Atari is credited with inventing the arcade, a public gaming center with large, coin-operated video game systems. With the commercial success of PONG, Atari set out to create a home version of its popular game. Although the Magnavox Odyssey was released first, Atari is still considered a pioneer in the gaming industry.
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Origin
Engineer Harold Lee began working on a home version of PONG for Atari in 1973. It debuted two years later.
Sales
Atari was sold exclusively by Sears. The company originally planned to produce 50,000 units, but added 100,000 more in time for the 1975 Christmas shopping season.
Super PONG
Atari released Super PONG in 1976, which featured four different versions of the original classic.
Marketing
Because Atari had an established name in the public arcade arena, people continued to purchase Atari home systems in spite of the rising number of competitors in the late 1970s.
Atari 2600
In 1977, Atari introduced the Atari 2600, the first home gaming system with interchangeable cartridges. Previously, a unit came with built-in games. The first Atari 2600 cost $199 with nine game cartridges available for purchase separately.
Decline
The introduction of the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985 and Sega Master System in 1986 was the beginning of the end for Atari. The company introduced the Atari Jaguar in 1993, but failed to regain dominance in the market. The Jaguar was the last system Atari ever produced.
