Atari files for bankruptcy : Othor Games

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:09 am

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/21/atari-files-for-bankruptcy_n_2518778.html

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/01/21/game-over-atari-files-for-bankruptcy/

The U.S. Atari operation, which is thought to only employ about 40 people, is looking to get approval for $5.25 million in funding and to continue business during the bankruptcy. In a statement, Atari confirmed it would "effectuate a sale of all, or substantially all, of (its) assets" including "one of the most widely recognized brand logos, which is familiar to 90 percent of Americans."

Wonder if we're going to see a second videogame crash in 2013, or possibly 2014.

» Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:51 pm

Atari has been on the downslope for a long time, it was only a matter of time.

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:11 am

That's a shame. First THQ now Atari. I would not be the least bit shocked if we saw a few other companies file for bankruptcy.

» Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:17 pm

Is anyone else feeling like it is 1983 again?

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:07 am

Is anyone else feeling like it is 1983 again?

Can't be to surprised. I mean, I'd argue it's all based on preformance. I'd say THQ really got knocked hard with the general negative/mediocre response to Saints Row the Third. As for Atari, I don't quite recall them having released a quality product in recent years. But gaming in general is difficult price wise. Who's going to pay 50-60 bucks for every game they want? Games need to come down in price for them to sell a little more. Not that it will happen anytime soon mind you, but still.

» Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:59 pm

Another relic bites the dust.

And please, this is hardly the sign of doom for the videogames industry. For one thing it's more robust than it was in 1983, and the companies that have been folding have been in dire straits for a long time.

» Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:02 pm

Didn't know they still made games...

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:13 am

This is hardly a surprise. The last good game Atari published here is The Witcher, and that was back in 2007. They sure gone down a lot since their Infogrames haydays.

» Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:40 pm

Be cool to see a auction of video game rights to titles and such for the public, but I doubt that will ever happen. One company that I hope goes under is EA.

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:54 am

Didn't know they still made games...

They don't, just published them. And they're not "that" Atari anyway - Infogrames bought and licensed the name, and relaunched GT Interactive under the new Atari monicker. The last thing the "real" Atari did was release the terrible Jaguar console.

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:03 am

Really? That svcks, but I suppose it was gonna happen anyways.

» Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:59 pm

Be cool to see a auction of video game rights to titles and such for the public, but I doubt that will ever happen. One company that I hope goes under is EA.

Although everyone would like to see that, myself included, wouldn't that be big trouble for the industry? Would their subsidiary have to close to?

» Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:22 pm

THQ now Atari? Why do these companies have to die but ones like EA prosper?

» Tue Jan 22, 2013 4:02 pm

THQ now Atari? Why do these companies have to die but ones like EA prosper?

Because instead of appeasing a small niche, EA appeals to the masses. The masses have more numbers with money to throw at EA than niche audiences do.

The more you know.

» Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:44 pm

Because instead of appeasing a small niche, EA appeals to the masses. The masses have more numbers with money to throw at EA than niche audiences do.

The more you know.

That, and i'll ponder that 75% of the masses are idiots, willing to buy whatever is thrown at them by EA and companies like them. "Hey!! It's the new armor mod DLC with 2 new skins and 3 optional clothing choices. I MUST BUY!!!" Then about two, maybe three weeks later you rinse and repeat.

It's definitely becoming an "entertain the masses" scenario for companies.

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:48 am

That, and i'll ponder that 75% of the masses are idiots, willing to buy whatever is thrown at them by EA and companies like them. "Hey!! It's the new armor mod DLC with 2 new skins and 3 optional clothing choices. I MUST BUY!!!" Then about two, maybe three weeks later you rinse and repeat.

It's definitely becoming an "entertain the masses" scenario for companies.

Well, entertaining the masses is generally a sound business strategy.

» Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:39 pm

Wonder if we're going to see a second videogame crash in 2013, or possibly 2014.

Is anyone else feeling like it is 1983 again?

I wouldn't be at all surprised. The big publishers seem to have mostly lost sight of the people who matter, namely their customers; I don't even remember the gaming crash of the early/mid '80s as it'd just become a bit of an irrelevance at the time, and they're risking doing it again. Still, it can only be good news for the indies.

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:13 am

THQ now Atari? Why do these companies have to die but ones like EA prosper?

Because while EA makes [censored] games, it seems to be what the masses want.
I probably sound like a hipster, but gaming getting so poular will ruin gaming. Look at TES for a nice example of something being watered down to increase sales. All flash and no substance.

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:26 am

Be cool to see a auction of video game rights to titles and such for the public, but I doubt that will ever happen. One company that I hope goes under is EA.

I imagine that Activision would buy a lot of what EA owns if that happened, some good improvement there. Or just buy all of EA out and close what they don't want.

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 1:28 am

Because while EA makes [censored] games, it seems to be what the masses want.
I probably sound like a hipster, but gaming getting so poular will ruin gaming. Look at TES for a nice example of something being watered down to increase sales. All flash and no substance.

Or rather, maybe these mainstream games aren't as bad as they're being made out to be. Sure some are a departure from what seems to be considered a typical PC game, but that's not a bad thing. I think a lot of EA's games are pretty good, as was Skyrim.

» Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:44 pm

It has nothing to do with the masses being 'spiddle dripping idiots', it's because, let's face it, those with a deep love for video games are so damn picky, even with a game we were generally pleased with, we'd still find SOMETHING to [censored] and moan over. The thing about the masses is they are generally casual gamers, so they'll buy DLCs they wont pay much mind to, and then brag about how cool it is while they're out with the bros.

Don't like it? Well, that's the reality of it. The mass consumer, IE casual gamers, are a much much easier audience to please.

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:10 am

I think a lot of EA's games are pretty good, as was Skyrim.

Yeah from a lot of what I see people don't really hate the games, aside from a few like DA 2 and ME 3. It is more of the money grabbing techniques that EA uses.

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:58 am

It has nothing to do with the masses being 'spiddle dripping idiots', it's because, let's face it, those with a deep love for video games are so damn picky, even with a game we were generally pleased with, we'd still find SOMETHING to [censored] and moan over. The thing about the masses is they are generally casual gamers, so they'll buy DLCs they wont pay much mind to, and then brag about how cool it is while they're out with the bros.

Don't like it? Well, that's the reality of it. The mass consumer, IE casual gamers, are a much much easier audience to please.

Exactly. Like I've been fond of saying recently: According to denizens of the internet, a quality video game has never been produced. Take even this forum - You have people that either LOVE a game or HATE a game, and never the twain shall meet.

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:44 am

It has nothing to do with the masses being 'spiddle dripping idiots', it's because, let's face it, those with a deep love for video games are so damn picky, even with a game we were generally pleased with, we'd still find SOMETHING to [censored] and moan over. The thing about the masses is they are generally casual gamers, so they'll buy DLCs they wont pay much mind to, and then brag about how cool it is while they're out with the bros.

Don't like it? Well, that's the reality of it. The mass consumer, IE casual gamers, are a much much easier audience to please.

You hit the nail on the head.

» Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:07 am

Yeah from a lot of what I see people don't really hate the games, aside from a few like DA 2 and ME 3. It is more of the money grabbing techniques that EA uses.

Well, funnily enough, video gaming is a money industry, and you need money to make games. They do nothing any more different than say, Target or Wal-Mart. Or Clothing brands. They're offering a product, if people want it, they will buy it. Same as any movie or cd.