Global InformationAtari information
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 Atari 2600, a video game system under the Atari brand | |
| Product type |
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|---|---|
| Owner | Atari SA (2001–present) |
| Country | United States (Atari), France (Atari SA) |
| Introduced | 27 June 1972 |
| Markets | Video gaming |
| Previous owners |
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| Website | www |
Atari (/əˈtɑːri/) is a brand name that has been owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by French company Atari SA (formerly Infogrames) through a subsidiary named Atari Interactive.[1][2][3] The original Atari, Inc., founded in Sunnyvale, California, USA in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, was a pioneer in arcade games, home video game consoles, and home computers. The company's products, such as Pong and the Atari 2600, helped define the electronic entertainment industry from the 1970s to the mid-1980s.
In 1984, as a result of the video game crash of 1983, the home console and computer divisions of the original Atari Inc. were sold off to Jack Tramiel's Tramel Technology Ltd., which then renamed itself to Atari Corporation.[4][5] Atari, Inc. was renamed Atari Games Inc.[6] Atari Games received the rights to use the logo and brand name with appended text "Games" on arcade games. The rights to Atari, Inc.'s game properties were shared between the two companies, with Atari Corporation receiving the trademarks and the home rights.[7] In 1996, Atari Corporation reverse-merged with disk-drive manufacturer JT Storage (JTS),[8] becoming a division within the company. In 1998, Hasbro Interactive acquired all Atari Corporation–related properties from JTS,[9] creating a new subsidiary, Atari Interactive.[10]
Infogrames Entertainment (IESA) bought Hasbro Interactive in 2001 and renamed it Infogrames Interactive, which intermittently published Atari-branded titles. In 2003, it renamed the division Atari Interactive. Another IESA division, Infogrames Inc.,[11] changed its name to Atari, Inc. the same year, licensing the Atari name and logo from its fellow subsidiary.[2][12][13] In 2008, IESA completed its acquisition of Atari, Inc.'s outstanding stock, making it a wholly owned subsidiary.[14] IESA renamed itself Atari SA in 2009. It sought bankruptcy protection under French law in January 2013.
As of 2023, the current Atari's focus is on "video games, consumer hardware, licensing and blockchain".[15]
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ "Atari Celebrates 40th Anniversary with New Game Releases and Special Promotions" (Press release). Atari. June 27, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012. "Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc."
- ^ a b Atari Inc. (March 31, 2003). "10-KT · For 3/31/03". Atari Inc. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- ^ "ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT/REGISTRATION DOCUMENT Fiscal Year 2010/2011" (PDF). Atari, SA. 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ^ Sanger, David E. (July 3, 1984). "Warner Sells Atari To Tramiel". New York Times. pp. Late City Final Edition, Section D, Page 1, Column 6. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016.
- ^ Atari Corp. (March 29, 1994). "Amendment to General Statement of Beneficial Ownership – Schedule 13D". Atari Inc. Archived from the original on April 11, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
- ^ Current, Michael D. (2004–2007). "A Brief Timeline of the Atari Divisions Initially Retained by Warner Communications, July 1984 to Present". Archived from the original on December 19, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- ^ "Atari Corporation Part 2". Retro Gamer. No. 94. September 2011. p. 86.
- ^ "Atari Agrees To Merge With Disk-Drive Maker". The New York Times. Bloomberg Business News. February 14, 1996. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008.
- ^ "FORM 8-K Filing for transfer of assets to Hasbro Interactive from JTS". Securities And Exchange Commission. February 23, 1998. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- ^ "Hasbro Interactive Pursues Copyright Infringement Suit". Hasbro Interactive. February 8, 2000. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- ^ "Infogrames Entertainment Corporate Profile and Annual Report" (PDF). Infogrames Entertainment SA. 2006. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- ^ "Civilization III:Play The World Press Release". Infogrames Inc. May 8, 2002. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- ^ Atari Inc. (March 31, 2003). "10-KT · For 3/31/03, Overview Subsection". Atari Inc. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- ^ "Infogrames completes Atari Inc acquisition". October 11, 2008. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
- ^ "About Atari". Atari. Retrieved August 15, 2023.