Atari's CEO Wade Rosen on the Past, Present and Future of Gaming's Oldest Company

[PowerDubs]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NPEtR8rfts

[+Zeptari]

At 7:20 Did he almost say @PacManPlus ?!? Great interview, thanks for sharing.

[Lord Mushroom]

I am starting to get tired of these softball interviews. It is like watching a dictator being interviewed by a domestic journalist. I would like to hear some tough questions.

[+Zeptari]

10 minutes ago, Lord Mushroom said:

I am starting to get tired of these softball interviews.

This is only the second one i've watched. Like watching a dictator? Really? Com'on, you serious? I didn't see it that way at all. I'm curious, what are some tough questions you'd ask?

[CharlesEChuck]

53 minutes ago, Zeptari said:

At 7:20 Did he almost say @PacManPlus ?!? Great interview, thanks for sharing.

"Pack-in". He's talking about Bentley Bear which comes with the 7800+.

 

Ahhh... sorry, you clearly got that right, haha.

Edited August 27 by CharlesEChuck
I'm an idiot again.

[Razzie.P]

What's the platformer/shooter being shown in the beginning before they talk about Yars?

 

 

39 minutes ago, Lord Mushroom said:

I am starting to get tired of these softball interviews. It is like watching a dictator being interviewed by a domestic journalist. I would like to hear some tough questions.

I don't watch many, but I thought it was a fun watch... Thanks for posting @PowerDubs

 

But, um, what's your idea of some 'tough questions" that should be asked?  Seems like they're there to talk about their toys they're selling and keep it light and fun, so I'd imagine they wouldn't be bothered to even do an Interview if someone's trying to put them in the hot seat and get heavy with it.

 

 

[+Zeptari]

3 minutes ago, CharlesEChuck said:

"Pack-in".

Ahhh, that makes more sense. He was mentioning the creative fans at AA just before talking about Bentley Bear, I misheard it.

[Lord Mushroom]

3 minutes ago, Zeptari said:

Like watching a dictator? Really? Com'on, you serious?

I mean in the sense that the interviewer is afraid of asking tough questions.

 

4 minutes ago, Zeptari said:

 I'm curious, what are some tough questions you'd ask?

Where is the money you are investing in Atari coming from? Did you make it yourself?

When do you think Atari will be profitable?

Is Nightdive Studios profitable?

Is Digital Eclipse profitable?

The share price is way down, and losses have been huge, since you took over. Are you the right man for the job?

Isn´t it better to focus on one brand instead of splitting it into Atari and Infogrames?

Are the Recharged games profitable?

Why aren´t the Recharged games on mobile?

Atari is losing money and investing in struggling companies you are a fan of. Are you using other people´s money for your own amusement?

Are you considering buying the Atari Games catalogue?

How much are you willing to invest in Atari?

Did you overpay for Atari? Did Frederic Chesnais inflate the numbers?

Why are you paid so much, and the directors so little?

Do you have any plans for a new game with a wide appeal?

Why do you buy so much IP when you use so little of it?

Can you guarantee that Atari will not go bankrupt on your watch? 

Do you want to buy more of Atari?

 

That is just at the top of my head.

[Lord Mushroom]

5 minutes ago, Razzie.P said:

Seems like they're there to talk about their toys they're selling and keep it light and fun, so I'd imagine they wouldn't be bothered to even do an Interview if someone's trying to put them in the hot seat and get heavy with it.

And that is the problem. People only get interviews if they don´t ask tough questions. There was even an interview by some financial magazine or TV-channel, and there were no critical questions, even though Atari has performed horribly financially, and they were interviewing the CEO/owner.

 

If you won´t accept tough questions, you have something to hide. The interviewers don´t have to be all in your face about it, but they should ask critical questions in a decent manner.

[+Zeptari]

@Lord Mushroom

 

I guess those are tough questions, just not the ones I'd personal ask. The dollars and cents of running a business doesn't interest me at all. 

 

One related to a question you'd ask, I'd like to know if we're getting more Recharged games in the series. 

[+Sauron]

18 minutes ago, Lord Mushroom said:

I mean in the sense that the interviewer is afraid of asking tough questions.

 

Where is the money you are investing in Atari coming from? Did you make it yourself?

When do you think Atari will be profitable?

Is Nightdive Studios profitable?

Is Digital Eclipse profitable?

The share price is way down, and losses have been huge, since you took over. Are you the right man for the job?

Isn´t it better to focus on one brand instead of splitting it into Atari and Infogrames?

Are the Recharged games profitable?

Why aren´t the Recharged games on mobile?

Atari is losing money and investing in struggling companies you are a fan of. Are you using other people´s money for your own amusement?

Are you considering buying the Atari Games catalogue?

How much are you willing to invest in Atari?

Did you overpay for Atari? Did Frederic Chesnais inflate the numbers?

Why are you paid so much, and the directors so little?

Do you have any plans for a new game with a wide appeal?

Why do you buy so much IP when you use so little of it?

Can you guarantee that Atari will not go bankrupt on your watch? 

Do you want to buy more of Atari?

 

That is just at the top of my head.

Most of those questions seem to be more appropriate for a shareholders meeting rather than for an interview talking about the latest goings-on of the company. Leave the "tough" questions for where they belong, most people won't care about them one way or the other.

 

[CPUWIZ]

5 minutes ago, Lord Mushroom said:

If you won´t accept tough questions, you have something to hide

 

I disagree, at certain times it is strategic to not make yourself available to people you know will ask you hostile and often unfair questions.

[PowerDubs]

2 minutes ago, Sauron said:

Most of those questions seem to be more appropriate for a shareholders meeting rather than for an interview talking about the latest goings-on of the company. Leave the "tough" questions for where they belong, most people won't care about them one way or the other.

 

 

Agreed...wasn't the place- especially with the shareholder meeting in just a few weeks.

 

 

Since they were talking about gaming....lemme think if there was anything I would have asked that kept the theme they had going....

 

 

I would have asked how the Polymega is going...and about the VCS add on.

 

I would have asked about WonderOS

 

Other than that....I can't think of anything. 

 

He'll let us know more about stuff.... when he wants to talk about it.

 

 

[Lord Mushroom]

3 minutes ago, Sauron said:

Most of those questions seem to be more appropriate for a shareholders meeting rather than for an interview talking about the latest goings-on of the company. Leave the "tough" questions for where they belong, most people won't care about them one way or the other.

It is the job of journalists to inform the public, not just give the subjects a mike to hold a speech. I realize most interviewers will be mostly interested in upcoming game-related plans, and I did have questions about that too, but I am sure some have financial questions they are too afraid to ask as well.

 

I think people would find an interview where they asked him the questions I posed much more interesting than this interview. Even if they don´t care about financials.

[Lord Mushroom]

11 minutes ago, CPUWIZ said:

I disagree, at certain times it is strategic to not make yourself available to people you know will ask you hostile and often unfair questions.

I am not asking for interviewers to be hostile, just objective instead of fanboys.

[PowerDubs]

4 minutes ago, Lord Mushroom said:

I think people would find an interview where they asked him the questions I posed much more interesting than this interview. Even if they don´t care about financials.

 

Out the normal people?  Normal gamers?  No way...

[+Sauron]

5 minutes ago, Lord Mushroom said:

It is the job of journalists to inform the public, not just give the subjects a mike to hold a speech. I realize most interviewers will be mostly interested in upcoming game-related plans, and I did have questions about that too, but I am sure some have financial questions they are too afraid to ask as well.

 

I think people would find an interview where they asked him the questions I posed much more interesting than this interview. Even if they don´t care about financials.

I disagree, I think most people are far more interested in knowing what fun new products may be arriving rather than boring financial stuff. 

 

[CPUWIZ]

1 minute ago, Lord Mushroom said:

I am not asking for interviewers to be hostile, just objective instead of fanboys.

 

Is that still possible in todays hostile environment, where 50% of the country more or less despises the other 50%?

 

Careful how you answer.  

[+Neon Wraith]

1 minute ago, CPUWIZ said:

 

Is that still possible in todays hostile environment, where 50% of the country more or less despises the other 50%?

 

Careful how you answer.  

He lives in Norway.  Everyone likes everybody there.

[Lord Mushroom]

1 minute ago, PowerDubs said:

Out the normal people?  Normal gamers?  No way...

The people watching that interview aren´t normal people, they are interested in Atari.  And instead of hearing something they already knew, they would be hearing something new.

[+Sauron]

2 minutes ago, Lord Mushroom said:

The people watching that interview aren´t normal people, they are interested in Atari.  And instead of hearing something they already knew, they would be hearing something new.

People who are interested in the financials of the company would be far more interested in a shareholders meeting than in just a random interview.

 

[CPUWIZ]

3 minutes ago, Neon Wraith said:

He lives in Norway.  Everyone likes everybody there.

 

I totally forgot and you are probably right.  

[Lord Mushroom]

4 minutes ago, Sauron said:

I think most people are far more interested in knowing what fun new products may be arriving rather than boring financial stuff. 

I agree, but there was very little of that in the interview. There was nothing new. Something beats nothing.

[Tickled_Pink]

1 hour ago, Lord Mushroom said:

I am starting to get tired of these softball interviews. It is like watching a dictator being interviewed by a domestic journalist. I would like to hear some tough questions.

If you're looking for drama and tired of softball interviews, Steve at GamersNexus has you covered. Like all good journalists, he gives zero shits about your reputation.

 

I do kind of understand softball interviews. I certainly don't think politicians and business leaders should get away with them, but for companies like Atari? It depends on what you're trying to get out of the interview. Not all interviewers need to know "where did you hide the million dollar golden squid statue that the Koch Foundation gave you but didn't declare?" Sometimes, interviews can just be a bit of PR.

[Lord Mushroom]

9 minutes ago, CPUWIZ said:

Is that still possible in todays hostile environment, where 50% of the country more or less despises the other 50%?

Yes, especially when it is about something outside politics. A journalist can never be 100% objective, but they should at least try.