Various circumstances forced me to study history of the (for most of us probably favorite) Atari brand. One of the reasons was just my curiosity. Another reason was my effort to create a list of important events. Based on the list, we could remind ourselves of the interesting Atari-related anniversaries.
To my surprise, the history is rather rich. The number of companies of the Atari brand was much higher than I originally anticipated. While there is an abundance of information sources, data in these sources have an unfortunate tendency to differ far too often.
I present the data I processed in the form of a bulleted list with most accurate determination of year, month and day when an event took place. The items of the list are in chronological order. Given the amount of information available, I decided to narrow down my selection to the following topics:
Despite omission of other available data (software products, peripherals, local branches, employees not in the top management, economic information, litigations etc.), the list still contains more than 200 items.
I believe that our readers will kindly forgive certain simplifications I made and inaccuracies I overlooked in all the data I processed.
1928-01-02 - Ray Kassar - birth (Raymond Edward Kassar) 1928-12-13 - Jack Tramiel - birth (Idek Trzmiel) 1937-05-02 - Ted Dabney - birth (Samuel Frederick Dabney Jr.) 1943-02-05 - Nolan Bushnell - birth 1948-01-01 - Al Alcorn - birth (Allan E. Alcorn) 1970-October - Syzygy - group created (Nolan Bushnell, Ted Dabney, Larry Bryan) 1971-January - Syzygy, Co. - founded (Nolan Bushnell, Ted Dabney) 1972-June - Syzygy, Co. - office established at 2962 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara 1972-06-27 - Atari, Inc. - founded (by Nolan Bushnell - chairman, Ted Dabney) 1972-June - Al Alcorn - joined Atari, Inc. and minority share owner 1972-September - Pong - prototype public test (Atari, Inc.) 1972-November - Pong - production started (Atari, Inc.) 1973-January - Nolan Bushnell - becomes president of Atari, Inc. 1973-June - Atari, Inc. - HQ moved to 14600 Winchester Blvd., Los Gatos 1973-August - John C. Wakefield - becomes president of Atari, Inc. 1973-? - Cyan Engineering - bought by Atari Inc. 1973-09-25 - Kee Games, Inc. - founded (by Nolan Bushnell, Joseph Keenan) 1973-09-25 - Joseph Keenan - becomes president of Kee Games, Inc. 1974-January - Atari, Inc. - Syzygy name sold to Ted Dabney 1974-March - Ted Dabney - departed Atari, Inc. 1974-June - John C. Wakefield - departed Atari, Inc. 1974-June - Nolan Bushnell - becomes president of Atari, Inc. 1974-September - Kee Games, Inc. - bought by Atari, Inc. 1974-September - Joseph Keenan - becomes president of Atari, Inc. 1975-? - Atari, Inc. - Consumer Games Division founded (consoles production) 1975-? - Home Pong - production started (Atari, Inc.) 1975-10-01 - Home Pong - sales started under Tele Games brand (by Sears) 1975-11-19 - Atari, Inc. - filed for registered trademarks for the "Atari" name and "fuji" logo 1976-February - Atari, Inc. - Pinball Division founded (pinball machines) 1976-03-05 - Home Pong C-100 - sales started under Atari brand (Atari, Inc.) 1976-? - Video Music - production started and discontinued (Atari, Inc.) 1976-? - VCS (2600) - development started (by Cyan Engineering) 1976-07-26 - WCI Games, Inc. - founded (by Warner Communications, Inc.) 1976-09-28 - Atari, Inc. - trademark for the "fuji" logo registered 1976-10-01 - Atari, Inc. - bought by WCI Games, Inc. (subsidiary of Warner Communications, Inc.) 1976-10-04 - Atari, Inc. - merged with and into WCI Games, Inc. 1976-10-04 - WCI Games, Inc. - renamed to Atari, Inc. 1976-10-12 - Atari, Inc. - trademark for the "Atari" name registered 1976-October - Nolan Bushnell - becomes chairman and co-CEO of Atari, Inc. 1976-October - Joseph Keenan - becomes president and co-CEO of Atari, Inc. 1976-October - Atari, Inc. - HQ moved to 1265 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale 1976-November - pinball machines - production started (Atari, Inc.) 1977-June - VCS (CX-2600) - presentation at Summer CES (Atari, Inc.) 1977-08-01 - VCS (CX-2600) - sales started (Atari, Inc.) 1977-November - Atari, Inc. - arcade production and Pinball Division merged info Coin-Op Division 1978-March - Ray Kassar - becomes general manager of Consumer Games Division 1978-October - 400 and 800 - publically announced (Atari, Inc.) 1978-12-28 - Nolan Bushnell - dismissed as chairman of Atari, Inc. 1978-12-28 - Joseph Keenan - becomes chairman of Atari, Inc. 1978-12-28 - Ray Kassar - becomes president and CEO of Atari, Inc. 1979-January - 400 and 800 - presented at Winter CES (Atari, Inc.) 1979-01-26 - Nolan Bushnell - departed Atari, Inc. 1979-September - Joseph Keenan - departed Atari, Inc. 1979-September - Ray Kassar - becomes chairman of Atari, Inc. 1979-? - pinball machines - production terminated (Atari, Inc.) 1979-November - 400 - sales started (CTIA, 8 KiB RAM) (Atari, Inc.) 1979-November - 800 - sales started (CTIA, 8 KiB RAM) (Atari, Inc.) 1980-06-01 - 800 - memory extended to 16 KiB (Atari, Inc.) 1980-October - Atari, Inc. - Personal Computer Division established 1981-01-01 - Atari, Inc. - Personal Computer Division renamed to Computer Division 1981-January - 400 - supply extended by new variant with 16 KiB RAM (Atari, Inc.) 1981-May - 400 - discontinued the 8 KiB RAM variant (Atari, Inc.) 1981-June - VCS - CX-2600 model (6-switch) replaced by CX-2600A (4 switch) 1981-June - Al Alcorn - departed Atari, Inc. 1981-July - Amplifone, Corp. - bought by Atari, Inc. 1981-November - 400 and 800 - CTIA chip replaced with GTIA (Atari, Inc.) 1982-01-01 - Atari, Inc. - Computer Division renamed to Home Computer Division 1982-January - 5200 - publically announced (Atari, Inc.) 1982-March - Atari, Inc. - AtariTel Division established (communication projects) 1982-06-08 - 5200 - presentation at Summer CES (Atari, Inc.) 1982-August - 5200 - production started (Atari, Inc.) 1982-October - 5200 - sales started (Atari, Inc.) 1982-October - 800 - memory extended to 48 KiB (Atari, Inc.) 1982-December - Ray Kassar - insider trading investigation 1982-12-13 - 1200 XL - presentation (Atari, Inc.) 1983-March - 1200 XL - sales started (Atari, Inc.) 1983-April - Atari, Inc. - VCS games (E. T., Pac-Man, ...) dumped in desert 1983-May - Atari, Inc. - Software Publishing Division established (porting Atari games) 1983-May - 400 - production discontinued (Atari, Inc.) 1983-June - 600 XL and 800 XL - presentation at Summer CES (Atari, Inc.) 1983-June - 800 - production discontinued (Atari, Inc.) 1983-June - Infogrames Entertainment, SA - founded (by Bruno Bonnell, Christophe Sapet, Thomas Schmider) 1983-07-07 - Ray Kassar - resigns president, chairman and CEO of Atari, Inc. 1983-07-07 - Emanuel Gerard - becomes interim CEO of Atari, Inc. 1983-July - 1200 XL - production discontinued (Atari, Inc.) 1983-Summer - VCS - replaced by 2600 (4-switch, black case) (Atari, Inc.) 1983-09-06 - James J. Morgan - becomes chairman and CEO of Atari, Inc. 1983-September - John Farrand - becomes president of Atari, Inc. 1983-10-26 - Atari, Inc. - Software Publishing Division renamed to AtariSoft 1983-Autumn - 600 XL - sales started (Atari, Inc.) 1983-December - 800 XL - sales started (Atari, Inc.) 1984-February - 5200 - production discontinued (Atari, Inc.) 1984-05-17 - Tramel Technology, Ltd. - founded (by Jack Tramiel) 1984-05-21 - 5200 - sales and support discontinued (Atari, Inc.) 1984-05-21 - 7800 - presentation (Atari, Inc.) 1984-05-23 - Kee Games, Inc. - renamed to Warner Entertainment Inc. 1984-May - 2600jr - presentation at CETEX (Atari, Inc.) 1984-? - 7800 - production started (Atari, Inc.) 1984-? - Jack Tramiel - becomes CEO of Tramel Technology, Ltd. 1984-June - 600 XL - production discontinued (Atari, Inc.) 1984-June - Cyan Engineering - shut down 1984-? - Atari, Inc. - AtariSoft Division shut down 1984-07-02 - Atari, Inc. - "Atari" trademark sold to Tramel Technology, Ltd. 1984-07-02 - Atari, Inc. - Home Computer Division sold to Tramel Technology, Ltd. 1984-07-02 - Atari, Inc. - Consumer Games Division sold to Tramel Technology, Ltd. 1984-07-02 - Sam Tramiel - becomes president of Tramel Technology, Ltd. 1984-07-05 - Tramel Technology, Ltd. - HQ moved to 1265 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale 1984-07-06 - James J. Morgan - departed Atari, Inc. 1984-07-06 - John Farrand - becomes CEO of Atari, Inc. 1984-07-11 - Tramel Technology, Ltd. - renamed to Atari, Corp. 1984-07-11 - Atari, Inc. - renamed to Atari Games, Inc. 1984-July - Atari Games, Inc. - HQ moved to 790 Sycamore Dr., Milpitas 1984-Summer - 7800 - production interrupted (Atari, Corp.) 1984-Summer - 130 ST, 260 ST, 520 ST - development started (Atari, Corp.) 1984-Autumn - 2600jr - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1984-Autumn - Atari Games, Inc. - Eagle project (by AtariTel) sold to Mitsubishi 1984-Autumn - Atari Games, Inc. - AtariTel Division shut down 1984-12-06 - 65 XE and 130 ST - presentation (Atari, Corp.) 1984-12-14 - Amplifone, Corp. - name changed to Amp Liquidating Corp. 1985-01-10 - AT Games, Inc. - founded (by Namco-America, Inc.) 1985-January - 130 XE, 260 ST, 520 ST - presentation at Winter CES (Atari, Corp.) 1985-02-04 - Atari Games, Inc. - Coin-Op Division sold to AT Games, Inc. (subsidiary of Namco, Ltd.) 1985-02-19 - AT Games, Inc. - renamed to Atari Games Corporation 1985-03-15 - Atari Games, Inc. - renamed to Atari Holdings, Inc. 1985-March - 5200 - production resumed from spare parts in stock (Atari, Corp.) 1985-03-25 - Atari, Corp. - HQ moved to 1196 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale 1985-03-30 - 65 XE and 130 XE - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1985-April - 800 XL - production discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1985-April - John Farrand - departed Atari Holdings, Inc. 1985-May - 520 ST - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1986-March - 520 STM - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1986-March - 1040 STF - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1986-June - 7800 - sales started from stock (Atari, Corp.) 1986-? - 7800 - production renewed (Atari, Corp.) 1986-12-12 - 520 STFM - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1987-? - Atari Games Corporation - independence of Namco-America, Inc. 1987-February - XE Game System - presentation at Toy Fair 87 (Atari, Corp.) 1987-? - 800 XE - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1987-Summer - Mega ST - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1987-September - PC-1 - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1987-September - XE Game System - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1987-10-04 - The Federated Group, Inc. - bought by Atari, Corp. 1987-November - ATW800 - presentation at COMDEX (Atari, Corp.) 1987-12-21 - Tengen, Inc. - founded (by Atari Games Corporation) 1988-March - PC-2 and PC-3 - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1988-? - PC-4 and PC-5 - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1989-February - Portfolio - presentation (Atari, Corp.) 1989-April - STACY - presentation at COMDEX (Atari, Corp.) 1989-May - ATW800 - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1989-06-03 - Lynx - presentation (Atari, Corp.) 1989-June - Portfolio - production started (Atari, Corp.) 1989-August - 1040 STE - presentation at Atari Messe (Atari, Corp.) 1989-August - TT030 - presentation at Atari Messe (Atari, Corp.) 1989-08-29 - Atari France (subsidiary of Atari, Corp.) - headquarters were severely damaged by fire 1989-09-13 - Portfolio - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1989-September - 1040 STE - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1989-September - ABC 286 - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1989-September - ABC 286/30 - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1989-September - STACY - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1989-October - Lynx - production started (Atari, Corp.) 1989-October - 520 STE - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1989-11-21 - Lynx - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1990-01-12 - The Federated Group, Inc. - remaining stores sold or closed 1990-June - ABC 386SX/40 - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1990-06-26 - Atari Games Corporation - take over by Warner Communications Inc. (subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.) 1990-August - TT030 - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1990-November - Mega STE - presentation at COMDEX (Atari, Corp.) 1991-January - Lynx II - presentation at Winter CES (Atari, Corp.) 1991-January - Mega STE - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1991-March - STBook - presentation at CeBIT (Atari, Corp.) 1991-08-01 - Lynx II - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1991-December - 2600jr - production and support discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1991-December - 7800 - production and support discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1991-December - XE Game System - production and support discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1992-06-02 - PC and ABC - production discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1992-06-26 - Atari Holdings, Inc. - merged with and into Warner Communications, Inc. 1992-? - STBook - production started (Atari, Corp.) 1992-? - XE - discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1992-08-14 - Mega STE - production discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1992-August - Falcon030 - presentation at Atari Messe (Atari, Corp.) 1993-January - Falcon030 - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1993-08-14 - Jaguar - presentation (Atari, Corp.) 1993-August - TT030 - production discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1993-November - Jaguar - sales started (Atari, Corp.) 1994-02-03 - JT Storage, Inc. - founded (Sirjang Lal Tandon, David B. Pearce) 1994-June - Tengen, Inc. - renamed to Time Warner Interactive (California), Inc. 1994-? - Portfolio - production discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1994-? - ST and STE - production discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1994-11-15 - Falcon Mk II - license agreement signed with C-Lab (Atari, Corp.) 1995-? - Falcon Mk II - production started (by C-Lab) 1995-09-21 - Jaguar CD - sales started 1995-09-23 - WCI Games Corporation - merged with and into Atari Games Corporation 1995-? - Falcon030 - production discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1995-? - Lynx II - production discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1996-03-03 - Atari, Corp. - HQ moved to 455 S Mathilda Ave, Sunnyvale 1996-03-29 - Atari Games Corporation - bought by Williams Interactive, Inc. (subsidiary of WMS Industries, Inc.) 1996-? - Falcon MKX - production started (C-Lab) 1996-? - Jaguar - discontinued (Atari, Corp.) 1996-06-19 - JT Storage, Inc. - renamed to JTS Corporation 1996-07-01 - Atari Games Corporation - transfered to Midway Games, Inc. (subsidiary of WMS Industries, Inc.) 1996-07-30 - Atari, Corp. - merged with and into JTS Corporation (as Atari Division) 1996-09-10 - Time Warner Interactive (California), Inc. - renamed to Tengen, Inc. 1996-09-12 - JTS Corporation - Atari Division moved to 1289 Anvilwood Avenue, Sunnyvale 1996-12-23 - Jaguar - the rest of stock sold to Tiger Software (JTS Corporation) 1998-02-12 - HIAC XI, Corp. - founded (Hasbro, Inc. as a subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive, Inc.) 1998-03-13 - JTS Corporation - Atari Division sold to HIAC XI, Corp. 1998-04-06 - Midway Games, Inc. (incl. Atari Games Corporation) - independence of WMS Industries, Inc. 1998-05-07 - HIAC XI, Corp. - renamed to Atari Interactive, Inc. 1999-01-29 - JTS Corporation - liquidation 1999-04-09 - California U.S. Holdings, Inc. - founded (by Infogrames Entertainment, SA) 1999-05-13 - Jaguar - all rights to the hardware platform released (by Hasbro Interactive, Inc.) 1999-09-22 - Tengen, Inc. - dissolved 1999-11-19 - Atari Games Corporation - renamed to Midway Games West, Inc. 1999-12-17 - GT Interactive Software Corp. - bought by California U.S. Holdings, Inc. 2000-05-10 - GT Interactive Software Corp. - renamed to Infogrames, Inc. 2001-01-23 - Hasbro Interactive, Inc. (incl. Atari Interactive, Inc.) - sold to Infogrames Entertainment, SA 2001-01-23 - Hasbro Interactive, Inc. - renamed to Infogrames Interactive, Inc. 2001-06-22 - Midway Games West, Inc. - development of coin-operated games canceled 2003-02-07 - Midway Games West, Inc. - development of all products canceled 2003-04-30 - Infogrames, Inc. - renamed to Atari, Inc. 2003-05-06 - Atari Interactive, Inc. - merged with and into its parent company Infogrames Interactive, Inc. 2003-05-06 - Infogrames Interactive, Inc. - renamed to Atari Interactive, Inc. 2007-April - Bruno Bonnell - left Infogrames Entertainment, SA 2008-10-09 - Atari, Inc. - merged with and into Infogrames Entertainment, SA 2009-? - Infogrames Entertainment, SA - přejmenována na Atari, SA 2009-07-10 - Midway Games West, Inc. - bought by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. (subsidiary of Time Warner, Inc.) 2012-04-08 - Jack Tramiel - death 2013-01-21 - Atari, Inc., Atari Interactive, Inc. and California US Holdings, Inc. - petitions for relief (bankrupcy) 2014-? - Atari, Inc., Atari Interactive, Inc. and California US Holdings, Inc. - emerged from bankruptcy 2017-12-10 - Ray Kassar - death 2018-05-26 - Ted Dabney - death
Sources and links:
https://mcurrent.name/atarihistory/ https://en.wikipedia.org/ http://www.atarimuseum.com/ http://historie.atari.sweb.cz http://atariage.com/ https://www.landley.net/history/mirror/atari/museum/Atari-Timeline.html http://blog.3b2.sk/igi/post/Historia-firmy-ATARI-History-of-ATARI.aspx