Dont Post Here (If you do you must be desperate)

[7800Lynx7800]

....

[DoctorClu]

Many say that Pac-Man is iconic of the early Atari. I agree but Atari does not own Pac-Man outright.

Other say Bently Bear (Crystal Castles, appearance in Atari Karts on the Jaguar) but Bently Bear didn't do much for me.

I believe Atari owns Bubsy Bobcat, which I always thought was a good candidate. He had a unique game on the Jaguar, but only one game. But hey, I believe Atari does own the rights to that character.

I think that the BEST canidate for a Mascot for Atari is the pong block (who was also featured in so many other Atari games like Adventure and so on.) :P

[EMZayas]

Bubsy belonged to Accolade, which has been absorbed by Atari, Inc. a few years back. So Atari does own Bubsy. I have a Bubsy game on the Sega Genesis. It's OK. I hope Atari doesn't revive the character, unless they reinvent him a little bit.

Atari has so many memorable characters and games, it's hard to choose one.

[martyg]

Regarding Pac-Man, its not just that they don't own it outright - they own absolutely nothing to do with it. The Warner Atari Inc. owned a license from Namco (and actually quite a few of their early 80's arcade titles were Namco licenses). But that long since expired.

As far as a "mascot", they had official an official mascot though its actually plural. Atari Force was the special team created (by fellow Warner subsidiary DC Comics) to promote Atari and its games. Besides the pack in comics and the regular comic series, there was also the one arcade game, Liberator. There's where my forum icon comes from.

[slosu]

C'mon guys........IT has to be the Yar!!!!!!!


http://www.xanga.com/Atari_Man

[slosu]

You asked for opinion's and what it should be. In my opinion it should be the YAR. In the future it would be a good idea not to ask for others opinion's and tell the "well it's not". If you don't like MY or anyone's opinion "Too bad for you".....don't ask.:D


http://www.xanga.com/Atari_Man

[EMZayas]

I think they should remake Adventure into a real next-gen game with beautiful graphics, great action-adventure gameplay(with RPG elements), a heart touching but badass memorable story, make it multiple discs long(it has to be an adventure, right?), a truly memorable like-able main character and make that character their mascot. I would love to see that. Not just a remake of one of Atari's most greatest games, but also a introductory to their new mascot.

That's my opinion. I find Adventure to be a great game and would love to see a remake done right.

[martyg]

The person in adventure is the pong block. I wish it was Atari's Mascot.

It is not a "pong block". The item in question in Pong is a ball, which can not be displayed circular because of pixel limitations. The graphic in adventure is an icon for a person consisting of a simple square, and drawn that way on purpose. It is not intended to look like a Pong ball.

[DoctorClu]

Right now while Bubsy is getting a lot of votes, at least as a mascot for the Jaguar...
http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=123556&pid=1527238&st=25&#entry1527238

I have to say that in all fun, the pong "block" is the most universal character in all the Atari games and systems.

We all know it is a pong ball, and we know it was a block due to limitations. Blockiness is what made Atari, one of the pioneers of video gaming, so special.

I've heard that the Atari symbol is supposed to be two paddles with an elongated pong ball in the middle... so again, the pong ball or block is the mascot of Atari overal!

Adventure features this block, along with countless other games that need to show their hero as dot, so again, more of the charm. And to add to the charm, below is one person's interpretation of the Adventurer "block" when more graphics became possible from the 2600 to the 5200...

http://cafeman.www9.50megs.com/atari/5200dev/YeOldeAdvIIContest.html

http://www.atariage.com/forums/uploads/monthly_05_2008/post-4709-1212018680.gif http://www.atariage.com/forums/uploads/monthly_05_2008/post-4709-1212018690.gif
(the "Lil Knight" by Jacob Rose)

So while I say Bubsy for the Jaguar, and while the Yar *IS* a good choice (Appeared in Yars Revenge, Yars' Return, E.T. and Raiders of the Lost Ark as far as I know...) the block is best mascot I can think of for Atari in general. :D

[EMZayas]

Actually, this is what the logo stands for:

2.2) What Does The Atari Logo Symbolize?
Designed by George Opperman in late 1972, the logo was meant to serve a dual purpose. First an foremost it represents a stylized letter "A" to stand for "Atari". However, the stylized "A" was also meant to represent Atari's initial claim to fame - Pong(r). The two side pieces of the Atari symbol represent two opposing video game players, with the center line of the Pong(r) court in the middle.

Sometime over 1973-1975, the description changed to reflect the Japanese origins of the Atari
name. Looking similar to Japan's famous Mount Fuji as well, the logo soon became referred to
as the Atari "Fuji" symbol.

This was taken from the Atari History And Product FAQ

The character block in Adventure is not the "Pong block". That square represents the hero of the game(a knight?). Due to hardware limitations, the hero in Adventure is represented by that square.

I had no idea Yar was in E.T. and Raiders of the lost Ark. I gotta go check those out.(but I hate E.T.)

[DoctorClu]

The character block in Adventure is not the "Pong block". That square represents the hero of the game(a knight?). Due to hardware limitations, the hero in Adventure is represented by that square.

I had no idea Yar was in E.T. and Raiders of the lost Ark. I gotta go check those out.(but I hate E.T.)[/quote]

LOL... weither it was a pong "block" or not, the hero was still a block.

Why does everyone here have such a difficult time admitting that the Atari 2600 is one of the beginning systems, had limited graphics, and very endearingly, the "block" is the most featured character on the game system? One could say the "block" is the actor on the 2600 that got the most roles.

As for E.T. and the Yar... hmmm...

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/a2600/file/563239/14398

"Start any game and grab all three pieces of the phone. Now grab seven Reeses' Pieces and give them to Elliot. Now find the flower and bring it to life. Itshould turn into a Yar and fly away. Finish the game and start a new one bypushing the button. Repeat the process and the flower should turn into IndianaJones. Finish and start a third game. This time the initials "HSW" will appearin your score. Note: If you find the flower before you complete the phone pieces or before you give the candy to Elliot, the trick may not work."

[EMZayas]

As for E.T. and the Yar... hmmm...

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/a2600/file/563239/14398

"Start any game and grab all three pieces of the phone. Now grab seven Reeses' Pieces and give them to Elliot. Now find the flower and bring it to life. Itshould turn into a Yar and fly away. Finish the game and start a new one bypushing the button. Repeat the process and the flower should turn into IndianaJones. Finish and start a third game. This time the initials "HSW" will appearin your score. Note: If you find the flower before you complete the phone pieces or before you give the candy to Elliot, the trick may not work."

Is that really true? Seems like a lot just to see those two characters in E.T. I only managed to beat E.T. once. Those damn FBI people are always stealing my phone pieces :pout:

[EMZayas]

Actually, the current Atari company doesn't have an official mascot. The current people running Atari/Infogrames(Phil Harrison & David Gardner) are focusing on the brand and relying on the Atari name/logo itself, not a character like Nintendo, Sega, Namco, etc. I don't think they'll ever have a mascot. IMO, I don't think they need a mascot to get people to notice Atari or start recognizing them again, but a strong brand people can trust and expect quality games from(that may start with Alone in the Dark).

Yes, I don't like Bubsy that much either. Decent games, though.

[SMACKY]

Nintendo's Mascot is Mario. Sega's Mascot is Sonic. Sony's is Crash Bandicot. Microsoft's is Master Chief. NEC's is Bonk. What about Atari? If Atari had a mascot what do you think it Would be? Post your opinion here. If this gets popular we might get Atari to put he/she/it as their mascot.

Hi 7800Lynx7800!

How about this guy for a mascot:

http://i29.tinypic.com/vy8nkh.png

The Atari Dragon! :):up:

[omaraco87]

For me, I think Pac Man is the one, considering that is one of the classics video games and it was one of the most played games in those times.

In fact, you can find some releases of the game, so for me, it has to be the Mascot of Atari.

Thanks.

Outsourcing in Call Center (http://www.iwaayconsultant.com)

[martyg]

Pac-Man is by Namco, not Atari. In fact, it already is the mascot of Namco.

[EMZayas]

You know, it's very hard to find a good mascot for todays Atari. We're all talking about classic characters in classic games(Adventure, Bubsy, Yar, etc.) Those games haven't been on the "scene" in quite a while. It has to be a current character, but what? Atari today only relies on licenses like Dragonball, Godzilla, Smash Court Tennis, etc. Those can't be mascots because they're not Atari owned.

The only one I can think of is Edward Carnby from Alone in the Dark
http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/876/876775/alone-in-the-dark-20080527113111477.jpg
He's a badass character and all that, but he doesn't look like mascot material.

[DoctorClu]

Bubsy was the most recent (1998), and Atari COULD do something with him.

But if not that, I suggest "Blocky" the pong ball. :P

[EMZayas]

Which game was that? Bubsy 3D?

They could do something with that character. I suggest a new platformer on XLA and PSN. It could work if done right.

[EMZayas]

Just to correct 7800Lynx7800 on his first post, Crash Bandicoot is NOT a Sony property. It's property of Sierra AKA Vivendi Games, which has now merged with Activision.

So, Sony has no mascot. And Microsoft hasn't made Master Chief their official mascot either. They have none, too
Didn't mean to double-post(like it matters in Atari Retro)

[BJK]

^Sony? No mascot? What about Ratchet & Clank or Jak & Daxter?

[EMZayas]

^Sony? No mascot? What about Ratchet & Clank or Jak & Daxter?

They are popular characters in great games. But, has Sony officially announced any of them as their mascot?

I don't know too much about Sony, so if they did, then my fault. I didn't know.

[EMZayas]

I never played Bubsy 3D

Worse than Superman 64? Wow, I gotta see for myself

I only played the first Bubsy on Genesis

[Nall]

Bubsy is the best choice... Atari should reinvent him. The reason for my choice in Bubsy is he is comparable to Sonic and Mario. (Bubsy can also attract gamers of any age unlike Edward Carnby).

[EMZayas]

The thing with Bubsy is, he wasn't that good to begin with.

I think Bently Bear from Crystal Castles is a better choice. He doesn't have that bad reputation Bubsy has, and was already seen in a game outside the Crystal Castle realm.

While Sonic is about speed, Mario about platforming, Bently Bear can be about puzzle solving(or item collectiong). Just my 2 cents.

I'm not saying they shouldn't re-invent Bubsy though. They should. Like I said already. A new, innovative platformer on PSN or XBLA would be great for Bubsy. I don't think Bubsy is ready for a big retail-packaged game yet. Best to start him off slow for now.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/gametap/web30/games/120047950/CrystalCastles_2600_Atari_205_d6180.PNG

[Nall]

Completely forgot about Bently Bear.

[martyg]

Yes, and interestingly Bubsy was not an Atari property. It was by Accolade.

But in a roundabout way, they all wound up together. Infogrames purchased Accolade in '99 and melded it in to the operations and then purchased the Atari properties of course several years later.

[EMZayas]

This is what I see here.

Pong Block is a great mascot.
martyg keeps denying it.
Everyone wants Bubsy and Bently Bear back.

Is the Pong block(which was meant to be a circle) really as memorable as Sonic, Mario, or Pac-Man for that matter?

A mascot needs to have personality, a unique look, trademark moves, etc. The Pong block doesn't have any of that. The Pong block is just an inanimate object, while other company's mascots are actually "alive".

Unless you can give me a good picture on how the Pong block can be a good mascot, then I can't accept it.

What else does the Atari group own? There's Zool. Owned/created by Gremlins Interactive before being purchased by Infogrames in 1999. Zool might not be mascot material but, like Bubsy, they can make a new innovative platformer with this character on XBLA, PSN, and WiiWare

http://www.acorn-gaming.org.uk/Reviews/Zool/zool1.gif

I can't see Zool or Bubsy becoming Atari's mascot, but they can be great "side characters", like what Donkey Kong and Link are to Nintendo.

[martyg]

Once again, no such thing as a "pong block", that's a made up name by a kid on an atari community forum. ;)

The proper terminology actually used for that is a player or missile graphic, which tended to be blocks or blocky. I challenge you to find any piece of Atari documentation where said graphic was refered to as a "pong block".

[martyg]

Likewise with Bubsy, it was never an "Atari" affiliated title so I don't know where this desire to use it as a mascot comes from. The three previous games in the series were released on the Genesis and SNES, and PC before the Jaguar game (which was the 4th game in the series), and the fifth for the Playstation. In fact, it has more affiliation with Sega and Nintendo then anything Atari.

[EMZayas]

Likewise with Bubsy, it was never an "Atari" affiliated title so I don't know where this desire to use it as a mascot comes from. The three previous games in the series were released on the Genesis and SNES, and PC before the Jaguar game (which was the 4th game in the series), and the fifth for the Playstation. In fact, it has more affiliation with Sega and Nintendo then anything Atari.

The reason why Bubsy was mentioned several times is because the current Atari company owns the rights to that character. It may not be an original Atari property and has only shown up on one Atari console, but the Atari of now has full ownership to it. That's why Bubsy is mentioned a lot. Same goes for Zool

Anyways, I don't think Bubsy will make a great mascot. Bently Bear has a greater chance, but even I'm starting to have doubts on that fuzzy, little bear

[slosu]

[quote=7800Lynx7800;10412465]Just let this thread die

I thought you wanted this post to die? Yet you keep running your mouth when you DON'T know what you are even talking about. The square you see in Adventure is NOT a pong block! You have now heard this from two different people now. Has this sunk in? Do you finally get it? You say you "wish" the pong block was the Atari Mascot.....I "wish" you would shut your mouth and atleast pretend to know what you are talking about!

[EMZayas]

This is the only area in Atari-community that I enjoy coming to everyday. It's the only section that deserves to be called Atari and the one I love to post retro related news in(even though no one cares). Please don't fill it with hate and curse words. It's the deadest section in Atari-community, it deserves better, and doesn't need crap like this.

Lets try to keep the real Atari alive by having friendly discussion on great retro gaming, not hate-filled arguments.

[AC-goku]

My motto is, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.


Atari should remake Iron Soldier. I remember that one. Or is that Telegames property?

*thinks about Iron Soldier 3 on PSX*

[slosu]

Agreed! If you think you are cool by cursing let me be the first to tell you....YOU ARE NOT! I like and enjoy in what I am reading other than the fact that you curse and that you can't make up your mind. First you say "let the thread die" and now you want to keep it going. Which is it today? Maybe I could have been cool with you 7800Lynx7800 but you rubbed me the wrong way earlier in this thread. Again, you asked for OPINIONS on what should be Atari's Mascot. I gave you my opinion (which in my opinion was a GOOD one) and you tell me "It's not....too bad for you". What kind of GARBAGE is that?

[EMZayas]

....


Whats with changing the original post(and deleting your posts) and title thread?

I thought it was a good thread before the arguing, why do this?

My last post in this thread was for the BOTH of you to stop arguing!!! Not just 7800lynx7800.

Why the sour grapes, 7800?