If the data is accurate, it seems the brands may not be so iconic anymore. Overall awareness of Atari is low for gamers age 13-24, clocking in at 34 percent. Compare that with 63 percent among gamers 25 to 54 and it would appear that Atari isn't well recognized by a key gaming demographic. What's more, the most commonly associated attributes for Atari were "classic," "out-of-date" and "nostalgic."
In fact, the "out-of-date" attribute response was recorded by 38 percent of those polled, compared to a 7 percent average for other game companies. E-Poll also noted that consumer comments about Atari included "outdated,'' ''from when I was a kid,'' ''obsolete'' and ''what do they do now?'' It adds that the company's "classic" status -- also noted by 38 percent of respondents -- could be an asset for the company. That said, E-Poll concludes that Atari must "shed the perception of an antiquated company that's been shooting the same asteroids for nearly 40 years."
With Bushnell back on board and Atari shifting focus to an online-only business, we'd say the answer to the awareness problem is simple: Facebook Pong. Done. Company saved.
