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Top Document: Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions Previous Document: 10.8) Are there 8-bit Atari tools for the Commodore Amiga? Next Document: 10.3) How can I read/write Atari diskettes with my other computer? See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge Information presented here has been collected by MC from public sources, such as magazine and newspaper articles, press releases, corporate annual reports, and SEC filings. I have no special access to inside information. For a broader Atari history may I suggest: http://mcurrent.name/atarihistory/ 1973 With financial support from Atari, a group of engineers led by Larry Emmons and Steve Mayer created the Cyan Engineering research and development group in Grass Valley, CA. 1974 Winter: Atari started an exclusive relationship with Cyan Engineering, and the facility became known as the "Grass Valley Think Tank." 1975 Summer: At Cyan Engineering, Ron Milner and Steve Mayer created the first concept prototype of the home video game system that would become the Video Computer System (VCS). The hardware was built by Milner. December: Joe Decuir was hired by Atari, initially to work with Ron Milner and Steve Mayer at Cyan Engineering. Decuir would help debug the existing concept prototype of the VCS, and Decuir built the first gate-level prototype of the VCS. 1976 March: As Atari VCS development continued, Joe Decuir moved to Los Gatos, Calif. to apprentice for Jay Miner, who would become the lead chip designer for the VCS. The group who would turn out to be the key engineers of the Atari VCS had now been assembled: Steve Mayer, Ron Milner, Joe Decuir, and Jay Miner. Development work would continue into 1977. Fall: Atari purchased Cyan Engineering outright, and the facility became more formerly known as the Grass Valley Research Center. 1977 June: Atari introduced the Video Computer System (VCS) at the Summer CES in Chicago. Summer: Engineers Ron Milner, Steve Mayer, and Joe Decuir, veteran designers of the VCS, began work on a next-generation home video game machine at Atari's Grass Valley Research Center. This project became known as "Oz" inside Atari. December: "Several other new personal computers, in the PET/TRS-80 price range, are coming soon...Atari (another video game manufacturer), and a European and Japenese [sic] company are also expected to enter the competition." (Micro #2 Dec77 p18; reprinted from "Northwest Computer Club News" Oct77) 1978 January: "Other manufacturers are also looking at TV games as the way to enter the home-computing market. Atari is said to be working on a programmable unit featuring color graphics; it will use either custom chips or a 6502 micro." (ROM v1n7 Jan78 p60) March: Manny Gerard at Warner Communications arranged for Raymond E. Kassar, who had recently departed from his executive vice president position at fabric maker Burlington Industries, to work with Atari as a consultant. Gerard then had Kassar installed as president of Atari's Consumer Division. Ray Kassar, directed that the video game technology already under development as the "Oz" project would now form the basis for the development of a personal computer system. The newly-redefined project became known as "Colleen" inside Atari. The overall engineering plans for "Colleen" were conceived by: Steve Mayer, Joe Decuir, and Jay Miner The "Colleen" computer project evolved into two specific computer models: o "Colleen" - the full machine - would be released as the Atari 800. o "Candy" - a reduced-feature version - would be released as the Atari 400. - One or more pre-production Atari 400 units carried the additional designation: Model No. C7000 See: http://mcurrent.name/atariads/intro400.htm September: Atari VCS game programmers David Crane, Larry Kaplan, and Alan Miller were assigned to create an Operating System and BASIC for the Atari computer, after Jay Miner, manager of both custom chip and OS software development for the computer, had determined that both the existing work-in- progress OS and the work-in-progress port of Microsoft BASIC could not meet the January 1979 CES deadline. October 6: Freeing Crane/Kaplan/Miller to focus on developing the core OS, Atari contracted with Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI, headed by Bob Shepardson) to create both a version of BASIC and a File Management System (FMS) for the upcoming Atari personal computers. The contract called for delivery by April 6, 1979. Atari planned to take an early, 8K Microsoft BASIC to the CES (in Las Vegas) in January, 1979, and then switch BASICs later. November: At the Warner Communications annual budget meeting in New York, Atari chairman Nolan Bushnell warned against launching an Atari computer division unless Warner was prepared to absorb extensive short-term financial losses in establishing the new product line. Bushnell also predicted that a properly-funded Atari computer line would ultimately be profitable. December: Manny Gerard at Warner Communications appointed Ray Kassar President and CEO of Atari, and Joe Keenan replaced company founder Nolan Bushnell as Chairman. December: SMI delivered working versions of BASIC and a disk FMS to Atari. 1979 January: Atari introduced the Atari 800 and Atari 400 Personal Computer Systems at the Winter CES in Las Vegas. The 800 would ship with 8K RAM (user- expandable in 8K or 16K increments to 48K) and retail for US$1,000; the 400 would come standard with 8K RAM and retail for US$500. The computers were scheduled to ship in limited quantities in August 1979, with full availability later in the fall. Also introduced: the 410 program recorder, 810 disk drive, and 820 printer. Software introduced: Atari BASIC, Atari DOS. Coverage of the introduction of the Atari 400/800 from Creative Computing magazine: http://mcurrent.name/atari1979/ "Atari, by introducing its line of personal computers, is the first major consumer electronics manufacturer to demonstrate a commitment to the three paramount needs of both the consumer and retailer: Effective hardware, effective software and effective peripheral components." -- Michael Shea, Atari marketing vice president, quoted in Merchandising magazine January 1979. January: Atari ran an advertisement for the 400/800 on pp. 54-55 of Merchandising, vol. 4, no. 1, January 1979. See: http://mcurrent.name/atariads/gallery.htm for these and other early Atari computer print ads from 1979-1981. April: Crane/Kaplan/Miller finished their work on the Operating System for the Atari 400/800 computers. May 11-13: At the 4th West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco Atari again showed the Atari 400/800 computer systems, which were expected to ship within months. June: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari again showed the Atari 400/800 computers, which were expected to ship within weeks. The retail price for the 400 system would be US$550 (up from US$500). Also introduced: the Atari Talk & Teach Educational System, including the Master Cartridge and 17 cassette packs in the Cassette Courseware series (4 tapes per pack; 4 lessons per tape; developed by Dorsett Educational Systems for Atari). More software titles introduced: Basketball, Super Breakout, Computer Chess. Peter N. Rosenthal was Director of Marketing, Personal Computer Systems. Summer: Atari received FCC approval for the 400/800 computers. August: "The first official small shipment of the 400/800 was on August 29th 1979. These were hand-built pilot run units to Sears that needed to be in stock by Sept. 1 so they could be placed in the big fall catalog. The units were placed in the Sears warehouse and then immediately returned to Atari after the "in stock" requirement had been met." --Jerry Jessop September 4: The New York Times reported on p. D7, "Atari Inc., the maker of home video games, will introduce two new personal computer systems in the fall. The inaugural ad campaign, created by Doyle Dane Bernbach, will break in October in 12 national publications. TV commercials will also be aired in Los Angeles in November and December." October: "Atari's production lines were stalled for about a week in October due to yield problems at one of its chip suppliers, Synertek. The low yields at the semiconductor manufacturer resulted in significantly reduced delivery of the MPU to Atari, resulting in about a 3-week delay in getting the computers into the marketplace." Electronic News, December 10, 1979, p. 83. November: "The first "real" consumer units were shipped in Nov. of '79 and were 400s to Sears followed very shortly by 800s." --Jerry Jessop November: Michael J. Moone became president of the Consumer Division at Atari (home video games and computers). November/December: The initial Atari 400 personal computer package consisted of the 400 computer (8K RAM), 400 Operator's Manual, power supply, TV switch box, CXL4002 Atari BASIC (cartridge), Atari BASIC: A Self-Teaching Guide (book, see http://www.atariarchives.org/basic/), 3-ring binder. Package retail: US$549.99. November/December: The initial Atari 800 personal computer package consisted of the 800 computer with 8K RAM module, 800 Operator's Manual, power supply, TV switch box, 410 program recorder, CXL4001 Educational System Master Cartridge, CXL4002 Atari BASIC (cartridge), CX-4101 An Invitation to Programming 1: Fundamentals of Programming (cassette), Atari BASIC: A Self- Teaching Guide (book, see http://www.atariarchives.org/basic/), 3-ring binder. Package retail: US$999.99. November/December: In addition to the $549.99 Atari 400 package, the Sears catalog also listed the 410 program recorder for $85.00, the Educational System Master Cartridge for $34.99, Basketball, Super Breakout, and Life (released as Video Easel) for $49.99 each, Music Composer for $69.99, Joystick pair for $19.99, Paddles pair for $19.99, and these 9 cassette titles for use with the Educational System Master Cartridge for $39.99 each: Basic Sociology, Basic Psychology, Spelling, History of Western World, Great Classics of Eng Lit, Principles of Economics, U.S. History, Principles of Accounting, Business Communications December: "Atari is funneling large quantities of its 400 and 800 personal computers and software to Sears, Roebuck, while retail computer stores have been faced with late hardware deliveries and received very little, if any, software. Sears is offering the Atari 400, priced at $549.99, through its catalog, and is spot-marketing the machine in its retail stores throughout California and the Chicago area. In addition, the firm is selling the Atari 800, priced at $999.99, in its California stores, but not through the catalog, a Sears spokesman said." Electronic News, December 10, 1979, p. 83. 1980 January: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced the 825 printer, 830 modem, and 850 interface. Software titles introduced: Video Easel (previously: Life), Music Composer, Assembler Editor, 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Star Raiders. Also, list prices for the 400 and 800 packages increased to US$630 and US$1,080 (up from US$550 and US$1,000). Winter: Atari shipped the 810 disk drive (with DOS I) and the 820 printer (US$449.95). March: Atari shipped Star Raiders. June 15: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced the: 815 dual disk drive (with CX8201 DOS 2.0D Atari 815 Master Diskette; never shipped in quantity), 822 printer, and CX70 light pen (never shipped in quantity). Atari also introduced 34 new software packages, including: TeleLink 1, the Atari Accountant series (by Arthur Young & Co.)--General Accounting System; Accounts Receivable System; Inventory Control Program, the Investment Analysis series (by Control Data)--Bond Analysis; Stock Analysis; Stock Charting; Mortgage & Loan Analysis, Conversational French, Conversational German, Conversational Spanish, Space Invaders (SoftSide Aug80) Summer: Atari modified the 800 computer package. The computer would now ship with 16K RAM (up from 8K); the 410 program recorder and Educational System Master Cartridge were removed from the package; the Atari BASIC Reference Manual was added to the package. The retail price remained US$1,080. Summer/Fall: Atari shipped the 825 printer (US$999.95), 830 modem, and 850 interface (US$219.95). October 21: Roger H. Badertscher was named president of the newly established Computer Division at Atari. He was previously vice president and general manager of the microprocessor division of Signetics, an electronics semiconductor manufacturer. October: Visicorp introduced the Atari version of VisiCalc. By the end of 1980, Atari had sold 35,000 computers. 1981 January 8-11: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari announced that the list price for the 400 computer package with 8K RAM installed was reduced to US$499.95 (previously: US$630), and that the list price for the 16K RAM version of the 400 package would be US$630. Also introduced: Asteroids, Astrology (ultimately released via APX), Atari Word Processor, An Invitation to Programming 2, An Invitation to Programming 3, Missile Command, Personal Financial Management System, Personal Fitness Program (ultimately released via APX), PILOT, SCRAM (A Nuclear Reactor Simulation)(by Chris Crawford) Winter: Atari shipped the 822 printer, and released DOS II version 2.0S. February 25: The source code to Atari BASIC, the FMS component of Atari DOS 2.0S (DOS.SYS), and the Atari Assembler Editor were purchased from Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI) by Optimized Systems Software (OSS), headed by former SMI employees Bill Wilkinson and Mike Peters. Spring: First issue of The Atari Connection, the glossy magazine published by the Atari Computer Division in support of the 400/800. April 3-5: Atari Software Acquisition Program (ASAP) staff attended the 6th West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco, offering a grand prize of US$25,000 in cash and US$75,000 in Atari products to runners-up for Atari computer software authors. In order to qualify for the awards, programs would have to be accepted and sold through the soon-to-be-launched Atari Program Exchange. April 3-5: Also at the West Coast Computer Faire, Optimized Systems Software (OSS) introduced BASIC A+, CP/A (would ship as: OS/A+), and EASMD (enhanced, disk-based versions of Atari BASIC, Atari DOS 2.0S and Atari Assembler Editor, respectively). May 4-7: At the National Computer Conference in Chicago, Atari announced that the 8K Atari 400 was being discontinued and that the price on the 16K version was being reduced to US$399 (was US$630); also, the 400 would no longer be sold with the Atari BASIC cartridge and the Atari BASIC: A Self-Teaching Guide book. Other price reductions: CX852 8K RAM module now US$49.95 (was US$124.95), CX853 16K RAM module now US$99.95 (was US$199.95), 820 printer now US$299.95 (was US$449.95). Also introduced: Dow Jones Investment Evaluator, Atari Microsoft BASIC, Macro Assembler and Program-Text Editor May: Atari launched the Atari Program Exchange (APX), a user-written software distribution unit within the Atari Computer Division. The APX concept had been the brain-child of Dale Yocam, and APX was guided by Fred Thorlin since its inception in February 1981. See http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/ Summer?: Atari created the Atari Institute for Educational Action Research, which began awarding major grants of Atari home computer products, cash stipends, and/or consulting services to selected individuals and non-profit institutions or organizations interested in developing new educational uses for computers in schools, community programs, or in the home. Founded and directed by Dr. Ted M. Kahn, Ph.D. More than US$250,000 would be awarded in the program's first year. Summer: The Atari 400/800 arrived in the UK. (Maplin News, June/Aug 1981) August 26: Date of the internal Atari document "Z800 Product Specification, Revision 1" reflecting Operating System work for the SWEET16 project to create a new series of computers to replace the 400/800. See: http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/1200xl/1200xl.html September 10-12: Maplin Electronic Supplies exhibited the Atari 400/800 at the Personal Computer World Show at the Cunard Hotel, Hammersmith, London. October: Atari 810 disk drives began shipping with the Data Separator Board. The enhancement "improves the drive's ability to distinguish between data pulses and clock pulses on the disk. This is necessary in part because of the variations in the characteristics of different diskettes. The data separator lowers the chance of a misread from the disk." (Antic Oct.82) November: The Atari 400/800 would now all ship with the GTIA chip rather than CTIA as in earlier machines, increasing the palette of simultaneously displayable colors to 256 and adding 3 new graphics modes. (Antic Oct.82) November: The Atari 400/800 began shipping with OS ROM version B, improving peripheral I/O control routines. (Antic Oct.82) November: Atari 810 disk drives began shipping with ROM C and with DOS II version 2.0S (replacing the original Atari DOS I). "ROM C causes diskettes to be formatted with an improved sector layout which is more efficient than that used by earlier 810 control ROM's." (Antic Oct.82) December 30: Atari said that it would cut the retail price for the 800 home computer (with 16K RAM) to US$899 from US$1,080. December: The book, De Re Atari was published by Atari, distributed by APX. De Re Atari was written by the Atari Software Development Support Group. Chris Crawford wrote Sections 1-6 and Appendices A & B. Lane Winner wrote Section 10 and Appendix D with assistance from Jim Cox. Amy Chen wrote Appendix C. Jim Dunion wrote Sections 8-9. Kathleen Pitta wrote Appendex E. Box Fraser wrote Section 7. Gus Makreas prepared the Glossary. 1982 January 7-10: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced Pac-Man ($44.95), Centipede ($44.95), The Bookkeeper, and The Home Filing Manager. Space Invaders, previously released on cassette, was now re-released on cartridge. The APX title, Caverns of Mars would be the first APX title to be transferred into Atari's standard product line ($39.95 disk). Previewed at the show: the Atari Supergame System (would ship as the 5200). January 6: Atari announced the publication, Atari Special Editions, a catalog of more than 400 products for the Atari computers from 117 vendors. January 16: At San Francisco's Maxwell's Plum restaurant in Ghiradelli Square, Atari awarded the first annual Atari Star Award and US$25,000 to Fernando Herrera for his APX title, My First Alphabet. Winter: Ted Richards' name first appeared as editor of The Atari Connection magazine. March: Atari began producing 810 disk drives using the revised "Analog" (later, "810M") design, including new Analog Board, new Power Supply board, and new 10 pin flat cable connecting the two. The 3 components were also offered together as the CB101128 "Grass Valley Analog Board Set" for "Pre-Analog" 810 drives. June 6-9: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced Atari Speed Reading (US$74.95), Music Tutor I (title never shipped. MC's speculation: this would have been an Atari-branded re-release of the APX title, Musical Computer-The Music Tutor), Juggles' House (by The Learning Co.), Juggles' Rainbow (by The Learning Co.), TeleLink II (US$79.95), and the Communicator II kit (new 835 modem + Telelink II) (US$279.95). The APX title, My First Alphabet would be re-released as part of Atari's standard product line. Atari also twice announced new retail prices for the 400 computer: first US$349 (CC Oct82 p180), then US$299 (Merch Jul82 p43) (previously, US$399). Keith Schaefer was vice-president of sales for Atari's Home Computer division. June 8: Atari announced the 5200 Home Entertainment System. Later dubbed the SuperSystem, the cartridge-based 5200 would be marketed alongside the ultra- popular Atari VCS (soon to be known as the 2600). While the 5200 required unique game cartridges and controllers, the internal hardware and operating system were nearly identical to that of the 400/800 computers. Suggested retail price: US$299.95. June: Roger Badertscher resigned from his position as president of Atari's Home Computer Division. Summer: First year of Atari Computer Camps, held at 3 locations: The University of San Diego (CA), The Asheville School (Asheville, NC), and East Stroudsburg State College (PA). (Camp was cancelled at the fourth announced site of Lakeland College in Sheboygan WI.) The camps were managed for Atari by Specialty Camps, Inc. Curriculum developed by Robert A. Kahn at Atari. Program overseen by Linda Gordon, Atari vice president for special projects. Summer?: Atari established in New York City a new research laboratory dedicated to the exploration of microprocessor-based products in electronic publishing and transactional services for home computers. Headed by Steven T. Mayer, vice president of research and product development, the new lab would be responsible for development of advanced products for Atari coin-operated and home video games and home computers. The lab would also function as a focus for joint research prpoejcts with other subsidiaries of Warner Communications. (Compute#30p252) August 24: John C. Cavalier was named president of Atari's Home Computer Division. His most recent job was vice president and general manager of American Can Company's Dixie and Dixie/Marathon unit, makers of consumer paper products. September: Steve Mayer resigned as senior vice president of engineering at Atari to form, and serve as chairman and CEO of, WCI Labs, Inc. The location was previously known as the Atari NY Lab. Like Atari, WCI Labs would be a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Communications. With Gregg Squires as project manager, WCI Labs would be responsible for the hardware engineering for the Sweet-16 ("Elizabeth" or "Liz") computer project, which would lead to the release of the 1200XL. September 29: Date of the internal Atari document, "Sweet-16 Product Specification". As of this document, the Sweet-16 project had evolved into two specific computer model designs, a 16K RAM version tentatively named "1200" and a 64K RAM version tentatively named "1200X" (earlier: a 16K "600" and a 64K "1200"), with both models now sharing the same case design. However, also as of this document, plans called for manufacture of only the 64K version. The project would soon lead to the release of the 1200XL. http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/1200xl/1200xl.html October: Atari shipped the 5200 SuperSystem. Fall: The suggested retail price for the Atari 800 was US$679 with 48K RAM standard (previously: US$899/16K). The Atari 400 retail price was US$299 (previously, $349). November: Atari began producing new 810 disk drives with the "center flip door" drive mechanism by Tandon, instead of the "push button, sliding door" mechanism by MPI used in the original design. (Antic May 83) Technical documentation would refer to the new design as the "810T". December: Atari shipped Galaxian, Defender, and VisiCalc (by VisiCorp) in time for the holiday shopping season. December 13: Atari introduced the 1200XL home computer at a press conference at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. "We believe that the Atari 1200XL will set the standard for a new generation in home computing and, once again, positions Atari on the leading edge of electronic technology and creative computing," Atari chairman Ray Kassar said. The list price for the 1200XL would be "well under $1,000." The 1200XL resulted from the Sweet-16/ "Elizabeth"/"Liz" project inside Atari. Peripherals introduced: the 1010 program recorder (US$99), 1020 printer/plotter (US$299), and 1025 printer (US$549). Atari sold 400,000 of its 400 and 800 computers in 1982, according to The Yankee Group, a Boston-based computer consulting firm, accounting for 17 percent of all home computer sales. 1983 January 1: The retail price for the Atari 800 (with 48K RAM, without Atari BASIC) was reduced from US$679 to US$499. The retail price for the Atari 400 was reduced from US$299 to US$199. Winter 82/83: First issue of I/O, later known as Input/Output, the magazine of the Atari Home Computer Club (Atari International (U.K.)). January 6-9: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari showed the 1200XL (and announced the retail price of $899), 1010, 1020, and 1025, introduced revised versions of the Programmer and Entertainer kits, introduced Qix, E.T. Phone Home!, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong, Family Finances, Timewise, and AtariWriter, showed the recently-released Galaxian and Defender, and also announced the upcoming AtariMusic I and the first title in the Disney Educational Series, Mickey in the Great Outdoors. Caverns of Mars would be re-released on cartrdige (previously: disk), and the APX title, Eastern Front (1941) (by Chris Crawford) would be be re-released in the main Atari product line, on cartridge. The CX22 Trak-Ball was introduced, marketed for the 2600 but compatible with the 400/800/1200XL. January 15: At San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel, Atari awarded the second annual Atari Star Award and US$25,000 to David Buehler for his APX title, Typo Attack. January: Atari began production of the 1200XL (made in the USA). Winter: Atari shipped the AtariWriter cartridge. AtariWriter was programmed by William V. Robinson (author of DataSoft's Text Wizard) with Mark Rieley for DataSoft, for product manager Gary Furr at Atari. Winter/Spring: "Computers: Expressway to Tomorrow" was an Atari-produced assembly program for junior and senior high schools in the U.S., offering both entertainment and computer education using films, slides, music, and a live host to explore the role of computers in society. (MC's note: I remember that this came to my school!) March: Atari shipped the 1200XL, suggested retail price US$899. March 18-20: At the 8th Annual West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco, Atari announced the 1050 disk drive, and Atari Logo (developed by Logo Computer Systems, Inc. (LCSI) for Atari). April: Atari announced that Michael Moone would no longer serve as president of the Consumer Electronics Division, as the division would be consolidated with the Home Computer Division. April/May: Production of the 1200XL shifted from the USA to Taiwan. May: Production of Atari 400/800 computers and 810 disk drives ended. May: The retail price for the Atari 400 was reduced from US$199 to US$99. June 1: Atari consolidated the businesses of the Home Computer Division with the Consumer Electronics (home video games) Division. There would now be three Divisions for both home computers and home video games: - Atari Products Company (development & marketing, John Cavalier, president) - Atari Sales and Distribution Company (Donald Kingsborough, president) - Atari Manufacturing Company (Paul Malloy, president) June: Atari introduced the 600XL and 800XL home computers at the Summer CES in Chicago. Retail prices would be $199/600XL and $299/800XL. The 400/800/1200XL would be discontinued. (The 1400XL and 1450XLD computers were also introduced, but these never made it into production.) Peripherals introduced: 1050 disk drive, 1027 printer, 1030 modem, Light Pen + AtariGraphics, Touch Tablet + AtariArtist, Remote Control Wireless Joysticks, CX80 Trak-Ball, CX60 Ultimate Super Joystick (eventually shipped as the CX24), AtariLab Starter Set With Temperature Module, AtariLab Light Module (AtariLab developed by Dickinson College). Software introduced by Atari: DOS 3, Logo, Microsoft BASIC II, Pole Position, Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong Junior, Pengo, Robotron: 2084, Joust, Football, Tennis, Paint, AtariMusic I, AtariMusic II. Battlezone was announced. (Also introduced or announced but never shipped: the 1060 CP/M Add-On Module, the 1090 XL Expansion System, Superman III, Soccer, Tempest, Xevious, Peter Pan's Daring Journey or Peter Pan's Daring Escape (Disney; later renamed: Captain Hook's Revenge), The Mysteries of Wonderland (Disney), Star Trux, and the AtariLab Modules: Timekeeper, Lie Detector, Reaction Time, Heartbeat, Biofeedback, Mechanics) The 600XL had been known as "Surely" and the 800XL had been known as "Surely Plus" inside Atari. June 11-Sept 10: Atari co-sponsored the Punta Cana Club Med/Atari Computer vacation getaway on the island of Hispaniola in the Dominican Republic. Summer: Second year of Atari Computer Camps, held at seven sites nationwide (U.S.): Greenfield MA, Faribault MN, East Stroudsburg PA, Asheville NC, Glencoe MD, Danville CA, and San Diego CA. Summer: Atari released the Atari 400 Home Computer 48K RAM Expansion Kit, compatible with both the 8K and 16K versions of the 400. $130 installed at Atari Regional Repair Centers, or $110 from APX. July 7: Warner Communications announced that Atari chairman Ray Kassar had resigned, to be replaced by James J. Morgan. Morgan was previously executive vice president of Philip Morris USA, handling the company's US$4.3 billion cigarette operations. Until Morgan's arrival, Emanuel Gerard would serve as interim chairman and CEO. July: Production of the Atari 1200XL computer ended. August: Atari Chairman-to-be James Morgan instituted another major management reorganization at Atari. Atari Sales and Distribution Company and Atari Manufacturing Company were both dissolved, their functions to be merged into the Atari Products Company division (home computers and home video game systems), with 5 divisions of its own: - Atari Products Company (no division head) - - Management (marketing) (John Cavalier, president) - - Sales (Donald Kingsborough, president) - - Manufacturing (Paul Malloy, president) - - Engineering (John Farrand, president) - - International (Anton Bruehl, president) The presidents of all Atari Products Co. divisions would report directly to Morgan. Sept83-June84: The "Catch On to Computers" program, a joint effort between Atari and General Foods' Post Cereals, offered Atari computers, equipment, and educational software to schools for collecting Post cereal proof-of-purchase points over the 1983-1984 school year. September: Ted Kahn stepped down as executive director of the Atari Institute for Educational Action Research. More than US$1 million worth of computers, software, and cash stipends had been awarded to over 100 nonprofit organizations since the program's founding in 1981. September: Atari International (U.K.) announced The Loan Raider. September: The Atari 800 (with 48K RAM, without Atari BASIC) would now retail for US$165 while supplies lasted. Fall: Atari begin shipping the 1050 disk drive with DOS 3 (replacing DOS 2.0S). Fall: The Atari 600XL/800XL both shipped, retail price US$199/$299. Fall: Atari shipped the Communicator II package, containing the 835 modem. October 7: John Cavalier departed from his position as president of the Management (marketing) division of the Atari Products Company. October: Atari launched Atari Learning Systems, a new division dedicated to product development, sales, and support for K-12 educators in the U.S. Directed by Linda Gordon. October: Atari France launched the "L'Atarien" magazine, issue 0 (pilot ?), the "magazine of the Atari Club". In its first issues, the magazine was mostly centered on the 2600 VCS and 400/800 computers, but the focus quickly shifted to the XL computers in the next issues. Officially the magazine was issued by "Rive Ouest - Cato Johnson France" on behalf of "PECF Atari France" (Issue #0, Page 3). "PECF" was the nickname of the company "Productions et Editions Cinematographiques Francaises", a company 100% owned by Warner Communications. October-December: "Catch on to Computers" computer literacy training programs for children, adults, and teachers, sponsored by Atari and General Mills' Post Cereals, ran in 10 cities across the U.S. November: Atari announced that because of production snags in Hong Kong, it would be able to fill only 60 per cent of its Christmas orders for the 600XL/ 800XL. Atari also said that the 1400XL and 1450XLD would not ship until 1984. November: Atari opened the Atari Adventure center in St. Louis, MO. The concept combined a traditional video game arcade with a hands-on public computer classroom/lab featuring Atari XL computers, along with a new technology display area. "Atari sold roughly 250,000 of its 800 series computers last year" - Time magazine, July 16, 1984 1984 January 1: Atari increased U.S. dealer prices for the Atari 600XL and 800XL by US$40 each, to US$180 and US$280, respectively. January 7-10: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced: the 1064 Memory Module (for the 600XL), The Atari Translator, Moon Patrol, Jungle Hunt, Millipede, Sky Writer, SynFile+, SynCalc, SynTrend, The Legacy (shipped as Final Legacy), Player Maker, Screen Maker. The APX title, Typo Attack would be re-released on cartridge as part of Atari's standard product line. (Atari confirmed that the unshipped 1400XL computer was canceled. Atari CEO James Morgan said the unshipped Atari 1450XLD was "exhibited only as a demonstration of the company's intent to market a high-end computer in 1984, although the specifics of such a product are currently under review." --Creative Computing May 1984.) (Software introduced by Atari but never shipped: Atari Pascal 2.0, Atari Super PILOT, Captain Hook's Revenge, Berserk, Pop'R Spell, Mario Bros. (a completely rewritten Mario Bros. was ultimately released in 1989)) January 14: At San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel, Atari awarded the third annual Atari Star Award and US$25,000 to Mark Reid for his APX title, Getaway!. January 23: Atari chairman and CEO James Morgan announced another management reorganization at Atari. John Farrand was promoted to president of Atari, and would also now serve as president and COO of the Atari Products Company (home computers, home video games, and now coin-operated arcade games). February: Atari 5200 production ended. March: Fred Thorlin, director of APX since its 1982 inception, left Atari. March 22-25: At the 9th West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco Atari's exhibit included the APX title, Equestrian. (ROM #6) Spring: I/O Issue Five turned out to be the final issue of Input/Output, the magazine of the Atari Home Computer Club (Atari International (U.K.)). April: Atari shut down the APX operation. Software rights were returned to the original authors. May 8: In an elaborate press event, Atari and Lucasfilm introduced Ballblazer and Rescue on Fractalus!, developed by Lucasfilm, to be shipped by Atari on cartridge for the 400/800 computers and the 5200 SuperSystem. (The Atari computer versions were finally shipped on disk by Epyx (USA) and Activision (UK) in 1985. The 5200 versions were finally released by Atari Corp. in 1986.) May 21: Atari disclosed that the 5200 was no longer in production. More than 1 million 5200's had been sold to date. (Washington Post, May 22, 1984, C3) June 3-6: Atari motto at the Summer CES in Chicago: "June 3, 1984--The Day The Future Began." (The previously announced then cancelled 1450XLD, or some new model similar to it, was now to ship in time for Christmas 1984. The 1090 XL Expansion System was shown again, and Atari also offered specs for a new high- end computer under development. None of these shipped.) Atari introduced: Proofreader (for AtariWriter), Track and Field, Crystal Castles. Atari also introduced The Last Starfighter, which was ultimately re-worked and shipped as Star Raiders II in 1986. (Also introduced by Atari but never shipped: MindLink hardware device, Jr. Pac-Man, Peek-A-Boo, Hobgoblin, This Is Ground Control, Through the Starbridge, Find It!, Elevator Action, Yaacov Agam's Interactive Painting, The ABC of CPR: First Aid, Wheeler-Dealer, Simulated Computer, Telly Turtle, Word Tutor, Letter Tutor, Gremlins, Pole Position II) June: Atari France announced the SECAM model of the 800XL. (The SECAM 600XL was also announced, but this never made it into production.) List prices: 600XL PAL: 2200 FRF ; 600XL SECAM: 2500 FRF ; 800XL PAL: 3200 FRF ; 800XL SECAM: 3500 FRF ; 1010: 890 FRF ; 1050: 3690 FRF ; 1020: 2590 FRF; 1027: 3490 FRF ; Atari Touch Tablet: 890 FRF July 1-August 25: Third and final year of Atari Computer Camps. Camps were held at two locations: "Camp Atari-Poconos" (East Stroudsburg State College) in East Stroudsburg PA, and "Camp Atari-New England" (Stoneleigh-Burnham School) in Greenfield MA. Patricia Tubbs was Project Manager at Atari. July 1: Agreed on this date, effective June 30, the assets of the Atari home computer and home video game businesses were sold by Warner Communications to Tramel Technology Ltd., which had been formed on May 17, 1984 by its chairman and CEO Jack Tramiel (pronounced truh-MELL), the founder and former president of Commodore International. The transaction included exclusive use of the "Atari" name and "Fuji" logo in the home computer and home video game markets, along with the intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, and copyrights) owned by Atari in conjunction with its home computer and home video game businesses. The home computer and home video game rights to Atari coin-operated arcade games developed to date were included as well. Tramel Technology adopted the new name, Atari Corporation. Jack Tramiel would continue as chairman and CEO, and (son) Sam Tramiel would serve as president. July: The new Atari Corp. halted all manufacturing, and dismissed most of its inherited Silicon Valley workforce, roughly 1,000 people. Upon a review of the existing product lines and inventories, it was determined to resume production of the 800XL computer and the 2600 VCS. The 600XL was discontinued, and further work on prototype new XL computer models was halted. There would be no new game releases for the already- discontinued 5200. (Atari would go on to release three 5200 titles in 1986). An unannounced new cost-reduced design for the 2600 was also shelved. (This "2600jr" would finally be released in 1986.) Atari Connection magazine was shut down. July 13: Warner Communications announced the sale of 78% of its WCI Labs subsidiary (internal co-developer of the Atari XL computers) to WCI Labs' management. As a result of the transaction, which was made effective retroactive to June 1, 1984, a new privately held company, the Take One Company, was formed, with Steven T. Mayer as chairman and chief executive. Warner Communications initially retained 22% ownership of Take One. August: Atari engineers completed the prototype "800XLF" motherboard design, to be used in new-production 800XL computers. The new 800XL machines would include the new FREDDIE memory management chip (previously developed at Atari, Inc.), the new Revision C of Atari BASIC, and a reinstated chrominance video signal on the Monitor port (missing on the 1200XL/600XL/800XL produced by Atari, Inc.). The new 800XL machines would be produced in PAL and (for the first time, France-specific) SECAM versions, but not the NTSC version due to ample existing supply of NTSC 800XL machines. August: Atari reduced the retail price for the 800XL from US$250 to US$179. November 13: Atari held a press conference at company headquarters in Sunnyvale, CA in which they outlined their basic marketing strategy for 1985. The U.S. price for the 800XL was reduced from US$179 to US$119. December 6: It was reported that Atari would make an immediate 23 per cent reduction to DM 499 (US$160) in the price of its 800XL home computer in West Germany and similar cuts in the UK and Italy. Atari estimated the company's share of the West German home computer market at 8%, compared with 2% in 1983. In the UK, the 800XL price cut was from 169 to 129 pounds. December: Atari France announced the new prices of the XL computers range: 600XL PAL: 1599 FRF ; 800XL PAL: 2199 FRF ; 800XL SECAM: 2499 FRF; 1010: 449 FRF ; 1050: 2699 FRF ; 1020: 899 FRF ; 1027: 3399 FRF; Atari Touch Tablet: 649 FRF December: Atari France resumed L'Atarien magazine with issue #5. (It had been on hold since issue #4, June 1984.) December: Atari engineers completed the prototype "900XLF" motherboard design, to be used in the forthcoming 65XE computer. "The 800XL has sold almost 500,000 units through 1984" --Atari's Sigmund Hartmann, Atari Explorer magazine, Summer 1985, p. 33. "By the end of 1984, the Atari 800XL will have sold more than 600,000 units since its introduction more than a year ago, according to Kenneth Lim of Dataquest, a market research firm in San Jose." InfoWorld January 7/14, 1985 1985 January 5-8: Atari introduced the 65XE and 130XE home computers at the Winter CES in Las Vegas. (The 65XEP and 65XEM computers were announced, but these never made it into production.) The 800XL would be discontinued. XE peripherals introduced: the XMM801 and XDM121 printers and the XM301 modem. XE Software introduced: AtariWriter Plus, Silent Butler, Song Painter (later renamed Music Painter), The Learning Phone (PLATO). (Also introduced but never shipped: the XTM201 and XTC201 printers, the XC1411 and XM128 monitors, and the XF521 disk drive. XE Software: Infinity (integrated word processor/ spreadsheet/database/telecomm software, developed for Atari by Matrix Software / Vincent Garafolo), Shopkeeper, Atari Tutorial). Epyx introduced Ballblazer and Rescue on Fractalus for the Atari 8-bit computers, both announced but not shipped by the old Atari, Inc. Winter: Atari shipped the The Learning Phone cartridge, designed at Atari by Vincent Wu. Atari access software for the PLATO Service Network (Control Data Corporation) had been in development at Atari since 1981. February: First issue of Atari Explorer magazine, the glossy published by Atari (U.S.) Corp. in support of the XE and ST computers. Headed by Neil Harris. February: The new "L'Atarien" magazine was now issued by "Pressimages" on behalf of "PECF Atari France" (Issue #6, Page 3). February: Retail prices from Atari France: 800XL SECAM: 1700 FRF ; 1050: 2600 FRF ; 1027: 2600 FRF March 5: At the San Leandro Computer Club Atari announced that they had "postponed plans to produce an 8-bit portable computer, due to lack of interest." Also, "plans for an XEM 8-bit music computer have been postponed indefinitely due to problems with finalizing the AMY sound chip." (The AMY chip had been developed at Atari, Inc. Atari Corp. now owned the technology, but had not retained the original design team. Thus, the new plan to integrate AMY into the XE system, as the announced 65XEM computer, turned out to be prohibitively expensive. Atari ultimately sold the AMY chip and technologies to a Milwaukee based audio design house called Sight & Sound. See: http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8bits/xe/xe_protos/65xem.html ) John Skruch was introduced as software product manager for the 8-bit XE line. (CN, Apr85, p. 19) April: Atari shipped the 130XE, retail price US$149.95. (The 65XE was temporarily held out of the U.S. market due to ample supply of the 800XL.) April: Atari France announced the availability of the Atari 1029 printer. The price was not announced. April/May: Atari began shipping the 1050 disk drive with DOS 2.5 (replacing DOS 3). June: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced Planetarium (prototypes sometimes called Home Astronomer). (Atari also introduced VIP Professional and GEM Desktop for the XE, but these never shipped.) DataSoft re-introduced 3 titles for the XE previously shipped by Atari: Pole Position, Pac-Man, and Dig Dug. June: Atari France retail price for the 130XE SECAM: 1990 FRF Fall: Atari shipped the disk-based AtariWriter Plus. Designed and programmed from scratch by William Robinson (the core word processor), Ron Rosen (Mail Merge module), and R. Stanley Kistler (Proofreader module) for Micro Fantasy, for Atari. Manual by Jeffrey D. Bass. Package included a version for 48K/64K Atari computers as well as a version supporting the 128K RAM of the 130XE. Fall: Atari shipped the XM301 modem. November 15: Atari announced the creation of an electronic entertainment division, to be headed by Michael V. Katz, formerly head of Epyx. November: At the fall COMDEX in Las Vegas Atari again showed the XMM801, The Silent Butler, and Atari Planetarium, each to ship by Christmas. 1986 January 9: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced Star Raiders II for the XE, and also announced (but did not show) the XC11 program recorder. A redesigned version of the 2600 (unofficially, "2600 Jr."; previously designed by Atari, Inc.) was introduced. February: Cover date of Issue #10, the final issue of L'Atarien magazine from Atari France. February: Atari France retail prices: 130XE SECAM: 1490 FRF ; 1010: 490 FRF ; 1050: 1490 FRF ; 1029: 1490 FRF March: Database Exhibitions staged the first Atari User Show at the Novotel in Hammersmith, London, UK. (Atari User May 1988) March: At the Hanover Fair, Germany, Atari introduced a working prototype of what would ultimately ship as the XEP80 interface, and they also described a new DOS, which was later named ADOS, and which ultimately shipped as DOS XE. (Atari also introduced plans for a 3.5" disk drive (the XF351) but this never shipped.) Spring: Atari shipped the 65XE, retail price US$99.95. April 28-May 1: Atari introduced a working prototype of what would ultimately ship as the SX212 modem at the Spring COMDEX (Computer Dealer's Exhibition) in Atlanta. Atari also announced that the 80 Column Card would be out "late this summer." (Atari also reiterated plans for a 3.5" disk drive (the XF351) but this never shipped.) June 1: Atari announced that David H. Ahl was the new editor of Atari Explorer magazine. June 1-4: Atari introduced the XEP80 interface at the Summer CES in Chicago. Also featured: Atari Planetarium, Star Raiders II, and the XMM801. Summer: Bob Gleadow, previously of Commodore, became the new general manager of Atari UK. Max Bambridge, the outgoing head of Atari UK, was transferred to the Far East to oversee Atari manufacturing. (Atari User May 1988) Sept/Oct: First issue of Atari Explorer magazine produced by the new subsidiary, Atari Explorer Publications Corp. of Mendham, NJ, headed by David H. Ahl, founder and former editor of Creative Computing magazine. 1987 January 8: Atari previewed the XE game system at the Winter CES in Las Vegas. February: Atari introduced the XE video game system at the American International TOY FAIR in New York. June: "Flying High" was Atari's motto at the Summer CES in Chicago. Atari introduced the XF551 and ADOS (renamed DOS XE when shipped), AtariWriter 80, and SX Express!. Atari introduced the two pack-in games for the XE game system, Bug Hunt (proto names had been Troubleshooter or Blast 'Em) and Flight Simulator II. Atari announced that they would be re-releasing many of their own 400/800/XL/XE cartridge titles for the XE, including Battlezone, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and the former disk title, Star Raiders II. Atari also announced many new Atari XE cartridge titles, including Crossbow, Hardball!, Fight Night, One-On-One Basketball, Archon, Ballblazer, Rescue on Fractalus, Lode Runner, Blue Max, David's Midnight Magic, Gato, and Barnyard Blaster. Summer: Atari shipped the XDM121 printer. September: Atari shipped the XEP80 interface and the SX212 modem. (The SX Express! disk software package for use with the SX212 would be sold separately, later.) Fall: Atari shipped the XE game system in late September, and it reached most dealer shelves by mid-October, retail price US$150. Package included: Missile Command and Atari BASIC on ROM, keyboard, Joystick, Light Gun, Bug Hunt cartridge and Flight Simulator II cartridge. December: Atari sold 100,000 XE Game Systems in the U.S. at Christmas and did not meet demand (Antic magazine, May 1988, p. 39) December 31: From the Atari Annual Report: "In Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, and Poland the Atari 800XE and 65XE computers have gained brand dominance and are among the most popular systems being sold in these countries." Atari game cartridges re-released by Atari in 1987: Caverns of Mars, Centipede, Donkey Kong Jr., Eastern Front (1941), Final Legacy, Football, Galaxian, Joust, Millipede, Moon Patrol, Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Man, Pole Position, Super Breakout, Tennis 1988 January: Optimized Systems Software (OSS) was merged into ICD. Winter: Atari shipped 12 new XE game cartridges: Archon, Ballblazer, Barnyard Blaster, BattleZone, Blue Max, David's Midnight Magic, Fight Night, HardBall, Lode Runner, One-On-One Basketball, Rescue on Fractalus, Star Raiders II April: Atari shipped the XF551 disk drive (with DOS 2.5). May: Sam Tramiel became CEO of Atari (replacing father Jack Tramiel). Sam Tramiel would also continue as president. Jack Tramiel remained chairman. June: Atari promoted the XE game system at the Summer CES in Chicago, under their "Winning Package" theme. Summer: Atari shipped the new XE game cartridge, Gato. Fall: Atari opened an office of the Entertainment Electronics Division in Chicago, headed by Larry Siegel, vice president of software development. Mike Katz, based in Sunnyvale, remained president of the Entertainment Electronics Division. Fall?: Atari shipped the new XE game cartridge, Necromancer. December 31: From the Atari Annual Report: "Our XE line of 8-bit computer systems is extremely popular throughout Eastern Europe, and most recently, has begun to appear on retail shelves in the Soviet Union." Atari game cartridges re-released by Atari in 1988: Donkey Kong, Super Breakout. Atari also re-released the AtariWriter cartridge in 1988. 1989 January: Atari shipped DOS XE, and also began shipping the XF551 disk drive with DOS XE (replacing DOS 2.5). Developed by Bill Wilkinson for Atari. January: Atari shipped 6 new XE game cartridges: Ace of Aces, Desert Falcon, Mario Bros., Crystal Castles, Thunderfox, Into the Eagle's Nest February: Mike Katz departed from Atari as president of the Entertainment Electronics division. February: Atari shipped 3 new XE game cartridges: Crime Buster, Dark Chambers, Choplifter Spring: Atari shipped 5 new XE game cartridges: Food Fight, Karateka, Crossbow, Airball, Summer Games May/June: Premier issue of Atarian magazine, "the official magazine of the Atarian Video Game Club sponsored by Atari (U.S.) Corp." Published by Atari Explorer Publications, David H. Ahl, Publisher/Editor. Summer: Atari shipped AtariWriter 80, programmed by William Robinson and Ron Rosen for Micro Fantasy. The package included Proofreader (programmed by R. Stanley Kistler) and Mail Merge modules, and required the XEP80 interface. Like AtariWriter Plus, the package included a version for 48K/64K Atari computers as well as a version supporting the 128K RAM of the 130XE. October: Third and final issue of Atarian magazine. December 31: From the Atari Annual Report: "sales of games products such as the 2600 and 7800 game systems and the range of older XE 8 bit computers decreased by 35% to $101.6 million, or 24% of total net sales for the year ended December 31, 1989, from $155.5 million, or 34%, of total net sales in 1988." From the Atari 10-K: "The Company's traditional video game offerings include the 2600 VCS, the 7800 ProSystem, and the XE Game System." 1990 March 15: Atari Explorer Publications was shut down, and Atari Explorer magazine went on hiatus. May?: At the Atari shareholders meeting, Atari stated that last year, 250,000 XE computers were sold. In Poland, the XE sold 70,000 units, making it the most popular computer in Poland. (Atari Interface, June/July 1990, p. 6) 1991 Jan/Feb: Return of Atari Explorer magazine, now headed by John Jainschigg and published in-house at Atari. May: "Atari Canada's General Manager Geoff Earle announces a new trade up program for owners of Atari 8-bit computers to a 520STFM for $250. The 8-bit computer line is admitted to be discontinued." (AtariUser Jan'92, p. 20) May 14: At the Atari shareholders meeting, Atari stated that the XE was still in production, being sold in South America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. (Atari Interface magazine, June 1991, p. 10) November 23-24: Chicago Computerfest by Atari / Lake County Atari Computer Enthusiasts (LCACE), Ramada Hotel O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois. Atari (U.S.) brought substantially all of their remaining inventory of 8-bit computer products for clearance sales. December: "..as of Christmas 1991, Atari decided to discontinue the XEGS, 2600, and 7800 systems." --Tim Duarte, AtariUser magazine, July 1992, p. 22. December 28: From the Atari 10-K SEC filing: "Atari's XE series computers are targeted for the price conscious markets. The 65XE and 130XE have 64k and 128k of internal RAM, and generally retail for less than $100 and $150, respectively. Both are supported by a variety of peripheral equipment and a variety of software titles including entertainment software. This computer line retains compatibility with the Company's previous generation 8-bit computer systems, i.e., the 400 and 800XL computers." 1992 Atari announced that support for all 8-bit products was discontinued as of the beginning of this year, according to Atari Classics magazine. (Dec. 1992, p.4) June 2: At the Atari stockholders meeting, Atari stated that the XE line of computers was still being made. Though not available in the U.S. market, XE systems were being made for sale in Mexico, South America, Eastern Europe and Germany. (Atari Interface magazine, Fall 1992, p. 19) December 31: For the first time, the XE was not mentioned in Atari's Annual Report to Shareholders. 1993 Jan/Feb: Final issue of Atari Explorer magazine. November?: Rights to ICD (including OSS) products for the 8-bit Atari were purchased by Fine Tooned Engineering (FTe / Mike Hohman) 1994 January 1: From the Atari Annual Report: "The Company also has some inventory of its older 16-bit computer products and 8-bit game products, namely ST and TT series of computers, 2600 and 7800 video games systems and XE computer and Portfolio products. As a result of these inventories being technologically obsolete and noncompetitive, the Company has written off these inventories. The Company is expecting minimal sales from these products in the future." 1996 July 30: Atari Corp. merged with JT Storage, Inc. into a new company, JTS Acquisition Corp. The merged company immediately adopted the new name, JTS Corp. The prior business of Atari would now be conducted through the Atari Division of JTS; however "the Atari Division was not expected to represent a significant portion of JTS business," JTS said. 1998 February 23: JTS sold substantially all of the assets of its Atari Division, consisting primarily of the Atari intellectual property rights and license agreements, to HIAC XI Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive (itself a unit of toy company Hasbro, Inc.), for US$5 million. HIAC XI was then renamed Atari Interactive, Inc. 2001 January 29: Infogrames Entertainment announced completion of its acquisition of Hasbro Interactive from Hasbro, renaming the subsidiary Infogrames Interactive, Inc. Atari Interactive was included in the transaction. 2003 May 7: Infogrames Entertainment folded its Infogrames Interactive (the former Hasbro Interactive) subsidiary into its Atari Interactive subsidiary. 2009 May 29: The name of Infogrames Entertainment was changed to Atari. TODAY: The Atari copyrights/trademarks/patents associated with the 400/800/XL/XE 8-bit Atari computer line are owned by Atari Interactive, Inc., a subsidiary of Atari, SA of Lyon, France. http://corporate.atari.com/ =================================================================== End of atari-8-bit/faq =================================================================== ster, BattleZone, Blue Max, David's Midnight Magic, Fight Night, HardBall, Lode Runner, One-On-One Basketball, Rescue on Fractalus, Star Raiders II April: Atari shipped the XF551 disk drive (with DOS 2.5). May: Sam Tramiel became CEO of Atari (replacing father Jack Tramiel). Sam Tramiel would also continue as president. Jack Tramiel remained chairman. June: Atari promoted the XE game system at the Summer CES in Chicago, under their "Winning Package" theme. Summer: Atari shipped the new XE game cartridge, Gato. Fall: Atari opened an office of the Entertainment Electronics Division in Chicago, headed by Larry Siegel, vice president of software development. Mike Katz, based in Sunnyvale, remained president of the Entertainment Electronics Division. Fall?: Atari shipped the new XE game cartridge, Necromancer. October 1, 1988 through September 30, 1989: "Atari Advantage" promotion program by Atari (U.S.) for the 2600, 7800, and XE. Collect 5 cartridges for a free Atari T-shirt; 15 cartridges for a free cartridge; or 25 cartridges for a 7800 for $25 or for an XE system or XE disk drive for $50, and "enter an essay writing contest to win an expense-paid 7-day/6-night trip for you and a guest to California. Visit some of California's top tourist attractions including a day at Atari headquarters (near San Francisco) to see how video games are designed." November: Atari (U.S.) announced the availability of the XG-1 Light Gun/ Bug Hunt package. (The package never did ship in the U.S. The loose XES2001 XG-1 Light Gun without Bug Hunt did ship in the U.S. in 1989.) November/December: Atari (U.S.) offered a $50 consumer rebate on the purchase of the XE game system. December 31: From the Atari Annual Report: "Our XE line of 8-bit computer systems is extremely popular throughout Eastern Europe, and most recently, has begun to appear on retail shelves in the Soviet Union." Atari game cartridges re-released by Atari in 1988: Donkey Kong, Super Breakout. Atari also re-released the AtariWriter cartridge in 1988. 1989 January: Atari shipped DOS XE, and also began shipping the XF551 disk drive with DOS XE (replacing DOS 2.5). Developed by Bill Wilkinson for Atari. January: Atari shipped 6 new XE game cartridges: Ace of Aces, Desert Falcon, Mario Bros., Crystal Castles, Thunderfox, Into the Eagle's Nest February: Mike Katz departed from Atari as president of the Entertainment Electronics division. February: Atari shipped 3 new XE game cartridges: Crime Buster, Dark Chambers, Choplifter Spring: Atari shipped 5 new XE game cartridges: Food Fight, Karateka, Crossbow, Airball, Summer Games May/June: Premier issue of Atarian magazine, "the official magazine of the Atarian Video Game Club sponsored by Atari (U.S.) Corp." Published by Atari Explorer Publications, David H. Ahl, Publisher/Editor. Summer: Atari shipped AtariWriter 80, programmed by William Robinson and Ron Rosen for Micro Fantasy. The package included Proofreader (programmed by R. Stanley Kistler) and Mail Merge modules, and required the XEP80 interface. Like AtariWriter Plus, the package included a version for 48K/64K Atari computers as well as a version supporting the 128K RAM of the 130XE. October: Third and final issue of Atarian magazine. December 31: From the Atari Annual Report: "sales of games products such as the 2600 and 7800 game systems and the range of older XE 8 bit computers decreased by 35% to $101.6 million, or 24% of total net sales for the year ended December 31, 1989, from $155.5 million, or 34%, of total net sales in 1988." From the Atari 10-K: "The Company's traditional video game offerings include the 2600 VCS, the 7800 ProSystem, and the XE Game System." 1990 March 15: Atari Explorer Publications was shut down, and Atari Explorer magazine went on hiatus. May?: At the Atari shareholders meeting, Atari stated that last year, 250,000 XE computers were sold. In Poland, the XE sold 70,000 units, making it the most popular computer in Poland. (Atari Interface, June/July 1990, p. 6) 1991 Jan/Feb: Return of Atari Explorer magazine, now headed by John Jainschigg and published in-house at Atari. May: "Atari Canada's General Manager Geoff Earle announces a new trade up program for owners of Atari 8-bit computers to a 520STFM for $250. The 8-bit computer line is admitted to be discontinued." (AtariUser Jan'92, p. 20) May 14: At the Atari shareholders meeting, Atari stated that the XE was still in production, being sold in South America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. (Atari Interface magazine, June 1991, p. 10) November 23-24: Chicago Computerfest by Atari / Lake County Atari Computer Enthusiasts (LCACE), Ramada Hotel O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois. Atari (U.S.) brought substantially all of their remaining inventory of 8-bit computer products for clearance sales. December: "..as of Christmas 1991, Atari decided to discontinue the XEGS, 2600, and 7800 systems." --Tim Duarte, AtariUser magazine, July 1992, p. 22. December 28: From the Atari 10-K SEC filing: "Atari's XE series computers are targeted for the price conscious markets. The 65XE and 130XE have 64k and 128k of internal RAM, and generally retail for less than $100 and $150, respectively. Both are supported by a variety of peripheral equipment and a variety of software titles including entertainment software. This computer line retains compatibility with the Company's previous generation 8-bit computer systems, i.e., the 400 and 800XL computers." 1992 Atari announced that support for all 8-bit products was discontinued as of the beginning of this year, according to Atari Classics magazine. (Dec. 1992, p.4) June 2: At the Atari stockholders meeting, Atari stated that the XE line of computers was still being made. Though not available in the U.S. market, XE systems were being made for sale in Mexico, South America, Eastern Europe and Germany. (Atari Interface magazine, Fall 1992, p. 19) December 31: For the first time, the XE was not mentioned in Atari's Annual Report to Shareholders. 1993 Jan/Feb: Final issue of Atari Explorer magazine. November?: Rights to ICD (including OSS) products for the 8-bit Atari were purchased by Fine Tooned Engineering (FTe / Mike Hohman) 1994 January 1: From the Atari Annual Report: "The Company also has some inventory of its older 16-bit computer products and 8-bit game products, namely ST and TT series of computers, 2600 and 7800 video games systems and XE computer and Portfolio products. As a result of these inventories being technologically obsolete and noncompetitive, the Company has written off these inventories. The Company is expecting minimal sales from these products in the future." 1996 July 30: Atari Corp. merged with JT Storage, Inc. into a new company, JTS Acquisition Corp. The merged company immediately adopted the new name, JTS Corp. The prior business of Atari would now be conducted through the Atari Division of JTS; however "the Atari Division was not expected to represent a significant portion of JTS business," JTS said. 1998 February 23: JTS sold substantially all of the assets of its Atari Division, consisting primarily of the Atari intellectual property rights and license agreements, to HIAC XI Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive (itself a unit of toy company Hasbro, Inc.), for US$5 million. HIAC XI was then renamed Atari Interactive, Inc. 2001 January 29: Infogrames Entertainment announced completion of its acquisition of Hasbro Interactive from Hasbro, renaming the subsidiary Infogrames Interactive, Inc. Atari Interactive was included in the transaction. 2003 May 7: Infogrames Entertainment folded its Infogrames Interactive (the former Hasbro Interactive) subsidiary into its Atari Interactive subsidiary. 2009 May 29: The name of Infogrames Entertainment was changed to Atari. TODAY: The Atari copyrights/trademarks/patents associated with the 400/800/XL/XE 8-bit Atari computer line are owned by Atari Interactive, Inc., a subsidiary of Atari, SA of Lyon, France. http://corporate.atari.com/ =================================================================== End of atari-8-bit/faq =================================================================== SIC to the CES (in Las Vegas) in January, 1979, and then switch BASICs later. December: SMI delivered working versions of BASIC and a disk FMS to Atari. 1979 January: Atari (Consumer) introduced the Atari 800 and Atari 400 Personal Computer Systems at the Winter CES in Las Vegas. The 800 would ship with 8K RAM (user-expandable in 8K or 16K increments to 48K) and retail for US$1,000; the 400 would come standard with 8K RAM and retail for US$500. The computers were scheduled to ship in limited quantities in August 1979, with full availability later in the fall. Also introduced: the 410 program recorder, 810 disk drive, and 820 printer. Software introduced: Atari BASIC, Atari DOS. Coverage of the introduction of the Atari 400/800 from Creative Computing magazine: http://mcurrent.name/atari1979/ "Atari, by introducing its line of personal computers, is the first major consumer electronics manufacturer to demonstrate a commitment to the three paramount needs of both the consumer and retailer: Effective hardware, effective software and effective peripheral components." -- Michael Shea, Atari (Consumer) marketing vice president, quoted in Merchandising magazine January 1979. January: Atari ran an advertisement for the 400/800 on pp. 54-55 of Merchandising, vol. 4, no. 1, January 1979. See: http://mcurrent.name/atariads/gallery.htm for these and other early Atari computer print ads from 1979-1981. April: Crane/Kaplan/Miller finished their work on the Operating System for the Atari 400/800 computers. Spring?: Peter N. Rosenthal joined Atari (Consumer) as Director of Marketing, Personal Computer Systems. May 11-13: At the 4th West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco Atari again showed the Atari 400/800 computer systems, which were expected to ship within months. June: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari again showed the Atari 400/800 computers, which were expected to ship within weeks. The retail price for the 400 system would be US$550 (up from US$500). Also introduced: the Atari Talk & Teach Educational System, including the Master Cartridge and 17 cassette packs in the Cassette Courseware series (4 tapes per pack; 4 lessons per tape; developed by Dorsett Educational Systems for Atari). More software titles introduced: Basketball, Super Breakout, Computer Chess. August: Atari received FCC Type I approval for the 400/800 computers (as well as the 410 program recorder). The Atari 400/800 were the only personal computers to ever comply with this stringent requirement against any RF interference, before the FCC subsequently relaxed the rules. August: "The first official small shipment of the 400/800 was on August 29th 1979. These were hand-built pilot run units to Sears that needed to be in stock by Sept. 1 so they could be placed in the big fall catalog. The units were placed in the Sears warehouse and then immediately returned to Atari after the "in stock" requirement had been met." --Jerry Jessop September 4: The New York Times reported on p. D7, "Atari Inc., the maker of home video games, will introduce two new personal computer systems in the fall. The inaugural ad campaign, created by Doyle Dane Bernbach, will break in October in 12 national publications. TV commercials will also be aired in Los Angeles in November and December." September: In what was likely the first 3rd-party print ad for Atari computer products, Computer Components ("of Orange County"; Westminster, CA) ran a two- page ad on pp. 32-33 of issue #16, September 1979, of MICRO: The 6502 Journal. Page 32 was devoted entirely to the complete Atari personal computers product line as then expected. See: http://mcurrent.name/micro_16_sep_1979_p32.pdf Atari 400 Personal Computer System ($549.99): Computer Console, BASIC Language Cartridge, BASIC Language Programming Manual (Wiley), 400 Operator's Manual with Note Book, Power Supply, TV Switch Box Atari 800 Personal Computer System ($999.99): Computer Console, BASIC Language Cartridge, Education System Master Cartridge, BASIC Language Programming Manual (Wiley), 800 Operator's Manual with Note Book, Atari 410 Program Recorder, Guide to BASIC Programming Cassette, 8K RAM Module, Power Supply, TV Switch Box Peripherals: 810 Disc Drive ($749.99), 820 Printer ($599.99), 410 Program Recorder($89.99) Accessories: CX8100 Blank Diskettes, CX8101 Disk File Manager, CX20-01 Driving Controller Pair, CX30-04 Paddle Controller Pair, CX40-04 Joystick Controller Pair, CX852 8K RAM Memory Module, CX853 16K RAM Memory Module Software titles: CXL4001 Education System Master Cartridge, CXL4004 Basketball, CXL4005 Life (shipped as Video Easel), CXL4006 Super Breakout, CX4008 Super Bug (programmed by Joe Decuir; to be used with Driving Controller; not completed), CXL4002 Atari BASIC, CXL4003 Assembler Debug (shipped as Assembler Editor), CXL4007 Music Composer, CXL4009 Computer Chess, CX4101 Guide to BASIC Programming (shipped as An Invitation to Programming 1: Fundamentals of BASIC Programming), CX4102 BASIC Game Programs (never shipped), and the following 17 Education System Cassette Programs (CX6001-CX6017): U.S. History, U.S. Government, Supervisory Skills, World History (Western), Basic Sociology, Counseling Procedures, Principles of Accounting, Physics, Great Classics (English), Business Communications, Basic Psychology, Effective Writing, Auto Mechanics, Principles of Economics, Spelling, Basic Electricity, Basic Algebra October: "Atari's production lines were stalled for about a week in October due to yield problems at one of its chip suppliers, Synertek. The low yields at the semiconductor manufacturer resulted in significantly reduced delivery of the MPU to Atari, resulting in about a 3-week delay in getting the computers into the marketplace." Electronic News, December 10, 1979, p. 83. November: "The first "real" consumer units were shipped in Nov. of '79 and were 400s to Sears followed very shortly by 800s." --Jerry Jessop November: Conrad Jutson joined Atari (Consumer) as Vice President-Sales & Marketing for Personal Computers. November/December: The initial Atari 400 personal computer package consisted of the 400 computer (8K RAM), 400 Operator's Manual, power supply, TV switch box, CXL4002 Atari BASIC (cartridge), Atari BASIC: A Self-Teaching Guide (book, see http://www.atariarchives.org/basic/), 3-ring binder. Package retail: US$549.99. November/December: The initial Atari 800 personal computer package consisted of the 800 computer with 8K RAM module, 800 Operator's Manual, power supply, TV switch box, 410 program recorder, CXL4001 Educational System Master Cartridge, CXL4002 Atari BASIC (cartridge), CX4101 An Invitation to Programming 1: Fundamentals of Programming (cassette), Atari BASIC: A Self- Teaching Guide (book, see http://www.atariarchives.org/basic/), 3-ring binder. Package retail: US$999.99. November/December: In addition to the $549.99 Atari 400 package, the Sears catalog also listed the 410 program recorder for $85.00, the Educational System Master Cartridge for $34.99, Basketball, Super Breakout, and Life (released as Video Easel) for $49.99 each, Music Composer for $69.99, Joystick pair for $19.99, Paddles pair for $19.99, and these 9 cassette titles for use with the Educational System Master Cartridge for $39.99 each: Basic Sociology, Basic Psychology, Spelling, History of Western World, Great Classics of Eng Lit, Principles of Economics, U.S. History, Principles of Accounting, Business Communications December: "Atari is funneling large quantities of its 400 and 800 personal computers and software to Sears, Roebuck, while retail computer stores have been faced with late hardware deliveries and received very little, if any, software. Sears is offering the Atari 400, priced at $549.99, through its catalog, and is spot-marketing the machine in its retail stores throughout California and the Chicago area. In addition, the firm is selling the Atari 800, priced at $999.99, in its California stores, but not through the catalog, a Sears spokesman said." Electronic News, December 10, 1979, p. 83. 1980 January: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced the 825 printer, 830 modem, and 850 interface. Software titles introduced: 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Star Raiders. Also, list prices for the 400 and 800 packages increased to US$630 and US$1,080 (up from US$550 and US$1,000). Winter: Atari shipped the 810 disk drive (with DOS I) and the 820 printer (US$449.95). March: Atari shipped Star Raiders. June 15: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced the: 815 dual disk drive with DOS 2.0D (never shipped in quantity), 822 printer, and CX70 light pen (never shipped in quantity). Atari also introduced 34 new software packages, including: TeleLink 1, the Atari Accountant series (by Arthur Young & Co.)--General Accounting System; Accounts Receivable System; Inventory Control Program, the Investment Analysis series (by Control Data)--Bond Analysis; Stock Analysis; Stock Charting; Mortgage & Loan Analysis, Conversational French, Conversational German, Conversational Spanish, Space Invaders (SoftSide Aug80). More: Mailing List, Energy Czar, Calculator, Touch Typing, Graph It. Previewed: Missile Command Summer: Atari modified the 800 computer package. The computer would now ship with 16K RAM (up from 8K); the 410 program recorder and Educational System Master Cartridge were removed from the package; the Atari BASIC Reference Manual was added to the package. The retail price remained US$1,080. Summer: Atari shipped the 825 printer (US$999.95), 830 modem, and 850 interface (US$219.95). September: Peter Rosenthal remained director of marketing for Atari computers. October 21: Roger H. Badertscher was named president of the newly established Computer Division at Atari. He was previously vice president and general manager of the microprocessor division of Signetics, an electronics semiconductor manufacturer. October: Visicorp introduced the Atari version of VisiCalc. Fall: Atari shipped the 822 printer (US$449.95). Atari reportedly lost $10 million on sales of computer equipment of $13 million in 1980 (InfoWorld 9/14/1981) Atari had sold 35,000 400/800 computers through 1980. (source?) 1981 January/February: First issue of A.N.A.L.O.G. 400/800 Magazine, published by Lee Pappas and Mike DesChenes. 4000 copies printed. January 8-11: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari announced that the list price for the 400 computer package with 8K RAM installed was reduced to US$499.95 (previously: US$630), and that the list price for the 16K RAM version of the 400 package would be US$630. Also introduced: Asteroids, Astrology (ultimately released via APX), Atari Word Processor, An Invitation to Programming 2, An Invitation to Programming 3, Missile Command, Personal Financial Management System, Personal Fitness Program (ultimately released via APX), PILOT, SCRAM (A Nuclear Reactor Simulation), Conversational Italian Winter: Atari released DOS II version 2.0S. February 25: The source code to Atari BASIC, the FMS component of Atari DOS 2.0S (DOS.SYS), and the Atari Assembler Editor were purchased from Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI) by Optimized Systems Software (OSS), headed by former SMI employees Bill Wilkinson and Mike Peters. Spring: First issue of The Atari Connection, the glossy magazine published by the Atari Computer Division in support of the 400/800. Spring: Keith Schaefer joined Atari (Computer division) as National Sales Manager. April 3-5: Atari Software Acquisition Program (ASAP) staff attended the 6th West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco, offering a grand prize of US$25,000 in cash and US$75,000 in Atari products to runners-up for Atari computer software authors. In order to qualify for the awards, programs would have to be accepted and sold through the soon-to-be-launched Atari Program Exchange. April 3-5: Also at the West Coast Computer Faire, Optimized Systems Software (OSS) introduced BASIC A+, CP/A (would ship as: OS/A+), and EASMD (enhanced, disk-based versions of Atari BASIC, Atari DOS 2.0S and Atari Assembler Editor, respectively). May 4-7: At the National Computer Conference in Chicago, Atari announced that the 8K Atari 400 was being discontinued and that the price on the 16K version was being reduced to US$399 (was US$630); also, the 400 would no longer be sold with the Atari BASIC cartridge and the Atari BASIC: A Self-Teaching Guide book. Other price reductions: CX852 8K RAM module now US$49.95 (was US$124.95), CX853 16K RAM module now US$99.95 (was US$199.95), 820 printer now US$299.95 (was US$449.95). Also introduced: Dow Jones Investment Evaluator, Atari Microsoft BASIC, Macro Assembler and Program-Text Editor May: Atari launched the Atari Program Exchange (APX), a user-written software distribution unit within the Atari Computer Division. The APX concept had been the brain-child of Dale Yocam, and APX was guided by Fred Thorlin since its inception in February 1981. See http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/ Summer: Through their first Catalog, APX introduced: Newspaper Route Management Program, The Computerized Card File, Text Formatter (FORMS), Lemonade, Mugwump, Avalanche, Outlaw/Howitzer, Preschool Games, Roman Checkers, Space Trek, Castle, Wizard's Gold, Sleazy Adventure, Alien Egg, Chinese Puzzle, Sultan's Palace, Anthill, Centurion, Tact Trek, Comedy Diskette, Graphics/Sound Demonstration, FIG FORTH (this version never shipped), Sound Editor, BASIC Program Compressor (MASHER), BASIC Cross- Reference Utility (XREF), BASIC Renumber Utility (RENUM), Disk Fixer (FIX), Variable Changer, Character Set Editor, Extended WSFN, Supersort. APX also introduced several hardware products: DE-9S with DE51218 Shell (controller plug), 5-pin DIN connector, 13-pin I/O plug, 13-pin I/O socket, DA-15P with DA110963-2 Shell (850 printer plug), DE-9P with DE110963-1 Shell (850 serial plug), 2716 EPROM cartridge Summer?: Atari created the Atari Institute for Educational Action Research, which began awarding major grants of Atari home computer products, cash stipends, and/or consulting services to selected individuals and non-profit institutions or organizations interested in developing new educational uses for computers in schools, community programs, or in the home. Founded and directed by Dr. Ted M. Kahn, Ph.D. More than US$250,000 would be awarded in the program's first year. Summer: By mid-1981 Atari had sold over 50,000 400/800 computers to date. (InfoWorld 9/14/1981) Summer: The Atari 400/800 arrived in the UK. (Maplin News, June/Aug 1981) August 26: Date of the internal Atari document "Z800 Product Specification, Revision 1" reflecting Operating System work for the SWEET16 project to create a new series of computers to replace the 400/800. See: http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/1200xl/1200xl.html Summer/Fall: Atari shipped the kits: The Communicator, The Entertainer, The Programmer, The Educator. September 10-12: Maplin Electronic Supplies exhibited the Atari 400/800 at the Personal Computer World Show at the Cunard Hotel, Hammersmith, London. September: Peter Rosenthal was director of business planning and development at Atari (Home Computer Division). Fall: APX Catalog introduced: Data Management System, Financial Asset Management System, Decision Maker, Banner Generator, Personal Fitness Program, Blackjack Tutor, Mapware, Video Math Flashcards, Dice Poker, 747 Landing Simulator, Eastern Front (1941), CodeCracker, Domination, Terry, Bumper Pool, Reversi, Minotaur, Lookahead, Babel, Wizard's Revenge, Chameleon CRT Terminal Emulator, Diskette Librarian, Disk Fixer (FIX) Rev. 2, BASIC Utility for Renumbering Programs (BURP), BASIC Utility Diskette, Screen Dump Utility, Load 'n Go, BLIS, Developer's Diskette. APX also announced their full software product line for sale via download from CompuServe MicroNET. One hardware product was modified: DE-9S with DE110963-1 Shell (controller plug). October: Atari 810 disk drives began shipping with the Data Separator Board. The enhancement "improves the drive's ability to distinguish between data pulses and clock pulses on the disk. This is necessary in part because of the variations in the characteristics of different diskettes. The data separator lowers the chance of a misread from the disk." (Antic Oct.82) November: The Atari 400/800 would now all ship with the GTIA chip rather than CTIA as in earlier machines, increasing the palette of simultaneously displayable colors to 256 and adding 3 new graphics modes. (Antic Oct.82) November: The Atari 400/800 began shipping with OS ROM version B, improving peripheral I/O control routines. (Antic Oct.82) November: Atari 810 disk drives began shipping with ROM C and with DOS II version 2.0S (replacing the original Atari DOS I). "ROM C causes diskettes to be formatted with an improved sector layout which is more efficient than that used by earlier 810 control ROM's." (Antic Oct.82) December 30: Atari said that it would cut the retail price for the 800 home computer (with 16K RAM) to US$899 from US$1,080. Other prices were increased: The Entertainer to US$110 and The Educator to US$166. Atari claimed to have sold 300,000 400/800 computers in 1981. (InfoWord 6/14/82 p.57) 1982 January 7-10: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced Pac-Man ($44.95), Centipede ($44.95), The Bookkeeper, and The Home Filing Manager. Space Invaders, previously released on cassette, was now re-released on cartridge. The APX title, Caverns of Mars would be the first APX title to be transferred into Atari's standard product line ($39.95 disk). Following the 400 packaging theme introduced in 1981, the 800, 810, and 410 would now ship in silver/full color packaging. Previewed at the show: the Atari Supergame System (would ship as the 5200). January 6: Atari announced the publication, Atari Special Editions, a catalog of more than 400 products for the Atari computers from 117 vendors. January 16: At the first Atari Star Awards banquet, held at San Francisco's Maxwell's Plum restaurant in Ghiradelli Square, the Atari Softare Acquisition Program (ASAP) awarded the Star Award Grand Prize and US$25,000 to Fernando Herrera for his APX title, My First Alphabet. Star Award of Merit winners: Ronald Marcuse & Lynn Marcuse, Sheldon Leemon, Greg Christensen Winter: APX Catalog introduced: Bowler's Database, Family Cash Flow, Weekly Planner, Enhancements to Graph It, Hydraulic Program (HYSYS), Keyboard Organ, Morse Code Tutor, Player Piano, Atlas of Canada, Hickory Dickory, Letterman, Mathematic-Tac-Toe, My First Alphabet, Number Blast, Presidents of the United States, Quiz Master, Stereo 3-D Graphics Package, Attank!, Blackjack Casino, Block 'Em, Caverns of Mars, Dog Daze, Downhill, Memory Match, Pro Bowling, Reversi II, Solitaire, Source Code for Eastern Front (1941), Space Chase, Atari Program-Text Editor, Dsembler, Extended fig-FORTH, Insomnia (A Sound Editor), Instedit, Supersort Rev. 3, T: A Text Display Device, Ultimate Renumber Utility, Word Processing Diskette. APX sales via CompuServe MicroNET had been discontinued. Winter: Ted Richards' name first appeared as editor of The Atari Connection magazine. March: Atari began producing 810 disk drives using the revised "Analog" (later, "810M") design, including new Analog Board, new Power Supply board, and new 10 pin flat cable connecting the two. The 3 components were also offered together as the CB101128 "Grass Valley Analog Board Set" for "Pre-Analog" 810 drives. March 19-21: Percom introduced the RFD40-S1, the first 3rd party disk drive for the Atari, at the 7th West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco. Spring: APX Catalog introduced: Family Budget, Diskette Mailing List, Isopleth Map-Making Package, RPN Calculator Simulator, Advanced Musicsystem, Sketchpad, Cubbyholes, Musical Computer--The Music Tutor, Starware, Wordmaker, Block Buster, Atari Pascal Language System, Extended fig-FORTH Rev. 2, GTIA Demonstration Diskette, Instedit (Microsoft BASIC version), Keypad Controller, Speed-O-Disk. APX also introduced the book, De Re Atari (APX-90008 /Atari#CO60070), written by staff in the Atari Software Development Support Group: Chris Crawford wrote Sections 1-6 and Appendices A & B; Lane Winner wrote Section 10 and Appendix D with assistance from Jim Cox; Amy Chen wrote Appendix C; Jim Dunion wrote Sections 8-9; Kathleen Pitta wrote Appendex E; Box Fraser wrote Section 7; Gus Makreas prepared the Glossary. April: First issue of Antic, The Atari Resource magazine, published by James Capparell. June 6-9: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced Atari Speed Reading (US$74.95), Music Tutor I (title never shipped. MC's speculation: this would have been an Atari-branded re-release of the APX title, Musical Computer-The Music Tutor), Juggles' House (by The Learning Co.), Juggles' Rainbow (by The Learning Co.), TeleLink II (US$79.95), and the Communicator II kit (new 835 modem + Telelink II) (US$279.95). The APX title, My First Alphabet would be re-released as part of Atari's standard product line. Atari also twice announced new retail prices for the 400 computer: first US$349 (CC Oct82 p180), then US$299 (Merch Jul82 p43) (previously, US$399). Keith Schaefer was vice-president of sales for Atari's Home Computer division. June 8: Atari announced the 5200 Home Entertainment System. Later dubbed the SuperSystem, the cartridge-based 5200 would be marketed alongside the ultra- popular Atari VCS (soon to be known as the 2600). While the 5200 required unique game cartridges and controllers, the internal hardware and operating system were nearly identical to that of the 400/800 computers. Suggested retail price: US$299.95. June: Roger Badertscher resigned from his position as president of Atari's Home Computer Division. Summer: APX Catalog introduced: Bowler's Database Rev. 2, Data Base/Report System, Family Vehicle Expense, Recipe Search 'n Save, Calculator, Astrology, Blackjack Tutor Rev. 1.1, Going to the Dogs, Algicalc, Elementary Biology (by MECC), Frogmaster, Instructional Computing Demonstration (by MECC), Metric and Problem Solving (by MECC), Music I--Terms & Notation (by MECC), Polycalc, Three R Math System, Block 'Em Rev. 2, Castle Rev. 1.1, Checker King, Galahad and the Holy Grail, Jax-O, Jukebox #1, The Midas Touch, Pushover, Rabbotz, Salmon Run, Seven Card Stud, BLIS Rev. 1.1, Cosmatic Atari Development Package, Insomnia (A Sound Editor) Rev. 1.1, Instedit Rev. 1.1, Microsoft BASIC Cross-Reference Utility, Player Generator, Utility Diskette II Summer: First year of Atari Computer Camps, held at 3 locations: The University of San Diego (CA), The Asheville School (Asheville, NC), and East Stroudsburg State College (PA). (Camp was cancelled at the fourth announced site of Lakeland College in Sheboygan WI.) The camps were managed for Atari by Specialty Camps, Inc. Curriculum developed by Robert A. Kahn at Atari. Program overseen by Linda Gordon, Atari vice president for special projects. July 26: InfoWorld estimated between 250,000 and 300,000 Atari 400/800 computers had been sold to date. August: Atari announced the establishment in New York City of a new research laboratory ("Atari NY Lab") dedicated to the exploration of microprocessor- based products in electronic publishing and transactional services for home computers. The Atari NY Lab would be headed by Steve Mayer, now senior vice president of engineering at Atari (previously: vice president of research and product development). The lab would also function as a focus for joint research projects with other subsidiaries of Warner Communications Inc. August 24: John C. Cavalier was named president of Atari's Home Computer Division. His most recent job was vice president and general manager of American Can Company's Dixie and Dixie/Marathon unit, makers of consumer paper products. September: The recently-established Atari NY Lab was spun off from Atari to form a new subsidiary of Warner Communications called WCI Labs Inc. Atari NY Lab head Steve Mayer, who had been Atari senior vice president of engineering, departed Atari to serve as executive vice-president for strategic planning for Warner Communications, as well as president of WCI Labs. September 29: Date of the internal Atari document, "Sweet-16 Product Specification". As of this document, the Sweet-16 project had evolved into two specific computer model designs, a 16K RAM version tentatively named "1200" and a 64K RAM version tentatively named "1200X" (earlier: a 16K "600" and a 64K "1200"), with both models now sharing the same case design. However, also as of this document, plans called for manufacture of only the 64K version. The project would soon lead to the release of the 1200XL. http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/1200xl/1200xl.html October: Atari shipped the 5200 SuperSystem. Fall: APX Catalog introduced: Family Cash Flow Rev. 2, Message Display Program, Stock Management, Text Analyst, Calculus Demon, Counter, Easygrader, Flags of Europe, Math*UFO, Spelling Genie, Word Search Generator, Cribbage, Dog Daze Rev. 1.1, Mankala, Snark Hunt, Dunion's Debugging Tool (DDT), FORTH Turtle Graphics Plus, fun-FORTH, Keypad Controller Rev. 2, Mantis Boot Tape Development System, Mapmaker Fall: The suggested retail price for the Atari 800 was US$679 with 48K RAM standard (previously: US$899/16K). The Atari 400 retail price was US$299 (previously, $349). November: Atari began producing new 810 disk drives with the "center flip door" drive mechanism by Tandon, instead of the "push button, sliding door" mechanism by MPI used in the original design. (Antic May 83) Technical documentation would refer to the new design as the "810T". December/January: First issue of Page 6 magazine, the U.K.'s first Atari computer magazine. Published by Les Ellingham. December: Atari shipped Galaxian, Defender, and VisiCalc (by VisiCorp) in time for the holiday shopping season. December 13: Atari introduced the 1200XL home computer at a press conference at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. "We believe that the Atari 1200XL will set the standard for a new generation in home computing and, once again, positions Atari on the leading edge of electronic technology and creative computing," Atari chairman Ray Kassar said. The list price for the 1200XL would be "well under $1,000." The 1200XL resulted from the Sweet-16/ "Elizabeth"/"Liz" project inside Atari. Peripherals introduced: the 1010 program recorder (US$99), 1020 printer/plotter (US$299), and 1025 printer (US$549). Keith Schaefer was vp of sales and John Cavalier was president of Atari's Home Computer Division. Atari sold 400,000 of its 400 and 800 computers in 1982, according to The Yankee Group, a Boston-based computer consulting firm, accounting for 17 percent of all home computer sales. 1983 January 1: The retail price for the Atari 800 (with 48K RAM, without Atari BASIC) was reduced from US$679 to US$499. The retail price for the Atari 400 was reduced from US$299 to US$199. January 6-9: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari showed the 1200XL (and announced the retail price of $899), 1010, 1020, and 1025, introduced revised versions of the Programmer and Entertainer kits, introduced Qix, E.T. Phone Home!, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong, Family Finances (enhanced combination of the two APX titles, Family Cash Flow and Family Budget), Timewise, and AtariWriter, showed the recently-released Galaxian and Defender, and also announced the upcoming AtariMusic I and the first title in the Disney Educational Series, Mickey in the Great Outdoors. Caverns of Mars would be re-released on cartridge (previously: disk). The APX title, Eastern Front (1941) would be re-released in the main Atari product line (on cartridge). The CX22 Trak-Ball was introduced, marketed for the 2600 but compatible with the 400/800/1200XL. January 15: At the 2nd Atari Star Awards banquet, held at San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel, Atari awarded the Star Award Grand Prize and US$25,000 to David Buehler for his APX title, Typo Attack. Star Special Award of Merit winners: Douglas Crockford, Harry Koons & Art Prag, Lee Actor. Keith Schaefer had been promoted to senior vice-president of sales for Atari's Home Computer Division. January: Atari began production of the 1200XL (made in the USA). Winter 82/83: First issue of I/O, later known as Input/Output, the magazine of the Atari Home Computer Club (Atari International (U.K.)). February: Atari announced the Atari distribution of Visicalc by Visicorp. Winter: APX Catalog introduced: FOG Index, Real Estate Cash Flow Analysis, Text Analyst Rev. 2, Astrology Rev. 1.1, Earth Science (by MECC), Easygrader Rev. 1.1, Geography (by MECC), I'm Different!, The Magic Melody Box, The Market Place (by MECC), Monkey Up a Tree, Music II--Rhythm & Pitch (by MECC), Music III--Scales & Chords (by MECC), Prefixes (by MECC), Typo Attack, Air- Raid!, Game Show, Gridiron Glory, Melt-Down, Phobos, Pushky, Quarxon, Rabbotz Rev. 1.1, Yahtman, BASIC/XA, Deep Blue C Compiler, Deep Blue Secrets, Disk Fixer/Load 'n Go, Diskmenu, Music Player Winter: Atari shipped the AtariWriter cartridge. AtariWriter was programmed by William V. Robinson (author of DataSoft's Text Wizard) with Mark Rieley for DataSoft, for product manager Gary Furr at Atari. Winter/Spring: "Computers: Expressway to Tomorrow" was an Atari-produced assembly program for junior and senior high schools in the U.S., offering both entertainment and computer education using films, slides, music, and a live host to explore the role of computers in society. (MC's note: I remember that this came to my school!) March: Atari shipped the 1200XL, suggested retail price US$899. March 18-20: At the 8th Annual West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco, Atari announced the 1050 disk drive, and Atari Logo (developed by Logo Computer Systems, Inc. (LCSI) for Atari). Spring: APX Catalog introduced: Atspeller, Typit, Fingerspelling, Escape to Equatus, Math Mission, My Spelling Easel, Teasers by Tobbs, Three R Math Classroom Kit, Catterpiggle, Diggerbonk, Getaway!, Impact, Microsailing, Chameleon CRT Terminal Emulator (New Version), Hex-A-Bug April: Atari announced that Michael Moone would no longer serve as president of the Consumer Electronics Division, as the division would be consolidated with the Home Computer Division. April/May: Production of the 1200XL shifted from the USA to Taiwan. May: Production of Atari 400/800 computers and 810 disk drives ended. May: The retail price for the Atari 400 was reduced from US$199 to US$99. June 1: Atari consolidated the businesses of the Home Computer Division with the Consumer Electronics (home video games) Division. There would now be three Divisions for both home computers and home video games: - Atari Products Company (development & marketing, John Cavalier, president) - Atari Sales and Distribution Company (Donald Kingsborough, president) - Atari Manufacturing Company (Paul Malloy, president) June: Atari introduced the 600XL and 800XL home computers at the Summer CES in Chicago. Retail prices would be $199/600XL and $299/800XL. The 400/800/1200XL would be discontinued. (The 1400XL and 1450XLD computers were also introduced, but these never made it into production.) Peripherals introduced: 1050 disk drive, 1027 printer, 1030 modem, Light Pen + AtariGraphics, Touch Tablet + AtariArtist, Remote Control Wireless Joysticks, CX80 Trak-Ball, CX60 Ultimate Super Joystick (eventually shipped as the CX24), AtariLab Starter Set With Temperature Module, AtariLab Light Module (AtariLab developed by Dickinson College). Software introduced by Atari: DOS 3, Logo, Microsoft BASIC II, Pole Position, Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong Junior, Pengo, Robotron: 2084, Joust, Football, Tennis, Paint, AtariMusic I, AtariMusic II. Battlezone was announced. (Also introduced or announced but never shipped: the 1060 CP/M Add-On Module, the 1090 XL Expansion System, Superman III, Soccer, Tempest, Xevious, Peter Pan's Daring Journey or Peter Pan's Daring Escape (Disney; later renamed: Captain Hook's Revenge), The Mysteries of Wonderland (Disney), Star Trux, and the AtariLab Modules: Timekeeper, Lie Detector, Reaction Time, Heartbeat, Biofeedback, Mechanics) The 600XL had been known as "Surely" and the 800XL had been known as "Surely Plus" inside Atari. June 11-Sept 10: Atari co-sponsored the Punta Cana Club Med/Atari Computer vacation getaway on the island of Hispaniola in the Dominican Republic. June 27: Atari opened their first Atari Center, an educational computing concept, at The Oaks Shopping Center in Cupertino, CA. Atari Centers were operated by the Picodyne Corporation (Dean Brown, president) with Atari providing funding and advertising. Alan O'Neill was the contract manager of Atari Centers. Sara Armstrong, director of the Terra Nuova Montessori School in Hayward CA, would be director of the Cupertino Atari Center. Month?: Atari (Home Computer) vice president, product and business planning (strategic planning) Peter Rosenthal departed the company. Summer: APX Catalog introduced: Home Inventory, Home Loan Analysis, Strategic Financial Ratio Analysis, Drawit, Piano Tuner, Video Kaleidoscope, Circuit Lab, Morsecode Master, Punctuation Put-on, Three R Math Home System, Wordgo, The Bean Machine, Bootleg, Can't Quit, Dandy, Ennumereight, Smasher. APX also introduced the 48K RAM Expansion Kit (for the 400 computer, 8K or 16K versions); $110, or $130 installed at Atari Regional Repair Centers. Summer: Second year of Atari Computer Camps, held at seven sites nationwide (U.S.): Greenfield MA, Faribault MN, East Stroudsburg PA, Asheville NC, Glencoe MD, Danville CA, and San Diego CA. July 2: The second Atari Center opened at the corner of Fifth Ave. and 48th St. in Manhattan. Educator Seth Greenberg would be manager of the Manhattan Atari Center. July 7: Warner Communications announced that Atari chairman Ray Kassar had resigned, to be replaced by James J. Morgan. Morgan was previously executive vice president of Philip Morris USA, handling the company's US$4.3 billion cigarette operations. Until Morgan's arrival, Emanuel Gerard would serve as interim chairman and CEO. July: Production of the Atari 1200XL computer ended. August: Atari Chairman-to-be James Morgan instituted another major management reorganization at Atari. Atari Sales and Distribution Company and Atari Manufacturing Company were both dissolved, their functions to be merged into the Atari Products Company division (home computers and home video game systems), with 5 divisions of its own: - Atari Products Company (no division head) - - Management (marketing) (John Cavalier, president) - - Sales (Donald Kingsborough, president) - - Manufacturing (Paul Malloy, president) - - Engineering (John Farrand, president) - - International (Anton Bruehl, president) The presidents of all Atari Products Co. divisions would report directly to Morgan. Sept83-June84: The "Catch On to Computers" program, a joint effort between Atari and General Foods' Post Cereals, offered Atari computers, equipment, and educational software to schools for collecting Post cereal proof-of-purchase points over the 1983-1984 school year. September: Ted Kahn stepped down as executive director of the Atari Institute for Educational Action Research. More than US$1 million worth of computers, software, and cash stipends had been awarded to over 100 nonprofit organizations since the program's founding in 1981. September: Atari International (U.K.) announced The Loan Raider. September: The Atari 800 (with 48K RAM, without Atari BASIC) would now retail for US$165 while supplies lasted. September 23: The two Atari Center locations both closed at the end of the 90- day trial period for the program. Fall: APX Catalog introduced: Atspeller Rev. 2, AtariWriter Printer Drivers, Color Alignment Generator, Advanced Fingerspelling, Excalibur, Musical Pilot, Puzzler, Ringmaster, Spelling Genie Rev. 2.0, Ion Roadway, Kangaroo, Moon Marauder, Saratoga, Space War, Cartoonist, Eastern Front (1941) Scenario Editor, Eastern Front Scenarios 1942/1943/1944, Mathlib for Deep Blue C Fall: Atari begin shipping the 1050 disk drive with DOS 3 (replacing DOS 2.0S). Fall: The Atari 600XL/800XL both shipped, retail price US$199/$299. Fall: Atari shipped the Communicator II package, containing the 835 modem. October 7: John Cavalier departed from his position as president of the Management (marketing) division of the Atari Products Company. October: Atari launched Atari Learning Systems, a new division dedicated to product development, sales, and support for K-12 educators in the U.S. Directed by Linda Gordon. October: Atari France launched the "L'Atarien" magazine, issue 0 (pilot ?), the "magazine of the Atari Club". In its first issues, the magazine was mostly centered on the 2600 VCS and 400/800 computers, but the focus quickly shifted to the XL computers in the next issues. Officially the magazine was issued by "Rive Ouest - Cato Johnson France" on behalf of "PECF Atari France" (Issue #0, Page 3). "PECF" was the nickname of the company "Productions et Editions Cinematographiques Francaises", a company 100% owned by Warner Communications. October-December: "Catch on to Computers" computer literacy training programs for children, adults, and teachers, sponsored by Atari and General Mills' Post Cereals, ran in 10 cities across the U.S. November: Atari announced that because of production snags in Hong Kong, it would be able to fill only 60 per cent of its Christmas orders for the 600XL/ 800XL. Atari also said that the 1400XL and 1450XLD would not ship until 1984. November: Atari opened the Atari Adventure center in St. Louis, MO. The concept combined a traditional video game arcade with a hands-on public computer classroom/lab featuring Atari XL computers, along with a new technology display area. "Atari sold roughly 250,000 of its 800 series computers last year" - Time magazine, July 16, 1984 1984 January 1: Atari increased U.S. dealer prices for the Atari 600XL and 800XL by US$40 each, to US$180 and US$280, respectively. January 7-10: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced: the 1064 Memory Module (for the 600XL), The Atari Translator, Moon Patrol, Jungle Hunt, Millipede, Sky Writer, SynFile+, SynCalc, SynTrend, The Legacy (shipped as Final Legacy), Player Maker, Screen Maker. The APX title, Typo Attack would be re-released on cartridge as part of Atari's standard product line. (Atari confirmed that the unshipped 1400XL computer was canceled. Atari CEO James Morgan said the unshipped Atari 1450XLD was "exhibited only as a demonstration of the company's intent to market a high-end computer in 1984, although the specifics of such a product are currently under review." --Creative Computing May 1984.) (Software introduced by Atari but never shipped: Atari Pascal 2.0, Atari Super PILOT, Captain Hook's Revenge (Disney), Berserk, Pop'R Spell, Mario Bros. (a completely rewritten Mario Bros. was ultimately released in 1989), AtariLab Modules: Robotics, Nuclear Radiation) January 14: At San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel, Atari awarded the third annual Atari Star Award and US$25,000 to Mark Reid for his APX title, Getaway!. Other Finalists: James Burton, R. Stanley Kistler, Gregor Novak. Fred Simon was Atari senior vice-president of computer hardware and software marketing. January 23: Atari chairman and CEO James Morgan announced another management reorganization at Atari. John Farrand was promoted to president of Atari, and would also now serve as president and COO of the Atari Products Company (home computers, home video games, and now coin-operated arcade games). Winter: APX Catalog introduced: Equestrian, Mastermatch, Atspeller for AtariWriter, Bellum, Burgers!, Chambers of Zorp, Character Fun, Dragon Quest or A Twist in the Tail, Numberland Nightwatch, Raid on Graviton, Rush Hour, Weakon, National Flags, Dog Daze Deluxe February: Atari 5200 production ended. March: Fred Thorlin, director of APX since its 1982 inception, left Atari. March 22-25: At the 9th West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco Atari's exhibit included the APX title, Equestrian. (ROM #6) APX also introduced what turned out to be their last release, Bumpomov's Dogs, see: http://graychang.megabyet.net/cnc/bumpomov/broderbund_letter.shtml Spring: I/O Issue Five turned out to be the final issue of Input/Output, the magazine of the Atari Home Computer Club (Atari International (U.K.)). April: Atari shut down the APX operation. Software rights were returned to the original authors. May 8: In an elaborate press event, Atari and Lucasfilm introduced Ballblazer and Rescue on Fractalus!, developed by Lucasfilm Games, to be shipped by Atari on cartridge for the 400/800 computers and the 5200 SuperSystem. (The Atari computer versions were finally shipped on disk by Epyx (USA) and Activision (UK) in 1985. The 5200 versions were finally released by Atari Corp. in 1986.) May 21: Atari disclosed that the 5200 was no longer in production. More than 1 million 5200s had been sold to date. (Washington Post, May 22, 1984, C3) June 3-6: Atari motto at the Summer CES in Chicago: "June 3, 1984--The Day The Future Began." Atari announced that it would introduce a new high-end computer, reportedly for under $1000, in time for the Christmas buying season. The computer would be an extension of the XL line, very similar to the long- awaited 1450XLD; it would have 64K RAM, modem, speech synthesis chip, and a built-in, double-sided, dual-density disk drive that stores 352K. (never shipped.) The previously-announced 1090 XL Expansion System was expected to be released along with the new computer (never shipped). Atari introduced: Proofreader (for AtariWriter), Track & Field, Crystal Castles. Atari also introduced The Last Starfighter, which was ultimately re-worked and shipped as Star Raiders II in 1986. (Also introduced by Atari but never shipped: MindLink hardware device, Jr. Pac-Man, Hobgoblin, This Is Ground Control, Through the Starbridge, Find It!, Elevator Action, Yaacov Agam's Interactive Painting, The ABC of CPR: First Aid, Wheeler-Dealer, Simulated Computer, Telly Turtle, Word Tutor, Letter Tutor, Gremlins, Pole Position II) June: Atari France announced the SECAM model of the 800XL. (The SECAM 600XL was also announced, but this never made it into production.) List prices: 600XL PAL: 2200 FRF ; 600XL SECAM: 2500 FRF ; 800XL PAL: 3200 FRF ; 800XL SECAM: 3500 FRF ; 1010: 890 FRF ; 1050: 3690 FRF ; 1020: 2590 FRF; 1027: 3490 FRF ; Atari Touch Tablet: 890 FRF Month?: Exidy released the Max-A-Flex coin-operated arcade conversion system, along with four games for the system, all developed by First Star Software: Astro Chase, Boulder Dash, Bristles, Flip and Flop. The Exidy Max-A-Flex utilized an embedded Atari 600XL system. See: http://www.myatari.co.uk/issues/jan2003/maxaflex.htm July 1-August 25: Third and final year of Atari Computer Camps. Camps were held at two locations: "Camp Atari-Poconos" (East Stroudsburg State College) in East Stroudsburg PA, and "Camp Atari-New England" (Stoneleigh-Burnham School) in Greenfield MA. Patricia Tubbs was Project Manager at Atari. July 2: In a deal consummated in New York City at 5:30 a.m. Monday morning, July 2, effective Saturday June 30, the assets of the Atari home computer and home video game businesses were sold by Warner Communications to Tramel Technology Ltd., which had been formed on May 17, 1984 by its chairman and CEO Jack Tramiel (pronounced truh-MELL), the founder and former president of Commodore International. The transaction included the rights to the "Atari" name and "Fuji" logo, with Warner Communications retaining exclusive license to use the Atari name and trademark in coin-operated arcade environments. Tramiel also gained the intellectual property rights to all existing Atari arcade games, with Warner Communications retaining exclusive license to those properties in coin-operated arcade environments. Tramel Technology adopted the new name, Atari Corporation. Jack Tramiel would continue as chairman and CEO, and (son) Sam Tramiel would serve as president. July: The new Atari Corp. halted all manufacturing, and dismissed most of its inherited Silicon Valley workforce, roughly 1,000 people. Upon a review of the existing product lines and inventories, it was determined to resume production of the 800XL computer. The 600XL was discontinued, and further work on prototype new XL computer models was halted. Atari Connection magazine was shut down. July 13: Warner Communications announced the sale of 78% of its WCI Labs subsidiary (internal co-developer of the Atari XL computers) to WCI Labs' management. As a result of the transaction, which was made effective retroactive to June 1, 1984, a new privately held company, the Take One Company, was formed, with Steven T. Mayer as chairman and chief executive. Warner Communications initially retained 22% ownership of Take One. August: Atari engineers completed the prototype "800XLF" motherboard design, to be used in new-production 800XL computers. The new 800XL machines would include the new FREDDIE memory management chip (previously developed at Atari, Inc.), the new Revision C of Atari BASIC, and a reinstated chrominance video signal on the Monitor port (missing on the 1200XL/600XL/800XL produced by Atari, Inc.). The new 800XL machines would be produced in PAL and (for the first time, France-specific) SECAM versions, but not the NTSC version due to ample existing supply of NTSC 800XL machines. August: Atari reduced the retail price for the 800XL from US$250 to US$179. November 13: Atari held a press conference at company headquarters in Sunnyvale, CA in which they outlined their basic marketing strategy for 1985. The U.S. price for the 800XL was reduced from US$179 to US$119. December 6: It was reported that Atari would make an immediate 23 per cent reduction to DM 499 (US$160) in the price of its 800XL home computer in West Germany and similar cuts in the UK and Italy. Atari estimated the company's share of the West German home computer market at 8%, compared with 2% in 1983. In the UK, the 800XL price cut was from 169 to 129 pounds. December: Atari France announced the new prices of the XL computers range: 600XL PAL: 1599 FRF ; 800XL PAL: 2199 FRF ; 800XL SECAM: 2499 FRF; 1010: 449 FRF ; 1050: 2699 FRF ; 1020: 899 FRF ; 1027: 3399 FRF; Atari Touch Tablet: 649 FRF December: Atari France resumed L'Atarien magazine with issue #5. (It had been on hold since issue #4, June 1984.) December: Atari engineers completed the prototype "900XLF" motherboard design, to be used in the forthcoming 65XE computer. "The 800XL has sold almost 500,000 units through 1984" --Atari's Sigmund Hartmann, Atari Explorer magazine, Summer 1985, p. 33. "By the end of 1984, the Atari 800XL will have sold more than 600,000 units since its introduction more than a year ago, according to Kenneth Lim of Dataquest, a market research firm in San Jose." InfoWorld January 7/14, 1985 1985 January 5-8: Atari introduced the 65XE and 130XE home computers at the Winter CES in Las Vegas. (The 65XEP and 65XEM computers were announced, but these never made it into production.) The 800XL would be discontinued. XE peripherals introduced: the XMM801 and XDM121 printers and the XM301 modem. XE Software introduced: AtariWriter Plus, Silent Butler, Song Painter (later renamed Music Painter), The Learning Phone (PLATO). (Also introduced but never shipped: the XTM201 and XTC201 printers, the XC1411 and XM128 monitors, and the XF521 disk drive. XE Software: Infinity (integrated word processor/ spreadsheet/database/telecomm software, developed for Atari by Matrix Software / Vincent Garafolo), Shopkeeper, Atari Tutorial). Epyx introduced Ballblazer and Rescue on Fractalus for the Atari 8-bit computers, both announced but not shipped by the old Atari, Inc. Winter: Atari shipped the The Learning Phone cartridge, designed at Atari by Vincent Wu. Atari access software for the PLATO Service Network (Control Data Corporation) had been in development at Atari since 1981. February: First issue of Atari Explorer magazine, the glossy published by Atari (U.S.) Corp. in support of the XE and ST computers. Headed by Neil Harris. February: The new "L'Atarien" magazine was now issued by "Pressimages" on behalf of "PECF Atari France" (Issue #6, Page 3). February: Retail prices from Atari France: 800XL SECAM: 1700 FRF ; 1050: 2600 FRF ; 1027: 2600 FRF March 5: At the San Leandro Computer Club Atari announced that they had "postponed plans to produce an 8-bit portable computer, due to lack of interest." Also, "plans for an XEM 8-bit music computer have been postponed indefinitely due to problems with finalizing the AMY sound chip." (The AMY chip had been developed at Atari, Inc. Atari Corp. now owned the technology, but had not retained the original design team. Thus, the new plan to integrate AMY into the XE system, as the announced 65XEM computer, turned out to be prohibitively expensive. Atari ultimately sold the AMY chip and technologies to a Milwaukee based audio design house called Sight & Sound. See: http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8bits/xe/xe_protos/65xem.html ) John Skruch was introduced as software product manager for the 8-bit XE line. (CN, Apr85, p. 19) April: Atari shipped the 130XE, retail price US$149.95. (The 65XE was temporarily held out of the U.S. market due to ample supply of the 800XL.) April: Atari France announced the availability of the Atari 1029 printer. The price was not announced. April/May: Atari began shipping the 1050 disk drive with DOS 2.5 (replacing DOS 3). May: First issue of the U.K.'s Atari User magazine, published by Database Publications. June: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced Planetarium (prototypes sometimes called Home Astronomer). (Atari also introduced VIP Professional and GEM Desktop for the XE, but these never shipped.) DataSoft re-introduced 3 titles for the XE previously shipped by Atari: Pole Position, Pac-Man, and Dig Dug. June: Atari France retail price for the 130XE SECAM: 1990 FRF Fall: Atari shipped the disk-based AtariWriter Plus. Designed and programmed from scratch by William Robinson (the core word processor), Ron Rosen (Mail Merge module), and R. Stanley Kistler (Proofreader module) for Micro Fantasy, for Atari. Manual by Jeffrey D. Bass. Package included a version for 48K/64K Atari computers as well as a version supporting the 128K RAM of the 130XE. Fall: Atari shipped the XM301 modem. November 15: Atari announced the creation of an electronic entertainment division, to be headed by Michael V. Katz, formerly head of Epyx. November: At the fall COMDEX in Las Vegas Atari again showed the XMM801, The Silent Butler, and Atari Planetarium, each to ship by Christmas. Atari's 8-bit user base in the UK has now reached 400,000...close to 100,000 of the [discontinued 800XL] are believed to have been sold during the run up to Christmas alone. (Atari User Feb 1986 p.9) 1986 January 9: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced Star Raiders II for the XE, and also announced (but did not show) the XC11 program recorder. A redesigned version of the 2600 (unofficially, "2600 Jr."; previously designed by Atari, Inc.) was introduced. February: Cover date of Issue #10, the final issue of L'Atarien magazine from Atari France. February: Atari France retail prices: 130XE SECAM: 1490 FRF ; 1010: 490 FRF ; 1050: 1490 FRF ; 1029: 1490 FRF March: Database Exhibitions staged the first Atari User Show at the Novotel in Hammersmith, London, UK. (Atari User May 1988) March: At the Hannover Fair, West Germany, Atari introduced a working prototype of what would ultimately ship as the XEP80 interface, and they also described a new DOS, which was later named ADOS, and which ultimately shipped as DOS XE. (Atari also introduced plans for a 3.5" disk drive (the XF351) but this never shipped.) Spring: Atari shipped the 65XE, retail price US$99.95. April 28-May 1: Atari introduced a working prototype of what would ultimately ship as the SX212 modem at the Spring COMDEX (Computer Dealer's Exhibition) in Atlanta. Atari also announced that the 80 Column Card would be out "late this summer." (Atari also reiterated plans for a 3.5" disk drive (the XF351) but this never shipped.) June 1: Atari announced that David H. Ahl was the new editor of Atari Explorer magazine. June 1-4: Atari introduced the XEP80 interface at the Summer CES in Chicago. Also featured: Atari Planetarium, Star Raiders II, and the XMM801. Summer: Atari shipped the XC12 in place of the XC11. Summer: Bob Gleadow, previously of Commodore, became the new general manager of Atari UK. Max Bambridge, the outgoing head of Atari UK, was transferred to the Far East to oversee Atari manufacturing. (Atari User May 1988) Sept/Oct: First issue of Atari Explorer magazine produced by the new subsidiary, Atari Explorer Publications Corp. of Mendham, NJ, headed by David H. Ahl, founder and former editor of Creative Computing magazine. German Atari chairman Alwin Stumpf reported at CeBit 1987 in Hannover that Atari was surprised to sell 92,000 Atari XL computers in West Germany in 1986. (Happy Computer - 2. Atari XL/XE Sonderheft, p. 3, as quoted/translated by Andreas Koch) 1987 January 8: Atari previewed the XE game system at the Winter CES in Las Vegas. February: Atari introduced the XE video game system at the American International TOY FAIR in New York. March 4-7: Atari announced that they would release an XE-styled replacement for the 800XL at CeBIT '87 in Hanover, West Germany. This machine would soon be known as the 800XE. June: "Flying High" was Atari's motto at the Summer CES in Chicago. Atari introduced the XF551 and ADOS (renamed DOS XE when shipped), AtariWriter 80, and SX Express!. Atari introduced the two pack-in games for the XE game system, Bug Hunt (proto names had been Troubleshooter or Blast 'Em) and Flight Simulator II. Atari announced that they would be re-releasing many of their own 400/800/XL/XE cartridge titles for the XE, including Battlezone, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and the former disk title, Star Raiders II. Atari also announced many new Atari XE cartridge titles, including Crossbow, Hardball!, Fight Night, One-On-One Basketball, Archon, Ballblazer, Rescue on Fractalus, Lode Runner, Blue Max, David's Midnight Magic, Gato, and Barnyard Blaster. Summer: Atari shipped the XDM121 printer. September: Atari shipped the XEP80 interface and the SX212 modem. (The SX Express! disk software package for use with the SX212 would be sold separately, later.) Fall: Atari shipped the XE game system in late September, and it reached most dealer shelves by mid-October, retail price US$150. Package included: Missile Command and Atari BASIC on ROM, keyboard, Joystick, Light Gun, Bug Hunt cartridge and Flight Simulator II cartridge. December 31: From the Atari Annual Report: "In Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, and Poland the Atari 800XE and 65XE computers have gained brand dominance and are among the most popular systems being sold in these countries." Atari sold 100,000 XE Game Systems in the U.S. at Christmas and did not meet demand (Antic magazine, May 1988, p. 39) Atari "claims more than 2 million XE game systems sold in 1987." (Compute! magazine, May 1988: http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue96/news.php) 1988 January: Optimized Systems Software (OSS) was merged into ICD. Winter: Atari shipped 12 new XE game cartridges: Archon, Ballblazer, Barnyard Blaster, BattleZone, Blue Max, David's Midnight Magic, Fight Night, HardBall, Lode Runner, One-On-One Basketball, Rescue on Fractalus, Star Raiders II April: Atari shipped the XF551 disk drive (with DOS 2.5). May: Sam Tramiel became CEO of Atari (replacing father Jack Tramiel). Sam Tramiel would also continue as president. Jack Tramiel remained chairman. June: Atari promoted the XE game system at the Summer CES in Chicago, under their "Winning Package" theme. Summer: Atari shipped the new XE game cartridge, Gato. Fall: Atari opened an office of the Entertainment Electronics Division in Chicago, headed by Larry Siegel, vice president of software development. Mike Katz, based in Sunnyvale, remained president of the Entertainment Electronics Division. Fall?: Atari shipped the new XE game cartridge, Necromancer. October 1, 1988 through September 30, 1989: "Atari Advantage" promotion program by Atari (U.S.) for the 2600, 7800, and XE. Collect 5 cartridges for a free Atari T-shirt; 15 cartridges for a free cartridge; or 25 cartridges for a 7800 for $25 or for an XE system or XE disk drive for $50, and "enter an essay writing contest to win an expense-paid 7-day/6-night trip for you and a guest to California. Visit some of California's top tourist attractions including a day at Atari headquarters (near San Francisco) to see how video games are designed." November: Final issue of the U.K.'s Atari User magazine. The name would be sold to rival U.K. magazine publisher Page 6. November: Atari (U.S.) announced the availability of the XG-1 Light Gun/ Bug Hunt package. (The package never did ship in the U.S. The loose XES2001 XG-1 Light Gun without Bug Hunt did ship in the U.S. in 1989.) November/December: Atari (U.S.) offered a $50 consumer rebate on the purchase of the XE game system. December 31: From the Atari Annual Report: "Our XE line of 8-bit computer systems is extremely popular throughout Eastern Europe, and most recently, has begun to appear on retail shelves in the Soviet Union." Atari sold 500,000 Atari 800XL units in West Germany in 1988. (Bajtek 2/1989, p.7; thanks Kr0tki) 1989 January: Atari shipped DOS XE, and also began shipping the XF551 disk drive with DOS XE (replacing DOS 2.5). January: Atari shipped 6 new XE game cartridges: Ace of Aces, Desert Falcon, Mario Bros., Crystal Castles, Thunderfox, Into the Eagle's Nest February/March: New name for Page 6 magazine: Page 6 Atari User. February: Mike Katz departed from Atari as president of the Entertainment Electronics division. February: Atari shipped 3 new XE game cartridges: Crime Buster, Dark Chambers, Choplifter Spring: Atari shipped 5 new XE game cartridges: Food Fight, Karateka, Crossbow, Airball, Summer Games May/June: Premier issue of Atarian magazine, "the official magazine of the Atarian Video Game Club sponsored by Atari (U.S.) Corp." Published by Atari Explorer Publications, David H. Ahl, Publisher/Editor. June/July: New name for Page 6 Atari User magazine: New Atari User. Summer: Atari shipped AtariWriter 80, programmed by William Robinson and Ron Rosen for Micro Fantasy. The package included Proofreader (programmed by R. Stanley Kistler) and Mail Merge modules, and required the XEP80 interface. Like AtariWriter Plus, the package included a version for 48K/64K Atari computers as well as a version supporting the 128K RAM of the 130XE. October: Third and final issue of Atarian magazine. December: Final issue of ANALOG Computing magazine December 31: From the Atari Annual Report: "sales of games products such as the 2600 and 7800 game systems and the range of older XE 8 bit computers decreased by 35% to $101.6 million, or 24% of total net sales for the year ended December 31, 1989, from $155.5 million, or 34%, of total net sales in 1988." From the Atari 10-K: "The Company's traditional video game offerings include the 2600 VCS, the 7800 ProSystem, and the XE Game System." 1990 March 15: Atari Explorer Publications was shut down, and Atari Explorer magazine went on hiatus. May?: At the Atari shareholders meeting, Atari stated that last year, 250,000 XE computers were sold. In Poland, the XE sold 70,000 units, making it the most popular computer in Poland. (Atari Interface, June/July 1990, p. 6) June/July: Final issue of Antic, The Atari Resource magazine. Antic would continue as a section of the publisher's STart magazine. 1991 Jan/Feb: Return of Atari Explorer magazine, now headed by John Jainschigg and published in-house at Atari. March/April: LDW had imported about 250-270 thousand Atari 8-bit computers into Poland to date (since 1985)...Currently about 20% of the global production of 8-bit Atari computers is sent to Poland (Moje Atari 4/1991, pp. 8-9; thanks Kr0tki) April/May: Final issue of STart magazine (which had incorporated Antic magazine). May: "Atari Canada's General Manager Geoff Earle announces a new trade up program for owners of Atari 8-bit computers to a 520STFM for $250. The 8-bit computer line is admitted to be discontinued." (AtariUser Jan'92, p. 20) May 14: At the Atari shareholders meeting, Atari stated that the XE was still in production, being sold in South America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. (Atari Interface magazine, June 1991, p. 10) November 23-24: Chicago Computerfest by Atari / Lake County Atari Computer Enthusiasts (LCACE), Ramada Hotel O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois. Atari (U.S.) brought substantially all of their remaining inventory of 8-bit computer products for clearance sales. December: "..as of Christmas 1991, Atari decided to discontinue the XEGS, 2600, and 7800 systems." --Tim Duarte, AtariUser magazine, July 1992, p. 22. December 28: From the Atari 10-K SEC filing: "Atari's XE series computers are targeted for the price conscious markets. The 65XE and 130XE have 64k and 128k of internal RAM, and generally retail for less than $100 and $150, respectively. Both are supported by a variety of peripheral equipment and a variety of software titles including entertainment software. This computer line retains compatibility with the Company's previous generation 8-bit computer systems, i.e., the 400 and 800XL computers." 1992 Atari announced that support for all 8-bit products was discontinued as of the beginning of this year, according to Atari Classics magazine. (Dec. 1992, p.4) June 2: At the Atari stockholders meeting, Atari stated that the XE line of computers was still being made. Though not available in the U.S. market, XE systems were being made for sale in Mexico, South America, Eastern Europe and Germany. (Atari Interface magazine, Fall 1992, p. 19) December: First issue of Atari Classics magazine, published by Unicorn Publications, Ben Poehland managing editor. December 31: For the first time, the XE was not mentioned in Atari's Annual Report to Shareholders. 1993 Jan/Feb: Final issue of Atari Explorer magazine. November?: Rights to ICD (including OSS) products for the 8-bit Atari were purchased by Fine Tooned Engineering (FTe / Mike Hohman) 1994 January 1: From the Atari Annual Report: "The Company also has some inventory of its older 16-bit computer products and 8-bit game products, namely ST and TT series of computers, 2600 and 7800 video games systems and XE computer and Portfolio products. As a result of these inventories being technologically obsolete and noncompetitive, the Company has written off these inventories. The Company is expecting minimal sales from these products in the future." 1996 July 30: Atari Corp. merged with JT Storage, Inc. into a new company, JTS Acquisition Corp. The merged company immediately adopted the new name, JTS Corp. The prior business of Atari would now be conducted through the Atari Division of JTS; however "the Atari Division was not expected to represent a significant portion of JTS business," JTS said. 1997 July: Final issue of Atari Classics magazine. 1998 February 23: JTS sold substantially all of the assets of its Atari Division, consisting primarily of the Atari intellectual property rights and license agreements, to HIAC XI Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive (itself a unit of toy company Hasbro, Inc.), for US$5 million. HIAC XI was then renamed Atari Interactive, Inc. Fall: Final issue of Page 6 Publishing's New Atari User magazine. 2001 January 29: Infogrames Entertainment announced completion of its acquisition of Hasbro Interactive from Hasbro, renaming the subsidiary Infogrames Interactive, Inc. Atari Interactive was included in the transaction. 2003 May 7: Infogrames Entertainment folded its Infogrames Interactive (the former Hasbro Interactive) subsidiary into its Atari Interactive subsidiary. 2009 May 29: The name of Infogrames Entertainment was changed to Atari. TODAY: The Atari copyrights/trademarks/patents associated with the 400/800/XL/XE 8-bit Atari computer line are owned by Atari Interactive, Inc., a subsidiary of Atari, SA of Lyon, France. http://corporate.atari.com/ =================================================================== End of atari-8-bit/faq =================================================================== Williams ("Alf"). All machine language. OASIS is very crash-resistant and comes with a "dial out" screen so that the Sysop can use the BBS as a terminal program to call and fetch files without having to bring the BBS down and reload a terminal program. OASIS supports "Door programs" which it refers to as "OASIS PAL modules". An excellent message system, and a complex file system. It consists of "file libraries" with suites of "file types". There is quite a bit of overhead involved in performing a download (which may be a good thing, as it discourages file hogs). OASIS IV performs networking. SpartaDOS 3.2x recommended, but any DOS supported. R-Time 8 clock cartridge supported. Glenda Stocks writes at http://world.std.com/~snet/glenda.htm : I purchased the source code rights to OASIS and began marketing the BBS software to Atari 8-bit enthusiasts around the world. I felt that I had the superior BBS software because I had programmed in the ability to run external programs, including online games and user surveys. I also had added color prompts for IBM clone users who called Atari boards running my OASIS software. Sometime in 1991...I sold the rights to OASIS to a man in Canada.. Jeff Williams ("Alf") writes: (12/6/02) OASIS was around prior to either PRO or BBS Express! IIRC. I don't know when exactly it showed up, version 3.09 was the first one I remember seeing. What made it nifty was it was very fast, being all assembler, and having some different features that things like Forem & Carina didn't have. Compared to something like Forem MPP at the time, it was kind of amazing. Ralph Walden sold it to Glenda Stocks, who chopped it up into modules and sold it as ver 4.7. PRO was out by then, and was a much more complete offering imo. Glenda wrote some modules for 4.7, but it never really went anywhere because the architecture was so cramped with her changes. Eventually she gave up and sold me the source. I looked it over and realized it was a mess and nothing was going to happen with it. I worked on a version 5 for a while, but never made much progress. o Puff BBS -- by Robert (Bob) Puff http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/PUFFBBS/ "came with a hardware component to both provide ring detect for the Atari (none existed in the modem) and to serve as a hardware key/dongle associated with the software." o SMART BBS -- by Marco Benton http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/SMARTBBS/ This program is written entirely in BASIC. It expects to be running under a SpartaDOS environment. This BBS program uses a "modem clock string" rather than an R-Time 8 cartridge in order to retrieve the current time. It also comes with an Atari BASIC game door called "Sabotage". o TART-BOARD -- by Bob Alleger Early Atari BBS. o TCPIP Express -- by ILS - Integrated Logic Systems - Stephen J. Carden http://www.realdos.net/prodtcpip.html This upgrade is to the BBS Express Professional. This version is designed to function on the Internet and Multiplexer, though neither is required. Targeted at the serious, big-system Internet SysOp. Will ONLY run on SpartaDOS 3.2x or greater or RealDOS. TDLINE must be installed, and the R-Time 8 is fully supported. Written in 100% machine language. o XeBBS+ -- by Jonathan Taylor http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/software/ATARI/EIGHTBIT/XEBBS/ for the Atari 130XE / Expanded 800XL, required BASIC XE, designed to work with the SupraDrive hard disk. "used the Automatic Modem Processor (AMP) code from FoReM XE, but was otherwise written from scratch." - Jonathan Taylor o 835 & 1030 Modem Bulletin Board -- by Gardner Computing (earlier) / Duplicating Technologies (DT)(later) Auto answer, XMODEM upload/download, sold with ring detector. Ads: ROM #9 Dec84/Jan85 p. 37; Antic v4n10 Feb 86 p. 44 User Contributions:Top Document: Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions Previous Document: 10.8) Are there 8-bit Atari tools for the Commodore Amiga? Next Document: 10.3) How can I read/write Atari diskettes with my other computer? Single Page [ Usenet FAQs | Web FAQs | Documents | RFC Index ] Send corrections/additions to the FAQ Maintainer: Michael Current <michael@mcurrent.name>
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Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions
Section - 11.1) What is the history of Atari's 8-bit computers platform?
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Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions
Section - 11.1) What is the history of Atari's 8-bit computers platform?
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