ART OF ATARI

During the 1970s, ATARI was a pioneer in the creation of video games first with arcade cabinets then with the introduction of its home gaming console. The ATARI name is synonymous with describing the electronic entertainment industry of the times. As a kid growing up in the 70s and 80s, I spent countless hours playing Jungle Hunt, Missile Command, Pac-Man, River Raid, and Space Invaders on the Atari 2600; but I spent probably just as much time enjoying the artwork on video game box covers, instruction manuals and advertisements.

While ATARI is known for its video games, the artwork produced by the company was just as much, if not more, extraordinary. Although always enjoying ATARI games, I remember always being a bit disappointed that their on-screen graphics never were comparable to the enticing artwork marketing them. I used to check out every detail of ATARI art which provided inspiration for imagining fantastic stories in my mind of astronaut adventures, army battles, and mythical encounters. The art of ATARI for me added an extra element of excitement to the brand that complimented the cutting-edge tech of its video games.

As ATARI turns 50 this year and we see the entertainment industry moving away from releasing products in physical formats such as cartridges and discs, I wonder if we will be losing out on the artwork that graced music album covers and video game boxes? Will companies find it worth the investment to continue producing art that is aimed to have their products catch consumers eyes when people are shopping through digital marketplaces instead of strolling through the aisles of brick-and-mortar stores? I sure hope so because this type of artwork has brought a lot of joy and inspiration to my life!

If you are a fan of ATARI artwork like I am, celebrate this milestone 50th anniversary year of ATARI by taking a look back at the art created for the company in a book by Tim Lapetino that is a compilation of the wonderful imagery produced during the 70s & 80s. This 352 page hardcover book published by Dynamite Entertainment is the first official collection of ATARI artwork. It delves into how artwork from Asteroids, Centipede and numerous other video games aided in both game development and marketing. Enjoy a catalog of unique illustrations from the company's advertising, packaging and more. ART OF ATARI is a book that I'm personally very geeked about!

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