Atari stars with Lucasfilms

ATARI has formed a partnership with Lucasfilms, the company which produced Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Star Wars trilogy. Two new video games produced in both company’s names have been announced in the USA.

The games, Rescue on Fractalus and Ballblazer, comprise the first step towards a range of innovative games under the joint logo. They use spectacular 3D graphics, with computer generated music and sound effects, and will cost about $35 (£25). Initially they will run on the Atari 5200 machine, but version for other Atari machines, including the 7800 will be produced.

It is now confirmed that the 7800 machine will be available in Britain in September, at £99.99. Rescue on Fractalus and Ballblazer should be here in November, at £24.99.

Atari has announced drastic cut-backs in its workforce at Sunnyvale, California. Last week 700 of the 2000 staff were fired, and by July it is expected to have halved its number of employees. John Farrand, Atari president, said that the cuts were in preparation for restructuring the company.