Atari on the rocks?

[MrMeatshake]

GamesIndustry.biz (http://www.gamesindustry.biz) is reporting that Atari Games have had to be bailed out (http://gamesindustry.biz/news.php?aid=10682) by Infogrames 'after hefty first quarter loss'.

Atari, whose shares took a tumble back in June when president and CEO James Caparro resigned unexpectedly from his position after only seven months in the job, now faces difficulty in meeting some of its financial commitments.

I never owned Atari hardware back in the day, but I know these guys were massively important in the history of console games, it would be a sad day indeed if we'd never see the Atari logo on another game.

[lpmiller]

this company is so far removed from the 'historical' Atari as to be irrelevent.

[LilAbner]

^^ what he said. This isn't the real Atari anyway, it's just those Frenchies Infogrames hiding behind the Atari name and logo.

[51|RandoM]

Atari of yore is nothing but a brand these days. Must've been a crazy place to work back during the first boom.

[AgtFox]

Yep, the actual Atari died out a couple years ago when Midway closed down the division that still contained some Atari workers from the 70s and a guy who worked on Tank. Here's a short blurb about it (http://www.gamezero.com/gamezero/archived_news/20030213.html) (second story down).

I am a bit surprised that their selling of Epic to Midway and Firaxis to 2K Games didn't help much. Oh well, it's Atari in name only.

[TRiLoGY]

^^ Yeah.. What those guys said :)

[PacerDawn]

I can't say I'm saddened by this news. Of two Atari games I bought in the last year or so (UT2K and one other), NEITHER one would work out of the box thanks to the horrible copy protection they used, and of course you can't return software once it's opened...

It's good to see that companies that put out shoddy products don't do very well in their earnings. Hopefully this will be their wake up call and we can see better QA'd products as a result.

[MrMeatshake]

oh.

/me turns away.

[Ernst_Jager]

This Atari is just a whored out version of what it use to be. Logo only with nothing behind it.

[Cupelix]

This Atari is just a whored out version of what it use to be. Logo only with nothing behind it.
I think that was established by the first 18 people who posted that. I was goign to post that too, but then I read the thread first. Sorry, internet pet peeve.

I've got my 2600 hooked up in my family room as we speak.

[Commissar Rob]

We've talked here and there about the glut of bad games that seems to curse the market of late (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4330). While I'd hate to see the Atari logo go again, it's somewhat comforting that the market is punishing shoddy game design (http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/925169.asp?q=sagas).

[Borys]

They also published a lot of D&D titles recently.

[Cupelix]

We've talked here and there about the glut of bad games that seems to curse the market of late (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4330). While I'd hate to see the Atari logo go again, it's somewhat comforting that the market is punishing shoddy game design (http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/925169.asp?q=sagas). Doesn't this almost seem to parallel what is happening with the movie industry? I mean, honestly, a few summers ago, would The Island really have tanked? I get this distinct impression that we've hit a saturation point with many forms of entertainment. Unfortunately, as games start to lose money for companies, publishers will have to be more picky about the titles they pick up - which means it will be harder for small dev houses to produce games. As much as I don't want bad games to make money, I don't want to see small developers get pushed out at the same time.

[Bydo_Empire]

I still have my 7800 hooked up and ready to go at all times, too (somehow I lost my 2600's power cord during a move), and Activision Anthologies is in the GBA slot of my DS. For a hilarious yet interesting view into the "real" Atari, check out "Once Upon Atari." It's awesome.

[Heretic Machine]

I don't have to worry about the Atari logo going away... I have enough of those stickers to slap onto every game I buy until the day I die. Every game is an Atari game for me.

[Cha-Ka]

I never owned Atari hardware back in the day, but I know these guys were massively important in the history of console games, it would be a sad day indeed if we'd never see the Atari logo on another game.

The Atari name was just a property that Infogrames bought and slapped on their games, right?

[AgtFox]

The Atari name was just a property that Infogrames bought and slapped on their games, right?
Yes, Atari was basically split in two. The actual gamemakers went to Midway and the name and brand of Atari was picked up by Infogrames. They didn't use it for quite a bit and then they started branding games with Atari on it (UT 2004, Pirates!, Driv3r, etc.), most likely because they didn't like the sales on games branded with Infogrames on it and figured the Atari name would spark sales.

[IagoTheHunted]

Yeah what they all said (and the people who said "what they all said").

The name itself is omenous now within the industry, it's the kiss of death for whoever it touches.

[EGO]

What was the last good game that Atarigrams put out?!

Their new line up doesn't look too promising either!

If Atari becomes the next Acclaim I don't think gamers will cry too much.

[Heretic Machine]

What was the last good game that Atarigrams put out?!

UT2k4? UT2k3 before that? Then NWN.

It's not like they make the games guys, they are just the publisher. They do publish some good games too.

[Ultima Thulian]

I never owned Atari hardware back in the day, but I know these guys were massively important in the history of console games, it would be a sad day indeed if we'd never see the Atari logo on another game.[/i]

No it wouldn't. Atari has had several oppurtunities at redemption yet instead of making something good, they have been doing nothing but quick cash-ins like Driv3r and Dragon Ball Z: Sagas. If that is not enough for you, I then have two words: Atari Jaguar. If that is not enough to sway then you either own stock in Atari/Infogrames or there's just no hope for you. The 2600 is a classic, but Atari has ALMOST nothing good since then. Let 'em rot with all their ET cartridges they buried. Screw them and their over-hyped Fuji logo.

[Dracula-X]

No it wouldn't. Atari has had several oppurtunities at redemption yet instead of making something good, they have been doing nothing but quick cash-ins like Driv3r and Dragon Ball Z: Sagas. If that is not enough for you, I then have two words: Atari Jaguar. If that is not enough to sway then you either own stock in Atari/Infogrames or there's just no hope for you. The 2600 is a classic, but Atari has ALMOST nothing good since then. Let 'em rot with all their ET cartridges they buried. Screw them and their over-hyped Fuji logo.
The 5200 was really nice, aside from the disintegrating joystick, and as nice as the 7800 was, it was too little too late. The home computer lines were fairly nice for the time too. Makes one wonder if the failed Nintendo/Atari deal actually worked out, things might be radically different for Atari today.

[Rommel]

it would be a sad day indeed if we'd never see the Atari logo on another game.

Actually, I would like to dance on their grave. They publish good games? Ha! They publish rushed, buggy products like the UT series launch-quality. Or perhaps you prefer the Temple of Elemental Evil? No, this Atari (It's logo, it's a devkit!) sucks balls... and they don't include jewel cases.

[Ultima Thulian]

Actually, I would like to dance on their grave. They publish good games? Ha! They publish rushed, buggy products like the UT series launch-quality. Or perhaps you prefer the Temple of Elemental Evil? No, this Atari (It's logo, it's a devkit!) sucks balls... and they don't include jewel cases.

It's good to see that I'm not the only one who sees through all the dumbass Atari fanboys with their stupid Fuji logo T-shirts. It's a lame attempt at looking retro and cool. "Look at me! I'm wearing an Atari shirt, I'm retro and cool and just like Ashton from Punk'd! Whoopy!" Dipshits. I'm not saying everything Atari does sucks, but when you've been around for over two decades and the vast majority of your HARDWARE & SOFTWARE suck and fail, then you need to die. It is just like Acclaim. Sure, they brought Mortal Kombat to the consoles and introuduced Aggressive Inline and Burnout to the world, but they mostly suck. I'm glad they're dead. And I'll be glad when Atari and their stupid ass retro wannabe fanboys are dead to.