Nolan Bushnell received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah and later pursued graduate studies at Stanford University. During his time at Utah, he was introduced to the world of computers, which were then massive mainframes accessible only to computer students. One of his favorite games was "Space War," a simple game where two spaceships battled against the forces of gravity and inertia.
In 1970, Bushnell decided to make video games accessible to the general public, and he founded a game company. Initially called Syzygy, the company was renamed Atari, inspired by the Japanese game of Go, which uses the term "Atari" to indicate a critical position on the board. Bushnell's first game was "Computer Space," a version of "Space War" that was released in 1971 but failed to gain popularity due to its complexity.
Undeterred, Bushnell and a partner created a new game, Pong, which was released in 1972. The game's success was evident when a Pong machine installed in a bar broke due to excessive use. Bushnell realized he had a hit on his hands, but Magnavox, which had released a similar game called Odyssey 1 in 1970, sued Atari for copyright infringement. The two companies eventually reached a settlement, with Magnavox receiving a portion of Atari's profits until 1976.
Bushnell's next move was to get Sears to sell a home version of Pong, which became the hottest item during the 1975 Christmas season. However, as Pong's popularity waned, Bushnell recognized the need to create a machine that could play multiple types of games.
The Atari 2600 VCS was initially scheduled for release in 1976, but Atari delayed its release until 1977 to avoid sharing profits with Magnavox. In 1976, Bushnell sold Atari to Warner Communications and remained its president. The 2600 was released in 1977 along with approximately 10 game cartridges, and it went on to have a lifespan of nearly 15 years before being discontinued in 1992.
In 1978, Warner Communications implemented changes at Atari, including mandatory dress codes and punch clocks, which Bushnell opposed. He left the company in 1979, reportedly after being fired. After his departure, Bushnell started Chuck E. Cheese's Showtime Pizza, a family-friendly restaurant with arcade games and robots. Although the venture initially succeeded, it eventually declined, and Bushnell was forced to shut down the company.
In the 1990s, Bushnell faced financial difficulties, declaring bankruptcy and losing his possessions to the bank. However, in 1999, he founded uwink.com, a gaming venture that combined arcade games with the internet.
