Nolan Bushnell Appointed to Atari Board

[jaybird3rd]

You got me, I cannot remember who was on the team. Sorry. But I remember the day when missile command was in the conference room with all of us around. It had to be after 1976 since we were on Borreagas avenue.

See the previous post regarding the date of the original specification document for Missile Command and the date of Bushnell's departure from Atari. Both dates are on the public record, and both conflict with this account.

[roberto]

The movie business is weird. I have been lobbying for Natlie Portman to play my wife (it is a fantasy thing) but it is so complicated that I don't understand all the issues. Warner actually wanted to Green light the pix but felt that it would be difficult for them. I doubt that any movie studio will buy a game company for some time. They have always messed them up. Perhaps later there will become fashionable play again but not now.

 

Regardless of who is actually producing it in the end, I'm really looking forward to it. I had a chance to recently watch "Micro Man" (a TV movie by BBC on Clive Sinclair) and I found it quite good (much better than "Pirates of Silicon Valley" for example) and I think a well scripted movie on the early days at Atari and Mr. Bushnell himself with Di Caprio could be a good hit, besides reviving the interest in the Atari brand.

 

Cheers!

Roberto

 

PS. Great choice about Natalie Portman, by the way!

Edited April 26, 2010 by roberto

[NolanB]

I am going to bed. I am not as much of a night owl as you guys. Post questions an I will try to answer them tomorrow. This has been fun. Dont worry about offending me. Ask hard questions. I am proud of my wins and sad about my failures but will not sugar coat either because both wins and losses are part of your game history and learning from both is important.

[NolanB]

You got me, I cannot remember who was on the team. Sorry. But I remember the day when missile command was in the conference room with all of us around. It had to be after 1976 since we were on Borreagas avenue.

See the previous post regarding the date of the original specification document for Missile Command and the date of Bushnell's departure from Atari. Both dates are on the public record, and both conflict with this account.

Are you sure about the coin op version? I dont think I am wrong.

[jaybird3rd]

Are you sure about the coin op version? I dont think I am wrong.

Quite sure. See the post I mentioned earlier, which I will quote here for your convenience:

 

 

There's no such "confusion of dates"...I'm referring to the coin-op version of Missile Command, not the consumer (Atari VCS) version, which came later.

 

The coin-op didn't even have an official proposal until May of '79 (the original design spec document is posted elsewhere in this thread)...six months after you left Atari. According to programmer Dave Theurer, Steve Calfee came up with the general concept for the game and he (Dave) started working on it after he programmed Atari Soccer (which was completed in early '79).

 

So what exactly was your "involvement" with the coin-op version? And how were you somehow involved with a game that was started after you left Atari?

 

You have not answered this poster's questions.

[jaybird3rd]

Post questions an I will try to answer them tomorrow.

We will indeed. Somehow I doubt you'll be back to answer them, whoever you are.

[Retro Rogue]

Perhaps it is because Ted Dabney does not have a daughter.

 

That would be news to Ted....and to his daughter Terri.

 

In seriousness, it would not be news to Nolan however. It may be news however to his son, the much younger Brent. Who incidentally also is heavily involved in uWink (which would explain the detailed uWink info but lack of any other real concrete answers or details regarding anything else), and as the person in charge of IT for Nolan's venture would have access to all email accounts, Facebook, etc. It would further explain why he wouldn't know the interview in question his father did in February, was for the 30th anniversary of the release of the Missile Command coin-op. Might also explain what someone of that "age" would be doing up that late at night on a Sunday coming on to discussion forums for hours. Or furthermore why a 67 year old man would be using texting slang, swearing, and generally risk acting very much unlike a CEO or major board member.

 

My daughter was Britta and I put her in with her older sister Alissa. Both Ted and I did the hardware. Ted the analog and me the digital.

 

Interesting. Considering his job at Ampex was designing digital transistor based circuitry. Unless you're claiming a diode-matrix array for symbol storage is analog?

Edited April 26, 2010 by wgungfu

[Retro Rogue]

Post questions an I will try to answer them tomorrow.

We will indeed. Somehow I doubt you'll be back to answer them, whoever you are.

 

 

I suspect they will, just as soon as they run to Dad to get more info. Funny how things work like that. Like when someone makes a point of stating Curt's post is full of errors, but when asked to clarify just responds "Well you tell me what you believe." I.E. give me something I can ask Dad more details about.

[jaybird3rd]

I suspect they will, just as soon as they run to Dad to get more info. Funny how things work like that. Like when someone makes a point of stating Curt's post is full of errors, but when asked to clarify just responds "Well you tell me what you believe." I.E. give me something I can ask Dad more details about.

You know what's really sad? Even after they go back to Nolan, and even after they come back here with their new answers ... they'll still have their facts wrong. Because Nolan himself has become an impostor.

[mbd30]

When you first saw the subject line, did you think the thread was going to be about Nolan posting on an Atari message board?

 

*raises hand*

 

Lol, yeah, I did.

 

Looks like the other meaning turned out to be accurate as well.

[rolenta]

Ralph Baer was at most a pain in the ass. He is what i like to paint as a patent whore. Just one step from a ambulance chasing attorney. The real important guys upon whose shoulders I stood was Steve Russel from MIT who programmed the PDP1 to play space wars. His program was written in 1963 I played it in 1965 and loved it and it changed my life. I saw the Burlingame demo of the odyssey and thought it was crap and it was. I signed the register with my own name and have never denied it. It did spark the idea that the ping pong idea could be an interesting game if it were done well.

 

Odyssey only did as well as it did because people had played Pong in the bars and they though that was what they were buying. Magnavox discontinued odyssey because of all the returns they got. When we came out with consumer Pong the market was soured. We showed it at the toy show and sold none because of the bad taste that Odyssey gave them. If it hadn't been for Sears the Magnavox Baer disaster may have spoiled the whole market.

 

Atari signed a license to get out of the Magnavox patent suit. I thought and still do think that Baers patents are crap but because we were raising money it was cheaper to settle for a "junk" settlement. We settled for less than it would cost to litigate and it amounted to less than .5% on sales. That is a junk settlement. Ask Ralph about that.

 

I was going to stay quiet until I read this. Taking a stab against Ralph Baer, to me, is like taking a stab against a family member.

 

So why was it Ralph who got the National Technology Award from President Bush, and not you (if you are who you claim to be)? And why were you so upset when he received the award that you sent him an email claiming, among other things, that he stole your lab book? And why, when Ralph wrote a response to you, did you not ever get back to him. And don't say something like Ralph made it all up. I have seen the emails, and I am close enough to Ralph to know that he wouldn't ever lie to me. And even if all you said is true - just remember then that Computer Space was based on Space War. Ralph never saw Space War, nor did he ever see Higginbotham's Tennis For Two. So which of you is the true creative genuis?

 

And why at CGE did you claim that when you first saw the Odyssey, it was already a failure? I don't know how something could be a failure before it's even released. And it wasn't a failure since it sold 350,000 units. But then again that was all because of the success of Pong.

 

And I guess Ted also lied to me about all his dealings with you. It's funny how everybody else is the liar, but not you.

Edited April 26, 2010 by rolenta

[Curt Vendel]

Okay "FAKE NOLAN"

 

 

Then go back to your cut & paste and go down each and every statement posted and post "IN DETAIL" your rebuttals.

 

 

Curt

Edited April 27, 2010 by Curt Vendel

[+cvga]

So much for keeping things classy. That question seems uncalled for regardless of whether this is a fake or real Nolan.

 

Nolan, can you post a message to your friends at AtariAge on your Facebook wall? I'd get a kick out it. Thanks!

[Ted Dabney]

What did you think in his rant was accurate. I will rebut.

Okay, let's take the issue of Bushnell's involvement with the creation of Computer Space. Was it Bushnell or Ted Dabney who originally designed the hardware? Or what about Pong: is it true that Bushnell saw Ralph Baer's TV Tennis before giving the game concept to Al Alcorn for implementation? If he did not, has he has claimed over the years, how did his signature end up in the guest book?

 

EDIT: I see you've already posted about Computer Space, although you didn't entirely answer all of what Curt has written. Why does Bushnell claim that he converted his daughter's bedroom into a lab for the development of Computer Space when Ted Dabney has stated that it was his daughter's bedroom that was converted into a lab?

Perhaps it is because Ted Dabney does not have a daughter. My daughter was Britta and I put her in with her older sister Alissa. Both Ted and I did the hardware. Ted the analog and me the digital. See my other post about Baer

[Curt Vendel]

Really? Well, we're going to put an end to this facade once and for all, so the question is completely valid and will either validate or demolish the nolanb account.

 

Quite frankly, that was actually the least of the worst questions I could've posted. There are much much worse. Question is, how far will this fake account want to push it?

 

More importantly - lets see all of the rebuttals to all of the statements already posted, because we've already seen several goof ups by this fake account either by one of Nolan's kids or by just a no one pretending to be Nolan.

 

So, yeah we'll keep it here.

 

 

Curt

 

So much for keeping things classy. That question seems uncalled for regardless of whether this is a fake or real Nolan.

 

Nolan, can you post a message to your friends at AtariAge on your Facebook wall? I'd get a kick out it. Thanks!

[Ted Dabney]

What did you think in his rant was accurate. I will rebut.

Okay, let's take the issue of Bushnell's involvement with the creation of Computer Space. Was it Bushnell or Ted Dabney who originally designed the hardware? Or what about Pong: is it true that Bushnell saw Ralph Baer's TV Tennis before giving the game concept to Al Alcorn for implementation? If he did not, has he has claimed over the years, how did his signature end up in the guest book?

 

EDIT: I see you've already posted about Computer Space, although you didn't entirely answer all of what Curt has written. Why does Bushnell claim that he converted his daughter's bedroom into a lab for the development of Computer Space when Ted Dabney has stated that it was his daughter's bedroom that was converted into a lab?

Perhaps it is because Ted Dabney does not have a daughter. My daughter was Britta and I put her in with her older sister Alissa. Both Ted and I did the hardware. Ted the analog and me the digital. See my other post about Baer

 

This person calling himself "NolanB" is either an idiot, a liar or a phony...

The real Nolan Kay Bushnell knows I have two daughters (Terri and Pam). He also knows that my digital skills are way beyond his.

Bushnell is great with the ideas but is very weak at implementation. His people skills are limited by his own ego.

[Curt Vendel]

Ladies and Gentleman - now this is the REAL Ted Dabney. (Its already been verified behind the scene's that this account is coming from a rather unique ISP that Ted Dabney uses.)

 

 

Thank you for joining Ted, you honor us with your posting.

 

 

Curt

 

What did you think in his rant was accurate. I will rebut.

Okay, let's take the issue of Bushnell's involvement with the creation of Computer Space. Was it Bushnell or Ted Dabney who originally designed the hardware? Or what about Pong: is it true that Bushnell saw Ralph Baer's TV Tennis before giving the game concept to Al Alcorn for implementation? If he did not, has he has claimed over the years, how did his signature end up in the guest book?

 

EDIT: I see you've already posted about Computer Space, although you didn't entirely answer all of what Curt has written. Why does Bushnell claim that he converted his daughter's bedroom into a lab for the development of Computer Space when Ted Dabney has stated that it was his daughter's bedroom that was converted into a lab?

Perhaps it is because Ted Dabney does not have a daughter. My daughter was Britta and I put her in with her older sister Alissa. Both Ted and I did the hardware. Ted the analog and me the digital. See my other post about Baer

 

This person calling himself "NolanB" is either an idiot, a liar or a phony...

The real Nolan Kay Bushnell knows I have two daughters (Terri and Pam). He also knows that my digital skills are way beyond his.

Bushnell is great with the ideas but is very weak at implementation. His people skills are limited by his own ego.

[Emehr]

How cool is this? The co-founder of Atari has joined AtariAge. Welcome to AA, Mr. Dabney!

[jaybird3rd]

Ladies and Gentleman - now this is the REAL Ted Dabney. (Its already been verified behind the scene's that this account is coming from a rather unique ISP that Ted Dabney uses.)

 

Thank you for joining Ted, you honor us with your posting.

 

Curt

 

I wish his arrival had occurred under happier circumstances, but I too am honored and flattered to see that Ted Dabney has joined AtariAge, and I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I extend him a warm and enthusiastic welcome.

 

Mr. Dabney, I hope you can tell from reading this thread that you are among friends here. We are delighted by your presence and stand in awe of your many accomplishments. Thank you, and welcome!

 

EDIT: I feel that Mr. Dabney's arrival deserves its own thread, so I created one. See here.

[hhwolfman]

What did you think in his rant was accurate. I will rebut.

Okay, let's take the issue of Bushnell's involvement with the creation of Computer Space. Was it Bushnell or Ted Dabney who originally designed the hardware? Or what about Pong: is it true that Bushnell saw Ralph Baer's TV Tennis before giving the game concept to Al Alcorn for implementation? If he did not, has he has claimed over the years, how did his signature end up in the guest book?

 

EDIT: I see you've already posted about Computer Space, although you didn't entirely answer all of what Curt has written. Why does Bushnell claim that he converted his daughter's bedroom into a lab for the development of Computer Space when Ted Dabney has stated that it was his daughter's bedroom that was converted into a lab?

Perhaps it is because Ted Dabney does not have a daughter. My daughter was Britta and I put her in with her older sister Alissa. Both Ted and I did the hardware. Ted the analog and me the digital. See my other post about Baer

 

This person calling himself "NolanB" is either an idiot, a liar or a phony...

The real Nolan Kay Bushnell knows I have two daughters (Terri and Pam). He also knows that my digital skills are way beyond his.

Bushnell is great with the ideas but is very weak at implementation. His people skills are limited by his own ego.

 

 

:-o :-o Welcome.

[Cebus Capucinis]

HI MR. DABNEY!

 

Before anyone levels criticism at us for opening our arms to Ted Dabney but being critical of "Nolan Bushnell", please realize that Curt & Marty were directly involved with contacting Mr. Dabney and showing him the thread last night. This can be verified.

[+Psionic]

This person calling himself "NolanB" is either an idiot, a liar or a phony...

The real Nolan Kay Bushnell knows I have two daughters (Terri and Pam). He also knows that my digital skills are way beyond his.

Bushnell is great with the ideas but is very weak at implementation. His people skills are limited by his own ego.

The real Ted Dabney is still sharp as a tack and anyone who's ever spoken to him will definitely know this is really him right off the bat.

[ovalbugmann]

Would also like to know for certain if the NolanB account is genuine? Some verification is needed please,... really.

 

I just erased a bunch of praises because as a kid Nolan became a hero to me. If someone is pretenting to be him, well, I DO understand your wanting to defend him, but anyone assuming his identity here is doing the wrong thing to defend him. Please verify your ID. With someone as famous as Nolan, it is truely needed here on the faceless internet.

 

Thank You.

[NolanB]

I just got off the phone with Ted and yes his posts are real and he does have a daughter. She was older than mine and ted reminded me of the time they came up to my house and we were all around the pool. It was a senior moment that I forgot it. Ted was a huge help and a good engineer and we worked closely together. He thinks that the slip counter system was his idea and I think it was mine. I think that it was some melding of the two. But I think the real issue is that Dabney and I did Computer space and created the technology that powered the game business for 8 years. Al did most of the Pong work and Dabney was able to get the thing into production. Don't forget we thought of ourselves as a studio designing games for others to manufacture.

 

Neither Ted or I thought the Baer patents were important and at most a distraction. The record shows that no one other than Magnavox used and of his circuitry.

[Curt Vendel]

Interesting how the nolanb account has come on and off the thread several times this morning, even at one point started to write a post at 10:18 (eastern) and then canceled and dropped off again.

 

Also, just so everyone is aware, another set of REAL and FAMOUS eyes are watching this thread - Ralph Baer has been made aware of this thread as well by several of us, so he too knows whats going on as well.

 

Fake Nolan - prove you're real, go grab a copy of todays SJ Mercury, or the LA Times hold it up and take a picture of yourself holding it and post it. We'll start from there.

 

 

 

Curt

 

Would also like to know for certain if the NolanB account is genuine? Some verification is needed please,... really.

 

I just erased a bunch of praises because as a kid Nolan became a hero to me. If someone is pretenting to be him, well, I DO understand your wanting to defend him, but anyone assuming his identity here is doing the wrong thing to defend him. Please verify your ID. With someone as famous as Nolan, it is truely needed here on the faceless internet.

 

Thank You.