Atari acquires massive Atari archive after revealing a 'new' 2600 that takes cartridges
The great company Atari, arguably responsible for the popularisation of home videogaming, was founded in 1972. But after its heyday things went badly wrong, and the original Atari would be acquired, split, merged, declare bankruptcy, and go through various corporate shenanigans, such that the current Atari is an iteration founded in 2001. Over that time it has had some less-than-ideal custodians, but the mood music under current CEO Wade Rosen has changed.
There's been some very good software, an increased focus on preserving the company's legacy, and even a limited return to hardware with the gorgeous but underpowered Atari VCS. Now two more announcements have arrived in short order, both in-keeping with its trajectory under Rosen.
Firstly, Atari is to acquire AtariAge, which you could call a retro forum though that would vastly undersell what it is: over time this has grown into the best repository for everything Atari (as well as some other companies), both hardware and software, as well as being a major publisher for homebrew software.
«Atari is now taking its retro-related IP seriously and is creating a wide array of hardware and software based on that IP, while also creating new, original content,» said the site's founder Albert Yarusso. "[...] Atari, for the first time in years, is targeting and embracing enthusiasts like ourselves, while also making products that appeal to those who grew up with Atari and have a fond nostalgia of the brand, but aren't steeped in retro gaming as we are.
On top of this Yarusso is to become Atari's internal historian, which seems rather a good fit, and the site will get the investment it needs for some long-mooted ecommerce functionality. The news has been received by the world's
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