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Atari History: 125+ Atari Interviews On The Web

Since I’m winding-down my research on Atari for Gamasutra, I thought I would share some of the better places on the web that have interviews with (or firsthand account from) retro-gaming stars from Atari’s past. Some of these “interviewees” might not have worked at Atari, but either made games for Atari systems or were in occupations that affected Atari in it’s heyday (i.e. journalists, 3rd party devs). If you are interested in Atari history, there is nothing better than reading words directly from the mouths of people who were there.

One thing to note is that while these links work now, some of these interviews have fallen-of the web in the past. A few are are linked here directly from the Internet Archive . As well, if some of these suddenly go off line , you can search for them in Internet Archive to try to retrieve the content from the dead link.

The Interviews/Firsthand Accounts

  1. Rich Adam, Mike Hally : (Coin-op, Gravitar), March 4, 2004 http://www.cooganphoto.com
  2. Al Alcorn : (Coin-op, Pong), VG-Network
  3. Al Alcorn: : (Coin-op, Pong), March 10, 2008 IGN
  4. Ralph Baer: (arch-rival), April 24, 2006, Gamasutra
  5. Ralph Baer: (arch-rival), March 23, 2007, Gamasutra
  6. Ralph Baer: (arch-rival), Good Deal Games
  7. Donna Baily :(Coin-op, Centipede) August 27, 2007, Gamasutra
  8. Donna Baily: (Coin-op, Centipede), August 3, 2007, Gamasutra
  9. DanilleBerry/Dan Bunten: (8-bit, M.U.L.E.): 1997, Halcyon Days
  10. DanilleBerry/Dan Bunten: (8-bit, M.U.L.E.): , http://www.worldofmule.net
  11. Bob Brodie : (Atari ST), August 2, 1991, Z*Net
  12. Bill Budge : (8-bit, Pinball Construction Set), 1998, http://www.pcpinball.com
  13. Chuck “Chuckles” Bueche : (8-bit, Ultima II) Armchair Arcade
  14. Nolan Bushnell : (Founder), Good Deal Games
  15. Nolan Bushnell : (Founder), San Jose Mercury News
  16. Nolan Bushnell: (Founder), October 26, 2007 Speigel
  17. Nolan Bushnell: (Founder), April 2007, Joystiq
  18. Nolan Bushnell: (Founder), Dec 12, 2007 Vintage Computer And Gaming
  19. Steve Baker: (VCS,5200, 8-bit, Defender, Stargate ): 2001, Digital Press
  20. Mayor Donald E. Carroll : (Mayor of Alamogordo,New Mexico), 2005 Atari Digital Madman
  21. Mark Cerny : (Coin-op, Atari Game, Marble Madness), June 2002, http://www.bodenstandig.de/marble/atariga.htm
  22. Ian Chadwick (Journalist, Antic magazine): May 9, 2003, Atari Times
  23. David Crane: (VCS, Activision, Pitfall) Dec 6, 2005, Gamasutra
  24. David Crane: (VCS, Activision, Pitfall), Good Deal Games
  25. David Crane : (VCS, Activision, Tennis) Jan, 1984 Hi-Res Magazine
  26. Chris Crawford: (8-bit, Eastern Front) June 5, 2003, Gamasutra
  27. Chris Crawford: (8-bit, Excalibur): 1997 Halcyon Days
  28. Chris Crawford: (8-bit, SCRAM) : 2005, Armchair Arcade
  29. Chris Crawford: (8-bit Energy Czar), Feb 2, 2005, The Guardian Unlimited
  30. Joe Decuir: (Coin-op, Stella), 2005, Digital Press
  31. Joe Decuir : (Coin-op, Stella), 1998, Atari Museum
  32. Steve Defrisco :(VCS, Motorodeo, Klax), 2007, Digital Press
  33. Steve Defrisco: (VCS,, Klax), 1997 Halcyon Days
  34. Steve Defrisco : (VCS, Magic), Numb Thumb Club
  35. Jerome Domurat : (VCS, 5200, ST-graphics, E.T. ) 2002, Digital Press
  36. Landon Dyer : (8-bit, Centipede), 2008, http://www.dadhacker.com
  37. Peter Engelbright: (VCS, Epyx) Oct. 25, 2002, Atari times
  38. Hal Finney : (VCS-M-Network), 2006, Digital Press
  39. David Fox: (8-bit, 5200, Lucasfilm): 1997, Halcyon Days
  40. Jon Freeman & Anne Westfall : (8-bit, Electronic Arts, Archon); 1997, Halcyon Days
  41. FTL Team : (Atari ST, Dungeon Master,Oids,Sundog), Jan 1990, CPU NEWSWIRE ONLINE MAGAZINE
  42. Rob Fulop: (VCS, Night Driver), Nov. 23, 2006 , Gamasutra
  43. Rob Fulop: (VCS, Missile Command), 1993-2000, Digital Press
  44. Larry Gelberg (VCS, Parker Bros.), 2600 Connection
  45. Eric Ginner (Lynx, Ms. Pac-Man, Rampart), Oct 4, 1996, Atari times
  46. Tony Goacher : (Atari ST), Dec. 17, 2005 Atari Legend
  47. James Hague: (8-bit, Antic, Dadgum.com) Sep. 8, 1997 Atari Times
  48. Steve Hales : (VCS,8-bit, Synapse), 1997, Halcyon Days
  49. John Harris : (8-bit, Sierra, Jawbreaker): 1997, Halcyon Days
  50. Keithen Hayenga : (5200), 2004, Good Deal Games
  51. Bill Hogue : (8-bit, 5200, Miner 2049er), Feb 15, 2007, Armchair Empire
  52. Mathhew Hubbard :(VCS, Activision), 2001, Digital Press
  53. Jim Huether : (VCS, 5200. Flag Capture, Realsports Football), 2007, Digital Press
  54. Keithen Hayenga (Coin-op, 5200) : Good Deal Games
  55. Larry Kaplan : (VCS, Activision) 2006, Digital Press
  56. Kitchen Bros. (VCS, US Games, Activision): 1983, Electronic Fun Magazine
  57. David Lamkins : (VCS, Parker Bros., Frogger), 2004, Digital Press
  58. Stephen H. Landrum (8-bit, Epyx, Summer Games), http://www.fomalhaut.de
  59. Lance Lewis: (Jaguar) : Dec. 8, 2005 Atari Times
  60. Andre LamMothe : (8-bit, Quarks), http://www.gamershell.com
  61. Ed Logg : (Coin-op, Asteroids, Centipede) VG-Network
  62. Ed Logg (Coin-op, Tengen, Tetris), Atari HQ
  63. Ed Logg : (Coin-op, Atari Games), 1997, IGN
  64. David Lubar (8-bit, VCS,, Ultima IV) , 2003, Digital Press
  65. David Lubar: (8-bit, VCS, Fantastic Voyage, Ultima IV), 1997, Halcyon Days
  66. Denis Koble, Bill Grubb (Coin-op, VCS, Imagic), Jan 1983, Video Games Magazine
  67. Dan Kramer (VCS, Trak-Ball), August 15, 2005, Gamasutra
  68. Steve Kranish (8-bit, VCS), 2007, Digital Press
  69. Bill Kunkel: (Journalist:Electronic Games ) Dec. 12, 2005, Gamasutra
  70. Bill Kunkel : (Journalist, Electronic Games), Good Deal Games
  71. Bill Kunkel: (Journalist, Electronic Games), Jan. 2006, Gamerdad.com, 8bitrocket.com
  72. Harry Lafnear: (Atari ST, Time Bandit , Sep. 6, 2003, Atari Legend
  73. Daniel M. Lawrence (8-bit, Telengard), 6/22/2007 Armchair Arcade
  74. Barry Leitch :(Atari Games), 4/19/2001, remix64.com
  75. Brian McKee : (Coin-op) Atari Games, Area 51 http://www.tomheroes.com/
  76. Archer MacLean : (8-bit, Dropzone), Halcyon Days
  77. Daniel Macre : (Atari ST, Vroom), July 22, 2002, Atari Legend
  78. John Mathieson : (Jaguar, hardware), 2002
  79. Jed Margolin : (Coin-op), http://www.jmargolin.com/
  80. Alan Miller : (VCS, Activision), 2003, Digital Press
  81. Jay Miner : (VCS, 8-bit) September 1992, Mike Nelson
  82. James Morgan : (Atari CEO, 1983-1984), Antic Magazine, March 1984
  83. Jeff Minter : (ST, Jaguar, Tempest 2000), 1997, Halcyon Days
  84. Chuck Needle, R.J. Mical : (Lynx, Epyx): Sept. 1989, EGM
  85. Doug Neubauer (8-bit, Star Raiders), 1997, Halcyon Days
  86. Doug Neubauer : (8-bit, Star Raiders), 1986, Atari HQ
  87. Robert Craig Neve : (Atari ST), April 5, 2003, Atari Legend
  88. Greg Omi (Lynx, Electrocop), July 8, 2003, Atari Times
  89. Jeanne Parson, Judy Munsen (Coin-op, Atari Games, Primal Rage) April 13,1997 Stay Free Magazine
  90. Bob Polaro : (VCS, 8-bit, Realsports Volleyball, Desert Falcon), 1999, Digital Press
  91. Bob Polaro : (VCS, 8-bit) Atari Age
  92. Warren Robinett : (VCS, Adventure): March 29, 2007, Gamasutra
  93. Warren Robinett : (VCS, Adventure), Good Deal Games
  94. Warren Robinett : (VCS, Adventure), Halcyon Days
  95. Warren Robinett 1,2,3,4 :(VCS, Adventure), Toadstool’s Game Shrines
  96. Warren Robinett :(VCS, Adventure), May, 2003 The Jaded Gamer
  97. David Rolfe : (VCS, M-Network), 2004, Digital Press
  98. David Rolfe: (VCS, M-Network), Good Deal Games
  99. Ed Rotberg : (Coin-op), Halcyon Days
  100. Owen Rubin : (Coin-op): VG-Network
  101. Owen Rubin :(game stories):(Coin-op), orubin.com
  102. Michel Rubin: (Writer/Journalist Book Droidmaker): Dec 21,2005 Gamasutra
  103. Lx Rudis : (Lynx, musician), Sep. 9, 2002 Atari Times
  104. Ed Salvo :(VCS, Games By Apollo, Lost Luggage) 2006, Digital Press
  105. Tom Sloperman : (Atari Corp., 7800), 2002, http://www.sloperama.com
  106. Rob Smith (VCS, Imagic, Dragonfire), 1983, Numb Thumb
  107. Brad Stewart : (VCS, Breakout, Asteroids), 2001, Digital Press
  108. Donald A. Thomas Jr. : (Atari Corp. spokesman) Good Deal Games
  109. Donald A Thomas Jr. : (Atari corp. spokesman), 8/20/96 STReport (page search on ‘Last Days’)
  110. Fred Thorlin : (8-bit, APX), Atari Archives
  111. Jack Tramiel : (Atari Corp. CEO, 1984-1996), Feb., 1985 Antic Magazine
  112. Jack Tramiel: (Atari Corp CEO, 1984-1996), March 1986, Data Well
  113. Jack Tramiel: (Atari corp. CEO, 1984-1996) , 1989
  114. Leonard Tramiel : (Atari Corp. Engineer) : July 31, 2001, Classicgaming.com
  115. Sam Tramiel : (Atari Corp. President) Sept, 1989 Start Magazine
  116. Sam Tramiel :(Atari Corp. President), 1995, Next Generation
  117. Kurt Vendel : (Atari historian, Atari Flashback consoles), June 5, 2007 The Escapist
  118. Howard Scott Warshaw: (VCS, E.T.), 1997 Digital Press
  119. Howard Scott Warshaw: (VCS, Raiders Of The Lost Ark), 1997 Atari Times
  120. Howard Scott Warshaw: (VCS, Yar’s Revenge) Feb 2,2005, Onion AV Club
  121. Bob Whitehead : (VCS, Activision, Home Run, Skiing), 2005, Digital Press
  122. Brian Watson : (Atari ST, Psygnosis, Menace), Sep. 28, 2004 Atari Legends
  123. Jonathan Wheatman : (Atari ST), Feb 1, 2003 Atari Legends
  124. Steve Woita : (VCS, Quadrun), 2001, Digital Press
  125. Steve Woita : (VCS, Quadrun), Good Deal Games
  126. Ihor Wolosenko : (8-bit, Synapse): March, 1983, Antic Magazine
  127. Steve Wozniak: (Coin-op, Breakout) May 4, 2007, Gamasutra

Other

Some interviews are simply not available on the internet. You can see/hear some great interviews with otherwise unavailable Atari vets like Carla Meninsky, Tod Frye, Rob Zdybel, etc. by purchasing Once Upon Atari DVD here : http://www.onceuponatari.com/

 

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