atari
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Atari
Atari Computer was a video game manufacturer founded in 1972 in Sunnyvale, CA, by Nolan Bushnell, who named the company after a word used in the Japanese game of Go. Atari became famous for...
Dictionary
Definition: Atari
Atari Computer was a video game manufacturer founded in 1972 in Sunnyvale, CA, by Nolan Bushnell, who named the company after a word used in the Japanese game of Go. Atari became famous for "Pong," a video game that simulated Ping-Pong on TV. In 1976, Atari was sold to Warner Communications which came out with a game computer dubbed the Atari Video Computer System. In 1978, the Atari 400 and 800 home computers were introduced and became successful. Later came the 600XL and 1200XL models.
In 1984, Atari was sold to Jack Tramiel and investors, which introduced the ST personal computer line in 1985 to compete with the Macintosh. The STs were advanced machines that were available into the 1990s, but although popular, they received limited application support (see ST). Atari also made a failed attempt at offering IBM-compatible PCs. In late 1992, it introduced the Falcon multimedia computer but soon shut down its R&D. At the end of 1993, the Jaguar video game was introduced, but sales were insufficient to continue operating. In 1996, the company merged with hard disk manufacturer JTS Corporation, which sold the Atari name and IP to Hasbro in 1998.
Atari 400
Sporting a whopping 16K of RAM and 8K of ROM, the Atari 400 was used mostly for games, which were contained in ROM cartridges that plugged into the unit. Atari computers helped spearhead the personal computer revolution in the early 1980s. (Image courtesy of Kevan's Computer Bits, www.heydon.org/kevan/collection)
THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY
All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
© 1981-2010 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.
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Additional Results
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Remembering Jack Tramiel
Commodore founder Jack Tramiel died this week. His legacy of computers for the people and dreams for a better future live on.
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The ultimate retro-arcade: Las Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame
Looking to have some fun in Las Vegas that doesn't involve losing your entire year's wages? Pick up a few rolls of quarters and hit the ultimate retro pinball and video arcade.
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Latest Commodore 64 incarnation hopes what's old is new again
My first computer being an Atari 800, I don't have the first-hand experience of having owned a Commodore 64, but it's remembered a lot more ardently than those early Atari computers. In fact,...
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Photos: Cracking open the Atari 2600
Check out the joystick ports, circuitry, and other parts that made the venerable game console tick.The Atari 2600 in all its cracked-open glory. I never owned one of these consoles--I was an...
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Another great contribution to humanity from the folks who brought you Chuck E. Cheese and Atari
Guest post: Chris Matyszczyk explores the latest high-tech concept in dining from Nolan Bushnell, of Chuck E. Cheese and Atari fame. We all have our bad waiter stories. I confess that recently,...
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Atari bids leader Bonnell adieu
Bruno Bonnell leaves top positions at both the game maker and the French parent he co-founded, Infogrames Entertainment.
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Atari CEO steps down
James Caparro resigns to take a chief executive position at Glenayre Technologies.
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Infogrames renames itself Atari
It's all in the name. Infogrames hopes that by changing its name to Atari, it will catch the attention of consumers--reminding them of the pioneering game system.
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Atari 2600 device heads back to the market
For video-gaming enthusiasts who don't wish to shell out hundreds of dollars for the latest console, there may be an alternative in the form of an upcoming $20 device for playing classic Atari...
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Pong, anyone? Atari comes to cell phones
3G wireless is about to get old school! A UK company is planning to release mobile phone versions of 12 classic video games later this year.
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Atari game classic reborn
Hasbro Interactive has announced the availability of a two-disc compilation of classic Atari games for the PC. Called Atari Greatest Hits, the CD-ROMs include some of the most memorable games of...
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Hasbro brings back Atari classics
To celebrate Atari's 27th anniversary, Atari Hits Volume 1 hits the streets.
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