Joystiq

How games can teach students 10 times faster, with more sweeping hand gestures

Jessica Conditt — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 21:30:00 EST

In order to ensure mankind's future as the dominant super-race on this planet, we must activate our youth through education -- and video games.

Atari founder Nolan Bushnell has been testing education software for years and says he has created a method of teaching a full high school career in less than a year, using, in large part, cloud systems. "In cloud gaming you disconnect the system's administration from the computer to the cloud," Bushnell told GamesIndustry.biz. "It's going to be an important step for allowing technology into the classroom." Bushnell says his program teaches students 10 times faster than traditional methods, and his shortened high-school-span plan could be ready for implementation by the end of 2011.

Not to be outdone, the Kinect-based education-resource blog KinectEDucation advocates using Kinect to augment learning environments, and is currently holding its Kinect in Education Contest, challenging hackers to create Kinect apps for use in classrooms. Two $500 prizes will be awarded, one for the most innovative and adaptable classroom software, and one for the "best" in-class video showcasing a Kinect classroom experience. The contest runs now through November 30.

How games can teach students 10 times faster, with more sweeping hand gestures originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Survey: Atari brand awareness low among younger gamers

Richard Mitchell — Sat, 22 May 2010 00:15:00 EST

According to recent survey data provided to Joystiq by E-Poll, Atari brand recognition isn't what it once was. The survey was put together after Atari founder Nolan Bushnell rejoined the company last month. At the time, Bushnell noted that he was "very excited" to rejoin the company, adding that its "iconic brands have always been important" to him.

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 What's more, the most commonly associated attributes for Atari were "classic," "out-of-date" and "nostalgic."

In fact, the "out-of-date" attribute response was recorded by 38 percent of those polled, compared to a 7 percent average for other game companies.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.

Survey: Atari brand awareness low among younger gamers originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 22 May 2010 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nolan Bushnell and Tom Virden join Atari board; Harrison and Gardner depart

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:20:00 EST

Apparently Atari founder Nolan Bushnell has ended his recent revisit with game development, as the publisher announced today the addition of Bushnell to its executive board alongside "online entrepreneur" Tom Virden. This is the second executive acquisition announcement that Atari has made in recent days, with John Burns, former European head of EA's online publishing, joining up just last week. The company has said it's focusing on moving towards an online-based business, and today's appointments will be overseeing that transition with the rest of the Audit Committee (a.k.a. the executive board).

"I am very excited to be reacquainted with Atari at a time when it is poised to make interesting strides in key growth areas of the games industry," Bushnell said. "The company and its iconic brands have always been important to me, and I look forward to further guiding them at the board level."

Meanwhile, Atari has also announced the resignations of David Gardner, former CEO and director at Infogrames, and Phil Harrison, former Atari president turned board member. Happy trails!

Update: An Atari rep got back to us, confirming that Bushnell and Virden will be filling the positions left open by Harrison and Gardner.

Nolan Bushnell and Tom Virden join Atari board; Harrison and Gardner depart originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First video of Battleswarm arrives

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST

click to embiggen

We're not exactly sure what Battleswarm: Field of Honor dev Gameworld Tech is trying to show us with its first trailer (found after the break) -- other than low production values, that is. We've got some generic space marines running around and shooting things in a third-person camera view, we've got some generic space bugs attacking the space marines, and we've got a generic battlefield that looks to be ripped from an MMO.

Most importantly though? The logo is shooting itself with electricity. If you're really hankering to get in on the free-to-play action from the mind of Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, the developer has just announced Battleswarm's open beta registration. If you do, feel free to let us know how it is in the comments below. And remember: The only good bug is a dead bug.

Gallery: Battleswarm: Field of Honor (PC)

Continue reading First video of Battleswarm arrives

First video of Battleswarm arrives originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nolan Bushnell working on RTS/FPS hybrid, likes cloud computing (update: first images of Battleswarm)

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:30:00 EST

click to Battle-size

Update: Joystiq has been provided with a pair high resolution images of Battleswarm. Find them in the gallery below.

Game industry legend Nolan Bushnell is back in the news again, with word from USA Today that he's working on a new online game for the PC. Entitled Battleswarm: Field of Honor (see the tiny screenshot to the right), the Reality Gap-developed game pits humans versus alien bugs -- what was it Bushnell said about today's games not being innovative? -- with the humans playing from a first-person perspective and the bugs being controlled using a real-time strategy interface. According to Bushnell, the game was born from his frustration at being constantly bested by his younger, quicker sons at FPS games.

Battleswarm will be an online-only affair with a free-to-play model that utilizes a microtransaction system, allowing players to purchase upgrades like weapons and armor. While Bushnell says there may be some "segregation" in the game to separate those with tons of upgrades from those who have avoided them, he notes that "a really good player doesn't need to buy extra resources."

When asked about what exciting trends he sees in the game industry today, Bushnell said, "I'm a big believer in 'cloud computing,' referring to services like OnLive, in which games are stored on distant servers and not directly on a player's computer or console. He's also excited about "gesture-based inputs, where you don't even need a remote or controller to play."

Natal Pong, anyone?

Gallery: Battleswarm: Field of Honor (PC)

Nolan Bushnell working on RTS/FPS hybrid, likes cloud computing (update: first images of Battleswarm) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atari founder Nolan Bushnell to keynote LA Games Conference

Jason Dobson — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:30:00 EST

The man created both Pong and Chuck E. Cheese's pizza, so you'll have to forgive us if we take pause whenever Nolan Bushnell opens his bearded maw. The Atari founder is slated to take the stage at next week's LA Games Conference, and will offer his thoughts on the current crop of consoles as well as where he believes the industry is headed. Straight into the nearest uWink, no doubt.

Bushnell is just one of several speakers pegged to headline the event, which will include additional keynotes from PopCap top dog David Roberts, Qualcomm exec Mike Yuen and Benchmark Capital partner Mitch Lasky. The event is scheduled for April 28-29 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in LA, and should make for an interesting primer for E3's media bombardment in June.

Atari founder Nolan Bushnell to keynote LA Games Conference originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bushnell is 'thrilled' to be played by DiCaprio

Justin McElroy — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:10:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

Direct from our always hefty "Yeah, No Kidding" file, MTV Multiplayer was told last night by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell that he was "very thrilled and honored" to be portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in an upcoming biopic. Yeah Nolan, no kidding.

What we're sure is not quite as thrilling to Bushnell is the fact that it's currently unclear to what extent present-day Atari will let their property (like the three-pronged logo) be used. We're hopeful that the company will play ball if they throw Phil Harrison a bit role. (A Brit as a villainous Ralph Baer? You heard it here first.)

[Update: We've got Fernando's awesome take on Phil as Ralph right after the break!]

Continue reading Bushnell is 'thrilled' to be played by DiCaprio

Bushnell is 'thrilled' to be played by DiCaprio originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leonardo DiCaprio to star in Nolan Bushnell biopic

Ross Miller — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Retro

A biopic about Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell has been picked up by Paramount Pictures, with Leonardo DiCaprio attached to star, reports Variety. Although we feel "attached to star" is indicative of DiCaprio taking on the role of Bushnell himself, we guess it's equally likely he could star as Atari co-founder Ted Dabney or a paddle from Pong!

Bushnell is also known for founding Chuck E. Cheese. The film, currently titled Atari, will be produced by DiCaprio's Appian Way.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Leonardo DiCaprio to star in Nolan Bushnell biopic originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pong creator Nolan Bushnell working on MMO

Scott Jon Siegel — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO

It might not be MMOP (massively multiplayer online Pong), but Nolan Bushnell is definitely up to something in the MMO world, according to a recent interview with Gamespot. No concrete details were given, but the trash-talking industry veteran did confirm that he's involved in at least one massively-multiplayer project.

Specifically, when asked if he had his hands in any MMO-based titles, Nolan Bushnell took a notedly-long pause before responding "Yes." When asked to clarify, Bushnell stated that it's unavoidable that social and massively-multiplayer games have become important, but "as compelling as World of Warcraft is, it too shall find that there are other ways to play a game."

A cryptic comment to be sure. Our buddies at Massively point out that Bushnell has a history in creating social spaces, with franchises like the Chuck E. Cheese arcades and more recently uWink. But can this sort of expertise translate effectively to the cutthroat world of MMO development?

[Via Massively]

Pong creator Nolan Bushnell working on MMO originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bushnell clarifies 'unadulterated trash' talk, moans about innovation etc.

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Retro

Following up on Nolan Bushnell's recent labeling of our post-Pong games as "unadulterated trash," Gametap's Curt Feldman decided to have a chat with the Atari founder on the tel-uh-fohn. In the resulting interview, Nolan Bushnell explains that his scorn is just reserved for a "narrow segment" of gaming, which happens to include (you're not going to like this) Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto. While Rockstar's sandbox gets predictably deplored for its "deification of antisocial behavior," Bungie's critically acclaimed shooter is deemed no more than "Doom 1 in different clothing." As he puts it, "Clothing or not, the clothing is nicer, but the game is the same."

Continue reading Bushnell clarifies 'unadulterated trash' talk, moans about innovation etc.

Bushnell clarifies 'unadulterated trash' talk, moans about innovation etc. originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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