Atari Inc.: Business is Fun

[keops]

Released this week: http://www.amazon.com/Atari-Inc-Mr-Curt ... 985597402/

"Atari Inc. - Business is Fun, the book that goes behind the company that was synonymous with the popularization of 'video games.'

Nearly 8 years in the making, Atari Inc. - Business is Fun is comprised of thousands of researched documents, hundreds of interviews, and access to materials never before available.

An amazing 800 pages, including nearly 300 pages of rare, never before seen photos, memos and court documents, this book details Atari's genesis from an idea between an engineer and a visionary in 1969 to a nearly $2 billion dollar juggernaut, and ending with a $538 million death spiral by June of 1984."

[Xerus]

The cover is not great for me but the content must be very interesting.

A must have for the atarian ?
Probably yes

[DarkLord]

Just got my copy in the mail yesterday. I'm working all weekend, but I've started
it already.

First impression - its big! Not sure if I like the fact that it is not a hardcover
book - for my $39.xx, I thought it should have been.

Only gotten through the first chapter but it looks like its gonna be interesting.

One other continuing disappointment I have to mention...this book stops pre
Tramiel era.

I'm *STILL* waiting for a definitive Atari book that covers the Tramiel era on.

[Ato]

One other continuing disappointment I have to mention...this book stops pre
Tramiel era.

When I read the news here, I immediately thought about ordering a copy. But that's the disqualifying factor for me. Sorry, no buy. Thanks a lot for the heads-up.

Cheers,
T.

[DarkLord]

When I read the news here, I immediately thought about ordering a copy. But that's the disqualifying factor for me. Sorry, no buy. Thanks a lot for the heads-up.

Cheers,
T.

You're welcome. I can't understand why no one wants to tackle the Atari story *after* the Tramiels
took over. Seriously, I do sincerely love my 800XL, but the ST line is (by far) my main focus and
I'd love to see this aspect of the Atari story done right by someone.

[lp]

One other continuing disappointment I have to mention...this book stops pre
Tramiel era.

Yes, thanks for the heads up. Saved me some money that I can use on other Atari gear.

[BoNuS]

One other continuing disappointment I have to mention...this book stops pre
Tramiel era.

Yes, thanks for the heads up. Saved me some money that I can use on other Atari gear.

Well indeed, I'm intressted in the Tramiel period. I wanna know what went wrong.
It all looked so gooed and then it fell apart Guess he sons where to blame for that
but a book aout that could tell me

[DarkLord]

I wonder (just speculating) that if this book does well enough, the Atari community
could convince Curt Vendel to continue on with a part 2, detailing the Tramiel era?

That would be righteously cool.

[Dio]

You're welcome. I can't understand why no one wants to tackle the Atari story *after* the Tramiels took over.

The excellent Commodore: A Company On The Edge implies that at least some of it is likely to be discussed in the second volume, although the title of it (The Amiga Years) implies that the focus is going to stay on Commodore more than follow Tramiel. I would have thought that if that's the case, the Atari / Tramiel story is an obvious possibility for a third volume, since Bagnall obviously made many of the contacts he needs to continue the story while researching the first book.

[calimero]

I wonder (just speculating) that if this book does well enough, the Atari community
could convince Curt Vendel to continue on with a part 2, detailing the Tramiel era?

That would be righteously cool.

I think that Curt already stated few times that he will make a second book, about Tramiels Atari!

this should be very, very interesting:

"* The amazing story of Atari's very own "Xerox PARC" research facility up in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains "


check this: Chapter Eleven: The Birth of the Fantasy Amplifier (Alan Kay and others top's of 70's and 80's at ATARI!!)

http://www.rheingold.com/texts/tft/11.html

and of course: "* The dramatic dealings and double-dealings between Atari Inc. and Amiga Corp. for months prior to Jack Tramiel coming into the picture."

I will definitly buy this book!



btw if somebody did not read: THE HOME COMPUTER WARS Michael S. Tomczyk do it now! (while you waiting for second part of Curts and Martys book...)

[wongck]

Not the first time Apple stole a block buster from Xerox PARC.
> Macintosh
> iPad

So how great is Apple ?

[calimero]

btw second book will be

"Atari Corp.: Business is War"

[DarkLord]

That actually makes sense.

[atarimuseum]

Just covering Atari's birth in 1969 up to its sale/split in June 1984 took 800 pages...

Marty and I had always stated, if we are going to do a book on Atari, we are going to do it right and that meant we were not going to gloss over events like every other book has done and we would also extremely expand on many area's never covered before which we have. What you have is Book #1 - an 800 page book with nearly 300 pages of rare, never before seen photos, memo's, contracts and documents... including the actual Tramel (no i in that) Purchase agreement... the book leads right up to their purchase and specifically says on the last page - "To be Continued in - Atari Corp. Business is War" and that will detail Atari from July 1st 1984 up to March 1998 and that will most likely be another 800 or so page book.

The Last Chapter details and sets the stage for book #2 and goes into detail on how Jack is contacted by Steve Ross to buy Atari, how he sets up an office right around the corner from Atari's corporate headquarters in May 1984 and how the lawyers begin their non-stop negotiation session leading to the purchase and Tramiel walking into HIS new company that Monday morning...

If all you care about is the Tramiel era, reading this first book will help you understand how Atari stumbled and fell and Jack comes up to pick up the pieces, and it explains why events happened. Also, it allows you to understand the Pre-Tramiel culture and mindset and why when Jack came in with his strict, hardlined business sense and began to do what was needed and what was right to stop the multi-million dollar bleeding and turn the company around in just 6 months, why those who worked at the old Atari were in total culture shock.

So even if you're only interest is in Tramiel, reading Business is Fun will allow you to better understand what will be told in Business is War coming out this time next year...

Then we finish with Last in Fun - the story of Atari Games Corp up until it closes in 2003...

So this is a 3 part series of books.

Regards,
Curt
www.ataribook.com

[Ato]

Thanks Curt! That's very kind of you to explain to us - should say me - why you wrote the book the way it is.

Cheers,
T.

[martyg]

Heya guys, Marty Goldberg, the co-author here.

The cover is not great for me but the content must be very interesting.

A must have for the atarian ?
Probably yes

The cover is meant to re-create the experience Curt and I had interviewing all the people that worked at Atari Inc. Sitting in their kitchens or living rooms, they'd often bring out their boxes of mementos and keepsakes, spreading them across the table and begin remembering about their days at Atari. It was such a unique and heart warming experience for lifelong Atari fans that we wanted to re-create that for all of you.

I wonder (just speculating) that if this book does well enough, the Atari community
could convince Curt Vendel to continue on with a part 2, detailing the Tramiel era?

That would be righteously cool.

LOL, you're obviously not one of those people that likes to skip to the back of the book to see how it ends.

There, you'll find a page that says "To Be Continued in: Atari Corp. - Business is War."

We had actually had an in person interview set up for Jack the very week he died, but we did manage to confirm a few things with him over the phone fortunately.

As for this book, it does cover the entire Atari Inc./Amiga deal and it does cover the takeover of Atari Consumer and formation of Atari Corporation in it's entirety. So it ends at the beginning of the Tramiel era vs. before it.

For the second book, we already have more interviews lined up for when we go out again in the Spring, including with other Tramiels, Shiraz Shivji, Mike Katz, and more...

But if you guys are at all interested in Atari, please don't hesitate to pick up this book. It'll help fund the creation of the second book in doing so!

[calimero]

We had actually had an in person interview set up for Jack the very week he died, but we did manage to confirm a few things with him over the phone fortunately.

so sad, so sad... he never want to speak about what went wrong at commodore.

For the second book, we already have more interviews lined up for when we go out again in the Spring, including with other Tramiels, Shiraz Shivji, Mike Katz, and more...

I am also very interested in Tramiel Atari Corp., recently I bump at Preeva Tramiel (I think she is Leonard wife) blog


and please do not skip interview with Richard Miller!!

http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.ph ... it=richard < check this

I would say he had curtail role in post 1990 Atari Corp... (bringing Flare 2 (John M. and Martin B.) to Atari; beside stunt with Transputers and Helios... )

and I also found that Roy Good come to Atari after Shiraz departure to finish what will become TT. btw why Shiraz left Atari? he was brilliant engineer...

ah so many information half baked... can't wait for yours second book!

But if you guys are at all interested in Atari, please don't hesitate to pick up this book. It'll help fund the creation of the second book in doing so!

will do! just waiting for iBook version...

[DarkLord]

Heya guys, Marty Goldberg, the co-author here.

Hey, great to have you on board!

LOL, you're obviously not one of those people that likes to skip to the back of the book to see how it ends.

There, you'll find a page that says "To Be Continued in: Atari Corp. - Business is War."

Ah, guilty as charged.

But if you guys are at all interested in Atari, please don't hesitate to pick up this book. It'll help fund the creation of the second book in doing so!

Already got my copy, eagerly reading it now. Sure am looking forward to book 2 already!

Thanks for all your hard work!

[wongck]

We had actually had an in person interview set up for Jack the very week he died, but we did manage to confirm a few things with him over the phone fortunately.

Probably wanted to keep somethings a secret.

[keops]

Curt & Marty: thanks for stopping by and for giving additional information. Can't wait to receive my copy.

How did you guys find this post by the way? Googling about your book?

[Frank B]

So even if you're only interest is in Tramiel, reading Business is Fun will allow you to better understand what will be told in Business is War coming out this time next year...

Then we finish with Last in Fun - the story of Atari Games Corp up until it closes in 2003...

So this is a 3 part series of books.

Regards,
Curt
http://www.ataribook.com

I preordered mine but haven't heard anything from amazon yet. Will the third book cover the 10-in-1 TV games and the flash back console? I worked on the 10-in-1 at DC Studios.

Frank

[DarkLord]

I ordered my copy directly from their website and it got here pretty quick.

(Clarification - I meant directly from Curt and Marty's website, NOT Amazon).

[atarimuseum]

Anyone with pre-order delays, this is an Amazon issue, not ours, I've decided to bulk order a bunch of books out of pocket (we don't start getting paid until 30 days after the end of each month of sales, 60 for UK/Europe orders) so I'm trying to get books in myself and send out copies to people to fill orders and then deal with the issues with Amazon afterwards, I don't like people not getting their books, so I've seen dozens of posts about pre-orders not arriving, I'm doing what I can and more so sit tight.

[keops]

Will order mine on Amazon tomorrow.

[DarkLord]

I'm close to 200 pages in now, and I like the detail a lot. The pictures in the chapters
are a nice touch as well.

I feel sorry for Ted D.

If I make a suggestion? If you get a chance in later runs, it would be nice if you could
strengthen the binding. I'm a little bit concerned about mine, at least by the time I
get through the whole book.

Highly recommened reading, for any Atarian, makes me really want to see the 2nd
book covering the Tramiel era, especially if you can keep up the same level of research
and detail.

Many thanks again.