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Alliance Earns Atari Licensing Agreement
Alliance Gaming Corp. and Atari, Inc. announced today a licensing agreement to develop a series of slot machines based on classic titles from Atari's extensive video game library. Under the agreement between Bally Gaming and Systems, a business unit of Alliance Gaming, and Atari Interactive, Inc., an Atari affiliate, slot machines based on Atari titles are under development, with the first - based on PONG - scheduled to debut at the upcoming Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas on Oct. 5-7, 2004 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In addition to PONG, the deal includes other well-known Atari classics such as Asteroids, Centipede and Breakout. Credited with creating both a new home entertainment and video arcade craze in the mid-1970s, Atari and its game titles have become synonymous to an entire generation of video gaming enthusiasts who were initially captivated by a simple game of electronic tennis. The millions of teenagers and youngsters who grew up playing Atari games are now middle-aged adults, the prime demographic profile of slot machine players today. "Titles such as PONG and Asteroids evoke such a strong favorable response with gamers of all types and we're excited to team up with Atari to produce a series of slots that will showcase these timeless classics and give casino visitors a memorable new form of entertainment," said Richard Haddrill, incoming President and Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Gaming Corp.
"There is a huge population that grew up with these Atari games and that audience is still clamoring for ways to recapture the fun of their first gaming experience," said Wim Stocks, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Atari. "Atari is committed to ensuring that fans of our classic games have access to them wherever and however they seek entertainment. By joining forces with Alliance and Bally, we know that we'll reach a large audience of gaming devotees." Bally Gaming's display of the Atari PONG slot machine at the Global Gaming Expo will mark the debut of Bally's new dual-screen M9000 cabinet powered by the company's next-generation Game Maker II operating system. The PONG slot machine will include a skill element that will allow players to use a traditional game paddle to play a game of PONG against the computer during the bonus round.
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