What would YOU ask Nolan Bushnell?

[zmweasel]

We're conducting an interview with Nolan Bushnell in Issue #3 of Video Game Collector, which is a daunting task, so I figured I'd ask you guys to do our work for us by coming up with a list of questions.

Post your question for Mr. B. Natural here, or PM it to me, and you might just see your pseudonym in lights when Issue #3 ships in December. Thanks!

-- Z.

[SoulBlazer]

I'd love to know if he has any regrets when it comes to his history dealing with video games and the video game industry. Things he wish he could have done or wishes they had turned out differently.

Oh, and I know he can't play much in the way of games anymore due to his age and eyesite, but I'd like to know what he still plays now and then.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Post your question for Mr. B. Natural

"Dear Mr. B Natural, are ya a man or a woman-man?"

No, seriously, here's one for ya.

In the early days of the video game violence issue - such as the Death Race game - Mr. Bushnell issued a statement saying that Atari would never create a game that espoused violence against human beings. Does he still feel it would be possible for any video game company to hold to that same philosophy in today's market?

Oh, and I know he can't play much in the way of games anymore due to his age and eyesite, but I'd like to know what he still plays now and then.

HA! Ha! I hear he's got some PC gaming favorites these days, and probably not what you'd expect. He ain't playin' Atari Anthology, that's for sure.

[ManciGames]

We're conducting an interview with Nolan Bushnell in Issue #3 of Video Game Collector, which is a daunting task, so I figured I'd ask you guys to do our work for us by coming up with a list of questions.

Post your question for Mr. B. Natural here, or PM it to me, and you might just see your pseudonym in lights when Issue #3 ships in December. Thanks!

-- Z.

I have a two-part question:

The story of how Nolan started Atari with $500 and later sold it for millions has been a source of inspiration in my life, and I know I'm not the only one.

1) Is the "Five-Hundred Dollar Story" completely true, or were there other costs associated with the startup that aren't included in that figure?

2) Has he every considered that his story would become an inspiration for others? What does he think about that?

[slip81]

What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

What do you think was the main cause of the industry crash?

[RetroYoungen]

I would like to know all about his current projects. I know he's got uWink, and I'd like to learn more about that, as well as any other plans he might be pondering or working on.

[RetroYoungen]

Is UWink hiring?

That's a good question, do they need a mail boy?

[MarioAllStar2600]

I got to ask him one question that I had to know the truth about-

"Did you really hold your buisness meetings in hot tubs?"

He said yes by the way.

[SoulBlazer]

Oops, I did'nt mean to put down eyesight. For some reason I was thinking he was having problems with his eyes....why was that? Oh well. Stupid me.

The question about what he enjoys playing today is valid, though.

[Aussie2B]

How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?

[Flack]

Here's my questions:

01. "My home arcade has over twenty videogames, an air hockey table, and a slot machine ... but no animatronic Chuck E. Cheese. Whatever happened to the old animatronic animals, and what would be the logistics and operating costs of (1) hooking one up in my house, and (2) programming one?"

02. "Do you feel that you are as famous as you should be? My 3 year old son knows both Chuck E. Cheese and Atari, and yet the average person on the street outside of the business/hobby doesn't know the name "Nolan Bushnell". Do you feel you've received the recognition you deserved? Personally I think you deserve your own holiday."

03. "At the end of the day, what single accomplishment would you like to be most remembered for?"

04. "What was the last videogame innovation that impressed you?"

05. "In hindsight, what would you have done differently?"

06. "From Jakks' handheld games to retrogaming conventionst to young kids wearing shirts with Atari logos on them, retrogaming is back. What is your opinion of the resurgance and revival of classic videogames?"

[Ed Oscuro]

Flack's #4 especially interests me.

I'd ask:

a.) Is it true that you are better than Trip Hawkins?

b.) Did his 3DO have anything to do with that?

c.) Do you like Digital Chocolate?

d.) Where do you buy your polo shirts these days? Er, I'm assuming that's a polo shirt you have on right now.

:D

[rolenta]

At CGE2K3 Bushnell admitted that he did indeed see the Odyssey, however he remarked that when he saw the Odyssey, "it was already a failure".

My question is, he saw the Odyssey before it was released, so how could it already be a failure? And how could something that sold 300,000 units its first year be considered a failure? Home Pong didn't do much better.

[DJ_DEEM]

dude where's my car?

[tom]

were you and Steve Jobs friends?

[Richter Belmount]

his opinion on punk rock and why did oj kill?

[lendelin]

Q1: Looking back at your impressive carreer in the industry, which decision do you regret the most?

Q2: After the debate about Pong calmed down, and with a hindsight- look after three decades, who do you think deserves the most credit for the invention of Pong - you, Ralph Baer, or Al Alcorn?

Q3: Did you attend and play the Odyssey at the Burlingame show in May 1972?

Q4: How do you explain the comeback of classic games today? Are you surprised about your celebrity status in the classic gaming scene today?

Q5: Today there is necessarily a lot of nostalgia when we look back at the game industry of the 1970s. Which is the biggest misconception about the early years of videogames?

[Algol]

-What's your opinion on how Infogrames has taken Atari?

-What are your favorite video games?

-Would you wear one of those Atari shirts in public?

[Sotenga]

My question would be: "Were you disappointed by the Atari 7800's short life, or did you anticipate that it would lose to other consoles such as the NES or Genesis?" Not that I mean any disrespect with that question, quite the contrary. It really should have had more solid titles like Desert Falcon and dead-on conversions like Robotron 2084. Now those kicked ass...

[MarioAllStar2600]

My question would be: "Were you disappointed by the Atari 7800's short life, or did you anticipate that it would lose to other consoles such as the NES or Genesis?" Not that I mean any disrespect with that question, quite the contrary. It really should have had more solid titles like Desert Falcon and dead-on conversions like Robotron 2084. Now those kicked ass...

Jack Tramiel owned atari for the 7800. He screwed everythingup I thought.