Warner Communications

Place: Sunnyvale

Born: 1972

Death: 1996

Biography:

Warner Communications was an American video game developer and home computer company founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. Atari, Inc., the company that would later become a key player in the formation of the video arcade and video game industry, was established in Sunnyvale, California, in the center of Silicon Valley.

Early Years

The company started by developing arcade games, starting with Pong in 1972. As computer technology matured with low-cost integrated circuits, Atari ventured into the consumer market, first with dedicated home versions of Pong and other arcade successes around 1975. The company's success drew new console manufacturers to the market, including Mattel Electronics and Coleco, and fostered third-party developers such as Activision and Imagic.

Notable Games and Milestones

Some notable games developed by Warner Communications include Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, a classic example of the intersection between art and technology. This game, developed in 1984, was based on the third film in the original Star Wars trilogy. The game's design and visual elements showcase the creativity and innovation of Warner Communications, as well as their ability to bring a beloved story to life through interactive media.

• Asteroids helped to usher in a golden age of arcade games from 1979 to 1983.
• The arcade conversion of Taito's Space Invaders for the Atari VCS became the console's system seller and killer application.
• Warner Communications also ventured into the home computer market with their first 8-bit computers, but their products did not fare as well as their competitors'.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1985, Warner Communications formed a new corporation jointly with Namco, AT Games, Inc., which acquired the coin-operated assets of Atari Games, Inc.. AT Games was subsequently renamed Atari Games Corporation. Warner Communications remained a non-operating subsidiary of Warner Communications and its successor, Time Warner, before being merged back into the parent company in 1992. Notable links: https://Wikioo.org/@/Warner-Communications https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/O/93PVDX Important: Warner Communications is no longer an active company, but its legacy lives on in the world of video games and home computers. The company's innovative approach to game development and its contributions to the industry continue to be celebrated by gamers and collectors alike.