final assembly / domestic VCS production) (CC 5/79), which would also be the new location for division administrative functions including Coin-Op Marketing Services. New Atari VCS units, previously manufactured at 1215 Borregas Ave., would no longer be produced domestically. (Atari (Consumer) light manufacturing/subassembly operations would remain at the 1195 Borregas Ave. divisional headquarters/plant.)

April: Atari (Coin-Op) announced the promotion of Darl Davidson (previously: production manager of the printed circuit board facility; he had joined Atari in January 1977) to Manager of Customer Service (replacing the departed Bob Betters). (CC; TVDigest 7/16/79p12)

April: Atari released Hercules (pinball -- the largest pinball machine ever made (93" long, 39" wide, 83" high), and also the last Atari production pinball machine), and released Atari 4-Player Football.

Atari chip engineering technician Steve Smith departed the company (to Custom MOS, Inc.).

Rob Zdybel joined Atari (Consumer) as a programmer. (source)

Direct-mail "refund" promotion to all known (US) Atari VCS owners. Each of "hundreds of thousands" of owners would receive a blank check good for $2 on purchase of any of 28 VCS game programs. In addition, consumers were asked to answer 3 questions about Atari's new personal computers. Winners drawn from correct responses would receive Atari 400 & 800 computers and $100 computer merchandise certificates. (TVDigest 3/12/79p12; Merch 4/79)

For the VCS Atari had shipped: Miniature Golf (Sears title: Arcade Golf), Football (never released in PAL format), Human Cannonball (Sears title: Cannon Man), Sky Diver (Sears title: Dare Diver), Slot Machine (Sears title: Slots), Canyon Bomber (never released in PAL format), Bowling, Casino (Sears title: Poker Plus) (ad in WashPost)

The operations of the former Atari International Division (sales/marketing, both consumer and coin operators) were shited into the Atari Coin-Op and Consumer divisions. Gene Lipkin, previously Atari VP marketing (including the former International Division) and general manager, Coin-Operated Group, would become president of Atari (Coin-Op). Sue Elliot, previously head of international sales as International Division administrator (coin-op/consumer), would remain Atari (Coin-Op) head of international sales. Anton Bruehl, previously a VP of one of the Burlington Industries' international divisions, would join Atari (Consumer) as VP international sales/marketing (assuming the role from Lipkin). (source) (source)

Votan was established by Ron Stephens (formerly an Arthur D. Little consultant), physicist Stephen Gill, former Atari engineer Larry Wagner, and financial backer Paul Baker. (source)

At the 4th West Coast Computer Faire, held in San Francisco's Civic Auditorium & Brooks Hall, in a booth as elaborate as those seen at Consumer Electronics Shows, Atari demonstrated its new 400 and 800 series computers. This was Atari's first public display of their new computer product lines. (Intelligent Machines Journal 79 Jun 11 p8) Peripherals promised: program recorder (410), printer (820), disk drive (810), acoustic modem (830), Light Pen (CX70). Business & household management software promised: income tax preparation guide, personal financial management, record keeping of books serial numbers and insurance policies, charge account management, personal capital investment management, mailing list/address book, computerized appointment calendar, inventory management, accounts payable, touch-typing trainer, payroll. Educational software subjects promised: algebra, economics, auto mechanics, sociology, U.S. history, zoology, counseling procedures, vocabulary builder, basic psychology, spelling, Spanish, accounting, carpentry, great classics, statistics, basic electricity, world history. Entertainment software promised: chess, backgammon, business simulations, stock market simulation, space adventure, strategy games, four-player basketball, Super Bug driving game, Game of Life, Super Breakout. Also promised: Atari BASIC

May: Atari released Atari Basketball, and released Subs (2 players, 2 monitors).

For the VCS Atari announced the 4 new titles Superman, BASIC Programming, Backgammon, and Video Chess, each to ship by summer. (ad in Merch 5/79)

In response to Texas Instruments' technical reply to the U.S. FCC regarding its Class I waiver request, which said its interference standards exceeded Computer & Business Equipment Manufacturers Association (CBEMA) standards, Atari had filed a follow-up noting that CBEMA standards were for commercial computers up to 30 meters from a TV, enclosing photos of broken-up TV pictures reportedly caused by a home computer with TI standards. (TVDigest 5/21/79 p13)

New suggested retail price for the Atari VCS: $179.95 (previously: $189). (Merch 7/79 p103; TVDigest 6/11/79)

At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari promised that the 400/800 base units would ship fall 1979, and featured a firmed 400/800 product line including suggested retail prices. 400 system with BASIC cartridge and Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide): $549.99; 800 system with BASIC cartridge, Education System Master Cartridge, Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide), 410 Program Recorder, and Guide to BASIC Programming cassette: $999.99; 810 Disc Drive: $749.99; 820 Printer: $599.99; 410 Program Recorder: $89.99; 8K RAM Memory Module: $124.99; 16K RAM Memory Module: $249.99; Driving Controller Pair: $19.95; Paddle Controller Pair: $19.95; Joystick Controller Pair: $19.95; ROM cartridges: Educational System Master Cartridge, Basketball, Life (earlier: Game of Life; would ship as: Video Easel), Super Breakout, Super Bug (never shipped), Atari BASIC, Assembler Debug (would ship as: Assembler Editor), Music Composer, Computer Chess, Home Finance (earlier: Checkbook; never shipped); Educational System cassette programs: U.S. History, U.S. Government, Supervisory Skills, World History (Western), Basic Sociology, Counseling Procedures, Principles of Accounting, Physics, Great Classics (English), Business Communications, Basic Psychology, Effective Writing, Auto Mechanics (never shipped), Principles of Economics, Spelling, Basic Electricity, Basic Algebra; BASIC game and program cassettes: Guide to BASIC Programming (would ship as: An Invitation to Programming 1: Fundamentals of BASIC Programming), BASIC Game Programs (never shipped); diskettes: Blank Diskettes (would ship as: 5 Diskettes), Disk File Manager (would ship as: Master Diskette).

For the VCS ($179), Atari introduced Superman, BASIC Programming, Backgammon, and Video Chess (expanding the VCS library of cartridges available/soon available from 28 to 32 titles).

Don Kingsborough was Atari (Consumer) VP sales & marketing. (TVDigest 6/11/79)

Atari announced U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Type I approval for the Atari 400 and Atari 800 personal computer systems, along with the Atari Program Recorder (410). It was the 29th consecutive Atari product approval by the FCC.

Atari microcomputer systems engineer Joe Decuir departed the company. (Fun p387; source #2) (Decuir had established Standard Technologies Corporation on 7/7/78.)

Mike Lorenzen joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer/programmer. (source)

Atari (Consumer) programmer/game designer Warren Robinett departed the company. (source) (He would be a co-founder of The Learning Company, established 8/12/1980.)

June: Atari released Atari Baseball.

June 25: Mark M. Weinstein was Atari, Inc. Assistant Secretary.

At Atari (Coin-Op) in engineering, Roger Hector transferred from the graphics design group to the mechanical engineering group as a mechanical designer.

Bill Carris joined Atari (Consumer) as manager of technical services (personal computers).

Georgia A. Marszalek, previously of National Semiconductor, joined Atari (Consumer) as manager of marketing communications (personal computers) (reporting to director of marketing Peter Rosenthal).

Cyan Engineering Mechanical Engineer/Design Supervisor Gene Wise departed the company.

J. David Remson, previously of Sun Electric Company, joined Atari (Consumer) as an engineering technician.

At Atari (Consumer), Steve Wright, previously manager of quality control (printed circuit boards), became training manager.

Atari personal computers were in the Penny fall-winter catalog at $550 & $995. (TVDigest 7/2/79)

Atari was out of the dedicated consumer video game business, closing out inventories of Video Pinball, Ultra Pong, Ultra Pong Doubles, and Stunt Cycle. (TVDigest 7/2/79)

Atari (Coin-Op) international distributors included: Canada: Dale Distributing Ltd. (Rexdale, Ontario; Richmond, B.C.), Laniel Automatic (Mt. Royal Quebec), New Way Sales (Toronto, Ontario), Rowe Int'l of Canada, Ltd. (Dorval, Quebec; Mississauga, Ontario), J.E. Weatherhead Dist. Ltd. (Burnaby, B.C.); Central & South America: R.H. Belam Company (New York NY); Australia: Leisure & Allied Industries (Perth); Belgium: Brabo Corporation (Antwerp); Brazil: Taito do Brazil (Sao Paulo); England: Cherry Leisure (U.K.) Ltd. (London); France: Socodimex (Paris); Germany: Löwen Automaten (Bingen/Rhine); Holland: Vale Automaten Imports (Veldhoven); Italy: Fratelli Bertolino (Torino); Japan: Atari Japan (Ohta-Ku, Tokyo); Republic of Ireland: Quintin Flynn Ltd. (Dublin); Scandinavia: Cherryforetagen (Solna, Sweden) (Cash Box 7/7/79 ptIII p7)

At Atari (Coin-Op), Gene Lipkin was president, Frank Ballouz was national sales manager, Don Osborne was western regional sales manager, Howie Rubin was eastern regional sales manager, Lenore Sayers was sales rep, Tom Petit was sales rep, Sue Elliot was head of international sales, Carol Kantor was marketing services manager. (Cash Box 7/7/79 ptIII p20)

Donald Winn joined Atari as Consumer Division president (post last held by Atari president Raymond Kassar until December 1979). (TVDigest 7/30/79p11) William F.X. Grubb (Bill Grubb), previously of Black & Decker, joined Atari (Consumer) as video games sales & marketing VP, and Robert A. Hovee, previously of Questor, joined Atari (Consumer) as personal computers sales & marketing VP, together replacing Donald Kingsborough who departed the company (to refocus on his firm, D.K. Marketing; Kingsborough would establish S.K.U., Inc. on 5/11/81). (source; Grubb in Billboard 4/23/83 p. VGM-6 said June, but here says July) (Craig A. Conway would join Atari (Consumer) in computer sales.)

Charles S. Paul (Skip Paul), previously of Cooley, Castro, Huddleson & Tatum, joined Atari as VP and general counsel (source), replacing outside general counsel Lionel M. (Lon) Allan in the role. Paul would report to Atari CEO Ray Kassar, with "dotted-line" indirect reporting to Warner Communications Inc. VP and general counsel Martin D. Payson. (source 4:45)

Atari (Coin-Op) Pinball Division programmer Eugene Jarvis departed the company.

Engineer Rob Fulop joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer/programmer.

Programmer Rick Maurer, previously of Fairchild, joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer/programmer.

In West Germany, new Atari distributor Unicom Consumer Electronics GmbH (Unimex) shipped the Atari VCS (new version 2600P for PAL B/G; woodgrain; 6 switches).

August: Atari released Lunar Lander. Atari's first game to feature their QuadraScan vector monitor display system.

Atari (Consumer) programmer Larry Kaplan departed the company (to work with Atari (Consumer) programmers Alan Miller, David Crane, and Bob Whitehead on a business plan for a new company. Kaplan would join the others at that new company, Activision, in December 1979.)

Atari (Consumer) chip design engineer Doug Neubauer departed the company (to Hewlett-Packard). (Compute! #3 Mar/Apr 80 p75)

On pages 650-655 of the Wish Book for the 1979 Holiday Season Sears featured: the Tele-Games Pong Sports IV (#99708) by Atari ($24.95), the Tele-Games Motocross Sports Center IV (#99729) by Atari ($34.95), the Tele-Games Video Arcade (#99743) by Atari ($154.95), and the Atari 400 personal computer system ($549) and accessories.

Carol Kantor remained Atari (Coin-Op) manager of marketing services. (Cash Box 8/18/79 p46)

Atari (Coin-Op) announced: Frank Ballouz had been promoted to Director of Marketing (replacing the departed C. Marshall Caras), including international marketing; Don Osborne (previously: western regional sales manager) had been promoted to National Sales Manager (replacing the promoted Ballouz in the role); Howie Rubin continued to head the East Coast office and would also work on new special markets; Sue Elliot remained head of international sales as International Sales Manager; Tom Petit, sales representative, would also have increased responsbilities including distributor accounts throughout the U.S. Gene Lipkin remained president of the Coin-Operated Games Division. (CC Aug/Sep79; CashBox 9/22/79 p46)

Atari (Coin-Op) manager of marketing services Carol Kantor departed the company (and established Business Builders). (CashBox 9/29/79 p42)

The Atari plant at 1173 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA, previously home of the Atari (Coin-Op) Pinball division, was repurposed for 400/800 computer line manufacturing, and Pinball manufacturing engineering manager Jim Riordan departed the company (and focus on his consultancy, Overnight Engineering, which he would incorporate with Lynn Riordan as The James F. Riordan Company on 10/1/81). The project was headed by Atari (Consumer) VP Engineering (personal computers) Steve Bristow. Brad C. Saville would be manufacturing manager (personal computers). Atari (Coin-Op) would maintain pinball design operations (for either a new manufacturing plant or outsourced manufacturing), and Geoff Harrop would remain manager of pinball design.

Chris C. Crawford, previously an instructor with the University of California Extension, and designer of the self-published game Legionnaire for Commodore PET, joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer/programmer. (Crawford was recommended for hire by Atari (Consumer) programmer Rob Zdybel.) (source 15:00)

The New York Times reported on p. D7, "Atari Inc., the maker of home video games, will introduce two new personal computer systems in the fall. The inaugural ad campaign, created by Doyle Dane Bernbach, will break in October in 12 national publications. TV commercials will also be aired in Los Angeles in November and December."

Atari (Consumer) senior programmers / game designers Alan Miller and David Crane, and then Bob Whitehead, departed the company. (Activision, Inc. would be established by Miller/Crane/Whitehead together with former GRT Corp. VP Music Tapes division Jim Levy on 10/1/79.)

September: Raymond E. Kassar, previously Atari president and CEO, would become Atari chairman and CEO, replacing Atari chairman Joe Keenan who announced his departure from the company. Keenan was named president and COO of Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell's Pizza Time Theatre, Inc. (PTT), replacing Gene Landrum in the role there; Landrum became PTT SVP development.

Dennis Groth, previously Atari VP finance (CFO), became EVP finance (CFO).

Atari opened a factory with 30 employees in an unused building in the Farah Manufacturing plant at 5645 Beacon, El Paso, Texas. The plant would manufacture home video game cartridges. (El Paso Times 4/5/81) (source) (source) It was a 38,500 ft2 location. (source) Bill N. Medrano, previously Los Angeles County Dept of Personnel, personnel analyst, regional park superintendent, was personnel manager. (source)

Kevin Hayes, previously Atari Ireland Limited financial controller, would be promoted to Atari Ireland managing director, replacing Gil Williams who departed the company. (source) Mike Nevin would join Atari Irelend as controller (replacing Hayes in the role).

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a new set of "Technical Standards for Computing Equipment" (FCC 79-555, 79 FCC 2d. 28). The new Class A (commercial) and Class B (residential) digital device standards were both less stringent than the earlier Type I standard which, among home computers released and announced to date, only the Atari 400/800 had succeeded in complying with. Atari, among others, would formally protest the new standards.

At Atari (Coin-Op), Colette Weil, previously marketing research analyst, had been promoted to Manager of Marketing Research (replacing the departed Carol Kantor in the role), and Mary Takatsuno and Linda Butcher, previously marketing assistants, had been promoted to marketing analyst positions (both reporting to Weil). Frank Ballouz remained director of marketing. (CC Oct/Nov79; CashBox 9/22/79 p48)

Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (staff engineer Paul Laughton for SMI) completed the File Management System (FMS) for the Atari personal computers.

In the U.S., registered buyers of the Atari VCS in the 3rd quarter received 5 LP albums: Diana Ross/Theme from Mahogany, Jefferson Airplane/Flight Log, Crosby & Nash/Live, The Beach Boys/Love You, Ohio Players/Gold. In the 4th quarter, registered VCS buyers would get five scrip checks (coupons) each worth $2.50 off the price of any of: Flag Capture, Black Jack, Surround, Space War, Basic Math. (TVDigest 9/24/79 p10; Merch 10/79)

The Atari Electronic Toys & Games division would be folded into the Atari (Consumer) division. Dennis Koble, previously Atari (Electronic Toys & Games) programmer, would become Atari (Consumer) software manager (source 34:10) (new position, reporting to director of software development George Simcock). Brian Johnston, previously Atari (Electronic Toys & Games) game developer, would become Atari (Consumer) systems software manager (personal computers).

For the VCS Atari had released: Superman (ad in WashPost 10/19/79)

Fall: Atari shipped (U.S. market) the handheld Touch Me (BH-100), the first (would be the only) release in the Atari (Electronic Toys & Games) product line.

Carla Meninsky joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer. Dennis Koble remained Atari manager of Consumer software; George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development. (source)

Tod Frye joined Atari (Consumer) as a game designer/programmer. (source)

Stephen N. Davis and Carol Abbott joined Atari (Consumer) as product marketing managers (reporting to director of marketing (personal computers) Peter Rosenthal).

Dale Yocum, previously of Telesensory, had joined Atari (Consumer) to establish and manage a 400/800 programmers group as Applications Software Manager (personal computers). (source) Yocum had been hired by software manager Dennis Koble. (source 9:00)

November: Atari released Asteroids (original upright version). Asteroids was the first video game to allow players to personalize their high scores with their initials.

November: Atari exhibited at the AMOA. Using the theme, "The Atari Adventure...the games of the future" Atari introduced Asteroids, Atari Soccer, and Monte Carlo, and also featured Lunar Lander, Atari 4-Player Football, Atari Baseball, Atari Football, Hercules.

November?: Atari exhibited at the IAAPA. Atari introduced Asteroids, Atari Soccer, and Monte Carlo, and also featured: Lunar Lander, Atari 4-Player Football, Atari Baseball, Atari Football, Hercules

Michael J. Moone (Mike Moone), previously VP and General Manager of Milton Bradley Co., joined Atari as president of the Consumer Division, replacing Don Winn who departed the company. (TVDigest 12/17/79p14)

November: Conrad C. Jutson, previously Texas Instruments marketing manager for personal computers, was hired by Atari (Consumer) as a consultant. (Compute's 1st Book p2)

Atari shipped the 400 personal computer system (NTSC; 8KiB RAM) and, shortly thereafter, the 800 personal computer system (NTSC; 8KiB RAM), each boxed with the BASIC Computing Language cartridge (Atari BASIC by SMI) and the Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide) book; the 800 additionally shipped with the 410 program recorder and the Educational System Master Cartridge (Dorsett Educational Systems), which each also shipped separately.

At Atari (Coin-Op): Noah Anglin, previously director of engineering, had been promoted to VP of Engineering and Manufacturing. Lyle V. Rains, previously Manager of Electronics Engineering and Game Development (reporting to Anglin), had been promoted to Director of Engineering (replacing Anglin in the role; still reporting to Anglin); Dan Van Elderen had been promoted to Project Office manager (previously: mechanical engineering manager; replacing the promoted Rains for game development project management; reporting to Rains). Unit managers reporting to Rains (or to Van Elderen on game projects): Dave Stubben (electrical engineering (previously: chief engineer, electronic design), replacing the promoted Rains in the role), Geoff Harrop (pinball design), Peter Takaichi (industrial design), George Opperman (graphics design), Hugh Langhans (mechanical engineering; replacing the promoted Van Elderen in the role), Howard Slade (engineering services). Reports to Stubben: Howard Delman (electronic engineers supervisor), Steve Calfee (manager of software engineering), Bill White (components engineering supervisor), Rick Moncrief (chief engineer, special projects). (source) (Cash Box 2/2/80 p41; TVDigest 6/2/80 p12) (CC Apr80)

For the VCS Atari had shipped: Backgammon (ad in WashPost: "just arrived")

On procedural grounds, the U.S. FCC had denied Atari's motion for a stay of the waiver given to Texas Instruments to sell an independent RF modulator for home computers & video games, saying Atari hadn't presented any new evidence. (TVDigest 11/26/79) (Atari would try again.)

Lane Winner, previously of Versatec, joined Atari (Consumer) as an applications programmer (personal computers). Winner would report to application programmers group manager Dale Yocum. (source)

Kathy Forte joined Atari (Consumer) as an applications programmer (personal computers). (source) Forte would report to application programmers group manager Dale Yocum.

Fred M. Gerson joined Atari (Coin-Op) as VP Finance for the division. (CC 6/80) Gerson was previously an audit manager with Arthur Young & Co., where his clients had included Atari. (The Learning Co. PR 5/31/84)

For the 400/800 Atari shipped: Basketball, Video Easel (previously: Life), Super Breakout, and the Talk & Teach Courseware cassettes: U.S. History, U.S. Government, Supervisory Skills, World History (Western), Basic Sociology, Counseling Procedures, Principles of Accounting, Physics, Great Classics, Business Communications, Basic Psychology, Effective Writing, Principles of Economics, Spelling, Basic Electricity, Basic Algebra

Publication date of the Atari internal document, Stella Programmer's Guide by Atari (Consumer) training manager Steve Wright.

Steve Bristow, previously Atari (Consumer) VP Engineering (personal computers), became Atari (Consumer) VP Engineering, assuming the role of VP Consumer engineering John Ellis who departed the company. Engineer Niles Strohl would be promoted to director of Consumer engineering, replacing Wade Tuma who departed the company. (Ellis and Tuma would together establish Compower Corp. on 5/19/80).

December: Holosonics, Inc. was declared bankrupt, and ownership of more than 150 holography patents reverted to the People's Bank of Seattle and Citibank.

Four of the top ten money-making coin games of 1979 were by Atari: Atari Football, Sprint 2, Super Breakout, Video Pinball

1980

January 2: For the VCS Atari had released: Video Chess (newspaper ad 1/2/80; see also PersonalComputing 11/79 p75 which anticipated a 11/79 release for Video Chess)

In Hong Kong, Denovo Company Limited was established, to serve as an investment vehicle.

January 5-8: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, for the 400/800 ($549.99/$999.99), under the banner "Touch the future" Atari introduced the 825 printer (summer), 830 modem (summer), and 850 interface (summer). Software introduced, announced, or again promised: Computer Chess, Backgammon (never shipped), Checkers (never shipped), Business Simulations (never shipped), Stock Market Simulation (never shipped), Star Raiders, Hangman, Biorhythm, 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Music Composer (March), Mugwump (never shipped), Baseball (never shipped); Assembler Editor (previously: Assembler Debug; April), Atari PILOT; Invitation to Programming series; Personal Finance (previously: Home Finance; July 1980; never shipped), Record Keeping (never shipped), Mailing List/Address Book (would ship as: Mailing List), Touch-typing Trainer (would ship as: Touch Typing), 132 Function Programmable Printing Calculator (would ship as: Calculator). (C015700 Rev.1; Touch the Future flyers; 12/79 400/800 flyers) Personal Capital Investment Management software: Atari announced a license agreement to market 8 investment-application programs designed by Control Data Corp. from CDC's Cyberware library, including: bond yield, bond price and interest, bond switch, stock rate of return, stock dividend analysis, stock charting, mortgage analysis, portfolio analysis (WSJ Jan8p37; TVDigest 1/14/80p13) (would ship as the four titles: Mortgage & Loan Analysis, Bond Analysis, Stock Analysis, Stock Charting).

Atari introduced and announced the impending release of the 33rd cartridge in the Game Program library for the VCS ($179), Space Invaders (title by Taito), and introduced an additional 5 new cartridges scheduled for spring release: Night Driver, 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Golf, Circus Atari, and Adventure (for a total of 38 titles; Basic Math was renamed Fun With Numbers; Hunt & Score was renamed A Game of Concentration.). Bill Grubb remained Atari (Consumer) VP marketing and sales for video games. (PR, see WeLoveAtari v1p122)

For the 400/800 Atari shipped: Computer Chess, 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Star Raiders

January: Conrad C. Jutson, formerly Texas Instruments marketing manager for personal computers, and consultant to Atari since November 1979, joined Atari (Consumer)