“I consider myself a leisure time technologist” – Nolan Bushnell
The BBC Archive always knows how to tug at our heartstrings with nostalgia!
In this delightful footage from 1981, we see Nolan Bushnell, the creative genius behind Atari, sharing thoughts on video games and their connection to our “animalistic nature” regarding violence. (Spoiler alert: he’s refreshingly honest!) He also discusses the iconic Pong, which was renamed to Ping in the UK due to its different connotation there.
At this time, Nolan had already sold Atari to Warner Communications for a staggering US$28 million, taking home about US$15 million himself —but he wasn’t done. He transitioned into an even more adventurous venture: creating Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theatre, a place where pizza and arcade games came together, complete with singing animatronic mice.
The most entertaining aspect of the clip is witnessing both children and adults totally immersed in the vibrant arcade culture of the early ’80s—a true cultural phenomenon brought to life by a man who essentially defined “fun” as a business approach.
A perfect snapshot of the past. A true legend. The ultimate vibes.
source: BBC Archive (Facebook)
Original article by ausretrogamer.com
