The new Atari TV Game is an entry level console - which replicates the joystick of the classic Atari VCS 2600 console from the late 1970's - which plugs directly into a user's television. The console features 10 famous Atari titles from the golden days of the VCS, including Pong, Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command and Yars Revenge. The original titles have been recreated faithfully by DC Studios to give today's generation the same thrill these games provided over 20 years ago. DC Studios previously created the Activision TV Game, released in 2001, which featured classic Activision titles such as River Raid and Pitfall. This console sold in excess of 350,000 units in North America alone
.
Recently launched, the Atari TV Game is enjoying considerable success with expected sales in reaching hundreds of thousands of units. This uniquely branded console will be launched across 16 European territories in February 2003.
While much of the focus in the games industry remains on new titles for the high-profile branded consoles, there is a growing awareness of the value of 'classic' games titles from the earliest days of video gaming. Likewise, a new breed of non-dedicated and low-cost technologies are being released in order to target a mass-market audience, outside the traditional hardcore games player.
Since its foundation in 1999, DC Studios has been committed to finding new opportunities in the games industry, alongside the more traditional areas of development. DC Studios has been focused not only on creating quality games but running a profitable business so ensuring long term survival in a competitive industry. In the three years since the studio was founded, DC has successfully completed over twenty projects for some of the world's leading game and toy manufacturers. In addition to creating the content for the Atari TV Game, DC Studios are pro-actively researching other opportunities on a global level. Studio founder and CEO, Mark Greenshields, has recently returned from a trade mission to Japan, organised by the Scottish Council for Development & Industry, where he was carrying out research into new business projects in Japan and the Pacific Rim.
"I am very proud of DC's achievements with the Atari TV Game," says Greenshields. "While the global games industry has undergone a great deal of upheaval and consolidation over the last twelve months, overall the demand for games has never been greater. The industry is a global business and should be treated as such. There are many new areas outside the traditional development sector which show enormous potential for developers in attracting new sectors of the population to play games. I firmly believe that to succeed in the long-term developers will have to take advantage of these opportunities regardless of their geographical location."
