Communications of the ACM
Atari Co-Founder Nolan Bushnell on the Future of Software
Nolan Bushnell
Credit: Courtesy of Nolan Bushnell
Whether you know him by name, you almost certainly have firsthand experience with some of Nolan Bushnell's work. He's known by many as the father of video games, since he created Pong and co-founded Atari. And he may have played a role in one of your birthdays because he started the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant chain.
Without question, Bushnell left an indelible mark on the 1970s and 1980s.
But in later years he wasn't finished as an entrepreneur, though his more recent accomplishments haven't risen to the level of his earlier career. In 2005, he launched a new restaurant venture, known as uWink Media Bistro, which aimed to lure adults with good food and tabletop video gaming.
That enterprise is still limping along, though its future isn't so bright. And he's no longer involved in some of his other recent ventures, such as casual game advertising business NeoEdge.
But Bushnell is hardly finished. He recently rejoined the board of directors of Atari, which has gone through years of deep struggles, and likely exists today only because of its valuable brand name. Bushnell said he thinks that the company's existing intellectual property, as well as new, experienced, management has put it on a path to new success.
From CNET
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