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Atari co-founder coming to Algoma U (updated)

Editor's Note: SooToday.com recieved the following note from Atari Historian Curt Vendel, curator of the Atari Museum . He informs us that the news release below is just a tad inaccurate.
Editor's Note: SooToday.com recieved the following note from Atari Historian Curt Vendel, curator of the Atari Museum.
 
He informs us that the news release below is just a tad inaccurate.
 
In the interest of maintaining accurate historical accounts and giving credit where credit is due -  but not to detract from Nolan Bushnell's very significant accomplishments and contributions to the video game industry -  here is what Vendel had to say.
 
Nolan Bushnell was the co-founder, not founder of Atari.  
 
He and partner Ted Dabney formed Atari after both being in business and running Syzygy Computer and producing Nutting Computer Space.
   
They incorporated Atari, Inc. together on June 27, 1972 and their first product - Pong was released on November 30, 1972.
 
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NEWS RELEASE
 
SAULT STE. MARIE INNOVATION CENTRE
 
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Founding father of video game industry visits Sault Ste. Marie

Nolan Bushnell’s credits include Atari and Pong

(December 5, 2011) - Registrations for the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre’s ProtoLaunch 3.3 workshop opened with news that industry giant, Nolan Bushnell, is confirmed to present at the series.

Bushnell, who founded Atari Inc. and was inducted into both the Video Game Hall of Fame and the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame, was named one of Newsweek’s “50 Men Who Changed America.”

In his latest venture, Bushnell co‐founded Anti‐Aging Games, a website he created with two doctorate scientists designed to stimulate the brain through computer game technology.

Bushnell launched his first computerized video game, Computer Space, in 1970.

The following year, he created Pong, propelling Atari into a household name.

Bushnell is also credited for founding Chuck E. Cheese Pizza restaurants, providing families with one location to both eat and play games.

“It cannot be overstated how fortunate we are to have the man who founded the video game industry visit Sault Ste. Marie and offer guidance to the youth of our community,” says Dwayne Hammond, strategic advisor, Computer Game Technology at Algoma University.

ProtoLaunch 3.3 runs this December 10 to 11 and targets high school students interested in a career in video game development.

With such an overwhelmingly positive response, only two registration spots remain for this month’s session.

To date, the ProtoLaunch series has assisted over four hundred high school-aged students in gaining knowledge and experience in the field of computer game technology through the contributions of industry experts and seasonal workshops.

For more information on ProtoLaunch registration, please contact Diana Medaglia, marketing and communications manager, at 705-942-7927, ext. 3138 or by e-mail.

Visit ProtoLaunch on Facebook.

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