History Founding (1979) thumb|left|Co-founder David Crane in 2013 In 1976, Warner Communications bought Atari, Inc. from Nolan Bushnell to help accelerate the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS or later the Atari 2600) to market by 1977. That same year, Atari began hiring programmers to create games for the system. Prior to Warner's acquisition, the company did not award bonus pay to programmers who worked on profitable games, nor credit the programmers publicly, to prevent them from being recruited by rival game companies. Warner Communication's management style was also different from Bushnell's. According to developer John Dunn, Warner management treated developers as engineers rather than creative staff, creating conflicts with staff. Atari's CEO Ray Kassar, named to that position following Warner's acquisition in 1978, was committed to keeping production costs minimal for Warner.
History Founding (1979) thumb|left|Co-founder David Crane in 2013 In 1976 Warner Communications bought Atari Inc from Nolan Bushnell to help accelerate the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS or later the Atari 2600) to market by 1977 That same year Atari began hiring programmers to create games for the system Prior to Warner's acquisition the company did not award bonus pay to programmers who worked on profitable games nor credit the programmers publicly to prevent them from being recruited by rival game companies Warner Communication's management style was also different from Bushnell's According to developer John Dunn Warner management treated developers as engineers rather than creative staff creating conflicts with staff Atari's CEO Ray Kassar named to that position following Warner's acquisition in 1978 was committed to keeping production costs minimal for Warner