Atari Interactive
Encyclopedia
Atari Interactive is a name used by several separate groups and corporations since the mid-90's. In 1996 it was the name of Atari Corporation
's PC publishing division, bringing games like the Atari Jaguar's Tempest 2000
to the PC platform. From 1998 to 2001, Atari Interactive, Inc. was the name of the corporate entity that held the Atari properties purchased from JTS by Hasbro in 1998, and functioned as the retro publishing subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive. It is currently the name of a wholly owned subsidiary of Atari, SA
(formerly Infogrames), who is the current owner of the Atari
brand and various other properties formerly belonging to Hasbro Interactive
. It was formed in 2001, when IESA acquired Hasbro Interactive and proceeded to rename it to Infogrames Interactive. In 2003, IESA then changed the company name entirely to Atari Interactive, Inc. as part of its world wide reorganization to focus on use of the Atari
brand.
, Atari Corporation formally announced the formation of Atari Interactive to "address the worldwide PC market". Planning to initially launch with four titles, Tempest 2000
, Highlander: The Last of the MacLeods
, Baldies
, and FlipOut!, further releases were to include Missile Command 3D, Return to Crystal Castles, Interactive Rocky Horror Show, and Virtual War. By February 12, however, Atari Corporation was announcing a planned merger with drive manufacturer JTS, who had no interest "to compete in any way in the video-game or PC markets". Atari Corporation suspended its business, laid off about 80 percent of its staff and reportedly began liquidating its assets – which included the closing of the newly formed Atari Interactive division.
s and personal computer
s under the Atari brand.
Atari Corporation
Atari Corporation was a manufacturer of computers and video game consoles from 1984 to 1996. Atari Corp. was founded in July of 1984 when Warner Communications sold the home computing and game console divisions of Atari to Jack Tramiel. Its chief products were the Atari ST, Atari XE, Atari 7800,...
's PC publishing division, bringing games like the Atari Jaguar's Tempest 2000
Tempest 2000
Tempest 2000 is a 1994 remake by Jeff Minter of the Dave Theurer 1981 arcade game classic, Tempest. Originally an exclusive to the Atari Jaguar, the game received critical praise for its 3D graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay.-Gameplay:...
to the PC platform. From 1998 to 2001, Atari Interactive, Inc. was the name of the corporate entity that held the Atari properties purchased from JTS by Hasbro in 1998, and functioned as the retro publishing subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive. It is currently the name of a wholly owned subsidiary of Atari, SA
Atari, SA
Atari SA is an international French holding company headquartered in Paris, France. It was originally called Infogrames Entertainment, SA . Its subsidiaries include Atari London Studio, Eden Games, Atari Interactive, Inc...
(formerly Infogrames), who is the current owner of the Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
brand and various other properties formerly belonging to Hasbro Interactive
Hasbro Interactive
Hasbro Interactive was an American video game production and publishing subsidiary of Hasbro, the large game and toy company.Hasbro Interactive was formed late in 1995 in order to compete in the computer and video game arena. Several Hasbro properties, such as Monopoly and Scrabble, had already...
. It was formed in 2001, when IESA acquired Hasbro Interactive and proceeded to rename it to Infogrames Interactive. In 2003, IESA then changed the company name entirely to Atari Interactive, Inc. as part of its world wide reorganization to focus on use of the Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
brand.
Division of Atari Corporation
On January 2, 1996, at the Winter Consumer Electronics ShowConsumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
, Atari Corporation formally announced the formation of Atari Interactive to "address the worldwide PC market". Planning to initially launch with four titles, Tempest 2000
Tempest 2000
Tempest 2000 is a 1994 remake by Jeff Minter of the Dave Theurer 1981 arcade game classic, Tempest. Originally an exclusive to the Atari Jaguar, the game received critical praise for its 3D graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay.-Gameplay:...
, Highlander: The Last of the MacLeods
Highlander: The Last of the MacLeods
Highlander: The Last of the Macleods is a video game developed by Lore Design Limited and published by Atari for the Atari Jaguar CD-ROM home console system. It was released on October 30, 1995...
, Baldies
Baldies
Baldies was a real time strategy video game for the Atari Jaguar CD, DOS, Microsoft windows, the PlayStation, Amiga and the Sega Saturn. It was initially released for the Jaguar in 1995, followed by the PC version, which was released Nov 28, 1996...
, and FlipOut!, further releases were to include Missile Command 3D, Return to Crystal Castles, Interactive Rocky Horror Show, and Virtual War. By February 12, however, Atari Corporation was announcing a planned merger with drive manufacturer JTS, who had no interest "to compete in any way in the video-game or PC markets". Atari Corporation suspended its business, laid off about 80 percent of its staff and reportedly began liquidating its assets – which included the closing of the newly formed Atari Interactive division.
Hasbro Interactive subsidiary
On February 23, 1998, JTS sold all assets and properties of its Atari division to Hiat XI Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hasbro's Hasbro Interactive created in Delaware for the purpose of the purchase. It then proceeded to rename Hiax XI to Atari Interactive, and began publishing retro-themed remake titles under the Atari brand name such as the 3D remake of Atari's Centipede.Infogrames subsidiary
In 2001, Hasbro sold Hasbro Interactive and its subsidiaries to French publisher Infogrames Entertainment SA (IESA). IESA then renamed it to Infogrames Interactive, Inc.. On May 7, 2003, IESA officially reorganized its subsidiaries into Atari-branded names, which included renaming Infogrames Interactive, Inc. to Atari Interactive, Inc.,Leasing of properties
In 2003, Infogrames' US subsidiary Infogrames Inc. licensed the Atari name and logo from Atari Interactive and changed its name to Atari Inc. using it to develop, publish and distribute games for all major video game consoleVideo game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
s and personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
s under the Atari brand.