Midway and Atari

[SavannahLion]

When did Midway purchase the rights to Pong and Centipede?

Midway Amusement Games -- a former leading American producer of coin-op titles -- has led the video game revolution with many classic arcade hits such as Pong, Centipede and Defender, as well as NFL® Blitz™, Rush, Cruis'n® and Mortal Kombat®. For years these games have been found in arcades, restaurants, bowling alleys, and other establishments all over the world.

First off, I don't recall Midway ever obtaining the rights to Pong and Centipede (Though the rest of the list seems kosher from my recollection). What really irritates the ---fudgesicle--- out of me is the credit Midway is receiving for leading "the video game revolution with many classic arcade hits such as Pong, Centipede....."

Is my memory deceiving me? Less than half the games on that list are actual Midway games. The rest aren't owned by Midway or they're just licenses.

Here's the lazy link: http://na.suzohapp.com/midway/midway.htm

[Xiaou2]

Well, if you think about it... if anything, we should not be so fan-boyish over company names.  But rather, the actual talented people who made the innovative creations.
(some of which have moved in and out of various company names)

Think about music labels.  Many artists are under various labels... but a label is merely an investor, distribution channel, and legal shield. (as well as a robber of talents wealth)   Who cares if it was BMG or Sony?  Its the artists who is actually of importance.  For without the artists, theres no money to be made.  No licenses to sell to the highest bidder.

 Recently, Iver noticed on my cable provider, that most every show is labeled as being by "Tribune Media Services"...  which to be honest, is quite scary.  Not because Im not used to company buy-outs... but because of the sheer volume.

 Just the other night, Tribune wanted to make sure everybody saw the (what I believe Ive heard as.. ) anti-religious show "Curiosity" by Stephan Hawking, as it was on about 4 stations in the guide on the same night, at the same times.

 Now, Im not religious.  Im more Spiritual, not bound to anyones ideas.  But I find it distasteful, disrespectful, and downright scary that anyone would push their ideals on others.

 Out of Protest, I refuse to watch the show.

 This world gets scarier and scarier every day.  Look to China to see your future, cause its headed that way... it not much much worse.

 Recognize and donate / support the Artists directly.  Its time for this sad power play to end, and time to let true, non-corrupted, artists creations, to finally be re-born into this world.  Time to end the drab, uninspired, generica, and phony talent-less, autotuned, corporate formulaic creations.

[Vigo]

 

That post has nothing to do with Midway, Pong or Centipede



On topic, I really can't recall any news about Midway having the rights to those games. Why would they even want them that badly?

[Justin Z]

lmao

[Mikezilla]

That post has nothing to do with Midway, Pong or Centipede



On topic, I really can't recall any news about Midway having the rights to those games. Why would they even want them that badly?

Beat me to it man. I swear, I think we are twins seperated at birth or something. Chalk up another thread jack to Xiaou2.

Anyway, I cant recall either, not to mention that I cant look up anything because of my Gestapo work filter. Maybe they wanted them so badly because they could make a statement that says they led the video game revolution?  Tell you the truth, the only Midway games I remember playing in the arcades were the MK series, and Blitz. I wasnt a big fan of the driving games.

[SirPoonga]

When did Midway purchase the rights to Pong and Centipede?

Midway Amusement Games -- a former leading American producer of coin-op titles -- has led the video game revolution with many classic arcade hits such as Pong, Centipede and Defender, as well as NFL® Blitz™, Rush, Cruis'n® and Mortal Kombat®. For years these games have been found in arcades, restaurants, bowling alleys, and other establishments all over the world.

First off, I don't recall Midway ever obtaining the rights to Pong and Centipede (Though the rest of the list seems kosher from my recollection). What really irritates the ---fudgesicle--- out of me is the credit Midway is receiving for leading "the video game revolution with many classic arcade hits such as Pong, Centipede....."

Is my memory deceiving me? Less than half the games on that list are actual Midway games. The rest aren't owned by Midway or they're just licenses.

Here's the lazy link: http://na.suzohapp.com/midway/midway.htm

In 1996 after an unsuccessful bid by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, Atari Games was sold to WMS Industries (owners of the Williams, and Bally/Midway arcade brands). When Hasbro Interactive bought the remains of Atari Corporation, the console manufacturer, and resurrected the Atari name in the home software arena, Atari Games was renamed Midway Games West by parent company Midway to avoid confusing two Atari brands.

[RayB]

You guys have to remember that Atari had some fairly separate divisions (arcade, home gaming, computers) which got sold off to different parties (ie: one example posted above).

[Vigo]

Yeah, that makes sense. Different division, different purchaser. In 1996, I can't imagine I was paying to much attention to company buy outs to begin with.

[Mikezilla]

Yeah, that makes sense. Different division, different purchaser. In 1996, I can't imagine I was paying to much attention to company buy outs to begin with.

Same here. I was 14 so I was riding my bike, going to arcades, and trying to talk to girls. 

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah midway or one of midway's spinoff companies owned about everything at one point and/or owned the US liscense to it. 


That being said, midway really did lead the videogame revolution.  Back in the day all american games were atari, all japanese games for sale anywhere in north america were liscensed to midway.  Back in the golden age midway was pretty much the sole inporter of foreign games.  it wasn't just a franchise sticker deal either, Midway physically manufactured the cabinets for virtually everything.


But pong and centipede... nah, they had nothing to do with that. 

But understand that Midway Games West was not midway.... it's a spin-off of midway.  Hell I think midway owned tradewest (double dragon) at one point.