What was the old name of Atari?

The old name of Atari was originally "Syzygy Engineering". The company was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. However, the name Syzygy was used very briefly before it was changed to Atari later that same year.

Here's a brief history behind the name changes:

1. Syzygy Engineering (1972):

   • The company was initially founded under the name Syzygy, a term used in astronomy to describe the alignment of celestial bodies. The name was chosen by Bushnell and Dabney, but it was quickly realized that it was too difficult to remember and not very marketable.

2. Atari (1972):

   • Shortly after starting the company, they decided to change the name to Atari, which was a more appealing and recognizable name for the gaming market. The word "Atari" is a term used in the Japanese game Go, a strategy board game. In Go, Atari refers to a situation where a stone or group of stones is one move away from being captured. The name symbolized "danger" for the opposition, which resonated with the competitive and strategic nature of video games.

   • Atari was also a name that was easier to remember and had a certain exotic appeal, aligning with the emerging video game culture. It would soon become synonymous with the early video game industry, especially with the success of the Atari 2600 console and its arcade games.

Thus, Atari quickly became the company’s permanent name, and it soon grew into one of the most recognizable brands in the video game industry during the 1970s and early 1980s.