The Atari 2600 (originally sold as the Atari Video Computer System, or VCS) was by far the most popular console of its era. It did much to popularize switchable cartridge-based games. Despite many efforts, Atari would never again replicate its success. (credit: Andrew Cunningham)
Almost immediately after Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell was un-nominated for a “Pioneer” award over accusations of sexism, questions arose from gaming fans and historians alike: was the reaction appropriate?
They wanted to know: was a “#NotNolan” campaign too quick to pass judgement based on salacious rumors? Or was it a measured response to how the gaming and technology industries look so many years later?
A report from Kotaku’s Cecilia D’Anastasio came closest to answering that question on Monday. For the report, she interviewed a compelling spectrum of women who are perhaps best equipped to speak to the question: Bushnell’s female peers within Atari, as well as female industry researchers and historians. The report doesn’t come close to a definitive answer, and its hesitation to render any verdict on the matter is perhaps its greatest strength.
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