Atari Incorporated

Atari Incorporated’s pinball division grew out of the pioneering video game company Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney founded in 1972, bringing arcade innovation to widebody pinball machines and themed tables that blended advanced electromechanical design with bold artwork and playfield layouts to appeal to operators and collectors alike. Launched in the mid‑1970s, Atari released early titles such as The Atarians and Time 2000 and continued with inventive machines like Airborne Avenger, Middle Earth and Superman, using wider cabinets, new switch technologies and creative rule sets that helped the company stand out in the coin‑op market. Middle Earth, noted for its innovative use of microswitches across the playfield, and Hercules, often cited among Atari’s most ambitious and largest pinball projects, exemplify the division’s technical experimentation and collectible appeal among vintage pinball enthusiasts. Although Atari’s pinball branch was relatively short‑lived and wound down by 1979 as the company refocused on the booming video‑game sector, its roster of distinctive Atari pinball machines remains sought after by collectors and operators for their historical significance, unique layouts and retro arcade charm, making Atari a memorable name in vintage pinball history.