comstock@tymix.UUCP (Dave Comstock) (01/29/86)
After talking to a person "in the know" at Atari Games, Inc., I have a little more information. According to this (normally) reliable source, Electronic Arts either officially has the right of first refusal to new Atari Games coin-operated video games OR has been aggressive in buying up the rights to the games. Marble Madness is apparently not the only game that EA bought the rights to, however the source didn't have any other specific examples. I suspect that the game designers at Atari Games may have influenced this policy, as Electronic Arts was a VERY POPULAR company with all the programmers at Atari in the pre-Tramiel, pre-NAMCO days. Despite the popularity of Gauntlet, EA might choose to pass on the rights to the game. After all, Electronic Arts doesn't really like to release games that are primarily shoot'em ups (or "jelly blasters" to use an old Atari term). David Comstock Tymnet, Inc. ...decvax!ucbvax!hplabs!oliveb!tymix!comstock