Atari Interactive

Atari Interactive is a name used by several separate groups and corporations since the mid-1990s. In 1996, it was the name of Atari Corporation's PC publishing division, bringing games like the Atari Jaguar's Tempest 2000 to the PC platform.[1][2] From 1998 to 2001, Atari Interactive, Inc. was the name of the corporate entity that held the Atari properties purchased from JTS by Hasbro in 1998, and functioned as the retro publishing subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive.[3] It is currently the name of a wholly owned subsidiary of Atari, SA (formerly Infogrames), who is the current owner of the Atari brand and various other properties formerly belonging to Hasbro Interactive. The current Atari Interactive was formed in 2001, when IESA acquired Hasbro Interactive and proceeded to rename it to Infogrames Interactive.[4] In 2003, IESA then changed the company name entirely to Atari Interactive, Inc. as part of its worldwide reorganization to focus on use of the Atari brand.[5]

For information on the Atari brand and its history, see Atari.
Atari Interactive, Inc.
FormerlyHiat XI Corp. (1998)
Infogrames Interactive, Inc. (2001–2003)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
PredecessorsHasbro Interactive
Atari Interactive (subsidiary of Hasbro Interactive)
Atari Corporation
Founded1996 (1996) (as Atari Corporation's PC publishing and distribution division)

1998 (1998) (new company formed to handle Atari properties, existed between 1998 to 2001)

2003 (2003) (The current Atari Interactive, result of merger between Hasbro Interactive and the old Atari Interactive)
Headquarters
New York City, New York
,
United States
ParentAtari Corporation (1996)
Hasbro Interactive (1998–2001)
Atari SA (2001–Present)
Websitewww.atari.com

Division of Atari Corporation

On January 2, 1996, at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show, Atari Corporation formally announced the formation of Atari Interactive to "address the worldwide PC market".[6] Planning to initially launch with four titles, Tempest 2000, Highlander: The Last of the MacLeods, Baldies, and FlipOut!, further releases were to include Missile Command 3D, Return to Crystal Castles, Rocky Interactive Horror Show, and Virtual War.[6] By February 12, however, Atari Corporation was announcing a planned merger with drive manufacturer JTS, Inc, who had no interest to compete in any way in the video-game or PC markets.[7] Atari Corporation suspended its businesses, laid off about 80 percent of its staff and reportedly began liquidating its assets – which included the closing of the newly formed Atari Interactive division.[7][8] The Atari/JTS merger officially took effect on July 30, 1996.[9]

Hasbro Interactive subsidiary

On February 23, 1998, JTS sold all assets and properties of its Atari division to Hiat XI Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hasbro's Hasbro Interactive created in Delaware for the purpose of the purchase.[10] Hasbro then renamed Hiat XI to Atari Interactive in May 1998 and would use the Atari brand name to publish retro-themed remake titles. On the 21st of that month, Hasbro announced that a remake of Centipede would be released for the PC and PlayStation.[11] Throughout 1999 and 2000, games like The Next Tetris, Missile Command, Pong: The Next Level, Q*Bert, Glover, Nerf Arena Blast and Breakout would be released under the Atari branding.

Infogrames subsidiary

In 2001, Hasbro sold Hasbro Interactive and its subsidiaries to French publisher Infogrames Entertainment, SA (IESA). IESA then renamed it to Infogrames Interactive, Inc.[4] On May 7, 2003, IESA officially reorganized its subsidiaries into Atari-branded names, which included renaming Infogrames Interactive, Inc. to Atari Interactive, Inc.,[12]

In 2003, Infogrames' US subsidiary Infogrames, Inc. licensed the Atari name and logo from Atari Interactive and changed its name to Atari, Inc.[13] using it to develop, publish and distribute games for all major video game consoles and personal computers under the Atari brand.

On January 21, 2013, Atari, Inc. and Atari Interactive, Inc. (collectively, the "Companies") filed petitions for relief under Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.[14] All three Ataris emerged from bankruptcy one year later and the entering of the social casino gaming industry with Atari Casino.[15] Frederic Chesnais, who now heads all three companies, stated their entire operations consist of a staff of 10 people.[16]

See also

References
  1. Shelton, Denise (January 3, 1996). "Atari announces PC games unit". cNet. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  2. Tempest 2000 CD cover at Moby Games
  3. Business Wire (February 7, 2000). "Hasbro Interactive Pursues Copyright Infringement Suit Against eGames and GT Interactive; Xtreme Games, MVP Software, Webfoot and Varcon Also Named in Suit". Business Wire. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  4. "Civilization III:Play The World Press Release". Infogrames Inc. May 8, 2002. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  5. Atari Inc. (March 31, 2003). "10-KT · For 3/31/03". Atari Inc. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  6. "Atari Broadens its Platform Base". Compkarori.com. Business Wire. January 2, 1996. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  7. Biggs, Brooke Shelby (July 19, 1996). "'Success' killed Pac-Man creator Atari". San Jose Business Journal. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  8. "Adios, Atari". GamePro. No. 92. IDG. May 1996. p. 20. ... the recently formed PC division, Atari Interactive, has been completely liquidated.
  9. "Video Game Timeline". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 102. Ziff Davis. January 1998. p. 137.
  10. JTS Corp. (March 3, 1998). "8-K For 2/23/98". JTS Corp. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  11. Rouse III, Richard (Sep 10, 1999). "Leaping Lizard's Centipede 3D". Game Developer. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  12. Summary of ATARI INC - Yahoo! Finance
  13. Atari, Inc. (March 31, 2003). "10-KT · For 3/31/03, Overview Subsection". Atari, Inc. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  14. "Atari Files For Chapter 11 To Separate From French Parent". Prnewswire.com. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  15. Brett Molina (March 26, 2014). "Atari resets with jump into social casino gaming". USA Today. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  16. https://venturebeat.com/2014/03/26/atari-and-flowplay-team-up-to-offer-social-casino-games/
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