Atari(R) Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Home Edition of Pong with Atari(R) Flashback2

[Mattlab]

Atari(R) Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Home Edition of Pong with Atari(R) Flashback(TM) 2
Latest Plug-and-Play Console Ships to Stores, Reviving Classic Favorites
NEW YORK, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the home edition of Pong, the world's first mass market video game, Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) today announced its latest classic gaming console, Atari(R) Flashback(TM) 2 is available now nationwide for a suggested price of $29.99. The second installment of the plug-and-play series succeeds last year's highly acclaimed retro-gaming console, which shipped more than 500,000 units to retail, and features 40 original classic games, including Pong(R), Asteroids(R), Centipede(R), and Combat(TM). Atari(R) Flashback(TM) 2 is styled after the Atari(R) 2600 system, complete with its infamous wood grain paneling and joysticks.

"Atari(R) Flashback(TM) 2 offers consumers all the original gems of video games -- Pong, Pitfall, Asteroids -- making it the ultimate re-creation of the classic gaming experience," said Marc Metis, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Atari, Inc. "The appeal of the Atari Flashback 2.0 transcends all ages, and makes it an especially appealing choice for gifts this holiday season."

The Atari Flashback 2 showcases 20 original 2600 games, as well as 20 unreleased Atari games, and features an engineered modern chip technology that allows use of the original Atari 2600 code directly. The system will plug right into any TV using RCA cables, and will not only utilize the joysticks included, but will be backwards compatible with all other Atari(R) 2600 controllers as well.

The Atari Flashback 2 is rated 'E' for Everyone and is available at retail stores nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.atari.com .

[martyg]

Ummm....Pong was not the first mass market video game. ;)

That honor would go to Magnavox with their Odyssey.

[Lord Turbine]

Originally posted by martyg
Ummm....Pong was not the first mass market video game. ;)

That honor would go to Magnavox with their Odyssey.

Indeed. How dare Atari lie to the masses?

Eghhh.... that got started with Nolan Bushnell.... even though he truly got his idea from the Odyssey (Brown Box stage) in the first place. He thought of Pong while at a convention showcasing the Odyssey, hosted by Magnavox.

Originally, RCA was going to ship the Odyssey to all stores, which would have made it more succesful, but then RCA got a new president, so the Odyssey was brought to Magnavox, who only let it sell in Sears.

[martyg]

Originally posted by Lord Turbine
Indeed. How dare Atari lie to the masses?
Originally, RCA was going to ship the Odyssey to all stores, which would have made it more succesful, but then RCA got a new president,


Actually it had nothing to do with a new president and it never got anywhere near shipping through RCA. It was just talks that lasted for several months until the RCA lawyers realized they couldn't get better rights than what was offered (i.e. they couldn't pull one over on the Sanders representatives).



so the Odyssey was brought to Magnavox, who only let it sell in Sears.

Huh? They didn't sell through Sears then. From Ralph Bear's (the designer of the Odyssey) new book Video Games: In The Beginning (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0964384817/ref=olp_product_details/102-3432533-9752931?_encoding=UTF8&v=glance):

"On top of that, sales were mainly limited to Magnavox's franchised dealer stores. In the 1960's and 1970's, Magnavox did not yet sell most of their products through independant stores or mass merchandisers such as Sears or Montgomery-Ward. That naturally narrowed the potential sales base considerably."

[Lord Turbine]

Originally posted by martyg
Actually it had nothing to do with a new president and it never got anywhere near shipping through RCA. Oh, really? Didn't know that one.... It was just talks that lasted for several months until the RCA lawyers realized they couldn't get better rights than what was offered (i.e. they couldn't pull one over on the Sanders representatives).




Huh? They didn't sell through Sears then. Yes, but they did eventually narrow down to Sears and Sears only. According to Icons, at least... From Ralph Bear's (the designer of the Odyssey) new book Video Games: In The Beginning (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0964384817/ref=olp_product_details/102-3432533-9752931?_encoding=UTF8&v=glance):

"On top of that, sales were mainly limited to Magnavox's franchised dealer stores. In the 1960's and 1970's, Magnavox did not yet sell most of their products through independant stores or mass merchandisers such as Sears or Montgomery-Ward. That naturally narrowed the potential sales base considerably."

I should read that book. The rest of my reply in in dark blue.

"Did you know he also invented Simon?"

[martyg]

Regarding the book - please do get it, its a great read and he has reproductions of lots of paperwork, etc. in it as well.

Re Sears and Icons - Are you talking about the show on G4? They're not always the best fact checkers and/or source of information. Sales for the Odyssey in the US ended by '75 (European sales went longer) When they introduced the Odyssey 100 and 200. Sears was not an option, as Ralph mentioned. In fact, the first video games sold through Sears were the OEM versions of Atari's home pong in '75. Magnavox did manage to sell some OEM as well through the tele-games brand several years later.