Atarisoft
Encyclopedia
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
used by Atari, Inc
Atari, Inc
Atari, Inc. was an American video game and home computer company founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. Primarily responsible for the formation of the video arcade and modern video game industries, the company was closed and its assets split in 1984 as a direct result of the North...
in 1983 and 1984 to market video games they published for home systems made by their competitors. Each platform had a specific color attributed by Atarisoft for its game packages. For example, video games sold for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
came up in green packages, games for the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A
The Texas Instruments TI-99/4A was an early home computer, released in June 1981, originally at a price of USD $525. It was an enhanced version of the less-successful—and quite rare—TI-99/4 model, which was released in late 1979 at a price of $1,150...
in yellow, games for the IBM PC in blue, and so on. Despite being in existence for less than two years, Atarisoft had a huge video game library with dozens of game versions being released for various home computer
Home computer
Home computers were a class of microcomputers entering the market in 1977, and becoming increasingly common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a single nontechnical user...
s and consoles
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
. Almost all of the Atarisoft titles were produced by third-party software companies, as Atari only developed for their own systems.
With the exception of some games sold only in France, the label was not used on software for Atari's own 8-bit computer family
Atari 8-bit family
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers manufactured from 1979 to 1992. All are based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and were the first home computers designed with custom coprocessor chips...
. The majority of Atarisoft releases had already been put out for these machines, typically in Atari's standard "400/800" or "XL-era" packaging.
The Atarisoft label did not bear Atari's popular "fuji" logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
, and the name was written in a different typeface (popularly called "Futuri Extra Bold [non-italic]") to the normal "Atari" lettering. Atarisoft was a brand mainly used on game boxes and manuals; the name that appeared on the title screen of these games was generally that of Atari, not Atarisoft.
The label died in all countries, except in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, when Warner Communications
Warner Communications
Warner Communications or Warner Communications, Inc. was established in 1971 when Kinney National Company spun off its non-entertainment assets, due to a financial scandal over its parking operations and changed its name....
sold Atari Inc's consumer division to Jack Tramiel
Jack Tramiel
Jack Tramiel is an American businessman, best known for founding Commodore International - manufacturer of the Commodore PET, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, Commodore Amiga, and other Commodore models of home computers.-Biography:...
. It survived another year in France before being disbanded there as well in 1985. Many ports were in production when the label was cancelled (particularly for the BBC Micro
BBC Micro
The BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, was a series of microcomputers and associated peripherals designed and built by Acorn Computers for the BBC Computer Literacy Project, operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
in the UK). Most of these went unreleased although a few were eventually released by other companies.
Games
- Battlezone (Apple IIApple IIThe Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
, Commodore 64Commodore 64The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, Commodore VIC 20, IBM PCIBM PCThe IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
) - CentipedeCentipede (video game)Centipede is a vertically-oriented shoot 'em up arcade game produced by Atari, Inc. in 1980. The game was designed by Ed Logg along with Dona Bailey, one of the few female game programmers in the industry at this time. It was also the first arcade coin-operated game to have a significant female...
(Apple II, ColecoVisionColecoVisionThe ColecoVision is Coleco Industries' second generation home video game console which was released in August 1982. The ColecoVision offered arcade-quality graphics and gaming style, and the means to expand the system's basic hardware...
, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC 20, IBM PC, IntellivisionIntellivisionThe Intellivision is a video game console released by Mattel in 1979. Development of the console began in 1978, less than a year after the introduction of its main competitor, the Atari 2600. The word intellivision is a portmanteau of "intelligent television"...
, Texas Instruments TI-99/4ATexas Instruments TI-99/4AThe Texas Instruments TI-99/4A was an early home computer, released in June 1981, originally at a price of USD $525. It was an enhanced version of the less-successful—and quite rare—TI-99/4 model, which was released in late 1979 at a price of $1,150...
) - Crystal Castles (Apple II)
- DefenderDefender (game)Defender is an arcade video game developed released by Williams Electronics in 1980. A shooting game featuring two-dimensional graphics, the game is set on a fictional planet where the player must defeat waves of invading aliens while protecting astronauts...
(Apple II, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC 20, IBM PC, Intellivision, Texas Instruments TI-99/4A) - Dig DugDig Dugis an arcade game developed and published by Namco in Japan in 1982 for Namco Galaga hardware. It was later published outside of Japan by Atari. A popular game based on a simple concept, it was also released as a video game on many consoles.-Objective:...
(Apple II, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC 20, IBM PC, Texas Instruments TI-99/4A) - Donkey Kong (Apple II, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC 20, IBM PC, Texas Instruments TI-99/4A)
- GalaxianGalaxianis an arcade game developed by Namco in 1979. It was published by Namco in Japan and was imported to North America by Midway in 1980. A fixed shooter-style game in which the player controls a spaceship at the bottom of the screen and shoots enemies descending in various directions, it was designed...
(Apple II, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC 20, IBM PC, ZX SpectrumZX SpectrumThe ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
) - Gremlins (Apple II, Commodore 64, IBM PC)
- JoustJoust (arcade game)Joust is an arcade game developed by Williams Electronics and released in 1982. It is a platform game that features two-dimensional graphics. The player uses a button and joystick to control a knight riding a flying ostrich...
(Apple II, IBM PC) - Jungle HuntJungle HuntJungle Hunt is a one- or two-player side-scrolling arcade platform game produced by Taito in 1982.The player controls a jungle explorer who sports a pith helmet and a safari suit. The player must rescue his girl from a tribe of hungry cannibals...
(Apple II, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC 20, IBM PC, Texas Instruments TI-99/4A) - Mario Bros.Mario Bros.is an arcade game published and developed by Nintendo in 1983. It was developed by Shigeru Miyamoto. It has been commonly featured as a minigame in the Super Mario Advance series and other games...
(Apple II, Commodore 64) - Moon PatrolMoon Patrolis a classic arcade game by Irem that was first released in 1982. It was licensed to Williams for distribution in North America.The player controls a moon buggy, viewing it from the side, that travels over the moon's surface. While driving it, obstacles such as craters and mines must be avoided....
(Apple II, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC 20, IBM PC, Texas Instruments TI-99/4A) - Ms Pac-Man (Apple II, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC 20, IBM PC, Texas Instruments TI-99/4A,ZX Spectrum)
- Pac-ManPac-Manis an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution in the United States by Midway, first released in Japan on May 22, 1980. Immensely popular from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games,...
(Apple II, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC 20, IBM PC, Intellivision, Texas Instruments TI-99/4A, ZX Spectrum) - Picnic Paranoia (Texas Instruments TI-99/4A)
- Pole PositionPole PositionPole Position is a racing video game released in 1982 by Namco. It was published by Namco in Japan and by Atari, Inc. in the United States...
(Apple II, BBC MicroBBC MicroThe BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, was a series of microcomputers and associated peripherals designed and built by Acorn Computers for the BBC Computer Literacy Project, operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC 20,IBM PC DOS, Texas Instruments TI-99/4A, ZX Spectrum) - Protector II (Texas Instruments TI-99/4A, Commodore 64,)
- Robotron: 2084Robotron: 2084Robotron: 2084 is an arcade video game developed by Vid Kidz and released by Williams Electronics in 1982. It is a shooting game that features two-dimensional graphics. The game is set in the year 2084, in a fictional world where robots have turned against humans...
(Acorn ElectronAcorn ElectronThe Acorn Electron is a budget version of the BBC Micro educational/home computer made by Acorn Computers Ltd. It has 32 kilobytes of RAM, and its ROM includes BBC BASIC along with its operating system....
, Apple II, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC 20, IBM PC, ZX Spectrum) - Shamus (Texas Instruments TI-99/4A)
- StargateStargate (video game)Stargate is an arcade game released in 1981 by Williams Electronics. Created by Eugene Jarvis, it is a sequel to the 1980 game Defender, and was the first of only three productions from Vid Kidz, an independent development house formed by Jarvis and Larry DeMar...
(Apple II, IBM PC DOS) - Track & Field (Apple II, Commodore 64)
- Typo AttackTypo AttackTypo Attack was a computer game for the Atari 800 series in 1982. It was programmed by David Buehler and published by the Atari Program Exchange in 1982....
(Apple II)
Releases in France only
- CameléonCameleonCameleon is an engineered protein based on variant of green fluorescent protein used to visualize calcium levels in living cells. It is a genetically encoded calcium sensor created by Roger Y. Tsien and coworkers...
(Atari 8-bit) - Énigme du triangle (Atari 8-bit)
- Nostradamus (Atari 8-bit)
- Promoteur (Atari 8-bit)
Unreleased
- Asteroids Deluxe (BBC Micro)
- Crystal Castles (Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Commodore 64), eventually released by US Gold in 1986
- Donkey Kong Jr (BBC Micro)
- JoustJoust (arcade game)Joust is an arcade game developed by Williams Electronics and released in 1982. It is a platform game that features two-dimensional graphics. The player uses a button and joystick to control a knight riding a flying ostrich...
(BBC Micro) - Robotron:2084 (Texas Instruments TI-99/4A)
- SinistarSinistarSinistar is an arcade game released by Williams in 1982. It belongs to a class of video games from the 1980s called "twitch games". Other "twitch games" include Tempest, Defender, and Robotron: 2084. Sinistar was developed by Sam Dicker, Jack Haeger, Noah Falstein, RJ Mical and Richard Witt...
(Acorn Electron, BBC Micro), released as DeathStarDeathstar (video game)Deathstar is an 8-bit computer game for the Acorn Electron and BBC Micro developed by Peter Johnson and originally published in the UK by Superior Software in 1985...
by Superior SoftwareSuperior SoftwareSuperior Software is a video game publisher. It was established in 1982 by Richard Hanson and John Dyson, two graduates of the University of Leeds, England...