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Atari was formed on June, 27 1972 by Nolan Bushnell. Atari created the first coin-operated game Pong. The video game industry has shaped pop culture ever since. In 1976 Warner communications acquired Atari. In 1977 Atari launched the Video Computer System (VCS) later known as the 2600. Giving birth to home video game systems. In December of 1978 Atari announced its Atari 400 and 800 personal computers, using 6502 microprocessors In 1979 Atari files with the USPTO for a patent for a “Data processing system with programmable graphics generator” (400/800 computer system) on January 8, 1979. Inventors listed: Mayer, Steven T. (Auburn, CA); Miner, Jay G. (Sunnyvale, CA); Neubauer, Douglas G. (Santa Clara, CA); Decuir, Joseph C. (Mountain View, CA) 1981 From Atari Connection magazine: "At the National Computer Conference in Chicago on May 5, 1981 Atari announced that the 8K Atari 400 was being discontinued and that the price on the 16K version was being reduced to $399." USPTO grants Atari a U.S. patent for the 400/800 systems. 1982 Introduction of the 1200XL system 1983 Atari replaced the 1200XL/800/400 lineup with the new 800XL and 600XL systems. 1984 Warner Communications sells the Consumer Electronics and Home Computer divisions of Atari Inc. to Tramel Technology on Monday, July 2. Atari Corporation is formed by Tramel Technology and its products marketed under the Atari brand. { Warner sells the AtariTel division of the former Atari Inc. to Mitsubishi Electric, and the former AtariTel becomes Luma Telecom. A complete line of cutting-edge telecommunications products had been under development at AtariTel since 1981, but no products had been released under Atari. However, the Atari Videophone was nearly completed, and the product eventually surfaced as the Mitsubishi Luma Video Phone, aka Luma-Phone, aka LumaPhone. "The Visual Telephone" Mitsubishi has since shut down Luma. } ( Warner also initially retains the arcade division of the former Atari Inc., and renames it Atari Games Corporation. Soon thereafter, Atari Games is a private, independent entity, though Warner remains a major investor. Atari Games inherits Atari copyrights/trademarks/patents for use in the coin-operated arcade video game market. 1987 Atari creates Tengen label for perpose of making games for HGS (potentially competing with Atari corp). 1993 Atari is re-percased by time Warner. 1994 Time Warner consolidates Atari Games into Time Warner interactive. Use of both Atari Games and Tengen are discontiued. 1996 on march 26, 1996 WMS Industries (Williams, Bally and Midway) complests its perches of Time Warner Iteractive. Upon the sale Time Warner Interactive adopts Atari Games name and logo and Atari is made a intervision of Midway games 1998 In April of 1998 WMS spins off shareholders its entire stake of midway games midway becomes indapendent. Atari remains and devision. 1999 Atari Games relese San Fransico rush 2049. this is the last arcade game relsed with Atari’s name and logo. 2000 January 2000 Atari is renamed Midway Games west. Games will sport Midway name and logo. 2001 June 22, 2001 Midway exsits the coin operated game bissness and focuses on the home systems. Midway West lives on making home games. 2003 Febuary 7, 2003 Midway West shuts down. 2004 and beyond Atari is still making games. |