Once upon Atari cover art

Once upon Atari

How I Made History by Killing an Industry

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Once upon Atari

By: Howard Scott Warshaw
Narrated by: Howard Scott Warshaw
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About this listen

Video games set the world on fire, and Atari lit the match. This is an intimate view into the dramatic rise and fall of the early video game industry, as seen through the eyes of one of its most iconic pioneers. This book offers eye-opening details and insights, laying bare the issues and dynamics still taking place in modern software companies. A must-hear for anyone in high-tech production, delivered in a compelling narrative, with a fresh voice and unorthodox style.

How much fun can you have inventing video games in a creative paradise? What behind-the-scenes corporate intrigue went on while making billions of dollars and launching a new medium? What really caused the video game crash of 1983? Once upon Atari is the inside story of how it all happened and how it upended the life of one of its key players. An innovative work from one of the industry’s original innovators, delivered in a creative style that mirrors the industry it reveals. It is a compelling tale of innocence, joy, greed, devastation, and ultimately redemption.

©2020 Howard Scott Warshaw (P)2022 Howard Scott Warshaw Professionals & Academics Science & Technology Technology Video Game Software
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It is my own fault. Looking for stories on gaming I stumbled across Sid Meyer’s Bio, Doom Guy and then Masters of Doom. Having really enjoyed all of them, I automatically assumed that this one, with all the raving reviews, would be as good…. or better. Boy, was I wrong. This guy worked 2 mere years at Atari when ET happened. Sure, he made a couple of hits but as nothing groundbreaking in the long run compared to Sid and the 2 Johns. Yet, he is so full of himself that I stopped listening (and I never do that!). His attempt on using the dig as a cliffhanger, chapter after chapter did not work for me. He is riding on the wave of retro gaming, but to my humble opinion, he doesn’t have the same charisma as the other icons. He is not even in the same league. Atari killed itself, and would have done so with or without his help. I found it disappointing.

Pretentious and boring

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