Issue 32: June 2003
Features
- | Foreword
- | An Atari MIDI Studio
- | The Return of the Original!
- | The Ultimate Atari fan?!
- | Tip of the day
- | Atari Logo Evolution
Reviews
- | Return of the SainT
M@ilbox
| The Return of the Original! Ladies and Gentlemen, we are experiencing the resurrection of Atari as a real company again. This is big news, very exciting, but first some background. For the past few years, Atari has not existed as a company, just a name. First owned by Hasbro, the Atari logo was put on new 3D rehashes of old arcade classics. Some were good, like the new Q*Bert for the PlayStation, and some were, well, awful. This was certainly no way for Atari to live on, but satisfaction wouldn't come just yet. Infogrames then acquired Hasbro and the Atari license, releasing some games for modern systems, and putting the logo on them. This was better than Hasbro's Atari, but it still wasn't the same. It wasn't Atari the way we know and love it. Now, Infogrames has officially changed its name to Atari. Our beloved game maker is back! Atari is once again a company, though what will happen through that company has yet to be decided. Why did Infogrames change its name? My guess is the popularity and nostalgia surrounding Atari. Even modern gamers know what it is. Certainly, it's a better name than Infogrames, and odds are it would help business. Games have been released with the Atari name and logo, but the big question is, what about a new system? Certainly I, as I'm sure many other gamers out there, would be overjoyed at the news of a new Atari system. Why, with the right games and right support, it could be a success, but not yet. Releasing it now would be unwise. Both Nintendo and Microsoft have been unable to steal Sony's hold on the industry, and since both the GameCube and Xbox have been out for a few years, a new console wouldn't do very well. It would be much wiser to release a new Atari when Sony's ready to release the PS3, or when the new Xbox is ready to be introduced to the masses, whenever the next round of console wars will start. If they don't mess up marketing as they've done in the past, we could have a great system on our hands. However, a far more current issue is, what about our classic Atari? Will the new Atari attempt to put a stop to our emulation, homebrews and so on? While I seriously doubt it, you never know, and certainly a decision such as that would not only devastate, but completely anger, our li'l gaming community. So, as you know, only time will tell what will happen with our new Atari. Here's to hoping they don't repeat mistakes of the past, and once again reclaim the video game throne. larry@myatari.net
Useful links
Atari http://www.atari.com Atarinvader http://www.atarinvader.com
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