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On this day, Atari was founded by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney in Sunnyvale, California.
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The companies first video game, Pong, is released. The design of this game was based off the popular game "Racquetball". Selling at $1095, the arcade machine was sold to bowling alleys, malls, and other recreational places. Gameplay
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Atari does something no other company would think of doing at the time---creating it's own competitor. Atari creates the "rival" company, "Kee Games" to break exclusive deals with distributors. The company starts producing knockoffs of Atari games.
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Kee Games releases their game, 'Tank'. The reason this relates to Atari is due to the fact that this would eventually lead to the release of Atari's, 'Atari Combat'. This game was also important because it was the first coin-op game to contain ROM based code for its graphics. Gameplay here
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Sears Roebuck comes to Atari asking them to produce at home versions of the game Pong. Atari allows 50,000 units to be made branded for Sears sporting goods store and another 50,000 units sold by Atari themselves. It was an instant success.
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Noah Bushnell decides to sell the company to Warner Communications in order to seek funds to create the Atari 2600. He would still remain in Atari Inc. as a chairmen.
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Atari releases the game 'Breakout'. The game had the same "Racquetball" feel to it as many called it, "Pong on its' side." Gameplay here
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In October of 1977 debuted the new Atari Computer System 2600. The retail was around $200 and having 10 different games based off of Atari's games. Commercial of the product can be seen here
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Atari announces it will form a new Home Computer Division that will stay separate from the Consumer Electronic Division. This is a big step for Atari as this was a big branch out for the company.
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Atari releases the Atari 400 and 800 home computers. The differences between the two lie in keyboard and memory.
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Atari releases the game, 'Asteroids', which would become one of Atari's best selling games. Gameplay can be found here
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Atari releases their new game titled, 'Atari Centipede'. This was especially important due to the fact that it was helped developed by Dona Baily, one of the only female programmers in the industry at the time.
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The Consumer Division of Atari was sold to Jack Tramiel. The original news article can be found here
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Atari releases its' handheld gaming system, the 'Atari LYNX'. It was a huge step within the community due to it being the worlds first handheld gaming system
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The remaining assets of Atari Inc. is sold to Hasbro Gaming.
