Ted Dabney Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Metal Ghost - thanks for the welcome... Nobody cared about my involvement in Atari until you guys came along. AtariAge is a concept that I would have never imagined. You folks have treated me like a "rock star" and I have enjoyed it tremendously. Thank you so much. There are a lot of brilliant people here at AA that can understand the technology behind your accomplishments creating the first video games. I am not one of them. If it were up to me to create the world's first video game, it never would have happened. Therefore, I really appreciate your work in getting things started. It's obvious that without your help Atari never would have happened, so thank you! :thumbsup: accousticguitar, That's a nice thought but isn't quite true!! The Video Game Industry was an "idea whose time had come". If it wasn't me, it would have been somebody else. I'm very glad it was me. If Bally hadn't rejected PONG this site would be called "BallyAge" or maybe "MidwayAge". You are right about Atari though. I was key there. If I didn't have enough personal money to buy the first 50 Hitaci TV's then Atari wouldn't have been able to build the first PONG's. The only thing we could have done is patent my digital motion circuit and watch for fast everybody could get around it. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahfish Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 (edited) If I didn't have enough personal money to buy the first 50 Hitaci TV's then Atari wouldn't have been able to build the first PONG's. those are the stories we love to read! Edited December 8, 2010 by jahfish 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Dabney Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 If I didn't have enough personal money to buy the first 50 Hitaci TV's then Atari wouldn't have been able to build the first PONG's. those are the stories we love to read! jahfish, I like telling these stories. If there is something in particular you would like to know,just tell me. Remember that I left before the 2600 so I don't know much about that one. Ted 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algus Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 (edited) Even though you weren't involved with the 2600, I'd still love to hear your insights on it. When you guys were working on those early arcade machines did you ever think that it would be something that could get turned into an experience in the home or was the focus entirely on trying to develop new kinds of "pub games" ? Were you guys looking at what Magnavox was doing (with the Odyssey) and thinking of yourselves as competitors or in another market entirely? Edited December 8, 2010 by Algus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Dabney Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 Even though you weren't involved with the 2600, I'd still love to hear your insights on it. When you guys were working on those early arcade machines did you ever think that it would be something that could get turned into an experience in the home or was the focus entirely on trying to develop new kinds of "pub games" ? Were you guys looking at what Magnavox was doing (with the Odyssey) and thinking of yourselves as competitors or in another market entirely? Hi Algus, Our focus was strickly on coin-op. The consumer market was not within our reach. The Odyssey was pretty primitive and wasn't destined to last. It was specific to Magnavox TV's. We did start to give this some serious thought after the success of PONG. The first two PONG prototypes had RF outputs (could connect to any TV) so Al Alcorn had a place to start. Al built a demo unit to show Sears. They liked it and gave Atari a big order for these things and they would get exclusive rights to it. Sears cancelled the order well after Atari spent big bucks on production. They probably figured that they would be able to cut a better deal if Atari was getting desperate. All the cancellation did was cost Sears its exclusivity. Atari just took off the Sears logo and went with another retail chain. Sears came back later on. Now, all of this happend after I left so I'm going on what I heard from Nolan and Al. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algus Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 Thanks for the insights and response to my questions! Pretty interesting to think of Sears as this mammoth that literally was a gateway into the retail market for these kinds of products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev. Rob Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 It was specific to Magnavox TV's. Actually it wasn't. It was just marketed by Magnavox retail stores, and there are some reports that salesmen said it would only work on a Magnavox TV. However, it works on any set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odysseus Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 It was specific to Magnavox TV's. Actually it wasn't. It was just marketed by Magnavox retail stores, and there are some reports that salesmen said it would only work on a Magnavox TV. However, it works on any set. This is definately true. Ive seen many odyssey ads and they never even suggest they only work on magnavox tvs, infact im not sure how a company would even do this with 1972 technology. They just have magnavox tvs in their ads. Who wouldnt. Why would they advertise an odyssey on a competitors tv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odysseus Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 It was specific to Magnavox TV's. Actually it wasn't. It was just marketed by Magnavox retail stores, and there are some reports that salesmen said it would only work on a Magnavox TV. However, it works on any set. This is definately true. Ive seen many odyssey ads and they never even suggest they only work on magnavox tvs, infact im not sure how a company would even do this with 1972 technology. They just have magnavox tvs in their ads. Who wouldnt they. Why would they advertise an odyssey on a competitors tv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhindlethereddragon Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 (A little late to this, but..) We are not worthy. But welcome, there are some great times ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
accousticguitar Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Mr. Dabney, how about writing a book about the early years at Atari? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Rogue Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Just an announcement that my friend Ted and I will be doing a live Skype chat/interview/etc. at this year's Midwest Gaming Classic. It's scheduled for Saturday the 26th at 3:30pm central in the E2M sponsored Museum room (consoles '72 to present, vintage computers). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Ghost Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Wow Marty, that's great to hear! Can you outline the specifics (besides having a Skype account I assume) on how to listen in on the interview? I'm guessing that it's like a U-Stream type of set-up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Rogue Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Wow Marty, that's great to hear! Can you outline the specifics (besides having a Skype account I assume) on how to listen in on the interview? I'm guessing that it's like a U-Stream type of set-up? You have to be at the show to see it, it's not a webcast event. It's an interview specifically for the Midwest Gaming Classic attendees. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Laird Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 (edited) I have to say the interview with him in last months Atari User was absolutely brilliant! Nice one Ted! Edited March 8, 2011 by The_Laird 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roberto Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Mr. Dabney, how about writing a book about the early years at Atari? That would be a great read and Mr. Dabney is surely the best person for such a job! Personally, I'd really love to read something as detailed as Bagnall's "Commodore: a company on the edge" but for Atari and the very early industry days... In the meantime, the book I wrote (The Golden Age of Video Games) should be released in a matter of days. I'm very happy and proud to say that Mr. Dabney was so kind to help me in this project by writing the foreword and by providing some unique and insightful comments and anecdotes on the early Atari days which I would have definitely missed otherwise. Cheers! Roberto 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pong Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I am extremely interested in Master Dabney's book, if he were to make one. It would be a huge best-seller, if it was advertised here. I am very interested in the stories that you have provided us, Master Dabney, and I am rereading the thread over again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Rogue Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 That would be a great read and Mr. Dabney is surely the best person for such a job! Personally, I'd really love to read something as detailed as Bagnall's "Commodore: a company on the edge" but for Atari and the very early industry days... Already being done. Lenny and Curt and I have interviewed Ted very extensively. Lenny for his next update to Phoenix, and Curt and I for our '69-'84 Atari Inc. book ('69 because that's when the story really starts). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roberto Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Already being done. Lenny and Curt and I have interviewed Ted very extensively. Lenny for his next update to Phoenix, and Curt and I for our '69-'84 Atari Inc. book ('69 because that's when the story really starts). can't wait to read both of them! Any idea when they'd be out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComputerSpaceFan Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Does anyone have any more recent pics of Ted other than the old black&white one of him, Nolan, and Al standing round the Pong machine circa 1973? I can't find anything anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Rogue Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Does anyone have any more recent pics of Ted other than the old black&white one of him, Nolan, and Al standing round the Pong machine circa 1973? I can't find anything anywhere. I'll catch a pic the next time I skype with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Dabney Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 All you folks have shown such an interest in the early days of Atari that I can only be thankful that I was a part of it. Marty, Curt, Lenny and Roberto have written so much about this subject that there is nothing that I could write that could be any more informative. I have a lot of fun working with these guys. Remember, it was Bushnell that created Atari. My main contribution was to invent the motion circuit that made it possible and my savings account allowed us to build the first 62 Pongs. Bushnell's character is such that he has to take all the credit for everything even though none of this would have happend without Steve Bristow, Al Alcorn and me. It's very sad that money and fame run his life. He was a fun guy to be with before he had these things. The Skype interview was a real hoot. Being able to see and talk to someone on my computer was a very new experiance for me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapetino Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 (edited) Ted, thanks so much for giving generously of your time and memories. I was alongside a lot of others this weekend at the Midwest Gaming Classic to see your interview with Marty. It was great fun hearing the stories and seeing events from your perspective -- was much appreciated. Thanks for being part of this community. All you folks have shown such an interest in the early days of Atari that I can only be thankful that I was a part of it. Marty, Curt, Lenny and Roberto have written so much about this subject that there is nothing that I could write that could be any more informative. I have a lot of fun working with these guys. Remember, it was Bushnell that created Atari. My main contribution was to invent the motion circuit that made it possible and my savings account allowed us to build the first 62 Pongs. Bushnell's character is such that he has to take all the credit for everything even though none of this would have happend without Steve Bristow, Al Alcorn and me. It's very sad that money and fame run his life. He was a fun guy to be with before he had these things. The Skype interview was a real hoot. Being able to see and talk to someone on my computer was a very new experiance for me. Edited March 28, 2011 by lapetino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Rogue Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Ted's skype interview with me at the Midwest Gaming Classic is up now at 8bitdomain - http://www.8bitclassics.com/Community/Gaming-Events/Midwest-Gaming-Classic/General/167-Interview-w-Ted-Dabney-at-Midwest-Gaming-Classic-2011.html Apologies for the "Michael Katz calling" popups. We had run overtime because of a break when we lost the connection with Ted, and Michael unaware of this kept trying to start his chat session. I finally had to quick call Michael to let him know while Ted was talking to the audience. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 If anyone transcribes that interview, please post it up here also. No offense, but I can't listen to that. I admit it is a little better than the Baer one (that I completely gave up on). I understand and assume that you did your best, but I'd sure like to read a transcription. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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