About this season
Atari game designer Howard Scott Warshaw, creator of the best-selling 2600 game Yars' Revenge, takes you on a trip through time back to the late seventies and the birth of Atari, and interviews the personalities that fueled the company, including founder Nolan Bushnell.
Episodes (4)
1. House of Games
Aired 10 August 2003
You will see what a working place could be like. You will see what "wild and crazy" coworkers could mean. You will see the single most amazing work environment there ever was. More fun, more interesting work, more stimulating people, and more money flying around than anyplace you've ever seen. You will never look at a workplace the same way again.
2. The Enemy Within
Aired 10 August 2003
The various arms of a company (marketing, engineering, management, etc.) should work in concert to create a harmonious symphony of profitable business performance. But sometimes the cellist thinks the brass section sucks. Maybe the conductor feels a percussionist isn't up to snuff. Sometimes the whole orchestra erupts into a huge brawl.
3. The Game's The Thing
Aired 10 August 2003
Designing games is a most cryptic and demanding art. It really has little to do with technical specifications and design parameters. It all comes down to one thing: Do people want to keep playing this game? Is it fun?
4. The Agony & The Ecstasy
Aired 10 August 2003
Find out what it's like to walk into a store and see your game there on the shelf. To hear people talking about your product. There is also a segment on the favorite games of the game makers.