Can this be true?

[Scott Stilphen]

Nolan Bushnell

[Scott Stilphen]

*Sigh* Just can't see to get this link posting to work.....

 

Here's the site: http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/09...nell2-9937.html

[Bob Bytchin]

It could tie into a rumor I heard a few months back. I had heard somewhere that Hasbro was looking to unload the Atari name, and that Nolan Bushnell had a list of investors that were interested in reforming Atari.

 

You have to admit that the name Atari holds a lot of power in the video game industry.

 

* On a side-note: If it were possible to change history, there are two events that took place that would have made the video game industry completely different if they had happened differently. The first is Atari's decision not to market the Famicom (NES) under the Atari banner in the U.S. The second is Nintendo's decision not to produce the SNES CD drive that was developed by Sony (of course it became the PSX...and was supposedly going to be a bridge between the SNES and the N64). If Atari had sold the Famicom, and then years later Nintendo had gone ahead with the SNES CD drive, then Atari would be the greatest video game company.

[Wntermute]

I can see this happening:

 

- Uwink.com is successful and buys up Telegames (along with the Atari brand name)

- Nolan & friends start up Atari 2.0 with new games featuring characters and some gameplay concepts of old Atari games. (hell, why not? he made the first one in the first place!)

- Any further company plans will NEVER include Merill Lynch ^_^

[Tempest]

It's always been a dream of mine to get rich and spend my money restarting Atari. The problem is the name Atari is dated, it's asociated with the 80's and retro stuff. Even if someone (like Nolan) were to start Atari again and produce the best games you'd ever seen (not likely) it would still be passed over in favor of things like the PS2.

 

I always wondered what would have happened if Atari distributed the NES. I suppose the few 7800's that got out the doors in 84 would be real collectors items.

 

Tempest

[Joel D. Park]

Wow, that's an awesome article.

 

The only thing I can say is that I will never ever become a customer of Meryll Lynch in any form.

 

I'm looking forward to Atari 2.0...

[Albert]

I just finished reading that article for the first time and only realized afterwards that it was posted in September, 1999. Don't know if uWink will be successful, but it sure would be cool to see Atari revived. I think the whole "Retro" thing could work in Atari's favor, but many retailers would probably balk at Atari given their dismal failures with the Lynx and Jaguar.

 

It certainly would make for some interesting times!! Nolan Bushnell would take advantage of the Atari name much more so than Hasbro has!

 

..Al