Page 44 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #2

ing the best ideas of everyone on his CGM: It seems when Hasbro bought tween 2-3 million for the 8-bits and 1
team. He never took undue credit and the Atari properties, hardly anyone in million of the 16-bits here in the states.
was always willing to give credit when the news paid any attention to it (or Would that be accurate?
due. It was a pleasure to work for/with they reported the news incorrectly in
him. some cases). It's really a shame that DT: That might well be accurate. I
everyone has almost forgotten Atari. know they were big numbers. I never
CGM: What was his vision for Atari? It's an even bigger shame to learn that saw the records myself.
Hasbro only paid $5 million for Atari. Is
DT: Eventually, it was Atari Interac- there anything we haven't heard or CGM: In your web site, you mention
tive. . .software for PCs and other plat- learned about this acquisition? that Atari was building super-
forms. That was the right direction to computers and Unix computers. What
go to keep Atari afloat, but Jack wanted DT: You've probably heard what I became of them and why were they
nothing to do with it. have heard by now. I haven't heard cancelled at the last moment?
much more. You're right, I haven't seen
CGM: Your article (found at icwhen. much in mainstream press although DT: They were cancelled when it be-
com) on the Hasbro/Atari buyout brings there was a story in the Wall Street came clear that they could not compete
up a lot of good, unanswered questions Journal that was very poorly re- the way they thought they could.
that have all been ignored by our main- searched. They didn't even know about
stream press. May I ask you to specu- the transaction amount of $5,000,000. CGM: You used to write programs for
late on some of the answers to the Hasbro paid much more than the prop- the Atari ST didn't you? You owned a
questions that you asked in your arti- erties were worth to JTS. JTS had no company called "Artisan Software."
cle? Specifically, what happened to motivation to make use of any of the What programs did you write for the
the Atari employees at JTS? Atari properties. They were only col- ST?
lecting dust and becoming increasingly
DT: My observation was that they worthless. Hasbro has started, and will DT: Word Quest - A comprehensive
were methodically asked to step away probably continue, to breathe new life word search puzzle generator, Word
from their Atari assignments or laid off. into some old Atari classics. Quest 2 - A crossword puzzle genera-
The significance was that no one in tor, Graph Maker - Easy graphs with
power had any real intentions to try to CGM: Any second guesses as to how simple data, and Transport - Atari Port-
make Atari work at JTS. I think most Atari could have turned herself around folio to Atari 16-bit computer file trans-
people assumed JTS would try to do in her final years? fer application.
something productive with it other than
simply absorb the blood out of it. DT: A great product, tremendous sup- CGM: Let's talk about your website,
port from third-party, disproportionate ICWHEN.COM. It's a website featuring
CGM: And what became of the $25 marketing and advertising at launch, the entire history of computer & video
million bridge loan that and all the things that go in games, listed in chronological order.
Atari gave up in the “I think most to making these things First, how long did it take you to re-
merger? people assumed happen. Once Atari lost all search and sort all the information you
that money with Feder- had before putting it on your site?
DT: I really don't know JTS would try to ated, I don't think they had
specifically except that I much of a chance. DT: I think I've been on it for over 7
don't know that any of it do something years now.
went to turn Atari around. CGM: Can you help clear
productive with it up the Federated stores CGM: Incredible! Now the site also
CGM: How much would (Atari) other than confusion? Up here in the features articles you've written over the
you estimate Atari is worth Northeast, I don't think years covering topics like we're dis-
with all her properties and simply absorb there are any of their cussing here. Are you a night writer or
software titles? stores. Is this the same an impulsive writer?
the blood out of Federated that owns
DT: It all depends on your Macy's? DT: Hehe. Both I suppose. If the im-
perspective and what you it.” pulse hits me at the office, I'll make
plan to do with it. It was DT: The Federated Group some quick notes and write later, other-
worth $5 million for as of Electronics Stores was a wise, it can happen at any time while
long as JTS was willing to regional chain of stores near my computer.
settle for that and Hasbro had the capi- similar to Highland, Circuit City, Good
tal and willingness to pay it. Rumors Guys, or Best Buy. They had nothing to CGM: Seeing how few books there are
circulated over a year ago that it was do with Federated Stores which is a offering a detailed history of video
worth about $1 million to Nolan Bush- conglomerate of retail chains such as games, are there any plans for a book
nell. I suspect Hasbro would say it's Macy's. Federated Electronics had 67 version? If so, how long before we
worth a lot more if someone offered to stores when Atari acquired them. Jack might see it on the shelves?
acquire it from them. We'll see what paid roughly $1,000,000 per store.
Hasbro does with what they have. DT: I have no plans at this time. I un-
Since I doubt Hasbro will ever spin it off CGM: Is Federated Electronics in busi- derstand that underwriters are not easy
as a separate company again, I sus- ness today? to come by for that kind of project.
pect that "Atari" will ultimately become
valueless and some of the individual DT: No, it was discontinued in 1989. CGM: What new articles are you cur-
game titles will be all that maintains rently working on? Any more poetry?
any worth. CGM: How many Atari 8-bits and ST’s Will the web site also include old video
were sold? I heard of numbers be- game magazine articles or interviews?
Classic Gamer Magazine Winter 2000 44