Abgeschickt von Altay Basdogan am 20 Juni, 2001 um 02:10:48:
Man glaubt es kaum, aber es scheint als würde der Name ATARI zurückkehren!!!!
Infogrames, die neuen Besitzer von ATARI, überlegen, ob Sie sich nicht in ATARI umbenennen sollten, weil die Marke ATARI "is also considered one of the coolest brand names around"
OH YEAH ;)
Quellen:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~morrikar/Stop-Press.htm
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/story.cfm?sid=2877
Atari set to rule again
New brand strategy considered as Infogrames puts everything under review, hundreds of jobs to be cut in France, Germany and US
Supplied by MCV industry news.
Major changes at Infogrames could see a switch to Atari as its lead games brand and several hundred job cuts within its global empire.
Whilst the firm was remaining tight-lipped ahead of some tough decisions, MCV understands that an extensive strategic review has been going on for several months. Once finalised, official statements will be made to the Paris Bourse and Wall Street.
Infogrames wants to maximise its ownership of the Atari name. One of the gems buried within its smart acquisition of Hasbro Interactive late last year, it is also a particular favourite of chairman and CEO Bruno Bonnell.
Whilst the Infogrames name means nothing in many markets, particularly the US, this is in stark contrast to Atari - which has adorned as many T-shirts as it has Hasbro console games in recent years. Also, due to its connotations with the heyday of video gaming in the late seventies and early eighties it is also considered one of the coolest brand names around. Infogrames may choose to switch to the Atari name in the US, or even globally, whilst keeping its own name as the parent company. Some French management are opposed to any dilution of the use of the Infogrames name but, crucially, not Bonnell.
"The question is whether they invest millions in making Infogrames a recognised mainstream entertainment brand in the US and rest of the world, or simply use Atari, which everyone knows and loves already?" said one senior Wall Street voice.
Certainly, Infogrames is known to be in the midst of a streamlining of its games brands. Indeed, this is part of the general review that will result in significant enforced and organic job losses. Having expanded via a series of major acquisitions over the past three years, taking global sales to around $600m this financial year, there is much needless duplication of departments, particularly in the US, France and Germany. Infogrames currently employs just over 2,000 people around the world, with many of the acquired businesses still running fully blown back office, marketing and PR operations when much could be centralised. In the US, the former Hasbro HQ near Boston looks set to become the main sales, marketing and administration hub, with corporate affairs being run out of the New York office which was acquired as part of the GT Interactive deal in late 1999.
Stuart Dinsey
Friday, 15 June 2001