Atari is a global producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market segments and all interactive game platforms including consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, advanced smartphones, Personal Computers, web and online. Its games are sold in more than 60 countries through an international distribution network and direct to consumers via www.atari.com.
Atari’s extensive catalogue of popular games is based on original franchises (Alone in the Dark, Test Drive, V-Rally, My Horse & Me, Backyard Sports franchise, Total Annihilation, Outcast etc.), publishing properties (The Witcher, Legendary, Race Pro etc.), international licenses (Dragon Ball Z, Dungeons & Dragons, Jamie Oliver etc.) and classic games covering the entire history of the video game industry (Pong, Missile Command, Asteroids etc).
Atari's shares are listed on the Euronext Eurolist market, compartment C (ISIN code: FR-0010478248) and it has two principal subsidiaries: Atari Europe and Atari, Inc., its US subsidiary.
The Atari Group develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software for all existing platforms such as Sony's PSP, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Microsoft's Xbox 360 or Nintendo's DS, Wii and GameBoy Advance, as well as for personal computers.
Sales by format for the year ended March 31, 2008 continued to reflect the strong contribution of traditional Playstation 2 and PC platforms, which accounted for 49% of aggregate sales. On the other hand, so-called mass-market consoles (Wii and NDS) and the other next-generation models (Xbox 360 and PS3) accounted for 31% and 12% of sales, respectively, for the year ended March 31, 2008, compared with 15% and 11% on March 31, 2007.
The Group's catalog covers the main videogame market segments (family/children, action, adventure, car racing, strategy, simulation) and it holds particularly strong market positions in action, family/children and car-racing games, where it owns popular franchises such as Test Drive, Alone in the Dark, V-Rally or Roller Backyard.
The Group also develops and publishes software based on key theme licenses such as Dragon Ball Z, Arthur & the Minimoys, Matrix, Dungeons & Dragons.
Atari also holds licenses on family-themed entertainment, including Titeuf, Totally Spies, Kid Paddle, Beyblades, Asterix. In addition, Atari holds an exclusive worldwide license on 10 Hasbro intellectual properties (Dungeons & Dragons, Monopoly, Scrabble, Risk, Game Of Life, Clue, Yatzhee, Battleship, Boggle, Simon.)
Infogrames also acquired title to the Atari name through its 2001 purchase of Hasbro Interactive, the interactive games division of Hasbro Inc.
Since that time, the Group had been conducting some of its publishing business under the Atari name. In May 2003, Infogrames decided to adopt the legendary videogame industry Atari brand name for its commercial operations worldwide. Accordingly, NASDAQ-traded Infogrames, Inc. became Atari, Inc. (symbol: ATAR). On the other hand, Infogrames Entertainment kept its name and Euronext code unchanged.
Games published by the Group are developed and produced by its own staff located in Europe (France) or by independent studios. While continuing to develop products at its own studios (Eden Games), the Group now also works with several outside studios. Its size and expertise make it a highly attractive publishing and distribution group, facilitating the hiring of leading international videogame experts.
The Group also does business with third-party publishers, who contract with it for the distribution or joint publishing of their products, either worldwide or in a specific region.
Atari sells interactive games in more than 60 countries through a worldwide network of 27 subsidiaries, branches and offices. Its distribution system gives it access to some 50,000 points of sale in Europe and the United States. Atari games are sold by major international retailers, including Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Auchan, Metro and Carrefour, as well as by large national or regional retail chains, discount stores, specialized retailers and convenience stores.
