Atari Announces the $100,000 Pong® Indie Developer Challenge

[Mattlab]

Atari is very proud to have the pleasure of announcing a recent development within the Atari brand. The Indie Pong Development Challenge is calling on entrants to reimagine Atari’s classic Pong for a chance to win up to $100,000 and see their vision go from concept to market. #PongDevChallenge

See http://atari.com/pongdeveloperchallenge for the official contest page and more information!

Official Announcement from Atari

Atari Announces the $100,000 Pong® Indie Developer Challenge

Winners Receive Cash Prize, Publishing Agreements, and Industry Accolades

LOS ANGELES – February 28, 2012 - In celebration of Atari’s and Pong’s 40th anniversary, the company today announced the official start of its Pong® Indie Developer Challenge, calling on entrants to reimagine the classic game for a chance to win up to $100,000 and see their vision go from concept to market. Beginning February 28, 2012, developers can submit their original take on Pong® for iPhone®, iPad® and iPod® touch devices, with finalists launching their games on the App Store later this year under the Atari brand. Winning entries will also receive a long-term publishing agreement with Atari that includes development, creative resources and full marketing support. Submissions are now being accepted until March 31, 2012, 11:59pm ET, at: www.atari.com/pongdeveloperchallenge

Following the success of Atari’s recent indie-developed mobile games including Asteroids®: Gunner™, Atari’s Greatest Hits© and Breakout®: Boost, the Pong® Indie Developer Challenge opens the door for up-and-coming developers to deliver the next smash hit. The judging panel will include notable industry figureheads, including original Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, infamous Pocket God creator Dave Castelnuovo, TUAW’s Mike Schramm, and select members of Atari’s executive team. Atari fans can participate by submitting their own votes during the selection of an Atari Community Winner. An additional community voting period will also help to determine overall contest winners, details of which will be revealed soon.

“The Pong® Indie Developer Challenge is a great opportunity to celebrate the 40th anniversary of an iconic game franchise,” said Jim Wilson, CEO of Atari. “We are enthusiastic about working with the independent developer community to evolve Pong® through a wide variety of creative concepts and gameplay experiences that will further engage our Atari fan base and introduce new consumers to this pioneering video game franchise.”

For full details regarding the contest and rules, including how to submit, eligibility, timing of submissions and prizes, please visit: www.atari.com/pongdeveloperchallenge

Assets

For more information about Atari games and the latest news:
- Visit our website: www.atari.com
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- Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/atari
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/atari

About ATARI, SA
Atari (www.atari.com) is a multi-platform, global interactive entertainment and licensing company. The original innovator of video gaming, founded in 1972, Atari owns and/or manages a portfolio of more than 200 games and franchises, including world renowned brands like Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Pong®, Test Drive®, Backyard Sports®, Deer Hunter®, Ghostbusters®, and Rollercoaster Tycoon®. Atari capitalizes on these powerful properties by delivering compelling games online (via web browsers, Facebook® and digital download), on smartphones and tablets and other connected devices. The Company also develops and distributes interactive entertainment for video game consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony. As a licensor, Atari extends its brand and franchises into other media, merchandising and publishing categories.

Atari has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Lyon and London.

© 2012 Atari Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved. Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.

[mr.Ugly]

awesome!

http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BrianRobbins/20120228/163180/Why_Ataris_Pong_Indie_Developer_Challenge_is_bad_f or_developers.php

[BravadoWaffle]

awesome!

http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BrianRobbins/20120228/163180/Why_Ataris_Pong_Indie_Developer_Challenge_is_bad_f or_developers.php

Yea, I was just about to post the same thing. Looked interesting at first, then I read the fine print... :(

[schplurg]

awesome!

http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/BrianRobbins/20120228/163180/Why_Ataris_Pong_Indie_Developer_Challenge_is_bad_f or_developers.php

Thanks for the quick heads up. As I read it I thought to myself, "Wow that's bad! I should quote that sentence at TA". Then I'd read something even worse, again and again.

Every dev should read that link if they're considering this contest. If you make a game that is good enough to be considered even a runner-up, you would make much more just publishing it yourself, or finding another publisher. Well, maybe.

[SibaStyle]

schplurg, I think it's worth quoting. This is probably the first area where you thought "Wow that's bad!"

c) All Entries become the sole and exclusive property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged
or returned. Sponsor shall own all right, title and interest in and to eachEntry, including
without limitation all results and proceeds thereof and all elements or constituent parts of
Entry (including without limitation the Mobile App, the Design Documents, the Video Trailer,
the Playable and all illustrations, logos, mechanicals, renderings, characters, graphics,
designs, layouts or other material therein) and all copyrights and renewals and extensions of
copyrights therein and thereto. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Eligible
Entrantshall and hereby doesabsolutely and irrevocably assign and transfer all of his or her
right, title and interest in his or her Entry toSponsor, and Sponsor shall have the right and may authorize others to use, copy, sublicense, transmit, modify, manipulate, publish,
delete,reproduce, perform, distribute, display and otherwise exploit the Entry (and to create and exploit derivative works thereof) in any manner, including without limitation to embody the Entry,in whole or in part, in apps and other works of any kind or nature created, developed, published or distributed by Sponsor and to and register as a trademark in any country in Sponsor’s name any component of the Entry, without such Eligible Entrant reserving any rights or claims with respect thereto. Sponsor shall have the exclusive right, in perpetuity, throughout the Territory to change, adapt, modify, use, combine with other material and otherwise exploit the Entryin all media now known or hereafter devised and in any manner, in its sole and absolute discretion, without the need for any payment or credit to Entrant

[Foursaken_Media]

Definitely something to think about, but in all fairness, isn't that what they're potentially paying $100,000 for... your game?

schplurg, I think it's worth quoting. This is probably the first area where you thought "Wow that's bad!"

c) All Entries become the sole and exclusive property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged
or returned. Sponsor shall own all right, title and interest in and to eachEntry, including
without limitation all results and proceeds thereof and all elements or constituent parts of
Entry (including without limitation the Mobile App, the Design Documents, the Video Trailer,
the Playable and all illustrations, logos, mechanicals, renderings, characters, graphics,
designs, layouts or other material therein) and all copyrights and renewals and extensions of
copyrights therein and thereto. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Eligible
Entrantshall and hereby doesabsolutely and irrevocably assign and transfer all of his or her
right, title and interest in his or her Entry toSponsor, and Sponsor shall have the right and may authorize others to use, copy, sublicense, transmit, modify, manipulate, publish,
delete,reproduce, perform, distribute, display and otherwise exploit the Entry (and to create and exploit derivative works thereof) in any manner, including without limitation to embody the Entry,in whole or in part, in apps and other works of any kind or nature created, developed, published or distributed by Sponsor and to and register as a trademark in any country in Sponsor’s name any component of the Entry, without such Eligible Entrant reserving any rights or claims with respect thereto. Sponsor shall have the exclusive right, in perpetuity, throughout the Territory to change, adapt, modify, use, combine with other material and otherwise exploit the Entryin all media now known or hereafter devised and in any manner, in its sole and absolute discretion, without the need for any payment or credit to Entrant

[SibaStyle]

Yes, but only $100,000 to the winner. If you submit, you release all ownership of your product. Your 3+ months work could be for nothing. If you don't win, you don't get the $100,000 and you will get nothing from the future sales of your game.

[MikaMobile]

This contest is exploitative to the max. Atari stands to gain a lot more than 100k if they got a quality submission, and risks nothing in the process. They're looking for suckers, plain and simple.

[dib]

I think it's more likely a thin whitewash for the fact they normally sue developers for this exact thing: make a game too similar to some decades-old classic, win an autographed C&D letter!

[DistantJ]

Wow, it sounded good until I read the smallprint and the Gamasutra page. Forget it!!

[mr.Ugly]

This contest is exploitative to the max. Atari stands to gain a lot more than 100k if they got a quality submission, and risks nothing in the process. They're looking for suckers, plain and simple.

+1


this is shameless extortion.. and honestly i find it very offensive. first atari lawyers go rampage on small indies who do not infringe on their copyright but are to small to fight back and then this scam.

its that an obscure way to collect some plus points from the indie community?

c) All Entries become the sole and exclusive property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged
or returned.

and this is a slap into the face for everyone who contributes.. we take your ideas thank you but we don't acknowledge who came up with them in the first place..

so yeah atari is searching for complete idiots to exploit.. this is an all time low for them..

also very sad imho is that there is not much integrity from the "free" judges either like shown here

http://www.tuaw.com/2012/02/28/atari-announces-pong-contest-for-indie-ios-devs/

the guy writes that rules are heinous but still wants to back this scam as a judge..

apparently alot of people still get sparkle eyes when they hear atari..

[MrBlue]

From the Gamasutra article:

The final game would need to gross $5 Million in the first year, in order for the Grand Prize winner to receive their full $100,000 prize.

That $100k is not really $100k even if you are the "winner".

[suetmon]

Just saw this on Kotaku...

http://kotaku.com/5889105/make-your-own-version-of-pong-win-100000

I'll quote it so that its easier:

Update: Perhaps in response to Robbins's post, Atari sent us a statement late Tuesday night:

Pong Indie Developer Challenge was conceived as a way for the gaming community to celebrate Atari's and Pong's upcoming 40th anniversary. It is a great opportunity for indie developers to have a successful launch on a very competitive App Store by leveraging an iconic and well-known brand and tapping into a huge, passionate community. Our hope is that developers will not only see the value of cash prizes but also the chance to actually publish their own Pong under the Atari brand and with our full launch support. A successful launch is the ultimate chance for developers to show off their talent and creativity to the larger Atari and iOS community.

Pong Indie Developer Challenge is a contest with real cash prizes plus the ability to participate in revenue sharing from the first dollar. Winners will receive cash up front: $50k for 1st place, $37.5k for 2nd, $25k for third and up to seven runner-ups will grab $5k each. That prize money is not recouped against future royalties. Thus winners receive prize money up front, access to revenue sharing from first dollar and an opportunity to release a game alongside our other successful iOS titles

We look forward to seeing creative submissions and supporting the winners on the App Store.

In my opinion some valid points on both sides.

And yes, my post count is low... I've been lurking and finally felt there was an issue I needed to post about. BTW hello everyone!

[DistantJ]

Eh, I guess it's only Pong... Couldn't hurt right?

[antireality]

'here's your opportunity to work with a pioneering video game company'

Really? All I see is some washed-up shovelware mill masquerading as Atari...

[suetmon]

Meh for me there seems to be no real harm in entering. I plan to enter as honestly worst case scenario I put in an idea and don't get picked and best case I win 50k. The way I see it I can't use this idea anywhere else anyways since its pong and quite frankly the recognition I get from the industry of even making it to the semifinals is huge for me. Once they put my name out there on the semifinalist page I know I will get noticed more. So win win.

It makes complete sense to me that they would own the idea since after all it is their trademark and copyright. I don't loose anything by entering since my idea is specific enough that it really would be considered Pong of some variation of it regardless of whether I use the name or not. Which is probably why Atari even put that line in their rules.

So if my idea/design document has a chance of netting me 50k then I am absolutely sending it in. What do I loose maybe 1-2 days of work coming up with something at this stage and all i need to do is to create a design document? Seems completely worth it to me.

I understand this is a contest and not a traditional publishing agreement so of course there is more risk, etc. I think the gamasutra guy kinda missed that point.

Anyways I would say goodluck to those who enter but I honestly would love to win or at least make it to semi's so my name get's out there.

[suetmon]

I will add that the gamasutra guy did a good service of reading the rules and pointing out some key things but seeing the fact that I really loose almost nothing just by entering and the reward of making it to the semi's alone is huge for industry recognition I think he should have modified his post a bit. But he raises valid points nonetheless.

[schplurg]

schplurg, I think it's worth quoting. This is probably the first area where you thought "Wow that's bad!"

c) All Entries become the sole and exclusive property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged
or returned. Sponsor shall own all right, title and interest in and to eachEntry, inc

.......

reafter devised and in any manner, in its sole and absolute discretion, without the need for any payment or credit to Entrant

That's part of it I guess. It's just misleading all around - the ad is anyways. Buyer beware. I don't think it would be a smart business move for anyone who is more than a recreational game designer. I'm not hating on them (I didn't read my previous comment though, so maybe I did)

[mr.Ugly]

Meh for me there seems to be no real harm in entering. I plan to enter as honestly worst case scenario I put in an idea and don't get picked and best case I win 50k. The way I see it I can't use this idea anywhere else anyways since its pong and quite frankly the recognition I get from the industry of even making it to the semifinals is huge for me. Once they put my name out there on the semifinalist page I know I will get noticed more. So win win.


no you miss the point , ALL ideas are getting picked, after submission its theirs.. no matter if you continue into the next round or not.. and if they wish they are free todo whatever they want with it.. for example merge your ideas with another ones and let him do the work.. since your NOT! acknowledged you won't be credited either..

or maybe you work out a full app to their technical terms and end up with one of the 5k spots.

and what exactly will get noticed? that you are easily exploitable by company x? its alot easier to get a job in the biz.. go to company x and tell them you make an 1 year long internship for free working 60h a week..
you get the job, guaranteed.


It makes complete sense to me that they would own the idea since after all it is their trademark and copyright. I don't loose anything by entering since my idea is specific enough that it really would be considered Pong of some variation of it regardless of whether I use the name or not. Which is probably why Atari even put that line in their rules.


thats silly.. your idea is not their trademark.. you can call your game "ching chong ping pang" and release it without any problems.


So if my idea/design document has a chance of netting me 50k then I am absolutely sending it in. What do I loose maybe 1-2 days of work coming up with something at this stage and all i need to do is to create a design document? Seems completely worth it to me.


again apparently you did not even bother to read what the contest is about...
your idea just gets you to the next step which is implementing your idea yourself in completly high quality form.. thats the work.. not writing something down on paper o_O


I understand this is a contest and not a traditional publishing agreement so of course there is more risk, etc. I think the gamasutra guy kinda missed that point.

Anyways I would say goodluck to those who enter but I honestly would love to win or at least make it to semi's so my name get's out there.

the funny part is they do not need to get your "name" out there.. they only need to state what design documents made it into the semi.. not who made it.. :)

[DistantJ]

The way I see it, it's only Pong, which is something you can develop in 20 minutes. Sucks that something becomes their property whether they use it or not, but unless your idea involves spending hours putting something overly complex together, like Geometry Wars Pong or something, it could be something you just put together for fun.

If it doesn't win, depending on the design, it might be possible to alter it just enough to not be recognisable as your entry...

I wouldn't be entering to get my name out there, I'd be doing it for the chance to win money... :P

[mr.Ugly]

Atari’s contest is exploitation of people desperate for cash or recognition. It’s a contradictive effort which its hoping no one notices. It’s taking away indie development so it benefits the corporate belly. It’s the last clutch for life from a company driven to desperation.

You’d think, with it being the big 40 for Atari this year, that we would be celebrating its contribution to the industry. In actuality, we’ll have to continue resenting its existence as it claws for another breakthrough, no matter what the cost. What a sorry state for a company to be in.

Atari is shameless, ruthless in its actions and a thorn in the side of the industry – happy to drown the youth (in this case the indie scene) so that it may use their corpses as a float. You’d hope a company that helped to found the industry would have some dignity it its final breath.


http://www.indiegamemag.com/slicing-the-industrys-atari-just-how-offensive-is-the-pong-indie-developer-challenge/


well if you put together junk your chance to win is nil .. of course they expect high quality anything else will be disregarded..

thsi thing is every entry in this scam hurts indies because it makes their behaviour right so rid the appstore of every indie game thats even in close resemblance to their ancient games just to mock the indie community (which they just rolled over) to make them new pongs at ridiculous terms..

again everyone is free todo as he wishes.. but being part of a scam is hardly something to be proud of..

[Charybdis]

Yuck, something smells rotten!

[NinthNinja]

http://www.indiegamemag.com/slicing-the-industrys-atari-just-how-offensive-is-the-pong-indie-developer-challenge/


well if you put together junk your chance to win is nil .. of course they expect high quality anything else will be disregarded..

thsi thing is every entry in this scam hurts indies because it makes their behaviour right so rid the appstore of every indie game thats even in close resemblance to their ancient games just to mock the indie community (which they just rolled over) to make them new pongs at ridiculous terms..

again everyone is free todo as he wishes.. but being part of a scam is hardly something to be proud of..

I think you need to be corrected on a major point here. Atari only own the trade mark on the name Pong. In the 70's there was a court settlement between Atari and (I wish I can remember the company), who actually came up with the concept of Pong but for the home systems. Nolan actually saw a version of this and told his engineers to nick the idea.

There is no way on earth Atari can pull similar games from the App Store over a name Trade Mark. You could call your game "Bat and Ball" and still publish it with the same mechanics as Pong.

The point here is this competition is exploitive. But if you entered and your idea failed then you could actually develop the idea away from Atari. If Atari argue that you cannot then you get your lawyers to write them a letter about the court case from the 70s.

But Atari has no right to say that all ideas belong to them when in fact they only have the TM on the name Pong!

[LiamAtDevour]

But Atari has no right to say that all ideas belong to them when in fact they only have the TM on the name Pong!

If you sign an agreement when entering the competition relinquishing rights to your game, then yes they do have the right. Although all you'd have to do is change the art-style and name when releasing it for yourself and you'd get away with it. Owning the pong trademark isn't giving them the right, having you sign (or click "agree") is giving them the right.

edit: Actually, if you're referring to pre-existing games (which I think Mr. Ugly might have been talking about) then yeah, they have no right.

[mr.Ugly]

see the previously links.. i talk about other atari-esque games that where taken off the store.. asteroids, battlezone, breakout inspired games.

if you had a game in that categorie with a vector look you got mail by lawyers.

again, no matter if you are right or not an indie can easily be strong armed by a bigger companie like atari.

edit: some links

http://toucharcade.com/2011/12/30/atari-pulls-the-plug-on-vector-tanks-and-vector-tanks-extreme/
http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=107606
http://forums.toucharcade.com/showthread.php?t=108449

[LiamAtDevour]

Ahh, my apologies. I skipped through some of the thread tbh -_-