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Brian Johnston
August 4, 2016
Poet's Notes:
One of the best jobs I ever had was working for Atari (1978-1982), but the political intrigue was incredible and publish or perish the rule for survival. I take my hat off to the remarkable men and women that made hard work so much fun!
I wrote Part 1 in haste preceding an interview that may lead to a book about those days. I am anticipating a Part 2 and many revisions as well!
Glossary of terms:
(1) Atari: During the late 70s and early 80s Atari was the world's largest and most successful video game company, creator of PONG (a home racket ball simulation done in hardware) and shortly after the VCS (a Video Computer System that played games using Cartridges that were purchased separately). Atari designed larger Console Video Games as well that were constructed using hardware only without the aid of microcomputers. Such Console styled games were found in Bars and Pizza Parlors in the early days.
(2) Nolan Bushnell: The founder of Atari.
(3) VCS: The Video Computer System was the first Game Platform design for home users and enabled the end user to change the video game it played by just by plugging in a new Game Cartridge.
(4) Ray Kassar: Atari's New President after Nolan Bushnell sold the company in 1978.
(5) Mike Moon: President of the Consumer Video Game Division of Atari. There was also a "Coin OP Division," and a "Home Computer Division."
(6) Atari 800 and Atari 400: These were the first Home Computer/Game machines designed by Atari.
(7) CDC: New managers for the Home Computer Division were hired from Control Data Corporation to help give the "800" and "400" a new legitimacy in the computer world.
(8) Wozniak (Steve): The Apple co-founder and hardware engineer who designed Apples highly successful Floppy Disk Drive,
(9) Paul Lawton (And Kathy O'Brien): Paul wrote the Apple Hard Drive's firmware. He and Kathy were instrumental in Apple's early software success.
(10) Rodger Badisher: President of Atari's Home Computer Division. Roger and Bruce Irvine, the Home Computer Division Vice-President, were early Control Data Corporation hires by Atari.