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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Atari U.S. Files for Bankruptcy to Break from Parent |
| 2013-01-22 |
| [An Nahar] Video game maker Atari's U.S. operations have filed for bankruptcy protection in an effort to separate from their French parent company, which is filing a similar motion separately in France. In a statement, Atari says the move is necessary to secure investments it needs to grow in mobile and downloadable video games. Atari, which turned 40 last year, was a videogame pioneer with games like "Pong" and "Centipede," but has changed ownership several times amid financial problems. Atari's U.S. operations have shifted to focus on digital games and licensing, including developing mobile games, and they have become a growth engine for its owner. France's Infogrames Entertainment first took a stake in Atari in 2000. It acquired the remaining stake in 2008 and changed its name to Atari S.A. But the U.S. operations have been performing better than the rest of the company. In fiscal 2012, digital and licensing revenue both grew significantly and contributed 70 percent of revenue, while sales in bricks-and-mortar stores declined. In December, Atari S.A. said a credit agreement it entered into with investor BlueBay -- its main shareholder and only lender -- would lapse at the end of the year and the company was seeking other ways to raise capital. It added that it expects to report a "significant loss" for fiscal 2012. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 Asteroids, Defender Super Cobra |
| Posted by: bman 2013-01-22 10:50 |
| #3 Battlezone, Red Baron were keepers. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2013-01-22 10:24 |
| #2 Unfortunately most games these days have fallen into a predictable and cookie cutter type of pattern. That sells, I guess but you played one first person shooter you played 'em all (there are wonderful exceptions of course but I'm talking generally). |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2013-01-22 09:52 |
| #1 Just rediscovered playing "Pong" + "Pacman" + "Frogger". The "oldies" prove to be more refreshing + fun than the new or contemporary games, espec on PC. NO "PLANETOID" THOUGH AS YET - WHY, D *** NG IT, WHY! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2013-01-22 00:36 |