Posted on by David G. Johnson

Happy 40th Birthday, Atari! (with Infographic!)

Atari turns 40 years old today!

And though they clearly aren’t the same company that started producing Pong (while virtually single-handedly inventing the video game) in the 1970s, they remain a fantastic example of innovation.

Atari 2600: the Game Console that Started it All!
I still remember (like it was yesterday!) the Christmas morning when my Dad gave my brother a cartridge for the Atari 2600 in his stocking. As my brother tried to explain that it was no good without the unit, my Dad started laughing and told him to go look in his room. The 2600 changed our lives forever!

Check out the infographic below to see how Atari became a household name in the 1980s, got killed when Nintendo came on the scene and ultimately reinvented themselves after several changes in ownership. You may not be aware, but a lot of the great Atari titles are alive and well today!

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2 Replies to “Happy 40th Birthday, Atari! (with Infographic!)”

  1. Paul Rose Jr – Paul Rose, Jr. started his career as a TV journalist, writing and producing the highest-rated weekend newscast in Southwest Florida. In the 25 years since, he’s written in just about every medium and format available: radio, TV, print and online journalism, commercial and promo copy, op ed articles, press releases, website copy & blog posts.Story is Paul’s passion and it’s at the heart of all he writes. All good writing involves story – it connects with people and opens their mind and heart to hear what you have to say.Paul is a voracious reader. He has a library of thousands of books, including one of the largest private collections of Arthurian and Celtic literature on this side of the pond. He draws from a wide-range of research and life experience when writing.Paul is currently in Los Angeles, CA, hard at work developing screenplays and teleplays and acting in film & TV.
    Paul Rose Jr says:
    June 28, 2012 at 1:28 am

    Is it sad that I still have my 2600 system? (2, in fact). I never did get a Nintendo or Sega or XBox. There’s nothing quite like the original.

    Reply
  2. David G. Johnson
    David G. Johnson says:
    June 28, 2012 at 8:06 am

    Not at all, Paul! I’d still have one if it hadn’t died a very slow & painful death. I never did go Nintendo, Sega, XBox, Playstation either. A few months ago, one of our former officemates brought in a 2600 and we had a blast playing Combat. It’s amazing how quickly it all comes back!

    That said… I am considering a Wii… it’s for my daughter! (Wink, wink)

    Reply

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